Song of the Week #321

In times gone by people sent postcards so that their friends knew that they were having a good time on holidays. I suppose if it was a super long break then maybe even a letter. Of course in more recent times you knew when your friends were away from their either increased or non-existent Facebook posts. But now there's an even newer method of tracking your mates escapades... I was riding home last night and pulled up at the lights behind to other cyclists. One said to the other, "oh, I knew you were on holiday in Bali because all of your Strava runs kept popping up". So there you have it. Stalk your friends now by using their online fitness data! Well I thought it was amusing at least.

Barker - Heard So Much About You - http://youtu.be/cul1VVUBVhI

Speaking of fitness, the Noosa Triathlon Festival is on this weekend. Best of luck to all from WMGS Racing who are competing and also to Big Al who's having a dig as well.

Olivia Newton John - Physical - http://youtu.be/vWz9VN40nCA

My daughter got the sack from one of her casual jobs this week. She's been working at this particular establishment for over a year without an issue. As a result it was quite a shock. Now, I fully respect the right of any employer to hire and fire with due regard to their business. But to send a kid a text message during school time with that kind of news is just plain gutless. If anyone is looking for staff, with experience, to work in a cafe part time (especially over the holidays) please let me know. This setback has put a bit of a hole in Z's plans for 2015 and that's a shame. Especially when the first 6 months is all volunteer work and she's paying her own way. If you want to know which cafe to boycott get in contact with me.

Pink Floyd - The Show Must Go On (live) - http://youtu.be/idPfIIsB4Xk

On Tuesday night Angus and I had a little trip in an ambulance and then 7 hours at the hospital. He certainly enjoyed the morphine and the green whistle as various medical people attempted to work out what he'd done to his knee. Turns out it is a small tear in the meniscus and it won't need surgery. Our time at the hospital was a real eye-opener. We saw the best and worst of the human experience including a delusional man kicking and punching doctors and nurses while they tried to help him, a baby about to be taken away by Child Services, various foreign objects stuck in people's bodies (knives, glass) and a whole heap of bodily functions best left not described. Among all of this Angus (drugged to the eyeballs) dispensed fashion tips to one and all and dozed off at amusing moments mid-sentence.

David Bowie - Fashion (live) - http://youtu.be/KDrhwuaaG6Y

Love/Hate - Why Do You Think They Call It Dope? - http://youtu.be/HtAxLs7nmiU

Sad news this week was the death of blues musician Jack Bruce. Best known for his work with the legendary trio Cream along with Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton, Bruce, a Scotsman, was only 71. I like the fact that he was told to leave the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama when they found out he was playing jazz music as well as cello and music composition! Evil stuff that jazz.

Cream - White Room (live) - http://youtu.be/uKyGn_uxkPU

So how do you tell if a band is serious or not? A reasonable amount has been made for years and years about the links of various forms of music with the occult. Ozzy Osbourne has said in the past that the whole cross imagery on early Black Sabbath stuff was purely to get noticed. I guess we'll never know if Robert Johnson made a pact with the Devil either but the stories are out there. Lately, Swedish doom/pop/metal band Ghost have caused a bit of a stir with their lyrics and their outfits. It's hardly subtle but I've always been fairly sure that it's all a big joke to them. Yesterday when they announced a partnership with a watchmaker to produce a Ghost watch my thoughts were confirmed. It's all schtick. Lucky then can play. Check out the watches at http://www.vannenwatches.com/ if that's your thing.

Ghost - Year Zero (live) - http://youtu.be/d8RH8RO0eR0

To me Ghost are about equal parts KISS, ABBA and Mercyful Fate. Try these three tracks and see what you think.

KISS - Unholy - http://youtu.be/kfmrX_WlM2w

ABBA - Does Your Mother Know - http://youtu.be/WkL7Fkigfn8

Mercyful Fate - Evil - http://youtu.be/nZ6s89QWYjc

I'm going to sign off with a couple of friends for my mate Garry. It's just over two years since he died and he's sorely missed. We played the first song in his honour at a gig not long after his death, I'm sure he's approve. And the second song is one from a band he insisted I listen to. RIP my friend.

Johnny Cash - I Won't Back Down - http://youtu.be/N8i5NLyXZdc

Dr Feelgood - Down At The Doctors - http://youtu.be/uvRNRiA_h34

Rock on brothers and sisters,

Rob

"10 million dollars on a losing campaign

20 million starving and writhing in pain

big strong people unwilling to give

small in vision and perspective

one in five kids below the poverty line

one population runnin' out of time" - Bad Religion, Punk Rock Song

Song of the Week #320

STOP PRESS: I waited until after Friday night's gig by The Church to finalise this week's episode. That turned out to be an excellent decision. The gig report is first because, well, it was rather amazing.

The Church are an iconic band. They've been around for about 35 years and have a string of hits, excellent albums and what I would imagine is a decent following. As a result, what ensued last night on the first gig of their tour was probably a shock for most punters and the band too. 

The Church - Pride Before A Fall - http://youtu.be/tuq4KUWtjD4

It didn't start well. They were late, very late. During the gig we found out that the tour bus had broken down but whilst waiting around for over 90 minutes with nothing happening most people were less than happy. The crowd for The Church was hardly young, spry, keen to drink beers, listen to too loud music and wait. Finally the soundcheck was piped into the area we were waiting in...how exciting. And then there was the support band. I'm not old enough to know who Canberra band, The Young Doctors are or were (I do remember the TV show) and it doesn't really matter. They were dreadful. Bing and I weren't sure if they were joking or serious for the first few songs. The frontman (the rest of the band were seated and acoustic) was disinterested at best and read all his lyrics from sheets on the floor. He did sound like Dave Faulkner from Hoodoo Gurus though and that was the only good thing I have to say. Harsh perhaps but that's the way I read the performance. Uninspired.

The crowd was small which makes me wonder if the ANU (a standing only venue) was a good choice. I'm 43 years old and there weren't many people there younger than me. The band, including ex-Powderfinger guitarist Ian Haug played their new album in its entirety. The songs were good, the band were a bit loose (first show of the tour) but it wasn't terrible by any stretch of the imagination. Musically there was a lot going on. At one stage they had a false start for a song and the crowd was taught to count to 7 in order to help them out. 

Peter Koppes and Ian Haug both played an interesting range of guitars. Peter's Gretsch Malcolm Young Signature axe was my pick for the night. I had the chance to buy one years ago and baulked at the price. It would've been money well spent. In the press Steve Kilbey described Haug's guitar work as bringing "crunch and muscle" to the band's sound. I didn't hear that at all. What I heard was an awesome array of atmospheric tones and tasty lead work. Koppes was the crunchy one last night at least.

Which brings me to the setlist. Certainly it was no secret that The Church planned to play their brand new album. But I'm not sure that most of the crowd could believe that they did the whole thing start to finish and then ended the show. No hits, no back catalogue moments, nothing. As Kilbey introduced the penultimate song he apologised for being late. A punter shouted out that he should apologise, "for sucking". At this stage Koppes and Kilbey invited the young man to the front to voice his opinion; which he did. What happened next was poor. Experienced bands should have a thick skin and a couple of witty lines to deal with hecklers. But to invite the man to the front, give him his say and then call him "four-eyes", describe his girlfriend as "fat" and tell him to f-off was pretty awful. The band played the last song, came back for a one song encore and that was it.

I might purchase the new album. There were enough good moments last night to keep me interested. But there were also a lot of times when it felt like we were listening to U2 jamming on their newer stuff. Perhaps the edge to the songs (great pun eh?) wasn't quite there yet being early in the tour.

I read an interview with another band who admitted that trotting out their hits could be tedious every now and then. What they did realise however was the the punters usually only get to see the band on that one show and they're coming along on the strength of the songs they know. I liked the idea of hearing the whole new album in order, it's obviously a group of songs meant to intertwine. But seriously, apart from a few people who were a bit vocal, 99% of the crowd were into the music and probably deserved better than a tantrum and the lack of a decent encore.

Regurgitator - I Like Your Old Stuff Better Than Your New Stuff - http://youtu.be/Iun4shGD740

It's been a very, very frustrating week at World Wide Woozle Global HQ. After taking my new MESA guitar amplifier on tour and then spending ages and ages afterwards trying to get it to sound the way I wanted I have finally admitted defeat. With a heavy heart I threw some advertisements for it all over the Internets. After being targeted by the standard scammers and then by people too rude to let me know they weren't interested (after they asked a thousand questions) I finally got a buyer. Or so I thought. Although a fair price has been agreed upon I've been stood up more than once with regards to the actual payment of funds and therefore handing over of the amplifier. The jury is still out as to whether or not this guy will finally show up...but I'm not holding my breath. I think I'll just start collecting amplifiers. I've got a big garage after all! Of course, the funniest thing, or is it ironic, is that I had a jam with Chief last weekend and got the amp sounding quite reasonable. Aaaarrrggghhh!

If you're interested, this next track has the rhythm sound I'm looking for. The introduction has tasty guitars that growl without the icepick in the brain harsh edge.

Choirboys - Boys Will Be Boys - http://youtu.be/_jZdirBDAXE

You know, if that's the only thing worrying me then I'm OK I reckon.

I was reminded the other day about band logos. When I was a teenager all the best bands had cool album covers adorned with their name in a logo. AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Van Halen, KISS, Stryper, Motley Crue; all my favourites had a graphic design that kids everywhere drew all over schoolbags and exercise books. I was rather proficient at the Iron Maiden one which is quite amusing now as my drawing skills are fairly terrible.

Run DMC - Mary Mary - http://youtu.be/QgmyVLheqkQ

Do you know what a fuzz pedal is? No, it's not a hirsute hipster on a single speed bike, it's for a guitar. Probably the first kind of pedal ever made they are designed to mimic the sound of a torn speaker with a really loud tube amplifier going through it. Think The Kinks "You Really Got Me" and you're there. Hendrix used one, Dave Gilmour (Pink Floyd) does too and of course a thousand other players. You can use one to make your guitar sound harsh or to push the single note sound to a smooth almost violin-esque sound. I'm getting one. And there's not another like it. John from JK Pedals in Melbourne fixed up my old original Boss Turbo Overdrive pedal a while ago. My Dad and I bought that in early 1988 so it was probably due for some love. But John also build pedals so I put in an order for a "Luxe Lady" fuzz box. He did some tweaks for me to get the kind of sound I'm looking for. Well, the pedal is in the mail and I look forward to unleashing sonic nirvana next week. I'm going to use it mainly to thicken up my lead tone so you'll hear it in action if you come to the New Year's Eve show. Loud and proud.

Joe Bonamassa - Just Got Paid - http://youtu.be/wSQwj3s8Y4s

Speaking of the New Year's Eve show; all the details are on the band's Facebook page here. Funnily enough the show is 31st December and goes into the new year. You'll get 7 courses of food and a band rocking out three sets of all-Australian rock and roll. Who knows, I may have a new amp by then. Book early to avoid disappointment. I know one punter who has already taken 23 seats.

Powderfinger - Baby I've Got You (On My Mind) - http://youtu.be/nTFNm7StOR4

Lastly, I've been right into the first Van Halen album all week. Released in 1978 it's considered by fans and critics as a true classic. I was introduced the album by a friend who used to give me a ride to school once in a while in his old Ford Escort. Van Halen was always in the cassette deck. It's an album with everything really for a rock band. Peerless guitar work, vocals with attitude, a solid bass line and fantastic drumming. No-one else sounded like VH and no one ever has. Their career has been quite a train wreck but there's no doubting their musicianship and songwriting skills.

Van Halen - Runnin' With The Devil - http://youtu.be/cqoybLnrEjw

Van Halen - I'm The One - http://youtu.be/kzkXGIRaxcI

Have a good weekend folks. 

Rob

"I'm gonna be a rock 'n' roll star
Gotta groove from night to day
Gotta blow my honey jar, yeah
Gotta blow my blues away" - Diamond Head, It's Electric, 1980

Song of the Week #319

This week's episode is loud. Perhaps all of the tunes aren't loud in the sense of being recorded or requiring extreme volume, but they're loud to me.

Some weeks I just want to lose myself in music for even 5 minutes to drown out the outside world. To allow the sound of a wall of guitars to knock me over and then caress me lovingly with velvet fingers. To let the kick drum's punch get me right between the ribs; you feel it invading your chest cavity rather than hearing the sound. And for the singer to weave his or her way into my consciousness with lyrics that matter and delivery that is genuine and sincere. Do you feel it brothers and sisters?

Neil Young - Throw Your Hatred Down (live 1998) - http://youtu.be/fdOztNIYybE

There's probably something perverse about me writing about my love of a wall of guitars and then playing an acoustic track. But those machines have been killing fascists for a long time now.

Woody Guthrie - All You Fascists Bound To Lose - http://youtu.be/VwcKwGS7OSQ

BB King says in the film "Rattle & Hum" that Bono "writes mighty heavy lyrics for one so young". You can feel free to argue whether or not Bono thinks he is God but there's no doubting that this was a cracker of a song. Gifting it to BB King was inspired; he's the man who makes this track almost perfect.

U2 & BB King - When Love Comes To Town (live 1989 Australia) - http://youtu.be/eT3rXNPGFOM

If anyone has a lazy $4,000 I can have just click on this link and buy me one of BB's guitars. Beautiful, classic and totally cool.

James Osterberg Jr. has popped up on radio here in Australia (did you see what I did there?!) playing tunes and talking about them. For a man with a relatively light singing voice he surely has a deep drawling speaking voice. I guess he sings down low in "Candy" though. That's a great tune but it doesn't fit my theme this week. His shows are worth checking out online if you can access them. Try the Double J website as a starting point. Or just Google his John Peel lecture.

KISS - I Love It Loud - http://youtu.be/LMcDg2HwOnM

Often when people have a discussion with me about Heavy Metal music they start off with bands like Motorhead, Iron Maiden or Judas Priest. They're the big ones. Metallica too I guess. But these bands aren't really all that heavy. Sure, they're loud, but they're more an extension of rock 'n' roll with more volume and at times a faster tempo. Metal is splintered into any number of sub-genres and the heaviness is relative. Are de-tuned guitars, bass that'll make your insides gurgle and guttural vocals any heavier than Alice Cooper strutting his shock rock shtick covered in fake blood and wearing a straitjacket? Or are the primal rhythms of Sepultura heavier than the insanely dark metal that comes out of Scandanavia? It's all about perception. The dark metal from the North usually just makes me laugh, Alice is a hoot and the de-tuned gurgling wears thin after about one or two songs. Sepultura however mix a lot of it up in a blend of music that is heavy in more ways than one. See what you think...

Sepultura - Rattamahatta (live) - http://youtu.be/6jGiSyH1EeU

There are two shows I'll be checking out in the coming weeks. First is "The Church" here in Canberra next Friday and then not long after that I'm in Sydney with DJ DJ to see "The Mark of Cain". Both different, only one heavy. 

The Mark of Cain - Lockdown - http://youtu.be/iJVVm9OsiwU

Steve Earle sings really, really heavy tunes. "Jerusalem" and "Rich Man's War" almost always stop me dead in my tracks. He was heavily influenced by this next artist. I was in a record shop last wekend (one with records...real ones) and this was playing on the turntable...wow!

Townes Van Zandt - Cocaine Blues - http://youtu.be/hjJePtPVquM

That's the end this week. This music fan needs some sleep after a rather huge week. Kisses to you hop-along!

DJ Rob

"I'm a loadin', loadin' my war machine

I'm contributing to the system, the break down scheme

I'm a shuttin' down, I'm shuttin' down your greed for green baby" - Kyuss - Green Machine

Song of the Week #318

I had an ordinary day this week. Read about it here.

Finally it seems that the telephone and internet debacle is over. What I have learned from this is that "Level 2 Technicians" do not know how to connect to a modem and put in a password. Neither do they know that separate cables are needed for phone and data. Numpties is a fair description. Two weeks of wrangling to get a switch flicked at the exchange and then Zoë and I did the rest.

AC/DC - Flick of the Switch - http://youtu.be/9tqIOE-rPJU

I wonder sometimes wonder how sensible we were for moving to another house on the northern side of Canberra. The only reason I ask myself this question is that it is almost always a stiff headwind cycling home. Southerners must arrive home fresh and with big smiles on their faces whilst I need the heart starting paddles and a shot of adrenalin to make it through the front door to the shower. It must be noted that the reverse is rarely the case in the mornings.

Stone Sour - Tired (acoustic version) - http://youtu.be/hhCQYqt16j8

This week a brand new coffee shop was recommended to me by a colleague. Having just experienced a foul brew from one of the highest rated caffeine dealers around I was up for anything. Superfine Cafe hasn't been open very long but if my first couple of visits are anything to go by then it has a bright future. My initial visit was with the light of my life and we were pleasantly surprised. I had my standard long black with some soy on the side. In reality the soy is only used if the brew is rough or bitter. The barista produced a fresh, smooth and most importantly not bitter cup which was a real treat. I liked it so much that I moved one of my work meetings to the cafe this morning. There's a fab range of food as well and the staff are very friendly so if you're in the city try it out some time. Superfine is on the corner of Mort and Bunda Streets in the bus interchange and right next door to Tonic.

Ice-T - I'm Your Pusher - http://youtu.be/_nODi6OECzs

But the real reason we're here is music. I've got far too many recommendations this week so I'll have to cut it down. After all, does anyone actually click the links and play the tunes?

Seasick Steve keeps on cranking out great bluesy albums. I picked up his latest on CD for only $10 and without wanting to sound like a broken record, it's a cracker! If you like swampy, low down, gritty blues then try any of his stuff. This album, "Hubcap Music" also features appearances from John Paul Jones and Jack White. I did laugh long and loud when I discovered that Track 12 was simply a recording of a tractor! Steve is in his 70s and looks to be placed to carry on forever like lots of bluesmen.

Seasick Steve - Down On The Farm - http://youtu.be/H9qnj09Suhs

As I wrote to H this week (he's on the road doing cool stuff in and around Tingha) I decided that my work recommending music was at an all time high when my Dad sent me a link to an early Rolling Stones tune. As written previously I struggle with the Stones in terms of their complete lack of consistency but there's no doubting that they have the ability to harness the rock and roll mojo when the mood takes them.

The Rolling Stones - It's All Over Now - http://youtu.be/O82FK-v86X8

One of the best things about having the internet back on is that the programme guide on the TV works again. I'm sure it's in the paper as well but seriously folks, hard copy?? I noticed last night that ABC3, usually the kids channel, was playing some music videos and I caught a couple of fantastic tracks.

First up was Joe Cocker. Boy bands, reality TV junkies, twerkers and fashion victims should look no further than Joe before slapping themselves around the head for being so clueless. Look at this video; Joe is hairy, sweaty, moves like someone with their finger in a power socket, has the most awful shirt and shoes on and sings with the most perfect voice. This, my friends, is what rock and roll is all about.

Joe Cocker - With A Little Help From My Friends (live) - http://youtu.be/bRzKUVjHkGk

The big shock was this next tune. I had no idea that the collaboration had ever happened. I didn't expect this song to work with The Living End but it really rocks. Jimmy Barnes is apparently unwell again and I hope he is up and about before too long. 

Jimmy Barnes and The Living End - Lay Down Your Guns - http://youtu.be/Wdv9qL7AMj0

Accept are a German metal band who have been around for a very long time. They are most famous for the song "Balls to the Wall" and the album of the same name. There are splits and a thousand lineup changes between 1968 and now but musically not much has changed. It's a good dose of hard rock. "Blind Rage" is their fourteenth studio album. I noticed that it is available with a live DVD as well so I reckon I better plonk my money on the counter before too long.

Accept - Stampede - http://youtu.be/qbUXHTWZ9vk

Is there time for a couple more? How about I just play two songs and I challenge you to give me some feedback on one or either? Time to try something new.

The Growlers - Going Gets Tough - http://youtu.be/zMsluEUPtho

Shellac - Dude Incredible - http://youtu.be/StooJzxAfrc

Wrapping up the show this week are two themed tracks...it's Mental Health Week here in Australia. DJ Doc gave me a very good track to think about last week and these two are moving on from that. Look after those around you folks.

Sinead O'Connor - 8 Good Reasons - http://youtu.be/DXhv9ANCoxM

Romans Are Alive - Cure For The Pain - https://soundcloud.com/kbvrecords/cure-for-the-pain-romans-are-alive

Rock on brothers and sisters,

Rob

"Brother mind what you do

and how your treat your fellow man
if you're like me you'd try to live
the very best you can
for if you spread good all around
you'd be able to sleep when the sun goes down" - Sam Cooke, Keep Movin' On

An ordinary day?

Sometimes an ordinary day is OK you know. If life was always super-fab and groovy then I might be frazzled by all that energy. Like the girl at the record shop; she's always just a bit too upbeat, lively and excited...every time I go there!

My ordinary day started rather glumly as an overnight storm meant that I would't be riding my bike to work. I ride both ways nearly every day and it's an important ritual and mental health activity. The upshot was that I got to hang around the house a little longer, catch a lift with Alison into town and then grab a short bus ride to my office. The bus ride meant three or four tunes on the headphones which was a bit of a treat.

The next bit of my ordinary day was a meeting. We had to speak to some external providers so a local cafe seemed the best place. I chose one based on the ratings on my Beanhunter app. It might be rated very highly but my long black was awful at best. Tepid, bitter and not at all fresh. On the upside; the meeting was very productive and time with my boss, who is also my mentor, is very valuable.

Let's get this out of the the way; I can't stand salad sandwiches. Whatever I try to put on them I really struggle to make myself eat them. But it's a relatively simple, healthy option for lunch. My ordinary day was brightened by the fact that I'd ditched the salad and allowed myself the luxury of one peanut butter sandwich instead! Peanut butter is one thing that my dietitian put back in my diet a while ago and it's an awesome treat.

Home time and of course no bike. Booooring. Back on the bus, more tunes and then a short walk home in the sunshine. Nothing earth shattering but good for clearing the head. Also the suburb looks different on foot than from the bike. Ordinary but good.

The most frustrating part of our lives at the moment is the fact that our phone carrier can't seem to work out how to connect the right number to our house. I've spent hours on the phone with them as well as making sure that the kids don't end up with excess mobile data bills. When most of your life is online, not having it there and easily accessible is annoying. What's the good bit here? Well...I read a book whilst I was on hold. Reading is something I would love to do more of. Even if it's only a guitar magazine or the latest copy of WIRED. Books are cool of course but I like to read them in concentrated bursts not fits and starts.

Lastly, the cat and dog conspired to get me out of bed early (pre-6am) this morning. The good bit about that was that the weather was awesome so I very much enjoyed being back on the bike. A day off it might've been good...for this month!

Rob

Song of the Week #318

The truth is that I'd hoped to be coming to you from a freshly installed internet connection in our new house. But, even having requested that the phone carrier do the transfer with a few weeks' notice, here I am with no landline and using my mobile phone as a hotspot. It's hardly an ideal situation to facilitate writing about music. If anyone feels like saying, "first world problem", then get a grip; I live in the first world. A quick update after over an hour on the phone with our provider last night is that they have no idea why it all doesn't work...but they're working on it.

Def Leppard - Hanging On The Telephone - http://youtu.be/npNmAnZTrHc

On Saturday I managed to get the garage to a state where I could unpack my guitars, get cracking with my new pedal power supply and start rehearsing some new songs. DJ Guz gave me some help with the pedals and we debated the merits of simulating battery "sag". Apparently some guitar pedals sound different as your 9 volt battery ages. The power supply can simulate that. Pretty cool. Hats off to "Pedal Empire" in Brisbane who spent a lot of time with me via email getting my power supply choice right.

You'll know from past episodes that nothing annoys me more than hum and hiss in a guitar signal and whilst it's a fact of life with valve amps and electronics, the solution provided by Matt means that there is absolutely no noise from my pedal board. Guitar rigs are always a work in progress and there's more to come with mine but just being able to plug in and play for an hour or so was great fun.

Motley Crue - Home Sweet Home - http://youtu.be/3WAZ60xA9wo

This week I've been listening almost exclusively to some classic metal. As mentioned last time, I can listen to cassettes again and I've had a good laugh at some of the old tunes. I did take delivery of the album by Sweetapple which is one of J. Mascis' side projects. It's a melodic stoner rock stomp and a lot of fun. If you like Dinosaur Jr. or even Red Kross it's an album you should spin a few times. The cover is a hoot as well, a copy of a rather famous and risque one from Roxy Music. Red Kross I hear you ask? They're a band you should turn to if you like KISS, the Beatles, great harmonies and a healthy attitude to just having a good time.

Red Kross - Stay Away From Downtown - http://youtu.be/6teoeHq6pig

I also found a tape from Rose Tattoo guitarist Peter Wells. If you watch any of the Tatt's videos Pete is the really tall guitarist playing slide. The album is one that I haven't listened to more than a couple of times ever even though I've probably owned the cassette since the early 90s. That's a shame really because there are some great tracks on it and some fine, if understated guitar playing. For you antipodean music afficionados, the album is produced in part by Jon Stevens of Noiseworks fame.

Pete Wells - Between The Saddle & The Ground - http://youtu.be/7qngOPOrHKc

With no internet my TV watching habits have had to change this week. I've gone back through my archive drives looking for stuff I haven't watched in a while. Arnie's  excellent movie "The Running Man" got an airing. Regardless of what Jesse Ventura has or hasn't done lately he's hilarious as Captain Freedom alongside Arnie. Probably the best thing about the film was Zoë's comment, "hey, this is different to the book!" I think I was about 18 when I first read "The Bachman Books" as well. It could be the only work by Steven King that I've managed to read all the way through. But then perhaps I have a short attention span.

AC/DC - Who Made Who - http://youtu.be/PiZHNw1MtzI

I also started watchiing Oliver Stone's biopic "The Doors". It's a long movie and I do remember seeing it at the cinema when it was released. After a while I got a little bored with the whole thing but it did remind me that the Doors, despite having their music ruined for me by radio overplay, were a great band. I didn't realise that this next track was released 7 years after Jim Morrison died but it captures the essence of the group really well in my opinion.

The Doors - The Ghost Song - http://youtu.be/pgj6AIpImUA

Whilst cleaning out the garage I played the entire Judas Priest album "British Steel" and guess what, it's still great! As a teenager my Mum took me to K-Mart and I came home with a two pack of Priest cassettes, the aforementioned album and "Killing Machine". At the time I knew nothing of the band but the cover art of both albums made the sale. "British Steel" was (is) the instant classic whilst "Killing Machine", released in the USA as "Hell Bent For Leather" is a darker, more menacing album. The covers of each album are in the videos below.

Judas Priest - Rapid Fire - http://youtu.be/zhXUutpELRA

Judas Priest - Delivering The Goods - http://youtu.be/soNcOfRvOtg

Let me finish with a quick word about customer service. It could apply to any industry or workplace really. If you tell someone you'll call them back or keep them in the loop then do it. Even if there isn't anything to report a quick note or call to say that you haven't been forgotten is appreciated. Bike shops and telcos would benefit from this advice.

This week's final track is one we played out at the mountain biking last weekend. I wasn't sure that anyone would remember it but the toe tapping and head nodding I observed would suggest otherwise!

Vic Reeves & The Wonderstuff - Dizzy - http://youtu.be/DOlG92rb2Zg

Rock on brothers and sisters,

DJ Rob

"The eternal Thompson Gunner,

Still wanderin through the night.

Now it's ten years later,

But he still keeps up the fight" - Warren Zevon - http://youtu.be/WhRRWwH3Fro