Music at Elsewhere

Randy Newman: Bad Love (Warners)

5 Nov 1999 | 1 min read

Never having subscribed to the theory Newman is an unalloyed genius means always having to say you are sorry. But if you, too, are of that persuasion, here's the album to tune in for. After years of writing soundtracks (with his own take on Faust along the way) Newman returns to his narrative style in songs which are typically cynical, ironic, funny and astutely observed viciousness.... > Read more

Dolly Parton: The Grass is Blue (Sugar Hill/Elite)

18 Jul 1999 | <1 min read

Time was when double-barrelled Dolly was on a major label and hammering home the hits with Kenny Rogers. These days, and for some little while, she's been on minor labels and not many people would argue that making a bluegrass album is the way back to chart domination. But with a stellar cast of players - Jerry Douglas on dobro, Sam Bush on mandolin, Jim Mills on banjo and harmony... > Read more

The Beta Band: The Three EPs (EMI)

1 Jan 1999 | <1 min read

This alarmingly good album released in late '98 -- made up from three impossible-to-find EPs by the Glaswegian quartet -- blurs the boundaries so much between pop and dub, art rock and folk that it goes well beyond convenient pigeonholing. Just call it extraordinary. And an immediate, if late, contender in the "albums of the year" stakes, but one which hasn't had enough time to... > Read more

The Beta Band: Dry the Rain

Joni Mitchell: Taming the Tiger (Warners)

1 Jan 1999 | 1 min read

Joni Mitchell recently said she was so tired of being pitted against any "new Joni" woman singer who came along that she seriously considered retirement and devoting time to her painting (which has become very twee, if those works included in the booklet here are anything to go by). It's not promising, then, to read that the song which got her back on track was about her cat,... > Read more

Various Artists: Pacific Nation Vol 1 (Pacific Nation/BMG)

4 Oct 1998 | 2 min read

Among the more ill-informed discussion about the music quota has been whether there's enough "quality" New Zealand music out there even to fill the oft-advocated 10 per cent. Those who ask -- middle-aged politicians, columnists and radio people with a financial investment in the status quo -- often seem the least positioned to actually know, let alone be genuinely... > Read more

Wendyhouse: Live from the Pillow (Wiggley Tapes)

4 Sep 1998 | 3 min read

Nobody knew much about Wendyhouse until a profile in the Listener this month on the occasion of this album release. Wading through their elevating credentials (cult status, obscure releases, musically and literally itinerant) and the arty buzzwords they have already attracted is one thing, but - is the album any good?Yes - although that's not unequivocal. It's an adventure to listen to,... > Read more