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Album of the Week: Bruce Springsteen – Nebraska ’82 (Electric)

Back in 1982 the original intention was to record Nebraska with the full E Street band, but in the end Springsteen reverted to his simple demos that he felt better conveyed the spirit of the album. These versions have finally been released, in an Expanded edition that also includes other tracks from the time such as early versions of “Born in the USA”.

Various E-Street band members have given contradictory memories of the tapes, and earlier this year Springsteen himself denied their existence in an interview. In a short space of time this was corrected and now, only months after the stupendous Tracks II was released we have this fascinating alternate take on a great album.

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE or on the web player.

Album of the Week: The Last Dinner Party – From The Pyre

The Last Dinner Party’s second album brings another superb dollop of glam rock, full of slightly over-wrought vocals, great hooks and lyrics. The Line of Best Fit said that “Pyre, like/perhaps slightly more than Prelude, is fiercely ambitious, gloriously messy, and wickedly entrancing”.

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE or on the web player.

Album of the Week: Saint Motel – Afterglow

We’ve loved the evolution of Los Angeles indie band Saint Motel, but were surprised to see their fifth album appear so soon after February’s Saint Motel & the Symphony in the Sky. Their evolution into melodic lush orchestral Indie/Pop is complete, although in one interview its described as ‘the end of a chapter’. Hopefully that doesn’t mean a radical departure! This article features an interview with frontman A.J. Jackson – can’t wait to share tracks from this album this week.

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE or on the web player.

Album of the Week: Good Neighbours – Blue Sky Mentality

Blue Sky Mentality is an aptly named first album for Good Neighbours – it is a really solid collection of feel good melodic earworms, designed for radio. Reminds us of a negative review of Ed Sheeran’s latest Play which was disparaged for being filled with songs designed for radio play – evidently some have an issue with memorable and tuneful songs people enjoy!

Good Neighbour’s debut single “Home” was a delightful catchy piece of nostalgic Indie which went viral on Tik Tok in 2023 and hit the charts last year (surprisingly it only made it to 16 in New Zealand and 26 in the UK, although it had staying power). The band consists of Essex (UK) singer-songwriter Oli Fox and London born Scott Verrill who had paid their dues songwriting and supporting other acts individually. This album has been long anticipated and is filled with more great tracks including singles “Ripple” and “Starry Eyed”.

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE or on the web player.

Album of the Week: Nation of Language – Dance Called Memory

Nation of Language started out in Brooklyn, New York back in 2016. They first came to our attention a couple of years ago with their sweet synth pop with swelling deep bass chords on their 2023 album Strange Disciple. This new effort continues in similar vein. Harkening back to sounds like those of OMD or New Order in the 1980s the band take things seriously, with the main development since 2023 being more prominent guitar. AllMusic summed it up: “”danceable, eccentric, and immaculate at once, often using space to emphasize alienation as well as its shifting minimalist instrumentation.” Our favourite track is the opener “Can’t Face Another One” but you’ll find plenty of treasures here.

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE or on the web player.

Album of the Week: The Favors – The Dream

Finneas and Ashe began hinting at a collaboration earlier this year and we loved the first single “The Mess You Made” back in June. This is solid tuneful pop with a lovely retro feel. We’ve enjoyed Finneas’ solo work (and of course production for sibling Billie Eilish) but weren’t familiar with Californian singer-songwriter Ashe. The reviews on Album of the Year are pretty thin on the ground which belies the tunefulness and talent on show here. Could be a sleeper hit.

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE or on the web player.

Album of the Week: Parcels – LOVED

Those of us that are slightly OCD about the English language might wince at Parcel’s unconventional use of the SHIFT and SPACE keys on their keyboards, but other complaints are hard to find. Their third album was created after a break in a haphazard manner, many songs being initially developed alone then recorded in sessions all over the planet. The result though is a well integrated series of songs with sweet melodies and Aussie summer vibes. Chris Connor of Line of Best Fit described it well as “constantly invigorating”.

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE or on the web player.

Album of the Week: Big Thief – Double Infinity

Although lead vocalist Adrianne Lenker and lead guitarist Buck Meek have more country origins this album returns to a more rock oriented sound than Big Thief’s two (excellent) recent albums (Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You from 2022 and Two Hands from 2019). This is a beautiful album with sweet harmonies, lovely analogue sounding recordings and positive lyrics. Look at the track “No Fear” in particular:

There is no fear,

Mind so clear, mind so free

There is no time

round like a lime

Destiny

As The Guardian put it “Classic melodies, spring water acoustics and pared-back poeticism about living in the moment”.

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE or on the web player.

Album of the Week: Wolf Alice – The Clearing

Bassist Theo Ellis told Apple Music that Wolf Alice adopted a “less is more” approach to their fourth album. While it may be somewhat pared back compared to 2021’s superb Blue Weekend it does open with strings, so fret not that this is some raw collection of tracks or a diversion into acoustic folk. It retains the essence of the “Wolf Alice” sound but is somewhat tamed – perhaps a consequence of Greg Kirstin’s production. That said, we don’t mind evolution and maturity – this is still a great collection. Ellie Roswell’s vocals are superb – in fact Mojo magazine described this album as “their best yet” although the Financial Times were admittedly less impressed:

Now in their thirties, the four band members have outgrown the style of music formed over a decade ago. But what they have grown into proves underwhelming.

What do you think?

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE or on the web player.

Album of the Week: Molly Tuttle – So Long Little Miss Sunshine

Holler.country thought this album would be particularly resonant with female audiences, describing it as “full of intensely relatable experiences of girlhood, growth and gaining self-confidence”. Full of catchy melodies, she has a pop vibe (“I Love It” is written originally by Charli XCX and recorded by Icona Pop) but still retains its grounding in bluegrass. The guitar work opening the album on “Everything Burns” is a delight and leads into a confident album reaching out to new audiences but in turn perhaps drawing them into the world of Americana.

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE or on the web player.