Every weekday between 1 and 5pm we play tracks from our #spotlightartist. They’re an artist with a body of work which has stood the test of time. We’ll play the hits – but also some deep cuts. Listen ad-free through New Zealand via @tunein at https://goo.gl/VL6m3NS
The Eagles have certainly had their share of compilations over the year. Recently they released a big box set of all their studio albums, three live disks and a collection of single cuts and b-sides. It seems a good excuse to enjoy revisiting the band from Los Angeles. Formed in 1971 the band went on to release six albums in the 1970s, spawning five number one singles, six Grammy’s and five number one albums. After breakup in 1979 (saying they would only perform together again if “hell froze over”) they got back together for 1994’s ‘Hell Freeze’s Over’ tour, which yielded a number one live album and video.
Some don’t like them – perhaps too smooth, or just too overexposed/successful, but there is no doubt that we love their body of great music. Let’s enjoy some this week.
Only a couple of years after the smash hit album Evolve comes Imagine Dragons’ fourth album, 12 tracks of solid pop rock, written to conquer the charts. Although the singles don’t seem quite as strong as the last album this is still a great listening experience, if you enjoy melodic thumping rock.
Tarn PK – Talk To You
Galantis – Emoji
Kings – Carry You
Ellie Goulding & Diplo – Close To Me
H.E.R. – Carried Away
Born in 1951, John began performing in the mid 1970s, however his manager insisted he use the name Johnny Cougar, believing the German name Mellencamp was too hard to market. Following albums grew in popularity but his breakthrough came in 1982 with American Fool (featuring “Hurts so Good” and “Jack & Diane”), after which he was allowed to use his own name. Mellencamp’s brand of heartland rock went on to generate 22 Top 40 singles and 13 Grammy Award nominations.
Groovy bluesy music – from Australia! The Teskey Brothers have released a deluxe version of last year’s Half Mile Harvest with two great new tracks – “I Get Up” and “Say You’ll Do”. A fantasic album evoking the Motown sound.
Thomston – The Heights
Steve Aoki – Waste It On Me feat BTS
Kygo – Happy Now feat. Sandro Cavazza
Rudimental – Walk Alone feat. Tom Walker
One of the biggest touring rock and roll bands in the US during the 1970s, you don’t really hear much from this band now, apart from their ubiquitous single “Centrefold”. Peter Wolf led a tough bar band who were hugely popular live but struggled to win in the singles chart. Often good songs like “Give It To Me” didn’t quite turn out to be as strong in the studio as they were live.
We don’t always agree with Pitchfork reviews, but 
Rüfüs Du Sol – Treat You Better
Richard Ashcroft – That’s When I Feel It
Billie Eilish – When The Party’s Over
NEIKED – How Did I Find You (feat. Miriam Bryant)
Openside – Work Out
Florence + The Machine formed in 2007, featuring Florence Welch on lead vocals, with Isabella “Machine” Summers and other collaborators. Archetypal Indie rock, Florence’s belting vocals are an outstanding feature. This week we’ll enjoy music from their initial 2009 album Lungs, Ceremonials (2011) and How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful (2015). Their most recent album High As Hope from a couple of months ago is still in rotation and was an Album of the Week a couple of months ago. A very consistent band with a great repertoire already.