New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm Monday to Friday. Listen in @tunein at https://tunein.com/radio/New-Zealand-Net-Radio-s305138/
“Macca’s back in the groove” proclaimed The Guardian. Certainly this album contains a number of cracking tracks. Any older artist working with Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic etc) seems to attract immediate fire, presumably for trying to be contemporary. Paul however has always incorporated ‘of the moment’ influences as a rock and pop artist, while remaining true to his core sound as well. This collaboration produces a great catchy tune (“Fuh You”) however its joined by a number of other great tracks including “I Don’t Know”, “Come On To Me”, “Dominoes” and “Back In Brazil” amongst others. We look forward to checking out the album through the week.
Ben Howard is a talented British indie artist. Hard to categorise, we loved his recent album Noonday Dream and decided to feature his work this week. We’ll explore Noonday Dream as well as tracks from his debut album Every Kingdom, EP The Burgh Island and 2014’s I Forget Where We Were.
British folk artist Passenger (aka Mike Rosenberg) takes us on a road trip through America. Perhaps more of the same, but a pleasant sounding album none the less.
We usually feature new albums in this slot, but this week we’ll take a look back at an all time classic from 1973. This album was Paul McCartney’s first widely respected album after the Beatles ended (the previous albums had mixed reviews). We’ll be playing the original tracks from the US release including the great song “Helen Wheels”. For more about this album I’d highly recommend checking out the great Complete Paul McCartney Archive Podcast episode 6 
Hailing from Detroit, Bob Seger achieved his first nationwide hit with “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” in 1968. He went on to enjoy a string of hits in the 1970s, forming the Silver Bullet Band in 1974.
Their first album in seven years received generally favourable reviews. A great sound, and in the absence of much in the way of exciting new releases a good chance to check out an album we didn’t get a chance to feature back in May.
The Eurythmics were an inescapable force in 1980s pop. A duo consisting of vocalist Annie Lennox and musician Dave Stewart, both contributing their songwriting talents. After a less than happy experience in the band “The Tourists” they decided to become a duo in the early 1980s in a hotel in Wagga Wagga, Australia of all places. Their second album Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) was a massive smash hit and led to a decade of success. Annie Lennox subsequently released outstanding solo music while Dave Stewart has been an in-demand producer (although they’ve rejoined for a couple of projects since.
We’ve been looking forward to this one from Aussie singer-songwriter Amy Shark since her breakthrough last year, including her great EP Night Thinker. Aside from “Adore” this album features a new lineup of songs with some really solid efforts. Everyone will have their favourites but “I Said Hi” is one we’ve really been enjoying as a preview single. This album deserves to do well – the critics have certainly been kind.
Odette – Lights Out
Tiesto – Tear It Down (from the Hotel Transylvania 3 Soundtrack)
Niall Horan – Finally Free (from the Small Foot Movie Soundtrack)
Gorillaz – Tranz
UB40 came together in 1978 in Birmingham, the eight band members beginning performing in 1979. From the beginning they played popular reggae songs, and got their break when the Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde saw them playing at a pub and offered them the opportunity to play as her backing band. Astonishingly their first single reached no. 4 on the UK charts. We’ll play a few tracks this week from their first album Signing Off.