Album of the Week: Britti – Hello, I’m Britti

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.

Nodepression.com described this album as “a flavorful mix of country and R&B” which is spot on. Her electric voice delivers these songs with panache, an incredible talent molded in the melting pot of New Orleans. She navigates many styles – country, R&B, funk, pop and jazz with ease and a good sense of melody throughout. What a debut – this will certainly be on every “Best of Albums” list of 2024.

Album of the Week: Norah Jones – Visions

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.

Although her last album (2020s Pick Me Up Off The Floor) ended up being underrated, Norah has continued to display her incredible talent in this, her eighth full length studio album. AllMusic describe it perfectly: “The results aren’t startling so much as they’re fresh, avoiding musical and lyrical clichés”. All her talents are on show here in an album full of variety, allowing her to “dart between blues, exotica, Italo-western, and soul” (The Line of Best Fit substack).

Album of the Week: San Cisco – Under The Light

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.

We loved San Cisco’s last couple of albums, and here they are again with their fifth studio album, a slice of superbly executed Freemantle jangle-pop. Great tunes, lyrics – what can we say, this album is catnip for us. We’ll enjoy checking it out every morning this week – for more background Rolling Stone did a great interview here.

Album of the Week: Hurray for the Riff Raff – The Past Is Still Alive

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.

Alynda Segarram is back with project “Hurray For The Riff Raff” and ninth album The Past Is Still Alive. The album is more tender and vulnerable than previous releases, especially informed by the artists father passing away a month before beginning to record the album. This is a more folk-oriented album than previous releases, thoughtful and more autobiographical as they travel “their saturated backstory to remember loved ones, honour fellow travellers and “watch the world burn” with a tear in their eye.” (The Guardian).

Album of the Week: Middle Kids – Faith Crisis Pt 1

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.

Sydney (Australia) band Middle Kids started out in the mid 2010s, led by Hannah Joy’s beautiful voice and songwriting talent. We’ve loved their journey including their latest LP “Faith Crisis Pt 1”. The set of sweet melodic songs is irresistible, with standouts including “Dramamine”, “Bend” and “Bootleg Firecracker”. Recorded in the UK with producer Jonathan Gilmore (The 1975) the album gestated while Hannah was going through the experience of being a first time Mum (nice album background in this article on The AU Review).

Album of the Week: Brittany Howard – What Now

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.

Brittany’s second solo album is a fascinating effort. The Alabama Shakes singer’s new album (“outrageously great” according to The Guardian) is a earthy mix of Southern roots rock however on tracks like “Prove it to You” she expands her horizons to Eurobeat and other songs go well beyond these bounds. Her fulsome voice anchors the whole effort, certainly a special album.

Album of the Week: The Last Dinner Party – Prelude to Ecstasy

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.

Qobuz described this baroque, glam OTT band as “lush, louche, lusty and fun”. We couldn’t say it better. These tuneful and playful songs echo the path forged by fellow female UK band Wet Leg a couple of years ago. This is a fun rocking collection! As The Guardian said, “the year’s most hyped band totally deliver”.

Album of the Week: Future Islands – People Who Aren’t There Anymore

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.

Future Islands’ seventh album is a combination of pandemic era music and post first tour music, and to some extent reflects the change in mindset over those years. The end of relationships, friendships and unhelpful aspects of the self all form the backdrop of this album from the Baltimore alternative stalwarts.

Alexis Petridis of The Guardian describes it as “a brutal, beautiful breakup album” in a review that outstandingly unpacks the album. We look forward to meandering through it each morning this week.

Album of the Week: Sleater-Kinney – Little Rope

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.

Sleater-Kinney date back to 1994 when Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein of Olympia, Washington joined forces to create scrappy activist-punk manifestos. On their eleventh album Little Rope explore vulnerability. Leading into the creation of the album Brownstein’s parents died in a car accident in Italy, a devastating loss that working on this album partly provided an outlet. The metaphor of “Little Rope” is ambiguous – it could be rope to hang, or rope to rescue. Pitchfork said that “grief clarifies the air” on the album in a 7.7 review. We’ll enjoy some great rock from the album this week – this interview with AP provides more background from the duo.

Album of the Week: The Vaccines – Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations

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.

From the cover you could be accused of thinking this was an American band, however once the first strident chords and vocals of “Sometimes, I Swear” burst through there can be no illusions. The Vaccines burst onto the scene in the 2010s, quickly gaining a reputation on the London music scene. Their sixth album is another great collection of rocking hooky numbers, just the kind of Indie we lap up. The Guardian described it as “high-octane” sonic euphoria” – we couldn’t agree more!