200th POST!

Born in 2013 this BLOG is ready to celebrate it's 200th post, hooray!

So I wanted to take this time and post to let you know what's ahead. Starting Monday Summer Music Lists, 20 to 1 from Monday we look back at the hottest songs of Spring. Before Christmas I will breakdown the best males and females of 2013.

On Boxing Day I will present the Album of 2013, what will it be? Haim, Rudimental, Rufus, Kanye West, Lorde or Disclosure? Time will tell. Over 2013/2014 I will bring you the 200 BEST songs of the past 12 months. On Boxing day I will count it down 200 - 101 and on Australia Day (like Triple J) I will go 100 all the way down to 1.

So in the coming weeks I will preview potential tunes from the list. All 200 tunes coming to you before January 27th 2014.

So thanks to those reading and telling me that I have introduced you to some rad new tunes. It's been a great year for music and over Summer 2013/2014 I can't wait to break it down for y'all.

So until tomorrow's Countdown, see y'all soon….

Out on the Shelves.... NOW - Part 9

Sydney DJ Beni has released a new EP and it's damn fine, take a listen below:


Now for another Sydney act, this time Sydney via Hong Kong, it the FAB Rainbow Chan, you can grab this Sydney X NYC remix for free below y'all!


Chillout Sessions XVI just came out and here are some killer highlights from it:

#TUNETHURSDAY {Architecture In Helsinki - Dream A Little Crazy}

Countdown - Sun 24 November 2013‏

20 - HAIM - The Wire

19 - Icona Pop - All Night

18 - Kanye West - Bound 2

17 - Lorde - Team

16 - Flight Facilities - Stand Still {Feat. Micky Green}

15 - Eminem - Berzerk

14 - Calvin Harris & Alesso - Under Control {Feat. Hurts}

13 - Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness {Cedric Gervais Remix}

12 - Avicii - Addicted to You

11 - Ellie Goulding - Burn 

10 - Lorde - Royals

9 - Vance Joy - Riptide

8 - Joel Fletcher & Savage - Swing

7 - Lupe Fiasco - Old School Love {Feat. Ed Sheeran}

6 - Lana Del Rey - Young & Beautiful {Cedric Gervais Remix}

5 - Flume & Chet Faker - Drop the Game

4 - Ed Sheeran - I See Fire

3 - Lily Allen - Hard out There

2 - Avicii - Hey Brother

1 - Eminem - Monster {Feat. Rihanna}

Out on the Shelves.... NOW - Part 8

Digitally and on the iTunes today, Flume + Chet Faker has released a three track EP. It features the below tune "Drop the Game":


Bernard Fanning has released an iTunes session EP and Flight Facilities have released their latest single (can we please get a full length album Flight Facilities?) today:




Australian music, I bloody love you. Well done to Flume, Remi & Clubfeet for their J Awards. And hey Triple J I could have told you all the way back on Australia Day this year that Flume had the best Australian album of 2012/2013. The deluxe edition is DOPE!

#TUNETHURSDAY

Kanye West is back and like Miley a controversial video always gets hits and news coverage. A highlight from his "Yeezus" album and one of my Album of the Year nods, who will win, tune in next month to find out, for now some new Kanye & Kim K footage, warning it's not safe for work and has a big language warning:

#TUNETUESDAY

More new music from our boy Flume, this time with his old bearded mate Chet Faker:


For more about the song and upcoming 3 track EP, head over to Triple J's Music News. Also there the rather lame second announcement of Big Day Out artists. Man I hope this helps them sell out but I really doubt it. Rather sad. For all the info click HERE

Until next time, goodnight Australia.

Countdown - Sun 17 November 2013

20 - The Wombats - Your Body is a Weapon

19 - Eminem - Beautiful Pain {Feat. Sia}

18 - John Newman - Love Me Again

17 - Lorde - Tennis Court

16 - Icona Pop - All Night

15 - Lorde - Team

14 - HAIM - The Wire

13 - Calvin Harris & Alesso - Under Control {Feat. Hurts}

12 - Eminem - Berzerk

11 - Ellie Goulding - Burn 

10 - John Butler Trio - Only One

9 - Lorde - Royals

8 - Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness {Cedric Gervais Remix}

7 - Vance Joy - Riptide

6 - Joel Fletcher & Savage - Swing

5 - Lupe Fiasco - Old School Love {Feat. Ed Sheeran}

4 - Ed Sheeran - I See Fire

3 - Lana Del Rey - Young & Beautiful {Cedric Gervais Remix}

2 - Avicii - Hey Brother

1 - Eminem - Monster {Feat. Rihanna}

Jessica Mauboy - The Star Event Centre, Sydney

Jessica Mauboy is no doubt a talent but at this lacklustre venue (see my other BLOG for my issues with the Star - lack of parking, fire exits, atmosphere and the list goes on) something seemed a little off. One the mix of her own songs versus cover songs was interesting, no doubt Pop a Bottle is an instant hit but some of her other tunes fell flat and not to mention the usual music oppose to a live band was very hit n miss.

So to the set list, it felt rushed at the start like she had heaps of songs and just really want to belt them all out in a flash. Up/Down and Burn opened up and felt a little less impressive with the band than on the radio with slick production behind them. The next 8 songs came with little audience involvement or interaction. She spoke seldomly until the end when their was an over long and Jesus speech which made me cringe a bit.

Then came a new costume and some covers. Her first ever Australian Idol audition was revisited with a snippet of "I have Nothing", the BIG Whitney tune. It was great and the crowd ate it up.

Next cover "Time after Time" was great too, the older folk in the room (and their were many - the crowd was very diverse - GAY/Teeny Bopper/Timomatic/Guy Sebastian's Bro/Sarah de Bono (who - you ask - a Voice finalist who's career is still yet to take off despite Delta and the crew thinking they were amazing/Old folk out way too late for a Friday and other randoms) and even I sang along to the chorus.

Nathaniel her support act joined her on stage for a duet and then came my personal highlight for the evening the Sapphires medley. Man that was a good film and part of me thinks this is the type of music Jess really likes, I really can't see her wanting to be Australia's answer to Beyonce. I somehow think that is Sony's plan but Jessica who also won a Telstra road to Tamworth country singing comp does fit better in a retro style vibe and the oldies again loved it sick.

She sang another few new songs before an obvious and unneeded encore with Inescapable and Pop a Bottle (Fill me Up) featured. Pop a Bottle could be her biggest and best hit to date, it's fun it's catchy as all hell but still to me her best moments are her covers. Sorry Jess but your voice is so strong and solid that these Beyonce reject songs just don't seem to work especially with a live band.

Jessica Mauboy a great talent but not sure where she will go from here.

Here are some highlights:

The Week in Music - Wrap

So a lot of music hit the stands this week, I saw a gig and had a monster week so apologies for the delays with updates and posts but here is what caught my eyes and ears this week:

New music from BENI, outta Sydney he is back:


His new EP is out soon and playing the following in DJ mode:

Sat 7 Dec - Survivor! @ The Bottom End, Melbourne Sun 1 Dec - The Beach Ball @ Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Sat 14 Dec - The Plot @ Luna Park, Sydney Sun 15 Dec - The Plot @ The Palace Theatre, Melbourne Sat 21 Dec - Mr Kims @ Crippen Place, Adelaide Sat 28 Dec - Cakes @ World Bar, Sydney Wed 1 Jan - Ministry of Sound Classics @ The Ivy, Sydney

Good on you Beni.

Can you believe John Butler Trio are back, again, how good is this new tune:


Expect good things from the John Butler Trio coming soon.

New albums released yesterday and in my weekly What's On the Shelves Now section:

Jake Bugg is back!


Diplo dropped a new EP, check it below:


The new Hunger Games Soundtrack dropped yesterday and where Twilight left off these teen movies bring together some of the worlds most exciting artists to get a load of coverage:


Now to the sexiest music video of the week (no it's not Miley Cyrus licking a hammer or having her anus bleached it's the dreamy Dan Sultan:


So much new music so little time...

Stay tuned for some big Summer countdowns and year end wrap ups. It's almost time for the Hottest 200 tunes of 2013 (spaced over two big posts) and the big Album of 2013. What will it be? Rudimental, Disclosure, Kanye West, Rufus, Haim or Lorde or a last minute announcement? Time will tell. Boxing Day in fact.

A full Jessica Mauboy review from the Event Centre @ The Star coming oh so soon too.

#TUNEWEDNESDAY

Lily Allen is BACK!

Tunes 4 Tuesday

Good evening all and new music is going off as I log in tonight, have a listen to these new gems:

LUSCIOUS JACKSON: There is a god I love these ladies and they are finally back on the airwaves:


DUCK SAUCE: Are offering up a great mix tape, take a listen, download and get dancing below:


FLUME: Just released a deluxe version of his killer debut, take a listen to this:


And there is some more killer new tunes HERE

Countdown - Sun 10 November 2013

20 - Avicii - You Make Me

19 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - White Walls {Feat. ScHoolboy Q & Hollis} 

18 - Eminem - Rap God

17 - John Newman - Love Me Again

16 - Eminem - Survival

15 - Lorde - Tennis Court

14 - Lorde - Team

13 - Eminem - Beautiful Pain {Feat. Sia}

12 - HAIM - The Wire

11 - Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness {Cedric Gervais Remix}

10 - Lorde - Royals

9 - Calvin Harris & Alesso - Under Control {Feat. Hurts}

8 - Ellie Goulding - Burn 

7 - Eminem - Berzerk

6 - Vance Joy - Riptide

5 - Lupe Fiasco - Old School Love {Feat. Ed Sheeran}

4 - Lana Del Rey - Young & Beautiful {Cedric Gervais Remix}

3 - Ed Sheeran - I See Fire

2 - Avicii - Hey Brother

1 - Eminem - Monster {Feat. Rihanna}

Out on the Shelves.... NOW - Part 7

A much bigger week of releases, not to mention new music from Celine Dion, I am super excited. So let's take a look at this week's best releases:

The Bamboos are back with a new disc and just in time for Australian Music Week:


Neil Finn & Paul Kelly have worked together to pop out this little one:


Flume has gone deluxe and another top notch Australian release and my Australian Album of 2012 is now super sized, amazing stuff, take a look/listen below:


More new music from this fine brown land, Illy is back with a new release and he is a hot taste from the album:


The John Steel Singers are also back and let's take a listen to what they have been working on:


A big dance compilation dropped today and the Annual is always one of those must have Summer albums, let's here a megamix, love a megamix:


Oh and so many damn Christmas albums and also Lady Gaga dropped her new weird record, she was on the UK S Factor the other week and my oh my is she getting weird:


Till next time, go out and grab some new music, but maybe not Anthony Callea or Human Nature's Christmas albums..

#TUNETHURSDAY

Heard this tune on the wireless last Tuesday and the name say's it all, it's Hot Since 82 (my birth year!) and this tune is a bit of a Summer Anthem :)



Bring on the weekend!

#TUNETUESDAY

It's Cup Day and what better way to finish the long day of eating, drinking and heading off to TomWaterhouse.COM. This is new music from the Broken Bells, it's part The Shins, part Gnarls Barkley, do you think they enjoyed the Bee Gees a wee bit????

Countdown - Sun 3 November 2013‏

20 - Illy - Youngbloods {Feat. Ahren Stringer}

19 - Panama - Always

18 - Avicii - You Make Me

17 - John Newman - Love Me Again
16 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - White Walls {Feat. ScHoolboy Q & Hollis}
15 - Lorde - Tennis Court
14 - Ellie Goulding - Burn

13 - Lorde - Team 

12 - HAIM - The Wire

11 - Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness {Cedric Gervais Remix}

10 - Lorde - Royals
9 - Calvin Harris & Alesso - Under Control {Feat. Hurts}
8 - Eminem - Rap God

7 - Eminem - Survival
6 - Eminem - Berzerk

5 - Vance Joy - Riptide
4 - Lupe Fiasco - Old School Love {Feat. Ed Sheeran}

3 - Lana Del Rey - Young & Beautiful {Cedric Gervais Remix}

2 - Avicii - Hey Brother

1 - Eminem - Monster {Feat. Rihanna}

Beyonce - Allphones Arena

I saw this DIVA (and she is a Diva) a few years back maybe in the height of her solo career but this set was killer. Allphones Arena again like last Saturday with One Direction was packed to the rafters. After a wee bit of Stan Walker and some tunes to warm up the large crowd Beyonce came out blazing with the BIG tune partly borrowed from Major Lazer "Run the World (Girls)", what an opener:


Then came one of my random favourite tunes "End of Time", what a tune!


This powerhouse opening was just great! I enjoyed "Baby Boy" and "Dvia" before Beyonce (like One Direction) took the concert to the back of the house. She killed "Love on Top" and flew (literally flew over the crowd) back to the front of stage to kill the last few tunes.


"Crazy in Love" and "Single Ladies" were awesome but "Grown Woman" was killer! Some African beats and some awesome dancing. To be honest the dancing and the movement on stage was the highlight. I really enjoyed every sequence and every costume change this girl worked it and twerked it!


The evening finished with a beautiful cover of "I Will Always Love You" before ripping into her hit "Halo". It was listed as an Encore but not at our gig the whole thing ran smooth without a boring waiting period for the diva to return to the stage, she just took it all in her stride and pumped out hit after hit. Great evening by one of the original divas. Well done Beyonce, The Mrs Carter Show is the bees knees and actually rates a solid 5 shining stars.

New Music Friday

Might save what's on the Shelves for tomorrow this week and take a peak at some of this week's best new music.

First up the UK's hottest brothers, DISCLOSURE:


Next up that crazy guy who appears on "Girls" for a bit, it's CHILDISH GAMBINO:


Man I love KATY B and "I Like You" is her latest hit, the new album should be out real soon so watch this space!