Just Released 2012 [Ep.47] - Best of 2012

                                                          

This week on Just Released with Bill Riner & Brandon Stewart:

Saturday 29^th & Sunday 30^th December 2012

“For the remaining people of Earth...”:

The Best of 2012: It carries some weight . We preferred to call it “the songs that stuck – and didn’t suck”.

2012 was a positive year for many styles of music. Even Rock made a convincing return, with the debut album from Jack White among the strongest. Psychedelic also made its biggest comeback since ‘67. Neil Young released an album called ‘Psychedelic Pill’ whilst closer to home, Perth’s Tame Impala, were given a psychedelic remix by Todd Rundgren on a track from their 2^nd album, ‘Lonerism’.

The wider influence of Dubstep was seen in 2012 with the rise of both Skrillex and the Australian duo, Knife Party who’s “Bonfire” was a big, loud favourite in the JR office.

Partly due to the recent ‘Mumfordization’ of Pop, acoustic and analogue music found a broader appreciation this year. From Iceland came Of Monsters & Men with a rousing, Indie-Pop anthem from their album, ‘My Head Is An Animal’ while, from England, we had the Folk-with-attitude of an 18 year-old, Jake Bugg.

One of the year’s serendipitous finds came with the international release of J.D. McPherson’s, ‘Signs & Signifiers’, an album bristling with the same authentic Rockabilly mood you’d have found in a Clovis, New Mexico recording studio circa 1956.

Among those stirring up dust on the Comeback Trail in 2012 was Missy Higgins who returned with a new confidence after taking 5 years off to reflect.

Despite its blink-and-you’ll-miss-it K-Pop scare, 2012, was also notable for the old guard being prepared to kick out the jams. McCartney fronting Nirvana was among the noisier highlights in a year that also saw in a well-represented field, strong new albums from Ian Hunter (73), Tom Jones (72), John Cale (70), Scott Walker (69) and Van Morrison (67), among others. Two big highlights were Leonard Cohen’s ‘Old Ideas’ and Bob Dylan’s 35^th studio album, ‘Tempest’. Bob celebrated his 50^th anniversary as a recording artist in 2012 along with The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys and Booker T & The MGs. (The Seekers were also seen to be cutting a cake.)

The year offered us many highlights - far too many to include here.

This edition of Just Released is the final show of the 2^nd season.

Hope you’ll join us again when JR returns in 2013 - and as ever, thanks for listening.

Jake Bugg: “Lightning Bolt” (from the album, ‘Jake Bugg’)

Of Monsters & Men: “Little Talks” (from the album, ‘My Head Is An Animal’)

Knife Party: “Bonfire" (from the ‘Rage Valley EP’)

Missy Higgins: “Everyone’s Waiting” (from the album, ‘The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle’)

J.D. McPherson: “Northside Gal” (from the album, ‘Signs & Signifiers’)

Jack White: “I’m Shakin’” (from the album, ‘Blunderbuss’)

Leonard Cohen: “I’m Going Home” (from the album, ‘Old Ideas’)

Ian Hunter & The Rant Band: “Comfortable (Flyin’ Scotsman)” (from the album, ‘When I’m President’)

Tame Impala: “Elephant (Todd Rundgren Remix)” (from the Deluxe Edition of the album, ‘Lonerism’)

Bob Dylan: “Duquesne Whistle” (from the album, ‘Tempest’)

Just Released is heard Saturdays at 12pm and Sundays at 5pm (AEDT or AEST) on ABC Digital Radio in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and via the streams of our metropolitan stations on the Gold Coast, in Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.  You can also listen to the show during the week on ABC Dig Music Mondays @ 2pm, Wednesdays @ 8pm & Thursdays @ 11am (AEDT or AEST) and on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific.

To stream Just Released on demand, connect to our web pages via the links above.

              ♫

    ♫   {](-_-)[}   ♫         Thanks for listening.

Just Released - 2012 [Ep.46] Christmas Special

This week on Just Released with Bill Riner & Brandon Stewart:

Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd December 2012

“Merry Christmas Baby, you sure did treat me nice…”:

The spirit of the season is with us once again and you’d have to be a bona-fide Grinch to ignore it. Here at Camp JR, we’ve been making our own list and checking it twice in preparation for the upcoming end of year special of those songs that made a tangible impression during 2012. (But more of that, next time).

With this edition being so close to “the most wonderful time of the year”, we thought it apt to wrap up some of our own Christmas favourites. Without resorting to unseasonal evocations (for the southern hemisphere, at least) of building snowmen and roasting chestnuts on an open fire, we warm the mood with some Reggae toasting from Jamaica’s Jacob Miller and New Zealand’s H.K. Crew, filter a traditional Carol through the middle-eastern muslin of Canada’s Loreena McKennitt and go a-wassailing with English Folk singer Kate Rusby.

We also take a Soulful look at the season with some of the biggest names of Blues,  Jazz and Funk and even consider those Grinchy McScroogey types who prefer to resist all the Christmas cheer with one of our favourites from American band, Red Wanting Blue. 

As well, we feature a couple of the greatest contemporary Christmas songs (ever) from The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl - and Australia’s top-shelf troubadour, Paul Kelly. There’s something for everybody under the JR Christmas tree this year as we wish a Merry Christmas to you all. 

Paul Simon: “Getting Ready For Christmas Day” (from the album, ‘So Beautiful Or So What’)

The Shins: “Wonderful Christmastime” (from the album, ‘Holidays Rule’)

Red Wanting Blue: “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" (single)

Kate Rusby: “Here We Come A-Wassailing” (from the album, ‘Sweet Bells’)

Loreena McKennitt: “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” (from the EP, ‘A Winter Garden: Five Songs From The Season’)

H.K. Crew: “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” (from the album ‘World Christmas Party’)

Jacob Miller: “We Wish You A Merry Christmas)” (from the album ‘World Christmas Party’)

B.B. King: “Christmas Celebration” (from the album, ‘A Christmas Celebration Of Hope’)

Lionel Hampton (with Sonny Parker): “Merry Christmas Baby” (from the album, ‘What A Wonderful Christmas’)

James Brown: “Soulful Christmas” (from the album, ‘Funky Christmas’)

The Pogues(featuring Kirsty MacColl): “Fairytale Of New York” (from the album, ‘If I Should Fall From Grace With God’)

Paul Kelly: “How To Make Gravy” (from the EP, ‘How To Make Gravy’)

James Taylor: “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (from the album, ‘James Taylor At Christmas’)

Just Released is heard Saturdays at 12pm and Sundays at 5pm (AEDT or AEST) on ABC Digital Radio in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and via the streams of our metropolitan stations on the Gold Coast, in Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.  You can also listen to the show during the week on ABC Dig Music Mondays @ 2pm, Wednesdays @ 8pm & Thursdays @ 11am (AEDT or AEST) and on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific.

To stream Just Released on demand, connect to our web pages via the links above.

              ♫

    ♫   {](-_-)[}   ♫         Thanks for listening.

Just Released 2012 - [Ep. 45]

This week on Just Released with Bill Riner & Brandon Stewart:

“Yes I've been black but when I come back you'll know, know, know…”:

Of course, there is no coming back for Amy Winehouse but as the recorded legacies of Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix or Eva Cassidy have proven, an early death does not curtail a career. Whilst the legacies of some have been treated far less than respectfully over the years, in this edition of JR we find that the Amy Winehouse archive still has quality to offer. The multi-disc box, ‘Amy Winehouse At The BBC’ treats both her memory and unquestionable talent with the reverence it deserves.

It may be the end of the year but some new music is still coming out. This week, we touch on the latest from both Birdy and Pet Shop Boys. The former has recorded a John Butler Trio song from 2004 and the latter has a song from their current album, ‘Elysium’ remixed by go-to producer, Stuart Price.

Back home, we check out some World music rhythms from new albums by Darwin band, The Neo and the former Gondwanaland didgeridoo maestro, Charlie McMahon. We also preview the forthcoming 13^th album from the songwriter’s songwriter®, Ron Sexsmith and a new EP from relative newcomer, Ben Howard.

And speaking of the new, the JR Radar was buzzing again this week with growing talk of the English duo, AlunaGeorge tipped to be even bigger news in the coming year. We also do our bit in keeping the spirit of the season alive with a Rockabilly Christmas song from JD McPherson and one of the strangest mash-ups we’ve heard all year, in which DJ and producer Paolo Monti melds a seasonal favourite from Wham! with the internet phenomenon of the year by the newly-crowned King of K-Pop, PSY. (Yeah, we could hardly believe it either.)

The Neo: “Marrtjina (Let’s Go)” (from the album, ‘The Near Earth Objects’)

Pet Shop Boys: “Memory Of The Future (Stuart Price Remix)” (original version appears on the album, ‘Elysium’)

Ben Howard: “Oats In The Water" (from the ‘Burgh Island EP’)

Charlie McMahon & Gondwana: “Voyager” (from the album, ‘Didj Heart’)

Birdy: “What You Want” (from the expanded edition of the album, ‘Birdy’)

Ron Sexsmith: “She Does My Heart Good” (preview from the album, ‘Forever Endeavour’)

JD McPherson: “Twinkle (Little Christmas Lights)” (digital single)

AlunaGeorge: “You Know You Like It” (from the ‘You Know You Like It EP’)

Amy Winehouse: “Lullaby Of Birdland”/”Valerie” (from the box set, ‘Amy Winehouse At The BBC’)

Wham! vs. PSY: “Last Christmas (Gangnam Style)” (digital ‘mashup’ single)

Just Released is heard Saturdays at 12pm and Sundays at 5pm (AEDT or AEST) on ABC Digital Radio in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra,Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and via the streams of our metropolitan stations on the Gold Coast, in Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.  You can also listen to the show during the week on ABC Dig Music Mondays @ 2pm, Wednesdays @ 8pm & Thursdays @ 11am (AEDT or AEST) and on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific.

To stream Just Released on demand, connect to our web pages via the links above.

              ♫

    ♫   {](-_-)[}   ♫         Thanks for listening.

Just Released 2012 - [Ep. 44]

 This week on Just Released with Bill Riner & Brandon Stewart:

“And you are magnificent / And I can see you with my eyes closed…”:

Neil Finn can no doubt do many things with his eyes closed, including write a good song.  Whether he felt it more a stretch composing to order however, we can’t tell. Neil was invited by filmmaker, Peter Jackson to contribute a song for his latest cinematic epic, ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ - and we preview the track in this week’s edition of JR.

Despite almost being year’s end, there’s still plenty of new music about. Some of it, offering us a tantalizing forward glimpse, with previews of albums promised in the first few months of 2013. Among them is the debut album from emerging Americana artist Phillip Phillips,. We take a first listen to the newly crowned victor’s debut single. We also preview tracks from forthcoming releases by quirky Victorian singer, Gossling, English Rock band Foals and we discover a gentler, lighter side to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.

One of this edition’s highlights comes from veteran English musician, Richard Thompson. His new album, 'Electric' is due in February and was recorded in Nashville in collaboration with Buddy Miller. Thompson is considered one of the world’s greatest guitar players for good reason - and you’ll hear why on our preview track from his new album.

The JR Radar was buzzing this week with an emerging band, the international duo known as Rhye who will be one to watch in 2013. They definitely caught our ears with the first taste of their forthcoming debut EP. As well, we check out the latest from Brooklyn instrumental R&B group, The Menahan Street Band and check The Shins’ new take on a Paul McCartney song which has already become something of a Christmas standard.

Phillip Phillips: “Home” (preview from the debut album, ‘The World From The Side Of The Moon’)

Gossling: “Wild Love” (from the ‘International Living EP’)

Neil Finn: “Song Of The Lonely Mountain" (from the soundtrack, ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’)

Foals: “Inhaler” (preview from the album, ‘Holy Fire’)

Menahan Street Band: “The Crossing” (from the album, ‘The Crossing’)

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: “Where U Live” (preview from the album, ‘Push The Sky Away’)

Of Monsters & Men: “Mountain Sound” (from the album, ‘My Head Is An Animal’)

Rhye: “The Fall” (preview from ‘The Fall EP’)

Richard Thompson: “Good Things Happen To Bad People” (preview from the album, ‘Electric’)

The Shins: “Wonderful Christmastime” (from the album, ‘Holidays Rule’)

Just Released is heard Saturdays at 12pm and Sundays at 5pm (AEDT or AEST) on ABC Digital Radio in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra,Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and via the streams of our metropolitan stations on the Gold Coast, in Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.  You can also listen to the show during the week on ABC Dig Music Mondays @ 2pm, Wednesdays @ 8pm & Thursdays @ 11am (AEDT or AEST) and on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific.

To stream Just Released on demand, connect to our web pages via the links above.

               ♫

    ♫   {](-_-)[}  ♫            Thanks for listening.

Just Released 2012 - [Ep. 43]

 This week on Just Released with Brandon Stewart:

“The chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one…”:

It wasn't exactly by design but this week's edition of JR seems to be marked by the hand of studio production - or it's polar opposite.

Jeff Wayne's late-'70s epic 'The War Of The Worlds' has been given a 21st century makeover with the voice of Irish actor Liam Neeson stepping into the role originally taken by Richard Burton and Justin Hayward's mellifluous vocals re-voiced by Take That singer, Gary Barlow. It’s an adventurous re-imagining by Jeff Wayne but what will fans of the original album make of it?

Another highly produced affair is the new album from Alicia Keys which features a host of outside production influences, of which the most unexpected is from Jamie Smith of de rigueur London band, The xx.

Showing rather more restraint in production but perhaps to greater effect are Tex Perkins, with his band of moody bretheren, The Dark Horses - and the stunningly understated voice of English-based American singer, Kristina Train.

Meanwhile, after appearing onstage with Bruce Springsteen at SXSW back in March this year, a rejuvenated Eric Burdon is stirring up dust on the comeback trail this week with a new EP recorded with garage rockers, The Greenhornes. We unveil a great new single by up-and-coming English artist, Example and give a nod to one of the last great record men, Ahmet Ertegun (of Atlantic Records fame) from the Led Zeppelin tribute performance held in his honour back in 2007.

There's a preview of the forthcoming album by Nashville's Bluegrass/Soul band, The SteelDrivers featuring a Spartan production ethic - and it's exact opposite with an OTT dance mix from the latest Frankie Goes To Hollywood greatest hits collection.

Bill Riner returns for next week's edition of JR - but in the meantime, Frankie says.. 'Relax'. 

  

Example: “Close Enemies” (from the album, ‘The Evolution Of Man’)

Eric Burdon & The Greenhornes: “Out Of My Mind” (from the EP, ‘Eric Burdon & The Greenhornes’)

The Dark Horses: “Filthy Beauty" (from the album, ‘Everyone’s Alone’)

Alicia Keys: “When It’s All Over” (from the album, ‘Girl On Fire’)

Kristina Train: “Dark Black” (from the album, ‘Dark Black’)

Jeff Wayne: “The Eve Of The War (edit)” (from the album, ‘Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War Of The Worlds  – The New Generation’)

The SteelDrivers: “I’ll Be There”/”Burnin’ The Woodshed Down” (preview from the album, ‘Hammer Down’)

Led Zeppelin: “Misty Mountain Hop” (from the album, ‘Celebration Day’)

Frankie Goes To Hollywood: “Relax [New York Mix]” (from the album, ‘Frankie Said: The Very Best Of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’)

Just Released is heard Saturdays at 12pm and Sundays at 5pm (AEDT or AEST) on ABC Digital Radio in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and via the streams of our metropolitan stations on the Gold Coast, in Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.  You can also listen to the show during the week on ABC Dig Music Mondays @ 2pm, Wednesdays @ 8pm & Thursdays @ 11am (AEDT or AEST) and on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific.

To stream Just Released on demand, connect to our web pages via the links above.

      {](-_-)[}            Thanks for listening.