I'm stuck out here, it's been forever (Steriogram) #540

Steriogram Go/ Free  (EMI, 2005)

NZ band Steriogram were actually more of a big deal outside of Nu Zild. 

Either my daughter Samantha bought this while we were living in the UK, or I did. A sticker on the cover says '2 Track Single - expect to pay no more than 2 pounds' so it definitely came from living there in 2005.

The music is probably more her than me (the sound of young NZ) but I do like the odd punk thrash, so... 

Go is at the catchy poppy punk end of the continuum but isn't all that memorable. Five minutes later and I can't recall the melody or the lyrics so I guess it's not THAT catchy.

I can hear the Nirvana influence and unless you knew they were a kiwi band you wouldn't guess it.

The boys haven't released anything since 2010, with band members now spread over several countries. That seems to be the kiwi band lot really - apart from some rare exceptions (Split Enz, Crowded House), most kiwi bands flame out after a couple of albums if they're lucky (one if they're not). The market in NZ is just too small and the tyranny of distance always works against us.

The general model for NZ bands is - get a following in NZ/exhaust the small market/move to Sydney or London/experience hardship/come back to NZ severely chastened by the experience/get a different job.

Steriogram are just one of many to go down that particular rabbit hole.

Hidden gem: Free is not originally from the parent album (Schmack!) but it was added to a special tour edition. It's much more hardcore than Go so a good B side in that it showcases a different side to the band's sound.

I been in my mind, it's such a fine mind (Neil Young) #536 - 539

Stereophonics Have A Nice Day/ Surprise/  Piano For A Stripper/ Heart Of Gold (live)/ Have A Nice Day (live)  (V2, 2001)
Stereophonics Step On My Old Size Nines (live)/ Everyday I Think Of Money (live)/ Just Looking (live)/ Caravan Holiday (live)/ Everyday I Think Of Money (live/ video)  (V2, 2001)
Stereophonics Mr Writer (live)/ Hurry Up And Wait (live)/  Don't Let Me Down (live)  (V2, 2001)
Stereophonics Moviestar (live)/ The Bartender And The Thief (live)/  Help Me (She's Out Of Her Mind) (live)/ Behind the scenes (tour video)  (V2, 2004)

Part two of the Stereophonics CD experience kicks off (and peaks early) with the sublime Have a Nice Day then it's a live, largely acoustic, trip through the other A sides.

They are fine, especially the sentimental tinge to Size Nines but Have a Nice Day stands out - great singalong material with Kelly Jones in fine form.

Hidden gems: Again, it's the covers that provide the real gold here. My favourite Beatles song - Don't Let Me Down is given an acoustic treatment which strips the song to a heartfelt plea and kinda accentuates Lennon's double entendre of she done me good: the sexual and the intangible idea that 'she did me a lot of good'.

Neil Young's Heart Of Gold is given a carbon copy treatment cos it's such a great song. Again, it's Kelly Jones' vocals that provide the point of difference.

Ever seen a young girl growing old, trying to make herself a bride? (Mike D'Abo) #532 - 535

Stereophonics Pick A Part That's New/ Nice To Be Out/ Positively 4th Street/ Pick A Part That's New (video)  (V2, 1999)
Stereophonics Just Looking/ Local Boy In A Photograph (live)/ Same Size Feet (live)  (V2, 1999)
Stereophonics I Wouldn't Believe Your Radio/ The Bartender And The Thief/ The Old Laughing Lady  (V2, 1999)
Stereophonics Handbags And Gladrags/ First Time Ever I Saw Your Face/ How/ Caravan Holiday (live)/ Nice To Be Out (live)  (V2, 2001)

Welcome to the first part of a mini Stereophonic-a-thon: this lot comes from around the first flush of the Welsh band's career.

Given they contain interesting covers and/or acoustic versions and/or different interpretations of their songs and/or non album tracks, the CD singles form a nice alternative universe to the parent albums.

All of the A sides are worthy (I tend to like the sing-along football terrace style guitar driven Faces like approach) but I especially love Handbags and Gladrags. For one it's a peculiar song that I've always loved, for another Kelly Jones' voice is a perfect match!

I've included three versions below: Mike D'Abo's original from 1970, Rod Stewart who had a hit with it, then Kelly Jones' version with all round great guy Jools Holland. Hmmm - Kelly does a great job, does he not!

Hidden gems: The covers are where it's really at here: Dylan's Positively 4th Street, Lennon's How and Roberta Flack's First Time are all gems.

When the beats run dry there's gonna be some blood (Starsailor) #531

Starsailor This Time/ Push The Button  (EMI, 2006)

The jury is still out on Starsailor. For me they are utterly rooted in the Britpop era. That's short hand for 'they are a somewhat dated entity' in the same way that the eighties production (cough) values dated so many of that era's songs.

Still - there are definite elements of worthiness about Starsailor and this song in particular. The poppy approach, the vocals, and the lyrics are all rating on the positive-o-metre.

Hidden gem: A live run through of Push The Button is pleasant but hardly a gem.

I try to kick the truth (Spearhead) #530

Spearhead People In Tha Middle (live)/ Hole In The Bucket (live)/ 100,000 Miles (live)/ Positive (live) (Capitol, 1995)

Spearhead is pretty much a vehicle for American musician Michael Franti. He produces a heady mix of r'n'b, funk, hip hop and reggae.

His big hit, okay, medium sized hit, was this song. It's a lot like Gil Scott-Heron's stuff to my mind and that's a very good thing!

People In Tha Middle made it into the top 50 in the UK in 1995 and it's easy to see why.

Hidden gems: B sides are live versions that also appeared on Spearhead's debut album, Home; two of them hits in their own right - a bargain package!

You're cinematic razor sharp (Snow Patrol) #529

Snow Patrol You're All I Have/ The Only Noise/ Perfect Little Secret/ You're All I Have (video)  (Polydor, 2006)

Snow Patrol have taken a load of abuse in their time. Some of it is well deserved: their output since Eyes Open has been poor to say the least.

Luckily this track comes from Eyes Open and it's a storming rocker worthy of Snow Patrol at their best.

The production is certainly razor sharp, the sound: cinematic pop!

Hidden gems: The two tracks on the B side weren't included on the parent album. The Only Noise is somewhat slight but it's still a cool acoustically driven tune.

Perfect Little Secret is at the experimental end of their repertoire and so...not to my taste. 

Experimenting is great if you're King Crimson or, I don't know, Bowie, but if you're a great pop band with a fantastic lead singer - stick to that!

An offering so sweet (Patti Smith) #528

Patti Smith Summer Cannibals/ Come Back Little Sheba/ Come On In My Kitchen/ People Have The Power  (Arista, 1996)

Gone Again, Patti's comeback album, brought a new sophistication exists to the Patti Smith sound. More layered. More arranged.

Gone (for a bit) was the punk poet/pop goddess/eco warrior to be replaced by an introspective earth mother. I guess death of loved ones (including Kurt Cobain) will do that to you.

Having said that, some of her pop sensibilities are still wafting about this weird track. It's definitely a commercial sounding song and so a natural choice as the lead off single from the album.

Hidden gems: It's a slightly bizarre mix on the B side tracks, which, incidentally don't seem to conform to the UK versions of this single. 

The Robert Johnson song, Come On In My Kitchen is a cool addition to the Patti Smith oeuvre and I'm a fan of the big sounding People Have The Power - although that whole sentiment is a little atypical to her back catalogue.