Grant Smithies
Music reviewer Grant Smithies
Now in its tenth year, tomorrow is Record Store Day. Grant Smithies checks out tasty new RSD vinyl releases from "pan-generational Wellington supergroup" Teeth, 60s psych-pop legends Count Five, UK… Audio
Music reviewer Grant Smithies
Grant Smithies gets an earful of Otago "gothtronica" care of Dunedin trio Elan Vital, dusts off a key tune from Jamaican rasta ambassador Johnny Clark and sings the praises of NZ post punk act, The… Audio
Music reviewer Grant Smithies
Yes, they smoked too much pot and messed up the spelling of the title, but even a pedant like Grant Smithies can't resist a reissue of The Zombie's 1968 psychedelic pop masterwork Odessey and Oracle… Audio
Music review with Grant Smithies
Grant Smithies loses what's left of his mind over an early album by reclusive Canadian singer Mary Margaret O'Hara, then checks out two tracks from mysterious Waikato reggae label, Red Robin. Audio
Music with Grant Smithies
Grant goes debut crazy this week, with the 1984 EP that kicked off the career of Canterbury/ Otago band The Bats, the debut 45 from Syd Barret-era Pink Floyd, and the opening title track from The… Audio
Music with Grant Smithies
Grant Smithies bends a grateful ear toward the glorious bedsit pop of Auckland's Fazerdaze, then veers off to Lagos for a spot of Nigerian 'gender politics' disco from the late Christy Essien. Lastly… Audio
New music with Grant Smithies
Grant Smithies falls head over heels in love with a compilation of rare jazz, funk and soul tracks from Brazil, Trinidad and Ghana, strapped together by Brighton label, Mr Bongo. Oh, and also the… Audio
Music reviewer Grant Smithies
After getting in early to his stocks of Christmas port and brandy, Grant Smithies veers all over the shop stylistically this week, while playing some of his favourite tunes of 2016. Audio
Music reviewer Grant Smithies
Grant Smithies waxes nostalgic about a killer 1992 gig by cult Oregon band Dead Moon, whose founders Fred and Toody Cole play in NZ next week. There's also music from mysterious Jamaican vocalist King… Audio
New music with Grant Smithies
Grant Smithies checks out a compilation of early soul classics by New Orleans record producer, Cosimo Matassa , passes his shell-like ear over a freshly reissued Jamaican LP by the mysterious King… Audio
New music with Grant Smithies
Grant Smithies belatedly discovers the debut solo EP from Auckland psych-folk hero Dave Weir, then dips a toe in the murky waters of Aussie psych-rock with Sydney band, The Laurels. To finish: a… Audio
Music review with Grant Smithies
Grant Smithies reveals himself to be an overheated fanboy this week with four of his all-time fave Flying Nun tunes from The Chills, The Bats, Straitjacket Fits and Snapper. Video, Audio
New music with Grant Smithies
Noise, or soul? Gritty southern funk, or ear-shredding cheese grater guitars? Grant Smithies can't decide this week, so he takes a heaped helping of both, with recent releases from Boston soft punks… Audio
Music review - Grant Smithies
Grant Smithies sheds a tear over the modern rocksteady ballads of New York's Frightnrs, takes a musical guided tour of inner-city Christchurch with local punk upstarts The Transistors, and falls in… Audio
New music reviewer Grant Smithies
Grant investigates reports of paranormal musical activity from Dunedin band The Prophet Hens, then checks out two woofer-wilting reggae reissues from The Morwells and Well Pleased And Satisfied. Audio
New music with Grant Smithies
His mum calls him Brian, but we know him as Kid Congo Powers- former member of The Gun Club, The Cramps and Nick Cave's Bad Seeds. He plays in NZ with his band the Pink Monkey Birds next weekend, and… Audio
New music with Grant Smithies
Grant Smithies gets an earful of a little known Link Wray album recorded in a stinky old chicken coop, and checks out splendid singles from NZ/Portland band Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Chicago… Audio
Music reviewer Grant Smithies
Long-lost American funk singer Betty Davis turned 71 this week, but it's you who gets the presents when Grant Smithies revisits her first two albums, alongside killer cuts from LA soul crew The… Audio
Music with Grant Smithies
Grant Smithies risks terminal genre confusion this week as he ponders fresh releases from local hero Lawrence Arabia, Ohio art-punks Pere Ubu and Long Island hip hop trio De La Soul. Audio
Music reviewer Grant Smithies
The best pop album ever made? Most music critics will tell you it's the Beach Boys' 1966 masterpiece, Pet Sounds, but what would they know? Grant Smithies gets an earful of the new 50th Anniversary… Audio
