What are you listening to?

I didn't give Pete Yorn much time ... the opening drum bit hurt my ears, I'm listening through headphones ... should have turned the sound down!

Luce sound pretty cool.

Just last week I started listening to old Powderfinger stuff again. I don't think they ever really made it in the states, but they're one of the big bands down here.

Powderfinger are an aussie five-piece. Bernard Fanning is the singer, and he has such a distinctive voice. It's great.

The main album that I've been listening to is their fourth album, 'Odyssey Number Five'. At the time of it's release, it was just an instant classic. There were some big singles from that album, 'My Happiness', 'Like A Dog', 'My Kind Of Scene' and 'These Days'. Check 'em out!

But on this album, it's the non-singles that really make this album. I'd say there's not one bad song. 'The Metre', 'Up & Down & Back Again', 'We Should Be Together Now' and 'Thrilloilogy' are personal favourites.

Then I dug out their third album, 'Internationalist' and listened to it in the car today. I can't believe this came out 10 years ago. I was in my final year of high school! I feel old now! When it came out, it was perceived as a bit weird. 'The Day You Come' was the first single, and was really different to their previous stuff. Normally we don't like speaker fart, but this sound is used in a middle 8 sort of section, and is a really distinctive part of the song.

Listening to this album more closely, it's amazing how many different guitar sounds they used. They all sound vaguely single-coil through fender amp, but the range of tone is huge. The rhythm guitar on 'Belter' sounds almost like trumpets or some sort of horns. It's a good lesson in blending guitar sounds in a 5 piece band.

And then listening to what the guitarists are playing, wow ... it really has to be heard. Both are playing little melodies and trills to sparkle up the sound a bit, with the bass holding the basic chord note. If that makes sense. On some songs, there are fills and solos that sound like a kid who has picked up a guitar for the first time ... but what they're playing works so well for the songs.

here's their MySpace so you guys can hear their songs. My 8 month old daughter is almost hypnotised by them when I put their live dvd on!

but check them out: MySpace.com - Powderfinger - Brisbane, AU - www.myspace.com/powderfinger

best songs would be 'Lost and running', 'Head up in the clouds', 'who really cares' ... actually, they're all really good!

Do you know Peabody? : MySpace.com - Peabody - Sydney, AU - Post punk / Indie / Rock - www.myspace.com/peabodyband

They are on my buddies label in Sydney. The put on a great show. Saw them the last time I was in Sydney.

Lots of great independent music downunder. The scene there is much cooler than even LA and San Francisco for live music..... lots of venues, devoted fans, etc.

Hoping to get down there later this year.

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I heard peabody years and years ago ... I think I may have known a friend or relative of the band. Or maybe I owned a cd or a 7" record ...

That's cool that they're still around!

actually, I knew this guy: MySpace.com - Sam Shinazzi - Sydney - Indie / Folk Rock - www.myspace.com/samshinazzi ... when he went by the title 'The C-minus Project'. I wrote to him, and he sent me a tape of his stuff. Wow! he's still going too!

The stupid thing is that while these bands are great, they get zero exposure.

There is another buddy of ours who plays in Balmain all the time....Cleetus? I can't find his web stuff. Balmain's music scene rivals Boston, NYC, and even Nashville to a certain extent.

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Well...my mates who do original music full time:

a) Have a bunch of money (from a trust fund, wise investments, or a rich wife)
b) Play in a lot of different projects ranging from cheesy 80s cover bands to backing up established artists on tour

You gotta get a widely played "pop" hit, even if its fringe or quirky....then you can do anything after that. Weird Al still makes records

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At the moment i am listening to Derek and the Dominoes stuff like the version off 'Little Wing' but also Rory Galllagher ,Cream ,Hendrix, Sheryl Crow, Joe Bonnamassa and Buddy Guy at Glastonbury was ace aswell .Also you cant not listen to a bit of Zep .

At the moment i am listening to Derek and the Dominoes stuff like the version off 'Little Wing' but also Rory Galllagher ,Cream ,Hendrix, Sheryl Crow, Joe Bonnamassa and Buddy Guy at Glastonbury was ace aswell .Also you cant not listen to a bit of Zep .