Grant Smithies
Radical jazz, street funk & proto-rap
Grant Smithies is along with an earful of a powerful new collection of radical jazz, street funk and proto-rap recorded in the US during the Black Power era (1969-75). Soul of A Nation 2: Jazz Is The… Audio
Julian Dyne, New Order & Saada Bonair
One of music reviewer Grant Smithies' favourite local LPs of last year was Teal, the fourth album from Auckland-based visual artist/ DJ/ multi- instrumentalist Julian Dyne. We hear two key tracks from… Audio
Buzzcocks, West Phillips & Orchestra of Spheres?
Music reviewer Grant Smithies goes ape this week over new double album Mirror from Wellington's Orchestra Of Spheres, then sheds a tear for dearly departed singer/guitarist Pete Shelley of Manchester… Audio
Public Image Ltd, Shayne Carter & Roots Manuva
Music reviewer Grant Smithies with a couple of songs from Shayne Carter's back catalogue, plus post-punk and dancehall gems from Public Image Ltd and Roots Manuva. Audio
The Goon Sax, Che Fu & Talking Heads
Teenage Brisbane trio The Goon Sax are back with their second album, We're Not Talking, which sends Grant Smithies spinning straight back to his own spotty adolescence. We also hear key tracks from… Audio
Kurt Vile, Yves Tumor & Angelique Kidjo
Philadelphia musician Kurt Vile is back with his first solo album in three years, and it's a ripper, according to music reviewer Grant Smithies. We hear two tracks from that today, alongside recent… Audio
The Mauscovic Dance Band, Louis Cole & Prince
Music reviewer Grant Smithies says quick, call an osteopath! LA jazz-funk wunderkind Louis Cole has a new album out and it might just dislocate your spine. We'll hear two tracks from Cole's third solo… Audio
Lontalius, Bad Sav & Parliament
Music reviewer Grant Smithies with the music of young Wellington producer, Lontalius (Eddie Johnson). He currently lives in LA but is back home to play a few shows this week in support of his upcoming… Audio
Smithies say turntable jockeys rejoice!
Music Reviewer Grant Smithies focuses on four classic NZ albums getting the vinyl reissue treatment over the next week: Supergroove's Traction, Che Fu's 2B Spacific, Bic Runga's Drive and Darcy Clay's… Audio
Smithies on APRA Silver Scrolls Shortlist
Music reviewer, Grant Smithies takes a look at the short-list for Aotearoa's premier songwriting award, the APRA Silver Scrolls. Leaving aside gems by Marlon Williams and The Beths, we hear three of… Audio
Music reviewer Grant Smithies
A teensy boutique festival based along Auckland's Karangahape Road, The Others Way returns on Friday 31 August for its fourth year, with around 40 bands performing throughout the day. We hear tunes… Audio
The Beths, The Adults and Bill Direen
Grant Smithies keeps it local, with music from guitar pop renegades The Beths, itinerant Christchurch writer-musician Bill Direen and Shihad frontman Jon Toogood's multicultural mash-up side-project… Audio
Blair Parkes, the Blue Nile & Fabulous Arabia
Music reviewer Grant Smithies goes ape over two killer new tracks from New Brighton krautrocker Blair Parkes, spins the slinky new single from local "tudor reggae" pioneers Fabulous Arabia, and… Audio
Music of Vincent H.L, Hamish Kilgour and Chaka Khan
One former bandmate described it as "nightmare country", but Auckland singer/guitarist Vincent H.L's twang-heavy suburban psych-country racket sounds pretty damn heavenly to our music reviewer, Grant… Audio
Love and lust in the music of Boycrush and Princess Chelsea
Music reviewer Grant Smithies looks at the primary themes of requited and unrequited love, which run through the music of Auckland-based artists Boycrush and Princess Chelsea. We also hear new music… Audio
The spanking new Wild Things redux
Way back in 1990, Flying Nun records released a compilation of early NZ garage rock'n'roll called Wild Things. It's just been reissued with a bunch of new tracks but still in glorious punchy MONO… Audio
Wellington Jazz Festival headliners Chris Dave & John Beasley
The capital's Jazz Festival spans 6-10th June, with more than 100 gigs over five days and around 30 000 people attending. Music reviewer Grant Smithies plays tracks from two of the top international… Audio
New Zealand Music Month - do we need it?
The sonically patriotic Grant Smithies is celebrating New Zealand Music Month with great local songs from Carb On Carb, Troy Kingi, Ha The Unclear and Being. Audio
New music with Grant Smithies
Grant Smithies veers all over the paddock like a tractor with faulty steering, with tracks from Death And The Maiden, Paul Ramos and Darren Watson. Audio
New music with Grant Smithies
Saturday, April 21 is International Record Store Day, an annual vinyl bun-fight that kicked off in America in 2007 as a way of celebrating the cultural impact of independent record stores. Incurable… Audio
