Simon Sweetman
The music of Randy Newman
Randy Newman recently announced his first ever NZ shows. Music critic Simon Sweetman talks about why Randy Newman's music is important and details his tour. Video, Audio
Simon Sweetman's music picks
Music reviewer Simon Sweetman shares some of the tracks he's been listening to this week from Spines Dreamboat and Come On Up To The House a tribute to Tom Waits by Various Artists. Audio
Taste, tone, technique: guitar solos to savour
The guitar solo, it divides opinion, but Simon Sweetman's a fan. He joined Jesse Mulligan to talk about some of his favourite solos and soloists - some well-known, some less so. Video, Audio
Music Critic: Simon Sweetman
Simon reviews two new albums - Willie Nelson Ride Me Home and Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real, Turn off The News (Build A Garden). Audio
Celebrating Fifty Years of Abbey Road
Celebrating 50 years since Abbey Road was recorded by The Beatles. Simon Sweetman explains why their 11th studio album is thought to be one of the greatest of all time. Audio
Music Critic: Simon Sweetman
Simon Sweetman talks about the recasting of Chrissie Hynde. A punk turning to jazz. and the sad news of Daniel Johnston's sudden death. Audio
The changing members of Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac is one of the biggest bands in the world. And part of the Fleetwood Mac story is the soap-opera - its various members, the affairs and the "rumours" surrounding the famous musicians. Audio
Music Critic: Simon Sweetman
Music critic Simon Sweetman talks about two new albums T-Bone Burnett The Invisible Light - Acoustic Space and Kate Tempest The Book of Traps and Lessons. Audio
Music Critic: Simon Sweetman
Simon has been listening to Purple Mountains, the debut album by Purple Mountains and the new album by Mark Mulcahy The Gus. Audio
Six songs that were banned from the radio
There's nothing like pop music to get the "squares" riled up. There have been plenty of controversies around music and Simon Sweetman has a taste of what's caused a stir on the radio airwaves. Audio
Music Critic: Simon Sweetman
Music critic, reviewer and podcaster, Simon Sweetman has been listening to Theon Cross's debut album Fiyah and Faye Webster's latest Album Atlanta Millionaires Club. Audio
Dolly Parton: 60 years a country icon
What is it about Dolly Parton that makes her such a household name and a feminist icon to boot? She's also one of country music's richest women stars, and a brand in her own right. Simon… Video, Audio
Covers you didn't know were covers - Simon Sweetman
The worlds of pop and rock are full of ear worms and hits that we firmly associate with one artist. But they're often not the original article. Simon Sweetman is in to walk us through the story of… Audio
Simon Sweetman on the music of Prince
Most music fans have heard about Prince's vault - some 30 albums' worth of unreleased material. Audio
Music Critic - Simon Sweetman
Simon Sweetman features some headliners from the Jazz festival - Alicia Olatuja's No Ordinary Love and Ghost-Note's Swagism. Audio
What makes collectors tick?
This morning 6000 LPs, 800 CDs and 6000 45 records sold for $806 on TradeMe. Mayb it was a retailer who bought them? Maybe it was a collector? Music journalist Simon Sweetman is a collector himself… Audio
Simon Sweetman: Ringo Starr - Style over Flash
Beatles drummer Ringo Starr described as the "leader in the education for all young drummers of style over flash, always playing the right things rather than a lot of things." Audio
Suffering though audience Q & A's
Music reviewer Simon Sweetman recounts his attendance at Conversations with Nick Cave: An Evening of Talk & Music and we ask whether audience Q and A sessions are really worthwhile or not. Audio