Popular Music

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New 'Select: Sound & Vision' collection!

Select collection sticker Get the latest CDs & DVDs faster! The 'Select' collection is designed to make it easier to borrow heavily used and reserved items within our AV Collection. The items in this collection have a reduced loan period of 3 days, meaning you can access the most popular CDs and DVDs faster for the same price and find them on the shelf more often.

You can find more information on our News page.

Latest Staff Picks

Harvest festival
The Harvest Festival is a truly phenomenal 5 CD, 120-page book box set covering the years 1969 to 1979 of the legendary Harvest record label. Collecting multiple tracks from such artists as Pink Floyd, Kevin Ayers, Syd Barrett, Pretty Things and Roy Harper it is an wonderful musical set. The book accompanying the set is also exceptional, containing interviews with label staff, managers, roadies and various nefarious hangers-on it is packed with memorabilia, fantastic photography and a plethora of beautiful record covers to ogle. It's an extraordinarily fun look back at the beginnings of alternative, underground and progressive rock. (Craig)

Philosophy of the world, Shaggs.
Dorothy, Betty and Helen Wiggin were from a small town in New Hampshire. Bought instruments and music lessons by their father, he drove them to a recording studio in 1969 to make this, their debut recording. Despite out-of-tune guitars and shonky drumming, the album retains a air of innocence and charm that is timeless. (Neil)

Choral, Mountains.
Happy is not a term generally associated with the drone. Sedate, yes. Blissful, absolutely. And tranquil, for sure. But 'happy'? Happy seems almost the antithesis of a genre that prides itself on sucking the listener into a void that demands sometimes fierce concentration. Therefore it was a very pleasant surprise to find myself smiling all the way through the Mountains new album. The Mountains have managed to harness the explorative and inquisitive nature of drone and readjusted its usually sober journey with an acoustic underscore that raises the tempo enough to keep your spirits riding high. One of my workmates suggested that the lift it provides edges Mountains close to a 'new age' outfit, but I'm going to have to disagree; it's experimental and it's curious, but most of all it's just smart, not adjectives normally associated with anything new age. Happy drone? Why not. (Craig)

Moon ride, Leon Ware.
Motown star Marvin Gaye was so impressed with a series of demos by fellow Motown artist/writer Leon Ware that he appropriated them for his album 'I want You' in 1976. Ware managed to release an album of his own ('Musical Massage') before shifting to Elektra records for most of the 80's, becoming one of those people that critics & soul aficionados like to talk up, but never achieved any real commercial success - despite working with everyone from Michael Jackson, Gaye, & Quincy Jones, to Minnie Riperton & Maxwell. The sampling of a lot of his material by the next generation of musicians in the 90's brought him back from the musical wilderness & his early albums begun to be reissued, and new solo work came out on UK, Japan & on his own label. In 2008 Ware signed with the newly reactivated Stax Records label and released 'Moon Ride'. Never a singles artist (or the strongest vocalist) Ware is all about the 'groove', and being back on a major label affords him the budget to produce a lush suite of laid back soul, that all flows together with the kind of sensual vibe that modern R&B seems to have lost. (Mark)

Glider, Sight Below.
With its sombre washes of sound and its insistent rhythm like a slightly panicked heartbeat, this album is a late night serving of dreams and nightmares, and an excellent slice of dark ambient techno. (Neil)

Dark developments, Vic Chesnutt.
Vic has always been an outsider. Never really needed applause. He's as independent as a man gets; always sharp with a comment or lyrical surprise. "Dark Developments' sees him combining with lo-fi proponents 'Elf Power.' Vic's last couple have been grander affairs, strings, intricate production. This is like classic Vic; stripped back, tremolo guitars, long slow literate songs called 'Stop the horse' and 'Mad Passion of the Stoic' His 'We are mean' is one of the sternest rebukes for city and country folk - wait, that means everyone - ever written. And the lyrics, have I mentioned the lyrics. 'A gauze of frost is covering the clover/Muted morning oozing ocher/Heated honey glooming over/Animating dark and frozen... a fairytale.' He's in Wellington soon and you can applaud if you like regardless - I will. (Monty)

Brightblack Morning Light, Brightblack Morning.
Sounding a little like Spiritualized without the orchestration and gospel choirs, Nathan Shineywater and his compatriots' second album is a languid, trippy paeon to rural living and getting stoned in the sunshine. It doesn't really go anywhere, and just is, and that's enough sometimes. (Neil)

Maisey Rika, Maisey Rika.
I first saw Maisey Rika 'live' earlier this year and like me had her audience in awe of her grace and manner when she took the stage. That amazingly sweet soulful emotive voice had us captivated. In one song in particular was the lyrics 'do you hear the tui call the huia in the trees' ..well she just took you there, to that tree.. So imagine my delight when I saw her EP in our collection. Only 6 tracks, and all written and sung by her in both Maori & English. This young woman singer/songwriter is going to go a long way. Her style in contrast to Whirimako Black, I think a mix of Folk and Soul, gentle on the ears, and like Whirimako Black is definitely Easy Listening! My favourite tracks, number 2 'Reconnect' and number 4 'Children of Romania'... (Ethel)

To Mega Therion, Celtic Frost.
Proving it's not all chocolate and scenic vistas in Switzerland, Celtic Frost (Switzerland heaviest sons), are responsible for two of the most compelling and influential metal albums ever released. In the annuals of metal 'To Mega Therion' and Into the Pandemonium occupy seriously hallowed ground. Both albums have influenced, fashioned and helped delineate every genre and facet of metal since their release over two decades ago. It goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway), the mere hint of Celtic Frost undertones garners bands some serious cred in the metal realm these days. Our Libraries editions are late 90's rereleases (with remastered and additional tracks). Anyone seeking some thrashy proto-black and avant-garde metal should issue these two albums immediately! (Craig)

The family that plays together / Twelve dreams of Dr. Sardonicus, Spirit.
Two classic albums from the late 60s/early 70s in one package by the vastly underrated Spirit, who weaved together an eclectic mix of rock, jazz, blues, classical and psychedelia, and were one of the best band of the era. (Neil)

Kingdom of rust, Doves.
In today's world of corporate-generic-major-label-rock the Doves are a band that truly reflect something. What that something is however is that talent so often means nought. It makes no sense that Oasis or U2 can sell out stadiums worldwide with soulless pap and the Doves, who are an infinitely superior rock band, in every single regard, do not. I think I made my point there. I'm hoping this is the album that will change all that, four albums in and we have what just might be their magnum opus. Huge warm anthems with a distinctly different core are mixed with some gorgeous melodies and thundering beats. The Doves offer up intelligent rock, maybe that's their problem, they're too smart for their own good, whatever the reason it would be a tragedy if you were to miss out on hearing this album. It's passionate, exhilarating and doesn't for one minute dumb itself down for the audience. Same couldn't be said for some others huh. (Craig)

Spirit animal, Zombi.
Zombi is a thoroughly retro instrumental duo setting out to celebrate the heady days of synth and progressive rock. 'Spirit Animal', their third official release, is awash in derivative, imitative and almost plagiaristic sounds. While this level of unoriginality would clearly be a travesty for many bands it is this patently obvious deference to their forerunners that makes Zombi so unbelievably good. They grind and simmer like no electronic band since the late 60's or early 70's, commemorating, and honouring no doubt, a time when progressive music was in its prime, when a keyboard and a few switches singled a whole new world of new possibilities and explorations. An absolutely definitive headphones album. (Craig)

Changing horses, Ben Kweller.
Since Kweller inherited the 'power-pop' mantel of Evan Dando its not that much of a surprise to find him flirting with Country music, since Dando himself was always heavily influenced by artists such as Gram Parsons. It's all pedal steel guitars and honkey tonk atmosphere, but where Dando's voice had the expressive range to take on bare bones country, Kweller's doesn't quite pull it off. The best tracks find him using a more fleshed out sound, like 'Hurtin' you', which has backing vocals by the Pierces, or the rollicking 'On her own' which is reminiscent of Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever. Worth checking if you're a Kweller fan, or like stripped down country/bluegrass. (Mark)

Alpha Centauri, Tangerine Dream.
The finest 'Quardo-Stereo-Mono-52 Cosmic Music' from 1971, or so it says on the back of the CD insert. What starts off like the soundtrack to a Hammer horror film soon blends into a psychedelic mish-mash of early electronic/synthesizer glories and proto-Krautrock romps, with added flute! Alpha Centuri was album number two for Tangerine and it shows. It's raw and markedly less finicky than their later works but there's a thoroughly joyful spirit in its naivety and simplicity. (Craig)

Sir Plus and the Requirements, Sir Plus and the Requirements .
This was originally presented at the Auckland festival as an hour long immersion in the world of musical Alter-ego, Sir Plus, balladeer, bad boy and die-hard romantic. The album works within the long-held logic of the musical - it swells to start, asks questions as it builds, resolves in a ballad - it's like Grease on a sugar high, like the Beatles have cross-pollinated the Rocky horror picture show. Waipara said he enjoyed realising the musical world of a fictional character, like it was a setting free, and the result is his finest, most sustained work. I think Waipara has a unique, powerful, subtle voice - the best in New Zealand at the moment - for a chap. Imagine a spotlight, the starry connection between temporary loves in 'You don't have to go,' a duet with Reb Fountain, and then, in a minor key, a beaten fool at the singing of 'Going to a Funeral.' Spotlight fades, the curtain goes down... (Monty)

The devil you know, Heaven & Hell..
Heaven and Hell: The Devil you know & Black Sabbath: Paranoid (Reissue): Two new Sabbath albums in this month. One from the Dio led era, the other from Ozzy's prime years. Black Sabbaths Paranoid (released on double disc, with additional DVD) is an expanded set and quadraphonic remix of the original album that is just as brutal and heavy today as when it was originally released in 1970. Ozzy sounds great, yet to plummet into his uncontrolled debauchery, and Tony's riffs sound refreshingly inventive and downright frightening. Heaven and Hell on the other hand is the brand new 'Sabbath' album with Dio at the helm. Re-establishing the band from Dio's era has been hugely successful in the live setting but somewhat less so on this album. While it's true that they could never hope to live up to the expectations with this new album it is still a solid, if not inspired, doom album. Ronnie James Dio still sounds astounding (it's hard to believe he's in his late 60's!) and while Tony's riffs may be less innovative these days there's still a certain reverential heaviness about them. It's a good retro album, not a great rock album, but it's still infinitely superior to anything Ozzy's put out in the last few decades. (Craig)

I feel cream, Peaches.
Peaches is back with her fourth album I Feel Cream. Following on from the success of Impeach My Bush, Peaches continues with her electronic sound, still sticking to her feminist mantra, but pushing the sound in a more electro/dance direction. The sound is more polished than her first two albums, which were more raw and rap oriented. For fans of her first two albums there are still tracks in the vein of this sound, such as "Billionaire," but for those who prefer her more electro direction there is the catchy lead-off single "Talk to Me." Altogether a polished and mature album that maintains Peaches sense of freedom and fun. (Susannah)

I can see for miles: Mojo presents lost tracks from America's psychedelic underground
Mojo's latest offering is a fine collection of 60s U.S. garage punk from the 13th Floor Elevators, The Chocolate Watch Band and Red Crayola, as well as a few rarities from lesser known bands. Very enjoyable. (Neil)

Hohou te rongo = cultivate peace, Whirimako Black.
Perfect pitch, faultless phrasing, pure natural tones, the expressive beauty of Te Reo, that is the voice of Whirimako Black, pure velvet, pure magic, pure and simple.. This is the second of her 6 albums, my personal favourite. Listeners out there wanting an introduction to 'Easy listening Maori Music' at it's best, at its finest, this is definitely the one for you. Rich in harmonies that is Contemporary Maori Music! You won't be dissappointed! My favourite track, number 12 'Kei rite ki te moa'.. (Ethel)

"But what if I don't like it?" Well, it's true one's meat is another's poison, so why not double check with allmusic.com first to see if it sounds like your cup of meat/poison/tea.
Previous staff picks

Librarian's Choice

Recommended by Wellington City Libraries staff members, these CDs are chosen from all genres of our wide collection and are displayed with gold Librarian's Choice stickers on the cover. Watch out for the display of Librarian's Choice CDs and DVDs in the Sound & Vision Centre. A list of the CDs chosen is available here (Word) and from the Central Library Sound & Vision Centre desk.

Recent books

The underlined titles will take you directly to our catalogue. Some featured items are linked via a book cover to enable you to read more reviews.

Lowside of the road : a life of Tom Waits, by Barney Hoskyns.
"With his trademark growl, carnival-madman persona, haunting music, and unforgettable lyrics, Tom Waits is one of the most revered and critically acclaimed singer-songwriters alive today. After beginning his career on the margins of the 1970s Los Angeles rock scene, Waits has spent the last thirty years carving out a place for himself among such greats as Bob Dylan and Neil Young. Like them, he is a chameleonic survivor who has achieved long-term success while retaining cult credibility and outsider mystique. But although his songs can seem deeply personal and somewhat autobiographical, fans still know very little about the man himself. Notoriously private, Waits has consistently and deliberately blurred the line between fact and fiction, public and private personas, until it has become impossible to delineate between truth and self-fabricated legend. Lowside of the Road is the first serious biography to cut through the myths and make sense of the life and career of this beloved icon. Barney Hoskyns has gained unprecedented access to Waits's inner circle and also draws on interviews he has done with Waits over the years. Spanning his extraordinary forty-year career from Closing Time to Orphans, from his perilous "jazzbo" years in 1970s LA to such shape-shifting albums as Swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs to the Grammy Award winners of recent years, this definitive biography charts Waits's life and art step by step, album by album. Barney Hoskyns has written a rock biography-much like the subject himself-unlike any other. It is a unique take on one of rock's great enigmas." (Amazon.com)

The great New Zealand songbook, created by Murray Thom.
"After attending the Split Enz Vector Arena concert in March 2008, Murray Thom (the creator behind this unique project), turned to his son and said that they had just heard the "The Great New Zealand Songbook". That was the birth of a project, which from the outset, encapsulated more than just the music. The final result is a 100-page hardback journal in its red presentation box including two CDs, featuring 42 of New Zealand's favourite recording artists - including Split Enz, Dave Dobbyn, Neil Finn, Supergroove, Bic Runga, Shihad, Dragon, Opshop, Evermore, Brooke Fraser, The Chills, Ladyhawke and many more, performing a selection of the best New Zealand music from the 'Last Century' and 'This Century'. The iconic front cover art of Charlie 'The Four Square Man' holding a guitar is an original work by acclaimed New Zealand artist Dick Frizzell and was commissioned specifically for this release. The 2CD set comes with four different coloured Dick Frizzell postcards to send to friends." (Realgroovy.co.nz)

John Lennon : the life, by Philip Norman.
"Critics generally praised John Lennon: The Life, though they often seemed shocked at how much hate and violence could be found in one of the 20th century's most famous proponents of peace and love. Some were also taken aback by the book's length-over 800 pages for a figure who famously lived only to age 40. But most reviewers concluded that the bulk of this biography was appropriate, not only because Norman is the first author to investigate Lennon in such detail but because his sense for which details are interesting (a well-developed portrayal of the young Lennon's Liverpool) and which are not (Beatles ephemera) keeps the book moving at a steady pace." Copyright 2008 Bookmarks Publishing LLC (Amazon.com)

Riot grrrl : revolution girl style now!, editor, Nadine Monem.
"Riot Grrrl is a vivid documentation of the fierce music, renegade art and independent literature that emerged from suburban America in the late 1980s and became a global phenomenon. With the rallying cry "REVOLUTION GIRL STYLE NOW!" this community of musicians, artists and activists inspired young women across the world to pick up guitars and rewrite rock history, changing the face of feminism and underground culture forever. From guerrilla girls to punk princesses, contributors include a diverse array of musicians, artists, fanzine writers and activists. Told from the perspective of those directly involved, Riot Grrrl is a uniquely comprehensive exploration of this pioneering scene, profiling bands including Bikini Kill, Bratmobile and Huggy Bear. The book charts the movement's genesis in proto-Riot Grrrls such as Patti Smith, Yoko Ono and Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon and explores its continued influence on a diverse range of contemporary artists that include Courtney Love and The Organ. At times shocking, always inspiring, Riot Grrrl is a fascinating and important book." (Amazon.com)

Magazine roundup

Sick of reserving the latest copy of Mojo, only to find a seven-page feature on Val Doonican? Tired of trudging up the stairs to get Rolling Stone, only to find that Yanni review cruelly missing once again? Avoid nasty surprises with our music magazine roundup.

Here's what's happening in:

Acoustic Guitar website
Bass Player fulltext
Downbeat fulltext
Froots website
Guitar Player website
Modern Drummer website
Mojo website
New Zealand Musician website
NME website
No Depression website
Q website
Real Groove website
Record Collector website
Remix website (requires Flash)
Rip It Up website
Rolling Stone fulltext
Songlines website
The Source website
Uncut website
Wire website

For more magazine links, visit our online music resources page.

Popular music collection

At Wellington City Libraries we have a ridiculous number of CDs (well, over 20,000) for you to borrow at the altogether reasonable price of $1 each. Whether Matmos or Minogue, Strokes or Stockhausen, RZA or AWB you may very well find just what you were looking for in our collection.
Try these searches for the latest CDs in these categories

stack of CDs

Popular
Hip-Hop
Electronica
Compilations
Jazz
Soundtracks
Experimental
Country
Punk
Metal
Soul/R&B
A full list of music genres is available on our Catalogue Quicksearch page.

Of course we also take care of classical music.

"Music Ad Lib" radio show

"Music Ad Lib", hosted by our own library staff music enthusiasts, airs monthly on Access Radio 783 AM. The show is on a Saturday afternoon from 4.30-5.00 on Access Radio 783 AM - look here for the tracks from a recent show.

Show list:

April 18 (Neil)
May 16 (Craig)
June 13 (Mark)
July 11 (Neil)
August 8 (Craig)
September 5 (Mark)
October 3 (Neil)
October 31 (Craig)
November 28 (Mark)
December 26 (Neil)

'Holiday' from American Idiot by Green Day.