Wellington City Libraries Recommended Music & Film Websites & Blogs

MUSIC:

• The Internet Archive - Live Music Archive
  The Internet Archive is an online archive of web & multimedia resources. The Live Music Archive collects live concerts in a loose downloadable format (FLAC) from 'trade-friendly' bands and includes concerts from 'The Grateful Dead', 'The Smashing Pumpkins' & 'Ryan Adams'.
• The Hype Machine
  The Hype Machine is an MP3 aggregator - essentially a music blog that trawls others music blogs and archives all the MP3 tracks collected therein. It then archives these tracks chronologically, by popularity, and by artist. If you're after that Mazzy Star B-side, that rare Ryan Adams track, or a taste of something new by your favourite band, this is the place to find it.
• Last FM
  Last.fm is an internet radio and music community website. It keeps track of what music you're listening to and then personalizes a host of features based on your musical taste. Signing up is free, but you can pay a small subscription to access more features such as playlists, greater customisation etc.
• I Am Fuel, You Are Friends
  Taking its name from a line from a Pearl Jam song, this is a great music blog out of Colorado, USA. While it started off small in 2005 with music fan Heather Browne wanting to share her relationship with music 'Fuel/Friends' has become one of the best blogs out there. With her 'Monday Music Roundup' from new albums, and eclectic posts on pretty much everything from Pete Yorn to Yael Naim, this is definitely worth checking out.
• Aquarium Drunkard
  Another great blog, which takes its name from a line in a Wilco song, 'Aquarium Drunkard' is also a record label under the name 'Autumn Tone'. Featuring daily music, reviews, news, and podcasts, as well as a SIRUS satellite radio show - the Drunkard bridges the gap between contemporary indie with vintage garage, psych, folk, country, New Orleans funk, R&B, soul, and everything that falls in between.' Nominated in 2008 for 'Music Blog of the Year' at the Plug Awards.
• The Perfumed Garden
  An audio tribute to the late great DJ John Peel. This site archives many of his live sessions.
• Wolfgang's Vault
  A huge archive of music memorabilia and live concerts set up by the late music promoter Bill Graham. Streams free concerts from Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, Black Sabbath, Frank Zappa and many others.
• SoundOpinions.org
  Take two nationally respected rock critics from Chicago, the latest music news, personal commentary, and exclusive interviews and performances, add a huge pile of records old and new, and the result is Sound Opinions, the world's only rock and roll talk show. From Podcasts, to MP3 streams they talk to everyone from Peaches to Steve Earle...
• Heartache with Hard Work
  Another interesting music blog... a bit of political commentary and a lot of good writing about the response to artists and songs
• Music Is Art
  One glimpse is all it takes to tell you that Music Is Art is something different. For one, Danielle, the 'designer' behind MIA, focuses not only on excellent music, but on art, photography and writing and how they all intersect and inform the music
• Cat Bird Seat
  Indie, indie & more indie... indie music, culture & commentary

FILM:

• Daily Film Dose
  New movie reviews every day, as well as plenty of interesting features.
• The A.V Club
  A one stop shop, 'The AV Club' is an online entertainment paper, published by 'The Onion', though it is not satirical in content. It includes reviews of films, music, comics, DVDs, vide games & books.
• The DVD Journal
  A great site, 'The DVD Journal' is now unfortunately defunct. Begun in 1997, it provided over 10 years worth of great reviews and features, focusing not just on the movies themselves, but also the technical aspects of the DVD releases and re-issues.
• The Pinocchio Theory
  Not just a 'review' site, Steven Shaviro's blog incorporates the world of film with his interests in philosophers Giles Deleuze & A.N Whitehead, pop music & comic books.
• 'Sit Down Man, You're a Bloody Tragedy'
  Similar to 'The Pinocchio Theory' this site by Owen Hartley incorporates the world of film with his interests in modernistic architecture, Soviet culture & political theory.
• Self Styled Siren
  A literate, but never pretentious, film blog that has plenty of smart things to say about old movies - all the way back to the silent era - & film preservation. With plenty of great stories on actors, actresses and the old Studio system.

Any comments on, or ideas for this page? Contact us (mark.lesueur@wcc.govt.nz)

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Last updated 15 February 2010