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Liselle brings us her pick for April’s top CD releases, and fills us in on the  hilarious chat she had with Goodnight Nurse… With a new line up, a new album and an opening spot for One Republic, New Zealand’s pop-punk darlings Goodnight Nurse, have got it going on. Proving they’re always ready for a laugh and keen to play along (even when I made them play ‘I Never’) I caught up with the lovable quartet on the release day of their new album Keep me on your Side.  How does it feel to have the album out there? Joel: Exciting, feel good, really proud of it. It’s cool cause it’s taken such a long time – I think preparation started sort of beginning last year. What was One Republic like to hang out with? Sam: They were awesome and they were real happy to play what is quite a small show for them and they just said how fun it was just getting to be silly and just enjoy New Zealand. Have you ever… Been arrested? Jaden: Yes (and he’s still annoyed about it – no he was NOT shooting fireworks into the crowd) Woken up somewhere and not known where you are? Consensus: Yes Gone out with a girl just to make a girl jealous? Sam: I’m not that lucky to be able to have that much choice!  Goodnight Nurse Keep Me On Your Side A change of line-up brings with it a broader spectrum of influences and inputs, a collaboration that has developed the signature Goodnight Nurse sound rather pleasantly. Their old roots are still there meaning that loyal fans won’t be disappointed, but a greater sense of musician ship, as well as some catchy tracks, makes Goodnight Nurse’s return a commendable one. The Bell Rays Hard Sweet and Sticky Soulful rock and roll that ignores the times and  trends, to not only survive the best part of 15 years but also keep delivering tight, groovin’ and explosive tracks. Not everything works on this album but the good definitely outweighs the bad with what is on the large part, a series of artfully crafted and rocking songs. Counting Crows Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings A fine rock album to say the least, Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings has something to prove. Brazenly honest, undisputedly catchy and musically well-crafted, Counting Crows bring a taste of 70s  mainstream rock into today’s top 40 where it will hopefully kick the likes of Nickleback, and the other desperately similar acts, right in the ass. Matt Costa Unfamiliar Faces Bearing all the charm of the singer-songwriter combo, Matt Costa is both catchy and humbling in his music. Feathery arrangements make his songs largely enjoyable, yet also unmemorable. Despite this sense of naivety, Matt Costa has a lot of potential. He just needs to stop following the blueprints of his folk-indie counterparts so closely and find his own distinguishable place and sound.  Kelis The Hits She had some big tracks, possibly not enough to make a whole album, but what’s done is done so you might as well enjoy it. Featuring the hits ‘Trick Me’, ‘Bossy’ and ‘Milkshake’, there obviously are no surprises but if you liked them before you may well like them conveniently located on one album. Newton Faulkner: Hand Built By Robots This is an album of music for the soul by the  soul. Acoustic folk-pop with etchings in Jack Johnson, John Mayer and Ben Harper, it’s nothing that needs re-defining but that doesn’t mean that you should write him off just yet. Jumping from summery acoustic hooks and bonfire jam vibes to the haunting cover of Massive Attacks ‘Tear Drop’ and the melancholy ‘Straight towards the Sun’, Faulkner’s range, husky voice and simplistic charm make this an album well worth owning. Liselle
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