As NZ Music Month dawns the new releases keep coming thick and fast as bands and labels hope to capitalise on the combination of publicity and parochialism that can see local acts' sales figures soar during May. Here's another selection of great new releases - all from acts who have been on the scene for a good while. Download Counting The Beat Podcast - New Releases From Old Rockers

Here's a quick run-down on yet more new releases that have tickled my fancy in the last week or two. Download Counting The Beat Podcast - More May Music Month Madness

This is the third in an occasional series that focuses on kiwi musicians covering kiwi songs Download the Counting The Beat - Covering The Beat 3 podcast

The release of the Queens Birthday and New Years Honours lists may be not be an event that many kiwi music fans hang out for, but actually, over the years many musicians have been recognised. This episode of Counting The Beat features some of the music of those who have received royal or state recognition for their musical contribution to the country. Think of it as taking a listen to the Governor General's iPod. Download the Counting The Beat - On the Governor General's iPod podcast

Sometimes it can be interesting to take a look how a musician's work has evolved over time. In this episode I cover the varied musical career of the main songwriter of the Broken Heartbreakers John Guy Howell Download the Counting The Beat - John Guy Howell podcast

Rugby may be New Zealand's national game and the All Blacks revered with fervour by many kiwis but when it comes to inspiring songwriters the Men in Black seem to stimulate more hackneyed cliches than lyrical grace. Some of the better songs about rugby and the All Blacks come about when the songwriter is taking a critical rather than hagiographic stance. This episode features great and ghastly songs about rugby. Download the Counting The Beat - Rugby podcast

These days with cheap recording and CDs that can hold 80 minutes of music some releases just go on and on. But, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. That's why I like the EP as way for artists to present their music. Short and sharp, all killer, no filler. Download the Counting The Beat - Extended Play podcast

It must be hard to come with a band name. Anything half decent has probably already been used. So, it's no suprise that there are some pretty unusual bands names out there. More by accident than design this episode features bands with strange names. Download the Counting The Beat - What's Your Name podcast

I've being doing a lot of long distance driving lately, which is a drag. The upside is that it gives me lots of time for listening to music. He's a few new things that have been getting repeat play in the Counting The Beatmobile. Download the Counting The Beat - On the Counting The Beatmobile Stereo podcast

Download the Counting The Beat - 17 Sept 07 podcast