It's that time of year! Join Graham Reid and Marty Duda as they run through their top album picks of 2025. Hear highlights from albums by Mavis Staples, Marlon Williams, Margo Price, Nadia Reid, Van Morrison, Georgia Knight and more.

Plus get festive with their fave Christmas tunes from The Kinks to Lindon Puffin.

As always, an Auckland Gig Guide...and a tribute to Joe Ely

Sound Thinking with Graham Reid and Marty Duda: In an age of playlists and hot takes, two of New Zealand’s sharpest music minds still believe in listening before speaking. SOUND THINKING is the podcast for people who care what they’re hearing.

Between them, they’ve interviewed everyone worth hearing. Now they’re turning the mics on themselves. SOUND THINKING: where decades of music journalism meet an hour of unfiltered conversation.

Ever miss when music journalism had guts, humour, and heart? SOUND THINKING brings it back. This is where legends, laughter, and long-forgotten stories meet the soundtrack of now.

This week Graham and Marty discuss the great Beach Ball Controversy generated by Garbage's Shirly Manson. Other, more musical topics include reviews of new releases by Juliana Hatfield, Fat White Family, Blair Parkes and Bill Lake's Slow Bake...plus reissues from Pink Floyd and Steve Forbert and an Auckland gig guide.

Sound Thinking with Graham Reid and Marty Duda: In an age of playlists and hot takes, two of New Zealand’s sharpest music minds still believe in listening before speaking. SOUND THINKING is the podcast for people who care what they’re hearing.

Between them, they’ve interviewed everyone worth hearing. Now they’re turning the mics on themselves. SOUND THINKING: where decades of music journalism meet an hour of unfiltered conversation.

Ever miss when music journalism had guts, humour, and heart? SOUND THINKING brings it back. This is where legends, laughter, and long-forgotten stories meet the soundtrack of now.

On this week's show Graham & Marty review a slew of new albums including releases by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Zac Brown Band, Frank Sinatra, The MC5, Melody's Echo Chamber, Displeasure, Snocaps and more.

Plus Marty reviews The Others Way Music Festival and Graham talk about The Human Instinct reissues.

And there's always an Auckland Gig Guide!

Sound Thinking with Graham Reid and Marty Duda: In an age of playlists and hot takes, two of New Zealand’s sharpest music minds still believe in listening before speaking. SOUND THINKING is the podcast for people who care what they’re hearing.

Between them, they’ve interviewed everyone worth hearing. Now they’re turning the mics on themselves. SOUND THINKING: where decades of music journalism meet an hour of unfiltered conversation.

Ever miss when music journalism had guts, humour, and heart? SOUND THINKING brings it back. This is where legends, laughter, and long-forgotten stories meet the soundtrack of now.

This week Graham & Marty review new releases by Troy Kingi, The Saints, Tom Cunliffe, JJJJerome Ellis, Let's Planet and more along with reissues by Neil Young and Split Enz. They also review concerts (and audiences) including those of Tool, Toody Cole and The New Existentialists. Plus the regular Auckland gig guide.

Sound Thinking with Graham Reid and Marty Duda: In an age of playlists and hot takes, two of New Zealand’s sharpest music minds still believe in listening before speaking. SOUND THINKING is the podcast for people who care what they’re hearing.

Between them, they’ve interviewed everyone worth hearing. Now they’re turning the mics on themselves. SOUND THINKING: where decades of music journalism meet an hour of unfiltered conversation.

Ever miss when music journalism had guts, humour, and heart? SOUND THINKING brings it back. This is where legends, laughter, and long-forgotten stories meet the soundtrack of now.

This week Graham and Marty take a good look and AI-generated music with help from NZ-based AI artist Ed Ackman. New releases reviewed include those by The Besnard Lakes, The SAlt Collective, Dropper and The Otherwoman plus we pass judment on the new Beatles Anthology and Prince's Around The World In A Day. And there is a gig guide for those in Auckland.

Sound Thinking with Graham Reid and Marty Duda: In an age of playlists and hot takes, two of New Zealand’s sharpest music minds still believe in listening before speaking. SOUND THINKING is the podcast for people who care what they’re hearing.

Between them, they’ve interviewed everyone worth hearing. Now they’re turning the mics on themselves. SOUND THINKING: where decades of music journalism meet an hour of unfiltered conversation.

Ever miss when music journalism had guts, humour, and heart? SOUND THINKING brings it back. This is where legends, laughter, and long-forgotten stories meet the soundtrack of now.

This week Graham and Marty invite guest concert reviewer Karl Lock around to talk about the Oasis reunion show in Sydney. Auckland punks Dick Move encourage us to Dream, Believe, Achieve and we review new releases by Cheap Trick, Ny Oh, Colter Wall, AVVT/PTTN and The New Existentialists. All that plus reviews and insights into new books by Patti Smith and Evan Dando , the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, Split Enz, Drive-By Truckers and an Auckland concert guide!

Sound Thinking with Graham Reid and Marty Duda: In an age of playlists and hot takes, two of New Zealand’s sharpest music minds still believe in listening before speaking. SOUND THINKING is the podcast for people who care what they’re hearing.

Between them, they’ve interviewed everyone worth hearing. Now they’re turning the mics on themselves. SOUND THINKING: where decades of music journalism meet an hour of unfiltered conversation.

Ever miss when music journalism had guts, humour, and heart? SOUND THINKING brings it back. This is where legends, laughter, and long-forgotten stories meet the soundtrack of now.

Graham & Marty celebrate the 50th anniversary of Patti Smith's groundbreaking debut album, Horses with guest Dianne Swann. Plus we review new films about Marianne Faithfull and Bruce Springsteen. New releases include albums by Theia, Paul Kelly, Mavis Staples, Georgia Knight, Midlake, Beastwars, and Hatchie. And much more!

Sound Thinking with Graham Reid and Marty Duda: In an age of playlists and hot takes, two of New Zealand’s sharpest music minds still believe in listening before speaking. SOUND THINKING is the podcast for people who care what they’re hearing.

Between them, they’ve interviewed everyone worth hearing. Now they’re turning the mics on themselves. SOUND THINKING: where decades of music journalism meet an hour of unfiltered conversation.

Ever miss when music journalism had guts, humour, and heart? SOUND THINKING brings it back. This is where legends, laughter, and long-forgotten stories meet the soundtrack of now.