Lady Gaga from her album cover for Joanne.
'Twas the week before Christmas
And all through the land
People were thinking
"I'd like to check out that new band"
Still stumped over a present for the music lover in your life? Check out these options:
FOR THE SHOW TUNES LOVER:
The Hamilton Mixtape features covers and remixes of songs from the musical, not the Waikato, and is a mindblowing listening experience. Artists include Sia, Usher, The Roots, Alicia Keys, Nas, Wiz Khalifa, Chance the Rapper, John Legend and more.
FOR THE 40-YEAR OLD REBEL:
Green Day aren't so green any more, but Grey Day doesn't have the same ring. Their latest album Revolution Radio is polished punk at its finest. Just a warning - it sounds way better LOUD. Tickets to their May 13 concert will also go down well!
FOR THE SECRET COUNTRY MUSIC FAN:
Lady Gaga may not appear a country artist at first glance but she has the chops, as seen on earlier single You and I, and on her latest album Joanne, particularly on the track Sinner's Prayer.
FOR THE OPEN COUNTRY MUSIC FAN:
Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris came together for two albums - Trio (1987) and Trio II (1999). Both were remastered this year for a three-CD collection packed with rare and unreleased tracks that'll turn anyone into a country fan.
FOR THE FUNK LOVER IN YOUR LIFE:
Prince may be gone, but he's not forgotten. The compilation Prince 4Ever brings together 40 tracks from Little Red Corvette to the previously unreleased Moonbeam Levels. Highlights include Purple Rain (of course), I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man and 7.
FOR THE SMOOTH OPERATOR:
Honne's Warm On A Cold Night is silky smooth dance music for lovers - probably more suited to a land of snowy Christmases and log fires - but sure to warm the cockles of anyone who gets it as a gift despite the summer heat.
FOR THE TEENAGER, OR TEENAGER AT HEART:
Laneway tickets are a surefire way to introduce someone to new sounds and the future of music. And the artists behind some of 2016's best albums are on the bill for the January 30 festival at Auckland's Albert Park. Of course it could be cheaper and easier to simply fork out for some of those albums - Car Seat Headrest's outstanding Teen of Denial and Whitney's lovely Light Upon The Lake being great places to start.
They wanted two dinner boxes. The worker had other ideas.