CCP Ep. #249: Migration by Bonobo

Day 4! It’s our last episode of the season, before our anniversary episode, and the project is Migration by Bonobo, the one-man project of British DJ Simon Green. Green describes Migration as “a study of people and spaces”; we’ll briefly touch on that, but we’re also interested in the artist’s crafty use of texture and soundscapes. Let’s have some analysis, some debate, and finally take a look at the idea of a cathartic experience vs. an antidotal experience.

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CCP Ep. #248: Somersault by Beach Fossils

(More like summersault, am I right?) Known as Beach Fossils, the unassuming Brooklyn-based low-fi indie rock band’s latest release is a head-scratcher alright — enjoyable, catchy, yet difficult to explain apart from our, admittedly, singularly-minded compulsion to conform it to the summer season. Let’s kick off the episode with a discussion on the ambiguous “summer album” before diving into Somersault itself by the Beach Fossils.

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CCP Ep. #247: Peasant by Richard Dawson

Day 2! While it might seem that the word “folk” gets applied to just about everything these days, English songwriter Richard Dawson has the apparent distinction of existing both at the primeval and pioneering fronts of that genre. With his unusual cracked vocals crooning over a broken (yes, literally broken) guitar, Dawson gives us Peasant, transplanting us to a Britain of very long ago, where not everything is as it appears and where coarseness and beauty are one and the same. Let’s unpack this project together and share its most attractive (and its most contentious) qualities. Also, what warped or broken instrument would you care to play? We’ve got ours, let’s hear yours!

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CCP Ep. #246: Dying Surfer Meets His Maker by All Them Witches

And we’re back! It’s time to play catch-up as we post some episodes from lost weeks and proceed to count down to our 250th episode, our 5th anniversary spectacular! Expect an episode of the Crash Chords each day ’til Saturday 7/22 — that’s five episodes for five years. Today’s episode gets a bit on the ‘trippy’ side as we explore All Them Witches’ 2015 release, Dying Surfer Meets His Maker, a work of neo-psychedelic proportions with a blues heart. You know the drill: let’s break it down, build it up, tear it down again, and have some fun.

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Ep. #74 – Feat. Uncle Meg

Today, Matt welcomes Uncle Meg, a West Virginia born, Brooklyn-based transgender (FTM) rapper. With the release of his latest LP Bug, Uncle Meg chats with Matt about his influences and his writing process, from creating beats to penning lyrics. He also discusses what it was like to have made his transition in the glow of the internet, with some afterthoughts ranging from the public support offered by his friends, family, and fans, to the unique vulnerability of the experience. And so, from his upcoming releases to the process of filming his music video for the single, “Taylor Swift”, here’s presenting Matt Storm and Uncle Meg.

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CCP Ep. #245: Life is Good by Flogging Molly

After a six-year hiatus, the Celtic Rock staple of many-a merry pub crawler, Flogging Molly, has returned with a new album called Life is Good. (Isn’t it though?) Let’s spend an inordinate amount of time answering that particular question without answering it at all. Also, let’s talk about the music. Then, after all the ‘weighing ins’ and ‘reflecting upons’, let’s ponder the question of musical self-honesty.

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Ep. #73 – Feat. Theblerdgurl

Today, Matt welcomes Karama, a.k.a. Theblerdgurl, a blogger, YouTuber, and internet powerhouse hailing from Brooklyn, New York. With Matt, Karama chats about the origins of Theblerdgurl and how it grew from its humble beginnings as a Tumblr blog to the full-fledged nerd-devoted website it is today. They discuss her childhood and how her upbringing taught her to think differently. They discuss her many experiences at conventions and what it’s like to meet your idols, the culture of social media, and what it’s like to be an outspoken personality. And so from all things comic books, music, and television to her expanding brand, here’s presenting Matt Storm and Theblerdgurl.

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CCP Ep. #244: Black Origami by Jlin

Funneled through the gates of Footwork and IDM are the sounds of Black Origami, a confluence of rhythmic theses, footnotes, and diatribes produced by composer/DJ Jerrilynn Patton (Jlin). Though only her second album, Black Origami is born of a collaboration with Indian dance & movement artist Avril Stormy Unger, and of a kind of artistic freedom she has long been seeking. Let’s explore the album together and then return to a fond old subject: objectifying the subjective—or vice-a-versa!

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CCP Ep. #243: Noenemies by Flobots

Where were you in September 2012? We were fumbling through the Flobots’ last album, The Circle in the Square. And now, after many moons, we’re tackling them again, hopefully with steadier hands and heads. Jonny 5, Brer Rabbit, KennyO, and company are back at it, releasing their first album in that timespan, Noenemies. We’ll discuss the current state of Flobots, the new album and its content, while touching briefly on “having your back against the wall” so to speak—confronting the ‘thens’ and ‘nows’ of critical consideration.

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Ep. #72 – Feat. Bunny Buxom

This week, Matt welcomes Bunny Buxom, a burlesque producer, performer, singer, and activist hailing from Queens, NY. Producer of many shows in the NYC area including Talons and Tease, Resistance, and Rabbit Hole Presents, Bunny chats about her earliest memories involving the pursuit of burlesque and her transition into making it a full-time career. She describes the origins of Rabbit Hole Productions and explains how important it was for her to create a space that promoted feminism, body positivity, and equality. She also chats about how she got involved with The Pink Room Burlesque and her upcoming wrestling-inspired show on July 7th, called TasselMania. And so, from those stories to the special tale of what it’s like being upstaged by her sphinx cat Rodger, here’s presenting Matt Storm and Bunny Buxom.

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