Podcasts Crash Chords Podcast Archive by category "CCP “Guest” Episodes" (Page 2)

Category: CCP “Guest” Episodes

Episodes of the Crash Chords Podcast in which guests join us in the analysis!

We relish in bringing new perspectives to Crash Chords. That’s why, every month or so, we feature a guest on the Crash Chords Podcast (who is involved in the arts in some way — and who loves music, ideally) to help us out in our album analysis. In these special episodes, the guests have the honor of selecting our album. First, we conduct an interview in lieu of our topic, and then its analysis as usual… in better company of course.

CCP Ep. #157: Benjamin Booker by Benjamin Booker | Feat. Nelson Lugo

For the third and most ear-piercing occasion on the Crash Chords Podcast, it’s NELSON LUGO! That’s right, our resident magician and comrade-in-mic (from the EPIC PIEcast) joins us once again, this time with an album called Benjamin Booker, a debut LP by the artist of the same name. For the bulk of the show, we tear into the lauded work and see what makes it tick — but not before discussing Nelson himself! Soak in the updates on his “Gathering the Magic” act (previewed in Ep. #72), and hear us commiserate with Nelson over his latest “YouTube blues” — the artist’s struggle with the deadening woes of the medium. Finally, we close out the episode with some thoughts on the application of music in performances and routines. Enjoy!

CCP Ep. #154: Amour t’es là? by Banda Magda | Feat. Joe Benjamin

A special album and a special guest, today we welcome Joe Benjamin (from Joe Benjamin and a Mighty Handful). Steeped in the larger-than-life sounds of big band & swing, the 11-piece ensemble performs the work of the German-born singer, composer, and conductor Joe Benjamin. Listen for some samples of his work, an exclusive interview with the man himself, and finally for the album he brought to place under our microscope (starting at 37:22). That album is called Amour t’es là?, the 2013 release by another massive ensemble, Banda Magda (fronted by Greek native and French speaker Magda Giannikou). More samples from Joe and a Mighty Handful throughout, so listen through!

CCP Ep. #149: Lost Themes by John Carpenter | Featuring Ed Reynolds and Chuck Collins

Nearing our 3-yr. anniversary, the inkwell is far from dry — especially in the presence of cartoonists Ed Reynolds (of Fermented Zen) and Chuck Collins (of Bounce)! Shuffling up the format this week, we kick off the episode with an interview to explore the Zen/Bounce style and philosophy, and then (from 0:30:00 on) we dive straight into Ed & Chuck’s album of choice. Director John Carpenter, known for scoring most of his early films, has never released a studio album… that is, not until Lost Themes! Steeped in hazy imagery, Lost Themes is a fanciful excursion through your mind’s own creations. Join us for this in-depth analysis! Then, starting at 1:45:38, we begin a round table discussion on the use of music in cartoons. Ever since the golden age of American animation, have cartoons been less musical?

CCP Ep. #146: Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance by Belle and Sebastian | Featuring Andy Heidel

The one and only proprietor of our affiliate bar & venue, The Way Station (haven for some Brooklyn musicians, launchpad for others), Andy Heidel is today’s special guest and co-panelist! Also a published science fiction/fantasy writer, Andy’s unique perspective as a successful artist–businessman could well inspire the likes of any myopic upstart who feels snared by the metaphysical and perturbed by entrepreneurship. Speaking of the metaphysical, his acclaimed story collection Desperate Moon is ripe to snare your curiosity (and your currency). For the full interview, skip to 1:40:58. For today’s album, brave the innards! Andy brings us Belle and Sebastian’s Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance. Well-experienced at mellowing out their fans, this time Belle & Sebastian take us dancing! Sort of… Listen to the album, listen to us, and listen to Andy Heidel to find out!

CCP Ep. #141: Nocturne by Wild Nothing | Featuring Devin Jackson Mullen of Anxious Kids Make Good People

Anxious Kids Make Good People (AKMGP): the acronym, the axiom, and the “-nym” are all coined by today’s guest, Devin Jackson Mullen, who writes & performs under the namesake. Straight from his career in sound design and the release of his latest EP, Radio Fire Flies, Devin joins our team to unveil the 2012 album Nocturne by Wild Nothing (the brainchild of Virginia-based artist Jack Tatum.) After Devin helps us break apart the album, we go on to break apart Devin! Figuratively, that is. For those who can’t wait, Devin’s interview begins at 1:25:37. For his three groovy surprises however, you’ll have to hunt.

CCP Ep. #136: Hesitant Alien by Gerard Way | Featuring Robare James Pruyn-Bush

Today we welcome guitarist, clarinetist, and singer-songwriter Robare James Pruyn-Bush to the podcast as our guest panelist and dynamic performer. Kicking off the episode with a cover he performs with one of his many bands, The Waysties, we then lunge into our album analyis (courtesy of Robare himself). The former lead singer of My Chemical Romance, Gerard Way, is on a solo kick! But just how will his debut project, Hesitant Alien, fare in our roundtable discussion? Check out the album and find out for yourself! Also stick around for an exclusive interview with Robare and for some surprises from his other band, The Rose West.

CCP Ep. #132: Haven’t Got the Blues (Yet) by Loudon Wainwright III | Featuring Painless Parker

Well, it’s happened. Crash Chords covers the topic of… DEPRESSION. But first, we look at the pain, the comedy, and the minor nuisances of the subject through the lens of today’s album, Haven’t Got the Blues (Yet) by stage veteran Loudon Wainwright III. This album is brought to you by our returning guest, Painless Parker. Practically a veteran in his own right, Painless helps us through the episode with some of his own aptly-focused tunes. So stick around for that and our post-album take on today’s much-maligned, and oft-avoided subject.

CCP Ep. #131: You’re Dead! by Flying Lotus | Featuring Tony Catalano

Today we rejoice in the first guest appearance of our new writer, Tony Catalano! Answering up our earlier, less-refined analysis of Flying Lotus’s Until the Quiet Comes (back in CCP Ep. #19), Tony thrusts us into the artist’s latest project, You’re Dead! — this time with the combined force of the entire Crash Chords think tank. But first, we kick-start the episode with Matt’s detailed account of his journey to see the play Hamilton, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and presented by the Public Theater. This clever Hip-Hop narrative of Alexander Hamilton’s life—and ultimate feud with Aaron Burr—runs until May 3rd. Finally, after the album, we talk to Tony about Tony, covering his background in jazz, his life as a copywriter, his ambitions for the website, and of course, the eternal theme of objectivity.

CCP Ep. #129: Crush by 2NE1 | Featuring Kita St. Cyr

Harkening back to her first appearance in CCP Ep. #45, Kita St. Cyr makes good on her promise to deliver us something from the Far East with her much-awaited return. Her choice: Crush by the immensely popular K-Pop girl group, 2NE1. Then, a discussion on cultural diffusion, as stemming from K-Pop’s relatively recent U.S. debut. From South Korea’s Psy to Japan’s Babymetal, what does it take to steal Western attention?

CCP Ep. #121: An Evening with Circadian Clock

As we’re nearing the end of the year, we’ve made this week’s episode a special one. For only the second time in CCP history, we devote an entire episode to a full-band interview in lieu of our usual album analysis. Peering deep into the local NYC rock scene, we unveil to you the vibrant and hair-raising ensemble known as Circadian Clock. With their trescendent melodies, backed by a formidable punch, Circadian Clock is poised to take NYC by storm, having released an EP last year called Someone Out There Loves You After All and a music video for their single, “Brightside”. They are currently working on an LP, slated for release next year. Rarely confronted by a band with such extensive and expansive musical roots, join us in hearing how these veterans of live performance forged their tight and incomparable sound.

Music is Life… and Life is Good!