Podcasts Archive by category "Crash Chords Podcast" (Page 6)

Category: Crash Chords Podcast

The Crash Chords Podcast is an eternal war for artistic scrutiny. Follow along with our intensive album analyses by diving into the album yourself first — using our Spotify play buttons, when available — and then join us in asking the hard questions. Expect guest panelists, broader topics concerning music as an art form, episode specials, and surprise performances.

Sift through this archive more efficiently by checking out our “At-a-Glance” sub-menu, complete with episode hyperlinks, albums, topics, and our final rating chart.

CCP Ep. #201: The Getaway by Red Hot Chili Peppers

…And into the “200s” we go! To inaugurate “Season 5” of the Crash Chords Podcast, we’re sitting down with a group favorite: the music world’s funk-tastic, alt-rock failsafe for over 30 years running, the Red Hot Chili Peppers! Specifically, we’re looking at their brand new release The Getaway (their 11th studio album!) And then, being that we’re taking on such consistently funky veterans, our topic briefly examines the rarity of finding bands that are joined at the hip, and who withstand the test of time.

CCP Ep. #200: The Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 Episode 200 Spectacular!

Time does fly doesn’t it? It’s already our 200th episode and our fourth anniversary! We hope you’ve had a good four years. We’ve had some ups and some downs, album-wise. That’s why today we’re going up, up, UP! To the top of the charts, that is. Like our previous anniversary episodes, we’re stepping outside the normal sequence of events today in order to tackle a special project. This time ’round, we’ll be looking to see what the Billboard charts have in store for us. Specifically, we’ll be looking at the top 10 hit singles for the week leading up to this recording: the week of June 25th. Follow along with us in the Spotify playlist as we countdown to #1, and join us as we dare to challenge the undisputed sales champions of pop. Who will win? I think they already did…

CCP Ep. #199: On the Impossible Past by The Menzingers | Feat. Matt Dorsi

Get excited for the man, the myth, the legend—who you’ve just now heard of—Matt Dorsi! Currently a member of the indie rock band Blue Spruce (and formerly a member of East Coast Ghost), hear the Woodstock–Williamsburg transplant chat about the trials and tribulations of band breakups and the all-around rewards of being a bassist, songwriter, and up-and-coming audio producer. A relentlessly talented solo act, we kick off the show with Matt’s own compositions and then an interview before diving into Matt’s album pick: the 2012 LP by The Menzingers called On the Impossible Past. Enjoy!

CCP Ep. #198: The Impossible Kid by Aesop Rock

Ready to take on the impossible, kid? Help us take on The Impossible Kid, the 7th studio release by veteran wordsmith Aesop Rock. You can thank listener Alex StarF Alverson for today’s pick as we hope you’ll join us in peeling back the layers of this complex self-assessment of an album: one of both the artist and the person. As wordsmithing will be of critical importance to today’s episode, we decided to conduct our own self-assessment in our topic [at 1:48:18] as we take a brief look at the importance of word choice in critical analysis, as well as in the art itself.

CCP Ep. #197: From Caplan to Belsize by Muncie Girls

This week we’re tumbling down the rocky trail of punk music to check out an Exeter, UK trio called Muncie Girls and their album From Caplan to Belsize. The album, which advertises itself as tackling everything from politics to interpersonal relationships, is the debut LP for the trio, and is sure to fire up some debates. The last debate of the night results in our topic [1:25:51]: What have the effects of “counter-culture” movements been on art and music in recent decades? We look at the pros, the cons, and finally pose the ultimate question: is counter-counter even, like, a real thing still? Let’s hear your thoughts!

CCP Ep. #196: Three by Blue Man Group

You may know Blue Man Group from their long-running, head-turning stage productions, but in the years since their formation in 1991, the core group has also compiled a modest discography of original LPs. Their third LP, entitled Three, was released this April and showcases the group’s innovative and trademarked palette of instruments, including new contrivances of PVC piping, chimeulums, tubulums, traditional cimbaloms, and other mystery sounds! While we’re on instruments, join our topic at [1:30:28] as we debate the etiquette and ethics of borrowing proprietary musical devices.

CCP Ep. #195: Death by Water by Yugen

There’s nothing quite like Yugen that we can find. An Italian avant-prog chamber ensemble that derived influence from the RIO movement (Rock in Opposition) of the 70s/80s, Yugen’s latest endeavor is an LP called Death by Water. With a lust for chaos and a penchant for carefully cloaking its oddball leitmotifs, Death by Water can’t be judged by its cover. Check out the album in the Spotify link and just let it happen, folks. And then, we implore you… let us happen as well. Invite Crash Chords into your lives as we reason out this behemoth of an album, from its pinnacles to its perils. And then, in our topic, hear us reason out the disparity between the terms “avant-garde” and “experimental”… if any.

CCP Ep. #194: Mutant by Arca

We’re tackling Arca! Specifically, Mutant by Arca! An experimental / electronic mosaic of emotion, Mutant is an exposing project for the 26-year-old London-based Venezuelan producer, Alejandro Ghersi. Mutant may also be a challenge for certain listeners, but why falter now? Dive in with us, headlong! Also, stick around at the tail end for some brief musings on BIAS — that is, textural bias, structural bias, the creativity bias, and the “discomfort” bias. ALL kinds of bias!

CCP Ep. #193: Junk by M83

Ready to rummage through Junk by M83?? We certainly are. The veteran French electronic music band, fronted by Anthony Gonzalez, has been quite up-front about some intentions surrounding its seventh studio LP Junk, leading us to some fairly heated debates. In our topic, for instance, at [1:49:40], we launch into a debate on the evolution of aesthetic values. Does time, in fact, validate? Weigh in!

CCP Ep. #192: Varmints by Anna Meredith

Welcome to today’s discussion on Varmints by Anna Meredith, the Scottish composer most recently known for drifting between contemporary classical and electro-pop. Varmints flexes her composers’ muscles and takes her “maximalist” sensibilities just a step further, but how big of a step? Let’s find out together! And of course, check out [1:59:02] to hear a self-analytical discussion on our practice of podcast “pre-listens”, i.e., a group run-through. If we assume that tastes are contingent on whatever we’re exposed to, then what about the people we listen to music with? Do friends and colleagues affect our enjoyment of music, like a contagious wave of laughter? You tell us!

Music is Life… and Life is Good!