CCP Ep. #73: BEYONCÉ by Beyoncé

To close off the year, we thought we’d take a little stroll through the Billboard 200 and see what all the fuss is about. So when we heard that one of the world’s top-selling artists just released a “surprise” album slated to top the charts without any marketing or hype, our choice became apparent: Beyoncé’s self-titled, self-proclaimed “visual album”, BEYONCÉ. Then, in keeping with the artist’s decision to release a music video for each track on her album, we get into a little discussion on how other artists have applied the visual element in their work.

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CCP Ep. #72: MK III by Steam Powered Giraffe | Featuring Nelson Lugo

We’re returning to an old favorite this week with the cheerful theatrics of three musical robots: Steam Powered Giraffe. Incidentally, another old favorite (guest Nelson Lugo), is returning to us! For review, he delivers us Steam Powered Giraffe’s third studio release, MK III. (To hear our review of their second album, see Ep. #39!) And stick around, because after this fun-filled excursion through the band’s most daring product yet, we get to hear all about Nelson’s excursions through the world of magic and theater, namely his upcoming show, “Gathering the Magic.” Enjoy!

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CCP Ep. #71: Like Rats by Mark Kozelek

This week’s review features an eclectic album of covers whose native genres have been turned on their heads to suit the creative muse of former Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon frontman, Mark Kozelek. Join us as we hash out this unique acoustic cover-album, Like Rats. Afterwards, we talk more broadly about what it means to “cover” existing music. Whether true to the note or fundamentally overhauled, why do some covers inspire us anew, while others fall flat on their face?

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CCP Ep. #69: An Evening of John Williams | Featuring Nate Rider

Tonight we take a short breather from album reviews to direct our attention toward the foremost film score composer of our time — the stalwart master of his craft, John Williams. Joining us for this very special epis-“ode” is returning guest Nate Rider, armed with his vast knowledge of film and pop culture. Together, we discuss John Williams’ major works, the films at large, the scope of his contributions, and the films’ greater cultural impact.

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CCP Ep. #68: Everything Is Debatable by Hellogoodbye

Let’s gear up for another fun-filled podcast! This time we’re reviewing the fresh new album, Everything Is Debatable, by the Indie Pop band, Hellogoodbye. Then be sure to stick around for a very ‘sole’-ful and singular topic: Singles! We’ll discuss just how the release of singles has changed over the past few decades and whether the practice stands to gain momentum, or downright vanish, in the modern age.

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CCP Ep. #67: The Migration by Scale the Summit

A splash of Metal, a dose of Prog, a pinch of Post-rock, and a heap of adventure! That’s the bolognese that is The Migration by Scale the Summit. Join us for this intense review, followed by an equally intense discussion on “theme” vs. “arc.” Frequently lumped together in album reviews, these core components aren’t always holding hands, nor are they so clear-cut. What’s the distinction? Is one more important than the other? More questions and (some) answers in this week’s jam-packed episode.

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CCP Ep. #66: AM by Arctic Monkeys

I’m afraid we’re one “6” short of making this episode truly frightening, but nonetheless, a Happy Halloween from Crash Chords! At long last, we return to deliver our review of AM by Arctic Monkeys. Then comes the really scary part: a long-winded reflection on why we have to be so darn long-winded all the time. Should critical analysis be an exercise in brevity or longevity? We’ll do the spitballing; you decide!

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CCP Ep. #65: The Life Acoustic by Everlast

This week’s review is powered by… nobody. We’re unplugging our hearts and minds to dissect the electric-gone-acoustic album, The Life Acoustic by Everlast. Then, be sure to stick around for the big joke: So… three hosts, 62 albums, and a hell of a lot of genres walk into a podcast… and, well, you’ll have to listen in to hear how they fare. That’s right, it’s a blind genre-guessing test! Just a little experiment on interpretation and categorization. Try it yourself for fun and post your claim in the comments! (No Wiki-ing though.)

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