For our second fan-pick, brought to us by Kristin Vislocky, we review the latest from the 90s-era hard rock band, Saliva. The album, called Rise Up, is a re-release of their previous album, In It to Win It. Afterwards, we discuss the various applications for which music is used, honing in on the divide between the musician and the non-musician, both humble listeners and recipients of inspiration.
Welcome to our favorite Calgarian’s special day! That’s right, the renaissance man of the Indi-Folk world, Chad VanGaalen, has released a new album, Shrink Dust, the subject of today’s analysis. We also take some time to discuss fans’ expectations of a given artist’s work based on prior conditions. Artists may often govern our tastes, but our tastes certainly don’t govern them! Ergo, some personal tales. Enjoy!
Ready to make some noise? Swans has enough to go around. The veteran Noise Rock band that reformed after its 13-year slumber is back to mesmerizing audiences with their garbled, often fearsome tones. This week, we tackle Swans’ most recent experiment, a two-disc set called To Be Kind. We review it all here, so strap in for today’s special extended podcast. And, as many of these tracks breech well into the double digits, we finally take some time to discuss that very thing: time (in music). Just what does “track length” mean for us? Is a generous run-time the mark of ambition, genius, or a lack of self-awareness? From past trends to future predicitons, we field our thoughts; now let’s hear yours!
Today we welcome guests Mark & Chuck of the music comedy duo Afterbirth Monkey. As tradition demands, they have the honor of the weekly album pick, which they reveal to be Katy Perry’s latest, Prism. Later, we spotlight our guest duo and pick apart the origins of their risque yet quirky comedy style. And of course, we couldn’t let them leave without giving us a taste of their craft, so they regail us with three unique tales (in song form of course). Stay alert for these performances at the most logical intervals. Hint: you won’t have to wait long for the first.
Prepare for the trolling of a lifetime as we tackle Neil Cicierega’s unique mashup album, Mouth Sounds. Without giving away the experience, you can expect to hear some clever twists on familiar favorites, scourges, and bygone curiosities. Just how does one review a mashup album? As many mashups rely on revamping the emotional tone of the source material, we then leap into a larger discussion on the mutability of tonal perception.
This week we’re happily obliged to thank Dae Rak Lee for our fan-picked album review: Old Boy Jon by the Korean-American rapper, Dumbfoundead (DFD). Then stick around while we prod the concept of credibility (or “cred”) in music. When might it be over, or under-emphasized, and what is its bearing on other artists, on music moguls, and most importantly, on the fans?
Time for one of our favorite things: another cosmic ballet between traditional composition and pop songwriting. This week we find it in the band Arc Iris, fronted by the highly animated vocalist, Jocie Adams (formerly of the Low Anthem). With the help of her poetic flair, their self-titled debut packs a wallop. Let’s hope we do it justice. Also stick around for an interesting discussion on musical identity and personality, and whether they’re at all linked with staying power.
There’s a glitch in the system… several of them, actually. But it’s okay, really; we let them in. They’re called The Glitch Mob and they brought their own album, Love Death Immortality. After all, how could we refuse this opportunity to explore the intricate world of rock-inspired EDM? And how could you? So just fistpump your way to that play-button and join right in! And don’t go away or you’ll miss a great chat about the process of finding new music. We share some of our stories, now share yours!
Our 90th episode’s review is brought to you by the world-travelling, rhyme-spitting, ivory-tickling Louis Logic! Not so incidentally, he is also our guest. As for the album of study, we look at II, the self-implied second LP by the curiously eclectic Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Afterwards, Louis walks us through the trials and fortuities that have landed him his one-of-a-kind solo career as a rapper/keyboardist. He even touches upon his own eclectic range of influences, culminating in his recent release, Look on the Blight Side. Listen for yourself in the sample he supplies to sign us off.
Such a taxing week. We are exempt from today’s episode, but don’t deduct us from your lives! There are plenty of old episodes itemized in our Podcast Archive. No liabilities—it’s a musical investment! Just pick your album, rating, or topic of choice, and proceed to download these assets. (Disclosure to third parties is encouraged.) Speaking of taxes, we have something else to declare: Don’t miss our friends, the Wall Street Playaz at their 7th Annual Tax Day show, 10pm this Saturday at the Full Cup, Staten Island. Bring revenue! Don’t withhold! They’re dependant on your support! And finally, with springtime in full blast, we encourage you to get out and enjoy the weather until next week’s episode blossoms into being.
