CCP Ep. #89: G I R L by Pharrell Williams

Finally giving the biggest collaborator of the music industry his due, this week’s review spotlights Pharrell Williams’ latest solo album, GIRL With the artist’s smooth rhythms and groovy textures, it’s no surprise that his singles seem to find their way to every DJ’s library. Simply put, they’re easy on the feet. And so, for our discussion, we open the floor to dance music! We cover its varied history and cultural quirks, so be sure to boogie down with us after the review.

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CCP Ep. #88: Rival Factions by Project 86 | Featuring Suzanne Pike of The Barbaric Yawps

You all know Suzanne Pike from The Barbaric Yawps… well now you’ll know her as a bona fide CCP guest! Yes, we’re honored to have the famed Indi icon on the podcast, not only for an interview, but also to provide us with this week’s album review. Spurring another genre-first for Crash Chords, she has us examine the 2007 album Rival Factions by the Christian hardcore rock band, Project 86. After unpacking this issue-straddling album, we of course question Suzanne about her rise to fame. And, if you stick around, there’s a chance you’ll receive a treat performance — a good chance.

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CCP Ep. #87: Ultimate Rose/Doctor Mixtape | Featuring Kim & Sage of Head Over Feels

Ease off the throttle for this week’s lighthearted surprise-cast. First we welcome guests Kim & Sage of Head Over Feels, the most heartfelt website in all of pop culture “fannon”. Then, in lieu of our weekly review, we discuss and dissect the common practice of compiling playlists, using Kim & Sage’s personal submission as our model: The Ultimate Rose/Doctor Mixtape. Of course, our discussion covers only a minute fraction of their monstrous homage to the popular sci-fi series, Doctor Who, which dices the season-spanning forbidden love story into 728 bite-size morsels of feels. Also stick around for a discussion of playlists in the broad, and a brief interview chronicling the origins of Head Over Feels.

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CCP Ep. #86: St. Vincent by St. Vincent

Strap yourselves in for this week’s big review. It’s time for St. Vincent by St. Vincent! But don’t be fooled… it’s musical sainthood we’re speaking of. Armed with a pop-fusion edge and a chamber composer’s sensibilities, St. Vincent is actually the stage name of composer/singer-songwriter Annie Erin Clark. She’s certainly a saint to all her fans, as they might testify in reaction to her latest “miracle”, the release of her self-titled album. In response, we take some time after to field our own impressions on the otherwise prevailing boundaries between formal composition and pop songwriting—if any at all.

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CCP Ep. #85: Four Foot Shack by Les Claypool’s Duo de Twang

This week we check out one of the many side-projects of world-renowned bassist and Primus frontman, Les Claypool. This particular side-project is known as Duo de Twang, a union of Claypool and M.I.R.V. guitarist Bryan Kehoe. Their debut album (and our review): Four Foot Shack. Then join us in a discussion of a band’s “namesake” — that is, the thing we search for in our libraries. From a marketing and artistic standpoint, what does the name mean for a band’s collective members? And what does it mean when it changes?

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Road Review: Best Rap Show Ever – Featuring Tribe One, Louis Logic, Mikal kHill, Adam WarRock and Schaffer The Darklord

Sunday night, February 9th 2014, I had the wondrous experience of attending the best rap show ever featuring the likes of Tribe One, Louis Logic, Mikal kHill, Adam WarRock, and last but not least, Schaffer The Darklord. (I have a photo to prove that the title rings true, courtesy of former guest, Nelson Lugo.) The Fifth Estate on Fifth Ave. in Brooklyn was the venue that housed this awesome band of wordsmiths for this momentous night, and indeed these incredibly nerdy and brilliant rappers hit me with a barrage of hip hop punches from the moment the first act hit the stage.

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CCP Ep. #84: Morning Phase by Beck

Prepare to ease yourself into the creamy lo-fi world of Beck. After a six-year hiatus, Beck has returned to making studio albums. This week, we’ll be reviewing his highly-praised Morning Phase. Then, on the topic frontier, we sidle back over to an old favorite: cinema — only this time in regards to its bite-size self-portrait, the trailer! Join us in uncovering just what variety of music makes a good trailer flow… or better yet, sell.

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CCP Ep. #83: Love Has Come For You by Steve Martin & Edie Brickell | Featuring Sarah Bisman Storm

You might know him as an actor and a comedian, but don’t forget about that banjo! That’s right, grammy-award winning musician Steve Martin has teemed up with Edie Brickell (of Edie Brickell & New Bohemians) for an original roots and bluegrass album called Love Has Come for You. This album review is brought to us by our guest (another folk talent, singer-songwriter, actor, and member of the Waysties), Sarah Bisman Storm. Stick around for an interview on her musical background, some treat performances, and a hefty discussion on folk theater.

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CCP Ep. #82: F*** Off Get Free We Pour Light On Everything, by Silver Mt. Zion

Hope the title isn’t too much for you, because you can expect no less from their music. The seasoned post-rock ensemble, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra (a.k.a. the band of too many a.k.a.’s) has released their bold new LP, F*** Off Get Free We Pour Light On Everything. You know the drill; now let’s dissect this behemoth! Then, for our topic, we wander into the fiery ring of copyrights vs. fair use. Don’t miss this great debate!

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CCP Ep. #81: Transgender Dysphoria Blues by Against Me!

It’s back to flannels, patches, and malcontent for this week’s episode. Our review confronts the latest punk release by Against Me!, a cathartic work bluntly titled, Transgender Dysphoria Blues. We also take some time in the beginning to discuss the Olympic Opening Ceremony, and for our topic we cover the influence of activism in music over the years (for better or worse).

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