Completely Conspicuous

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2008. Show notes: In '08, Phil became a dad M.I.A. with the Clash fakeout intro Phil's non-top 5s: The Hold Steady, Stephen Malkmus, Vampire Weekend, TV on the Radio, the Raconteurs, Beck, R.E.M., JJ Grey and Mofro, Sloan, Drive-By Truckers, Black Keys The Kelly Gruber Effect The other Phil Stacey releases his debut album, as did...

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2007. Show notes: Phil's #5: Sharp alt-country debut from Deer Tick Jay's #5: Nick Cave rocks out with Grinderman Phil's #4: Compelling raunch rock from QOTSA Jay's #4: Ted Leo and the Pharmacists with another quality ripper Phil's #3: Soulful belter Sharon Jones with a great throwback Jay's #3: Radiohead's "pay what you want" exp...

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2007. Show notes: In 2007, Jay had a kid starting kindergarten; that kids graduates from college soon Zeppelin played two reunion shows Separating the music from artists' bad behavior Daughtry had the #1 selling album of '07 Phil's non-top 5s: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, the National, St. Vincent, Jason Isbell, Okkervil River,...

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2006. Show notes: Jay's non-top 5s: The Black Angels, Mission of Burma, Twilight Singers, The Tragically Hip, Girl Talk, Iron Maiden, Lemonheads Phil's #5: Beck's last really good album, especially the first half Jay's #5: First solo release from Pulp's Jarvis Cocker Phil's #4: Last Drive-By Truckers album with Jason Isbell expand...

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2006. Show notes: First episode of the year In 2006, Jay had two little kids Phil was having fun When you don't know anybody playing the festival Top-selling album of the year was High School Musical soundtrack The Who released an album in 2006 Phil's non-top 5s: Neko Case, Destroyer, the Hold Steady, the Walkmen, Dylan, Heartless...

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling as we discuss our favorite music of 2023. Show notes: We're in there like swimwear On to the top 10 lists Breitling's #10: Return to from by Fog Lake Breitling's #9: Frog's new release unexpectedly has received critical praise  Kumar's #9: Another consistenly great album from Protomartyr Breitling's #8: Minimalist excellence from Colleen that test...

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling as we discuss our favorite music of 2023. Show notes: Recorded at Clicky Clicky HQ The 14th year of "Year in Music" episodes Taylor Swift is big, but not bigger than Starbucks Breitling making fun of Croz Perfect synergy: The Stones tour sponsored by AARP Hall v. Oates KISS passes the torch to digital avatars of themselves The "new" old Beatles so...

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2005. Show notes: Jay's #5 and Phil's #4: New Pornographers with another all-star power pop classic Phil's #5: Early '70s singer-songwriter jams from Ryan Adams and the Cardinals Still in the era of artists putting out overlong albums Jay's #3: Spoon expands their sound, grows their popularity Phil's #3: A powerful R&B belter from...

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2005. Show notes: In 2005, Jay was dealing with tiny children while Phil was newly married Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Pink Floyd briefly reunited Jay: Listened to a lot of songs via MP3 blogs Jay's non-top 5s: White Stripes, Black Mountain, Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, Wolf Parade, Against Me! Phil's non-top 5s: Sufja...

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2004. Show notes: Phil's #5: Arcade Fire with a rousing debut about suburbia Jay's #5: First album from Mission of Burma in 19 years kicks serious butt Phil's #4: The last U2 album Phil enjoyed Zebra once opened for their Zeppelin cover band Jay's #4 and Phil's #3: Drive-By Truckers unleash another powerful concept album about the...

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2004. Show notes: In 2004, Jay became a father for the second time, was a diaper-changing machine Phil got married, saw the Red Sox and Patriots become champions Jay: Got an iPod, downloaded a ton of music Pixies reunited, Phish broke up Many bands take hiatuses The tale of Mr. Jimmy William Hung becomes famous Phil's non-top 5s:...

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2003. Show notes: Phil's #5: Raucous debut from NYC's Yeah Yeah Yeahs, featuring the electric Karen O Jay's #5: Radiohead combined electronic and guitar-driven sounds Radiohead albums kept leaking early on file-sharing networks Phil's #4: The Shins hone their super catchy pop sound Jay's #4: An indie rock gem from the Wrens that s...

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2003. Show notes: In 2003, Jay had a toddler and found out another kid was on the way Started downloading a lot of music via blogs Jay saw Pat DiNizio, Gord Downie, Radiohead, Guster Phil got engaged, saw a lot of Red Sox games Coed softball struggles 50 Cent had the #1 song of the year A lot of number bands on the charts What's t...

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2002. Show notes: Phil's #5: Coldplay's second album turned them into superstars Jay's #5: Spoon returns to an indie and begins a long stretch of excellence Phil's and Jay's #4: Strong release from the Tragically Hip highlights their varied strengths Phil's #2: The last great Foo Fighters album caused a lot of turmoil for the band...

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2002. Show notes: In 2002, Jay became a first-time dad and didn't get much sleep Jay turned 35, Phil turned 33 Phil was newly single, met his current wife John Entwistle died the classic rock star death Napster officially called it quits after lawsuits Owning music is an outdated concept now Nickelback had the top song of the year...

Celebrating the podcast's 17th birthday by talking to Amanda Guest about the 10th birthday of the radio station she founded, BFF.fm. Show notes: Amanda was last on the podcast 10 years ago talking about moving to SF and launching BFF.fm Plenty of surprises along the way She was a DJ at the Salem State College (now University) station for 18 years Commercial radio was already being automated in the...

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2001. Show notes: Jay's non-top 5 albums: Von Bondies, Radiohead, Sloan, Frank Black & the Catholics, Guided By Voices, Fugazi The joy of shopping for imports Phil's #5: Great distillation of classic rock from Sweden's The Soundtrack of Our Lives Jay's #5: Indie folk-rock on first solo effort from Gord Downie includes spoken word...

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2001. Show notes: In 2001, Jay found out he was going to be a dad and also went back to his old employer Jay turned 34, Phil turned 32 Phil got divorced 9/11 was a defining generational moment Jay: Saw concerts by Radiohead, Gord Downie, Tragically Hip, PJ Harvey, Built to Spill, Buddy Guy Apple launched iTunes music store and the...

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling as we discuss our favorite music of the first half of 2023. Show notes: Running down our favorite albums of the year so far Kumar's #10: Pile diversifies its sound Breitling's #9 and Kumar's #8: Yo La Tengo keeps on Yo La Tengoing  Kumar's #9: Dangerous sounding debut from Model/Actriz Breitling's #8: Continued excellence from Protomartyr Kumar's...

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling as we discuss our favorite music of the first half of 2023. Show notes: Recorded at CompCon HQ Concerts are back TicketMaster is still a mess Nobody's buying CDs The Beatles and AI Parcheesi Redux is in its third year Talking about the band Toronto and their hit "Your Daddy Don't Know," covered by the New Pornographers The kids are alright Rock mu...

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2000. Show notes: Jay's non-top 5 picks: Hot Snakes, Rollins Band, Fu Manchu, Pearl Jam Phil's and Jay's #5: Diverse offering from the Tragically Hip Phil's and Jay's #4: More accessible effort about living in NYC by PJ Harvey Phil's #3: Bluesy debut album from North Mississippi All-Stars Jay's #3: Electrifying major-label debut f...

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2000. Show notes: In 2000, Jay got married Jay turned 33, Phil turned 31 Jay: Went to SXSW, saw Modest Mouse, Fu Manchu, Bevis Frond Pivotal year for the dotcom boom Albums were leaking on Napster before they came out A better year than '99 in terms of stuff we liked Top 100 songs were predominantly pop Phil's non-top 5s: Ween, Sl...

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 1999. Show notes: Jay's non-top 5s: Frank Black and the Catholics, Sebadoh, Matthew Sweet, Piebald, Fu Manchu, Superchunk, Songs: Ohia, GBV Phil's #5: Third release from Rage Against the Machine continues their anti-capitalist bent Jay's #5: Flaming Lips complete their transformation into a different sound Phil's #4: Dave Grohl co...

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 1999. Show notes: In '99, Jay turned 32, Phil turned 30 Y2K was looming Phil got married, Jay got engaged Ireland on New Year's Eve Pop was on the upswing Nu metal and Woodstock 99 Music sales were high, but MP3s were about to take a big bite Santana made a huge comeback Phil's non top 5 albums: Magnolia soundtrack, Sleater-Kinney...

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 1998. Show notes: More of Phil's non-top 5s: Monster Magnet, R.E.M., Hole, Dave Matthews Band Jay's non-top 5s: Tragically Hip, Monster Magnet, Jerry Cantrell, Frank Black and the Catholics, Beastie Boys, Rocket From the Crypt, Rancid, Cat Power Phil tells of a magical mixtape service Phil's #5: Moe with a jazzy jam band album Phi...