And Introducing

And introducing, on lead vocals, it’s Rick James! Yes we’re talking about the 1980’s #1 funk superfreak who managed to fit 3 lifetimes worth of decadence and depravity into one short life. And today we’ll give it to you, baby, from his book “GLOW: The Autobiography of Rick James” by Rick James and David Ritz. Songs in order: Mynah Birds - It’s My Time Rick James - My Mama Rick James - You And I Ri...

And introducing, from Iceland, our NATO ally to the north, it’s BJORK. The most famous musician from the isolated northern island, Bjork has built an incredible career and international fame from her unique voice and genre-exploring, endlessly idiosyncratic music. And today we’ll be exploring all things Bjork from her coffee table book BJORK and a 2004 Bjork New Yorker story called “Bjork’s Saga”....

And introducing, on lead vocals, guitar and bass...it’s Mr. Billy Corgan. Yes we’re talking through the legendary frontman and sole consistent member of gen x rock titans Smashing Pumpkins, a person who is constantly portrayed as either alt-rock’s greatest villain or saint, depending on who you’re asking. And today we’re joined by Struggle Sessions Leslie Lee III to dive into some of Mr. Corgan’s...

And introducing, online, it’s Rolling Stone Magazine’s NEW 500 Greatest Albums of All Time List! We discuss Rolling Stone’s updated-for-2020 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, talk about the value of lists, the relative ranked-ness of the Beatles, and how our appreciation of music changes over time. Songs: Britney Spears - Piece of Me Beatles - Day in the Life Marvin Gaye - What’s Going...

And introducing, on lead vocals, it’s Scott Walker. Over a six decade journey from teen dream crooner to brooding experimental composer, Scott Walker has explored the dark bleeding edges of pop music with his inconic vibrato and iconoclastic production. And today we’ll be learning all about Scott from a bunch of articles and the 2006 documentary Scott Walker: 30 Century Man. We’re joined by Matty...

And introducing, partying hard, it’s Andrew WK! This week we’re talking the enigmatic evangelist of Partying who unleashed a torrent of hard rocking power pop party anthems, became a national celebrity, spokesman, motivational speaker, and tv personality before sinking somewhat back into mysterious obscurity. Today we’ll be exploring WK through Phillip Crandall’s 2014 entry into the 33 ⅓ book anth...

And introducing, on the drums, it’s Chris Frantz! We’re JOINED by Chris Frantz, drummer for Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club to discuss downtown bands in ‘77, buildings & food, the love of music, and remaining in love with his wife, bassist Tina Weymouth, all through his new book “Remain in Love: Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Tina” Check out Chris’ book here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250209...

And introducing, on lead vocals and guitar, it’s Mr. Robert Pollard! We’re joined by Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade, Operators) to talk about the frontman synonymous with Guided by Voices, the prolific indie legends from Dayton Ohio. Please support Dan's music over on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/operators Songs: Acid Ranch - Beautiful Plastic Guided by Voices - Drinker’s GBV - Weedking Times New V...

Part two of…the Song Machine! We track pop music’s muddled fallout from 9/11 (again), the reign of Max Martin and Dr. Luke, track-and-hook songwriting, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Kesha and the f u t u r e of pop. NEW YOUTUBE CHANNEL, please subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-sYl6WVNG_-okzBwm4SiTg Songs in order: Kelly Clarkson - A Moment Like This Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps Kelly Clarkson - Since...

And introducing…the Song Machine! We track the rise of Denniz Pop and the Swedish music production juggernaut in American pop music through John Seabrooke’s 2015 book “The Song Machine: Inside the Hit Factory.” Songs Tag Team - Whoomp (There It Is!) Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (Swemix) Heino - Medly Volksleider Ace of Bass - The Sign It’s Alive - Pretend I’m God Backstreet Boys - We’ve Got it Go...

And introducing…on piano and vocals, it’s Fiona Apple! We discuss the singer-songwriters music and public perception using two longform magazine articles bookending her career. Songs in Order: Fiona Apple - Criminal Fiona Apple - Sleep to Dream Fiona Apple - Relay Fiona Apple - On I Go Fiona Apple - Left Apple

And introducing…on bass guitar, John Taylor! Bassist and founding member of 80’s new romantic superstars Duran Duran, Taylor and his bandmates achieved wild success in the 1980, but Taylor and Duran Duran’s 80’s excess came with a price, and his personal journey took him to the brink of self-destruction. Today we’ll be talking all about those wonderful double Duran’s through his book “In The Pleas...

And introducing, on lead vocals…it’s Debbie Harry! The ORIGINAL atomic blonde, Harry the frontwoman of CBGB stalwarts turned global disco innovators, Blondie. Blondie paved the way from punk to new wave as Debbie fashioned herself into a singing, rapping avant-grade starlet. And today we’ll be reading through the parallel lines to learn all about Debbie Harry, Blondie and downtown in the 70’s thro...

And introducing….on vocals, it’s Jessica Simpson. This Texas-bred big voiced, pop diva has spent her career beset by harsh media, judgmental critics and tabloid hell. But after 20 years in the spotlight she’s come out the other side of drugs, abuse and reality tv to share an incredible amount of wisdom in her memoir “Open Book”. SONGS Jessica Simpson - I Wanna Love You Forever Nick Lachey - What’s...

And introducing….pop-punk! We’re joined by musician Juiceboxxx take a look at this particular aesthetic mutation of stripped down, sneering anarchistic rock & radio-friendly bops of juvenile yearning, talking about where punk ends and pop begins, and discussing just what counts as pop-punk anyway. SONGS: Lil Tracey - Beautiful Nightmare Bowling for Soup - High School Never Ends New Found Glory - S...

And introducing…on the decks, it’s Mr. Steve Aoki! This is the first time we’ve dipped into the world of Electronic Dance Music, and today we’ll be traversing ALL the builds and drops of the EDM world through the memoir of hibachi heir turned superstar producer Steve Aoki and his memoir “BLUE: THE COLOR OF NOISE” Songs Steve Aoki & Alan Walker ft. ISAK - ARE YOU LONELY (midi) Circle of Life - King...

And introducing…on drums, it’s Bill Kreutzman. Working rhythm for the band that put the Jam in “Jam Band,” we’ll learn all about his humble bay area beginnings, his three acid-soaked decades in the Grateful Dead, and how everything from the Great Pyramids to San Francisco garbage-men is “far out”, all from his book “DEAL: My Three Decades of Drumming, Dreams and Drugs with the Grateful Dead”. Chec...

And introducing…Dave Matthews Band! We’re talking the terminally normie jam band that ruled the 90’s by examining Dave, what made him so big, and what kind of legacy – if any – he created. We also do a fair bit of talking about the Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame (DMB’s failure to be inducted this year inspired this ep) and why we love to hate these prestigious lists. Read Steven Hyden’s piece on DMB: h...

And introducing…STEVE ALBINI! The king curmudgeon of American punk, today we’re going to be talking all about the legendarily confrontational Big Black frontman, and doing a deep dive into art, artists and what being offensive is all about from a 2015 interview “Steve Albini Talks to Listen”. The Listen Mag interview: https://www.listenlistenlisten.org/stevealbini/ Listen to Beep Beep Lettuce: htt...

And introducing…the original dirtbags of punk rock, it’s The Cramps! We’re joined by Casey Hopkins, guitarist for Brooklyn rock band The Advertisers, to explore Lux Interior and Poison Ivy’s unique brand of psychobilly sleaze through Dick Porter’s definitive “Journey To The Center of the Cramps” Find the Advertisers online: https://theadvertisers.nyc/ Live at Meltasia video EP: https://www.youtube...

And introducing…the boss, it’s Rick Ross! From the port of Miami all the way to the penthouses of, also Miami, today we’ll cover Ross’s flair for self-promotion, ear for the choicest beats, and his number one tactic for beating a federal charge all through his newly released book HURRICANES: A MEMOIR Songs Rick Ross - Pots and Pans Rick Ross - Hustlin’ Rick Ross - The Boss Rick Ross - Sixteen

And introducing, on drums….it’s Patty Schemel! Drummer for HOLE and along for the ride with fellow grunge icon Courtney Love, Patty brings us a story of fame, addiction, despair, and the seedy streets of Seattle and LA through her memoir HIT SO HARD. SONGS Beat Happening - Our Secret HOLE - Violet HOLE - Celebrity Skin Le Tigre - TKO Juliette and the Licks - Hot Kiss

#61 BAD SONGS! And introducing…the worst songs ever! In an “easy listening” ep, we’re looking at Twitter’s suggestions for the worst song ever, deciding what makes a song bad, and making our own picks for worst songs of all time. Thanks to @kathbarbadoro for teeing this up for us with her tweet! https://twitter.com/kathbarbadoro/status/1183434147248951303 Songs Rufus featuring Chacka Khan - Tell M...

And introducing…The Fall! It’s the story of punk rock’s orneriest group and of course the front man synonymous with the name, Mark E. Smith. Chapo Trap House’s Will Menaker joins us to learn all about Smith and the Fall through the recollections of the dozens and dozens…and dozens of musicians used up and discarded in Fall’s chaotic wake, through Dave Simpson’s “The Fallen: Life In and Out of Brit...

And introducing, one of the greatest rock bands around, it’s Radiohead! In a long-time-brewing episode, we finally get around to talking ‘head from every angle (and finally putting to rest the age old question: Radiohead, good or nah?) from an unauthorized 2000 biography from Mac Randall called “Exit Music: the Radiohead Story”. Featuring our friend, Brooklyn-based musician Mesita. Check out Mesit...