Aural Mess

In this episode, Chad and guest Pete Salant talk about Pete's journey from his early days in high school bands to becoming a prominent figure in radio programming. He shares insights into his musical influences, the evolution of radio, and his eventual transition into social work. The discussion highlights the changes in the radio industry, Pete's reflections on his career, and current trends in m...

In this episode, Chad and guest Cal Meadows discuss their thoughts on Led Zeppelin. They delve into the band's history and influences, and the evolution of their sound over time. Cal and Chad share their favorite songs from each album and talk about the musical elements and production techniques that make these songs stand out. The conversation also touches on some lesser-known songs and B-sides t...

In this episode, Chad welcomes Jon Williams, a long-time friend and music enthusiast originally from Australia. Jon shares his musical journey and his experience playing in bands. The duo dives into the history and impact of Australian rock music, discussing iconic bands like Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, The Angels, and INXS. They explore the evolution from the early influences of American and Briti...

Jim Berkenstadt, also known as the Rock and Roll Detective, shares his journey from being a trial attorney to becoming an author and researcher of rock and roll history. He has written books on various rock artists, including The Beatles, and has worked as a historical consultant for George Harrison's estate and for projects like the HBO film 'Living in the Material World' and the Beatles' 'Get Ba...

In this episode, Chad and Kat Prow explore the power of music and its ability to evoke emotions and create shared experiences. Kat talks about her essays on the Black Eyed Peas and T’Pau and the process of researching and writing about specific times in her life. The conversation then transitions to Fiona Apple and Prow's essay on her albums. They discuss the impact of Apple's music and the negati...

In this episode, author Wendall Thomas discusses her background, her love for music, and her writing process. She shares stories about her experiences with musicians like Bonnie Raitt and her connection to the music scene in North Carolina. Wendall talks about her daily Facebook posts featuring album cuts and the importance of physical media in her life. The conversation then shifts to Wendall's C...

In this episode, Chad and Alex discuss the cult classic movie Xanadu and its soundtrack. Alex, who had never seen the movie before, describes it as a fever dream with unexpected plot twists and stunning visuals. Chad, who saw the movie as a child, reminisces about his crush on Olivia Newton-John and the nostalgia he feels when watching the film. The soundtrack, featuring songs by Electric Light Or...

In this episode, Chad and Jane discuss the albums 'Steve McQueen' by Prefab Sprout, 'Seeds of Love' by Tears for Fears, and 'Violator' by Depeche Mode. They talk about their personal connections to the music and share their thoughts on the production, lyrics, and standout tracks of each album. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Paddy McAloon and Thomas Dolby: how we made Prefab Sprout's Steve McQueen http...

In this episode, Chad and Cimcie recap last year’s Steely Dan Summer and discuss their experiences over the past year. Cimcie shares her journey of moving to Savannah, Georgia and creating the Hatchet Granny brand, explaining the inspiration behind the brand name and her passion for creating herbal mixers, sodas, and Steely-Dan themed mocktails. She talks about the upcoming Kickstarter launch of h...

In this episode, Chad and Jim Bricker discuss their mutual love for music, particularly jazz and progressive rock. They talk about their musical backgrounds and influences, including Steely Dan and Pat Metheny. The conversation touches on the importance of melody and harmony in music, the balance between technical proficiency and musicality, and the use of technology in music production. The conve...

In this episode, Chad and Alex Sciarra discuss their musical influences and the evolution of music consumption. They reminisce about their favorite bands from the 90s and the impact of streaming on music discovery. The conversation covers a range of genres, from punk to Britpop, and highlights the importance of radio and mixtapes in the pre-digital era. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Alex on Twitter h...

In this episode, author Libby Cudmore joins the podcast to explore the vibrant world of the 1990s Swing Revival era. Libby and Chad discuss the cultural shifts that fueled the revival, trace the evolution of Swing Revival bands, and reflect on the era's energy and influences. The conversation extends to comedic scenes in movies, critical reviews of the Roadhouse remake, and pivotal albums within t...

In this episode, musician Max Begler talks about his musical influences and his band, Sunny Daze & the Weathermen. Chad and Max discuss garage rock and punk rock, playing in a band, songwriting, and musicianship. The episode wraps up with Max playing a solo round of “Steely Dan: Smash or Pass?”.  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Sunny Daze & the Weathermen https://sunnydazeandtheweathermen....

In this episode, author Jude Warne discusses her work as a writer, including her book on the band America, her upcoming book on the music of Boz Scaggs, and her master's thesis on Bruce Springsteen's album 'Darkness on the Edge of Town'. The conversation touches on topics such as the importance of space in music, the role of production in creating a unique sound, and the influence of literature an...

Part two! In this episode, Chad and Phil continue their discussion of some of their favorite albums. They reminisce about their experiences as musicians in school bands and the impact it had on their musical journeys, and talk about the intelligence behind the punk rock scene. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Part one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCebkElKko4 Buffalo Tom and Me https://auralmess.subst...

In part one of this episode, Chad Sutton and Phil D analyze some of their favorite albums of all time. To no one’s surprise, they have a Steely Dan album in common. Stay tuned for part two, and be sure to subscribe to the Aural Mess newsletter on Substack - link below! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: STEELY PHIL PODCAST | Ep. 18 (TALKIN' DAN DRUMMERS WITH SAM) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iImbWZMx0...

In this episode, Chad Sutton and Jeff Schultz discuss their experiences playing in bands and their love for music. They share their affinity for Steely Dan and other bands and discuss their favorite songs and albums. The conversation highlights the joy of sharing music with friends and the importance of personal connections to songs, as well as finding new songs and artists to listen to. MENTIONED...

In this episode, Chad and Mackenzie finish their game of “Steely Dan: Smash or Pass?”, this time covering Steely Dan's live albums and the solo work of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. The conversation takes a detour as they discuss their favorite Bond girls and movies and speculate about the next James Bond. Finally, Mackenzie and Chad introduce the Yacht Rock Cage Match, ranking the butchness of...

In this episode, Chad interviews Zamauri Jones, known for his Steely Dan-oriented content on Instagram and YouTube. Zamauri shares his musical background and influences, including his love for Steely Dan and other classic bands. He discusses his experience starting the Dan Vault YouTube channel and finding rare content. Chad and Zamauri connect over their musical backgrounds, dive into the nuances...

Giuseppe Ricapito, a journalist and musician, discusses his music, influences, and songwriting process. The conversation also touches on the concept of the swan song theory in music, the influence of literary songwriters, and Neil Young's authenticity and live performances. Chad and Giuseppe go on to discuss the power of music and the enduring impact of one man with an acoustic guitar. They explor...

In this episode, Fiona McQuarrie discusses her background in music journalism and academia. She shares her experiences interviewing musicians and talks about the challenges and rewards of being a music journalist. Chad and Fiona discuss sampling and cover songs, sharing their favorite examples and the art of reimagining songs. They also explore the common thread among artists like Prefab Sprout, S...

In this episode of the Aural Mess Podcast, Chad and Mackenzie discuss their love for Steely Dan and go through a fun game of 'Smash or Pass' for each of the band's albums. Mackenzie shares her journey of discovering Steely Dan and how she initially disliked their music but eventually became obsessed. She also talks about her professional connection to the music world, particularly in jazz and clas...

Artist Joan LeMay discusses her work on the "Quantum Criminals" book about Steely Dan, sharing the origin story of the project and how she got involved, her love for Steely Dan, and how her taste in music developed. She explores the intersection of visual art and music and her experience with DIY art and making flyers during her punk days. Joan and Chad discuss the influence of album covers on the...

Cal and I discuss musical influences, the process of discovering new artists, the importance of B-sides, the role of technology in music discovery, the art of making mixtapes, iconic bands like Led Zeppelin and Guns N' Roses, and favorite songs that serve as lessons in songwriting. Mentioned in this episode: Accidental Ghost on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/2bHzEGRJ1iuboMP5TQKnkI?si=DW6T...

Manny and I muse on musical influences, Looney Tunes, and more. Mentioned in this episode: The Tooney Tenor on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thetooneytenor/ Manny’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/thetooneytenor “Tomorrow’s Girls” music video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDmmUstCbtM Episode playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/34vrEwKJGDzSBQHy5xIki6?si=8940e86a08f44a6a https://youtube.co...