EarWax

We're pulling out all the big guns at once for this one. You want legends? Psh, how about five of them? No big deal. Here's a few names you might have heard: Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and George freakin' Harrison. Cody and Hilary chat about this most super of the supergroups; from the storybook way they came together to the brilliance of their songwriting. But mainly, they tal...

We found 1994 so cozy last week that we're staying right there for our twenty-fifth episode! How about a trip down to Texas to visit an absolute icon - Selena! Amor Prohibido is a flashpoint for Tejano music, and a huge influence on Latin music's injection into the pop consciousness. Hilary and Cody talk about the value of "crossing over" onto the pop charts, as well as Selena's ability to weave h...

Put on your comfiest baggy pants and unopened-condom-as-accessories, we are talking 90s slo-jams this week! Cody and Hilary weave through the history of one of the top girl groups of all time, and the album that simultaneously solidified their place in the R&B lineage and almost put them out of business. TLC is a group whose collective voice shines as bright and grooves as hard today as it did...

Put on your leather jacket, chaps, hat, vest, and anything else that has studs - EarWax is going metal once again! Hilary and Cody headbang their way through Judas Priest's unbelievably charged record "Stained Class." Acting as the bridge between the godfathers and the new wave of British heavy metal, this album showcases proto-thrash riffs, towering Rob Halford vocals, and kick drums for days. Th...

We are back and getting crazy with the Cheez Wiz! This week we are taking on the smorgasbord of sounds and genres contained within Beck's "Midnite Vultures." Hilary and Cody jump headfirst into this amalgamation that somehow sounds like the weirdest party album you'll hear. Beck is in full control of the show, and the result is a fascinating look into the mind of a musician feeling themselves. Thi...

Ho-ho-holy good grief, we have a truly special one this week! Hilary and Cody unwrap the story behind a legendary holiday album - A Charlie Brown Christmas. Ever wonder who those kids are on the recording? They're just kids, of course! Vince Guaraldi and Lee Mendelson understood the necessity for authenticity. This soundtrack has transcended beyond just the music to a classic television special; m...

Holy buckets and holly jolly everyone, we made it to episode twenty! Sharon Jones & tTe Dap-Kings usher in our first holiday season with their brilliant, groove-filled album "It's A Holiday Soul Party."  This album is set in a very specific, interesting period of time for the group, and for Miss Sharon Jones personally. The result is a record full of life, soul, and joy that encourages us all...

Surpriiiiiiissssse!!! We are back with a fury, and there's hardly a better album to get back into the swing of things than this absolute groove. Cody and Hilary dive into the B-52s second album, and man does it go in. "Wild Planet" takes no prisoners, tackling topics from a poodle abandoning its owner for another dog, to tips on how to save a flailing party, to the happenings on a dirty back road....

Hurry, hurry, step right up and follow us into an episode filled with beats, bars, and the God MC himself. This week's episode sees Hilary and Cody marveling over the second album from Eric B. & Rakim.  We flip out over the exquisite samples (shout out Bob James!) and Rakim's mastery of flow and rhymes. Studios get blacked out, there's a feud over cereal...it gets in tense. This is a landmark...

What have we here? A two...or one and a half-for one deal this week! Fiona Apple's "Extraordinary Machine" is a masterclass in melody and weaving styles together. With folks such as Jon Brion, Questlove, and Mike Elizondo contributing, this album really shows us an artist stepping into and owning their artistry. Cody and Hilary explore the story behind this record's genesis, death, and rebirth - t...

Get yourself right for this one, we're headed into the wild world of punk funk, the 80s, and Rick James. Hilary and Cody wade through the legend of Rick James, touch on the storied history of Motown, and chat about an album that is simply a masterclass in groove. Street Songs is the album most representative of Rick James's vision. Bombastic, opulent, and pretty much every superlative that can be...

We've made it to our 15th episode, and our spooky season selection is frightfully good. Cody and Hilary tackle "Murder Ballads" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. An album full of betrayal, mayhem, and plenty of murder, it also has a sense of humor about itself. The total body count is into the dozens, and we had a great time trying to keep a running tally while listening. "Murder Ballads" provides a...

"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: those with loaded guns, and those who dig."  Maaaan have we got one for you all this week. Our first venture into soundtrack territory, and you know we were gonna swing for the fences. How about some Morricone mixed with some Clint Eastwood to make everyone feel like a badass? Hilary and Cody talk about the depth of collaboration betw...

*Please imagine the following description being in crisp, three part bluegrass harmony. The Chicks are the focus of this week's episode, and wow is it a ride. Riding the success of two monster records, "Home" was poised to keep pace, or even outpace, everything they had done to that point. However, their momentum was brought to an abrupt halt on the opening night of the tour for this record, when...

"My optimism wears heavy boots and is loud." - Henry Rollins Brace yourself, we're headed into the hardcore scene this week. Hilary and Cody keep their heads on a swivel as they navigate the early 80s, and Black Flag's "My War." Anger, defiance, and intention coarse through this album's veins. Two years of turmoil explodes from the title track and carries through to the brutal Sabbath-esque closer...

Let's head to the Mississippi Delta for episode 11! Hilary and Cody peel back the curtain on one of music's most mythological figures - Robert Johnson. Behind the legends and stories existed a very real, very human musician. With a spirit that drove him to roam, and a vision on achieving greatness, Robert Johnson developed a style and sound that would influence generations of rock, blues, and soul...

We have made it to ten episodes! Let's celebrate with some of the cleanest grooves and smoothest jams you're gonna hear in rock - Steely Dan. Cody and Hilary dive into the Dan's debut, and chat about everything from a Thin Lizzy soundalike track, to a song that maybe-but-not-definitely-although-most-likely was a scathing criticism of a member of the Fab Four. "Can't Buy a Thrill" sets the table fo...

We are back with another one of those block rockin' beats! This week, Hilary and Cody charge head first into a nonstop jam. The Chemical Brothers' second album is a force to be reckoned with. Boasting appearances by Noel Gallagher and Beth Orton, drum tracks twisted and warped into club beats, and plenty of electronica and hip-hop influence, this album will leave you totally spent. From DJ Kool He...

This week's record is packed with venom, darkness, and plenty of ass-kicking - Siouxsie and the Banshees' "Juju." Siouxsie and the Banshees' influence is irrefutable, and their fingerprints are all over the advent of goth rock (whether or not they dig that idea is another story haha). Cody and Hilary discuss the addition of two key members, bringing the Banshees to arguably their most formidable l...

"I was born at Newport." - Duke Ellington The power of a single performance can alter any artist's trajectory, even for the most legendary musicians. This week, Hilary and Cody flash back to Newport, Rhode Island, in 1956. Duke Ellington and His Orchestra are gearing up for a make or break headlining show. That night's set, and the record that followed, would change Ellington's fortunes and set hi...

"It's almost required with major artists that there's some duality. And I've got duality everywhere." - George Michael Some folks have an otherworldly ability to craft pop music, and George Michael undoubtedly has a seat at that table. In this episode, Cody and Hilary explore the record that served as his most complete artistic statement. Meticulously crafted, the making of Faith is George Michael...

What makes a genre...a genre? When does an album move from one genre to another? Or, more importantly, does any of that really matter? Cody and Hilary delve into Deafheaven's "Sunbather" in our fifth episode. An album exploding with self-reflection, frustration, and power, it catapulted Deafheaven into the spotlight. Ten years after its release, its blast beats and washing guitars continue to spar...

"Beep beep, who got the keys to the jeep?...Vrooom!" Our first venture into hip-hop covers a true titan of the genre. With her debut solo record "Supa Dupa Fly," Missy Elliott's confidence and willingness to bet on herself paid off many times over.  Hilary and Cody discuss Missy Elliott's partnership with Timbaland, the groundbreaking music videos, and how they forged their own lane in a time when...

"I don't know where he comes from, but I've got a good idea where he's going." - Kris Kristofferson about John Prine Let us fill in those blanks on our third episode! Hilary and Cody dive into John Prine's debut, self-titled record. From losing a staring contest to oatmeal to an unflinching look at the reality for many soldiers returning from combat, Prine tapped into an unassuming gentleness and...

"Take me on a journey..." Oh, we're about to do just that! On the inaugural episode of EarWax, hosts Hilary and Cody give the rundown on who we are, the framework for the show, and what we hope to accomplish with Amoeba Music's very first podcast. For our first Album of the Week, we're looking at Donna Summer's "Bad Girls." Full of bangers and ballads, this record is a window into a turning point...