Vinyl Emergency

NPR has separately crowned both Jaimee Harris and Mary Gauthier with some well-deserved accolades over the last few years: The former was recently referred to as "the next queen of Americana-folk" (thanks to a new album, Boomerang Town, dropping on February 17th), while the latter's "The War After The War" (from her record Rifles & Rosary Beads, co-written entirely with U.S. veterans and their fam...

After a number of years in small-market television journalism, 7x Emmy-winner Anthony Mason joined CBS News in 1986 and has quite literally done it all: from being a chief correspondent in London and Moscow, to handling Q&A's with American presidents. But maybe most notably, Anthony has now become a go-to confidant for musicians of all stripes. Carving his own path on the network thanks to a lifel...

With razor-sharp guitars, breakneck rhythms, unrivaled harmonies and a socio-political worldview that disavows much of punk rock's anarchistic nature, Bad Religion has inspired countless bands over their 40+ year existence. Even their iconic logo, known by fans worldwide as "the cross-buster," has become synonymous with the genre itself. This is all without mentioning the inspirational trajectory ...

Even during their 90's heyday -- with popular singles like "Fall Down," "Walk on the Ocean," "Something's Always Wrong" and "All I Want" ruling the radio -- Toad the Wet Sprocket vocalist and songwriter Glen Phillips recognized that they weren't "the cool kids," often being the least edgy band on any alt-rock marquee. But Glen says it's that same overt self-awareness that has both kept Toad fans a...

Influenced equally by Elizabethan composers and pop radio, Dessa consistently dissects the human condition, while deftly defying genre tags. A member of the Minneapolis indie-rap collective Doomtree (and championed by playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda), her interest in examining behavioral science has fueled multiple careers in creative writing, music and live poetry, as well as spawned TED Talks and...

As a longtime character actor, John Ross Bowie (of CBS' The Big Bang Theory and ABC's Speechless) partly attributes his eclectic musical tastes — ranging from Patti LuPone to the Cro-Mags to the Grateful Dead — to his father, who exposed him to television, film and theatre early on. Yet, his new memoir No Job For A Man, originally conceived as a light read on the in's and out's of being a working...

"People ask us, 'What's your favorite record?' Our answer is 'The one we're going to hear next week.'" That anecdote on today's show from Greg Kot is why he and his Sound Opinions co-host Jim DeRogatis have inspired legions of music journalists for decades: Between emotional reactions to pop music and intellectual analysis of art-rock, they consistently remain curious. As former critics at the Chi...

Counting himself as part of the last pre-internet music generation, North Carolina native and singer/songwriter Caleb Caudle believes the things that matter take time -- whether sending handwritten postcards randomly to fans or making sure a vinyl release invites listeners fully into his world through artwork. And that kind of dedication ultimately creates hope in a post-pandemic music industry. O...

From the first moment of S.G. Goodman's latest album Teeth Marks, one hears a voice and a lyrical wisdom that feel perfectly worn in -- like that of an artist who's been crafting decades worth of masterful, soul-baring material. What's all the more astounding is that Teeth Marks is only her second record. Amongst many accolades since that album's release, the publication Bitter Southerner defines...

Sporting one of the most recognizable voices within 90's/00's indie-rock, Davey von Bohlen is known for his youthful exuberance and lyrical Easter eggs over twenty years with bands like Maritime, Cap'n Jazz, The Promise Ring, and the low-key side-project Vermont. On this episode, Davey shares an early obsession with The Guess Who, similarities between songwriting and his experiences coaching baske...

Enjoy this encore presentation of the podcast with Motion City Soundtrack drummer -- and host of the podcast Bizarre Albums -- Tony Thaxton, from early in 2021. We will be back with new episodes soon!

Enjoy this encore presentation of the podcast with singer/songwriter Emma Swift from August 2020. We will be back with new episodes soon!

Enjoy this encore presentation of Episode 101, with accomplished graphic designer Aaron Draplin.

While stepping outside of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service - inarguably two of the most influential names that indie rock has birthed in the last two decades - lead singer/songwriter Ben Gibbard has acquired a stunningly diverse range of collaborators, from The Monkees to Chance the Rapper. On today's show — as DCFC approaches the fall release of their tenth album, Asphalt Meadows — Ben...

Enjoy this encore presentation of Episode 110 with guest Matt Earley, president of acclaimed vinyl pressing plant Gotta Groove Records in Cleveland. PLUS a sneak peek on next week's guest!

Whether through monstrous riffs in Botch or innovative, live sound manipulation in Minus the Bear, David Knudson is regarded as one of indie-rock's most mind-blowing guitarists. Where many musicians would use effect pedals to just obscure or amplify, David's insane finger-tapping talents and masterful footwork -- often tweaking things on the fly, in front of a live audience -- brought a human hear...

Popular female country artists like Kacey Musgraves and Maren Morris have scored major pop crossover hits, made huge splashes in the vinyl market and perform for sold-out crowds across the United States, yet barely have a blip on country radio. Though far from a new phenomenon, it's one that has drawn battle lines over the last two decades between gatekeepers of a genre dominated by white males an...

Despite not setting out to make concept albums 100% of the time, Tim Kasher — leader of influential indie-rock mainstay Cursive — realizes that artwork, connecting songs in post-production, and other methods have made his LP's feel like sweeping, thematic gestures to his fans for twenty-five years. This week, hot off the release of his new solo full-length Middling Age, Tim recalls the days of com...

With his ninth solo record overall, released in February, Frank Turner has claimed his first-ever number one spot on his native UK albums chart. To put icing on that cake, FTHC is his most personal album yet, whether speaking directly about the passing of longtime friend and musician Scott Hutchison or his evolving relationship with his transgender father. On today's show, Frank discusses how FTHC...

For over a quarter-century, Mike Park has been releasing iconic punk, ska and more through his DIY record label Asian Man. Along with Mike's own various music projects, Asian Man helped introduce now long-tenured bands with cult followings (Alkaline Trio, Less Than Jake) to a worldwide audience, and his activism led to large tours like Ska Against Racism and Plea For Peace, aimed at educating ska...

Much of what we love about vinyl records is separate from the vinyl itself: Photographers, illustrators and more play an important role in helping fans connect emotionally or otherwise with their favorite recording artists, especially in the age of social media. Today, three accomplished individuals — portrait photographer Alysse Gafkjen, muralist Kim Radford and live photographer Josh Weichman —...

As co-hosts of the podcast Who Cares About the Rock Hall?, comedians Kristen Studard and Joe Kwaczala examine the history, politics, annual inductions and just-as-annual snubs within the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Originally launched as a simple way for two friends to discuss music, the show has gotten the duo unprecedented access to those behind-the-scenes and in the know -- even arguably swayin...

With 25th anniversaries occurring or looming for some of his earliest work with Alkaline Trio, Slapstick and Tuesday, Dan Andriano is set to release yet another chapter in a storied career next month -- Dear Darkness, his first LP with backing band The Bygones. On today's show, Dan discusses the importance the suburbs play in the story of Chicago punk rock, what kickstarted his interest in writing...

Championed by some today's biggest names on the fringes of country music, singer/songwriter Amythyst Kiah released her most recent album, Wary + Strange, last year to rave reviews. Upon its release, Pitchfork dubbed the record "an intensely personal document (that) examines the realities of being a Southern Black LGBTQ+ woman in songs both defiant and vulnerable." One of those tracks in particular...

This year, the record industry hit arguably its greatest bottleneck yet: Though Taylor Swift and Adele have recently delivered two of the largest vinyl sales weeks of the modern era (with revenue on an incline for physical indie retailers during the pandemic), COVID-19 has made materials like PVC, cardboard, dyes, shrink wrap, paper for inner sleeves and even wood pallets increasingly harder to fi...