You, Me and An Album

Send us Fan Mail 3 Pairs of Boots vocalist Laura Arias joins this episode of YMAAA to discuss Cocteau Twins’ 1988 album Blue Bell Knoll . Laura talks about how she was introduced to Cocteau Twins during their early “goth” period and why she is particularly fond of Blue Bell Knoll . She specifies the elements of the band’s music that make it magical for her. Laura also discusses the latest 3 Pairs...

Send us Fan Mail Veteran English singer-songwriter Iain Matthews (Fairport Convention, Matthews Southern Comfort, Plainsong, solo) stopped by YMAAA during his recent U.S. East Coast tour to talk about Crowded House’s 1991 album, Woodface . Iain delves into his admiration for Neil Finn as a songwriter and performer, and breaks down several of the tracks on the album. He also discusses the album’s s...

Send us Fan Mail Multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Joe Adragna of The Junior League makes a return visit to YMAAA to talk about Sloan’s 2001 album Pretty Together . (Joe was also the guest on Ep 49, on which he discussed The Monkees’ Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd. ) Joe explains how he first got into Sloan and why the Canadian band is one of his favorites. He also talks about Sloan’s...

Send us Fan Mail British pop/rock vocalist and songwriter Tasmin Archer joins Al to discuss Daniel Lanois’ 2003 album Shine . Tasmin talks about how she became a fan of Lanois’ music, and she breaks down the elements of Shine that make it one of her favorite albums, highlighting some of her favorite tracks along the way. She also revisits the making of her 1992 signature hit “Sleeping Satellite” a...

Send us Fan Mail For this episode, Will Rigby—drummer for the seminal indie rock band the dB’s—introduces Al to Cheri Knight’s 1998 album, The Northeast Kingdom . Will talks about his experience of playing on the album, breaks down aspects of the recording process and discusses why he loves the album and is proud to have played on it. He also talks about the 2024 reissued versions of the dB’s firs...

Send us Fan Mail Matt Johnson, the singer, songwriter and musician behind the post-punk band The The, visits YMAAA to talk about the first The The album in 24 years, Ensoulment . Matt talks about why he decided to write and record a The The album after spending the better part of two decades away from the project. He talks about what distinguished the process of making Ensoulment , which will be a...

Send us Fan Mail Singer-songwriter Amy Rigby (solo, The Shams, The Last Roundup) has had a longstanding admiration for the power-pop band Fountains of Wayne, and she joins Al to chat about the band’s self-titled debut album from 1996. Amy talks about how she got into Fountains of Wayne and what it is about their first album that makes it especially notable. She highlights some of her favorite song...

Send us Fan Mail CONTENT WARNING: There is discussion of suicide as it relates to the lyrics of the song “Dress Rehearsal Rag.” (Discussion begins at 46:44 and ends at 51:58.) Sean Nelson, formerly the frontman for the Seattle-based band Harvey Danger, joins Al to talk about Leonard Cohen’s 1971 album Songs of Love and Hate . Sean talks about how he first heard the album and why he was instantly e...

Send us Fan Mail In celebration of the album’s 45th anniversary, musician and songwriter Bruce Sudano (Brooklyn Dreams, Alive N Kickin’, solo) visits YMAAA to talk about Donna Summer’s Bad Girls . He talks about the role he played in the making of the album, his relationship with Summer, to whom he was married for 32 years, and how Bad Girls represents the “peak era” of Summer’s musical career. Br...

Send us Fan Mail Dallas-based singer/songwriter Stephanie Sammons joins Al to introduce him to Triumph’s 1986 album, The Sport of Kings . Stephanie talks about what she loves about this album and what made it an ideal album to blast on her car stereo. She and Al also talk about the interesting circumstances under which Triumph made The Sport of Kings . Stephanie discusses her evolution as a musici...

Send us Fan Mail Nashville-based singer/songwriter Tim Easton joins Al to discuss an album that has nearly been the subject of several previous episodes (but never quite made the cut), Joni Mitchell’s album Blue from 1971. Tim talks about the unusual circumstance under which he first heard Blue as a teenager, why it is an important album for him and for many songwriters and how it has influenced h...

Send us Fan Mail Legendary drummer John JR Robinson visits YMAAA to talk about a favorite album of his—and it happens to be one he also played on. JR talks about why he is so fond of Steve Winwood’s 1986 smash Back in the High Life, and why he thinks the album represented the end of an era. He breaks down several of his performances, including those on the No. 1 hit “Higher Love” and the adult con...

Send us Fan Mail Bassist Will Turpin of Collective Soul joins Al to talk about one of his favorite albums, Diorama (2002) by the Australian band Silverchair. Will explains what makes the orchestral arrangements on this album special, and he and Al contrast the orchestral tracks with the ones that are more typical of Silverchair’s earlier grunge sound. Will also talks about Collective Soul’s new al...

Send us Fan Mail Julia Massey—the vocalist and keyboardist for the Seattle-based band Warren Dunes—comes to YMAAA to discuss The Black Tones’ 2019 album Cobain & Cornbread . Julia talks about how Cobain & Cornbread is one of a small number of albums that are a part of her “musical DNA,” and why the album resonates with her so strongly. She also discusses her friendship with The Black Tones...

Send us Fan Mail (TW: brief mention of lyrics referencing suicide)  Canadian singer/songwriter/guitarist Adrian Sutherland joins Al to introduce him to The Killers’ 2021 album Pressure Machine . Adrian talks about how The Killers have influenced his own music and what he loves about this specific album by the Las Vegas-based band. He focuses on how his upbringing in Attawapiskat First Nation in No...

Send us Fan Mail Jazz bassist Mark Egan (Pat Metheny Group, Gil Evans Orchestra, Elements) introduces Al to John Coltrane’s 1965 classic A Love Supreme . Mark talks about how he first got acquainted with the album and why it’s a significant album for him personally. He discusses playing with devotional musician Krishna Das and how that connects with his affinity for A Love Supreme . Mark also talk...

Send us Fan Mail Superchunk guitarist Jim Wilbur joins Al and introduces him to The Triffids’ 1986 album Born Sandy Devotional. Jim talks about how he first heard the album when he was a college DJ, which tracks he gravitated towards and why he still listens to the album now. He and Al compare their impressions regarding both the album’s music and lyrics. Jim also discusses what’s in store for Sup...

Send us Fan Mail This is the second of a two-part conversation with Washington, DC-based singer, guitarist and songwriter Mary Timony (Autoclave, Helium, Wild Flag, Ex Hex, solo). Mary talks about the difficult circumstances under which she made her new album, Untame the Tiger , and how her parents’ illnesses and deaths gave her a new perspective. She also discusses the experience of recording par...

Send us Fan Mail This is the first of a two-part conversation with indie rock singer, guitarist and songwriter Mary Timony (Autoclave, Helium, Wild Flag, Ex Hex, solo). In this episode, Mary introduces Al to Andy Pratt’s self-titled 1973 album. (In Part 2, Mary will discuss her soon-to-be-released solo album Untame the Tiger. ) Mary discusses how she came to learn about Andy Pratt, which songs on...

Send us Fan Mail Al continues his conversation with Seattle-based singer/rapper/musician/songwriter Wanz, which began on Ep. 144. Wanz talks about recording his world-famous hook for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop,” and his experience with performing in the song’s video. He also talks about the elements of great songwriting, with specific references to Taylor Swift and the Beatles. Wanz w...

Send us Fan Mail Seattle-based musician, singer, rapper and songwriter Michael Wansley (aka Wanz) drops in on YMAAA for the first of two episodes to talk about Earth, Wind & Fire’s 1979 album, I Am . Wanz talks about his lifelong EWF fandom, what he loves about I Am , and how it compares to other EWF albums. He also explains how the album is a reflection of the changes in the music industry th...

Send us Fan Mail Singer-songwriter Danny O’Keefe, whose songs (including his Top 10 hit, “Goodtime Charlie’s Got the Blues”) have been covered by Jackson Browne, Elvis Presley, Glen Campbell, Judy Collins, Willie Nelson, Allison Krauss and many others, joins Al to get him better acquainted with Miles Davis’ 1959 classic, Kind of Blue . Danny talks about how he was introduced to the album, why it h...

Send us Fan Mail Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Henning Ohlenbusch (Gentle Hen, the Fawns, solo) makes a return appearance to You, Me and an Album to discuss XTC’s 1986 album, Skylarking . Henning talks about why he loves Skylarking and why XTC is one of his favorite bands. He gets into the aspects of XTC’s songwriting that are especially appealing and how the album reminds...

Send us Fan Mail Music journalist and sports author Dan Epstein joins Al to talk about the Isley Brothers’ 1973 album, 3 + 3 . Dan shares his memories of buying the album and listening to it for the first time, and he breaks down each of the album’s nine tracks. He also discusses the Isleys’ longevity, their lack of acclaim compared to contemporaries, such as Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, and the...

Send us Fan Mail Joe Steinhardt, the co-founder and owner of the Philadelphia-based record label Don Giovanni Records and guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the band Modern Hut, drops by YMAAA to introduce Al to Iris DeMent’s The Way I Should . Joe talks about why this is an important album for him and how it changed the way he thinks about music. He delves into several of his favorite tracks...