You, Me and An Album

Send us Fan Mail Jeff Palfini, the co-founder of the Connecticut-based Boondocks Film Society, joins Al to talk about the soundtrack to the 1998 film, The Last Days of Disco . Jeff talks about the intersection of film and music, why movie soundtracks have been important to him and why this particular soundtrack is a favorite of his. He also highlights some of his favorite songs on the album and di...

Send us Fan Mail Musician and songwriter Casper Iskov joins Al to talk about Ride’s second album, Going Blank Again . He explains how he got acquainted with Ride’s music and why they have become a favorite band of his despite a negative first impression. Casper also talks about how he recently remade My Bloody Valentine’s Isn’t Anything in the style of a Green Day album and how an episode of You,...

Send us Fan Mail Ex Hex drummer Laura Harris makes her return to YMAAA to talk about Canadian electronic music pioneer Bruce Haack and his album, The Electric Lucifer.   Laura shares why this album holds a special place for her, discusses her favorite tracks from the album and explores how it relates to her general fascination with synthesizers. She also talks about the recent Ex Hex tour and what...

Send us Fan Mail Visual artist, writer, producer, director and filmmaker — and creator of Programme 4 and Easy AM 66 — Rachel Lichtman introduces Al to The Anita Kerr Singers’ 1971 album, Grow to Know Me . Rachel talks about the special role this album has played for her over the last few years, why she is a fan of vocal groups and easy listening and why we should appreciate Anita Kerr’s contribut...

Send us Fan Mail Former Genesis lead guitarist, prolific solo artist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Steve Hackett joins Al — an ardent Genesis fan — to discuss his just-released live album, Foxtrot At Fifty + Hackett Highlights (Live In Brighton) . Steve talks about his setlist choices for this album, how the songs differ from their original studio versions, which period of Genesis he thinks was...

Send us Fan Mail Indie rock icon Juliana Hatfield pays YMAAA a visit to talk about the soundtrack album for the 1980 musical motion picture, Xanadu , which features Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra. Juliana talks about being a fan of both artists growing up, her Olivia Newton-John covers album and her upcoming ELO covers album and the difficulties involved in covering other artists’...

Send us Fan Mail Vocalist and guitarist Maura Weaver (Mixtapes, Ogikubo Station) joins Al to introduce him to Elliott Smith’s self-titled album. Maura talks about how she got introduced to Elliott Smith’s music, why this album holds a special place for her and how it has helped to shape her own work. She also talks specifically about the throughlines between this Elliott Smith album and her just-r...

Send us Fan Mail This week’s episode isn’t about an album, but rather about a particular artist’s legacy. Author and professor Megan Mayhew Bergman makes her return to YMAAA (she had been the show’s guest on Ep 93) to make the case for reexamining the career of Kenny Loggins. Megan also argues that Loggins’ musical career has been marked by audacious decisions, including choices made regarding his...

Send us Fan Mail This episode marks a YMAAA first, as it focuses on a band rather than an album. Al talks to each member of the Washington, DC-based alternative rock band Ex Hex — Mary Timony, Betsy Wright and Laura Harris — about the  group's two albums and upcoming live dates. The interview with Timony is an excerpt from an upcoming episode, while the interview with Wright is an excerpt fro...

Send us Fan Mail The Atlanta-based country music duo The Waymores makes a return appearance on YMAAA, and this time, Willie Heath Neal and Kira Annalise introduce Al to Willie Nelson’s 1975 breakthrough album, Red Headed Stranger . Willie and Kira talk about the album’s importance to them musically and personally, the concept behind the album and the aspects of the performance and production that...

Send us Fan Mail Drummer Laura King (Superchunk, Bat Fangs, R. Ring, Speed Stick) talks about her love for the album that kickstarted The Bangles’ run of ‘80s hits, All Over The Place . Laura recounts the event that started her childhood obsession with The Bangles, breaks down what makes the album special and shares her thoughts on the band’s more successful albums. She also provides updates on th...

Send us Fan Mail Vocalist, bassist, artist and graphic designer Meghan Minior (Longings, Corrode) introduces Al to Naomi Punk’s 2014 album, Television Man . Meghan talks about what makes this an album she returns to over and over again and what makes it a rewarding listen from start to finish, while Al likens Naomi Punk to another band that came out of Olympia, Washington. Meghan also talks about...

Send us Fan Mail Tiff Hannay, vocalist and guitarist for the Lansing-based band Rodeo Boys, introduces Al to Mitski’s fifth album, Be the Cowboy . Tiff talks about what they love about this album and how they think of it in relation to the other albums in Mitski’s discography. Tiff and Al also share their impressions of various lyrics from the album. Tiff  discusses Rodeo Boys’ latest album, Home...

Send us Fan Mail Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Beth Bombara joins Al to introduce him to Hiss Golden Messenger’s 2019 album, Terms of Surrender . Beth talks about her first impressions of the album, what makes it a great album for her and how it has helped to inform her own writing and playing. She also talks about the process of making her new album, It All Goes Up, and h...

Send us Fan Mail Earl Cureton, veteran of 12 NBA seasons and author of Earl the Twirl: My Life in Basketball (with Jake Uitti), joins Al to discuss Earth, Wind and Fire’s 1975 double album, Gratitude . Earl talks about what he loves about EWF and about this part-live, part-studio album in particular. He also discusses how music and basketball has been intertwined in his life and in the lives of ot...

Send us Fan Mail Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Maia Sharp introduces Al to Lucy Dacus’ second album, Historian . Maia talks about how she wound up getting obsessed with the album and how it has influenced her songwriting and production approach. She also discusses her soon-to-be-released album, Reckless Thoughts , and her upcoming tour and production work. There’s lots of...

Send us Fan Mail Legendary audio engineer and author Phill Brown, who has worked with The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, Talk Talk and countless other prominent artists over the last 50-plus years, comes to YMAAA to talk about one of the more underappreciated albums he has contributed to. He and Al discuss Murray Head’s 1973 debut solo album, Nigel Lived , and Phill talks about what he...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Al takes a break from the usual format to revisit nine previous episodes where the guest changed the way that he thinks about or listens to music. Al groups the excerpted discussions into the two groups: guests who helped him to give artists he had neglected a more careful listen and guests who taught him to think about music in new ways. Al is on Twitter at @almelchior...

Send us Fan Mail YMAAA has never been visited by the head of a record label or proprietor of a record store, but this week’s guest, Isaac Slusarenko, is both! Isaac runs the Jackpot Records label and store, and on this week’s episode, he introduces Al to Texas-based psychedelic rock band Bubble Puppy and their lone album, 1969’s A Gathering of Promises . Isaac talks about how he learned about this...

Send us Fan Mail Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5, Young Fresh Fellows, Filthy Friends, The Baseball Project, The No Ones, R.E.M.) returns to the show (he first appeared on episode 9) to discuss Neil Young’s Tonight’s the Night . Scott talks about what the album means to him, how Neil Young conveyed a sense of fun on the album despite its tragic themes, and his own experience with hearing the songs pe...

Send us Fan Mail Guitarist Nili Brosh takes a quick time out from her many gigs (e.g., Danny Elfman, Dethklok, Cirque du Soleil, solo) to introduce Al to Steve Stevens’ 1999 album, Flamenco A Go-Go . Nili talks about her first impressions of the album, why she thinks a lot more people need to know about it and how it has influenced her own work. She also discusses her love of the band Extreme, her...

Send us Fan Mail Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Brian Dunne joins Al for this episode to introduce him to Vampire Weekend’s Father of the Bride . Brian talks about why he loves the album’s frequent shifting of genres, what he admires about Ezra Koenig as a songwriter and the specific time period that the album references. Brian also discusses his new album, Loser On The Ropes , and p...

Send us Fan Mail Vocalist and songwriter Joe Casey of Protomartyr pays YMAAA a visit and introduces Al to a band with which he is completely unfamiliar. Joe talks about Detroit-based punk band Tyvek and their 2007 album, Fast Metabolism , which is a compilation of some of their earliest singles and EPs. Joe explains why he chose this album for the show and discusses his personal connections to Tyv...

Send us Fan Mail Louise Post of Veruca Salt pays YMAAA a visit to talk about Kate Bush’s 1985 album, Hounds of Love . Louise explains why Hounds of Love is one of her favorite albums, how Kate Bush was something of an acquired taste for her and which tracks on the album are the most special to her. The conversation also frequently turns to The Beatles and Post Malone, and Louise talks about how sh...

Send us Fan Mail Author, speaker and former professional baseball player Mike Robbins introduces Al to A Tribe Called Quest’s 1991 album, The Low End Theory . Mike talks about how he was first introduced to ATCQ in high school, the culture shock he experienced hearing unfamiliar music when he went to college and why The Low End Theory has stood the test of time more than 30 years after its release...