Record Store Dropouts

This week the Dropouts talk with comic book artist and songwriter Jeffrey Lewis. Hosts Alex Nelson and Shaun Soman discuss their first impressions of Lewis’ music (2:12) and comic books (14:45), jump into a new segment of the A/V Club (20:27) featuring Jeffrey’s’ 360° video for "I Caught The Disease For LPs" and the illustrated "Jeffrey Lewis Low Budget Video History Of Communist China," and explore a few hand-drawn clickables in the The Jeffrey Lewis Site (35:30).Later, Shaun chats with Jeffrey Lewis about his experiences with all-ages venues (41:36), the origins of his multimedia shows incorporating comic book illustrations (46:31), the connection between comics and superheroes (59:06), and efforts he has taken to create spaces for comic artists to create in community (64:13).Leo season may be over, but you can invoke all the bold Leo energy any time of year with a playlist curated by our very own Leo, Shaun. You can access this playlist and more by becoming a Record Store Dropouts patron.Shaun and Alex want to give their sincerest thanks to all who nominated Record Store Dropouts in the Isthmus MadFaves “Favorite Local Podcast” category! If you’d like to nominate them for “Best Podcast” in Madison Magazine’s Best of Madison poll, you may do so until August 31.

Gender Confetti’s Elyse Clouthier (all pronouns) and Sylvia Johnson (they/them and she/her) drop by the studio to talk with the Dropouts about their new full-length album, We’re Gay. The pair reflect on their July 20 album release show at The Wisco (3:20), share the history of their latest song “No Borders” (9:31), dig into the lyric zine for We’re Gay (25:40), and chat about their love for skating and Femme Skate Night (40:02). Tracks from We’re Gay appearing throughout this episode include “No Borders” (6:11), “Deviant” (20:24), and “Wonderbread” (35:05).To learn more about Gender Confetti and We’re Gay, you may read Scott Gordon’s piece about the band for Tone Madison here.Gender Confetti kicks off their tour with Gully Boys and Miyha at the Winnebago on July 30. Be sure to pick up their new tape and wish them luck! We’re Gay is also available now via Bandcamp.Alex and Shaun appreciate your support of this podcast! If you’d like to vote for Record Store Dropouts in the “Favorite Local Podcast” category in Isthmus’ MadFaves poll, you can do so until July 31.

Content warning: Suicide mention, mental health, slavery, genocideIt’s Cancer Season and the Dropouts are all up in their feelings. Alex and Shaun review Mariee Sioux’s latest tearjerker, Grief In Exile, and take a deep dive into their favorite sob-worthy albums (6:26), share lessons they’ve learned about personal and historical grief, and lighten the mood with a game of Astrology Vespucci (25:52).After the break, Shaun talks with Mariee Sioux about the cover details of Grief In Exile (33:35) and a few videos from the album (37:47) before sharing a listener question (43:26). They also discuss Mariee’s experience at Standing Rock and her activism with the Nisenan tribe (49:11) before discussing collective grieving (55:33) and the use of crying in healing (60:13).John McCracken’s Microtones piece, Business-Brain Nightmares, can be found here.Be sure to check out Chris Farren & Jess Abbott’s new astrology podcast, Astro Blast. While you’re at it, consider becoming a Record Store Dropouts patron to receive an exclusive astrology-themed playlist.You may donate to the California Heritage Indigenous Research Project here, learn how to write letters of support for the Nisenan tribe here, and donate to RAICES here.

Join Alex and Shaun as they discuss this past weekend's record sale fundraiser (1:39) and tile-painting workshop (3:50) at Communication, kick off a rousing game in a killer new RSD segment (12:04), and start the #GetSarahBarnfartToDesignAnOfMontrealCover movement (27:51).After the break, Shaun interviews Sarah Barnfart, a self-proclaimed art bitch mixed media (f)artist. Between giggles, they chat about the "erotic art" label (31:44), navigating Instagram's community guidelines (39:52), discovering of Montreal (48:25), and loving Nick Drake, who would have turned 71 on June 19 (53:06).Sarah Barnfart's gifts to the world do not end at art. She was kind enough to create a playlist for this episode entitled "Thank Dog For Kevin Barnes: A Curated Intro To Of Montreal." You can listen to this playlist and exclusive bonus questions with Sarah by becoming a patron here.Listeners may learn about the Juneteenth Celebration activities going on in Madison by visiting the Kujichagulia Madison Center for Self-Determination. If you would like to volunteer with Communication (23:41), you may get more info here. This episode is dedicated to the Denver Broncos.

MacGregor Campbell is a science writer, animator, and former math teacher based in Portland, Oregon. He also released The Ownership Society, a heady, plunderphonics-heavy album, in 2006 under the moniker Main Sequence. Shaun encountered this largely internet-based object as a teenager and had a track-by-track discussion of the LP with MacGregor last fall.This week, Shaun also re-visits last week's episode by sharing a listener's comment and passing along information about one DIY punk's accessibility work before they briefly talk about plunderphonics and their "discovery" of The Ownership Society (1:15).After the break, Shaun talks with MacGregor about calling the project Main Sequence (9:10), the process of finding samples (9:53), and what MacGregor's been doing since (13:03) before discussing the album's messages in today's political context (19:10). From there, the two embark on a track-by-track breakdown of The Ownership Society, touching upon metaphysics, economics, and value(s) along the way. It's perhaps the Dropouts' nerdiest episode so far.Throughout the conversation, Shaun includes exclusive demo tracks from the vault, including "Gramian" (21:02), "Invoice" (38:37), and "Thinking and Doing" (50:42).To get in touch with MacGregor, you may email macgregor.campbell@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @mainsequence.The interview audio featured in this episode originally aired on November 10th, 2019 during Shaun's radio program, Anarchist Brunch, on WSUM 91.7 FM.

In this episode, Alex and Shaun revisit the April 19, 2019 Black Belt Eagle Scout show with Disq at Communication. After sharing their respective introductions to Black Belt Eagle Scout’s genre-defying music (1:40), they discuss whiteness and privilege in the context of building a more inclusive concert-going community in Madison (5:31) before Alex offers some brief thoughts about bystander intervention (19:21).Later, Shaun chats with Katherine Paul (AKA KP) of Black Belt Eagle Scout about the personal nature of the project (24:22) before asking artist and touring BBES drummer, Camas Logue, about his artwork (31:02). In this week’s A/V Club segment, KP shares a few details about the music video for “Loss & Relax” (33:27) before looking ahead to projects slated for later this year (42:57).

Champaign-Urbana native Erin Fein (AKA Psychic Twin) plays synth-pop that is simultaneously danceable and lyrically poignant. This exploration of dance's ability to provide catharsis pervades nearly every aspect of the project, which officially entered its second chapter with the release of the single "Geek" this February.This week, Shaun connects with Erin over the phone to discuss her transition to Los Angeles and informal musical training (2:17) before revisiting her 2016 album Strange Diary's cover art and three-act structure (11:02).After premiering the demo for "Water Meets Land" (34:17), Erin offers a glimpse into the lyrical themes and sonic textures on her upcoming release (39:20), touches on playing in Empress Of's live band and collaborating with other musicians (46:15), and takes us behind the scenes of Psychic Twin's aesthetics (52:50).On December 3, 2016, Shaun interviewed Erin before she played a mesmerizing set opening for STRFKR at The Jefferson Theater in Charlottesville. Listeners may hear that bonus conversation about the circumstances in which Strange Diary was conceived, touring with STRKFR during the 2016 presidential election, and Psychic Twin's all-woman dance crew by becoming a patron here.

In this episode, hosts Alex Nelson and Shaun Soman reflect on Mitski’s April 3, 2019 performance at The Sylvee in Madison. Along the way, they recall past Mitski shows they’ve attended (1:34), rave about her chair-heavy new stage show (5:51), examine discourse around identity and music consumption (11:20), and formally analyze a few music videos from Be The Cowboy in an extended segment of “A.V. Club” (28:41). Oh, they also express grief over a missed opportunity to grab a very elusive Mitski matchbook and invite you to join them both in mourning (47:11).In lieu of a guest this week, Alex and Shaun want to highlight some groovy work about Mitski others have done! To read the rest of Amileah Sutliff’s Liner Notes interview with Mistki for Vinyl Me Please, please see “The Unquenchable Desperation of ‘Be The Cowboy’”; to know more about Mitski’s performance at the Sylvee on April 3, 2019, see Mercy Xiong’s review for EMMIE Magazine; finally, to peep the adorable fan art for Mitski’s “Pink In The Night” featured on this week’s mini “Queer Revolutions” segment and more, check out Eunnieboo on Twitter.

Record Store Dropouts is a music-adjacent podcast for music-adjacent people. On their quest for good conversation and trivial knowledge, hosts Shaun Soman and Alex Nelson explore how visual objects (e.g., album covers, music videos) are made and the extent to which they inform the listening experience. Having collectively worked at, erm, one different record store over three months, Shaun and Alex complement their "expertise" by inviting musicians, visual artists, and writers to discuss how music has influenced their work.On their first episode, Shaun and Alex reflect on Santigold's debut album (1:29) before Native Essence Art creator Natalie Ergas drops by to discuss her artistic process (16:09), what’s on her Western zodiac energy playlist (28:17), and how collage functions in Santigold’s discography (41:03).The podcast's theme music is "Communication" by a cool Madison band called Disq, which has also played the song at a venue and arts incubator called Communication, Tone Madison's physical home. Shaun and Alex understand "Communication" isn't about Communication, but they like to believe otherwise. Thanks again to Disq and Saddle Creek Records for the use of the song.If you happen to be in Madison the day this episode drops,—Friday, May 3—Ergas will be celebrating an art opening at Robinia Courtyard, 829 East Washington Ave.

WANTED: Listeners for Record Store Dropouts, a music-adjacent podcast from Shaun Soman and Alex Nelson about people, the music that inspires them, and the stories behind it all. Demonstrates curiosity about local artists, touring musicians, and visual arts. No degree required. For more information, contact recordstoredropouts@gmail.com.