This Particular Album is Very, Very Important to Me

In our season finale, comedian, writer, actor and podcaster, Paul F. Tompkins sits down with Deborah and Joel to talk about his love for 'Til Tuesday's 1986 album Coming Home. Paul talks about listening to the album while working at Hats in the Belfry in Philadelphia, moving to L.A. during the aftermath of the Northridge quake, the surreal experience of becoming friends with Aimee Mann, weird doctors, the time in his life when he made the decision to commit to comedy and being on stage and so much more. Plus Joel and Deborah's particular songs Superman by R.E.M. and Every Little Bit by Patty Griffin. Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy Rate and Review! *Fun side note! We recorded all of these episodes before the pandemic, so please trust that we are quarantined at home, living vicariously through our past selves. Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy at home as well!* -- SHOW INFORMATION Facebook Page: @ThisParticularAlbum Instagram:@ThisParticularAlbum Twitter: @ParticularAlbum Email: ThisParticularAlbum@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Actress, writer and author June Diane Raphael sits down with Deborah and Joel to talk about Joni Mitchell's iconic 1971 album Blue. June talks about discovering the album in high school through a big crush, her feminist awakening through music, being a full grown woman at the age of 11, learning about sex, a very special recording in a Fisher Price recording as a kid and so much more! Plus Deborah and Joel's particular songs I Will by The Beatles and Take Me With U by Prince. Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy Rate and Review! *Fun side note! We recorded all of these episodes before the pandemic, so please trust that we are quarantined at home, living vicariously through our past selves. Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy at home as well!* -- SHOW INFORMATION Facebook Page: @ThisParticularAlbum Instagram:@ThisParticularAlbum Twitter: @ParticularAlbum Email: ThisParticularAlbum@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Actor, writer and comedian Matt Besser joins Deborah and Joel to talk about Oingo Boingo's 1981 album, Only a Lad. Besser talks about growing up in Little Rock, the impact new wave had on his life, spending summers in Santa Fe learning to break the rules, Rocky Horror Picture Show with friends and so much more! Plus Joel and Deborah's particular songs, Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac and Since You've Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson. Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy Rate and Review! *Fun side note! We recorded all of these episodes before the pandemic, so please trust that we are quarantined at home, living vicariously through our past selves. Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy at home as well!* -- SHOW INFORMATION Facebook Page: @ThisParticularAlbum Instagram:@ThisParticularAlbum Twitter: @ParticularAlbum Email: ThisParticularAlbum@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Actress and musician Tawny Newsome joins Joel and Deborah to talk about her love for Stevie Wonder's 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. Together they talk the pure genius of Stevie Wonder, first concerts, weird songs for auditions, albums you're born into, outlet malls and so much more! Plus Deborah and Joel's particular songs Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've) by Buzzcocks and Sweet Baby James by James Taylor! *Fun side note! We recorded all of these episodes before the pandemic, so please trust that we are quarantined at home, living vicariously through our past selves. Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy at home as well* -- SHOW INFORMATION Facebook Page: @ThisParticularAlbum Instagram:@ThisParticularAlbum Twitter: @ParticularAlbum Email: ThisParticularAlbum@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Actress, writer and artist Keiko Agena (Gilmore Girls, Prodigal Son) sits down with Deborah and Joel to talk about what the Spin Doctors' 1991 album Pocket Full of Kryptonite means to her. Keiko talks about leaving school behind and moving to L.A., couch surfing, working at Lens Crafters, shaving her head, playing a music obsessed Lane Kim on Gilmore Girls and so much more! Special shoutout to Kelly in the booth! Plus Joel and Deborah's particular songs, My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It) by En Vogue and Zoo Station by U2! -- SHOW INFORMATION Facebook Page: @ThisParticularAlbum Instagram:@ThisParticularAlbum Twitter: @ParticularAlbum Email: ThisParticularAlbum@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Actor and filmmaker Colin Hanks sits down with Joel and Deborah to talk about his passion for the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 1991 album Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Colin takes us on a deep dive into all things Chili Peppers, growing up in Sacramento, the freedom that music brings in middle school, early MTV and so much more! Plus Joel and Deborah's particular songs, "Shadows of the Night" by Pat Benatar, and "You Go On Ahead (Trumpet, Trumpet II)" by Sunset Rubdown! Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy Rate and Review!

Actor, writer and comedian, Eugene Cordero sits down with Joel and Deborah to talk about Boyz II Men's 1991 album Cooleyhighharmony. Together, they talk about Eugene's experience growing up first generation Filipino in Detroit, Motown, trying to make his own Boyz II Men type band and awkward school dances. They also discover together that "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" is a cover(!), and so much more! Plus Joel and Deborah's particular songs, "Round The Bend" by Beck, and "Today" by Joshua Radin! Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy Rate and Review! *Fun side note! We recorded all of these episodes before the pandemic, so please trust that we are quarantined at home, living vicariously through our past selves. Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy at home as well!* -- SHOW INFORMATION Facebook Page: @ThisParticularAlbum Instagram:@ThisParticularAlbum Twitter: @ParticularAlbum Email: ThisParticularAlbum@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Actress, writer and distillery owner, Kirsten Vangsness sits down with Joel and Deborah to talk about her strong connection to Hounds of Love by Kate Bush and how it shaped her young life. Kirsten takes us all on a journey through the album, complete with her own mythology surrounding the album. Together they discuss epic journeys to find elusive songs pre-Internet, how deeply personal a song or album can be (and how hard it can be to share it with others), witches and all things Kate Bush. Plus Joel and Deborah's particular songs, "Bad" by U2, "Mystery" by The Indigo Girls and so much more! Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy Rate and Review! -- SHOW INFORMATION Facebook Page: @ThisParticularAlbum Instagram:@ThisParticularAlbum Twitter: @ParticularAlbum Email: ThisParticularAlbum@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

In our season 3 premiere, actor, comedian and author Thomas Lennon sits down with Joel and Deborah to talk about his passion for The Smiths' 1984 untitled/self titled(?) album. Together they take a deep dive into the history of The Smiths, their short time together as a band, and how they shaped Tom's life. Will Tom ever get Johnny Marr to follow him on social media? Does it benefit bands to record their albums twice? What would cause Tom to walk out of a Morrissey concert? All these questions will be answered in this episode! Plus, find out what Joel does in his car when he's angry, what the most important thing on Deborah's birth plan was and who Tom is embarrassed to listen to when he's writing. All in this particular episode of This Particular Album! And of course, these particular songs... "Heartbeat City" by The Cars and "Reaper” by Sia. Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy Rate and Review! -- SHOW INFORMATION Facebook Page: @ThisParticularAlbum Instagram:@ThisParticularAlbum Twitter: @ParticularAlbum Email: ThisParticularAlbum@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Join Joel and Deborah for a brand new season of This Particular Album is Very, Very Important to me - coming April 7th!

The ever so talented and brilliant Rachel Bloom joins Deborah and Joel to give a standing ovation to Stephen Sondheim’s Original Cast Recording of Assassins. The conversation starts with a couple of not great massage stories and moves to swooning over Sam Cooke. Rachel then tells us how she went to an open-air school near the beach in SoCal where everything was sunny and surf-forward. Perfect right? Well, no. Peel back the curtain and you’ll see some darkness. She navigated some mental illness, bullying and a real real complicated, deep, angsty relationship that could only have started with a shared love of Sondheim. Great stuff happened but obsession did too, and she cake-walked her way to the inevitable and disappointing relationship’s end. But, in this epilogue, Rachel looks back with insight, self awareness and perhaps an even stronger love for Sondheim. Well, his work. Not necessarily...the man. As Deborah says, “Don’t meet your heroes.” But we also discover Rachel wants so badly to start a Klezmer band and has a healthy respect for the impending earthquake apocalypse in Southern California. Let’s just say she’s prepared. As Deborah says, “Meet your heroes!” These particular songs are Daft Punk’s “Nightvision” and “Bring it On Home To Me” by Sam Cooke.. Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy Rate and Review!

The talented and hilarious - and in another life, AR rep - Ego Nwodim sits down with Deborah and Joel to share her love of (sigh, oh Kanye) Kanye West’s debut album, College Dropout. They talk about how the complexities of the man make it difficult but not impossible to gush over this incredible album. This is what it’s like to mourn for an artist who’s..still alive. Find out what Ego did in the middle of an improv practice years ago that Deborah never forgot. Listen to Joel hit the non existent ‘r’ on “gangsta” so white he turns into Mitt Romney. Deborah reveals the “Summer of Deborah” which leads us to how “look him up, girl!” does not always end well. You’ll also hear what the 100% bonkers (yet most likely) scenario would be if the three of them ever ran into each other in a strip club. You’re invited too! See ya’ll at Magic City! These particular songs are Arcade Fire’s “Wake Up” and “Back on the Chain Gang” by The Pretenders. Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy Rate and Review!

Actor Jason O’Mara joins Deborah and Joel in the Los Feliz equivalent of an Irish snug to share his love for the Hothouse Flowers’ first album, People. The most successful debut album of an Irish band in Irish history set up the perfect concert with perfect music during the perfect summer for Jason. They talk about high school turmoil, rugby and the saxophone - the most “jacuzzi” of instruments. They all connect over Irish soul music, how being a teenager is hard and what it’s like to be an adult and have no skills whatsoever. :( Someone PLEASE typecast Joel. These particular songs are Arlo Guthrie’s “City Of New Orleans” and “Hairshirt” by R.E.M. Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy Rate and Review!

The hysterical, smart and fun Bryan Safi sits down with Deborah and Joel and unleashes his love for Hole’s “Live Through This.” They all agree this album ROCKS. They talk about the trashy mosaic herself (Deborah Tar-...sorry, Courtney Love) and the, let’s say, messed up circumstances surrounding this album’s release. Bryan shares what it was like growing up having religious parents, a very popular brother and feeling like an outsider in El Paso, TX. Well, Bryan was popular too but his brother was off the charts popular in middle school. But the Bette Midler/Whitney Houston fan stumbled upon this album, liked the cover because it looked like it was from a beauty pageant, asked his mom to buy it for him, took it home, started playing it and was like, “WHAT??!!!??” The young man now had a dirty secret. They also talk about milk because if you listen to this album eventually you just talk about milk. These particular songs are “Nobody’s Baby Now” by Nic Cave and the Bad Seeds and Extreme’s “More Than Words.”. Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy, Rate and Review.

The hilarious, charming, and impressive in so many ways Demi Adejuyigbe joins Deborah and Joel to discuss his love for Radiohead’s In Rainbows. Once again the subject turns to “sad music” and the struggle with it being a pejorative term. Demi reveals how he willed himself to be a Radiohead fan through the only research that matters - listening to their entire body of work over two weeks. He gave each album two days and what a relief it is that he gave them another shot after Pablo Honey. Where was Joel born? It’ll blow Deborah’s mind. They talk about how funny Thom Yorke is. What? You have to take our word for it because, like Radiohead, this podcast has two geniuses. Find out how guitarist Ed O’Brien affirms his identity in the song “Weird Fishes.”*...*He doesn’t. This episode brought to you by Grape Nuts. Listen to find out what that means! These particular songs are Tom Waits’ “Falling Down” and “Slow Show” by The National. Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy, Rate and Review.

Actor, writer, photographer, musician, Charlotte, NC native Brian Huskey shares the profound impact The Velvet Undergound’s self-titled third album had on him. Deborah warns us to not first hear “The Murder Mystery” in the In-n-Out drive-thru while your infant daughter is in the back seat. Joel reveals how very very passionate his high school band was about not playing a particular song. They talk about primitive art, the art you make as an undergrad and how accidentally close it is to comedy. They gush about the super-cool, bold, arty, primitive drummer Maureen Tucker and how she’s such a revelation on this album and how she later surprisingly becomes a Tea Party supporter. “Nobody is just one thing” - Deborah Tarica. These particular songs are Wolf Parade’s “I’ll Believe In Anything” and “Sundown” by Gordon Lightfoot. Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy, Rate and Review!

Carl Tart sits down and embarrasses himself by singing the praises of Pretty Ricky’s debut album, Bluestars. Well “embarrassed” is the term he uses but we simply must give the man a break. This album came out when he was 16! After he came back to his high school looking trim following a weird 6 months in Mississippi! When there were now parties to go to and girls were starting to look at him, you know, differently! Yep. “Grind on Me” time. And AIM time too! What a time to be alive! They talk about school parties, horny songs, Carl’s mom driving him from Altadena to Culver City (yikes) every morning to fail to arrive on time for Jazz Band. Sux if you’re on Sax! Can’t sneak in late when you’re in the front. Also, Joel’s a cop. (SFX: AIM DOOR CLOSING) These particular songs are Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek” and O-Town’s “Every Six Seconds.” Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy, Rate and Review!

Lauren Lapkus sits down with Deborah and Joel to share her love of Sun Kil Moon’s Ghosts of the Great Highway. They talk about the weirdness of starting college, having no friends in college, making new friends in college or if you should break away from previous high school friends in college. They talk about how it’s wrong to shame a person who hasn’t yet seen or heard a particular movie, book or album - very important to the premise of this podcast! But wouldn’t you know literally seconds later Deborah and Lauren shame Joel for never seeing Home Alone. Lauren shares how she started long-form improv classes in Chicago while she was in high school! Ya’ll, she went to prom while she was in level 5! What was on your wall growing up? Was it stuff you enjoyed or stuff you felt you were supposed to enjoy? What blanket was surprisingly perfectly designed for Joel? Did you know Lauren was the model for the Statue of Liberty? These particular songs are “Like A Friend” by Pulp and “More Than This” by Roxy Music. Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy, Rate and Review!

Grant O’Brien shares his love for the original studio cast recording of Jesus Christ Superstar but stresses it’s not his favorite musical. It’s glorious, it’s weird and not a little problematic from time to time. He reveals the sexual confusion he had while in Catholic school and how he connected with his not-cool-enough-to-be-a-hippy father over musicals. Wait. Not cool enough? Grant’s Dad rode his bike with his twin brother all the way from Ohio to New York City to see the original Broadway production of JCS. That may not be “Hippy” but that is pretty cool! They talk about seeing musicals as a kid and how the best roles are the ones where you go out, steal the show and then go backstage to “have a jacuzzi.” Inevitably the discussion turns to favorite/least favorite musicals and then we get to....Cats. I mean what the hell is that musical about? These particular songs are ABBA’s “I Am The City” and Yvonne Elliman‘s “If I Can’t Have You.” Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy, Rate and Review!

Deborah and Joel sit down with the great Jamie Denbo and hear about her love for Carole King’s Tapestry. Man what an album! Deborah and Jamie bond over how it all really started with Really Rosie. We learn that Jamie inadvertently (well, advertently) bullied Deborah into having a baby and why Carole King’s voice makes us all feel good and safe. We discover the pressure to like something in college, even Ska! There was a STARK difference between Deborah and Jamie’s (Jewish) summer camp and Joel’s (Christian) summer camp. One had scorpions! Bet you can’t guess the true prequel to The Handmaids Tale! Tune in to find that out as well as how “Jewish” Jamie Denbo’s happy place is. These Particular Songs: “Phantom Limb” by The Shins and Brandi Carlile’s “The Mother.” Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy, Rate and Review!

Kulap Vilaysack sits down with Deborah and Joel and shares her love for Janet Jackson’s The Velvet Rope. She explains how she escaped walkable Eagan, wound up in very un-walkable downtown LA and later found herself making out with her (yellow-tinted sunglasses sporting) future husband in his very drivable Camry (We don’t take any money from Toyota...but we will). We discover a brand new hilarious take on a very very important moment in Deb’s history we’ve discussed before. Sorry Deborah’s mom! Learn how nine-year-old Joel stunned his parents with his album pics when the whole Spence family decided to do that Columbia records eleven records for one penny thing. We discuss the joy of making playlists and current concert going strategy when one is in the...”current situation we’re all in.” Tune it to find out what that is! This Particular Song: “Firestarter” by the Prodigy and “Nightshift” by Lucy Dacus. Subscribe, Listen, Enjoy, Rate and Review please!

Season Two starts with the great Al Yankovic (weird ex-college DJ) sharing his love of Devo’s third studio album, Freedom of Choice. **Almost coincidence alert** Deborah almost went to the same college as Al but when visiting the campus got turned off when she saw other students wearing...shoes? Too fancy for our Deborah! Joel shares yet another memory about learning about love from Air Supply and that isn’t even the most embarrassing thing he admits in this episode. That nice girl caught him doing what? Tune to find out! Also, what does one do when one finds out the drummer of one of one’s favorite bands is now an electrician? Al asks him to make a bid on work on his house, naturally. Guys, we know “Hey Jealousy” came out in the early to mid 90s and not the late 90s. Get off our back. Also, sorry for being so defensive about this. For reals, Al Yankovic is a national treasure and Deborah and Joel feel fortunate they were able to spend time with him. Subscribe, listen, enjoy, rate, review!

This Particular Album is Very Very Important To Me is coming back for its second season! Subscribe now.

Ty takes Joel and Deb through the year - the year when apparently all music was made - when he was overwhelmed, broken-hearted, let down and hangin’ around. Radiohead’s 1997 album got him through a tough, life-changing year. Deb likes Radiohead but is happy to give his ticket to Joel. There’s a moment on the album where for Joel it feels like his best friend (which just happens to be a robot) is hugging him and telling him everything’s going to be OK.

THIS. IS….A  JOEL SPENCE DEBORAH TARICA NICOLE BYER PRODUCTION. Nicole sits down with Deborah and Joel to ‘dance-sit” and talk about Missy Elliot’s 2002 album. We discuss the top two guidelines about hair - how not to dye it it and how...oh man...just don’t touch a stranger’s hair unless you’ve been invited to.

Drew Droege sits down with Deborah and Joel to discuss the weirdest most loveable band in the world: Air Supply. Well, the B-52s but we swoon over Air Supply too.

Alex Fernie shares his love for Ted Leo and the Pharmacists' and their thrilling 2003 album. We explore all that makes Ted Leo so great and still leave stuff out. We go back to that time when things were emerging from great national tragedy and relive our hopes and great optimism for change that ran flat into…..“damn.”

Lennon shares her experience teaching high school French in the deep south for two years….in her early 20s  The hardest thing she had ever done and a time to do some “real growing up.” She wouldn’t have gotten through it were in not for karaoke night, community theatre, the catfish served at the school (catfish that non-students would line up at the school to eat) and of course, those kids she taught. Also helping her, the mournful songs on Krauss’ 1999 album.

Joel and Deborah feel all the feelings with Janie Haddad Tompkins as we discuss both their particular songs and then this explosive 1995 album. We hit the jackpot here with brilliant and cathartic singers.  We talk about those angels that appear in our lives when they’re most needed. We talk about how heroic Alanis’ music is and how her lyrics are, in some cases unfortunately, STILL timeless. We’re full of gratitude for these artists and what they’ve gifted us. Lots of chills in this one.

Joel and Deborah still struggle with pleasantries but then dart off in two different directions with their songs that are important to them.  Deborah’s beautiful choice can make her cry and we get it. Joel’s song can make him cringe and we get it...but...oh, what the hell..it’s a foot tapper! Love whatever song you want! Be an individual. What’s more punk than that!?!

Deborah reveals she’s the long lost daughter of Bette Midler and Joel admits he had retired from dancing by sophomore year of high school. We discuss the shocking and horrible original name for the album and ask some questions...How much under the banner of satire can you get away with? What if you don’t know if it’s satire? How can anyone be an expert in satire if Deb invented it in this episode?

We start with Deborah relaying an experience that makes Edgar and I nearly die of jealousy. But then we go deep on Edgar and this mesmerizing album. We also go deep on Kanye and end up just as confused as we we were when we started. How could anyone have clarity on that man? Without a caterer for hot food and a caterer for cold food how can you get clarity on anything? Annnnnnnd, Edgar had a beautiful dark twisted persona in college. His name? Well, you gotta listen. It’s really satisfying.

We talk about EVERYTHING: Lauryn Hill, T-Pain, naming your mix tapes, Snopes, Ben Schwartz’s leaky Chevy (oil leak? Nope! Rain!) karaoke, admitting that “Greatest Hits” and “Best Of” albums are great, the idea you can know the lyrics to a song for all your life and never know what they mean and, of course, The Darkest Hour.

Erin threw a few albums at us and we accidentally picked the one she was scared to talk about! The twists and turns of Erin’s father’s fascinating life loom over the hour, and we’re grateful that Trent Reznor was there for Erin when not much else was. We learn Deborah would’ve never been the person to slam her door and say, “Leave me the f*** alone mom and dad!”

Will Hines share his love for Phair’s debut 1993 album. Despite the coolness of the music played, your hosts reveal a…. “cool deficit.” Deborah admits that once in high school, while her friends were partying in her house, she went and cried in her car. On the debut episode of his own podcast, Joel praises... a guitar solo? On This Particular Song we have “You Don’t Know Me” by Ray Charles and “Champions of Red Wine” By The New Pornographers.

Does music make you feel things? Like, anything at all? If not, you might be a sociopath! If so, this might be the podcast for you! Join hosts Joel Spence and Deborah Tarica each week as they invite someone they think is very very fantastic, to pick an album that is very very important to them. Together, they listen to that album and go back in time to understand what it means to that particular guest and how it helped make them who they are today.