TNT Radio NYC aims to explore and celebrate full-length albums from across musical genres, eras and communities. This format is lost in today’s algorithmically-oriented musical landscape. Each month, hosts Thanh Nguyen and Tim Lessick take audiences through collected works and dig deep into their story to uncover its impact on society and time. Listen to live episodes on the last Saturday of every other month at 3 pm ET on radio.montezpress.com.
For our last series of the season, we have the story of the rise and fall, the rebirth and eventual demise of the legendary Memphis R&B, soul and funk label, Stax Records. This month we're talking about the groundbreaking album that helped kickstart what came to be known as the “Memphis sound” - the first official release on the Stax Record Label, 1962's “Green Onions” by Booker T. & the M.G.s.
The boys at TNT are back with the second episode in our series about the dynamic Los Angeles indie label Stones Throw Records. This month, Thanh + Tim are coming to you with the sophomore release by the multi-talented LA-based violinist, singer, rapper, producer Sudan Archives, 2022's “Natural Brown Prom Queen.” Get your selfish soul to your nearest turntable and enjoy
This episode of TNT brings us to the left coast to dig into the famed LA independent label Stones Throw Records. To kick this series off, we bring you something bittersweet - 2006's iconoclastic “Donuts” by rapper, producer, beatmaker, and record collector extraordinaire J Dilla - released on February 7, 2006, just three days before Dilla tragically passed away.
On TNT this month, we're back with our friends at Dischord Records! Thanh + Tim dig into a record and a band that bring a little bit of youth and groove to the label: Q and Not U's debut album, “No KIll No Beep Beep,” released in October 2000. On the bands's debut and their roots in the Washington D.C. music scene, Pitchfork noted that "few bands sound like this, and even fewer towns sound like this."
As TNT zeroes in on record labels this season, it was only a matter of time until Thanh + Tim made their way to the legendary Dischord Records. And what better to showcase the label than one of the heaviest hitting albums in all of post-hardcore, the foundational 1990 release “Repeater” by a little band named Fugazi. Enjoy this one, you ice cream eating motherfuckers!
TNT is back in action and we're still dancin'
The month of March kicks off TNT's deep dive into our next record label, London's own Soul Jazz Records. To start this series off, Thanh + Tim are talking about a compilation that features no wave, post-punk, mutant disco, and avant-funk all in one! Contort yourself along with us as we dig into 2003's “New York Noise: Dance Music from the New York Underground 1978-1982.”
In the second part of our series on the Luaka Bop record label, this month TNT brings you a total jammer - 2013's "Who is William Onyeabor?" by the mysterious and prolific Nigerian electro Afro-funk pioneer William Onyeabor. The first official re-issue of Onyeabor's music since being recorded in the late 70s/early 80s, this compilation serves up Onyeabor's space-age synthesizers, disco-funk rhythms and pulsing drum machines - all created, produced and recorded by one fantastic man.
It's a new year and that means a new season of TNT! This year we're still digging into full-length albums - but we're also uncovering the record labels that provide the world with these releases and the rare gems that we look forward to uncovering. On our first show of Season 5 (!) Thanh + Tim talk about the 2017 Luaka Bop release, "Reflections: Mojave Desert" by British electronic music producer, DJ, and musician Floating Points.
We had to go out in style for the last show of 2023!
Break out yer bellbottoms and platforms folks - TNT is going disco!
This month on TNT, your hosts Thanh + Tim dive into the debut solo album from Japanese electronic maestro, composer, producer, artist, actor and activist Ryuichi Sakamoto, and his 1978 output “Thousand Knives.” This marks the second in our two-part series on artists that have recently passed, with Sakamoto sadly departing this world for the great beyond on March 28, 2023, at the age of 71.
Join us on TNT this month as we celebrate the extraordinary life of Ethiopian nun and master pianist Emahoy Tsegue Maryam Guebrou, who passed away on March 26, 2023, at the age of 99. An accomplished pianist and composer - not to mention philanthropist and speaker of 7 languages(!) - your hosts Thanh and Tim uncover her fascinating story and dig into her 2023 Mississippi Records release, "Jerusalem."
For July, TNT has gone back to the well of 1970 to focus on someone who MLK famously called the “Queen of American Folk music,” and someone who influenced a generation of folk and pop musicians in her time - we're talking about the album “Odetta Sings” by Odetta. Her cover of Randy Newman's "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)" is worth the price of admission alone
For May 2023, TNT dives into a classic in the world of folk, country and rock: Neil Young's third solo album, 1970's “After the Gold Rush.” We're joined by a very special guest - musician, avid record collector, Neil enthusiast, and friend of the show Denis Candy. Join us as we three learn about the genesis of the album, how it was originally viewed when it came out, and of course Neil's steadfast politics.
It's April 2023 and TNT is yet again diving deep into another international jammer, 2021's "Comfort to Me" by Amyl & the Sniffers. Turn this one up loud and get moving - these Aussies aren't messing around and neither is this album. Tim and Thanh dig into the band's meteoric rise, the growth demonstrated on this album by the band and play a little trivia along the way. See you in the pit!
On the show this month, the boys at TNT attempt to take on the absolute ripper of an album from Japanese punk band Otoboke Beaver, 2022's "Super Champon." If you need any further convincing to dive into this one with us, take it from Dave Grohl, who said of the band, "It'll blow your mind, dude. It's the most fucking intense shit you've ever seen."
Originally recorded on February 22, 2023, this live episode is TNT's second installment for Season 4 and wraps up our deep dive into the mash-up album. This month, Thanh and Tim tackle 2004's "The Grey Album" by Danger Mouse. Famously legally ambiguous at best and flat out illegal at worst, this project is the combination of the acapella raps from Jay Z's 2003 "The Black Album" mixed with the deconstructed samples from The Beatles' 1968 eponymous album AKA "The White Album." Don't worry - Hova and Paul McCartney were cool with it!
This episode officially kicks off season 4 of TNT! We're mixing it up in 2023 by starting off the year with a two-part series focusing on the mash-up album, and up first is the 2008 party-starter “Feed the Animals” by Girl Talk. Originally recorded on January 29, 2023, Thanh and Tim dig into the frenetic madness (genius?) of Gregg Gillis aka Girl Talk, the genre and history of mashups, the legal issues of using over 300 pop-music samples to create an album, and much more. Play your part!
Originally recorded in December 2022, this episode brings us back to earth to dig into the 1977 Sun Ra album "Solo Piano: Volume 1." This one wraps up our last series for the year, "Sun Ra and the Great Beyond" and features a very special guest: artist, creative director, and former competitive piano player Kat Lam! to close the season out
Originally recorded on September 24 2022, this episode sets us on a course far past this world and the next as we kick off our last series of the year, "Sun Ra and the Great Beyond." Released in 1983, Sun Ra & His Outer Space Arkestra's "A Fireside Chat with Lucifer" starts with a warning of the times ("Nuclear war, it's a motherfucker") and ends with a 20 minute sonic journey through the mind and story of the one and only Sun Ra.
Listen to the full album on Mixcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/lorenunodos/daddy-g-dj-kicks/
Originally recorded on July 30 2022, this episode focuses on the wonderfully frenetic 1980 album Rodney on the ROQ Vol. 1. This episode marks the first in a two-part series focusing on the idea of compilation albums and discovery. Rodney on the ROQ Vol. 1 is a perfect way to kick things off, as this album showcases some old favorites as well as some hidden gems from the 1980 LA punk and new wave scene.
Originally recorded on June 26 2022, this episode focuses on the culturally significant 1972 album by Neu!, “Neu!.” This episode marks the second in a two-part series centering on the genre of Krautrock and two of the pioneering bands of that era. TNT dares to ask the question, "what exactly is Krautrock?"
Originally airing on May 28, 2022, this episode focuses on the influential 1972 album by Can, “Ege Bamyası.” This episode marks the first in a two-part series centering on the genre of Krautrock and two of the pioneering bands of that era. TNT dares to ask the question, "what exactly is Krautrock?"
Recorded on April 31, 2022, this episode focuses on the 1995 album “Landcruising” / 2005 reissue “The Album Formerly Known As…” by Carl Craig, a titan of the Detroit techno scene. This episode marks the second in a two-part series centering on Detroit, Michigan as a musical and cultural hub—from Motown to Movement.
Recorded live on March 26, 2022, this episode focuses on the foundational 1967 album by Aretha Franklin, “I've Never Loved a Man Like the Way I Love You,” released in March 1967 on Atlantic Records. This episode marks the first in a two-part series centering on Detroit, Michigan as a musical and cultural hub, from Motown to Movement. is the second and final of our two part series focusing on the story, music, and influence of Manchester, England's music scene in the late 1970s/early 1980s.
Recorded on February 26, 2022, this episode focuses on the seminal 1983 album by New Order, "Power, Corruption & Lies." The second album from New Order, "Power, Corruption & Lies" was released in May 1983 on the legendary Factory Records label (FACT 75). This episode is the second and final of our two part series focusing on the story, music, and influence of Manchester, England's music scene in the late 1970s/early 1980s.
Recorded live on January 29, 2022, this episode kicks off season 3 of TNT! Join us as we discuss the criminally underrated debut album by The Chameleons, 1983's "Script of the Bridge," released in August 1983 on Statik Records. This episode is the first of a two part series focusing on the music of Manchester, England in 1983.
Originally recorded on October 30, 2021, this episode of TNT discusses the haunting Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds album “Murder Ballads,” released in February 1996 on Mute Records.
Originally recorded on September 26, 2021, this episode of TNT focuses on the the reissue/compilation "Any Other Way," by the pioneering transgender soul and R&B singer Jackie Shane, released in 2017 by the Numero Group.
Originally recorded on August 28, 2021, this episode of TNT focuses on the foundational 1976 dub classic, "King Tubbys Meets the Rockers Uptown" by King Tubby and Augustus Pablo, released in 1976 on Yard International/Clocktower Records.
Originally recorded on July 31, 2021, this episode of TNT discusses the soundtrack to the 1982 science fiction noir film Blade Runner, composed by Greek electronic musician Vangelis. For reasons we'll get into, this soundtrack was eventually released in 1994, 12 years after the film's debut.
Originally recorded on June 26, 2021, this episode of TNT discusses the 1998 album "Super æ" by Japanese noise/experimental rock band Boredoms, released in 1998 by Warner Music Japan.
Originally recorded on May 29 2021, this episode of TNT discusses the 1969 album "The '69 Los Angeles Sessions" by Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, composer, political activist, and Pan-Africanist Fela Kuti. This album was originally recorded in 1969 and re-released in 2010 by the British label Wrasse Records.
Originally recorded on April 24, 2021, this episode of TNT discusses the 2007 live album "Alive 2007" from legendary French electronic duo Daft Punk, released in November 2007 by Virgin Records.
Originally recorded on March 27, 2021, this episode of TNT discusses the self-titled album Lucinda Williams by singer, songwriter Lucinda Williams, released in June 1988 by Rough Trade Records.
Originally recorded on February 27, 2021, this episode of TNT discusses "Brown Sugar," the debut album by singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer D'Angelo, which was released on July 3, 1995, by EMI Music.
Originally recorded on January 30, 2021, this episode of TNT kicks off season 2 of the show and discusses the debut album "Madvilliany" by Madvillian (MF Doom + Madlib) released on March 23, 2004, by Stones Throw Records.
Originally recorded on November 21, 2020, this episode of TNT discusses the debut album by Billie Eilish, "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" released on March 29, 2019, by Darkroom and Interscope Records.
Originally recorded on October 31, 2020, this episode of TNT discusses John Coltrane's seminal album "A Love Supreme," released by Impulse! Records in January 1965.
Originally recorded on September 26, 2020, this episode of TNT discusses the third album by post-hardcore legends At the Drive-In, "Relationship of Command," released on September 12, 2000 by Fearless Records.
Originally recorded on August 29, 2020, this episode of TNT discusses the debut album of blues vocalist and harmonica player Junior Wells (performing with the Junior Wells' Chicago Blues Band), "Hoodoo Man Blues," released by Delmark Records in November 1965.
Originally recorded on July 25, 2020, this episode of TNT discusses the debut album by ESG, "Come Away with ESG," released by 99 Records in 1983.
Originally recorded on June 27, 2020, this episode of TNT discusses the debut album by Patti Smith, "Horses," released on November 10, 1975 by Arista Records.
Originally recorded on May 30, 2020, this episode of TNT discusses the fifth album by Alice Cooper, "School's Out," released in June 1972 by Warner Bros.
Originally recorded on April 25, 2020, this episode of TNT discusses the collaborative album by Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood, "Nancy & Lee," released on Reprise Records in 1968.
Originally recorded on March 28, 2020, this episode of TNT discusses the debut album by Aphex Twin, "Selected Ambient Works 85-92," released by Apollo Records on November 9, 1992.
Originally recorded on February 29, 2020, the debut episode of TNT discusses the debut album by the hip hop supergroup Deltron 3030 (Del the Funky Homosapien, Dan the Automator, and Kid Koala), "Deltron 3030," which was released on May 23, 2000 by 75 Ark.