Podcasts about almelchiorbb

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 contributions to popular music more. She also talks about why she created Programme 4 and Easy AM 66 and what inspired their creation.As Rachel mentioned, it's best to follow her on Instagram:@rachellichtman and @programmefour……but she's also on Bluesky at @rachellichtman.bsky.social and on Twitter/X at @rachelichtman.Al is on Twitter/X at @almelchiorBB and on Bluesky at @almelchior.bsky.social. This show has accounts on Twitter/X, Threads and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/Note: Tammy Faye Starlite did the Nico voiceover for the public service announcement.1:16 Rachel joins the show1:54 Rachel explains her affinity for vocal groups5:35 Rachel explains why she chose to talk about Anita Kerr8:25 The cover for Grow to Know Me primed Rachel to get excited about the album11:58 Grow to Know Me strikes Rachel as a transitional album15:07 Rachel talks about the different versions of the album18:19 Is Grow to Know Me a concept album?19:50 Rachel talks about why Grow to Know Me is special to her22:23 Rachel discusses some of the songwriters and vocalists Kerr worked with25:48 Why does easy listening get labeled as “uncool”?35:42 The culture of easy listening was more accepting than rock culture37:58 Rachel found easy listening comforting early on during the pandemic39:40 A short break40:57 Easy listening is already getting reevaluated45:56 Al talks about a couple of tracks that defied his expectations47:23 Rachel wants to hear a Flat Five version of “Blame It On a Monday”49:44 The songwriters and vocalists represented on the album were versatile54:02 Rachel has a remedy for overcoming a concern for “coolness”58:46 Kerr may have suffered from getting pigeonholed1:01:01 The songs on Grow to Know Me highlight the full range of Kerr's talents1:04:27 Rachel summarizes what Programme 4 is about and why she created itSupport the show

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 the best and his upcoming studio album and tour plans.Just about everything Steve Hackett-related can be found on his website, hackettsongs.com.Also, be sure to follow Steve on Twitter/X and Instagram!Twitter/X: @HackettOfficialIG: @stevehackettofficialAl is on Twitter/X at @almelchiorBB and on Bluesky at @almelchior.bsky.social. This show has accounts on Twitter/X, Threads and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:12 Steve joins the show2:14 Steve talks about next year's Lamb Highlights tour and upcoming studio album6:43 Steve explains the setlist choices for his new live album9:34 Steve remembers back to Genesis' Lamb Lies Down on Broadway tour10:53 Steve discusses the importance of playing live versions that are different from the studio originals14:40 Steve reveals how new versions of his songs typically get created16:29 Steve talks about his band's rhythm section18:30 Steve discusses his band's English-American-Swedish connection21:06 Steve explains why Genesis gave up on playing “Can-Utility and the Coastliners” live23:18 Steve thinks Genesis' best work was still to come after Foxtrot26:23 Which part of Foxtrot has Steve's band improved upon the most?28:23 Steve recommends an album that he lovesOutro is from Steve Hackett, “Watcher of the Skies (live).”Support the show

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' songs in general.Juliana made a reference to the How Did This Get Made? podcast. If you want to check it out, you can find it here: https://www.earwolf.com/show/how-did-this-get-made/Al mentioned an interview with Fee Waybill that he had read in which he discusses The Tubes' involvement in Xanadu. Here's the link: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/the-tubes-fee-waybill-recalls-bonkers-xanadu-scene-214128554.html?fr=sycsrp_catchallHere are links to the videos for “Dancin'” that Al mentioned.Clip of the scene from Xanadu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts9GdyGD5e4Olivia Newton-John and Tubes video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WckwVPVnLyMJuliana is on Instagram at @julianahatfield.Also, check out her website, https://www.julianahatfield.com/……and her Substack: https://julianahatfield.substack.com/.Al is on Twitter/X at @almelchiorBB and on Bluesky at @almelchior.bsky.social. This show has accounts on Twitter/X, Threads and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:19 Juliana joins the show1:36 Juliana's album choice is the perfect one for her2:34 Juliana chose the Xanadu soundtrack for a variety of reasons6:02 John Farrar's songwriting was important to this album8:29 Juliana faced some challenges when trying to cover “Suddenly”14:57 Why didn't Juliana include a cover of “I'm Alive” on her new ELO covers album?17:59 Juliana didn't become familiar with ELO's deeper cuts until recently23:18 Al was fascinated by “Dancin'”30:10 Gene Kelly makes an appearance on the soundtrack31:16 Juliana didn't care about Xanadu being perceived as uncool33:31 Al talks about what he likes about Juliana's cover of “Magic”35:50 Juliana and Al get into a discussion of Weezer's covers38:22 Juliana explains why she wanted to make an ELO covers album41:25 Artists borrowing from other artists doesn't bother Juliana46:41 Juliana learned a lesson from covering “Don't Bring Me Down”50:27 Covering ELO had its own specific challenges54:26 Did Juliana intend to record a series of covers albums?Outro is from “Can't Get It Out Of My Head” by Juliana Hatfield.Support the show

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-released solo debut, I Was Due For A Heartbreak.Be sure to keep up with Maura and her work!@mauraweaver on Instagram and Threads@everreadyy on Twitter/XAl is on Twitter/X at @almelchiorBB and on Bluesky at @almelchior.bsky.social. This show has accounts on Twitter/X, Threads and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:12 Maura joins the show2:08 Al explains why he was glad that Maura chose this album3:18 Maura talks about the first songs that got her into Elliott Smith6:38 Maura gives one reason for why this album is special to her8:08 Al starts to talk about his first reaction to Elliott Smith9:18 Did it take time for Maura to get used to the sound of Smith's music?13:50 Maura discusses the elements of Elliott Smith that are poppy19:12 Al expands on his experience with the album23:03 Covers are the gateway to Elliott Smith's music for some people26:21 Maura explains what she loves about Smith's guitar-playing style28:49 Maura mentions some of Smith's songs that she sometimes plays30:51 Maura put her love of indie folk to the side with Mixtapes33:53 Maura is an Elliott Smith power listener36:25 Drug addiction is a major theme on Elliott Smith…or is it?39:38 Al pinpoints what made Elliott Smith hard to access at first43:24 Maura talks about some ways in which she relates to Smith's music48:45 Maura and Al discuss some of the album's lyrics52:37 Maura elaborates on how Smith influenced I Was Due For A Heartbreak55:45 Could Maura draw inspiration from a bee sting?57:06 Maura cites another example of Smith's influence on her lyrics59:53 Good lyrics are important to Maura1:01:43 Which band is a guilty pleasure for Maura?1:03:46 Maura talks about the changes in her singing style1:09:20 Maura discusses her upcoming performancesOutro is from “As If Your Love” by Maura Weaver.Support the show

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 from Ep. 44. Al's discussion with Harris is a standalone interview (though she will also be on a new episode soon).Get information on Ex Hex's live shows and more on Instagram at @exhexband and on their website, https://exhexband.com/shows!More social media for Ex Hex and its members…Ex Hex:@exhexband on Twitter/XMary Timony:@MaryT_Money on Twitter/X@marytimony on InstagramBetsy Wright@betsybooots on InstagramLaura Harris@heylisaharris on InstagramAl is on Twitter/X at @almelchiorBB and on Bluesky at @almelchior.bsky.social. This show has accounts on Twitter/X, Threads and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:18 Al explains why he's doing a You, Me and a Band episode2:51 Introducing the members of Ex HexMary Timony interview excerpt4:11 Mary explains why Ex Hex is playing shows again6:51 When did Mary first get the idea to form Ex Hex?9:10 Mary challenged herself to craft catchy pop songs11:09 Does Mary prefer one Ex Hex album over the other?Laura Harris interview13:16 Ex Hex recently played a “warmup” show17:45 Laura talks about how she joined Ex Hex21:53 Laura compares the two Ex Hex albums28:16 Which bands have influenced Ex Hex's sound?35:42 Laura's playing style has varied with different bands she's been in39:59 Which Ex Hex songs are Laura's favorites to play?Betsy Wright interview excerpt44:57 Betsy talks about how Ex Hex's songwriting process evolved48:02 Betsy compares Rips with It's Real50:50 Betsy clears up a misheard lyric for Al52:52 Al wraps things upOutro is from “Want It To Be True” by Ex Hex.Support the show

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 they particularly enjoy. They also discuss their just-released album, Greener Pastures, which was produced by the legendary Shel Talmy (The Who, The Kinks).Be sure to give The Waymores a follow!@thewaymores on Instagram and Threads@TWaymores on Twitter/XWebsite: thewaymores.comAl is on Twitter/X at @almelchiorBB and on Bluesky at @almelchior.bsky.social. This show has accounts on Twitter/X, Threads and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:21 Kira and Willie join the show2:45 Kira has had to overcome some health challenges recently9:31 Willie and Kira talk about the things that make Red Headed Stranger special13:57 This album was the first one for which Willie Nelson had complete artistic control16:56 Al learned a lot about Willie Nelson's life and career in preparing for the episode19:20 Willie cites a Willie Nelson cover he actually doesn't like21:12 Why was Red Headed Stranger such a big hit?27:03 Willie, Kira and Al discuss how reprises enhance the storytelling31:22 Does the story's action move fast or slow?33:25 Red Headed Stranger opened Willie up to concept albums (TW // reference to suicide)39:00 Kira and Willie appreciate Willie Nelson's choice of covers for the album42:44 Al found the album surprisingly relaxing44:49 Kira and Willie talk about working with Shel Talmy on their new album53:00 Kira and Willie highlight some of the things they did differently for Greener Pastures1:02:51 One track was particularly tough for Willie to record1:05:50 Kira and Willie discuss their tour plansOutro is from “But I Don't” by The Waymores.Support the show

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 the many bands she plays with.As Laura and Al mentioned, R. Ring released a new video for “Cartoon Heart/Build Me a Question” just hours before their conversation. It's great! Check it out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG1RGmkPdBoThey also discussed the really cool video for R. Ring's "Def Sup." Watch it here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovFJidJAO14It's also worth your time to check out the video of Speed Stick performing at the North Carolina Museum of Art. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_gpKgwyzfcFind Laura and her music online!@lkbroiler on Instagramspeedstickband.comSuperchunk tour dates: https://www.mergerecords.com/tourAl is on Twitter/X at @almelchiorBB and on Bluesky at @almelchior.bsky.social. This show has accounts on Twitter/X, Threads and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:07 Laura joins the show1:11 Laura talks about discovering The Bangles during her childhood3:44 Laura remembers back to the first instruments she had6:51 Laura's Bangles obsession actually started with Different Light8:40 Laura explains why she wanted to discuss All Over the Place9:30 Al forgot a lot of things he previously knew about this album12:19 Laura talks about the elements of the album that make it special15:24 Laura highlights some of her favorite parts of the album, including the cover art18:42 Laura and Al talk about the cover songs on the album25:09 Did commercial success spell the end of The Bangles?26:48 Al rants against rants about new music28:51 Laura talks about some of the music she plays while working at a bar31:53 Al developed an opinion about the attention Susanna Hoffs received35:12 Laura defends the Bangles' post-All Over The Place direction38:19 Laura summarizes her feelings about the album39:04 Laura talks about the upcoming Superchunk tour41:06 Updates on Bat Fangs, R. Ring43:19 Laura talks about collaborating with Kelley Deal and Mike Montgomery on “Def Sup”47:02 Laura is in a band where she plays bass48:00 Laura discusses the last Speed Stick album and possibly the next one51:28 Al asks Laura about her sharing a kick drum in Speed StickOutro is from “Online Tangle = HiSSS” by Speed Stick.Support the show

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 the new Longings album, Dreams In Red, and her upcoming plans musically and otherwise.Meghan recommended several music venues to check out for anyone who lives in or is visiting Western Massachusetts. These are the ones she mentioned.Flywheel Arts Collective: puts on shows at various venues10 Forward in Greenfield: https://www.10forwardartsvenue.org/Marigold in Easthampton: https://marigoldtheater.com/The Drake in Amherst: https://www.thedrakeamherst.org/Tree House Brewing Company in Deerfield: https://treehousebrew.com/visiting-deerfieldHutghi's in Westfield: https://hutghis.square.site/Find/Follow Meghan on the internet!@mminior and @static_frame_ on Instagrammeghanminior.comhttps://longings.bandcamp.comhttps://corrodehc.bandcamp.com/Al is on Twitter/X at @almelchiorBB and on Bluesky at @almelchior.bsky.social. This show has accounts on Twitter/X, Threads and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:19 Meghan joins the show2:22 Television Man has been a frequent topic of conversation for Meghan4:12 Meghan discusses her process for picking an album for this episode5:40 Al talks about his initial reaction to Television Man8:08 Meghan explains why the album has stuck with her over the years9:06 Meghan and Al talk about “Firehose Face” as the album's opening statement12:03 Meghan describes Naomi Punk's sound13:53 Al was surprised by a Naomi Punk live performance video he watched15:39 Meghan appreciates the uniqueness of Naomi Punk's sound17:30 Television Man is a very visual album for Meghan24:32 Meghan likes the album's flow and sequencing30:30 Is this a punk album?33:53 Meghan is not sure how much her work has been influenced by Naomi Punk35:07 Television Man moved Naomi Punk towards a more experimental approach37:20 Al sees parallels between Naomi Punk and Unwound40:10 The new Longings album was years in the making42:03 Meghan talks about her future plans, including with Longings and Corrode44:10 Meghan gives Al some recommendations for music venues to visit in Western MassachusettsOutro is from “Expensive Graves” by Longings.Support the show

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 Movies, and the band's upcoming tour.Tiff recommended watching Mitski's 2015 NPR Tiny Desk performance. You can view it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lNFHD0lUAQ.Also, as promised in this episode, here is the link to Miley Cyrus' performance of “Heart of Glass”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbdRLyixJpc.Follow Tiff and Rodeo Boys!@rodeoboysofficial on Instagram and YouTubehttps://www.rodeoboysofficial.com/https://rodeoboys.bandcamp.com/Al is on Twitter/X at @almelchiorBB and on Bluesky at @almelchior.bsky.social. This show has accounts on Twitter/X, Threads and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:15 Tiff joins the show1:25 Tiff talks about the album title, Be the Cowboy3:37 Tiff explains why they chose to discuss Be the Cowboy7:36 Tiff puts Be the Cowboy in the larger context of Mitski's discography12:53 What does Tiff pay the most attention to when listening to this album?17:01 Tiff talks about some of their favorite songs on the album20:44 Al thinks some of Be the Cowboy goes over his head24:37 Tiff loves the beefy Stratocaster sound26:20 Kissing is a repeated theme on Be the Cowboy28:56 Tiff recommends Crying in H Mart to Al33:00 Tiff and Al discuss the songs where Mitski is telling a story from an older perspective41:12 Al is impressed by the economy of Mitski's songwriting44:51 Tiff highlights a few other tracks that are among their favorites on the album48:26 Al makes note of some of his favorite lyrics on Be the Cowboy51:31 Al tries to explain his reaction to the album52:56 Mitski had a huge breakout on Tiktok55:55 Rodeo Boys once played the Masonic Temple in Detroit57:15 Al asks Tiff about covering Blondie's “One Way or Another”1:02:39 Rodeo Boys are opening for Fishbone…and no one told them about itOutro is from “Sugar” by Rodeo Boys.Support the show

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 others he has known, including Julius Erving. Earl also delves into his book and his work as the Detroit Pistons' Community Ambassador.As Earl and Al mentioned on the episode, you can pre-order Earl's book now. Here's the link! https://www.amazon.com/Earl-Twirl-My-Life-Basketball/dp/1476693838/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1QJI8P93F3V0T&keywords=earl+the+twirl&qid=1684467193&sprefix=earl+the+twirl%2Caps%2C147&sr=8-1Also, be sure to keep up with Earl on Twitter: @EarlTheTwirlAl is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter, Threads and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:18 Earl joins the show2:50 Earth, Wind and Fire was a popular band when Earl was in college4:54 Gratitude introduced Al to sides of EWF he didn't know about7:39 Earl remembers back to listening to Gratitude and other albums in the dorm11:06 Earl talks about music that evokes memories for him14:27 Certain tracks from Gratitude bring back memories for Earl18:31 The early ‘80s were a great time for Philadelphia sports21:26 Earl explains why he decided to write his book24:24 Earl talks about his current work with the Detroit Pistons25:40 Were The Temptations the first group to rap?28:00 Does Earl focus more on EWF's lyrics or their music?29:56 Earl saw Maurice White frequently in the Sixers' locker room33:42 Earl has listened to EWF throughout the yearsDiscussion of specific tracks:35:03 Reasons37:30 Shining Star38:20 Sun Goddess/New World Symphony40:38 Al thinks he hadn't appreciated EWF enough after the ‘70s ended42:28 Earl talks about an Alicia Keys concert he had just attended44:19 Earl lets readers know what they can expect from his book54:16 Earl talks about Marvin Gaye and Dave Bing growing up together in Detroit56:48 Earl recently performed in a lip synch competitionSupport the show

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 places to keep up with Maia and to find her work online!@maiasharpmusic on Instagrammaiasharpofficial on Facebook@maiasharp4091 on YouTubeMaia's Patreon is cool! https://www.patreon.com/maiasharpBe sure to visit Maia's website, too: maiasharp.comAl is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter, Threads and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:15 Maia joins the show1:26 Why Maia chose Historian over Rickie Lee Jones' debut album7:43 Maia talks about the ways she keeps up with new music12:12 Maia recalls how she introduced herself to Lucy Dacus' music14:42 Maia explains how Dacus has influenced her own music18:33 Dacus is masterful at building up the intensity of her songs20:23 Hearing Dacus' vocals gave Maia a different perspective on her own25:15 Al grappled with understanding Dacus' music when he listened to Home Movies28:18 Maia surmises what might make Dacus so popular with so many people31:43 Maia discusses the elements of Historian that made a particularly big impression on her36:32 Different parts of “The Shell” made a big impact on Al and Maia40:04 Maia explains why the lyrics of “Pillar of Truth” are so powerful44:16 Maia likes the lower, darker tones of the album48:14 Has Maia completed the Lucy List?49:53 Maia asks Al which album he is obsessed with now51:13 Maia has also gone through obsessions with Bon Iver albums54:21 Maia discusses her soon-to-be released album, Reckless Thoughts, and upcoming tour59:58 Maia also has some production work in her near futureOutro is from “Kind” by Maia SharpSupport the show

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 learned from making the album, why it's special to him and what made it such an ambitious project for the time in which it was recorded. He also talks about his subsequent work with Talk Talk and Mark Hollis and the recent recordings by Held By Trees, which he has worked on.Al made reference to a few previous episodes that are related to this one. Be sure to check them out, if you haven't already!Ep 92 with Mary Beth Melchior on the Jesus Christ Superstar concept album (featuring Murray Head): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/92-mary-beth-melchior-discusses-jesus-christ-superstar/id1545282273?i=1000586877486Ep 113 with David Joseph on Mark Hollis' self-titled solo album: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/113-david-joseph-discusses-mark-hollis-self-titled/id1545282273?i=1000611196557Ep 79 with Tim Friese-Greene on My Bloody Valentine's Isn't Anything: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/79-tim-friese-greene-discusses-my-bloody-valentine/id1545282273?i=1000571013242As mentioned on this episode, Phill has a website where you can order his book, keep up with his ever-growing list of artists he's worked with and more. It's tapedemon.net.Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter, Threads and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:24 Phill joins the show1:43 Phill explains why he wrote “Are We Still Rolling?”3:48 Al was thrilled with Phill's album choice4:38 Phill found working on Nigel Lived to be inspirational6:24 The album's story allowed Murray Head to showcase his versatility8:16 Making Nigel Lived changed the way Phill worked on albums10:33 Phill talks about how they used mobile recording on certain tracks16:38 Phill got some great sounds with hidden mics20:55 Phill talks about using the mobile studio to record a church organ and choir24:17 Phill singles out a few of his favorite tracks from Nigel Lived28:19 Murray thought the timing of the album's release worked against it31:15 Having the physical album makes it easier to follow Nigel's story32:54 Nigel Lived sounds different from most rock albums of its era34:53 Was there a larger message in Nigel Lived?36:51 Phill summarizes what makes the album special to him37:56 Al finds “Junk” difficult to listen to41:05 One of the craziest things Phill has ever recorded was on “The Party”42:20 Phill explains how he got involved with Held By Trees45:51 Phill revisits the process of making Talk Talk's Laughing Stock49:12 Phill talks about a track from Laughing Stock that he couldn't listen to54:17 Phill and Al talk about the quietness of Mark Hollis55:18 Phill mentions an album he'll be working onOutro is from “Grow Dark” by Held By Trees from their upcoming EP, Eventide.Support the show

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 @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.0:17 Al explains why he is revisiting some past episodes on this episodeInsights into Artists Al Didn't Get3:58 Peter Case on Bob Dylan's self-titled album (Ep. 114)7:04 Rain Perry on Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska (Ep. 65)11:33 Sam Coomes on Velvet Underground's White Light/White Heat (Ep. 98)18:35 Anita Lee Elliott on Ace Frehley's self-titled album (Ep. 71)24:14 Michael Peter Olson on Van Halen's 1984 (Ep. 111)The Different Ways We Listen To Music28:48 Greg Saunier on Atrium Musicae de Madrid's Music of Ancient Greece (Ep. 103)38:07 Glen Phillips on Dirty Projectors, Lamp Lit Prose (Ep. 64)44:31 Kristin Hanggi on India.Arie, SongVersation: Medicine (Ep. 87)49:05 Kelley Deal on Julian Cope, Droolian (Ep. 100)Support the show

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 band and this album and how it changed the way that he sought out new music to listen to. Isaac also explains how he wound up opening the Jackpot Records store more than 25 years ago and which new releases we can expect from the label,.Follow Isaac and Jackpot Records on Twitter and Instagram at @jackpotrecords!Also be sure to visit the store's website at jackpotrecords.com.Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:09 Isaac joins the show1:52 Isaac talks about why he opened Jackpot Records3:32 Al remembers learning about Djangos5:38 Isaac explains why A Gathering of Promises is a special album for him12:17 Isaac talks about other small label discoveries he made, emboldened by his discovery of Bubble Puppy15:59 Isaac discusses Bubble Puppy's second iteration called Demian17:08 Bubble Puppy inspired Isaac to make a pilgrimage to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame18:03 There is a Bubble Puppy-Funkadelic connection19:44 How was “Hot Smoke and Sassafras” a top 20 hit??21:41 Bubble Puppy reminded Al of a lot of other bands24:30 Bubble Puppy apparently had a following in England26:13 Mike Mills is a fan of the album26:52 Al doesn't know if this is an album he'll go back to often28:19 Isaac talks about the importance of an album's artwork30:17 Isaac doesn't find it easy to single out favorite tracks33:33 Isaac reveals some of his other finds37:51 Isaac discusses the origins of the Jackpot Records label40:00 Isaac talks about how he determines what gets published on his label44:21 Isaac reports on Jackpot Records' upcoming releasesSupport the show

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 performed live. Scott also talks about the new No Ones and Minus 5 albums and the upcoming Baseball Project album, Grand Salami Time.Scott made a reference to the Neil Young Archives, and they're definitely worth checking out: https://neilyoungarchives.com/.Here are just some of the places you can find Scott on social media:@ScottMcMinus5 on Twitter@the_minus_5 on Instagram@BaseballProject on Twitter and  InstagramThe Minus 5 on FacebookAnd a couple of places to find Scott's music:https://scottthehoople.bandcamp.com/https://www.yeproc.com/artists/the-minus-5/Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:18 Scott joins the show1:28 It's hard to keep track of all of Scott's bands2:59 Scott has three releases coming out within a few weeks of each other4:59 Why Scott hasn't recorded any covers from Tonight's the Night6:58 Scott talks about Mike McCready's contributions to his first Neil Young covers album11:12 Al has never quite “gotten” Neil Young13:16 Scott thinks Al's Genesis fandom explains a lot about his ambivalence about Neil Young20:00 Scott says Tonight's the Night is Neil Young's most emotionally intense album22:19 Scott can listen to Tonight's the Night anytime25:44 Neil Young made a huge impression on Scott when he was a teen27:27 Scott talks about the career trajectory that led Neil Young to make Tonight's the Night31:45 Why are there two versions of the title track on the album?35:15 Scott talks about the inclusion of the tracks not recorded at SIRDiscussion of other tracks from the album:41:07 Tired Eyes46:34 Albuquerque48:51 Roll Another Number53:03 Neil Young's live album from The Roxy exemplifies the fun that he and his band had playing songs from Tonight's the Night55:11 Scott and Al note the variety of musical styles on Tonight's the Night57:31 Scott references a track with Joni Mitchell posted to Neil Young Archives58:49 Scott sees the album as ultimately about the importance of friends and music1:00:44 This episode could have been about Jenny Lewis instead1:03:26 Scott talks about his upcoming No Ones tour1:05:03 The new Baseball Project album was several years in the making1:09:12 Will there be a new Filthy Friends album? (Plus some Sleater-Kinney news)Outro is from “Hitchhiker” by The Minus 5.Support the show

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 experience of playing with Alphonso Johnson and Chester Thompson and her new songs and upcoming tour dates.There's a whole bunch of places where you can keep up with Nili!Instagram: @nilibroshYouTube: @nilibroshFacebook: NiliBroshMusicsoundcloud.com/nilibroshnilibrosh.comAl is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:07 Nili joins the show1:57 Nili talks about her Extreme fandom5:48 Nili doesn't really associate Steve Stevens with Billy Idol7:33 Nili explains why she wanted to discuss Flamenco A Go-Go8:09 Nili and Al talk about the album's eclecticism10:21 Does Flamenco A Go-Go sound like a turn-of-the-millenium album? 11:59 Nili and Al talk about the vibes they get from the album13:53 Nili recalls how she first heard about the album16:28 Nili discusses her first impressions of Flamenco A Go-Go17:53 Flamenco A Go-Go influenced Nili's own writing and playing20:16 How did Steve Stevens pull off blending so many different types of genres?23:03 Nili identifies the most magical parts of the album25:51 Al wonders if there is a live track on the album…27:58 …and if Steve Stevens might have contributed vocals29:06 Al makes his obligatory Genesis reference31:46 Al asks Nili about her experience of performing with Chester Thompson and Alphonso Johnson34:15 Nili talks about her two newly-released songs37:53 Nili discusses her upcoming live datesOutro is from “Lavender Mountains” by Nili Brosh.Support the show

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 playing the songs from the album live for the first time.Al has a previous guest to thank for his being aware of Brian's music, and ultimately, for Brian joining him for this episode. Joan Holiday, who was Al's guest on ep. 66, played “Rockaway” on her drive time show on WRSI The River.At 51:46, Al and Mary Beth's horse Fynn makes his first podcast appearance!Be sure to follow Brian on Twitter and Instagram at @briandunnemusic!Brian also has a website, https://www.briandunnemusic.net/……and a Bandcamp page: https://briandunne.bandcamp.com/.Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:15 Brian joins the show1:36 Brian explains why he chose to discuss Father of the Bride3:03 The album's frequent changes in styles and genres made an immediate impression on Brian5:47 Brian cites an example of great songwriting on the album9:30 Father of the Bride has been a polarizing album for Vampire Weekend fans11:23 Al wonders why he has such a hard time “getting” Vampire Weekend14:05 Brian places Vampire Weekend in the context of indie rock17:30 There is a purpose to all of the switching between genres21:56 Brian talks about growing up with classic rock24:11 Brian digs into his favorite songs on the album27:57 Al asks Brian for his interpretation of “Jerusalem, New York, Berlin”31:49 Brian understands that Father of the Bride is not for everybody33:04 Al talks about one of his favorite moments on the album34:50 Brian sees Modern Vampires of the City as a pivotal album37:07 Father of the Bride takes Brian back to 199440:45 Brian makes an analogy between Father of the Bride and Bruce Springsteen's The River46:46 Brain explains what he was conveying with the song “Rockaway”51:58 Brian talks about playing the songs from Loser On The Ropes liveOutro is from “Rockaway” by Brian Dunne.Support the show

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 Tyvek and why they have been an inspiration to him. Joe also talks about Protomartyr's upcoming sixth album, Formal Growth in the Desert, and answers some questions about the tour for the album.Al referred to a video that Joe did for Amoeba Music's What's In My Bag series. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIYyJD24Ppg&t=4sJoe and Al talked extensively about Protomartyr's video for “Elimination Dances.” You should definitely check it out. It's really cool. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Uf98p7DsdkJoe talked about the difficulties that Protomartyr had in scheduling an album release event date in Detroit. Update: They scheduled it, and it happened on May 27…before the Tigers-White Sox game at Comerica Park!Be sure to follow Protomartyr on Twitter and Instagram: @protomartyrbandThey also have a very nice website, http://protomartyrband.com/, and a Bandcamp page: https://protomartyr.bandcamp.com/.Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:13 Joe joins the show2:05 Joe explains how Tyvek inspired him and helped him get Protomartyr started6:31 Kevin Boyer influenced Joe's musical tastes and lyric writing10:34 Joe explains why he picked Fast Metabolism for this episode11:48 Tyvek received some flak over the cover for their first album16:39 Joe talks about the specifics of why he loves listening to Fast Metabolism17:55 Joe discusses his favorite tracks from the album21:43 What makes “Honda” a blueprint for other punk songs?25:39 Al talks about some lyrics he enjoyed28:46 Joe talks about the art of writing about a specific place31:00 Al sees “Air Conditioner” as being different from the other songs on the compilation33:20 It's important to Joe to remind people to listen to overlooked bands like Tyvek34:39 Joe shares some updates on Tyvek35:48 Making artwork is a reason why Joe wanted to be in a band37:10 Joe talks about the development of the concept for Protomartyr's “Elimination Dances” video41:45 We have another new Protomartyr video to look forward to 42:56 Joe explains why Protomartyr recorded Formal Growth in the Desert in West Texas44:27 Joe answers Al's questions about Protomartyr's upcoming tourOutro is from “Elimination Dances” by Protomartyr.Support the show

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 she wound up teaching music in the L.A. public schools. She also discusses the writing and recording process for her upcoming solo album, Sleepwalker, and the band she has assembled for her tour.Al referenced an interview that Louise and Nina Gordon did for the Women in Rock Oral History Project. You can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju8QAzTGC-8.Al's memory of Kate Bush's appearance on Saturday Night Live was inaccurate, even though he said he was “99 percent sure” he remembered it correctly. She performed “The Man With the Child In His Eyes” and “Them Heavy People,” and not “Wuthering Heights” and “Babooshka,” as he had remembered. Also, the broadcast was in 1978, and not in 1979 or 1980.Follow Louise on social media! Instagram and Tiktok: @louiselightnerpostYouTube: @louisepostFacebook: louisepostmusicianYou can find Louise's music, tour information, VIP package information and merch on louisepost.com.Keep up with Veruca Salt, too!Twitter: @verucasaltInstagram: @verucasaltbandAl is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:16 Louise joins the show1:26 Louise talks about one of the first albums she ever listened to5:25 Louise explains why she chose Hounds of Love for this episode10:28 It took time for Louise to get into Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell and Rickie Lee Jones15:04 Louise talks about her experience with listening to the album's two suites18:43 Louise gives her interpretation of the album's meaning23:36 How important are lyrics to Louise when she listens to music?26:42 Louise taught music in the L.A. public schools31:03 Al and Louise dig into the lyrics for “Cloudbusting”37:57 Louise identifies her favorite parts of the album41:33 Louise singles out “Hello Earth” as an important song44:58 Al was impressed by Kate Bush's videos47:24 Louise relates to the themes and images evoked on Hounds of Love50:43 Louise talks about how she got started as a songwriter55:04 Louise explains her songwriting and arranging process for some of her new songs1:01:37 Louise provides an update on Veruca Salt1:03:51 Louise talks about the band she has assembled for her solo album and tour1:05:38 It took Al a while to realize he was reading Louise's posts on InstagramOutro is from “Guilty” by Louise Post.Support the show

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.Keep up with Mike's podcast, blog and publications at his site: mike-robbins.com.You can also get Mike's podcast, We're All In This Together, here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/were-all-in-this-together/id1134737783.Be sure to follow Mike on Twitter and Instagram! @mikedrobbinsAl is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter and participate in weekly chats about this podcast's featured albums! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:16 Mike joins the show3:31 Mike talks about what initially appealed to him about A Tribe Called Quest9:07 Mike alludes to Q-Tip's affinity for jazz11:06 Mike talks about the rap community in Oakland12:36 No one listened to rap when Mike went to Stanford15:21 Not all rap from the ‘90s holds up for Mike19:02 Mike distinguishes between the different styles of Q-Tip and Phife Dawg20:58 Rapping is hard23:35 Mike talks about the Native Tongues collective26:00 Hip-hop and basketball were important to Mike growing up, and they were connected26:43 Al likes how the first two tracks set up the album29:41 Al and Mike review some of the sports references made on the album34:21 Mike discusses the different approaches ATCQ took on various tracks37:31 Mike finds “The Infamous Date Rape” both problematic and nuanced44:22 Mike thinks The Low End Theory holds up really well47:17 Al had heard Q-Tip on a guest appearance he made on another band's album48:29 Mike enjoys artists with eclectic musical backgrounds50:45 Al asks Mike to recommend his next ATCQ album to listen to53:08 Mike's daughters help keep him current on music54:05 Mike talks about his current and upcoming workSupport the show

Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Peter Case (The Nerves, The Plimsouls, solo) drops by YMAAA to give Al a long-overdue introduction to Bob Dylan's self-titled debut album. Peter talks about how he got introduced to Dylan's music during his childhood, his life as a busker in San Francisco prior to his time with The Nerves and what is particularly special about Dylan's first album. He also talks about his new album, Doctor Moan, and his recent experiences with playing live shows.Keep up with Peter! @ThePeterCase on Twitter, @petercase111 on InstagramPeter's music, tour info, blog and more are on his site, petercase.com. Be sure to pay it a visit!Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter is free to all subscribers! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:03 Peter joins the show2:23 Peter played songs from Bob Dylan's debut album when he was a busker3:50 Peter talks about his introduction to Dylan's music5:10 Peter explains what makes the debut album different from other Dylan albums8:17 “You're No Good” exemplifies several things that Peter loves about the album13:10 Peter notes a similarity between Dylan and early Elvis Presley15:02 Could a young Dylan sing about death and relationships with authenticity?22:43 “Talkin' New York” was not as much about Dylan's experience as Al thought25:51 Peter likes the symphonic quality of “In My Time of Dyin'”27:55 Peter talks about The Animals' covers of Dylan's songs30:17 Peter breaks down the arrangement of “Man of Constant Sorrow”33:00 Al asks Peter what it was like to hear early Dylan when it was new and fresh38:25 Peter talks about the mystery of how people decide to let unfamiliar music into their lives40:44 Al decided to listen to “Murder Most Foul”44:53 Peter reveals which Dylan album he listens to the most47:07 Dylan is an inspiration for Peter51:00 “Baby, Let Me Follow You Down” is another one of Peter's favorite tracks from the album54:23 Peter talks about the community that helped shape Dylan's music57:28 Peter cites the song that got his kids into Dylan59:42 Peter recounts his journey over the years as a Dylan fan1:03:54 Peter talks about his new album and just-completed tourOutro is from “Have You Ever Been In Trouble?” by Peter CaseSupport the show

Multi-instrumentalist and composer David Joseph of Held By Trees has played with several of the musicians who performed on the final two Talk Talk albums, so there is no one better to introduce Al to Mark Hollis' solo album, which featured many of the same people. In addition to talking about what makes Mark Hollis a special album, David discusses how he became a fan of Talk Talk and how the band has inspired his own work. He also chats with Al about his latest recordings with Held By Trees, which were made at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios.Al mentioned and recommended a video of Talk Talk performing at the 1986 Montreux Jazz Festival. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTOYdH6tdSQAl also noted some previous interviews David did that go into more detail about how Held By Trees came about. This one from Classic Pop is pretty comprehensive: https://www.classicpopmag.com/2022/07/held-by-trees-interview/.Follow David and Held by Trees! @heldbytrees on both Twitter and InstagramAnd, of course, stream/buy David's music on Bandcamp: https://heldbytrees.bandcamp.com/You can pre-order Held By Trees' upcoming twin EPs here: https://www.innersleeve.com/collections/held-by-treesAl is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter is free to all subscribers! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.0:00 A couple of announcements2:39 David joins the show3:23 Why the Mark Hollis album was not a Talk Talk album4:59 Al makes note of the connection between Talk Talk and Held By Trees5:34 A Chris Martin interview led David to explore the later period of Talk Talk/Mark Hollis9:09 Al talks about how he got into Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock11:10 David explains what distinguishes Mark Hollis from Talk Talk albums16:51 David and Al talk about Mark's approach to vocals and lyrics on this album20:40 David feels that Mark Hollis asks something different of him as a listener24:43 The songs on Mark Hollis don't have many hooks29:14 Al finds a couple of examples of hooks on Mark Hollis31:31 David talks about the difficulty Mark had in making this album34:37 David explains how Mark was able to achieve the album's pure sound36:24 Al and David comment on the album's sequencing40:02 David notes that Mark had co-writers on nearly all of the tracks44:01 David gives Lee Harris and Paul Webb their due52:06 David offers suggestions for how to get the most out of listening to Mark Hollis55:38 David discusses how Held By Trees' Solace was recorded1:05:55 David appreciates the reception that Solace has received1:07:47 David talks about Held By Trees' upcoming twin EPs1:09:44 David discusses the experience of meeting Peter GabrielOutro is from “In The Trees” (live) by Held By Trees.Support the show

Music and sports writer Jake Uitti visits YMAAA to introduce Al to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' The Heist. Jake talks about why he chose the album for this episode, how it became a breakthrough album and what he loves about it. He also discusses his recent and upcoming projects, including a book he co-authored with former NBA veteran Earl Cureton.On this episode, Jake talked about his recent cover story for American Songwriter on Macklemore and his new solo album, Ben. Be sure to check it out; you can read it here: https://americansongwriter.com/macklemore-finding-his-purpose/Jake also mentioned Macklemore's video for “Maniac,” which features Eva Walker and Narduwar. Great song, great video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkrKSgwtVk0Jake's on Twitter! Follow him at @jakeuitti.Find Jake's writing at jakeuitti.comAl is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter is free to all subscribers! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:04 Jake joins the show2:27 Jake is married to a previous guest of YMAAA3:53 Jake talks about his New Jersey roots6:15 Jake explains why he chose to discuss The Heist10:20 Jake and Al appreciate how well The Heist was crafted13:14 Jake talks about how The Heist was well positioned22:34 Making the album Seattle-centric was part of the positioning24:07 Jake summarizes his experience of listening to The Heist28:41 Jake shares his interpretation of “Jimmy Iovine”33:36 Jake's appreciation for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' songcraft has grown over time36:43 Macklemore's lyrics can be corny41:21 Jake and Al take a different approach to hearing lyrics42:57 Al cites an example of great sequencing on the album46:11 The Heist can be viewed as a gateway to learning more about the Seattle music scene47:18 Jake and Al both like “Cowboy Boots” as an album closer51:30 How well does Jake know Macklemore?53:17 Jake talks about Macklemore's new solo album56:35 Jake discusses his upcoming book with Earl CuretonSupport the show

Elizabeth Nelson of The Paranoid Style turns the tables on Al for this episode, serving as host and asking Al about why he loves Genesis and their 1983 self-titled album (also known as the “Shapes” album). Al talks about how he became a Genesis superfan, what his first impressions were of the “Shapes” album and  how those impressions have changed over the decades.You can find Elizabeth and her must-follow Twitter account at @paranoiacs. You can also follow her on Instagram at @paranoid_style (also a must-follow account).Check out the music of The Paranoid Style! https://theparanoidstyle.bandcamp.com/Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter is free to all subscribers! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:16 Elizabeth takes over!2:14 Al joins the show2:39 Al revisits how this episode came about4:11 Al explains how he got into Genesis as a teenager7:39 Al walks Elizabeth through the history of Genesis11:53 Al identifies a Genesis album that is the best gateway to their proggy side15:35 Al talks about his initial experience with listening to the “Shapes” album19:35 Elizabeth shares Al's opinion of “That's All”20:53 Al compares the versions of Genesis with three, four and five membersDiscussion of specific tracks24:06 Mama29:00 Elizabeth asks Al what he thinks about the drum sounds on the album32:44 Taking It All Too Hard34:49 It's Gonna Get Better38:48 That's All39:20 Just A Job To Do42:37 Illegal Alien45:24 Silver Rainbow47:38 Al recommends three songs from the album and three songs from the entire catalog to listen to as an introduction to eachOutro is from “The Thrill Is Back” by The Paranoid Style.Support the show

Dr. Neal Barnard is a clinical researcher who is the founding president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and he is also a multi-instrumentalist who founded the band CarbonWorks. Neal joins Al on this episode to discuss Cream's third album, Wheels of Fire, and along the way, he talks about Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, the good and the bad of Cream's collaboration and CarbonWorks' upcoming album, Vanishing Act.You can find Neal on Twitter and Instagram! @DrNealBarnardThere are also accounts for CarbonWorks on both platforms: @carbonworksband on Twitter, @carbonworksmusic on Instagram.Neil also mentioned the CarbonWorks YouTube channel, where you can find their videos, including some for their new songs: https://www.youtube.com/@carbonworks1770Also be sure to visit CarbonWorks' website: www.carbonworksmusic.comAl is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter is free to all subscribers! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:22 Neal joins the show2:18 Neal shares his thoughts on Jimi Hendrix's discography6:44 Neal explains why he wanted to discuss Wheels of Fire11:54 Neal expands on some of his thoughts about The Beatles14:23 Did Al misinterpret “Politician”?16:27 Neal and Al continue a discussion of lyrics with “Pressed Rat and Warthog”19:05 Cream took their time making this album21:28 The various elements of Cream's music work well together26:17 Neal talks about how he related to Cream's music when he first listened to them28:24 Neal and Al discuss their efforts to separate the artists from the art that Cream made30:24 Neal finds a flaw in Eric Clapton's “Crossroads” solo32:56 Neal offers his perspective on criticisms of Clapton's playing36:16 Al's first impression of “Traintime” didn't last long37:34 Is a 16-minute drum solo too much drum solo?40:44 Neal delves into Cream's dysfunctions43:21 Can Neal and Al separate Clapton's actions from his music?47:15 Neal discusses the origins of his CarbonWorks project50:17 Neal talks about how CarbonWorks' music comes together51:31 Neal's experience as an exchange student in Belgium changed how he listened to music53:19 Neal brings up a couple of songs on Vanishing Act that exemplify his approach to musicOutro is from “Tout Ira Bien” by CarbonWorks.Support the show

Chris Slusarenko of the Portland-based band Eyelids joins Al to talk about The Fall's 1983 album, Perverted by Language, and their “Kicker Conspiracy” single, which was released in the same year. Chris explains how he wound up getting up obsessed with The Fall, why he chose to focus on these particular records for this episode and how The Fall has influenced his own creative process. He also talks about Eyelids' recently-released fourth album, A Colossal Waste of Light, and the experience of being produced by and touring with Peter Buck.Chris made repeated reference to The Annotated Fall, which lists and, yes, annotates the lyrics to The Fall's songs. If you're new to The Fall like Al is (or probably even if you're not), it's an indispensable resource. http://annotatedfall.doomby.com/pages/the-annotated-lyrics/Where's the cursor?? Where's the eraser?? Here's where to find Eyelids on your computer…Be sure to follow Eyelids on Twitter and Instagram! @musicofeyelidsTo follow/visit Eyelids on Bandcamp, go here: https://musicofeyelids.bandcamp.com/You can get Eyelids merch, tour info and much more at https://musicofeyelids.com/.Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter is free to all subscribers! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:19 Chris joins the show1:26 Chris talks about the importance of music in his family3:21 Chris explains the origins of the title of Eyelids' new album6:23 Chris discusses how he got obsessed with The Fall9:29 Chris walks through the various stages of The Fall's discography12:29 “Eat Y'self Fitter” exemplifies many of the things Chris loves about Perverted by Language18:38 There's a lot one can read about The Fall20:17 Why was Mark E. Smith singing about computers in 1983?22:22 The Fall isn't for everybody23:17 Chris addresses the similarities between The Fall and Pavement24:43 Al talks about his initial impressions of Perverted by Language26:55 Chris sees Perverted by Language as a transitional album28:51 Chris and Al disagree as to how cohesive the album is31:36 Chris talks about The Fall's frequent changes in personnel34:05 Chris is impressed by the confidence of The Fall on Perverted by Language37:48 Chris has trouble picking a favorite track40:49 Al and Chris admire Steve Hanley's bass playing43:58 Chris talks about the “Kicker Conspiracy/Wings” single48:24 Chris doesn't think The Fall sold out after Perverted by Language49:56 Chris suggests some other albums by The Fall for Al to explore52:56 Chris appreciates Mark E. Smith's lyrics54:14 Chris clarifies a misheard lyric for Al57:03 Eyelids took a different approach to songwriting for A Colossal Waste of Light1:00:55 Chris talks about Peter Buck's involvement on A Colossal Waste of Light1:05:41 Chris discusses Eyelids' current tourOutro is from “That's Not Real At All (B. Midweek Pg. 207)” by Eyelids.Support the show

This year, for the first time, Al took part in #MWE — aka Music Writer's Exercise — listening to and writing about a new album every day throughout the month of February. Al discusses 10 of his favorite albums out of the total of 28, explaining why he chose them for the project and what he liked about them.Al mentioned the Sara Lund interview on the Tour Stories podcast, where she discussed Alice Coltrane's Journey in Satchidananda. You can listen to that episode here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-check-in-with-sara-lund-unwound/id1482193534?i=1000575099615.Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter is free to all subscribers! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.0:48 A #MWE primer2:06 How Al picked his 28 albumsHighlight albums4:06 Television, Marquee Moon6:54 Tacocat, Lost Time9:17 Tool, Lateralus11:42 Alice Coltrane, Journey in Satchidananda13:19  Horsegirl, Versions of Modern Performance15:31 Obey Robots, One In A Thousand18:38 Quasi, Breaking the Balls of History20:10 Caroline Polachek, Desire, I Want to Turn Into You23:21 The Black Tones, Cobain & Cornbread25:02 Bruce Springsteen, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.28:06 Al sums up his #MWE experienceSupport the show

TV writer, editor and musician Allie Goertz introduces Al to an album that's been central to her life for the past year — The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails. Allie talks about how she first heard the album, why it's been important to her and how she covered several of the tracks on her upcoming album, NIN, Peeled Back. She also talks about the Nerf Herder song that bears her name.Correction: Al incorrectly stated that "Closer" was the album's first single. “March of the Pigs” was actually the lead single, though “Closer” was the first track Al had heard on the radio.It's ridiculously easy to find and follow Allie online (and you should)!Twitter, Instagram and YouTube: @alliegoertzBandcamp: https://alliegoertz.bandcamp.com/Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter is free to all subscribers! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:10 Allie joins the show1:35 Allie achieves a first for You, Me and An Album2:03 Allie talks about why The Downward Spiral is an important album for her4:56 Has Allie gotten obsessive about other bands?9:30 How does The Downward Spiral make Allie feel?12:08 Al was not prepared for the experience of listening to The Downward Spiral15:45 Al was more familiar with the NIN version of “Hurt” than he realized17:16 “Closer” has always given Al the creeps20:50 Al explains what it is about NIN that makes listening difficult27:24 Allie sees humor in NIN's music30:04 The Downward Spiral reminds Al of another album33:02 Allie talks about her initial experiences with listening to NIN35:32 There was only one track on The Downward Spiral that was hard for Allie to hear at firstDiscussion of other tracks:36:50 March of the Pigs40:27 Hurt (again)43:07 Does Allie have albums that she appreciates but can't listen to?44:13 Piggy/Heresy47:47 Reptile51:27 Ruiner53:13 Big Man with a Gun55:20 Allie talks about her upcoming NIN covers album1:00:01 Allie talks about the Nerf Herder songOutro is from “Nerf Herder Girl” by Allie GoertzSupport the show

Elizabeth Nelson does it all…singer/songwriter for The Paranoid Style, journalist, copywriter, educational consultant…and she took some time out to join Al for this episode of YMAAA. Elizabeth discusses Pavement's debut album, Slanted and Enchanted, and details what she loves about the record and all of the various influences that went into it. She also talks about the upcoming Paranoid Style album, the story behind a Paranoid Style video and her @paranoiacs Twitter account.The video for The Paranoid Style's "The Thrill Is Back!" is a whole lotta fun. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgyfywASWoEElizabeth wrote a great piece for the New York Times Magazine on some recent TV series reboots. It's just one click away…https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/08/magazine/night-court-velma-that-90s-show-reboots.htmlAs noted above, Elizabeth is on Twitter at @paranoiacs, and she is a must-follow for any music fan. You can also follow her on Instagram at @paranoid_style.Treat yourself to the music of The Paranoid Style! https://theparanoidstyle.bandcamp.com/To read the bio/essay on The Paranoid Style's namesake, head on over to the Bar None Records website. http://www.bar-none.com/the-paranoid-styleAl is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter is free to all subscribers! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:13 Elizabeth joins the show1:34 Elizabeth provides a timetable for the new Paranoid Style album2:40 Al asks Elizabeth about her Twitter ambivalence6:29 Al explains why he is especially embarrassed about his lack of Pavement knowledge9:13 Al and Elizabeth talk about their experiences with watching Pavement live11:15 Elizabeth identifies a band she became a fan of after seeing them in concert14:52 Elizabeth explains why she chose Slanted and Enchanted for this episode20:10 Al is exploring Stephen Malkmus backwards21:26 Elizabeth talks about Pavement's influences23:22 Elizabeth pieces together the details of how she first heard Slanted and Enchanted25:57 Elizabeth details what she has liked about Pavement from the first time she listened to them27:17 Is Pavement a slacker band?28:59 Al finds Pavement confusing30:53 Elizabeth enjoys Pavement's variety of influencesDiscussion of specific tracks33:51 Summer Babe39:35 In the Mouth a Desert46:19 Fame Throwa48:30 Our Singer50:42 Jackals, False Grails: The Lonesome Era51:19 Two States53:35 Conduit for Sale!1:02:00 Zürich Is Stained1:03:47 Here1:08:48 Al feels like he didn't pay sufficient attention to the lyrics1:11:22 Elizabeth talks about the making of the video for “The Thrill is Back!”1:16:24 Elizabeth alerts us to her current projects1:17:18 Elizabeth suggests a topic for a future episodeOutro is from “The WoThis Is An ExperimentThis Is An Experiment is where conversation and music meet, out of Los Angeles, CA....Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

Greg Saunier, drummer and founding member of Deerhoof, joins You, Me and An Album for much more than just a discussion of a favorite album. He does talk about one of his favorite albums — Ancient Music of Greece by Atrium Musicae de Madrid — but he also considers what this album can teach us about contemporary music, classical music and Western culture in general. Greg also talks about Deerhoof's soon-to-be-released album, Miracle-Level, and the band's 2021 cover of Sleater-Kinney's “Don't Talk Like.”Follow Greg and Deerhoof on Twitter and Instagram at @deerhoof!You can get information on Miracle-Level and Deerhoof tour dates at https://deerhoof.website/ or https://deerhoof.bandcamp.com/.Also, Greg mentioned Deerhoof's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GregFromDeerhoof.Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter is free to all subscribers! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:06 Greg joins the show1:44 Greg and Al talk about their research on the album's backstory3:18 Greg recounts how he first learned about the album4:18 Greg explains what the premise of Music of Ancient Greece is6:27 Greg identifies modern Western musical conventions that can be linked to ancient Greece13:55 Greg explains why he wanted to explore music from such a distant time21:46 Why does some of the album sound modern?24:30 Greg outlines several of the ways the musicians chose to interpret an incomplete score31:50 Greg thinks the musicians made a conscious decision to make the music ugly38:00 Are recent technology trends in music democratizing?49:19 Do the features of Music of Ancient Greece work their way into Deerhoof's music?51:50 Al sees a connection between Music of Ancient Greece and a Deerhoof cover of a Sleater-Kinney song56:40 Greg argues that today's music technology codifies elite values1:00:19 Greg finds Music of Ancient Greece's mix of scholarship and amateurism charming1:05:57 Deerhoof made a point of bringing their upcoming tour to Western Massachusetts1:08:43 Greg talks about Miracle-Level being Deerhoof's first album with all Japanese lyrics1:12:23 Greg discusses the fragmentary nature of Deerhoof's songwriting1:17:44 Greg argues that artists don't know what their art meansThis Is An ExperimentThis Is An Experiment is where conversation and music meet, out of Los Angeles, CA....Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

Guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Eva Walker of The Black Tones — who is also a DJ for Seattle's KEXP — joins Al to talk about Funkadelic's 1971 album, Maggot Brain. Eva delves into how she first discovered Maggot Brain, the elements of the album that make it a great listen and other albums she also considered discussing on this episode. She also talks about the status of The Black Tones' second album and the band's video game, They Want Us Dead!Be sure to follow Eva and The Black Tones!Twitter: @The_Black_TonesInstagram: @theblacktonesAnd visit The Black Tones' website!https://theblacktones.bandcamp.com/Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter is free to all subscribers! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.0:59 Eva joins the show1:43 Eva had a difficult time choosing an album to discuss3:49 Eva first listened to Maggot Brain because of the album artwork6:28 Al never understood why Parliament-Funkadlelic was hyphenated7:44 Eva talks about listening to her mother's records growing up10:12 Seattle didn't always embrace Jimi Hendrix13:18 Maggot Brain completely defied Al's expectations18:29 Is there funk on Maggot Brain?Observations about specific tracks20:18 Hit It And Quit It24:31 Wars of Armageddon (and a discussion of upbeat sad songs)31:12 Maggot Brain33:03 Can You Get To That (and a discussion of misheard lyrics)36:37 You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks41:45 The link between You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks and The Black Tones' Blue Matrimony44:39 Super Stupid47:29 Back In Our Minds50:42 Eva talks about her musical influences53:39 Eva discusses The Black Tones' current plans56:24 One of the early reviews of Cobain and Cornbread had an issue with song structure57:17 Eva explains the lyrics to “Plaid Pants” and “Welcome Mr. Pink”1:01:32 Eva talks about The Black Tones' video gameOutro is from “Welcome Mr. Pink” by The Black TonesSupport the show

Rat — the guitarist for Ned's Atomic Dustbin and Obey Robots — makes a return visit to YMAAA, and with a connection to his first visit. On Ep 29, he introduced Al to Public Service Broadcasting's The Race for Space. Recently, Rat saw PSB live, and he was impressed by the support band, Pale Blue Eyes. He immediately went out and bought PBE's debut album, Souvenirs, and now he is here to let us know why we should know this album, too. In addition to discussing Souvenirs, Rat talks about Obey Robots' soon-to-be-released debut album, One In A Thousand, and upcoming plans for Ned's Atomic Dustbin.Rat and Al talked about Obey Robots' video for “Let It Snow,” and if you haven't seen it yet, you should! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb734Q9HuK4Be sure to follow Rat for all Ned's and Obey Robots developments...Twitter: @Rat_NedFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rat.ned/And check out his weekly playlist, as discussed on this episode: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/ratned?si=b9000f6ea2944018And while you're at it, keep up with Rat's OR bandmate, Laura Kidd, too!Twitter and Instagram: @penfriendrocksFacebook: search for Laura Kidd or PenfriendWebsite: https://penfriend.rocks/Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter is now free to all subscribers! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's new Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:07 Rat joins the show1:45 Rat talks about how he first learned about Pale Blue Eyes4:34 Rat explains what makes Pale Blue Eyes a great live act7:52 Rat encourages us to support the support bands9:44 Souvenirs' sequencing adds to the listening experience for RatObservations about specific tracks12:41 Chelsea16:53 Honeybear20:59 Little Gem24:29 Champagne (and a discussion of ‘80s music)30:36 TV Flicker31:52 Globe33:04 Dr Pong35:29 Neither Rat nor Al bothered much with listening to the lyrics37:19 Sing It Like We Used To38:52 Under Northern Sky41:21 Rat and Al talk about the new Obey Robots album and videos45:25 What's next for Obey Robots?47:25 What's coming up for Ned's Atomic Dustbin?50:44 Rat talks about his new weekly playlistsSupport the show

YMAAA winds up its first 100 episodes with a great last splash! Kelley Deal of The Breeders and R. Ring joins Al to discuss Julian Cope's 1990 lo-fi album, Droolian. Kelley talks about the unusual circumstance in which she first listened to Droolian, the narratives she has created around the album and what she loves about it. She also talks about her involvement with The Amps' Pacer album and what a busy 2023 has in store for her and The Breeders.R. Ring's brand-new album, War Poems, We Rested, is out, and it's great! https://rring.bandcamp.com/album/war-poems-we-restedKelley had mentioned a cover of a Guided By Voices song, “Scalding Creek,” that she recorded with Buffalo Killers. It's worth your time to check it out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vZAOwdXhYcAl made a couple of error in his discussion with Kelley:He said Kelley was listed on the Pacer Wikipedia page, but what he was thinking of was her inclusion on The Amps' Wikipedia page.He mentioned a piano melody on R.E.M.'s “Why Not Smile,” but it's actually played on a marimba (he thinks).Be sure to follow Kelley on Twitter and Instagram! @kelleydeal……and check out her online store: store.kelleydeal.comAl is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter is now free to all subscribers! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's new Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:10 Kelley joins the show1:51 Al singles out a great Kelley Deal lyric4:06 Kelley talks about her involvement with The Amps' Pacer album7:28 Al's previous exposure to Julian Cope was almost exclusively through The Teardrop Explodes8:03 Kelley was first exposed to Droolian in an unusual way14:13 Kelley and Al consider how the nature of fandom has changed15:57 Kelley talks about her deep dive into Cope's catalog17:32 Kelley compares Droolian with its predecessor, Skellington20:30 Kelley also listened to some of Cope's more polished albums21:28 Droolian was love at first listen for KelleyDiscussion of specific tracks23:49 Look After Your Leathers28:30 Commin Down31:00 Yeah Yeah Yeah32:15 Jellypop Perky Jean/Louis 14th34:34 …Atonement of Wasp36:00 Gentleman Dude37:45 Kelly41:12 Kelley wants to borrow a harmony from a Teardrop Explodes song42:33 Church of England 1991/Sqwubbsy46:46 Kelley explains why her favorite Droolian lyrics are her favorites50:16 Al wants to try listening to an album the way Kelley first listened to Droolian51:02 Kelley talks about some of her other CD discoveries53:13 Kelley discusses R. Ring's origins57:18 Kelley previews her 2023 plans with R. Ring, The Breeders and Protomartyr1:00:09 Is Kelley a competitive knitter?Outro is from "Def Sup" by R. Ring.

Singer/songwriter/poet Caleb Nichols (Port O'Brien, Soft People) gets Al acquainted with Blur's 1997 self-titled album, and they also discuss the album's significance in Blur's discography as well as to them personally. Caleb talks about how Blur has influenced their own music and the important role that The Beatles have played in their life. Caleb also delves into their Beatles-inspired solo debut album, Ramon, and a couple of current projects.Be sure to follow Caleb on Twitter and Instagram at @seanickels!Caleb is also on TikTok: @theecalebnicholsAl is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.The show also has an account on Mastodon: @youmealbum@mas.to.You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter is now free to all subscribers! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's new Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:02 Caleb joins the show1:28 Caleb recalls when they first got into The Beatles3:15 Caleb talks about other artists they listened to growing up7:22 The Blur album was a launchpad into indie rock for Caleb9:36 Caleb and Al talk about the Blur-Oasis rivalry15:16 Caleb explains why they chose to discuss Blur on this episode17:10 Caleb zeroes in on Graham Coxon's contributions to the album23:55 Al was surprised by his initial reaction to the album24:51 Caleb and Al talk about the benefits of listening to an album multiple times30:02 Caleb likes the blending of random noises with pop elements34:53 Caleb identifies their favorite parts of the album37:42 Caleb appreciates how Blur put themselves into a conversation with David Bowie38:45 How is Blur a dangerous album?44:41 Al talks about his favorite parts of the album47:20 Caleb notes Blur's use of older synth sounds50:16 Something in “Essex Dogs/Interlude” shocked Al54:41 Caleb mentions an athletic feat from Graham Coxon that they witnessed56:02 Caleb comments on a few more tracks58:44 Some confusion over Supertramp59:58 Caleb talks about their upcoming album and book of poemsOutro is from “Run Rabbit Run” by Caleb Nichols.

Portland-based multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer Sam Coomes (Quasi, Jon Spencer and the HITmakers, Heatmiser, The Donner Party) takes a break from a busy 2023 to get Al up to speed on the Velvet Underground. Specifically, he introduces our host to VU's second album, White Light/White Heat. Sam goes in depth on the album's 17-minute closer, “Sister Ray,” and also talks about the tracks that were his favorites when he first starting listening to the album. He also talks about Quasi's soon-to-be-released (Feb. 10) album, Breaking the Balls of History, and their upcoming tour.On this episode, Al made reference to an appearance Sam made on Joe Wong's podcast, The Trap Set. You can listen to that episode here: http://www.thetrapset.net/290-sam-coomes-quasi/.Sam mentioned that Quasi would be releasing a third single from Breaking the Balls of History shortly after the recording of this episode. In fact, that single — “Nowheresville” — is out now, and there's a great video for it, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODVN6LoNL5g&list=RDODVN6LoNL5g&start_radio=1Be sure to follow Sam on Instagram! @theecoomesQuasi are worth a follow, too! @thee.quasi on Instagram and @TheeQuasi on TwitterFor the time being, Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.The show also has an account on Mastodon: @youmealbum@mas.to.You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter is now free to all subscribers! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's new Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:21 Sam joins the show2:09 The Velvet Underground's first album was Sam's introduction to the band4:29 Sam talks about the group that inspired him to play in a band8:03 Sam and Al wax nostalgic about record stores9:10 Sam explains why he chose White Light/White Heat10:17 Is “Sister Ray” prog?13:27 Sam hears “Sister Ray” as a discussion16:29 “Sister Ray” was the last song on the album that Sam got into18:19 The Velvet Underground add unconventional elements to conventional rock songs21:23 Sam identifies the elements of White Light/White Heat that made him love the album initially26:33 Al had trouble with some of the more grisly lyrics27:23 Sam used to focus more on the music than the lyrics in “The Gift”29:16 Sam talks about the paradox of Lou Reed's lyrics31:59 The Velvet Underground got tighter as a band on White Light/White Heat33:47 Al asks Sam if he models his own sounds on those of Velvet Underground35:48 Al asks Sam about his hypothetical prog rock podcast43:08 Sam talks about the soon-to-be-released Quasi album46:33 Sam discusses his near-term touring plansOutro is from "Doomscrollers" by Quasi.

Music journalist and sportswriter Natalie Weiner kicks off the 2023 episodes of YMAAA on a jazzy note, as she introduces Al to the 1962 album, Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley. Natalie talks about how she got into jazz when she was in high school, why she selected this album for this episode and what she loves about both Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley. She also delves into what's been different about music in the 2020s and the projects she will be working on in the coming year.Natalie mentioned an essay by Nicholas Payton about why jazz “died” in 1959. You can read it here: https://nicholaspayton.com/on-why-jazz-isnt-cool-anymore/Be sure to follow Natalie on TwItter (@natalieweiner) and Instagram (@natalieweinerwrites)......and check out her website: natalieweiner.com!For the time being, Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.The show also has an account on Mastodon: @youmealbum@mas.to.You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter is now free to all subscribers! https://youmealbum.substack.com/If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out the show's new Patreon site, https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and keep this show going.1:20 Natalie joins the show1:57 Playing bass was Natalie's gateway to getting deeper into music5:24 Natalie's jazz band teacher was instrumental to expanding her jazz knowledge9:06 Natalie talks about the first piece of music writing she got paid to do11:02 Learning to play “So What” was a turning point for Natalie12:37 Natalie explains why she chose this album for this episode15:49 Al found listening to the album relaxing17:16 Al looks to Natalie to help him hear Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley in a different context21:51 Al really enjoyed Nancy Wilson's vocals22:40 Natalie highlights some of the aspects that make the album special26:51 Natalie talks about what she loves about Cannonball Adderley's style of playing28:49 Natalie appreciates the relative simplicity of the sound on this album30:29 Natalie and Al talk about the album's dynamics32:30 Natalie gets into the particulars of Nancy Wilson's performance34:35 Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley came out in the aftermath of what many consider to be jazz's peak37:31 Nalalie credits the producers with the album's high-quality sound39:33 Al asks Natalie about the sequencing on the different versions of the album40:30 The song arrangements are part of the album's appeal for Natalie46:53 Natalie recommends the album as an introduction to other work by Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley50:45 Natalie's music listening habits have changed in the 2020s54:17 Natalie talks about her current and upcoming projects

Musician, songwriter and producer D.K. Lyons makes his second appearance on YMAAA, and just as with The 1975's I Like It When You Sleep..., he chooses an album that's a real challenge for Al. For the first time ever on this show, Al and his guest discuss an album from the current year, as D.K. picked Charli XCX's Crash for this episode. D.K. talks about how he first got acquainted with Charli XCX's music, why he chose Crash for this episode, what he likes musically and lyrically about the album and what releases we can expect from him in 2023.Keep up with D.K. on Instagram at @d.k.lyonsmusic.Also be sure to check out the D.K. Lyons YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@user-sk4wz2tf1d, and his website, https://dklyonsmusic.com/.For the time being, Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.The show now has an account on Mastodon: @youmealbum@mas.to.Al launched You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter earlier this year and has brought it back after a hiatus. You can subscribe for free to get Al's monthly posts, but paid subscriptions give you access to weekly posts. Please consider trying a paid subscription as it also helps to support this podcast! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:05 D.K. (re)joins the show2:03 D.K. talks about his reaction to The 1975's Being Funny in a Foreign Language5:01 D.K. explains how he started listening to Charli XCX and why he chose to discuss Crash7:24 Al heard Crash differently after doing some research on the album9:18 D.K. and Al talk about Charli XCX's experimental side11:56 Al found a particular spot to listen to Crash that helped him to appreciate it more14:32 D.K. and Al identify aspects of the album's production that they don't like17:54 Crash doesn't lack for memorable hooks21:44 D.K. and Al talk about Charli XCX's collaborators on “New Shapes”23:41 D.K. talks about the connection between a song from The Goofy Movie and “New Shapes”24:53 The title track is a standout song for D.K.26:25 D.K. and Al hear some similarities between Charli XCX and The 197527:50 “Good Ones” and “Constant Repeat” are earworms for both D.K. and Al33:09 Al has a hard time thinking of songs from Crash where he really likes the lyrics34:50 D.K. noted a few songs where he appreciates the lyrics37:18 D.K. has a theory about why Charli XCX processes her vocals as much as she does39:55 D.K. talks about the album's four bonus tracks44:56 D.K. sums up what he enjoys about Crash46:50 D.K. gives Al a recommendation for where to continue his Charli XCX exploration49:56 D.K. talks about his recent and upcoming releasesOutro is from “The Sadness” by D.K. Lyons

Drummer, producer, visual artist and designer Steve Luongo (Rat Race Choir, TorQue) takes the guest seat on this week's You, Me and An Album to discuss Jethro Tull's Thick as a Brick. Steve talks about why this album is special to him, which parts are his favorites and whether he considers Jethro Tull to be a prog band. He also delves into the John Entiwistle Oxhumed rarities albums he has been working on.Al talked about some other prog rock suites that were released around the same time as Thick as a Brick, and in doing so, he incorrectly stated that “Supper's Ready” comprises the second side of Foxtrot by Genesis. Al is mortified at this error, as he is a fan of Steve Hackett's instrumental, “Horizons,” which kicks off Side 2 before “Supper's Ready” embarks on its 23-minute run.Steve mentioned a video of West Side Story's “America” that includes performances from both the 1961 and 2021 versions. Here it is! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0jVQT0BrzwKeep up with Steve and his many projects!Twitter: @drumcrusherInstagram: @steveluongo4realWebsite: steveluongo.comFor more information on John Entwistle Rarities Oxhumed, go to johnentwistle.com.For the time being, Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.The show is also now on Mastodon. @youmealbum@mas.to.Al launched You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter earlier this year and has brought it back after a hiatus. You can subscribe for free to get Al's monthly posts, but paid subscriptions give you access to weekly posts. Please consider trying a paid subscription as it also helps to support this podcast! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:24 Steve joins the show2:35 Is Jethro Tull a prog band?4:02 Steve recalls how he got introduced to Jethro Tull's music6:19 Steve explains why Jethro Tull resonated for him more than some other bands7:19 Steve details why he chose Thick as a Brick for this episode8:50 Al compares Thick as a Brick with other early ‘70s prog suites10:51 Steve gives an example of how Jethro Tull is “orchestral”14:41 Is Thick as a Brick a parody of prog rock?16:06 Steve and Al agree on their favorite part of the album17:40 Why aren't rock flautists more of a thing?19:49 Steve learned a lot of lessons about drumming from Thick as a Brick23:34 Steve would still love the album even if he weren't a drummer26:22 Steve wonders how the various parts all came together28:36 The drum solo…too much or just right?31:29 Steve singles out the key difference between Thick as a Brick and Aqualung35:05 Steve talks about some music that he appreciates as a listener (as opposed to as a drummer)43:11 Steve discusses a couple more standout sections of the album47:24 Would Steve rather listen to a remixed version of this album?49:34 Steve talks about current projects, including the John Entwistle rarities albums

Economics and finance writer/editor Heidi Moore introduces Al to singer-songwriter Joe Pug and his 2010 album, Messenger. Heidi talks about other artists who are a part of Pug's “cinematic universe,” why the songs of Messenger resonate with her and why she didn't choose to discuss a Bastille album instead.Heidi mentioned Pug's weekly Sunday livestreams and his podcast, Working Songwriter. Find them via the following links…Livestream: https://joepugmusic.com/livestreamPodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-working-songwriter/id1079001185Al talked about how an essay he wrote for Bandcamp Daily earlier this year relates to some of themes covered on Messenger. You can read that essay here: https://daily.bandcamp.com/resonance/quasi-seal-the-deal-essay.As Heidi mentioned, she has accounts on multiple social media platforms, but you are most likely to find her on Twitter. She is at @moorehn.For the time being, Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.The show is also now on Mastodon. @youmealbum@mas.to.Al launched You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter earlier this year and has brought it back after a hiatus. You can subscribe for free to get Al's monthly posts, but paid subscriptions give you access to weekly posts. Please consider trying a paid subscription as it also helps to support this podcast! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:00 Heidi joins the show1:38 Why didn't Heidi choose a Bastille album?4:24 Al and Heidi talk about shows they've attended during the pandemic6:23 Heidi explains why she chose Messenger for this episode8:33 Heidi names some other artists she considered discussing11:36 Heidi talks about the song that started her Joe Pug fandom16:17 Pug was prescient about how society would change with social media18:22 The lyrics of Messenger made a huge impression on Al21:05 Al related to “How Good You Are” in particular23:16 Heidi compares Pug to Joni Mitchell29:01 Themes that Pug raises provide lessons that were relevant for the Trump era39:56 “Disguised as Someone Else” is a meaningful track for both Heidi and Al44:26 Al sees the opening and closing tracks as outliers on the album47:01 Heidi explains why she can't listen to “Unsophisticated Heart” often52:54 Is songwriting magic?54:08 Heidi and Al see contrasts between Messenger and Fiona Apple's Tidal57:53 Heidi and Al revisit a line from “Unsophisticated Heart” they like1:00:06 Heidi talks about Pug's training as a playwright1:01:50 “The First Time I Saw You” is another of Heidi's favorite tracks from the album1:05:44 Heidi talks about a couple of albums she's been listening to lately

Author and Middlebury College English and American Literatures professor Megan Mayhew Bergman pays a visit to YMAAA to talk about Fiona Apple's debut album, Tidal. She revisits the time in her life when she first heard the album, why it was important then and continues to be important to her now, and which songs are her favorites (and which ones she is liable to skip).Megan and Al got into a little bit of a discussion about Genesis as well, and Al stated that he thought Tony Banks wrote “In Too Deep.” Phil Collins is credited with the lyrics, so he was at least partly wrong about this.Al also alluded to a series of Genesis interviews conducted in 2014. You can find them on YouTube in four installments. The first one is here — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeGVDk0mSY8 — and links to the others are in the notes for that video.One last Genesis-related note: Megan mentioned a baby Jesus statue in Mexico that resembles Phil Collins. Here is one of many stories regarding said statue. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/jesus-statue-phil-collins-trnd/index.htmlFollow Megan on Twitter and Instagram at @mayhewbergman! Also be sure to keep up with her many, many projects at http://www.mayhewbergman.com/.For the time being, Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.The show is also now on Mastodon. @youmealbum@mas.to.Al launched You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter earlier this year and has brought it back after a hiatus. You can subscribe for free to get Al's monthly posts, but paid subscriptions give you access to weekly posts. Please consider trying a paid subscription as it also helps to support this podcast! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:14 Megan joins the show2:18 Megan has an awesome Genesis t-shirt3:07 Megan first heard Tidal during a difficult and lonely period of her life4:38 Megan and Al are impressed by the maturity and sophistication Apple showed on this album6:47 Megan discusses the specific ways that Tidal helped her get through a difficult time10:03 Megan breaks down how the drums and percussion amplify the emotional impact of “Sleep to Dream”11:28 “Criminal” and “Never Is a Promise” also evoke strong emotions13:54 Megan has a different relationship with Tidal now than when she was in her teens…18:46 …but some of the messages carry just as much weight now as then20:30 Megan and Al marvel at how Apple was able to create such an influential album in her teens25:06 Megan highlights her favorite musical moments on Tidal28:23 There are songs on the album that Megan will skip32:28 Megan and Al discuss Tidal's sequencing34:32 Megan reveals which song from the album is her favorite now36:28 Megan likes the “big character energy” of “Criminal”38:36 Megan appreciates the videos Apple made for this album41:19 A bonus Genesis discussion!50:14 Megan talks about her upcoming book on the International Sweethearts of Rhythm

Mary Beth Melchior returns to You, Me and An Album to discuss the first full-length album she ever listened to -- and just in advance of her and Al's 33-1/3 year wedding anniversary! The original Jesus Christ Superstar concept album has been an important album to Mary Beth for nearly her entire life, and Al finally gets better acquainted with it so they can discuss it for this episode. Mary Beth talks about the circumstances of her first listening to the album, why it's been an important part of her life and why she likes it much better than the other versions that have been released.Follow Mary Beth on Twitter at @mbmelchior!For the time being, Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.As Al mentioned, he also just joined Mastodon, though he slightly botched his handle there. It's @youmealbum@mas.to.Al launched You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter earlier this year and has brought it back after a hiatus. You can subscribe for free to get Al's monthly posts, but paid subscriptions give you access to weekly posts. Please consider trying a paid subscription as it also helps to support this podcast! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:18 Mary Beth joins the show2:24 Mary Beth distinguishes between the Jesus Christ Superstar concept album and other versions7:35 Mary Beth explains why she wanted to talk about this album on this episode9:31 Mary Beth talks about how she first heard the JCS album at the age of 5 or 613:54 JCS appeared in Mary Beth's migraine auras15:00 Do Al and Mary Beth find JCS emotionally draining?21:14 Was Al justified in thinking that JCS was a “freaky” album?25:02 JCS allowed Mary Beth to relate to religion without her parents' filter27:27 One song from the album still grates on Al30:12 Mary Beth gives Al a different perspective on how JCS treats Pilate37:17 Al talks about his favorite track from JCS41;14 Mary Beth asks Al if he likes her favorite song on the album44:41 Does JCS have any bangers?49:41 Al heard “Superstar” in a totally different way than before52:43 Al considers tracks he would listen to as one-offs55:23 Mary Beth does have a song from JCS she listens to as a one-off58:40 Mary Beth talks about her changing relationship with the album1:02:50 Al sums up his feelings about the album

American Studies professor Jeff Melnick normally teaches at University of Massachusetts Boston, but on this episode, he gives Al an education on Terry Melcher and his 1974 self-titled debut album. Jeff talks about Melcher's connections with Charles Manson (which Jeff also details in his book, Creepy Crawling: Charles Manson and the Many Lives of America's Most Infamous Family), how they inform the themes of this album and Melcher's role in the '60s L.A. music scene. Jeff also discusses the book he is currently working on, which deals with the Boston music scene in the '70s, '80s and '90s.Follow Jeff on Twitter! @melnickjeffrey1Al (for the time being) is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.1:07 Jeff joins the show2:06 How Al and Jeff met on Twitter4:11 Jeff explains how his interest in Charles Manson developed7:19 Jeff suggests that learning about the Manson Family can tell us a lot about L.A. culture in the late ‘60s8:56 Jeff's interest in Terry Melcher preceded his work on Creepy Crawling10:30 Al's wife, Mary Beth, had an interest in studying the Manson Family when she was in high school11:36 Jeff explains how Melcher was connected to Manson20:14 Jeff ponders why Melcher waited until 1974 to release a solo album22:15 Jeff conceives of Melcher's solo debut as a loose concept album27:31 Al and Jeff find some of Melcher's vocals hard to listen to31:10 Jeff appreciates how Melcher captures the miserable side of LA. In the ‘70s36:33 Self-pity is another major theme of the album41:08 “Dr. Horowitz” doesn't necessarily convey the message Melcher intended42:55 Jeff sees the “Halls of Justice” medley as serving two purposes57:35 Jeff thinks “covers” is not always the right word to describe the previously-recorded songs Melcher performed on this album1:02:20 Does Jeff actually love this album?1:06:50 Jeff talks about the book on the Boston music scene he's been working on

Doug "Cosmo" Clifford -- yes, that Cosmo Clifford -- drummer for Creedence Clearwater Revival, joins Al for a discussion of Doug Sahm's 1974 album, Groover's Paradise.  Cosmo talks about why he thinks Groover's Paradise is a special album and why more people should know about Sahm and his music. Cosmo also discusses his role on the album, which he produced and played drums on. He also talks about the recent release of his album with Bobby Whitlock, California Gold, which was recorded in 1978.Follow Doug on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/DougCosmoCliffordAlso, you can find links to stream or buy Doug's albums at https://dougcosmoclifford.com/.Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.1:13 Cosmo joins the show1:19 Cosmo reacts to the new CCR documentary4:19 Doug Sahm liked pot7:03 Cosmo reveals his favorite track from Groover's Paradise9:37 Cosmo talks about the variety of musical styles on the album15:28 Cosmo held out a “green carrot” for Sahm16:12 Cosmo discusses the process for creating the sound for the album20:54 Cosmo wants music fans to know how talented Sahm was22:49 Sahm liked to give his songs a sense of place24:49 Sahm had a couple of hits in the ‘60s with the Sir Douglas Quintet26:17 Cosmo talks about how he first got to know Sahm29:08 Cosmo discusses one of the recording choices made on “Just Groove Me”32:33 Cosmo talks about Augie Meyers' contribution on “Beautiful Texas Sunshine”34:40 It may not be easy to get a copy of Groover's Paradise now36:07 Cosmo explains why he released California Gold 44 years after it was recorded42:43 Cosmo explains why California Gold sounds like it could have been recorded more recently than 197844:23 Cosmo talks about his current plansOutro is from “Rollin' On” by Doug Clifford featuring Bobby Whitlock

Smithereens drummer and music historian Dennis Diken joins Al for this episode to talk about The Lovin' Spoonful's second album, Daydream. Dennis shares why he thinks this is an album worth knowing and why he has been a Lovin' Spoonful fan ever since their first album came out. He also discusses The Smithereens' newly-released LP, The Lost Album, and what the band has in store for the future.As Dennis mentioned, you can stream his weekly radio show. Check it out here! https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/DIBe sure to keep up with Dennis and The Smithereens!Twitter: @SmithereensHQInstagram: @the_smithereens_officialAl is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.1:03 Dennis joins the show3:03 Dennis talks about “The Empty Set” and his connection to Scott McCaughey9:15 Al explains why he picked Daydream from Dennis' short list10:42 Dennis discusses a couple of personal connections he has with The Lovin' Spoonful15:38 Dennis remembers exactly when he first heard The Spoonful18:22 Dennis explains why he chose Daydream for his short list19:25 “Summer in the City” was one of the most memorable songs from Al's childhood22:15 There is a reason why The Spoonful's singles sounded so different from each other24:19 The Spoonful's music was a strong influence on Dennis28:36 Dennis clears up Al's confusion about who is singing lead vocals31:45 Dennis and Al dig into “Butchie's Tune”36:16 They talk about the album's two hit singles40:34 Dennis walks through what he likes about the remaining tracks44:42 Dennis had a dilemma when he bought Daydream47:29 Dennis likes the fun vibe of The Spoonful's albums50:01 Dennis talks about The Smithereens' Lost Album56:04 Dennis talks about his show on WFMU.org59:38 Dennis has some news about The SmithereensOutro music is from “A World Apart” by The Smithereens.

This week's guest is director/writer/poet Kristin Hanggi, who received a Tony Award nomination for Best Director of a Musical for Rock of Ages. Kristin is also the author  of God, Sex and Musical Theatre (which is in the process of being adapted for a musical) and the co-host (with Natalie Roy) of Let's Play: The C.R.E.A.T.E. Podcast. She chose the 2017 India.Arie EP, SongVersation: Medicine for this episode. Kristin talks about why this collection of songs is special to her, which lyrics from the EP resonate most strongly with her and how her approach to listening to music informs her work as a director and storyteller.Kristin talked briefly about  the heroine's journey as a conceptual framework for storytelling. If you want to hear her talk about this extensively, be sure to listen to her most recent appearance on Rob Bell's Robcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-heroines-journey/id956742638?i=1000569043767To learn more about Kristin's various projects, workshops and other resources for storytellers, visit her website, kristinhanggi.com.Also be sure to follow Kristin at @hanggilove on Twitter and Instagram.Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.1:13 Kristin joins the show1:25 Al is intrigued by Kristin's use of the heroine's journey as a storytelling framework3:39 Kristin discusses why she chose SongVersation: Medicine for this episode5:25 Kristin identifies what it is she loves about India Arie's music6:18 Kristin talks about the Arie track that motivated her to check out more of her songs8:00 There are certain types of moments when Kristin especially enjoys listening to the EP9:34 Kristin gives an example of a song from the EP that teaches the listener how to process emotional pain10:30 Al talks about his initial reactions to the EP12:37 SongVersation: Medicine is different from the type of music that many people associate Kristin with15:29 The EP helps Kristin when the world feels especially crazy16:49 Kristin thinks the authenticity of Arie's writing is key to the album's ability to move her18:27 Al was surprised by the album's dynamics20:07 Kristin really relates to “Chicken Soup in a Song”21:30 Kristin likes how the EP helps her to slow down25:37 Kristin talks about the importance of being emotionally attuned in her work28:00 Kristin identifies the healing elements of Arie's music30:49 Kristin's approach to listening to music is influenced by her work as a director32:17 Al points out some of the features of the EP that he enjoys33:41 Kristin talks about how she would listen to albums growing up — and how that impacts her listening now37:23 Kristin and Al share some of their favorite lyrics from the EP49:58 Al came across an Arie song that was a true earworm51:34 Kristin talks about working with other writers as a “story doctor”57:10 Kristin discusses her current and upcoming projects

This week's guest is Elle Archer, a Portland-based multi-instrumentalist who records as Shaylee, and she gets Al acquainted with Liz Phair's debut album, Exile in Guyville. Elle talks about how she first wound up listening to the album, and she identifies the features of the album that make it special. She also talks about her first album with Kill Rock Stars, Short-Sighted Security, and her upcoming plans for Shaylee.Follow Elle/Shaylee!Instagram @shayleebandTikTok @shayleethebandAl is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.1:13 Elle joins the show2:03 Elle explains why she first sought out Exile in Guyville4:34 Elle talks about why she chose this album for this episode6:47 Elle discusses how she sees the relationship between Exile in Guyville and Exile on Main St.11:09 Al hears some musical similarities between Liz Phair and The Rolling Stones12:33 Elle refers to Phair's own comments about the album's relationship with Exile on Main St.Observations about specific tracks14:30 6'1”19:59 Dance of the Seven Veils21:56 Never Said/Soap Star Joe23:04 F*ck and Run30:10 Explain It to Me34:25 Elle surmises why Exile in Guyville wasn't more popular when it was released39:57 Elle and Al talk about the subsequent critical backlash against Phair46:08 Elle thinks the production is part of what makes Exile in Guyville so effective50:49 Elle talks about the difficulty in making a sonically diverse album55:05 Elle explains how she wound up recording covers of Elliott Smith, Unwound, Jeff Hanson and Deerhoof songs1:00:08 Elle talks about recording the new Shaylee single, “Clearwater”1:00:43 Elle eludes to the planned changes for future Shaylee recordings1:01:30 Elle discusses what's coming up next for ShayleeThe outro music is from “Clearwater” by Shaylee

Musician and author Stephanie Phillips is this week's guest, and she introduces Al to The Amps' one-and-only album, Pacer. Steph talks about why she picked Pacer for this episode, the differences and similarities between this album and Kim Deal's other work with Pixies and The Breeders and which tracks on the album stand out to her. She also talks about her band Big Joanie's upcoming album and tour and her book, Why Solange Matters.Follow Steph!@Stephanopolus on Twitter@steffimusics on InstagramAnd follow Big Joanie, too!@Big_Joanie on Twitter@bigjoanieband on InstagramAl is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.1:11 Steph joins the show1:45 Is Pacer a “lost Breeders album”?2:55 Al's preparation for this episode was a little different3:42 Steph explains why she picked Pacer for this episode5:15 Steph details what's special about Kim Deal's songwriting and vocals8:11 Deal's approach to playing has influenced Steph's songwriting10:30 Steph and Al have trouble categorizing The Breeders and The Amps12:06 Al found the title track to be an odd pick for an opener15:19 Steph enjoys the entire album as a journey, rather than focusing on individual tracks17:28 Steph views some Pacer tracks as a harbinger of future Breeders albums18:27 Steph and Al both like “Breaking the Split Screen Barrier”22:31 Steph points out that Deal repurposed a couple of the tracks on PacerObservations about additional tracks:24:15 Bragging Party27:59 Mom's Drunk/First Revival30:06 Hoverin'31:55 Tipp City33:43 Empty Glasses34:32 Al missed some of the album's subtleties on his initial listens36:07 There are a couple of tracks that Steph will listen to on their own37:57 Al talks about his favorite track from Pacer39:23 Steph thinks Pacer is a good album for getting a feel for Deal as a songwriter40:56 Steph recommends watching videos of The Amps' live performances42:25 Steph talks about the music she listened to around the same time she was initially listening to Pacer43:50 Steph explains how she decided to write Why Solange Matters47:09 Steph discusses Big Joanie's upcoming tour plansThe outro is from “In My Arms” by Big Joanie.

Levi Weaver, who covers the Texas Rangers for The Athletic, joins Al on this episode to introduce him to the David Bazan (of Pedro the Lion) solo album, Curse Your Branches.  Levi discusses how this album has helped him to navigate the uncertainty that has come with questioning his religious faith, as well as what he loves about the album musically. He also talks about his career as a recording and touring musician, including a period when he was touring as a member of Imogen Heap's band, and how he transitioned into a sportswriting career.Al mentioned a video in which Imogen Heap talks about gloves she invented that help her to perform live music. It's part of an NPR Tiny Desk Concert performance and very much worth watching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QtklTXbKUQLevi is on Twitter at @ThreeTwoEephus.Follow Levi's great Rangers coverage on The Athletic here: https://theathletic.com/author/levi-weaver/Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.1:11 Levi joins the show3:19 Levi talks about playing in Imogen Heap's band9:06 Levi explains what about Curse Your Branches appeals to him12:35 Al and Levi were both impressed by the intro to “Hard to Be”15:09 Levi recounts the first time he listened to Curse Your Branches19:13 Levi talks about the role the album has played in his “wrestling match” with his faith25:21 Levi explains how Bazan is making an analogy between addiction and religious faith27:26 Levi talks about some lyrics that were especially resonant31:19 Levi helps Al to clarify the meaning of “In Stitches”37:06 Al and Levi appreciate how well Bazan can perform music at a slow tempo40:13 Levi picks out some of the musical moments from the album he loves the most42:01 Levi points out a few more notable moments from the album47:12 Levi explains why he left music and how he began his sportswriting career48:56 Levis talks about his life as a touring musicianThe outro is from "Apostate" by Levi Weaver.

Former Red Sox pitcher and current Red Sox television analyst Lenny DiNardo drops by for You, Me and An Album's latest music/baseball crossover. Lenny gets Al better acquainted with The Lemonheads' fifth album, It's a Shame About Ray. They talk about why Lenny chose this album for the show, how he got to know The Lemonheads' Evan Dando personally, what Lenny likes about each of the album's tracks and his own journey as a guitarist.As Lenny had mentioned, his Hot Stove Cool Music performance of “The Outdoor Type” with Evan Dando is on YouTube. Watch/listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbDtcu257CcLenny had shared with Al this video on the making of The Dropkick Murphys' “Tessie,” and now he's sharing it with you. If you love music, baseball or both, it's a worthwhile watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKymxOS44Pw&t=5sBe sure to give Lenny a follow on Twitter at @DinardoLenny and on Instagram at @dinardolhp.Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.1:14 Lenny joins the show3:02 Lenny talks about the eclectic mix of music he grew up with5:46 Lenny explains what hooked him on It's a Shame About Ray6:44 Nic Dalton did a cool thing in the YouTube comments9:40 Lenny talks about how he met Evan Dando…12:00 …and how he wound up playing a gig with Evan13:25 Lenny names a couple of other albums he considered discussing on this episode instead14:56 Lenny explains why he chose It's a Shame About RayDiscussion of specific tracks16:16 Hannah & Gabi20:28 My Drug Buddy22:58 Lenny has to listen to the album all the way through24:35 Rockin Stroll26:45 It's a Shame About Ray29:03 Confetti, Rudderless and the importance of lyrics and vocals35:56 Mrs. Robinson39:28 Frank Mills40:40 The Turnpike Down42:24 Bit Part/“Shorty Shea”44:30 Allison's Starting to Happen47:08 Lenny talks about how The Lemonheads have evolved over time50:26 Lenny helped The Baseball Project out with one of their songs55:46 Lenny recounts some of his experiences with recording music1:00:48 The one thing Lenny would change in his life if he could

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Lelya Turcihin, a great friend and a wonderful soul who loved INXS and left us far too early and far too long ago.Sherry Thomas, host of the Analog Smile podcast and contributing writer for The Aquarian, is this episode's guest, as she gets Al better acquainted with INXS' fourth album, The Swing. They discuss what Sherry loves about this album and about INXS in general, how she got into music journalism and what made her start her latest podcast.Be sure to follow Sherry on Twitter at @sherryt1970 and on Instagram at @readcoffeerepeat. Also find Sherry on Facebook at Analog Smile Podcast.And listen to Analog Smile! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analog-smile/id1611061065?mt=2&ls=1Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.Al launched You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter earlier this year. You can subscribe for free to get Al's monthly posts, but paid subscriptions give you access to weekly posts and much more. Please consider trying a paid subscription as it also helps to support this podcast! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:08 Sherry joins the show2:39 Sherry identifies her favorite musical decade5:00 Sherry sees The Swing as a pivotal album in INXS' catalog9:40 Sherry and Al talk about Original Sin as a centerpiece of the album17:02 Sherry explains why she thinks Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence were a great songwriting teamDiscussion of other tracks18:34 Dancing on the Jetty22:15 Johnson's Aeroplane27:02 Original Sin (remake)28:37 Sherry talks about Michael Hutchence's tragic passing31:40 I Send a Message33:12 Burn for You34:02 Melting in the Sun35:28 Face the Change/Love Is (What I Say)38:18 Al explains why he was glad Sherry picked this album42:00 Sherry names her favorite INXS album(s)45:02 Sherry talks about how she got into music journalism48:54 Sherry explains why she started Analog Smile53:06 Al asks Sherry about the origins of her podcast's name