This week we’re discussing Ants From Up There by Black Country, New Road. If you haven’t heard of these guys, they’re spastic, unpredictable, and surprisingly emotional post-rock from the UK. This is a fascinating album on its own, but days before its release, singer/guitarist Isaac Wood left the band. While they are continuing without him, you have to hear this album to fully appreciate what that means.
Read MoreEpisode 151: DRI
This week we’re discussing every album by DRI, the Dirty Rotten Imbeciles. Led by singer Kurt Brecht and guitarist Spike Cassidy, DRI helped to pioneer crossover thrash (the hybrid of hardcore punk and thrash metal). They were the most explosive and speedy punk band in their formative years, but they quickly transitioned seamlessly into one of the best and most respected thrash bands. Play them loud and try not to speed if you do it while driving.
Read MoreHow Heavy Is the New Russian Circles Album?
This week we're taking a break from discographies to talk about the latest album by Russian Circles--Gnosis. For those who don't know, Russian Circles is an instrumental post-metal trio made up of Mike Sullivan (guitar), Dave Turncrantz (drums), and Brian Cook (bass). We're fans and we think you should be, too. If you like the band, chances are you'll like the new album, but it's probably safe to say it won't be winning over any skeptics.
Read MoreEpisode 150: Swans (Pt. 1)
This week we’re discussing every album by Swans from 1982-1986. Led by the unpredictable and immensely talented Michael Gira (and accompanied by long-time collaborators Norman Westberg and Jarboe), Swans is a band that can’t possibly be described in a paragraph. Their musical range is unprecedented and continues to evolve today. However, this era of the band made some of the most punishing, brutal, and disturbing music ever made. Unlike anything and truly barbaric. Enter with caution.
Read MoreLoose Ends: God of Thunder by White Zombie
[ORIGINAL PATREON AIR DATE: 1/28/2022] This week we're tying up some loose ends by discussing White Zombie's God of Thunder EP. We really should've covered this on our White Zombie episode, but we didn't so here ya go. It's a solid EP that highlights the band's transition into the White Zombie we all know and love. Plus some hilariously entertaining vocals by Rob. We also talk endlessly about the Babe movies, wrestling entrances, interventions, and other stuff that doesn't matter. Be sure to check out our full episode on White Zombie if you haven't already!
Read MoreEpisode 149: Thrice
This week we’re discussing every album by Thrice. If you’re a fan of this band, you’ll have to wait in line if you want to stab us. To say we didn’t enjoy our time with them might be an understatement. Thrice started out emo, then grew into a brutal post-metal band for about 5 minutes before maturing into standard alt rock. We go into excruciating detail.
Read MoreEpisode 148: Catherine Wheel
This week we’re discussing every album by Catherine Wheel. Credited as one of the pioneers of shoegaze (which is technically true), Catherine Wheel never stopped growing musically within their lifetime. However, they never lost the essence of the 90s. Seriously, they’re one of the most 90s bands ever. Also, singer Rob Dickinson is Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson’s cousin. Whoa.
Read MoreEpisode 147: Poison Idea
This week we’re discussing every album by Poison Idea. As brutal and crazy as the American hardcore scene was in the early 80s, Poison Idea stood above the rest in how devastatingly real they were. Gun violence, morbid obesity, drug dealing, homelessness, and death are just as much a part of this band as their music. Led by vocalist Jerry A. Lang and guitarist Tom “Pig Champion” Roberts until his death in 2006, Poison Idea make a strong argument for being the kings of punk.
Read MoreEpisode 146: Probot
This week we’re discussing the one and only album by Dave Grohl’s Probot. The band was a passion project by Grohl and was made to quench his thirst for metal. Every track has a different, legendary guest vocalist. Lemmy, King Diamond, Max Cavalera, Cronos, and Wino are only a few of the heavy hitters we have on this album. Even Jack Black makes an appearance. If you’re a fan of metal, this one is a must.
Read MoreLoose Ends: The Sun and the Moon
[ORIGINAL PATREON AIR DATE: 1/14/22]
This week we're tying up some loose ends by covering The Sun and the Moon. Formed by Mark Burgess and John Lever of The Chameleons, these guys are perfect if you're hankering for more Chameleons. Mike and Alex are less fond of this album than Burgess and Lever's previous work, but it's still worth a listen for fans of post-punk, new wave, and goth. Be sure to check out our full episode on The Chameleons!
Read MoreEpisode 145: The Virgins
This week we’re discussing every album by The Virgins. Let’s just address this up front—we hate this band. It wasn’t our idea to cover them and we wish we weren’t so easily bribed to do so. But we did our best to give this band a fair shot and came out nauseous. Led by sole consistent member, singer/model Donald Cumming, The Virgins were short-lived, but were part of The Strokes’ era of indie in the early 00s. That’s about all we got.
Read MoreEpisode 144: System of a Down
This week we’re discussing every album by System of a Down. If you’ve been alive for the past 20 years, you can stop reading this. If you haven’t, then System of a Down was basically one of the last (maybe even THE last) massive, mainstream rock band in America. A fact that is doubly impressive when you hear how intricate and absolutely insane some of this music is. Extremely talented, unique, and wild. Not for everyone, but an important band.
Read MoreEpisode 143: The Blood Brothers
This week, we’re discussing every album by The Blood Brothers. They a hard band to condense into a single description, but let’s just say they’re wild and they’re not for everyone. From Seattle, WA, The Blood Brothers can technically be called indie or post-hardcore, but they were far more mathy, chaotic, and unpredictable than the standard noisy rock band. There’s a lot to love and hate here, that’s for sure.
Read MoreLoose Ends: Xanadu by ELO
[ORIGINAL PATREON AIR DATE: 12/31/2021]
We deliberately didn't cover this album on our original ELO episode, but we're finally getting to it now. This record is the soundtrack to the box office flop of the same name, Xanadu. Aside from starring Olivia Newton-John, we don't know much about the movie, but the soundtrack isn't too bad! At least the ELO half isn't. The first half is pure Olivia Newton-John, so take that how you will. The two collaborate on only one song here, just in case you were expecting the most 80s supergroup ever. Don't forget to check out our full episode on ELO (links below), as well as our Loose Ends on ELO's most recent album, From Out of Nowhere.
Read MoreEpisode 142: The Jesus Lizard
This week we’re discussing every album by The Jesus Lizard. These guys are one of the wildest, most talented, and most beloved noise rock bands to ever exist. Made up of David Yow and David Wm. Sims (Scratch Acid), Duane Denison (later of Tomahawk), and Mac McNeilly, The Jesus Lizard were special, plain and simple. Tight and punishing rhythm section, strange and haunting guitar lines, and David Yow screaming, slobbering, and breathing all over the mic. Listen to them now, please.
Read MoreEpisode 141: The Sound
This week we’re discussing every album by post-punk band The Sound. Led by the late Adrian Borland, who tragically committed suicide in 1999, The Sound is easily one of the most underrated post-punk bands to exist. They began as garage rock-inspired punk and quickly made their way toward the new wave side of things, but with a few surprises along the way. Interesting and ultimately heartbreaking story this band has.
Read MoreEpisode 140: MF DOOM
This week we’re discussing every album by MF DOOM. Known for his incredibly unusual samples, complex and clever lyrics, and his stainless steel gladiator mask, DOOM (real name Daniel Dumile) opened up an entirely new layer of hip-hop. There is so much to say about this dude—he was truly something else. We’re pretty sure he died in 2020, but we’re not certain.
Read MoreEpisode 139: Portishead
This week we’re discussing every album by Portishead. Credited with pioneering trip-hop, as well as being one of the biggest bands of the 90s, Portishead released only three albums, yet managed to evolve alt music exponentially with each one. While they’ve never officially broken up, they are in no rush to put out records and only do so when they have something to say. A rare and impressive trait from a band with their level of success.
Read MoreEpisode 138: Mercury Rev
This week we’re discussing every album by Mercury Rev. Led by Jonathan Donahue and Grasshopper (with huge contributions by Dave Fridmann), Mercury Rev left their mark on indie rock with their 1998 album, Deserter’s Songs. But they have so many other albums that are either insanely underrated or overlooked completely. Their friendship with the Flaming Lips explains the stylistic similarities between the two, but their songwriting stands on its own.
Read MoreEpisode 137: Martin Dupont
This week we’re discussing every album by French electronic group Martin Dupont. While they never achieved mainstream success, they undoubtedly contributed to the advancement of electronic music in the mid 80s. Led by Alain Séghir, who was in medical school to become a surgeon at the time, Martin Dupont’s influence on the genre is obvious. Underrated, underappreciated, and aged better than you’d expect.
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