They're Playing Our Song

It's Part 1 of the first ever ETHERIDGE-OFF!! Which song about intense love by singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge will be crowned the ultimate our song? Join Diana Parry-Cruwys and I in a knock-down, drag-out verbal brawl where the only rule is there are no rules.  Except for the rule where we only get to say nice things about the songs we discuss because that's the point of the show...

This week I'm going solo to talk about Against Me!'s "Thrash Unreal".  Because no one but me demanded it! Is this really a song about the joy of partying hard? Or is it a cry for help? And what kind of genre is "polk"?  Please very much enjoy! If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element Download Mp3

Writer Gordon Cameron doesn't mess around when it comes to sharing the most beautiful song in the world with Schubert's "Du Bist die Ruh".  We put on our top hats and tails to discuss this classic lieder including whether Schubert could front as a modern pop star, whether the lyrics to the original poem are kind of lame without Schubert's music, and how your pianissimo gets into my fortissimo...

The best value on the Internet returns as special guest, Jack Every, and I give you a 1000% markup when talking about The White Stripes' "Fell In Love With a Girl".  We two stalwart educators debate the true meaning of a mellow roll, decry the injustice that was music in 2001, and mix whatever they can remember from undergrad psychology into the expounding of their deep thoughts about a three-minute song.  Subscribe on YouTube to see this episode built entirely out of Lego...

Cor, blimey, gov'ner.  It's the end of hip-hop month and we close out with a personal fav of mine, "Fit But You Know It" by the Streets.  Special guest, Diana Parry-Cruwys, tries to remember where she first heard this song while I quiz her on the finer points of British slang.  All in time for tea with the Queen.  And fish and chips.  And Doctor Who. Pardon Diana's audio.  Someone set the microphone wrong.  Probably Danger Mouse or Thomas the Train...

Who better to discuss Public Enemy's "Burn Hollywood Burn" than one of my favorite movie critics? Christien Murawski from the Qt3 Movie Podcast stops by to share his love of Chuck D's sweet, sweet voice and to spark up a conversation about race in TV and film.  Is the Hollywood of 2016 doing a better job representing non-whites in movies than in 1990? And what exactly would a "good job" even look like?  All this plus a seeeeecret movie recommendation from Christien...

Veteran rap battler and NCIS aficionado, Brandon Cackowski-Schnell, joins us for another episode in our hip-hop month with the classic "Mama Said Knock You Out" by LL Cool J.  We'll discuss how to properly put on deodorant, what clothes to wear--or not to wear--to rock out at your live performance, and just how much damage (HUNH!) one song can really do.  Bonus: Brandon offers up his cool, new Bazooka Joe-inspired rhymes for the audience...

It's the beginning of Hip Hop month, a month of songs I know very little about.  So let's learn some new things together! We kick things off with returning guest, Mark Brillon, talking about Krayzie Bone's "Thug Mentality".  Mark reviews the history of Bone Thugs 'n Harmony and declares his love for the song.  I think he even has a copy of the 8-track recording in his pocket.  I struggle to understand the difference between East, West, North, and South-coast rap...

This week Diana Parry-Cruwys and I are putting on our army jackets and taking the heroes journey into the urban wasteland to discuss The Dandy Warhol's "Bohemian Like You".  Let's get the "ooo"s out of the way: Is this song still totally awesome? Kick your significant other to the couch, grab some vegan food, and listen to us nonchalantly care, or not care, about the pros and cons of hipster doofuses and just how much of a privileged, right-wing nutjob Rob really is...

This week's song, "A Change of Seasons" by Dream Theater, is our longest yet at just over 20 minutes.  Fortunately, special guest, Craig Miller, challenges that run time by sharing his in-depth thoughts on the band's history, their place in the greater metal oeuvre, and just how many movements it takes to describe the cycle of life and death...