They're Playing Our Song

This week we kick some teeth in talking about the Dead Kennedys' "Riot".  Special guest Matt Summers and I flagrantly violate the law--noise ordinances, mostly--to break down the steps of rioting in your neighborhood, punk-rock suing your former bandmates, and appreciating the muscianship of the Dead Kennedys.  All this and poetry! Please very much enjoy! If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element Download Mp3

In honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Professor Aaron Cain joins us to literally school me on the aria "Es Ist Vollbracht" from J.S. Bach's St. John Passion.  And he brings his own materials!  Aaron does his best to share his knowledge of early music, Bach's grumpy, beer-related missives, and one of the best personal anecdotes about a song ever heard on this show.  Rob ends the term with an "F" for German pronunciation and must make up the work this summer...

Because this is the podcast you probably most associate with religion, we have an episode to complement the upcoming Easter holiday as we discuss the aria "Es Ist Vollbracht" from the St. John Passion by J.S. Bach. My special guest, Aaron Cain, was kind enough to provide an Mp3 of the Portland Baroque Orchestra performing this piece for our audience...

Christien Murawski from the Quarter to Three Movie Podcast gives "Pitseleh" two thumbs up.  Except that's not really how they rate things on the show.  And they usually rate movies, not songs.  Anyhoo, we dive deep into the poetry of this one to discuss the intermingling of love and fear, the strange relationship between ourselves and our favorite artists, and every emotion in between...

So, what are we talking about this week, special guest Chris Hornbostel? "Last Day That We're Young?" by Game Theory? Could you please recount the fascinating story of how this album came to be, break down the musical arrangement and mastering process that makes the song so excellent, and then drop an awesomely prescient interpretation of the lyrics whilst tying them into a personal theme of aging, life, and death? Ok, thanks.  I'll be over here looking up "opalescent"...

And so another Robruary has come and gone.  But not before I drag my poor wife, Diana, into the studio to talk about "Big Sur" by the Thrills.  I share my heartfelt memories of how this song represented one of the happiest periods of my life.  Diana just wants to talk about the Monkees.  Spot on musical renditions ensue. Please very much enjoy! If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element Subscribe on Download Mp3

Here's the sad, penultimate chapter of Robruary in which I talk, alone, about Death Cab for Cutie's "A Lack of Color" and how it made me the man I am today.  There will be tragedy.  There will be heartache.  There will be copious moments of sad-sackery.  I solemnly swear that this episode is well within the FDA limits of wracking man-sobs.  Barely within the limits...

It's the final of the "I'm Recording In a Car" trilogy with special guest, Brendon and special song, Blink-182's "What's My Age Again?"  Much like the Star Wars prequels, this episode comes first chronologically and has a lot of terrible CG effects.  It also features the next chapter of Robruary in which a college-aged Rob finds Blink-182 depressing--not depressing depressing--Brendon opines his lack of blankets in the cold New England nights, and everybody has more fun...

Robruary goes big with writer, Tom Chick, joining me to share his thoughts on "Where Is My Mind?".   You won't believe your ears as we discuss our mutual love of "Fight Club", how much Tom and Black Francis have in common, subliminal genitals, and the eternal question: what happens to our pee during outdoor music festivals? You're listening to this episode at a very strange time in my life...

Barring show tunes "Jagged Little Pill" by Alanis Morisette was the first CD I ever owned.  I received it as a birthday present when I was 16.  Finally, I could listen to Ironic, Head Over Feet, and You Oughta Know from the comfort of my own home. This week Carolyn Brillon stops by over Skype to share her thoughts about You Oughta Know because it's the only tune that rocks as hard as Robruary...