Discord and Rhyme: An Album Podcast

There are plenty of love albums out there and plenty of breakup albums, but apart from Marvin Gaye's fascinating Here, My Dear, how many romantic spite albums can you think of? It's a tough balance to strike, but Mountain Goats frontman John Darnielle has created likely the ideal such creature on Tallahassee: a schadenfreude- and gin-sodden indie-rock epitaph for the Alpha Couple, two characters he'd been working with for years and whose relationship only got less healthy with time. Join Will, Dan, Rich, and returning guest B. Heard, won't you, as we don our emotional headlamps and rotgut-protection boots and investigate the open throat of the Alpha Couple's cellar door?WARNING: This album contains mature subject matter and also there are a few bad words, so listener discretion is advised.Cohosts: Chris Willie Williams, Rich Bunnell, Dan Watkins, Brent HeardComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/037-the-mountain-goats-tallahassee-2002Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

Continuing our celebration of one of the greatest record labels in music history! In this episode: Ben's favorite Motown song, the last appearance of Mary Wells on this comp, and the debuts of two groups who will dominate the rest of these episodes.Martha Reeves & the Vandellas - Heat Wave The Temptations - The Way You Do the Things You Do Mary Wells - My Guy The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go The Supremes - Baby Love The Supremes - Come See About Me The Temptations - My Girl Cohosts: Benjamin Marlin, Rich Bunnell, Phil Maddox Get early access to bonus episodes! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodTheme music: "The Motown Song" by Rod Stewart feat. the TemptationsClosing credits music by Kenneth Kraylie, originally composed by Andy Partridge with new lyrics by Adam Smith of the Hector Collectorshttps://kennethkraylie.bandcamp.com/https://casinos.bandcamp.com/https://thehectorcollectors.bandcamp.com/

Once one of the biggest bands in the world, Def Leppard is now a bit of a joke among “serious” rock fans. But do they deserve that? Amanda thinks not, and does her best to convince Rich, Mike, and Phil that Hysteria is a truly excellent album. Even if you’re not on board with Mutt Lange’s super-shiny production, this is a terrific bunch of songs, and very much worth any music fan’s time. Yes, even “Pour Some Sugar On Me.” Especially “Pour Some Sugar On Me.” Cohosts: Amanda Rodgers, Rich Bunnell, Mike DeFabio, Phil MaddoxComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/036-def-leppard-hysteria-1987Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

It's the first episode of our new series covering Motown's Number 1 hits! This is an amazing compilation that includes every single Motown song that ever hit number 1 on any chart. Obviously this is an amazing batch of songs, and we love talking about them. In this episode: a brief history of the label, much gushing over the amazing Motown sound, and many references to our 1980s childhoods. NOTE: Amanda misspoke badly when talking about the Miracles, who broke up in 1972, not 1992. The Miracles - Shop Around The Marvelettes - Please Mr. Postman The Contours - Do You Love Me Mary Wells - You Beat Me to the Punch Mary Wells -  Two Lovers The Miracles - You've Really Got a Hold on Me Stevie Wonder - Fingertips Cohosts: Rich Bunnell, Phil Maddox, Amanda Rodgers Get early access to bonus episodes! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodTheme music: "The Motown Song" by Rod Stewart feat. the TemptationsClosing credits music by Kenneth Kraylie, originally composed by Andy Partridge with new lyrics by Adam Smith of the Hector Collectorshttps://kennethkraylie.bandcamp.com/https://casinos.bandcamp.com/https://thehectorcollectors.bandcamp.com/

In this episode, Ben leads everyone through an album nobody would have pegged him as loving (since it's not by Elvis), 1967's The Velvet Underground and Nico. Produced (sort of) by Andy Warhol and featuring singing (sort of) by German model Nico, the album's noisy, abrasive rock music - sweetened by Lou Reed's reliable pop instincts - has influenced generations of bands. But is it any fun to listen to? Ben says heck yes, Will rolls his eyes, and Amanda and Phil bring some sorely needed nuance to the table. There's definitely Discord here - probably inevitable whenever Lou Reed is involved. WARNING: This episode contains some adult themes and naughty language. Listener discretion is advised. Cohosts: Benjamin Marlin, Phil Maddox, Amanda Rodgers, Chris Willie WilliamsComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/035-the-velvet-underground-the-velvet-underground-and-nico-1967Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

ULLA!!! Discord & Rhyme tackles an art-rock/disco musical based on the 1898 H.G. Wells novel The War of the Worlds and which John posits as the most ‘70s album ever made. Featuring an unforgettable spoken word performance by Richard Burton, as well as an absolutely fascinating who’s who collection of prominent late-’70s vocalists from the worlds of rock music and musicals, this album has gone down in history in the United States as a cult obscurity, but is one of the 40 best-selling albums of all time in the United Kingdom. In this episode, John leads Amanda, Phil, and Rich in a deep-dive examination of this album, with particular focus on the various leitmotifs used in creating the music, but also focuses on the question of how such a strange album, made by somebody best known for writing British advertising jingles and television themes, became such a lasting cultural phenomenon in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking nations outside the United States and Canada.Cohosts: John McFerrin, Rich Bunnell, Phil Maddox, Amanda RodgersComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/034-jeff-waynes-musical-version-of-the-war-of-the-worlds-1978Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

This is the last of our miniseries on Pure Moods! In this episode: more soundtracks, some critiquing of Twin Peaks, and a surprise Eurythmic. (Also some technical difficulties - please forgive our less-than-stellar audio quality in this one.)Angelo Badalamenti - The Theme from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me Geoffrey Oryema - Makambo Mark Isham - My Wife With Champagne Shoulders Michael Nyman - The Promise Candy Dulfer & Dave Stewart - Lily Was HereGet early access to bonus episodes on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod Opening music: The Hector Collectors https://thehectorcollectors.bandcamp.com/ Closing credits music: Kenneth Kraylie https://kennethkraylie.bandcamp.com/https://casinos.bandcamp.com/

This week on Discord & Rhyme, we strap in for another ride through ’90s indie rock as we discuss Pavement’s beautifully messy third album, Wowee Zowee. Released right as the band was positioned for a possible mainstream breakout, this sprawling, stylistic tour de force was apparently the last thing MTV’s Buzz Bin was looking for in 1995. Over the years, however, fans and critics have come around to the album’s wild, unpredictable twists and turns through gorgeous soundscapes, tossed-off blasts of punk fuzz, country-rock ballads, big power-pop hooks, and stoned weirdness. Special guest (and fellow music podcaster himself) Jeff Blehar joins Dan, Phil, and Rich for a deep dive into Pavement’s eclectic masterpiece. (NOTE: We said some swears in this one, but nothing too terrible.)Co-hosts: Dan Watkins, Phil Maddox, Rich Bunnell, Jeff BleharComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/033-feat-jeff-blehar-pavement-wowee-zowee-1995Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

It's the next set of Pure Moods! In this episode: more mispronounced words, a couple of soundtrack excerpts, and...David Byrne?Enigma - Sadeness, Part 1 Karl Jenkins - Adiemus Jan Hammer - Crockett's Theme Ennio Morricone - Theme from The Mission David Byrne - Main Title Theme from The Last Emperor Sacred Spirit - Yeha-Noha (Wishes of Happiness and Prosperity) Get early access to bonus episodes on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodOpening music: The Hector Collectors https://thehectorcollectors.bandcamp.com/ Closing credits music: Kenneth Kraylie https://kennethkraylie.bandcamp.com/https://casinos.bandcamp.com/

This week on Discord & Rhyme: witty, unpredictable talent and natural game. In the early ‘90s, Bobby Diggs, aka Bobby Digital, aka the RZA, served as de facto leader for a nine-piece Staten Island (or Shaolin) collective that changed the face of hip-hop. The Wu-Tang Clan’s rhymes were clever, aggressive, filled with pop culture references, and came at you from all sides, paired with production from the RZA, who preferred to sample empty space and dissonance over conventional hooks. Between 1994 and 1996, the members of Wu-Tang unleashed a whole volley of classic solo albums, and 1995’s Liquid Swords by the GZA, alias the Genius, might be the greatest of all of them. On this episode Rich leads Mike, Ben, and Phil through RZA’s chaotic sound landscapes and GZA’s murderous rhymes tight with genuine craft, both of which helped him realize that hip-hop is one of the greatest things in the entire world.NOTE: This episode is marked Explicit, which you may or may not be able to see in your podcatcher, due to some strong language and violent imagery (i.e., we said a bunch of swears). Don't say we didn't warn you! Cohosts: Rich Bunnell, Mike DeFabio, Phil Maddox, Ben MarlinComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/032-geniusgza-liquid-swords-1995Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod