Discord and Rhyme: An Album Podcast

Yeah, yeah, we know, I got a fever, yadda yadda. At this point, Blue Öyster Cult are probably best known for the 2000 Saturday Night Live sketch “More Cowbell,” where Christopher Walken repeatedly demands that the band play up the faint cowbell in their 1975 hit single “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” and we all had a good laugh. But the sketch barely scratches the surface of the fascinating, strange depths of BÖC’s music. The band started off as basically a vessel for the vision of rock critic Sandy Pearlman, who filled their lyrics with convoluted mythology and gave the band rock music’s very first decorative umlaut. And despite their goal of being “the American Black Sabbath,” BÖC didn’t really sound like any rock music of the time, to the point where Eric Bloom could call his rhythm guitar “stun guitar” and nobody would think to ask why. In this episode, Phil leads Dan, Mike, and Rich through Secret Treaties, the pinnacle of the band as a cohesive vision, featuring a lyrical cameo by Patti Smith and the story of a U.S. Supreme Court justice who steals people’s eyeballs. You know, like people do. Cohosts: Phil Maddox, Dan Watkins, Mike DeFabio, Rich BunnellComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/022-blue-oyster-cult-secret-treaties-1974Discord & Rhyme's merch store: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpodSupport the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

Several really excellent songs, and one example of extreme plagiarism - only Amanda didn't notice it and had a nervous breakdown when Phil pointed it out. Plus a love song to a speckled egg. You won't want to miss this one. For early access to these bonus episodes, visit https://www.patreon.com/discordpod!(Warning: The first artist on this set was a sexual predator, and we discuss it a bit, though not in detail. If that is not the kind of thing you want to listen to, skip from about 2:30-3:15. Also, his song sucks.)Kim Fowley - The TripThe Seeds - Can't Seem to Make You MineThe Remains - Why Do I CryThe Beau Brummels - Laugh, LaughThe Nightcrawlers - Little Black EggThe Gants - I WonderThe Five Americans - I See the LightThe Woolies - Who Do You LoveOpening music: The Hector Collectorshttps://thehectorcollectors.bandcamp.com/ Closing credits music: Kenneth Krayliehttps://kennethkraylie.bandcamp.com/https://casinos.bandcamp.com/

The Magnetic Fields' fastidious idea-geyser Stephin Merritt decided to preempt anyone else's attempts to pay tribute to his music by doing it himself. The result was 1995's indie-pop classic Wasps' Nests, recorded under the tongue-punishing name the 6ths, for which Merritt wrote and recorded all original songs, but recruited the cream of the who's-who of mid-'90s indie-rock to sing each of the tracks. On this episode of D&R, Will plays tour guide, herding Amanda, Dan, and Rich through Merritt's menagerie of indie-rock icons, exploring how their own musical styles react and fluoresce when combined with his singular, synth-heavy indie-pop backdrops. And holy every-profanity, Barbara Manning, Will's musical heroine, stops by to tell us about her experience contributing to this album and hanging out with Merritt in general!Cohosts: Chris Willie Williams, Amanda Rodgers, Rich Bunnell, Dan WatkinsComplete show notes: http://discordpod.com/listen/the-6ths-wasps-nests-1995 Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

This is a fantastic batch of songs, including both Love and Strawberry Alarm Clock. We're getting good and psychedelic in this one! (For any listeners who might be a bit confused at the radio station talk, Amanda and John both grew up in the Chicago area. John is still there, but Amanda has defected to Canada.) For early access to these bonus episodes, visit https://www.patreon.com/discordpod.  The Chocolate Watchband - Sweet Young ThingStrawberry Alarm Clock - Incense and PeppermintsThe Brogues - I Ain't No Miracle WorkerLove - 7 and 7 IsThe Outsiders - Time Won't Let MeThe Squires - Going All the WayThe Shadows of Knight - I'm Gonna Make You MineOpening music: The Hector Collectorshttps://thehectorcollectors.bandcamp.com/ Closing credits music: Kenneth Krayliehttps://kennethkraylie.bandcamp.com/https://casinos.bandcamp.com/

Remember when Amanda said T-Bone Burnett is her favorite producer? She’s proving it this episode by walking Rich, Will, and John through Raising Sand, the unlikely collaboration between blues-rock god Robert Plant and bluegrass goddess Alison Krauss. These two found the common ground between their respective genres by covering artists from the Everly Brothers to Sam Phillips, and found their own beautiful sound while they were doing it. All of the musicians on this album are incredible, but nobody except T-Bone Burnett could have seen this project through, and that is why we love him.Cohosts: Amanda Rodgers, Rich Bunnell, John McFerrin, Chris Willie WilliamsComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/020-robert-plant-and-alison-krauss-raising-sand-2007 Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

We're venturing into uncharted territory: Expanded Nuggets! Lots of great tracks on here, including one you might know from The Office. For early access to these bonus episodes, visit https://www.patreon.com/discordpod! The Music Machine - Talk TalkThe Del-Vetts - Last Time AroundThe Human Beinz - Nobody But MeKenny and the Kasuals - Journey to TymeThe Sparkles - No Friend of MineThe Turtles - Outside ChanceThe Litter - Action WomanThe Elastik Band - SpazzOpening music: The Hector Collectors https://thehectorcollectors.bandcamp.com/ Closing credits music: Kenneth Kraylie https://kennethkraylie.bandcamp.com/https://casinos.bandcamp.com/

Good morn and evening, friends, and get ready for a super-sized episode. Stevie Wonder has a deep catalog of classic, beloved LPs, but since this week’s host, Ben, follows the “because it’s there” approach to choosing albums for this podcast, we’re tackling the longest, most epic one of all: 1976’s Songs in the Key of Life. Encompassing two LPs and a bonus EP, Songs is “massive and meant to be massive,” Ben argues to co-hosts Phil, Mike, and John — and just look at the list of personnel if you don’t believe us. Even if not every song lands, the album is such a mountain range of joyous musical peaks that you’re likely going to emerge from it adoring at least a dozen tracks. Plus, ‘90s kids will recognize the source material for both Coolio’s legendary anthem “Gangsta’s Paradise” and Will Smith’s much less legendary soundtrack cash-in “Wild Wild West.” This one might take you a few commutes, but if you’ve somehow not yet experienced the music of Stevie Wonder, we promise you’re about to have a new favorite artist.Cohosts: Ben Marlin, Phil Maddox, Mike DeFabio, John McFerrinComplete show notes: http://discordpod.com/listen/019-stevie-wonder-songs-in-the-key-of-life-1976Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

Continuing our Nuggets discussion with tracks 19-27 on disc 1. This is a great batch of songs and includes a callback to our Todd Rundgren episode! Also several jokes at Ted Nugent's expense and Will briefly forgetting how to say "mojo." Visit https://www.patreon.com/discordpod for early access!  The Amboy Dukes - Baby Please Don't GoThe Blues Magoos - Tobacco RoadThe Chocolate Watchband - Let's Talk About GirlsThe Mojo Men - Sit Down, I Think I Love YouThe Third Rail - Run, Run, RunSagittarius - My World Fell DownThe Nazz - Open My EyesThe Premiers - Farmer JohnThe Magic Mushrooms - It's-A-Happening Opening music: The Hector Collectorshttps://thehectorcollectors.bandcamp.com/Closing credits music: Kenneth Krayliehttps://kennethkraylie.bandcamp.com/https://casinos.bandcamp.com/ Detourshttps://detourscast.com 

Put down that chainsaw, and listen to us — it’s time for Discord & Rhyme’s guide to Devo! You probably best know Devo for their 1980 hit “Whip It,” but that song is only the tip of the Devo iceberg, which is red and shaped like an energy dome. This episode, Dan skews from the standard Devo path, choosing neither their critically adored debut Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo nor their commercial breakthrough Freedom of Choice. Instead, he guides Mike, Rich, and Will through the album between those two, Duty Now for the Future, a pioneering album in the genre of synthpop, and an example of the gristly “connective tissue” that enriches a really great band’s discography. You might not have heard of anything on the album, but every single song is brimming over with that distinctive Devo identity.CONTENT WARNING: Several songs on Duty Now for the Future are very blunt about the subject of male sexuality, part of Devo’s distinctive brand of satire, so be warned.Cohosts: Dan Watkins, Mike DeFabio, Rich Bunnell, Chris Willie WilliamsComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/018-devo-duty-now-for-the-future-1979 Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

It's our second bonus episode! This batch of Nuggets features not one but TWO drummers with hooks for hands, so you're in for a good time. Don't forget, if you want to hear these episodes a whopping six weeks before everybody else, head on over to https://www.patreon.com/discordpod like all the rest of the cool kids. The Barbarians - MoultyThe Remains - Don't Look BackThe Magicians - An Invitation to CryThe Castaways - Liar, LiarThe 13th Floor Elevators - You're Gonna Miss MeThe Count Five - Psychotic ReactionThe Leaves - Hey JoeMichael and the Messengers - Romeo and JulietThe Cryan Shames - Sugar and SpiceOpening music: The Hector Collectorshttps://thehectorcollectors.bandcamp.com/Closing credits music: Kenneth Krayliehttps://kennethkraylie.bandcamp.com/https://casinos.bandcamp.com/