Discord and Rhyme: An Album Podcast

Weird Al spent some downtime in the late '80s and early '90s waiting for the next big thing in popular music, which turned out to be Nirvana. But a lot happened in music in the intervening six years, and as a result, our coverage of his first polka medley of the '90s covers a lot of ground, including new jack swing, Madchester, house music, and the birth of DJ remixes. Tracks:Billy Idol - Cradle of LoveDNA feat. Suzanne Vega - Tom's DinerThe B-52's - Love ShackTechnotronic - Pump Up the JamR.E.M. - Losing My ReligionEMF - UnbelievableBell Biv DeVoe - Do Me!Co-hosts: Rich Bunnell, Dan Watkins, Jennifer CarmanLinks:Get early access to bonus episodes on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod Suzanne Vega tells the story behind "Tom's Diner": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D99PhzEIWuABarry Michael Cooper on the origins of new jack swing: https://www.njs4ever.com/2020/07/04/the-man-who-named-new-jack-swing-barry-michael-cooper-interview-part-1/Hit Parade podcast on "legacy hits": https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2022/09/radio-determines-lost-hits-vs-legacy-hitsWeird Al gives the MST3K treatment to the "Losing My Religion" music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieHA0BIfs9AOther clips:"Weird Al" Yankovic - The Hot Rocks Polka"Weird Al" Yankovic - Smells Like NirvanaMariah Carey - Vision of LoveGeneration X - King RockerBilly Idol - White WeddingThe Chipmunks - Cradle of LoveStevie B - Because I Love You (The Postman Song)Suzanne Vega - Tom's DinerMark Jonathan Davis feat. Marylin Whitelaw - Jeannie's DinerFatboy Slim - Praise YouBad English - When I See You SmileThe B-52's - Hot Pants ExplosionThe B-52's - Glove SlapMichael Bolton - How Am I Supposed to Live Without YouJesse Saunders - On and OnTechnotronic - The Pro 24sTechnotronic - Get Up! (Before the Night Is Over)Technotronic - Move ThisLil Uzi Vert - Pump Up the JamPaula Abdul - Rush RushColor Me Badd - I Wanna Sex You UpR.E.M. - PilgrimageR.E.M. - It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)Yoko Takahashi - The Cruel Angel's Thesis"Weird Al" Yankovic - Spam"Weird Al" Yankovic - Frank's 2000" TVAndrew Dice Clay - Mother GooseGorillaz - 19-2000 (Soulchild remix)Bon Jovi - Blaze of GloryKeith Sweat - I Want HerBell Biv DeVoe - PoisonBell Biv DeVoe - Do Me! (Remix)

When Discord & Rhyme was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful, a miracle, oh, it was beautiful, magical. We also knew from day one that our podcast was eventually going to talk about Supertramp, and that day has come at last. Amanda and Rich have been immersed in the UK prog-pop band’s music from a very young age, and they’ve recruited Supertramp noobs John and Phil to round out the panel. You may be familiar with their late-’70s album Breakfast in America and its quartet of radio singles, but today we’re talking about their 1974 album Crime of the Century, a musically and psychologically dense song cycle boasting some of the best art-rock production this side of Dark Side of the Moon. Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson had diametrically opposed arranging and songwriting philosophies, which tended to make their albums extremely disjointed, but for this one album, the balance was just bloody well right.Cohosts: Amanda Rodgers, Rich Bunnell, John McFerrin, Phil MaddoxComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/107-supertramp-crime-of-the-century-1974Discord & Rhyme's merch store: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpodSupport the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

On this episode, Weird Al has finally made a monkey out of us. Our latest batch of reconstructed mid-'80s pop hits includes lots of drum machines, two covers of '60s classics (to varying degrees of success), a cameo from Danny Aiello's brief and inexplicable recording career, and an ode to Mozart for people who hate every ape they see, from chimpan-A to chimpanzee.Songs:The Rolling Stones - Harlem ShuffleBananarama - VenusJanet Jackson - NastyFalco - Rock Me AmadeusTears for Fears - ShoutMadonna - Papa Don't PreachCo-hosts: Rich Bunnell, John McFerrin, Libby CudmoreLinks:"Harlem Shuffle" music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAkMTu6q2pY"Dr. Zaius" (from The Simpsons): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlmzUEQxOvADanny Aiello's "Papa Wants the Best for You": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xg11hwVs-MWeird Al "interviews" Madonna in 1985: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twunYSrARk0Get early access to bonus episodes on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod Other clips:Bob & Earl - Harlem Shuffle"Weird Al" Yankovic - (This Song's Just) Six Words Long"Weird Al" Yankovic - I Think I'm a Clone Now"Weird Al" Yankovic - AlimonyBananarama - Aie a MwanaShocking Blue - VenusDead or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You UpKylie Minogue - I Should Be So LuckyMorris Minor & the Majors - This Is the ChorusMinistry - Everyday Is HalloweenBananarama - Cruel SummerBananarama - Robert De Niro's Waiting ...Genesis - Land of ConfusionJanet Jackson - Fast GirlsFalco - Der KommissarFalco - It's All Over Now, Baby BlueTears for Fears - Mad WorldTears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the WorldXTC - This World OverTears for Fears - The Tipping PointMadonna - EverybodyDanny Aiello - Papa Wants the Best for YouKelly Osbourne - Papa Don't Preach"Weird Al" Yankovic - Like a Surgeon

For over twenty years, Ted Leo has been one of the most intelligent and consistent songwriters of the indie rock world. In this episode, Dan, Rich, and guest rude-boy James Boo discuss the 2003 album Hearts of Oak, which showcases Leo’s talent for crafting thoughtful, politically-charged lyrics and channeling them into immediately catchy anthems. Whether it’s navigating the confusing climate of a post-9/11 America or simply ruminating on the power of ska, Ted serves it up in a poignant, ear-catching package. Cohosts: Dan Watkins, Rich Bunnell, James BooComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/106-ted-leo-and-the-pharmacists-hearts-of-oak-2003Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod

Emboldened by the success of "Eat It" and "Like a Surgeon," Weird Al titled his fourth album Polka Party!, and the 1986 record-buying public shunned what they assumed was a full album of accordion music. It wasn't, but the title track was the latest of Al's reliable polka medleys rounding up the chart music of the day. This time around we've got #1 hits by two members of Genesis, the Queen of Soul's voice doing battle with mushy '80s production, and an inconsistent but underrated Australian band that Ben and Rich have bonded over for decades.Tracks:Peter Gabriel - SledgehammerPhil Collins - SussudioEddie Murphy - Party All the TimeLionel Richie - Say You, Say MeAretha Franklin - Freeway of LoveINXS - What You NeedCo-hosts: Rich Bunnell, Ben Marlin, Amanda RodgersLinks: "Sledgehammer" music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJWJE0x7T4Q"Urban Renewal," the hip-hop/R&B Phil Collins tribute album: https://www.discogs.com/release/1925875-Various-Urban-Renewal100+ pink Cadillacs at Aretha Franklin's funeral procession: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLTOnOUcLbUGet early access to bonus episodes on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod Other clips: "Weird Al" Yankovic - Living with a HerniaOtis Redding - Change Gonna ComeBo Carter - Please Warm My Wiener"Weird Al" Yankovic - Waffle King"Weird Al" Yankovic - Talk SoupPrince - 1999Genesis - MisunderstandingOl' Dirty Bastard - SussudioBrandy - Another Day in ParadiseKelis - I Don't Care AnymoreEddie Murphy - Put Your Mouth on MeSisqo - Thong SongJoe Pesci - Wise GuyEddie Murphy - My God Is Color BlindLionel Richie - You ArePhil Collins and Marilyn Martin - Separate LivesAretha Franklin & Eurythmics - Sisters Are Doin' It for ThemselvesLisa Simpson, Ann Wilson & Nancy Wilson - Sisters Are Doin' It for ThemselvesINXS - Need You TonightINXS - Don't ChangeINXS - Heaven SentEddie Murphy - Boogie in Your Butt

This Halloween we’re celebrating FALLoween, as we hit the north and take on the Mighty Fall! Other than a few singles that barely scraped the UK top 40, the Fall never achieved commercial success, but they built a large cult following due in large part to the personality and antics of their difficult, irascible, intelligent, and borderline unintelligible bandleader, Mark E. Smith. But what we hope to emphasize in this episode is that despite Smith’s outsized influence over the Fall, and his tendency to fire members on a whim, the Fall was always a band. Smith’s ideas formed the bedrock of their songs, but their music was always the product of a back-and-forth between him and incredibly talented musicians who added their own distinctive stamp to every iteration of the Fall. Their discography can be large and intimidating to new listeners, so we’ve chosen their 1985 opus This Nation’s Saving Grace, which is relatively accessible, but also a legit candidate for their greatest album. So even if you don’t come away from this episode as the Fall’s 50,001st fan, we hope you’ll at least understand why anyone would willingly listen to this band.Cohosts: Rich Bunnell, Mike DeFabio, Dan WatkinsComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/105-the-fall-this-nations-saving-grace-1985Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod

We talked about our first classical suite a few episodes back, so now it’s time for Discord & Rhyme to talk about its first symphony! Electric Light Orchestra have been going through something of a resurgence in the 21st century, but in the ‘70s, music critics savaged Jeff Lynne’s attempts to mix pop songwriting with orchestral pomp. But with 1974’s Eldorado, Lynne was attempting to please his harshest critic of all, his classical-loving father, who claimed that ELO’s songs “have got no tune.” The result was a fascinating, overblown concept album about a Walter Mitty-esque character who escapes the real world through the power of fantasy, and whether the concept holds for the entire album (it doesn’t), it dazzled Producer Mike as a child and continues to dazzle him today. So join our hosts for an evening at the symphony, as we fight some of the holiest wars and smash some of the holiest jawrs(?!!).Cohosts: Mike DeFabio, Phil Maddox, Ben Marlin, Amanda RodgersComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/104-electric-light-orchestra-eldorado-1974Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod

Closing out our first round of arguments in defense of progressive rock with some extra heavy hitters! And some truly baffling weirdness. Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention - Inca RoadsFocus - Hocus PocusThe Nice - AmericaKing Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid ManOther clips: King Crimson - Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part 1Frank Zappa - Shut Up 'n Play Yer GuitarFocus - Hocus Pocus (live on The Midnight Special)Rita Moreno - AmericaR.E.M. - It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)Giles, Giles and Fripp - One in a MillionKing Crimson - Schizoid Men 3Cohosts: Mike DeFabio, John McFerrin, Dan Watkins, Amanda RodgersGet early access to bonus episodes on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod

As luck would have it, two of Discord & Rhyme’s most powerful villains have been turned loose for an episode that will strike terror into the hearts of men! This week, Rich and Mike take on the 2004 hip-hop classic Madvillainy, a team-up between MF DOOM, a rapper with a metal mask and a tragic, comic-book backstory, and Madlib, a DJ with eclectic taste and an unpredictable, artfully imprecise style. The album’s 22 tracks unfold like a fever dream over just 46 minutes, with samples drawn from Bollywood, Brazilian music, Zappa, and Sun Ra crashing headfirst into snippets from old cartoons. And this is all presided over by DOOM, who packs almost unfair amounts of wordplay and meaning into every line. It may seem like chaos at first, but there’s a method to Madvillainy, and it shows how hip-hop can contain the world.Cohosts: Rich Bunnell, Mike DeFabioComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/103-madvillain-madvillainy-2004Discord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

Continuing our enthusiastic defense of progressive rock with this extremely compelling evidence! Jethro Tull - Cross-Eyed MaryYes - Starship TrooperThe Soft Machine - As Long As He Lies Perfectly StillGentle Giant - KnotsAdditional evidence: Yes - Heart of the SunriseJethro Tull - AqualungIron Maiden - Cross-Eyed MaryJethro Tull - Lap of LuxuryYes - The Ancient (Giants Under the Sun)Yes - Starship Trooper (Yessongs version)The Soft Machine - All WhiteThe Soft Machine - A Concise British Alphabet – Pt. 1The Soft Machine - A Concise British Alphabet – Pt. 2Björk - SubmarineSimon Dupree & The Big Sound - KitesGentle Giant - AlucardCohosts: Mike DeFabio, Phil Maddox, John McFerrinGet early access to bonus episodes on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod