Discord and Rhyme: An Album Podcast

The New Pornographers winkingly call themselves an “indie rock supergroup,” even though none of their members were performing before crowds larger than 200 when they formed. Since then, they’ve grown into critical darlings with a cult following and an intimidating spread of studio albums and solo releases, but they were never scrappier, hungrier, and more fascinating than on their 2000 debut, Mass Romantic. Buoyed by bandleader Carl “A.C.” Newman’s sturdy pop songwriting, Dan Bejar’s looser, more whimsical compositions, and Neko Case’s superhuman vocals, the album packs six or seven hooks into every song. The results are both exhilarating and exhausting, and that ebullient energy is exactly why Rich has loved them for more than two decades. If you’ve never listened to the New Pornos before but enjoy great pop music, we hope this becomes a new favorite – because, after all, hope grows greener than grass stains.Cohosts: Rich Bunnell, Ben Marlin, Mike DeFabio, Dan WatkinsComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/111-the-new-pornographers-mass-romantic-2000Discord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

You know we can't stay away from prog rock for long. This time we've brought in a witness for the prosecution: cohost Ben Marlin, who is famously impatient with prog's excesses! Surprisingly, he likes most of this, but there are plenty of awesomely hot takes in here.Tracks:Pink Floyd - One of These DaysThe Moody Blues - GypsyAphrodite's Child - The Four HorsemenProcol Harum - ConquistadorElectric Light Orchestra - DaybreakerOther clips:Aphrodite's Child - Seven TrumpetsAphrodite's Child - AltamontThe Tornados - TelstarAphrodite's Child - Rain and TearsThe Verve - The Rolling PeopleBeck - ChemtrailsAphrodite's Child - ∞Procol Harum - Conquistador (studio version)Cohosts: Mike DeFabio, Rich Bunnell, Ben MarlinClosing credits music: Kenneth Krayliehttps://kennethkraylie.bandcamp.com/https://casinos.bandcamp.com/Get early access to bonus episodes on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod

In 1977, Marvin Gaye divorced Anna Ruby Gordy (against his wishes), and as part of the divorce settlement he agreed to pay Anna a portion of the royalties of his next album. Marvin responded by recording and releasing Here, My Dear, a 72-minute double album about his divorce, his feelings about his ex-wife, and a lot of other topics weighty and otherwise. The album was initially a critical and commercial dud, but over time the album gained a reputation as a classic and possibly Gaye's best. In this episode, John (as host) stakes a position in favor of the album and its improved reputation, while Ben stakes a position that maybe listeners and critics got it right with their initial skeptical reaction (Rich takes a middle position, generally in favor of the album but with some reservations), and this makes for a spirited conversation about an album that can't help but prompt strong emotional response. Everybody needs love, and everybody needs to hear us talk about this complicated album from one of the most complicated men ever to sing beautifully into a microphone.Cohosts: John McFerrin, Rich Bunnell, Ben Marlin Complete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/110-marvin-gaye-here-my-dear-1978Discord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

Did you hear? Discord & Rhyme is continuing our holiday tradition of discussing bands who despise each other, and this year it’s the legendary Fleetwood Mac. After their foundation as a British blues band, they went through years of unbelievable turmoil before hiring a couple of Americans to add some sunny California rock to their sound. The result of all this was 1977’s Rumours, famously one of the best-selling albums of all time and inescapable to this day on classic rock radio. We’re taking a close look at this very famous album to see whether all that hype is truly deserved, and it turns out (spoiler alert) it totally is. So come along with us. We have some dreams we’d like to sell.Cohosts: Rich Bunnell, Mike DeFabio, Ben Marlin, Amanda RodgersComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/109-fleetwood-mac-rumours-1977Discord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

This week, we get busy in a Burger King bathroom and close out our coverage of Weird Al's 1992 polka medley. In this final set (for now), Janet Jackson levels up into new jack swing superstar, we discuss metal of both the hair and thrash varieties, and the Ice Man cometh.Co-hosts: Rich Bunnell, Mike DeFabio, Phil MaddoxMetallica - Enter SandmanDigital Underground - The Humpty DanceWarrant - Cherry PieJanet Jackson - Miss You MuchDivinyls - I Touch MyselfMötley Crüe - Dr. FeelgoodVanilla Ice - Ice Ice BabyOther clips:Mariah Carey - EmotionsMegadeth - I'll Get EvenMetallica - FranticMadonna - VogueParliament - Flash LightDigital Underground - DoowutchyalikeParliament - Let's Play HouseParliament - Theme from the Black HoleSly and the Family Stone - Sing a Simple SongDigital Underground - Same SongWarrant - HeavenJanet Jackson - EscapadeJanet Jackson - Black CatJanet Jackson - Love Will Never Do (Without You)Janet Jackson - Rhythm NationHi-Five - I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)Cathy Dennis - Touch Me (All Night Long)Divinyls - Pleasure and PainVanilla Ice - Ninja RapGet early access to bonus episodes on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod

Wipe that illegal smile off your face! Phil has been immersed in the music of John Prine for his entire life, and he’s brought along John and Ben to discuss the Maywood, IL, singer/songwriter, who unfortunately was one of the earliest victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. When Prine recorded his 1971 debut, industry execs saw him as a Midwestern rube, to the point of posing him on top of a hay bale on the album cover, even though hay bales are in short supply in the Chicago suburbs. But he’s a witty, intelligent, insightful, and empathetic songwriter with the ability to make listeners laugh and cry in the space of a single line, and his songs have been covered by legends including Johnny Cash and Bonnie Raitt. Prine’s passing led to a surge of interest in his music, to the point where this album charted higher in the spring of 2020 than it ever had in the previous five decades, so if he’s has flown under your radar to this point, this episode is a great opportunity to learn all about a true genius of American folk music.Cohosts: Phil Maddox, Ben Marlin, John McFerrinComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/108-john-prine-john-prine-1971Discord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

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