Discord and Rhyme: An Album Podcast

Special guest Dave Weigel joins Discord & Rhyme once again to talk about Sparks, “your favorite band’s favorite band.” It’s been a good couple of decades for Ron and Russell Mael. After decades of toiling in semi-obscurity, the brothers saw a late-career renaissance in 2002 with the symphonic, beatless dance album Lil’ Beethoven, and Edgar Wright’s 2021 documentary The Sparks Brothers cemented their status as elder statesmen of irreverent pop music. For today’s episode, Producer Mike is taking us back to the band’s early years with the 1974 album Kimono My House, which demonstrates that the Maels’ sense of songcraft was in full force from the very beginning. Despite what the interviewees in The Sparks Brothers (including Dave!) might tell you, Sparks aren’t for everybody, and the Maels occasionally revel in being grating in a way that even our hosts can’t abide. But if you listen to “This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us” and adore it, good news: this is only the beginning of a gloriously warped musical journey.Cohosts: Mike DeFabio, John McFerrin, Dan Watkins, Dave WeigelComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/097-sparks-kimono-my-house-1974Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod

It somehow took us 96 episodes for Discord & Rhyme’s first movie soundtrack, so we’re rectifying this with possibly the greatest movie soundtrack of all time. In 1972, Curtis Mayfield had just capped off a career writing legendary civil rights anthems with the Impressions and defining the sound of Chicago soul by launching what would prove to be an equally legendary solo career. For his soundtrack to the classic blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield served as both the film’s Greek chorus and its conscience, subtly critiquing the film as a “cocaine infomercial” while acknowledging that this was the only life path available to its protagonists. And it’s a truly musically groundbreaking work, paving the way for both the musical language and verbal iconography of the hip-hop genre. Rich will be your pusherman this week, so join him as our hosts run wild and give a stellar soundtrack all of their love.Cohosts: Rich Bunnell, Mike DeFabio, Ben Marlin, John McFerrinComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/096-curtis-mayfield-super-fly-1972Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod

Things get weird again at Discord and Rhyme as we dig into Mr. Bungle’s 1999 genre-defying opus California. After the demise of his day job with Faith No More, singer Mike Patton returned to his more esoteric side hustle to record a collection of songs that fuse Beach Boys pop, death metal, lounge music, and Eastern-European influences together as if they’re natural bedfellows. Join us as we discuss how the band managed to synthesize all of these disparate influences into what is easily their most cohesive and accessible album. Cohosts: Dan Watkins, Rich Bunnell, Mike DeFabio, Phil MaddoxComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/095-mr-bungle-california-1999Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod

After going more than a full calendar year without covering a Moody Blues album, Discord & Rhyme has reverted to its truest self with this episode on A Question of Balance, the 1970 album that the band created after realizing they needed to start recording more songs they could actually play live. Join us as we discuss the band’s most democratic and often weirdest album, one where the band tried to figure out how to make the transition from the 60s to the 70s and tried to make sense of all of the world’s problems simultaneously. They didn’t completely succeed with either of these tasks, but they did a fine job nonetheless with both, and this made for an interesting album that we had a fun time talking about.Cohosts: Rich Bunnell, Phil Maddox, John McFerrin, Amanda RodgersComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/094-the-moody-blues-a-question-of-balance-1970Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod

Swedish pop band ABBA has become a beloved cultural institution in the four decades since they disbanded, but in a world of ABBA Gold and "Mamma Mia!," the band is typically remembered in terms of individual songs more than in terms of their albums. John, however, got into them primarily through their albums, and for this episode, John lead a discussion (along with Rich, Amanda, and Phil) on ABBA: The Album (aka The Album), the 1977 album by ABBA that in many ways is the most album album that ABBA ever released in a string of terrific albums. Take a chance on the ABBA album, ABBA: The Album, and learn why the band always thought of itself much less as a singles band and much more as an albums band. If you've never heard "Eagle" or "I'm a Marionette," then you have a hole in your soul.Cohosts: John McFerrin, Rich Bunnell, Phil Maddox, Amanda RodgersComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/093-abba-the-album-1977Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod

This week, we close out our second Weird Al polka medley with some nuclear war, some proto-hair metal, and a lot of sexual innuendo (or "out-uenndo," in the case of Frankie Goes to Hollywood). Returning guest Libby Cudmore returns to reminisce about her Weird Al concert experiences, gush about yacht rock, and help our sheltered hosts turn subtext into text.Twisted Sister - We're Not Gonna Take ItNena - 99 LuftballonsKenny Loggins - FootlooseDuran Duran - The ReflexQuiet Riot - Bang Your Head (Metal Health)Frankie Goes to Hollywood - RelaxCohosts: Rich Bunnell, Phil Maddox, Libby CudmoreLinks:Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod The OST Party on the "UHF" soundtrack (featuring Rich): https://ostparty.podbean.com/e/episode-27-uhf/The OST Party on the "Footloose" soundtrack: https://ostparty.podbean.com/e/episode-48-footloose/"We're Not Gonna Take It" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xmckWVPRaIYou're Wrong About on the PMRC hearings: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1112270/7857100-tipper-gore-vs-heavy-metal-the-hearingDee Snider's speech before the Senate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0Vyr1TylTEYacht Rock episode 11 (Footloose): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX1Nh6c80woClosing credits music: Kenneth Krayliehttps://kennethkraylie.bandcamp.com/https://casinos.bandcamp.com/

Q&A is here again! In this edition, we discuss power ballads, music biopics, bad band names, and the artists we'll probably never cover. Cohosts: Mike DeFabio, Amanda Rodgers, Dan WatkinsTheme music: The Moody Blues - Question

Weird Al's second polka medley was his first to consist entirely of contemporary chart hits, a formula he would (mostly) follow for the rest of his career. This week, we discuss a largely forgotten duet between Michael Jackson and Mick Jagger, discover the missing link between ZZ Top and the Moody Blues (like we do), and ponder how the owner of a parcel of land in Montana compares to the owner of a pie. The Jacksons and Mick Jagger - State of ShockZZ Top - Sharp Dressed ManTina Turner - What's Love Got to Do with ItDaryl Hall and John Oates - Method of Modern LoveYes - Owner of a Lonely HeartCohosts: Rich Bunnell, John McFerrin, Amanda RodgersGet early access to bonus episodes on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod Slate's Hit Parade podcast on Hall and Oates: https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2022/01/hall-and-oates-biggest-duo-in-chart-history"State of Shock" sung by Harvey Leeds (whom Rich misidentified as "Harvey Leeks"): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLzVgfOCKkkJohn Michael Higgins sings "Owner of a Lonely Heart" in The Break-Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aky2LIJu7yM"Owner of a Lonely Heart" bit from Mystery Science Theater 3000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5Rq5f9ZXKgClosing credits music: Kenneth Kraylie https://kennethkraylie.bandcamp.com/ https://casinos.bandcamp.com/

Can’s music is part of the DNA of an incredible variety of music - from indie rock, to new wave, to electronica, to ambient, and most points in between. Despite this, Can are not well known outside of music geeks like the Discord and Rhyme crew. They have long been one of Phil’s very favorite bands, though, and he’s here to talk about perhaps the band’s greatest album, 1971’s Tago Mago, along with John and Mike. Together, they’ll demonstrate that while the voyage into the world of Can can be a somewhat difficult trip, it’s a trip very much worth taking.Cohosts: Phil Maddox, Mike DeFabio, John McFerrinComplete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/092-can-tago-mago-1971Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod

This week we round out our coverage of Weird Al's first polka medley, including four bands we've talked about on the podcast before, a whole bunch of "Hey Joe" covers of varying style and quality, and Foreigner's surprising prog rock roots.The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Hey JoeTalking Heads - Burning Down the HouseForeigner - Hot BloodedThe Police - Every Breath You TakeThe Clash - Should I Stay or Should I GoThe Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack FlashThe Who - My GenerationCohosts: Rich Bunnell, Amanda Rodgers, Dan WatkinsLinks: D&R on "Hey Joe": https://www.spreaker.com/user/14421968/this-is-comp-nuggets-disc-1-tracks-10-18D&R on Talking Heads: https://discordpod.com/listen/057-talking-heads-fear-of-music-1979D&R on the Police: https://discordpod.com/listen/086-the-police-synchronicity-1983D&R on the Rolling Stones: https://discordpod.com/listen/074-the-rolling-stones-their-satanic-majesties-request-1967D&R on the Who: https://discordpod.com/listen/076-the-who-the-who-sell-out-1967Al discusses Devo's "Freedom of Choice" on the podcast This Particular Album Is Very Very Important to Me: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/devos-freedom-of-choice-with-al-yankovic/id1406834876?i=1000447314876Al sings George Harrison's "What Is Life": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXMq3QJwJiAGet early access to bonus episodes on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/discordpodDiscord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod Closing credits music: Kenneth Kraylie https://kennethkraylie.bandcamp.com/ https://casinos.bandcamp.com/