Discord and Rhyme: An Album Podcast

Latest Episodes:

In Defense of Prog Rock - Disc 2, Tracks 6-10 Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

Remember how Mike said this is where he put all the weird stuff? He wasn't kidding. The trial continues, with two new witnesses for the defense: Amanda, who is unreliable and inconsistent, and returning guest Dave Weigel, who is the best witness for this case anybody could ask for. He's the author of The Show That Never Ends: The Rise and Fall of Prog Rock, an excellent book that you all should read, and an unshakable expert witness.
Cohosts: Mike DeFabio, Amanda Rodgers, Dave Weigel, Rich Bunnell
Tracks:
Atomic Rooster - Friday the 13th
Gong - Flying Teapot
Magma - Kobah
Premiata Forniera Marconi - Per Un Amico
Hawkwind - Magnu
Additional clips:
Hawkwind - Sonic Attack
Hawkwind - Time We Left This World Today
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown - Fire
Atomic Rooster - Tomorrow Night
Alice Cooper - He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask)
Gong - Flute Salad
Insane Clown Posse - Who Asked You
Can - Vitamin C
Magma - Kobaïa
King Crimson - Waiting Man (from Absent Lovers)
Elton John - Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
Hawkwind - Motorhead
Pink Floyd - Interstellar Overdrive
Hawkwind - Space Is Deep
Closing credits music: Kenneth Kraylie
https://kennethkraylie.bandcamp.com/
https://casinos.bandcamp.com/
Get early access to bonus episodes on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod
Discord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod

111: The New Pornographers - Mass Romantic (2000) Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

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 Watkins
Complete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/111-the-new-pornographers-mass-romantic-2000
Discord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod
Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

In Defense of Prog Rock - Disc 2, Tracks 1-5 Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

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 Days
The Moody Blues - Gypsy
Aphrodite's Child - The Four Horsemen
Procol Harum - Conquistador
Electric Light Orchestra - Daybreaker
Other clips:
Aphrodite's Child - Seven Trumpets
Aphrodite's Child - Altamont
The Tornados - Telstar
Aphrodite's Child - Rain and Tears
The Verve - The Rolling People
Beck - Chemtrails
Aphrodite's Child - ∞
Procol Harum - Conquistador (studio version)
Cohosts: Mike DeFabio, Rich Bunnell, Ben Marlin
Closing credits music: Kenneth Kraylie
https://kennethkraylie.bandcamp.com/
https://casinos.bandcamp.com/
Get early access to bonus episodes on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod
Discord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod

110: Marvin Gaye - Here, My Dear (1978) Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

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-1978
Discord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod
Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

109: Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (1977) Dec 20, 2022

Show notes

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 Rodgers
Complete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/109-fleetwood-mac-rumours-1977
Discord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod
Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

Weird Al's Polka Your Eyes Out (1992), Tracks 8-14 Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

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 Maddox
Metallica - Enter Sandman
Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance
Warrant - Cherry Pie
Janet Jackson - Miss You Much
Divinyls - I Touch Myself
Mötley Crüe - Dr. Feelgood
Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby
Other clips:
Mariah Carey - Emotions
Megadeth - I'll Get Even
Metallica - Frantic
Madonna - Vogue
Parliament - Flash Light
Digital Underground - Doowutchyalike
Parliament - Let's Play House
Parliament - Theme from the Black Hole
Sly and the Family Stone - Sing a Simple Song
Digital Underground - Same Song
Warrant - Heaven
Janet Jackson - Escapade
Janet Jackson - Black Cat
Janet Jackson - Love Will Never Do (Without You)
Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation
Hi-Five - I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)
Cathy Dennis - Touch Me (All Night Long)
Divinyls - Pleasure and Pain
Vanilla Ice - Ninja Rap
Get early access to bonus episodes on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod
Discord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod

108: John Prine - John Prine (1971) Dec 06, 2022

Show notes

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 McFerrin
Complete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/108-john-prine-john-prine-1971
Discord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod
Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

Weird Al's Polka Your Eyes Out (1992), Tracks 1-7 Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

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 Love
DNA feat. Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner
The B-52's - Love Shack
Technotronic - Pump Up the Jam
R.E.M. - Losing My Religion
EMF - Unbelievable
Bell Biv DeVoe - Do Me!
Co-hosts: Rich Bunnell, Dan Watkins, Jennifer Carman
Links:
Get early access to bonus episodes on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod
Discord & Rhyme merch: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod
Suzanne Vega tells the story behind "Tom's Diner": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D99PhzEIWuA
Barry 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-hits
Weird Al gives the MST3K treatment to the "Losing My Religion" music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieHA0BIfs9A
Other clips:
"Weird Al" Yankovic - The Hot Rocks Polka
"Weird Al" Yankovic - Smells Like Nirvana
Mariah Carey - Vision of Love
Generation X - King Rocker
Billy Idol - White Wedding
The Chipmunks - Cradle of Love
Stevie B - Because I Love You (The Postman Song)
Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner
Mark Jonathan Davis feat. Marylin Whitelaw - Jeannie's Diner
Fatboy Slim - Praise You
Bad English - When I See You Smile
The B-52's - Hot Pants Explosion
The B-52's - Glove Slap
Michael Bolton - How Am I Supposed to Live Without You
Jesse Saunders - On and On
Technotronic - The Pro 24s
Technotronic - Get Up! (Before the Night Is Over)
Technotronic - Move This
Lil Uzi Vert - Pump Up the Jam
Paula Abdul - Rush Rush
Color Me Badd - I Wanna Sex You Up
R.E.M. - Pilgrimage
R.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" TV
Andrew Dice Clay - Mother Goose
Gorillaz - 19-2000 (Soulchild remix)
Bon Jovi - Blaze of Glory
Keith Sweat - I Want Her
Bell Biv DeVoe - Poison
Bell Biv DeVoe - Do Me! (Remix)

107: Supertramp - Crime of the Century (1974) Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

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 Maddox

Complete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/107-supertramp-crime-of-the-century-1974

Discord & Rhyme's merch store: http://tee.pub/lic/discordpod

Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod

Weird Al's Polka Party! (1986), Tracks 7-12 Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

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 Shuffle
Bananarama - Venus
Janet Jackson - Nasty
Falco - Rock Me Amadeus
Tears for Fears - Shout
Madonna - Papa Don't Preach
Co-hosts: Rich Bunnell, John McFerrin, Libby Cudmore
Links:
"Harlem Shuffle" music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAkMTu6q2pY
"Dr. Zaius" (from The Simpsons): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlmzUEQxOvA
Danny Aiello's "Papa Wants the Best for You": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xg11hwVs-M
Weird Al "interviews" Madonna in 1985: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twunYSrARk0
Get early access to bonus episodes on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod
Discord & 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 - Alimony
Bananarama - Aie a Mwana
Shocking Blue - Venus
Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)
Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
Kylie Minogue - I Should Be So Lucky
Morris Minor & the Majors - This Is the Chorus
Ministry - Everyday Is Halloween
Bananarama - Cruel Summer
Bananarama - Robert De Niro's Waiting ...
Genesis - Land of Confusion
Janet Jackson - Fast Girls
Falco - Der Kommissar
Falco - It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Tears for Fears - Mad World
Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World
XTC - This World Over
Tears for Fears - The Tipping Point
Madonna - Everybody
Danny Aiello - Papa Wants the Best for You
Kelly Osbourne - Papa Don't Preach
"Weird Al" Yankovic - Like a Surgeon

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