EarWax

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 18: Eric B. & Rakim - Follow the Leader Nov 16, 2023

Show notes

Hurry, hurry, step right up and follow us into an episode filled with beats, bars, and the God MC himself.
This week's episode sees Hilary and Cody marveling over the second album from Eric B. & Rakim. We flip out over the exquisite samples (shout out Bob James!) and Rakim's mastery of flow and rhymes. Studios get blacked out, there's a feud over cereal...it gets in tense.
This is a landmark record in the evolution of hip-hop. "Follow the Leader" put everyone on notice that these guys had not only had claimed the throne, they had zero intention of letting it go any time soon. Eric B. & Rakim elevated the art form and established the template from which every modern hip-hop artist has taken more than a few pointers.

Thanks for listening! Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Amoeba on Instagram:
Questions, Suggestions, Corrections (surely we're perfect): earwaxpodcast@amoeba-music.com

Credits:
Edited by Claudia Rivera-Tinsley
All transition music written and performed by Spencer Belden
"EarWax Main Theme" performed by Spencer Belden feat. David Otis

Ep. 17: Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

What have we here? A two...or one and a half-for one deal this week!
Fiona Apple's "Extraordinary Machine" is a masterclass in melody and weaving styles together. With folks such as Jon Brion, Questlove, and Mike Elizondo contributing, this album really shows us an artist stepping into and owning their artistry.
Cody and Hilary explore the story behind this record's genesis, death, and rebirth - thanks in large part to a fanbase that would not take no for an answer!
"Extraordinary Machine" illustrates the power of resilience, and how projects never totally turn out as intended. Fiona Apple held fast to her principles, and the resulting album is as described - extraordinary!

Thanks for listening! Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Amoeba on Instagram:
Questions, Suggestions, Corrections (surely we're perfect): earwaxpodcast@amoeba-music.com

Credits:
Edited by Claudia Rivera-Tinsley
All transition music written and performed by Spencer Belden
"EarWax Main Theme" performed by Spencer Belden feat. David Otis

Ep. 16: Rick James - Street Songs Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

Get yourself right for this one, we're headed into the wild world of punk funk, the 80s, and Rick James.
Hilary and Cody wade through the legend of Rick James, touch on the storied history of Motown, and chat about an album that is simply a masterclass in groove.
Street Songs is the album most representative of Rick James's vision. Bombastic, opulent, and pretty much every superlative that can be applied to him, you can apply to this record!

Thanks for listening! Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Amoeba on Instagram:
Questions, Suggestions, Corrections (surely we're perfect): earwaxpodcast@amoeba-music.com

Credits:
Edited by Claudia Rivera-Tinsley
All transition music written and performed by Spencer Belden
"EarWax Main Theme" performed by Spencer Belden feat. David Otis

Ep. 15: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Murder Ballads Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

We've made it to our 15th episode, and our spooky season selection is frightfully good.
Cody and Hilary tackle "Murder Ballads" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. An album full of betrayal, mayhem, and plenty of murder, it also has a sense of humor about itself. The total body count is into the dozens, and we had a great time trying to keep a running tally while listening.
"Murder Ballads" provides a fairly contemporary gateway into a realm of songs that have been around for hundreds of years. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds bring the past to the present in a record loaded with history, darkness, and legend.

Thanks for listening! Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Amoeba on Instagram:
Questions, Suggestions, Corrections (surely we're perfect): earwaxpodcast@amoeba-music.com

Credits:
Edited by Claudia Rivera-Tinsley
All transition music written and performed by Spencer Belden
"EarWax Main Theme" performed by Spencer Belden feat. David Otis

Ep. 14: Ennio Morricone - The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly Oct 19, 2023

Show notes

"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: those with loaded guns, and those who dig."
Maaaan have we got one for you all this week. Our first venture into soundtrack territory, and you know we were gonna swing for the fences. How about some Morricone mixed with some Clint Eastwood to make everyone feel like a badass?
Hilary and Cody talk about the depth of collaboration between Sergio Leone and Morricone, the way the music brilliantly functions as its own character, and the innovations that went into making a score that continues to inspire awe to this day.
Special thanks to the Academy Museum for having us attend a screening of this fantastic film! Go check them out, they absolutely rule.

Instagram: @academymuseum
X: @AcademyMuseum

Thanks for listening! Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Amoeba on Instagram:
Questions, Suggestions, Corrections (surely we're perfect): earwaxpodcast@amoeba-music.com

Credits:
Edited by Claudia Rivera-Tinsley
All transition music written and performed by Spencer Belden
"EarWax Main Theme" performed by Spencer Belden feat. David Otis

Ep. 13: The Chicks - Home Oct 12, 2023

Show notes

*Please imagine the following description being in crisp, three part bluegrass harmony.
The Chicks are the focus of this week's episode, and wow is it a ride. Riding the success of two monster records, "Home" was poised to keep pace, or even outpace, everything they had done to that point. However, their momentum was brought to an abrupt halt on the opening night of the tour for this record, when lead singer Natalie Maines spoke out against the looming US invasion of Iraq.
Listen as Cody and Hilary discuss the fallout, the bravery, and the way these fairly traditional songs take on a fuller meaning when they're being played by three women who are unafraid to say what they feel, regardless of the backlash.
The release of "Home" went from a victory lap, to a statement of defiance.

Thanks for listening! Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Amoeba on Instagram:
Questions, Suggestions, Corrections (surely we're perfect): earwaxpodcast@amoeba-music.com

Credits:
Edited by Claudia Rivera-Tinsley
All transition music written and performed by Spencer Belden
"EarWax Main Theme" performed by Spencer Belden feat. David Otis

Ep. 12: Black Flag - My War Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

"My optimism wears heavy boots and is loud." - Henry Rollins
Brace yourself, we're headed into the hardcore scene this week. Hilary and Cody keep their heads on a swivel as they navigate the early 80s, and Black Flag's "My War."
Anger, defiance, and intention coarse through this album's veins. Two years of turmoil explodes from the title track and carries through to the brutal Sabbath-esque closer, Scream.
Black Flag went out of their way to confront and challenge their audience, refusing to adhere to the "rules" of a scene they helped build. A pivotal album for hardcore punk, sludge, stoner metal, and grunge, "My War" takes no prisoners.

Thanks for listening! Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Amoeba on Instagram:
Questions, Suggestions, Corrections (surely we're perfect): earwaxpodcast@amoeba-music.com

Credits:
Edited by Claudia Rivera-Tinsley
All transition music written and performed by Spencer Belden
"EarWax Main Theme" performed by Spencer Belden feat. David Otis

Ep. 11: Robert Johnson - King of the Delta Blues Singers Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

Let's head to the Mississippi Delta for episode 11! Hilary and Cody peel back the curtain on one of music's most mythological figures - Robert Johnson.
Behind the legends and stories existed a very real, very human musician. With a spirit that drove him to roam, and a vision on achieving greatness, Robert Johnson developed a style and sound that would influence generations of rock, blues, and soul players for decades to come.
Many a rock titan owes their legacy in no small part to the blues, and to Robert Johnson. King of the Delta Blues singers gives us a snapshot of a guitarist, songwriter, and performer whose talent speaks for itself, and whose true legacy is greater than any myth can make him out to be.

Thanks for listening! Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Amoeba on Instagram:
Questions, Suggestions, Corrections (surely we're perfect): earwaxpodcast@amoeba-music.com

Credits:
Edited by Claudia Rivera-Tinsley
All transition music written and performed by Spencer Belden
"EarWax Main Theme" performed by Spencer Belden feat. David Otis

Ep. 10: Steely Dan - Can't Buy A Thrill Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

We have made it to ten episodes! Let's celebrate with some of the cleanest grooves and smoothest jams you're gonna hear in rock - Steely Dan.
Cody and Hilary dive into the Dan's debut, and chat about everything from a Thin Lizzy soundalike track, to a song that maybe-but-not-definitely-although-most-likely was a scathing criticism of a member of the Fab Four.
"Can't Buy a Thrill" sets the table for the Steely Dan to come - esoteric, cynical lyrics backed with their smooth version of rock.
Long live dad rock, and long live the Dan!

Thanks for listening! Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Amoeba on Instagram:
Questions, Suggestions, Corrections (surely we're perfect): earwaxpodcast@amoeba-music.com

Credits:
Edited by Claudia Rivera-Tinsley
All transition music written and performed by Spencer Belden
"EarWax Main Theme" performed by Spencer Belden feat. David Otis

Ep. 9: The Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole Sep 14, 2023

Show notes

We are back with another one of those block rockin' beats!
This week, Hilary and Cody charge head first into a nonstop jam. The Chemical Brothers' second album is a force to be reckoned with.
Boasting appearances by Noel Gallagher and Beth Orton, drum tracks twisted and warped into club beats, and plenty of electronica and hip-hop influence, this album will leave you totally spent.
From DJ Kool Herc to Ringo Starr, this record wears its influences on its sleeve. We're excited to share some of its story.

Thanks for listening! Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Amoeba on Instagram:
Questions, Suggestions, Corrections (surely we're perfect): earwaxpodcast@amoeba-music.com

Credits:
Edited by Claudia Rivera-Tinsley
All transition music written and performed by Spencer Belden
"EarWax Main Theme" performed by Spencer Belden feat. David Otis

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