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EarWax — Music
EarWax

EarWax is a deep-dive music podcast hosted by two longtime record store clerks, Hilary and Cody, who are steeped in music history.

Each week, we unpack the story of a single album – how it was made, where it fits in the cultural moment that shaped it, and why it still matters. From iconic classics to cult gems, we explore the music that moves us and the stories that stick.

You’ll also hear about the latest releases and what’s buzzing in our world of vinyl bins and liner notes. Think of it like your favorite record store hang, just in podcast form.

EarWax is for anyone who loves music with context, history, and heart.

Copyright: © 2024 EarWax: An Amoeba Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 58: Toots and the Maytals - Funky Kingston Sep 05, 2024

Show notes

What's reggae without a little (a lot) of soul? We wouldn't know, because this week's episode has soul to spare!
Toots and the Maytals were the people's champs of Jamaica; a sound whose roots represent the common man. Toots won a national song contest three separate times!
Funky Kingston is a strange mish-mash of two previous albums, with a single thrown in for good measure. It's got a tried and true rock cover, some Americana adapted for Jamaica, and plenty of fantastic vibes.
This record is a brilliant snapshot of a country in transition. Toots was able to dictate some of that cultural movement by churning out an album that continues to inspire today.

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. 57: Massive Attack - Mezzanine Aug 29, 2024

Show notes

Pressure can make diamonds, but too much pressure and you get an explosion. And this week, we have both!
Massive Attack's "Mezzanine" is a standard-setter in electronic music. While the band was consistently at odds during its making, the resulting record crackles with energy.
Cody and Hilary talk about near death, a major embarrassment involving a pop icon, and how the band worked through (or around) the tumult to create a brilliant album.
"Mezzanine" is dark, tense, and cool. The story behind it, maybe even more so!

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. 56: Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters Aug 22, 2024

Show notes

Make sure you do your neck stretches, because you will be nodding along with us this week.
The EarWax squad took a trip to the Hollywood Bowl to see this week's episode performed live by the OGs who played on it.
By 1973, Herbie Hancock had hits, chops, and a resume that elevated him into rarified air. Searching for that next thing, he took inspiration from James Brown, Sly Stone, and of course Miles Davis.
The result: "Head Hunters," a disgustingly groove-laced record whose track list may be short, but whose legacy casts a huge shadow.
Herbie Hancock is one of the coolest dudes in music, and we were absolutely honored to have seen him perform one of the coolest-sounding records of all time.

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. 55: Charli XCX - Charli Aug 15, 2024

Show notes

As we cruise through the tail end of #bratsummer, EarWax takes a look at one of the records that helped Charli XCX dominate the conversation this year.
"Charli" comes on the heels of her rise to fame, at a time when she was about to break even bigger than she already was. Dealing with pop stardom, ravenous fans, and a devastating hack that leaked her work had all taken their toll.
"Charli" is the response to all that, defiant in its glitch and trap influence while still maintaining more than enough pop identity to serve as a stepping stone on a career whose trajectory we continue to measure as an incline!

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. 54: Françoise Hardy - La question Aug 08, 2024

Show notes

We're getting cultured af this week. EarWax goes French!
Françoise Hardy's "La question" is a gorgeous statement made by an artist intentionally transitioning into a new phase in her career. In partnership with guitarist and songwriter Luca, Hardy made a record drenched in yearning, love, and poetry.
"La question" took Françoise Hardy away from pop icon and into new territory - a place where she had control of the direction of her career. The result is a magnum opus.

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. 53: The Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde Aug 01, 2024

Show notes

Pack your bags and get ready to take a trip to a world of wonderful weirdness!
Hilary and Cody immerse themselves into the universe of the Pharcyde. Filled with in-jokes, yo mama jokes, and jokes just because, this record occupies a very specific, very important part of West Coast hip-hop.
Rarely does an album feel so lived-in, so loved, and so unabashedly fun. The Pharcyde don't take themselves too seriously, but are without a doubt serious musicians with ideas and charisma to spare.
Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde is clever, funny, and crisp. An absolute classic, and many goofy crews that followed owe them a substantial debt.

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. 52: Melvins - Houdini Jul 25, 2024

Show notes

Bolt down anything that might shift due to the crushing weight of the heaviness, EarWax is going sludge!
Hilary and Cody discuss Melvins' legacy through the lens of arguably their most famous record. The story behind Houdini is a little sad, but ultimately this record serves as a fantastic gateway into a band that casts an extremely large shadow.
A great mix of heavy and slow with a few speedier tracks for balance, Houdini has just a hint of Kurt Cobain's presence throughout.
Turn up your speakers all the way and prepare yourself for the glory that is Melvins, and for the ass-kickery on Houdini.

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. 51: Curtis Mayfield - Curtis Jul 18, 2024

Show notes

Let's get funky, smooth, and our heads in the game. Curtis Mayfield is coming in hot!
Cody and Hilary discuss the scope of Curtis Mayfield's work, and how much his thumbprint is all over the Civil Rights movement.
Mayfield's growing voice and subject matter was personal enough for him to step away from the Impressions, setting the stage for a solo career that would see him launched into even greater superstardom.
"Curtis" is one hell of a stepping stone. It simultaneously captures past and present, while looking hopefully toward the future.

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. 50: David Bowie - Station to Station Jul 11, 2024

Show notes

EarWax ushers in the 50th episode by pulling down a true heavy hitter off the shelf - David Bowie's "Station to Station."
This record's story is full of unbelievable stories and adversity, both of which were largely self-imposed. Bowie's drive for reinvention is present throughout his discography, and Station to Station is arguably his most pivotal record.
Leaving the spaceman firmly in his rearview and with his eyes on Berlin (whether or not he knew that), Bowie marked this transition point in his career with one of his most stunning works.
Station to Station is an art rock masterpiece that maintains its commercial appeal. Despite extraordinary odds against, David Bowie rose to the challenge and delivered something truly legendary. Hard to think of a better album to celebrate 50 episodes!

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. 49: The Byrds - Sweetheart of the Rodeo Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

Change out your granny glasses and paisley shirts for cowboy hats and bolo ties!
Hilary and Cody talk bout The Byrds' 1968 "Sweetheart of the Rodeo." A different direction for a very different-looking Byrds, this record took the group to Nashville, where they received a...less than warm reception from the local media.
Gram Parsons' influence on this album cannot be overstated, and the result is one of the templates from which country-rock developed.
The reputation and influence of "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" has only grown over time. Whether it's one of the Dylan covers, or the gorgeous Hickory Wind, this record in all of its lap steel glory will have you reminiscing around a campfire that suddenly appears in your living room.

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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