The Album Club

Ep. 76 - L7 - Bricks Are Heavy (with Donita Sparks) Apr 08, 2021

The pioneering Grunge/Punk/Metal band's breakthrough album, Bricks Are Heavy is our latest subject. And to help us get a better understanding of the band and the album, we enlisted the help of chief mayhem maker and band leader, the legendary Donita Sparks to fill in a few of the gaps. Sit back, bang your head and Pretnd You're Dead!

Ep. 75 - The Lemonheads - It's a shame about Ray (with Evan Dando) Feb 26, 2021

Straight outta lockdown! We had the immense pleasure of chatting with 90’s alt-nation rock royalty - the kaleidoscopic, beautiful and gilded-throated Evan Dando, head lemon of the Lemonheads.

Ensconced in his Martha’s Vineyard home, and through an era-appropriate lo-fi phoneline (sorry about that, folks!), everyone’ favourite indoor type generously shared stories about the band’s classic “It’s A Shame About Ray”; the album that found a new sound for the band and ignited their mainstream success.

We also do our thing, slouching into history(from punk rock to GQ), recording, track by track of this slice of sweet and sour, slacker Americana, and what came next for the band and, indeed, the man.

Ep. 75 - The Raveonettes - Pretty in Black (with Sune Rose Wagner) Dec 22, 2020

Our last lockdown episode finishes a shitty year with a bang. A real gem of the 2000s, Pretty in Black saw The Raveonettes enlist the help of members of Suicide, The Velvet Underground and The Ronettes to create a dark and poignant, modern rock album indebted to music of the 50s and 60s. Lead singer, drummer, guitarist, songwriter and sampler in the band Sune Rose Wagner joins us to take us through the tracks while also talking about driving without a licence, learning about music through books, being launched by a music journalist, drinking with Buddy Holly's widow and prepping for the US elections.

Ep. 74 - Mark Lanegan - Interview Oct 22, 2020

Mark Lanegan's 35 year music career has been prolific and diverse, after starting with the Screaming Trees, he has worked with/in Mad Season, Queens of the Stone Age, Gutter Twins, Twilight Singers, Isobel Campbell, UNKLE and countless others. He recently released his engrossing and brutal memoirs, Sing Backwards and Weep and accompanying solo album Straight Songs of Sorrow, a brilliant collection of songs which features John Paul Jones, Dylan Carlson, Warren Ellis and many others. We spoke to ML in Ireland over the phone (and found out what he's been working on. We talk about various albums throughout his career, find out what he's been doing under lockdown and find out why Izzy Stadlin is the coolest guy in the world.

Bonus Episode - The making of Helmet's Betty - the Page Hamilton interview Aug 25, 2020

The man, the myth, the legend and super-cool guy Page Hamilton joins ask ostensibly to talk about making the Betty album but we also talk about (in order): George Floyd killings, Trump, Waco, seeing a dead body, Helmet on MTV, their non-image, the Betty album cover, his home studio, cancelled tours, the upcoming Helmet documentary, visiting Australia, releasing the Big Day Out live show, working with T Ray, forming Helmet, Sonic Youth, getting into jazz, revisiting the classic albums, guitars, the Judgment night soundtrack.

Ep.72 - Helmet - Betty (featuring Page Hamilton) Aug 16, 2020

We do 90's a lot. But we've been saving this absolute gem for a while. Helmet's '94 sledgehammer classic release, "Betty" refined the band's bite and helped redefine alt rock and metal for years and genres to come. All muscle, sinew and beer-cool melodies. Plus, Alex tries and fails to keep his composure, as maelstrom maestro and riff swinger Page Hamilton himself joins us for a detailed, insightful and fun chat looking at all this timeless, hook laden monster.

Bonus Episode - The making of Daydream Nation - the Nick Sansano interview Jun 30, 2020

Our interview in full with the talented Mr Nick Sansano who moved from hip hop engineering to producing a landmark album in alternative rock. How did that happen and how did they make their masterpiece

Ep. 72 - Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation (featuring Nick Sansano) Jun 16, 2020

Spirit desire... Sonic Youth's 5th album was released on October 18th 1988 and changed the trajectory of rock. Blending the avant garde, dissonant noise rock and punk it was a game changer in alternative rock. We revisit this high watermark for the band and are joined by the man who recorded the album at Greene St studios in New York City, Nick Sansano. He tells of how the album was made and how he worked with the band to get the sounds and results we hear today.... We will fall

Ep. 71 - The Clash - London Calling (part two) May 05, 2020

In the second part of our double episode on The Clash's masterpiece, we take you through the back half of the album where things get kinda weird. We discuss the rest of The Clash's catalogue and their acrimonious breakup. Then we look at what the members did in the remaining years and why The Clash never reformed.

Ep. 70 - The Clash - London Calling (Part One) Mar 29, 2020

We finally cover our first double album and our most requested album meaning the favourite album of Album Club listeners. So we decided to give it the treatment it deserved and do a double episode. London Calling is a monumental album in the way it broadened the idea of what punk was and could be and gave a template to other bands wanted to branch out. And it's full of banging tunes. We discuss the birth of the Clash, the recording of the album, the iconic album artwork and listen to the first half of tracks on the album.

Ep.69 - The Gun Club - Fire of Love (featuring Terry Graham) Feb 20, 2020

They came from LA with a sound like no other, scraping up remnants of roots music, blues, country and mixing it up and thrashing it out with a punk sound, everyone scratched their heads for over 30 years until generations of musicians discovered them. Jack White says their songs should be taught in Schools. Led by the insufferable but irrepressible wildest of frontmen and Elvis from hell, Jeffrey Lee Pierce, they carved out a niche in underground rock music and started a whole genre. On this episode, former Gun Club drummer Terry Graham joins us to talk about the making of the album, his memories of the time, his favourite songs and what he thinks of the legacy of The Gun Club and Jeffrey Lee Pierce as well as reunions. Preach the Blues!

Ep.68 - Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane over the Sea Jan 07, 2020

One of the most enduring, puzzling, mythical, personal and unique albums of recent times, In the Aeroplane over Sea continues to find new listeners and increase in stature as a modern classic with each passing year. We take an in depth look at the legacy of this album and the fascinating history of its making and the motley Elephant 6 crew that inspired and created it. We go track by track and cover the way this album was the starting point and ending point of the album and why and how they broke up. So get ready for 2 headed boys, carrot flowers, pianos filled with flames, faces filled with flies, semen-stained mountaintops, Anne Frank, tomatoes and radio wires. It's all in here.

Ep. 67 - Ramones - Rocket to Russia Nov 04, 2019

1234! This episode explores Forest Hills' finest punk underdogs' 3rd album and who, why and what TF were the Ramones. We examine how they started and if they were really a punk band at all, why they never got the recognition they deserved until they broke up, the revolving Ramone lineup and the personalities that created one of the most toxic band feuds ever. And we talk about the songs. Count it in...

Ep.66 - P.J. Harvey - Dry Oct 07, 2019

The seering debut from the chanteuse of Dorset is the subject of today's dicussion. P.J. Harvey arrived fully formed with album, although she reformed and repackaged herself numerous times in future albums, to bring us a dark, haunting, angry and despondent album about sex, love, death and Sheela Na Gigs. We discuss the themes and sounds of the albums and talk about how it came to be and the impact it had.

Ep.65 - Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine Sep 16, 2019

They came from L.A. with a message to the world and a huge sound that has never been replicated. Like its cover, Rage's first album was an explosion that set alight numerous bands, movements and genres. Their politics, spat out with the incomparable Zach De La Rocha to the hitherto unheard guitar bleeps of Tom Morello worried the CIA, politicians and parents everywhere. This week The Album Club reunites to celebrate one of the 90s' most important albums. Wake up!

Ep.64 - Alexander 'Skip' Spence - Oar Aug 18, 2019

In 1968, Skip Spence tried to murder his Moby Grape bandmates with an axe under the influence of acid and black magic. He was put in an insane asylum for 6 months. When he was released he had pages and pages of songs so he bought a Harley, drove to Nashville and recorded an album in 2 weeks. Then he rode away at the age of 22 and never released another song. His album was the lowest selling in Columbia's history but soon became a massive influence on artists from the 90s. That album was Oar.

Ep. 63 - Moby Grape - Moby Grape Jul 15, 2019

Listen my friends! It's the story of Moby Grape, the band most likely to succeed, that failed, horrendously, though through no fault of their own. Bad management, bad tours, bad drugs, bad production, bad promotion all conspired against this remarkable supergroup. Listen to how they came together and created a classic debut before they succumbed tot hat age old pitfall of novelty songs, black magic and hallucinogens. Part one of two.

Ep. 62 - The Vines - Highly Evolved w. Patrick Matthews (Part 2) May 18, 2019

In the second half of the 2 part special on The Vines' explosive debut album, original assist and co-founder of the band, Patrick Matthews takes us through the story behind the album cover artwork, a track by track analysis of the album and we talk about why he had to walk away from the band.

Ep.61 - The Vines - Highly Evolved w. Patrick Matthews (part one) May 05, 2019

We were lucky to have The Vines co-founder and former bassist Pat Matthews with us to talk about The Vines debut smash album Highly Evolved. In part one, we talk about how Pat formed the Vines with Craig Nicholls while working in McDonalds and created an amazing bunch of demos which saw them become the new hype band and get flown to LA to record the album

Ep. 60 - The Libertines - The Libertines Apr 22, 2019

An ending fitting for the start. In part 2 of our Libertines double header we find out what happened after the release of Up the Bracket and follow Pete's descent into heroin and crack hell, and ultimately prison. We also look at the birth of Babyshambles, the reunion and freedom gig and discover what a steeplejack does. We mourn the ultimate dissolution of the band but not before releasing their second wondrous album of which we gift you a track by track analysis. Hurry up Mrs Brown, I can feel it coming down and it won't take none too long!

Ep.58 - The Who - Who's Next? Feb 10, 2019

Meet the new boss! The Who's 1971 masterpiece is nestled between two rock opera double albums and was supposed to have been the rock opera concept to change the face of music, Lifehouse. Instead, a metal breakdown, a heroin addiction, suicide attempt and a band on the brink meant the ashes of Lifehouse were transformed into a single collection of songs which would go on to become one of the most innovative rock albums of the 70s.

Special episode - Jono Ma of Jagwar Ma interview Jan 29, 2019

We had the privilege of having a good old chinwag with Jagwar Ma founder, video artist, producer and movie scorer Jono Ma. We discuss the story of their early explosion onto the scene and getting signed, the early days of the band, Len Lye, meeting Andrew Weatherall and what happens when a musician starts fucking hating music! We find out the current status of the band and get a glimpse into the scene he's starting in Byron Bay. And greyhound racing, plenty of talk about greyhound racing! Even if you don't know the band that well, it's an interesting insight into what makes one of Australia's most creative musicians tick.

Ep.57 - Jagwar Ma - Howlin Jan 20, 2019

Jagwar who? It's Australia week so it's time for us to cover one of our favourite Australian bands Jagwar Ma and their insane debut album, Howlin. It's dance, it's rock, it's soul, it's Madchester, it's awesome. We discuss how the band turned from a side project into a hugely blog-hyped viral sensation and put together the pieces of their history, go through each track and find out what happened post release. We'll follow this episode up with our interview from Jagwar Ma head honcho Jono Ma next.

Ep. 55 - The Strokes - Room on fire Dec 16, 2018

Part two of our Strokes double header. We pick up after the runaway success of their debut album and the pressure to follow up. These pressures took their toll on the band but despite all this, they managed to create their second masterpiece. We go through every track and then look at what happened next and give ur verdict on each subsequent album. We also mention Ryan Adams. And that's the way it is.

Ep. 55 - The Strokes - Is this it Dec 04, 2018

The first of a Strokes double header. The band that started the early 00s new garage rock revolution reshaped rock music for the new millennium and smashed open the door for a swathe of incredible bands. We discuss the impact they made and how and why it happened, the unprecedented hype, bidding war, release of their EP and album and insane, inherent hipness that took coolness to a whole other level. Take it or leave it...

Ep. 53 - Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn Nov 04, 2018

Time to play The Piper! We delve into the fragile genius of Syd Barrett in examining Pink Floyd's debut album and telling the beginnings of the band and the life of Syd Barrett the crazy diamond

Ep. 52 - The Cure - Disintegration Oct 10, 2018

This week we enlist the help of a real life former goth to explore the sepulchral behemoth that is The Cure's Disintegration.

Ep. 51 - Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures Sep 18, 2018

We are back! On our first episode in over a year we discuss Joy Division's stark masterpiece, Unknown Pleasures. We talk about its influence on what we now call post punk and gothic rock, the themes of detachment, control and pain communicated through Ian Curtis's tortured lyrics. We also take some time to cover Joy Division's imprisoned ex-drummers, Hooky and Barney's beef and the morphing of JD into electronic rock pioneers, New Order. It's good to be back!

Ep. 50 - "Labelled: Season Finale" Aug 28, 2017

The season finale everyone's talking about (.... that doesn't involve dragons)! To mark this special occasion, we've decided to do a slightly different episode so, instead of exalting one of our favourite bands, we've decided to salute the people behind the scene(s) who made it possible for us to even hear the music we love.... the all too often unsung heroes: RECORD LABELS! We go through the history of some of our favourite indie labels, how important they were in kicking off a sound, a feel, and a scene for some of our faves. We go to New Zealand to cover the revered Flying Nun Records, then cross to Australia to check out Au Go Go records, before heading to Hollywood to eulogise the mighty Epitaph Records. And along the way we'll check out some of the cooler bands on their rosters! See you in Season 3, amigos. Expect dragons.

Ep.49 - David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars Aug 21, 2017

This week we welcome Mr. Bowie's most enduring, far out and cosmic, colourful creation, Ziggy Stardust. Strap into your rocket ship as we discuss his origins, arrival, success and how, inevitably, Ziggy lived by the chord and died by the very same (almost taking our David with him), but not before leaving us with one of the best albums in the history of rock. It is, to quote the bespangled one, a total blam blam.

Ep.48 - The Doors - The Doors Aug 14, 2017

So what do you do if you have it all? The jaw dropping cat-like sexual allure, the universe-cracking enlightenment of the drugs, and the effortless swagger of the rock'n'roll; exuding poetry, lust, mystery and an irresistible smile that suggests you ARE love, life, death and everything in between? Well we started a podcast. But you could just as easily be one of rocks most enduring icons and be Jim Morrison. Ride into the storm with us as we take a desert drive through the history of The Doors and the making of their debut, swirl through each track and take a trip along the rest of their career before it all came crashing down.

Ep.47 - Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain Aug 07, 2017

This week we cut the hair of slacker king Pavements (arguably) greatest album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (it is so good they had to name it twice, argh!). Is it a chilled out concept album about living the range life in California or is it a not so veiled attack on 90s alternative rock bands and the scene itself? Kick back while we do a track by track analysis of the album, discuss the chilled out recording technique that made this album a laid back indie rock classic and chart the career, career, career of this quintessential 90s band.

Ep.46 - Metallica - Master of Puppets Jul 31, 2017

Before they were the one of the biggest bands in the world, Metallica were the biggest metal band in the world (sorry Maiden), and while they still remain one of the biggest names in the stadium game, they are unarguably the most important US metal band of all time. Paying the world a service by spearheading the movement that fought tooth, nail and beer tab to destroy poseurs and the hair metal polluting the stages and airwaves, these guys not only played faster and harder than most, they also possessed a musical vocabulary unparalleled in the then nascent world of thrash. Mixing NWOBHM fist pumping riffery with Venomâ€™s over-the-topness and Motorheadâ€™s relentless, effortless cool, these guys brought metal out of the garage and into the mainstream. For a while there, they were untouchable. There was the one with the talent (and THAT roar), the hyperactive businessman, the one who was just happy to be there and the not-of-this world musical behemoth hippie. We sit down to discuss their roots, the making of this unrivaled masterpiece, go from front to back (and â€œback to the front!â€) through all eight blitzkrieg thrash classics. And for those left wondering, yes, there are Lars jokes. But probably marginally more Mustaine jokes, to be honest.

Ep.45 - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today Jul 24, 2017

This week's musical category isâ€¦.. Damn. (Note to self, never finish a sentence you can't finish). We love talking about big, bad classic rock, pop and indie records, but we've really taken a sharp turn into left field here and "quirky" just ain't gonna cover it. Ariel Pink: one of the biggest names in home recording in the last ten years. Part of the beauty is that ten years ago that last sentence wouldn't have made any sense. And much like this man's music, that's kind of the idea. Is it Retro-dream pop? Chillwave? Bedroom music alterna-genius or just bonkers? Spoiler here, if he were just bonkers, we wouldn't spend an evening talking about the origins of this intriguing, kaleidoscopic creature, his history, the making of this, his most celebrated work, and a recap of his apparent ascent into modern madness; equally despised, loved, misunderstood and worshiped by a generation of bedroom dwelling, aspiring lo-fi laptop Lennons. In this episode we drop super de jour terms like "hypnagogic pop" and try and separate the strange from the sublime, from the kitchen sink.

Ep.44 - The White Stripes - White Blood Cells Jul 17, 2017

We may outnumber the White Stripes here at Chez Album Club, but there's no way one could possibly outgun them. Not only one of the shining lights of the New Rock revolution at the beginning of this century, the truth is this brother and sister duo (just kidding, we've actually done our research) were louder and heavier than most of their peers. And certainly more confounding a proposition. Straight outta Detroit, these candy striped retro charmers, had minimalist slabs of caveman fuzz, slick as hell blues licks not heard in rock since the days of Zep, all kept from falling apart at the seams by Mr. White's pained mewls, croons, screams and possessed carnival barker speaking-in-tongues oddness. And then, on top of that, the man could also pen sweet folky nostalgic ditties. We do give Jack and Meg playful ribbin' here and there, but it's all done with love for what is arguably one of the decade's finest albums and one of rock's most original talents.

Ep.43 - Elvis Costello - This Year's Model Jul 10, 2017

To our highly trained ears, the subject of this weeks eipsode, Elvis Costello, sounds a lot like.... well, Elvis Costello. That's all I got. There really isn't anyone like the second most famous Elvis in the music industry. Long before this consummate and staggeringly prolific musician was making really serious grown up music like jazz, opera, lounge, blues, he was a staggeringly prolific purveyor of wirey post-punk power pop with hooks for miles and one the best rhythm sections in popular music. And all while rollicking along with his trademark twitchy nasal croon. Geek rock before geeks rocked, Elvis stood out like a sore thumb; too cerebral for New Wave and too caustic for mainstream play. We strut through his roots, his early days and the making of this, his second platter, go track by track, tapping our feet incessantly and then recounting the ambitions that took him far beyond the confines of skinny tie wearing, energy packed, jerky pop gems and into feuds, seemingly endless collaborations and 'very serious' muso territory. Geek interrupted.

Ep.42 - Rowland S Howard - Teenage Snuff Film Jul 03, 2017

This week The Album Club is repping our little corner of the world because we haven't "gone local" since we discussed The Avalanches in Season 1. However, we chose not go for the obvious old school big fish such as ACDC, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, or The Saints (there'll be time for all of those, friends!) or even the more contemporary bright lights such as Tame Impala, Jagwar Ma or Courtney Barnett (these too. Boy, are we gonna be busy!). Instead, we thought we'd fly the flag for one of Australia's rock legends: Rowland S Howard. Founding member of the Birthday Party and noise guitarist extraordinaire,it's hard to imagine someone not only keeping up with but, in many ways, outshining the aforementioned Mr. Cave. There's a special place in our hearts for interesting rock stars here at The Album Clubhouse and you just have to Google Rowland, or better yet, fire up the ol' YouTube and watch the man set a figurative fire to his instrument to see where we're coming from. All jangley, steel scratching, shrapnel wielding maelstrom. Sadly, Howard's life was strewn with struggles with addiction and retreated into relative obscurity for a while before his untimely death, but not before surprising many with not one but two fantastic comeback albums earlier this decade; arguably his best work. If you aren't familiar with his god tier caterwauling and and pained howl, you're in for a treat. We give the low down on his origins, his larger than life stage presence, the confoundingly unique approach to guitar playing, and the making of this record, before plunging into the track by track and concluding with a what happened next while the wash of feedback still rings in our ears. Always honest, sometimes troubled, sorrowful but never bitter, Rowland was a total Rock'n'Roll legend. Ben, Andrew and Alex approve.

Ep.41 - The Kinks - The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society Jun 26, 2017

There was a lot going on in rock n'roll in 1968. The White Album and Electric Ladyladyland (to name just a few) were re-shaping the contours and reach of the genre and things were moving pretty fast. So it was a hell of a head-scratcher when Ray Davies and his merry bunch slowed things right down. Eschewing all that cutting edge modernity for a retreat to the Village Green, with all its traditional quaintness and bucolic serenity, The Kinks lit a pipe, donned tweed elbow patches, and consciously stopped looking forward, instead dreamily turning their minds and guitars to the halcyon days of traditional small town life. A ballsy move that was ill received at the time but has earned this record the reputation as one of the band's, and indeed the era's, finest. Our mate Huey joins us to walk through the town's nooks and crannies, discuss the concepts and themes, the making of and the merits of each track, before tackling the frosty reception it received and what lay in store afterwards for The Kinks.

Ep.40 - Suicidal Tendencies - Suicidal Tendencies Jun 21, 2017

Hola esses! There's a reason this album never fails to make those "Best punk/hardcore albums of all time" lists.... uhh... it's because it's one of the greatest punk/hardcore albums of all time. Venice Beach's finest cholos were shrouded in folklore and infamy from the get go, with rumours of gang affiliation and violence. Rumours, may we add, the band were all too happy to keep alive. We love a band with a great story, angle, cast of characters and ethos here at The Album Club HQ; and these vatos do not disappoint. We examine the myth, the formation and making of this record (all four days of it) and blitz through the tracks one by one, while stopping to giggle at the shtick and discussing their transition into one of the 80's best crossover thrash bands. So lower your bandana over your eyes, get cyco and stay sui, homes!

Ep.39 - Queens of the Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf Jun 13, 2017

A podcast about Queens of The Stone Age's third album

Ep.38 - Soundgarden (SPECIAL EPISODE) Jun 04, 2017

We didn't want it to be like this. Nor did any of us expect it. We'd kind of been putting off covering Soundgarden for The Album Club, not because we weren't fans; Seattle's finest are well rooted in our collective venn diagram. We just wanted to save such a rich dish for later; the promise of delayed gratification. Sadly for us and for anyone else who loves the 90s' fiercest and most beautiful alchemists of bullish Sabbath riffs, Eastern Zeppelin flair, and Black Flag stomp, all pushed into the maelstrom by THAT (literally) inimitable voice, the sudden passing of our un-met friend Chris Cornell meant that we had to do this now. We felt, as many other fans have, compelled to celebrate one of our favourite bands, so we kind of go off format for this special episode, each picking our favourite Soundgarden songs (wasn't easy) and go through every odd timed and off kilter riff, frenzied drum fill, and knuckle-dragging bassline and marvel at each soulful croon, lion's roar, banshees's howl and timeless melody that our man Chris kept us in goosebumps with throughout our youth. Far from being a somber affair, however, we find time to geek out about the band's bombastic presentation, scratch our heads at Chris Cornell's obsession with dogs and the animal kingdom in general, and his penchant for refusing to have his inhuman powerhouse voice be tethered by the confines of a shirt. Like, ever. Thanks, Chris. RIP.

Ep.37 Hole - Live Through This May 29, 2017

Love her or hate her (or just scared of her), Courtney Love defiantly smeared her lipstick all over the 90s as one of rock's most outspoken malcontents. Equally blessed and cursed by preconceptions about her marriage with 'that guy', she never got a real shake in her own right. Or maybe she got too much? We try to figure this out in as we go through the almost comically picaresque story of Hole's leader and what led to the creation of this rager of an album, a track by track walk-through, and the wincingly sensitive drama around its release before covering what happened next. So yeah, love her or hate her (or just scared of her), it kinda sucks that they don't make them like this anymore.

Ep.36 - Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral May 22, 2017

This week we get our latex, synths, pinions, drills and other assorted machinery to cover one of the 90's most successful and hard hitting rock bands. We grind through the history of the industrial movement, pull levers to take a peek at the man behind the curtain, give our feedback on all the songs on this smash album, before hammering through the nuts and bolts of what happened next. This one gets noisy.

Ep.35 - Nick Drake - Bryter Layter May 15, 2017

After setting our guitars and world's on fire last week, The Album Club takes it down a gear for a leisurely country drive in this episode. To say that Nick Drake was underappreciated in his lifetime is as much of an understatement as it is criminal to underestimate the man's talent. We sift through the short, mysterious, difficult and ultimately tragic life of one of last century's unsung recluse folk heroes. It's not all doom and gloom though; as we wind our way through the album's beautiful rural paths, we find time to discuss unconfirmed Patterson/Gimlin-esque video sightings, and rip saxophone over-player Ray Warleigh to shreds.

Ep.34 - The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced May 08, 2017

For an artist that defied categorization as brazenly as he did in his short time on this planet, it's pretty awesome that Jimi Hendrix continues to be one the key cultural touchstones for many of the great tenets of Rock'n'Roll. The look, the creativity, the originality, the showmanship and, sweet mercy, the effortless plucking of otherworldly sounds from the haze both re-invented rock guitar and simultaneously terrified his megastar peers. We go through his humble beginnings and the making of his debut album before moving over, Rover, and letting Jimi take over as we go track by track through the record and cover what happened next. Right on.

Ep.33 - Tim Presley (White Fence, Darker My Love) SPECIAL EPISODE May 01, 2017

This week we mix it up a bit with an interview with one of the best and most prolific songwriters of the decade, Tim Presley - aka White Fence. We talk to Tim about his career in music, from his start in Bay Area hardcore punk band The Nerve Agents in the 90s, into becoming frontman for Californian neo-psych band Darker My Love, his time in The Fall, his transition to White Fence, his collaborations with Ty Segall, his current band Drinks and his solo work. We discuss music today, the LA scene, the songwriting process and where the drive and inspiration comes from to churn out so many songs. We were absolutely stoked to have Tim with us.

Ep.32 - Vs - Pearl Jam Apr 24, 2017

Yeah, it was gonna happen right? Part three of our self-imposed Seattle Tetralogy, Pearl Jam get the Album Club deluxe massage this week. It was kind of a toss up between any of the first three records really, but Vs. won out. Why? Well, much like Nirvana's 'In Utero' this is a band, at the height of their unimaginable success/hype deciding who they want to be and perhaps more importantly, who they do not. Refusing to simply go with 'Ten (Pt.2)' ('Eleven'?), they defiantly spat this monster out and started the move away from MTV-friendly commercial rock they would consolidate even further on 'Vitalogy' and beyond. On top of all that, let's face it, Pearl Jam are the gold standard of how you age as a rock band. And their numerous, staunchly fanatical followers will back us up. Massive respect. Also.... Rearviewmirror. That is all.

Ep.31 - Korn - Korn Apr 17, 2017

No, seriously. This week we're talking about Korn with a K. Despite the fact that this band were wholly responsible for kickstarting the most heinous and vacuous stylistic trend in rock since hair-metal, and some of the most laughably buffoonish looks sinceâ€¦. well, hair metal, no one sounded or looked like Korn in 1994. True innovators, and this album still delivers the meth-addled bludgeoning and Tasmanian-devil-gone-wrong vocal attack. For a little while there, these Bakersfield boys were the real deal and game changers. Then it all got a bit silly.

Ep.30 - The Velvet Underground & Nico - The Velvet Underground & Nico Apr 10, 2017

The greatest and most important album of all time. Boom! Peel slowly and see how a motley bunch of misfits came together and invented glam, punk, new wave, goth, noise and alternative rock by writing songs about death, sadomasochism, heroin, parties and hangovers. Radiating outsider, NYC, artsy cool, we chart the history of the band and their Warhol connections, the rank and rushed recording of the album, the iconic album cover, a track-by-track analysis, and we recount the rest of the VU's decline, fall and reappraisal.The greatest and most important album of all time? Well, I guess, but I just don't know.

Ep.29 - Oasis - Definitely Maybe Apr 03, 2017

Break's over, we're back and we're mad fer it! And what better way to kick off Season 2 than by tackling one of Rock's finest and most volatile bands of the last 30 years. We discuss the formation of Oasis back in the Manchester's early 90s, Britpop, the leadup and recording of this album, our kid's seemingly effortless knack at writing a tune or 50, the music world's most notorious brotherly feud, hilarious quotes (including Liam's penchant for calling his older brother a potato), their legacy, and the underestimated importance of being Bonehead. Sound, mate.

Ep.28 - The Rock n Roll Hall of Lame Season Finale Nov 04, 2016

To wrap up the Album Club's inaugural season, we savage the ridiculous Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame, take the controls and nominate and listen to three artists each that we believe deserve to be inducted, but by some grotesque act of fuckwittery, aren't. Fuck you, RnR Hall of Lame!

Ep.27 - The Pixies - Surfer Rosa Oct 24, 2016

If you loved loud (/quiet/loud) rock with big guitars and off-kilter pop hooks for miles in the 80s, this was probably your favourite band. If you did so in the 90s, this was your favourite band's favourite band. We go though this gem meticulously and separate the cookies from the pizza (yeah, that'll make more sense if you actually listen to it). We laugh a lot in this one. Sometimes in Spanish.

Ep.26 - The Smiths - The Queen is Dead Oct 16, 2016

It's the Smiths' classic album this week. We discuss the band and the album, the lyrics, Bigmouth, the music, melting walkmans, the artwork, double decker buses, the style, the quiffs, the history, the tracks, Keats, Yeats and of course, Morrissey. Has the world changed or have we changed?

Ep.25 - The Beach Boys - SMiLE Oct 10, 2016

The album may have been shelved for 50 years but the podcast isn't. The Album Club discuss the mad genius of Brian Wilson and his doomed SMiLE album which is still officially unreleased. So we put it together from the sessions. With a little help from our friend Mark, we discuss the complicated history, do a track by track, the madness, the drugs, the production techniques, the Beatles thievery, Mike Love's douchebaggery and we discover who ran the iron horse.

Ep.24 - Bad Brains - Rock For Light Oct 05, 2016

The hardest and fastest Album Club episode yet! This week's subject is a your typical group of four Rastafarian punks from Washington D.C. doing an album of hardcore and reggae. You know, the uje. I and I talk about the a band which is as unique as it is legendary, hardcore punk, Rastafarianism and HR's mental illness, as we go track by track. This album makes me want to do backflips, Praise Jah!

Ep.23 - The Shins - Oh Inverted World Sep 26, 2016

Indie trailblazers The Shins' debut album is the album club's subject for this week. We discuss the humble beginnings in Alberquerque, bedroom recordings, McDonalds ads, New Slang, Sub-Pop, sloppy drumming, Garden State, the album, the follow ups, Broken Bells and why sacking your entire band is a dick move.

Ep.22 - The Byrds - The Notorious Byrd Brothers Sep 19, 2016

We go way back to 1968 to discuss this psychedelic folk masterpiece. The album that broke up the band, we go through each track as per usual after talking out what happened before and after it came out. And we discuss Triad, the song about a threesome that didn't make the cut.

Ep.21 - Patti Smith - Horses Sep 12, 2016

Long songs, free verse, punk poetry, piano, it's Patti Smith Horses! Listen to the history of Patti Smith, the making of the album, a track-by-track analysis and a what-happened-next. We talk artistic freedom, the birth of punk and new wave, and the CBGB, Max's Kansas City, Warhol Factory and Chelsea scenes.

Ep.20 - Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath Sep 07, 2016

The fathers of every metal riff in existence, Black Sabbath gets the Album Club black candle seance this week, with their fifth album: 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath'. We talk about the making of this classic and the then escalating cocaine use, internal problems (please refer back to the cocaine bit) and riff-block leading up to it that almost killed the band. We talk about metal and how much these four Brummies influenced the future of the genre for better and for worse. We headbang to every track and then dizzily discuss them, while often playfully eviscerating Geezer's lyrics and trying to find secret Satanic messages through our cartoonish and frankly embarrassing grasp of numerology. This was a fun one, folks. Rock on! \m/

Ep.19 - The Avalanches - Wildflower Aug 29, 2016

The Album Club's most recent album to be covered is 2016's follow up to Melbourne's much lauded plunderphonics maestros, The Avalanches' 2000 debut, 'Since I Left You'. More of a review than our traditional study of an old favourite, really. This album took sixteen long years to make, what could go wrong (ask Axl)? We talk about the Melbourne group's transformations from low key Beastie Boys acolytes to finding their own sound and breakthrough, we listen to each track (even the instrumental mood pieces), and talk about the making of the album, and the wilderness years of this volatile collective.

Ep.18 - The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers Aug 22, 2016

This week finds The Album Club discussing the classic 1971 LP. We bravely tackle the .... errr... sticky.... conundrum of ranking this amongst Stones albums (no easy feat). We discuss what was happening with the Stones after the death of Brian Jones, their new record label, new guitarist and legal disputes with Allen Klein. We go through every track in detail and discuss what happened to the Stones in the four decades that followed this album's release.

Ep.17 - Beastie Boys - Check Your Head Aug 18, 2016

Three MCs and one DJ! (...and a keyboardist, a percussionist and even some dude playing the cuica). Everyone has their favourite Beastie Boys album. And, if you don't, we want nothing to do with you.* Brooklyn's finest reinvented themselves (again) on their 1992 release, shedding the last vestiges of their frat boy puerilities and picking up instruments just to then sample, chop, mix, distort and twist into arguably the heaviest and sublime genre-defying melee of their career. This is where they started being International ambassadors of cool and making vintage chic a thing. Fun Fact: The Album Club has been known to stagedive off other people's furniture to 'So Watcha Want'.
*Of course, we're kidding, we'd love to hang out with youâ€¦..But not until you listen to this episode.

Ep.16 - Rancid - ...And Out Come the Wolves Aug 08, 2016

Rancid's epic 90s punk record gets the treatment this week. We talk about how punk ate itself at the end of the 80s and was reborn in an explosive manner in the mid 90s, the idea of selling out, the history of the East Bay music scene, Gilman St, Operation Ivy and the birth of Rancid. We review all 19 tracks (!) on this album and then discuss the rest of their career up to the current day. Give 'em the boot!

Ep.15 - The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses Aug 04, 2016

The classic Stone Roses debut album gets the Album Club treatment. We talk about the baggy Madchester scene that it came out of, we give a comprehensive background of the band forming and the cultural climate before and after the release, we listen and discuss every track, and then talk about Spike Island, Second coming, the breakup and the reunion. I'm pretty sure we also talk about Ian Brown's hilarious little swaying shuffle, attitude and look, all later 'borrowed' wholesale by a certain Monsieur Gallagher.

Ep.14 - Kings of Leon - Youth and Young Manhood Jul 28, 2016

This week we develop a slight drawl and set our sights on Nashville's sweethearts Kings Of Leon's debut album. We discuss Southern rock and the garage rock revival of the early 2000s. We delve into the preposterously press-friendly back story of the band and their religious background in the south and the recording of the album. We listen to and talk about every track and then look at what happened after this album, their new polished, stadium sound, sex on fire and commercial $ucce$$.

Ep.13 - Faith No More - Angel Dust Jul 20, 2016

Angel Dust is the fourth album by Faith No More and the follow up to their hit album The Real Thing. It saw them radically change their sound and experiment with different production and genres. Listen as we talk about the history of Faith No More, the making of the album, a track by track analysis and talk about the rest of their career, the break up and the triumphant reunion.

Ep.12 - FIDLAR - FIDLAR Jul 11, 2016

The most recent album that The Album Club has covered is FIDLAR's 2013 debut. The self titled punk band's first album draws on a number of influences from the 90s and 2000s as well as drugs and alcohol. We also discuss nostalgia in music, hedonism in rock 'n roll and the state of rock music in the current climate.

Ep.11 - Led Zeppelin -Led Zeppelin II Jul 04, 2016

At last we get to Led Zeppelin and their legendary sophomore album, the cleverly titled 'Led Zeppelin II'. Man oh man this is a record packed to the rafters with amazing songs... and 'Moby Dick'. We cover how the band formed and become enormous, their blues influences, the recording and writing of the songs, their penchant for paying 'homage' to traditional blues songs, and their inhuman ability to dodge the subsequent plagiarism lawsuits. We snake our way through each track and examine how things turned out for the band after the release of this album.

Ep.10 - Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet Jun 28, 2016

Dylan had 'The Times They Are a-Changin'' and The Clash had 'London's Calling'. Public Enemy had this. How can a record with so much groove, and so irresistibly danceable be so packed with political vitriol delivered with such venom and bite? Not even ridiculously goofy hype man Flavooooor Flaaaaav and his questionable jester's shtick and wardrobe (one can only assume he was, at the very least, a punctual man) can de-fang Chuck D's incredibly confrontational rhymes and the Bomb Squad's unprecedented "everything including the kitchen sink" production chaos. We discuss these things and more this week, delving into the history as well as the often rocky road the band traveled both together and as individuals, strewn with controversy, drugs, reality TV and, yep, ostrich farming. Yeeeah boyyy!

Ep.9 - The Beatles - Abbey Road Jun 16, 2016

This week we take on the Fab Four and their final album, Abbey Road. We talk about the tension leading up to the making of this album, the time in the studio, we listen and discuss each track on the album and discuss what each Beatle did as they all went their separate ways

Ep.8 - Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream Jun 06, 2016

In this episode we look at Siamese Dream, the remarkable second album by Smashing Pumpkins but completed almost solely by Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlain. Listen to how the band started and their early success and the pressure they had on making this album, the story of studio perfectionism and the laborious recording process, a track by track and analysis and the continued rise and slow decline of The Smashing Pumpkins fortunes.

Ep.7 - Radiohead - OK Computer May 31, 2016

We discuss Radiohead's masterpiece, OK Computer. From the forming of the band, being shoehorned as grunge after the success of Creep, the success of the Bends and the making of OK Computer. We discuss every track as well as cattle prods and the IMF. And we talk about Radiohead's surprise turn after this album.

Ep.6 - Alice in Chains - Dirt May 24, 2016

In this episode we talk about Alice in Chains and their grim masterpiece - Dirt. We talk about the band's history and forming, early success and drug problems Layne Staley channeled in writing this album. We go through each track and discuss what happened after this album, their demise, and their rebirth.

Ep.5 - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC) - Howl May 16, 2016

A discussion of BRMC's 3rd album, Howl. A big (not to mention ballsy) shift in their sound from shoegaze and garage to Gospel and Americana. We look at the history of the band, the making of the album, go through it track-by-track, and discuss what happened after the its release.

Ep.4 - Weezer - Weezer (aka The Blue Album) May 09, 2016

Awkward indie kids playing 60's inspired uber-harmonised pop about their insecurities all through a Marshall stack? Sign me up. How do you deliver such carefully crafted and nuanced, almost kitsch, tunes with such ferocity? From the perfect fuzz drenched power pop opener to the impassioned wailing of the closer, this album has it all. We bob our collective heads to each track while getting neck deep in the history of the band, the recording of this album, and the subsequent struggles of Mr. Rivers Cuomo. We also spend a good amount of time explaining the importance of being Matt Sharp, as Weezer were never quite the same (i.e. good) since his departure. Little known fact: if you don't like this record, you hate guitars. Also, stick around for the sing-a-long.

Ep.3 - Nirvana - In Utero May 03, 2016

And you thought we were going to do 'Nevermind'. Pshh. Delivering the follow up no one expected, Kurt, Krist and Dave truly found their sound on this one, before the dream burned out less than a year later. In this episode we stagedive head first into the musical and cultural landscape leading up to the making of this baby, the recording itself, and we crowdsurf through the lyrical themes and all the feedback squelches from woe to go. Funnily enough, while we do give Steve Albini a much deserved shellacking (Ouch, yeah, I'm cringing at that one too, but not enough to hit the backspace key), we're surprisingly merciful on the ol' Grohlster (mainly because he hits so damn hard). Worry not, we will remedy that in future episodes.

Ep.2 - Guns 'n' Roses - Appetite for Destruction May 02, 2016

Records and, indeed, bands like this are kind of the reason you start a music-based podcast. They were dangerous, brimming with chest beating attitude, had a great story and, oh my, the songs! We cover everything from their inception and the making of this beast of a record, to their spiraling descent into overblown madness and mythical excess. Axl Rose is so much larger than life that we somehow manage to bring him (and Izzy) up in just about every episode since. Yowzaaa!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected