A deep dive into some of the best albums ever made with a history of the artist, recording of the album, cover art, a track by track analysis and a discussion of what happened next.
Ep.48 - The Doors - The Doors
Aug 14, 2017
Show notes
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
Show notes
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
Show notes
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 Venom’s over-the-topness and
Motorhead’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 “back 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
Show notes
This week's musical category is….. 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
Show notes
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
Show notes
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
Show notes
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
Show notes
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
Show notes
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
Show notes
A podcast about Queens of The Stone Age's third album
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