The Great Albums

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Bonus Song Thursday - Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) "Stop Dragging My Heart Around" Apr 27, 2017

Show notes

It's Bonus Song Thursday! And the boys only get mildly tangential this week as they talk about the hit single off Bella Donna, Stevie Nicks' hit debut solo LP. They talk about how Stevie was introduced to Tom Petty via her then-boyfriend, mega-producer Jimmy Iovine. Along the way, they also discuss Great vs. Classic, and the difficulty of defining a decade's worth of music with just one artist. All this and then some on this week's Bonus Song Thursday edition of the Great Albums podcast!

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes (w/ guest Chad Stocker) Apr 24, 2017

Show notes

Bill and Brian are joined by musician Chad Stocker (the High Strung, the Mythics) to discuss Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' Damn the Torpedoes (1979, Backstreet/MCA). Chad talks about how his love of documentaries turns him into a fan of whatever their subject is - in this case, the 2007 Peter Bogdanovich film Runnin' Down a Dream. Bill, Brian, and Chad discuss Jimmy Iovine taking charge as the producer, his clashes with drummer Stan Lynch, the curse of consistency, Mike Campbell's deceptively amazing guitar leads, Ron Blair's diverse bass playing, Benmont Tench's skill on keys, Petty's battles with his label, and more as we make our way through the album track by track!

Bonus Song Thursday - Ike & Tina Turner "Proud Mary" Apr 20, 2017

Show notes

It's Bonus Song Thursday as Bill and Brian return from Spring Break! On this week's edition, they talk Tina and debate whether or not her version eclipses the Creedence Clearwater Revival original. Along the way, they answer the age-old question: "By the early 90s, was Michael Jackson cool anymore?" as Brian recalls a very specific McDonalds commercial sponsored by the NBA. It's nothing but net on this week's Bonus Song Thursday, so check it out!

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Willy and the Poor Boys (w/ guest Adam Weiner) Apr 17, 2017

Show notes

Musician Adam Weiner (lowcutconnie.com) joins Bill and Brian to discuss Creedence Clearwater Revival's Willy and the Poor Boys. Adam talks about the ubiquity of CCR and how it led him to discover some other great music. Then Bill, Brian, and Adam discuss Philly accents, Flannery O'Conner and the Southern Gothic, how a song's overuse can affect how we listen to it, who sung it better (CCR or the Beach Boys?), Lead Belly and his influence on this album, the influence of Chuck Berry and Roy Orbison, Barack Obama's official playlist, and more as we make our way through the album track by track! Low Cut Connie's Dirty Pictures (part 1) available for pre-order now! https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/low-cut-connie/products/dirty-pictures-part-1-cd

Spring Break - 6 Video 6 Pack Apr 10, 2017

Show notes

Bill and Brian continue their Spring Break, doing something a little different and fun, by taking a look at 6 music videos where the visual is just as important as the music. We talk about not being allowed to watch MTV, some gender politics in regard to the acceptance of male sexuality, Louis CK, the present accessibility of music, and more as we discuss videos from Peter Gabriel, Michael Jackson, Chris Isaak, Blind Melon, Seal, and Blur.

Spring Break - Empire Records Apr 03, 2017

Show notes

Bill and Brian take a short Springtime respite from our usual release schedule and talk instead about something a little different and kind of fun - a film with a soundtrack as important as its script, Empire Records (1995). Bill talks about how he loved this movie since his teenage years, and Brian reveals that he had never seen it until the very day of this discussion. We get into the differences between the theatrical and Special Fan Edition, our favorite tunes from the soundtrack (including songs from the Gin Blossoms, Edwyn Collins, the Cranberries, Evan Dando, and Dire Straits), how 90s angst may not resonate with viewers todays, and how some of our own love tales mirrored AJ and Cory. No Bonus Song Thursday this week. We'll be back with another Spring break episode next week!

Bonus Song Thursday - Will Sheff "Ex-Girl Collection" Mar 30, 2017

Show notes

It's Bonus Song Thursday! Bill and Brian talk about that time Okkervil River frontman Will Sheff and the Wrens' Charles Bissell swapped covers and released a single. They get into how well Sheff did with the indie classic "Ex-Girl Collection" and get excited about the possibility of the impending new release from the Wrens. Also, we read a listener email that highlights some great lyrics from Queens of the Stone Age's Songs for the Deaf. Also, we delve into some more #Trypod recommendations including Radiohead podcast the Daily Mail, Steven Hyden's Celebration Rock, and the fantasy epic the Once and Future Nerd. Also, make sure to stay tuned through the end for a special announcement about our very first live show at the Nashville Rock n Pod Expo! Check out more details and donate to the cause at www.gofundme.com/rocknpodexpo.

Okkervil River - The Stand Ins (w/ guest Kate Dressed Up) Mar 27, 2017

Show notes

Musician Katie Miller (katedressedup.bandcamp.com) joins Bill and Brian to dive into Okkervil River's the Stand Ins (2008, Jajaguwar). Katie talks about discovering the band via Bon Iver's cover of "Blue Tulip" and how frontman Will Sheff's lyrical acumen drew her in. Bill, Brian, and Katie discuss why we chose this album over others, caring about lyrics, how Sheff's voice is on the fence of the indie-emo and indie-folk movements, Brian Cassidy's contributions as an arranger and multi-intrumentalist, dueting with Shearwater's Jonathan Meiburg, Charles Bissell's guest appearance, the narrative on the nature of art and pop music that runs through the album, the option of succeeding, quitting, or dying, and much more as we make our way through the album track by track!

Bonus Song Thursday - Tori Amos "Raining Blood" Mar 23, 2017

Show notes

It's Bonus Song Thursday! This week, Bill and Brian break down Tori Amos' cover of Slayer's "Raining Blood," and wonder whether or not it started the trend of rock songs getting turned into haunting ballads to accompany certain films. Along the way, Bill discusses a new podcasting trend happening in the month of March while Brian shares his first experiences with Tori Amos and other badass female artists via his very first girlfriend. All this and more on this week's Bonus Song Thursday episode of The Great Albums podcast!

Slayer - Reign in Blood (w/ guest DX Ferris) Mar 20, 2017

Show notes

Publisher and author DX Ferris (6623press.com) joins Bill and Brian to discuss Slayer's entry into the metal class of '86 Reign in Blood (1986, Def Jam). Ferris talks about taking his fandom to the extreme, from discovering the band as a teenager in Pittsburgh in the 80s, to having the opportunity to write two books on the band - one being the entry for this album in the acclaimed 33 1/3 series. Bill, Brian, and Ferris then discuss the influence of Rick Ruben and Andy Wallace on the record, Dave Lombardo's genre defining double bass drum, Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King's unique and sick guitar style, Tom Araya's unique vocals and spirituality, and more as we make our way through the album track by track!

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