Music

The Noise Pop Podcast

The Noise Pop Podcast is a monthly series showcasing new music discoveries and a diverse slate of guest artists from the independent music scene and beyond. Produced by Noise Pop, San Francisco’s go-to indie music, arts and film festival for over 25 years and hosted by music journalist Adrian Spinelli (Paste Magazine, SF Chronicle, etc..), we deliver engaging episodes that are always rooted in the music that we love and that we know you will too. Past guests have included: Khruangbin, Thao Nguyen, Quantic, Wye Oak, Helado Negro, Speedy Ortiz, Rexx Life Raj, Shigeto, Låpsley, Thievery Corporation and more.

Latest Episodes:

Covers May 25, 2011

Show notes

This week’s entry was inspired by a covers infused dinner Noise Pop is putting on with local SF supper club graffEats. The chef is going to prepare dishes that are covers of famous chef's dishes, with which Noise Pop will pair cover songs. So every song in this episode is a cover. Taking it a step further Dawson and the team explore the different ways a cover can be done. To gain some insight Jesse and Dawson speak with Josh Modell, A.V. Club’s Editor-in-Chief, about his fantastic Undercover series. With some help from Josh, the gang focuses on the recent past and finds covers of artists all over the spectrum from Joanna Newsom to Kermit the Frog. There is no Ear About Town this episode however it will return next time.

Track list:

Serious

“Such Great Heights” (The Postal Service) – Iron & Wine, Garden State Soundtrack

“Bridges and Balloons” (Joanna Newsom) – The Decemberists, Live

“He Hit Me” (The Crystals) - Grizzly Bear, Friend

Ironic

“We Built This City” (Starship) – Cursive, A.V. Undercover

“It’s not Easy Bein' Green” (Kermit the Frog) - Andrew Bird, Live

“Relief” (R. Kelly), - Sam Amidon, I See the Sign

Post-Ironic

“One More Try” (George Michael) - Iron & Wine, A.V. Undercover

“Since U Been Gone/Maps” (Kelly Clarkson, Yeah Yeah Yeahs) – Ted Leo, Live

“Take On Me” (A-ha) - AC Newman, Starbuck’s Sweetheart Compilation

“Jolene” (Dolly Parton) – The White Stripes, single

Songs That Sound Nothing Like the Original

“Love is a Battlefield” (Pat Benatar) - Thao and Mirah, New, Improved, Live session

“I Found a Reason” (Velvet Underground) – Cat Power, The Covers Record

Songs Better Than the Original

“Limit to your Love” (Feist) James Blake, self-titled

Songs Not as Good as the Original

“I Wish I Was in New Orleans” (Tom Waits) - Scarlett Johansson, Anywhere I Lay My Head

“All My Friends” (LCD Soundsystem) - Franz Ferdinand, All My Friends single

May 2011, The Antlers Interview May 10, 2011

Show notes

This week’s episode is as varied as it gets - running the gamut from the propulsive Superhumanoid to the understated, solemn David Bazan to the boozy rollick of Man Man and ending with the glitchy freak-out that is Nasty Nasty. As well, Jesse, in conjunction with Jewcy.com, has a conversation with The Antlers’ Peter Silberman about his band’s new album, Burst Apart. The interview begins at 24:18 and you can read the interview here.

Lastly, the team picks their Ear About Town recommendations, and we debut our fan chosen recommendation. If you'd like to call in and leave your Ear About Town recommendation, please call 585-4NOISE5.

Tracks:

1. “Palm Springs” – Superhumanoids, Parasite Paradise

2. “Life Fantastic” Man Man, Life Fantastic

3. “Dinner” - Blood Orange, Number Six

4. “Wake and be Fine” - Okkervil River, I Am Very Far

5. “Ever Falling in Love” - Times New Viking, Dancer Equired

6. “Babies” - Radiation City, The Hands That Take You

Antlers Interview

"Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out" (clip) - The Antlers, Burst Apart

"Two" (clip) - The Antlers, Hospice

"Putting The Dog to Sleep" (clip) - The Antlers, Burst Apart

"Parenthesis" (clip) - The Antlers, Burst Apart

7. "Wolves at The Door" - David Bazan, Strange Negotiations

Ear About Town

Dawson: “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man” (clip) - Aretha Franklin, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

Jesse: “November 30th, 2006” (clip) – Paleo, Daytrotter Session 2/12/2007

Jaime: “Oh Industry” (clip) – Bette Midler, Beach Original Soundtrack

Guest caller, Damian Lopez: "Bejan" (clip) - Tanlines, Volume On

8. "No Names" - Nasty Nasty, Single

R&B Indie Music Apr 27, 2011

Show notes

This week the NPP team tackles the new trend of popular R&B taking root in indie music. With new artists like The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, and How To Dress Well, it's clear that 90's R&B is making a comeback. This episode explores how it got to this point.The first clue started a few years ago when contemporary bands began covering R&B hits from the 90's - in 2009 The xx covered Aaliyah’s “Hot Like Fire.” Shortly after, the influence of this sound grew apparent in new indie bands like Gayngs and James Blake. Dirty Projector’s smash “Stillness in the Move” was a watershed moment, in which a pure R&B vocal was paired with the bands traditionally challenging sound. Now the stage is set for not just artists dabbling in an R&B sound but actual pure R&B artist to be embraced by the independent community, a fascinating and rewarding new trend in music.

The group also announce the winning name of their recommendation segment, “Ear About Town.” This episode’s segment Jesse, Jaime and Dawson stay with the theme and share their respective favorite R&B song from the 1990’s.

1. “House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls” – The Weeknd, House of Balloons

2. “Transparency” – d’Eon, Darkbloom

3. “Are You That Somebody?” (clip) – Aaliyah, Dr. Doolittle Soundtrack

4. “Hot Like Fire” Aaliyah Cover (clip) - The xx, B-Side to Crystalized Single

5. “Don’t Take it Personal” Monica Cover - White Hinterland, single

6. “Gaudy Side of Town” – Gayngs, Relayted

7. “Stillness is the Move” (clip) – Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca

8. “Stillness is the Move” (clip) – Solange, single

9. “Songs for Women” - Frank Ocean, Nostalgia/Ultra

10. “Wicked Games” - The Weeknd, House of Balloons

11. “Ready for the World” - How to Dress Well, Love Remains

Ear About Town

Jesse: “Cupid” (clip) – 112, 112

Jaime: “All My Life” (clip) – K-Ci and JoJo, Love Always

Dawson – “Pony” (clip) – Ginuwine, Ginuwine the Bachelor

April 2011 Apr 12, 2011

Show notes

The Noise Pop team is back, marveling at the many giant releases this month. TV on the Radio, Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Fleat Foxes and Panda Bear all have albums coming out and the gang discusses their favorites. They also look at the anticipated sophomore offerings from The Antlers and Tune Yards. The show ends with the debut of a new segment, in which, Jaime, Jesse, and Dawson recommend what they have been listening to recently. The segment is yet to be named, and we are asking the listeners of the podcast to offer suggestions. Please tell us your ideas in the comments of the Noise Pop page on KQED.org

1. “Black Hills” - Gardens and Villas, Single

2. “Shadows on Behalf “ - The Stepkids, Single

3. “Anvil Everything“ - White Denim, D

4. “Bizness” – Tune-Yards, Who Kill

5. “Heart in Your Heartbreak” - Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Belong

6. “Caffeinated Consciousnesss” - TV on The Radio, Nine Types of Light

7. “Parenthesis” – The Antlers, Burst Apart

8. “Eh Congo “ - Janka Nabay, Bubu King

9. “Piledriver Waltz” -Alex Turner, Submarine Soundtrack

Jaime Recommends: “Vitamin C” – Can, Monster Movie

Jesse Recommends: “Freaks & Geeks” - Childish Gambino, EP

Dawson Recommends: “The Postman” - The American Analog Set, Know by Heart

10. “Feels Like Heaven” - Adventure, Lesser Known

SXSW Hangover & Melted Toys Interview Mar 26, 2011

Show notes

The Noise Pop crew came back from SXSW with a few battle scars and some stories to tell. In this episode we play several new tracks from artists that delivered standout performances in Austin and Dawson and Jaime share some of their experiences. We also discuss the nature of hyped bands at the festival and debate the merits of James Blake. At the end we play an interview from one of our favorite local bands Melted Toys, conducted by our friend Robert Khoury from the music blog See The Leaves.

Tracklist:

1. Evan Voytas - Tomorrow Night We'll Go Anywhere, Tomorrow Night We'll Go Anywhere

2. Trampled By Turtles - Wait So Long, Palomino

3. Cults - Oh My God, Single

4. Mount Kimbie - Before I Move Off, Crooks & Lovers

5. James Blake - To Care (Like You), James Blake

6. Tyler the Creator feat. Hodgy Beats - Slow it Down, Odd Future Tape

7. Oregon Bike Trails - High School Lover, Single

8. That Ghost - To Like You, Song Out Here

9. Melted Toys - Come On, Washed & Dried EP

10. The National - Think You Can Wait, Win Win Soundtrack

March Podcast with The Dodos, Shannon and The Clams, The Strokes and more... Mar 11, 2011

Show notes

The 2011 Noise Pop Music Festival has come and gone. We all had a fantastic time, and we are over-the-top excited about next year's 20th anniversary; but until then, we've got some music to play for you guys.

This episode is dedicated partly to a Noise Pop retrospective (with tracks from our favorite artists), while the rest of the songs are new music that we love. Enjoy, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast through iTunes.

Tracklist

1. Lovers Lane - HUNX and his PUNX, Too Young To Be In Love (Noise Pop retrospective)

2. Gone Without Feeling - The Black Ryder, Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride (Noise Pop retrospective)

3. Hard Smart Beta - Starfucker, Starfucker

4. Under Cover of Darkness - The Strokes, Angles

5. Don't Waste It - MAN/MIRACLE, Don't Waste It (single)

6. Don't Stop - The Dodos, No Color

7. Landscapes - Gregory & The Hawk, Leche (Noise Pop retrospective)

8. Sleep Talk - Shannon and The Clams, Sleep Talk (Noise Pop retrospective)

9. Still The Same Person - Sister Crayon, Bellow (Noise Pop retrospective)

10. Look at Me Now (Remix) - The AK

February Podcast II, 2011 - Featuring Nodzzz, Purity Ring, Cloud Nothings and more... Feb 23, 2011

Show notes

This time around we dig deep into the internet bins and come up with only underground artists. No heavy hitters on this episode, leave those for the Grammys (congratulations Arcade Fire!). Enjoy.

1. Purity Ring - Ungirthed, 7"?

2. Cloud Nothings - Understand at All, Cloud Nothings

3. Nodzzz - Time (What's It Going to Do?), Innings

4. Moving Units - Until She Says, Tension War

5. Le Butcherettes - Kiss & Kill, Kiss & Kill

6. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - How Can U Luv Me, Unknown Mortal Orchestra

7. The Seedy Seeds - Verb Noun, Eternity Spin

8. The Forms - Fire To The Ground (Feat. Matt Berninger), Derealization EP

p.s. Dawson mispronounced last months artist Unouomedude. It's proper pronunciation is "you-know-you-owe-me-dude".

February 2011 Noise Pop Podcast - Featuring Panda Bear, Deerhoof, Mr. Dream, Young Mammals and more... Feb 08, 2011

Show notes

This one is as simple as it get - 11 new amazing tracks from some of the most promising independent artists. This episode is all over the map; we have songs ranging from acoustic balladry to frenetic math rock to subdued lofi bedroom pop. Enjoy the tunes, and be sure to email us at podcast@noisepop.com if you have any questions, comments or music submission.

Tracklist

1. J Irving Daly - Teething, Sun Room -Single

2. Deerhoof - The Merry Barracks, Deerhoof vs. Evil

3. Young Mammals - Dragon Wagon, Carrots

4. Panda Bear - You Can Count on Me, Tomboy

5. Mr. Dream - Crime, Crime

6. Maps & Atlases - Living Decorations, Perch Patchwork

7. Range Rover - Soda, Mind - Single

8. Jessica Lee Mayfield - Our Hearts are Wrong, Tell Me

9. Versus - Invincible Hero, On The Ones and Threes

10. Unouomedude - Buildings, Marsh EP

11. Ducktails - Hamilton Road, Ducktails III

January 2011 - Featuring Cut Copy, Destroyer, Wu Lyf, Gauntlet Hair and more... Jan 19, 2011

Show notes

On this episode we return back to the basics and play the best new independent tracks out there right now. Jesse Fox joins Dawson Ludwig to briefly discuss the growth of the Denver indie scene, the use of cheesy 80's sounds in music, and the absurd title of the new song from the excellent Manchester band, Wu Lyf.

1. Gauntlet Hair - Out Don't, Out Don't/Heave... 7"

2. Woodsman - Insects, Rare Forms

3. Cut Copy - Take Me Over, Zonoscope

4. Smith Westerns - Weekend, Dye it Blonde

5. Destroyer - Chinatown, Kaputt

6. Yuck - Rubber, Rubber

7. No Age - Fever Dreaming, Everything in Between

8. Tape Deck Mountain - It Goes Down, Secret Serf EP

9. Wu Lyf - I Got Dem Wu Wu Busted Teef Spitting It Concrete Like The Golden Sun God, On The Ones and Threes

10. Foxes in Fiction - Bathurst, Slow Evolution

Best of the Year, 2010 Dec 22, 2010

Show notes

2010 turned out to be a great year for independent music. This came as a surprise considering how fantastic last year was. Between Animal Collective, The xx, Phoenix and Dirty Projectors, 2009 looked like it would be hard year to beat. But, as this episode points out, 2010 gave us plenty of artistis that pushed musical boundaries and delivered new and exciting songs. In this episode Noise Pop invites our friends and colleagues to choose their favorite song of the year and give some context to their decision. Here is the guest list and their corresponding song choices:

Intro - Tanlines, Real Life 2. Stacy Horne of Noise Pop & Treasure Island Music Festival - Die Antwoord, Enter The Ninja 3. Peter Arko of Ears of the Beholder - Wild Nothing, Golden Haze 4. Caleb Morairity of Yourstru.ly - Delorean, Stay Close 5. Will Abrahamson of Yourstru.ly - Big K.R.I.T., Something 6. Ben Van Houten and Nicole Browner of The Bay Bridged - The Fresh and Only's, Waterfall 7. Mona Dehghan of Domino Records - Beach House, Used to Be 8. Jesse Fox of Foxconsox blog/NP Podcast - Sharon Van Etten, Love More

9. Dawson Ludwig of Noise Pop - Tennis, Marathon

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