TuneDig

Episode 57: Kendrick Lamar's "good kid, m.A.A.d city" Oct 22, 2024

Before the Super Bowl, the super beef, the Pulitzer, or PGLang, one good kid and king-to-be sojourned from South Central to the height of the American promise and rained down lightning that united one nation under a groove. You’ll feel the energy of this episode from two planets away — hop in the van real quick and let’s roll out.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for daily listening recommendations, and check out more episodes at tunedig.com.

Episode 56: Cocteau Twins's "Heaven or Las Vegas" Sep 17, 2024

Dream of ethereal waves of sound swirling around you—and words you can’t make out saying more than you could imagine—as you float back upstream with us toward the warmth of Cocteau Twins’ decade-defining masterpiece, which still ripples across a vast pool of influences 25 years on.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for daily listening recommendations, and check out more episodes at tunedig.com.

Episode 55: Jeff Buckley's "Grace" Aug 23, 2024

Once upon a time, “your favorite artist’s favorite artist” wasn’t a Midwest princess, but a “mystery white boy” beloved by Bob Dylan and Adele alike. Jeff Buckley’s signature Grace is on the shortlist of transcendent albums every living being should experience, because, as one industry vet put it: “it’s all in there, isn’t it? It’s just all in there.” Marvel and ache with us at the warm glow of a remnant left behind by a fallen star whose light shone briefly but brilliantly.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for daily listening recommendations, and check out more episodes at tunedig.com.

Episode 54: Botch's "We Are the Romans" Jul 24, 2024

If you like heavy music in 2024 (or want to try), all roads lead back to We Are the Romans. Botch is the Eno-on-Velvet trope of hardcore, the band that launched a thousand imitators simply by being themselves.
We Are the Romans is a visceral, vital document guaranteed to make you feel something from its first notes — and there’s never been a better time to stop and smell the roses from a group just now getting its long-overdue flowers.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for daily listening recommendations, and check out more episodes at tunedig.com.

Episode 53: Ravi Shankar's "Three Ragas" Jun 18, 2024

Ravi Shankar lived one of the twentieth century’s most extraordinary lives, bearing witness to—and making—history all around the world. To many (especially in the West), he personified an extraordinarily complex style of music and the cultures from which it was borne, and he worked hard to make it look easy.
That work opened doors for scores of artists—John Coltrane, Phillip Glass, George Harrison among them—to explore and express their worlds in newer and deeper ways.
This episode could never touch every part of the proverbial elephant that is his life and legacy, but we humbly present what we hope becomes as meaningful a musical touchstone for you as it has for us.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for daily listening recommendations, and check out more episodes at tunedig.com.

Episode 52: Alain Goraguer's "La Planète Sauvage" May 11, 2024

Gather ’round, sommeliers of the strange and crate-digging boogie children, for something “Strange! Frightening! Fascinating!” awaits. The soundtrack to Cannes 1973’s Jury Prize-winning film is a dazzling, surreal, avant-garde hymn to cosmic knowledge and compassion and a secret handshake among real heads. If you’re after a trip to a new dimension, here’s your one small step for man.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for daily listening recommendations, and check out more episodes at tunedig.com.

Episode 51: Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" Apr 25, 2024

Marvin Gaye’s well of soul power ran mighty deep, and deep into his career, he pulled up a bucket of ice-cold, silky smooth champagne called “I Want You.” Come for the lush instrumentation, vocal harmonies, and Leon Ware clinic; stay for the stories.
For our return from hiatus, we observe a titan in his element, reflect on the pain that built him into one, and consider how to reconcile our feelings when complicated messengers deliver beauty to our door.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at tunedig.com.

Episode 50: Funkadelic's "Maggot Brain" Jul 01, 2022

Before uniting one nation under a groove, the lysergic lords of chaos in Funkadelic harnessed wild lightning into an amulet called "Maggot Brain", bestowing the bearer with raw, dark power stronger than any force known to man. Between reaching our 50th episode and coping with the “maggots in the mind” of today’s universe, it felt like the right time to free our minds. We hope y’all’s asses will follow.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 49: Alice Coltrane's "Journey in Satchidananda" Jun 17, 2022

The story of Alice Coltrane — an accomplished bebop pianist from Detroit who transcended into something far greater before walking away from public life altogether — is a glimpse into what it means to be truly free. Alice’s masterpiece Journey in Satchidananda is a cosmic dance that sparked creation from destruction. And in a time when we’re all desperately searching for a spark of meaning and hope, Journey abides abundantly.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 48: Heart's "Little Queen" Jun 03, 2022

Take a moment to appreciate Ann and Nancy Wilson, who kicked down the doors of rock ‘n’ roll’s boys’ club with their peerless guitar work, soaring soul vocals, and tight songcraft. 1977’s Little Queen — an oft-overlooked gem in the classic rock canon — offers a snapshot of those elements at their most urgent and pure, powered by the Wilsons’ simple motivation (as described by their producer): “It was a war.”
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 47: Tangerine Dream's "Phaedra" May 20, 2022

When you think of “electronic music,” what comes to mind may not be a genre you deeply love — hip-hop, house, new wave, or even dub reggae — but all of it owes some debt, scientifically or otherwise, to Tangerine Dream. Dig in with us as we study a prime example of the band’s brand of effortful innovation, where they patiently and persistently labored at the cutting edge of electronic technology to open a portal to new worlds in our minds.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 46: Olivia Rodrigo's "SOUR" May 06, 2022

Did you catch one of 2021’s biggest albums, or like us, did you almost overlook it? If you have any expectations of pop music, "SOUR" will likely subvert them. Teenage dream this is not; it’s an exquisitely universal portrait of a weird time to be alive.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 45: Fela Kuti's "Expensive Shit" Apr 22, 2022

The story of Fela Kuti — one of the most famous people on an *entire continent* passionately struggling to liberate power to more people — is absolutely one worth deeply knowing, regardless of whether you find yourself drawn to Afrobeat or (cringe) “world music.” But once you know it, it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with Fela and Afrika 70 as their revolutionary grooves rewire your brain in magical and meaningful ways.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 44: Meshuggah's "ObZen" Apr 08, 2022

Meshuggah’s "ObZen"—an artifact of human creativity pushing the limits of what’s possible—will quite literally make you hear music differently. If you’re looking for a new musical adventure, and especially if you don’t think you like “heavy” or “weird” music, consider this your sign to push past your comfort zone.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 43: mewithoutYou's "Catch For Us the Foxes" Mar 25, 2022

A misunderstood wise man once said “Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds.” In our most personal and vulnerable episode yet, we do some seeking through the lens of songs that fill us with the bravery and sincerity to love ourselves and others fully. Dig deep with us as we fish for words about our tiny place in the universe and dance with gratitude for our ability to do so.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 42: Erykah Badu's "Mama's Gun" Mar 11, 2022

Y’all tryna raise your vibrations? Erykah Badu is here to help. Season 6 kicks off with a meditation on realness and what being on “your own wavelength” really means. (Spoiler: it ain’t a single frequency — it’s a whole spectrum.)
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Season 6 Trailer Feb 25, 2022

Season 6—featuring our most eclectic selection of albums yet—kicks off Friday, March 11, with new episodes every other Friday through July. This trailer gives you a little taste of the lineup, which includes:
“Mama’s Gun” – Erykah Badu
“Catch for Us the Foxes” – mewithoutYou
“ObZen” – Meshuggah
“Expensive Shit” – Fela Kuti
“SOUR” – Olivia Rodrigo
“Phaedra” – Tangerine Dream
“Little Queen” – Heart
“Journey In Satchidananda” — Alice Coltrane
“Maggot Brain” – Funkadelic
(We also share news about a very special new series we’re launching!)
Visit https://tunedig.com to subscribe on the podcast platform of your choice so you don’t miss a new release ...
... And follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for vinyl giveaways and info about the albums beyond what makes the episode.

Episode 41: Miles Davis's "Bitches Brew" Jun 18, 2021

Let’s be clear: "Bitches Brew" is a challenging record, even to some of the best musicians in the world — but all of them say it’s worth the investment.
It’s the kind of trip that, even if we *could* draw a map, it wouldn’t take you there. Let go of the need for meaning and enjoy the ride with us. We can promise you’ll be pleasantly surprised where you end up.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 40: Fiona Apple's "Tidal" Jun 04, 2021

On the heels of one of 2020's most acclaimed albums — Fiona Apple’s Fetch the Bolt Cutters — we revisited Apple’s debut Tidal and wound up working to extract ourselves from the mostly male gazes that made its reception … much different. We arrive at a question much like writer Jenn Pelly had: “People would constantly prod Fiona on how an 18-year-old could write songs as mature as these ... Why did they not ask instead how she became a genius?”
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 39: Death Grips's "The Money Store" May 21, 2021

The modern world is accelerating beyond our control, shaping our reality in ways we can’t yet perceive or understand. Enter Death Grips, an art project capturing the chaotic energy and illustrating the absurdity of our hubris in trying to harmonize the surreal and extremely real — never more perfectly than on 2012’s prescient "The Money Store".
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 38: Augustus Pablo's "King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown" May 07, 2021

Reggae music is easy to take for granted, but its impact is underappreciated and massive — in the case of dub in particular, everyone from Radiohead to Johnny Rotten to Run-DMC owes it a debt.
Augustus Pablo and King Tubby together created what’s regarded as “one of the finest examples of dub ever recorded.” Join us as we dive into the culture, history, and unique engineering experiments that made it possible.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 37: Rihanna's "ANTI" Apr 23, 2021

By every measure — sales, awards, chart-toppers, global name recognition — Rihanna is objectively as big as the Beatles ever were. In fact, ANTI is so big it’s still on the charts, a record five full years later.
Take a closer look with us at “the record you make when you don’t need to sell records”, and get a taste of the true freedom that comes from focusing on your inner voice when faced with insurmountable expectations.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 36: Son House's "Father of Folk Blues" Apr 09, 2021

All American music traces back to the blues, and deep at the root sits Son House. That the recordings on "Father of Folk Blues" even exist is something of a gray area that cuts to the heart of the great American myth, but wherever you land after hearing these stories, you’ll find that what matters most is what the great Muddy Waters once said of House: “That man was the king.”
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 35: Melvins's "Stoner Witch" Mar 26, 2021

The futility of describing the Melvins has stretched critics in the direction of absurd words like “Dadaist” for nearly 40 years now. They’ve belligerently flogged any attempt to pinpoint their essence simply by being themselves, but "Stoner Witch" remains a reliable mall directory for the Melvins’ vast and wild discography. Grab yourself some pretzel bites.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 34: Dolly Parton's "Jolene" Mar 12, 2021

We should talk about Dolly the way we talk about Prince. Her extraordinary kindness and unique kitsch both make her universally loved, but what gets left out of the conversation is the very thing that made her famous: the music. Join in as we focus attention on the sonics and songwriting of the low-key masterpiece "Jolene".
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 33: The Allman Brothers Band's "The Allman Brothers Band" Feb 26, 2021

Six enlightened rogues out of Macon, Georgia birthed an entire genre simply by being their soul-powered selves. We have not come to testify, but we’re still hung up on the dream The Allman Brothers Band helped us see. By the end of this episode, you will be, too.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Season 5 Trailer Feb 19, 2021

After stepping away from talking about albums in 2020, we took time to regroup and reground in why we started this thing in the first place. Join us as we briefly share our renewed perspective on music coming out of Hell Year and tee up the special group of albums we’ll be diving into over the next few months. There’s a little something for everyone.
First episode of season 5 drops Friday, February 26 — with new ones every other Friday through June.
“The Allman Brothers Band” - The Allman Brothers Band
“Jolene” - Dolly Parton
“Stoner Witch” - Melvins
“Father of Folk Blues” - Son House
“ANTI” - Rihanna
“King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown” - Augustus Pablo
“The Money Store” - Death Grips
“Tidal” - Fiona Apple
“Bitches Brew” - Miles Davis
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the album that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

TuneDig Radio: HM-2 Sep 04, 2020

Part two of exploring our very specific favorite ways to discover and enjoy new music contrasts sharply with sampling’s vastness. Instead, Cliff laser-focuses in on a world inside four small knobs all dialed to 10.
The Boss HM-2 has spawned a prolific and diverse subculture, tied together by metal and hardcore artists’ quest for tones that differentiate and reflect the intensity of their material. If you love heavy music, you’ll love this playlist. If you don’t, we’re confident you’ll appreciate this headspace and its nuances.
Combine the podcast with the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6vrvfaLql87Lnq4yaDcdXr
Listen with full songs on the YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCTnCqMM9gSc8FVccQzMddWwMZNStj5Ip
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

TuneDig Radio: Sampling Aug 21, 2020

For this one, we prompted each other to build a playlist around a very specific favorite way to discover and enjoy new music.
For Kyle, it’s sampling in hip-hop, a Rosetta Stone that endlessly unlocks interesting and obscure musical touchstones. The playlist lays out his journey of discovery through key samples that changed his life, and the episode dives into the mind of the crate digger and the value of that worldview in general.
Combine the podcast with the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3wqazjQ0kNV5FphNvKcILz?si=wGjdr5FzSZWGYFPf2NvPjA
Listen with full songs on the YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCTnCqMM9gSf35ltZDiGS7uOFGlQHx3B8
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

TuneDig Radio: Direct Action Aug 07, 2020

In this second of a pair of episodes responding to the recent uprisings, we translated what we’d learned from our introspection into a critical follow-up: direct action to make a difference. Join us as we walk through a soundtrack to help us plot, plan, strategize, organize, and mobilize.
We dedicate this episode to the memory of John Lewis, who showed us again and again what’s possible when you take action and stand up for what’s right.
Combine the podcast with the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6Sph7UdfvMkgNNKos5uUlu
Listen with full songs on the YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCTnCqMM9gSf3GhCXfeR-kUeNjBS7Ivrv
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

TuneDig Radio: Introspection Jul 24, 2020

The protests and unrest have had us wondering how to make meaning from this wild, inexplicable time in history — so like usual, we turned to songs. Out came two new TuneDig Radio playlists.
The world already has plenty of protest playlists, so instead we tried to think more deeply about how best to process and live in the moment. This episode (part of a pair) is all about searching deep within and challenging yourself to grow.
Combine the podcast with the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/22OvQfebbIGI3jeollYycy
Listen with full songs on the YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCTnCqMM9gSfCcpPsfj0DbEVymoC6Uls6
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

TuneDig Radio: Instrumentals Vol. 2 Jun 18, 2020

Being stuck at home without our studio setup got us thinking about the value of staying connected to people you enjoy being around by sharing music you love. With that in mind, we present the first episode of TuneDig Radio — where we dive deep into a specific music-related topic, then curate and share a playlist about it, pirate radio-style.
For our first two episodes, we took turns exchanging our favorite instrumentals, discovering some key overlaps and major differences along the way.
Combine the podcast with the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/270ljCJHi5AAP6i5Akkb66
Listen with full songs on the YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLCTnCqMM9gScFCR2V0mxNWQcjsoBZYc2f&v=aJbcR2kfe7o
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

TuneDig Radio: Instrumentals Vol. 1 May 22, 2020

Being stuck at home without our studio setup got us thinking about the value of staying connected to people you enjoy being around by sharing music you love. With that in mind, we present the first episode of TuneDig Radio — where we dive deep into a specific music-related topic, then curate and share a playlist about it, pirate radio-style.
For our first two episodes, we took turns exchanging our favorite instrumentals, discovering some key overlaps and major differences along the way.
Combine the podcast with the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7kfj9Q15V4IyeRv1M6ONOW
Listen with full songs on the YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLCTnCqMM9gSdix0yrTKyABdsYs3YiiIg9&v=eQLC95i_8b8
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 032: D'Angelo's "Voodoo" Jan 24, 2020

To create something timeless, an artist must push beyond the boundaries of time. With "Voodoo", D’Angelo gathered a council of like-minded shamans for a years-long ritual to study and absorb music’s most mystical moments, conjuring an otherworldly result.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 031: Chelsea Wolfe's "Hiss Spun" Jan 10, 2020

"Hiss Spun" is a massive cosmic ballad that journeys through the worlds within the psyche, guided by a goddess of the soul in her own right. Think of this episode as a gateway drug to a land beyond your comfort zone toward the beauty of all things heavy. Let "Hiss Spun" get in your blood.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 030: Otis Redding's "Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul" Dec 13, 2019

A single 24-hour period in 1965 yielded one of the finest and most important musical documents in American history — and its author became one of our most influential voices. Join us in marveling at the difference a day can make.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 029: Sunn O)))'s "Black One" Nov 29, 2019

”Dark is the light, and everything is black.”
For Black Friday, we thought it fitting to reach for the darkest and most transcendent piece of music we know. Sunn O)))’s thundering vibrations are meditation through force for anyone willing to listen deeply, and "Black One" is a door into a void that turns out to be a higher plane.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 028: Radiohead's "Kid A" Nov 15, 2019

Is it possible to be both overrated and underrated? With "Kid A", Radiohead cemented their mythos simply by artfully engaging a very specific cultural crossroads. We reexamined both the music and the moment, and gained more new perspective than we expected about the meaning of both.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 027: Tom Waits's "Rain Dogs" Nov 01, 2019

Dance and swallow the night with us as we go down, down, down, downtown. This one finds us following a beatnik as he washes away the scent of his past and goes feral in search of wild new sounds. (We've always been out of our minds.)
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 026: A Tribe Called Quest's "Midnight Marauders" Oct 18, 2019

Most artists would’ve crumbled under the pressure of following up an instant classic like The "Low End Theory", but Tip, Phife, and Shaheed dug even deeper, delivering an even more “precise, bass-heavy, and just right” work in sound and in spirit. Midnight remains a watershed moment for hip-hop, so we must bear witness.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Episode 025: Can's "Tago Mago" Oct 04, 2019

We launch Season 4 by blasting off toward Inner Space, exploring the wild dimension that one German-based collective occupied all on its own. Enjoy the mind-bending magic of pure cosmic inspiration with us.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.
Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

BONUS TRACK: How We Got Here Sep 27, 2019

We got a bunch of interesting listener feedback in our off-season, and it encouraged us to shed some light on why we do things the way we do ‘em. Also, we reflect on our first writeup, which was ... interesting.

Season 4 Trailer Sep 19, 2019

This one’s simple: we run down the next batch of albums we’re covering. Check out the song clips and get psyched!
First episode of season 4 drops Friday, October 4—new ones every other Friday after that.
"Tago Mago" - Can
"Midnight Marauders" - A Tribe Called Quest
"Rain Dogs" - Tom Waits
"Kid A" - Radiohead
"Black One" - Sunn O)))
"Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul" - Otis Redding
"Hiss Spun" - Chelsea Wolfe
"Voodoo" - D'Angelo

Episode 024: Prince and the Revolution's "Purple Rain" Jun 21, 2019

Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate a precious moment. This moment in history "Purple Rain" made is an electric thing — it’s music at the height of music’s power, creating a space in time for everyone to be in together.
There will never be another. Y’all better live now.

Episode 023: Queens of the Stone Age's "Rated R" Jun 07, 2019

Y’all lookin’ for freedom? Boy, do we ever have the pill for you. Slip on your boogie shoes, put this episode on your tongue, and slither out into the darkness with us as we howl at the neon moon.

Episode 022: Frank Ocean's "Channel Orange" May 24, 2019

We tune into an Oceanic innervision of crystal-clear Criterion Collection F E E L I N G, frequency after frequency for 55 minutes. Like us, you won’t be able to change the channel.

Episode 021: Sturgill Simpson's "Metamodern Sounds in Country Music" May 10, 2019

One cowboy’s journey to clean out the darkest corners of his mind led him through a wormhole and into the light. The result is "Metamodern Sounds in Country Music", a cosmic country hitchhiker’s guide to the myth we all call space and time.

Episode 020: Converge's "Axe to Fall" Apr 26, 2019

"Axe to Fall" finds one of heavy music’s most consistent, celebrated bands transcending into the legends they’re known as today, calling on friends to provide fresh perspective on their sound and push them to peerless new heights.

Episode 019: Run the Jewels's "Run the Jewels 3" Apr 12, 2019

What happens when, after years grinding underground solo, two hip-hop heavyweights discover they make a perfect team? They strike G-O-L-D, finally stepping into the pop culture spotlight and using it to speak the language of the unheard.

Episode 018: Janelle Monáe's "The ArchAndroid" Mar 29, 2019

Picasso said that “art is a lie that makes us realize truth.“ Grand artistic statements like "The ArchAndroid" reveal intimate ideas beneath layers of disguise, drawing in the audience to connect to the story’s feelings rather than its facts. This one’s about the fight for freedom and love … and who doesn’t want more of that?

Episode 017: Björk's "Homogenic" Mar 15, 2019

For an artist as creative as Björk, finding the essence of her sound meant pushing farther out than ever before. Ideas, sounds, and approaches that seemed at odds added up to something greater on "Homogenic". The result was vast, nuanced “emotional landscapes” unlike anything we’ve ever experienced … do yourself a favor and walk around them with us. We dare you.

Episode 016: Lauryn Hill's "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" Jan 11, 2019

There’s little doubt at this point that "Miseducation" is a great album, but after really spending time with it, we came away with a deep belief that it’s one of the best ever, full stop. It’s a perfect record — albeit from an imperfect vessel — delivered at the perfect moment for maximum impact, and we only manage to scratch its surface here. We hope it hits you like it has us.

Episode 015: The Mars Volta's "Frances the Mute" Dec 28, 2018

"Frances the Mute" is a sonic séance, conjuring spirits buried beneath stories left behind by lost souls. The album finds restless living spirits walking a hallucinatory hall of mirrors of space and time, trying to find light beyond the darkness of a friend gone too soon. Don’t be afraid to get your mind bent—we’re here to guide you.

Episode 014: BADBADNOTGOOD's "IV" Dec 14, 2018

If you’re worried about kids these days and/or the pitfalls of technology, we’d like to point to an antidote to all those fears. Meet BADBADNOTGOOD, the jazz quartet you can crowdsurf to, and IV, the album where they found their own voice. What a time to be alive.

Episode 013: Cream's "Wheels of Fire" Nov 30, 2018

Clapton. Bruce. Baker. This supergroup was a strange brew that was simply too potent for the world (not to mention the band themselves), and we see that on display in "Wheels of Fire". The double album finds the trio at—ahem—a crossroads, the contrast between their inspirations creating tension to mixed—but often magical—effect.

Episode 012: Mono's "You Are There" Nov 16, 2018

File "You Are There" under evidence for Huxley’s thesis that, “after silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.“ We gave our best effort trying to capture Mono’s magic, who don’t utter a single world but manage to say everything about life, death, and all that’s between.

Episode 011: Rage Against the Machine's "Rage Against the Machine" Nov 02, 2018

On the eve of an opportunity for Americans to lift their voices in demand of a more perfect union, we seek wisdom for this moment from the uncompromising, incendiary vision of our generation’s most effective revolutionaries. Troubling as it may be that so much still rings so true in Rage’s quarter-century-old debut, there is strength to be drawn from its message: We, the People, have a world to win.

Episode 010: Kanye West's "The College Dropout" Oct 19, 2018

The Kanyepalooza™ of the past few months made us question if Ye ever actually made anything that made him worth all this fuss. (SPOILER: He did.) This investigation wasn’t as simple as missing the old Kanye — because every Ye fan seems to have a different favorite album — but we wound up looking back with admiration on the first time Donda’s son held the zeitgeist in his hands and turned it upside-down.

Episode 009: Norma Jean's "Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child" Oct 05, 2018

Local scenes are forces of nature, catching fire and burning out as people come and go. We kick off season 2 close to home, looking back at a scene stoked by an abrasive, electric mess of a thing from little ol’ Douglasville, Georgia, setting our unsuspecting Southern hometown all ablaze. Guess you had to be there.

Episode 008: John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" Jul 28, 2018

All paths led to this. Season 1 closes on a sublime note, exploring the profound power of one of the most important albums in American history, full stop. We give thanks to Coltrane's cosmically attuned hymn of gratitude for the holy spirit he saw flowing through everything. Yeah, we dare say this one got downright profound.

Episode 007: Hüsker Dü's "Zen Arcade" Jul 14, 2018

The antagonistically long, spastically eclectic Zen Arcade is about growing out of where you’re from and into a form you don’t yet fit. For better or worse, it’s as punk as punk gets.
Join the fun as two grown-up punks reckon with the good, the bad, and the WTF of a hardcore staple they’d missed until long after their best pitting years.

Episode 006: Childish Gambino's "Awaken, My Love!" Jun 30, 2018

Consider this our RT of FX’s John Landgraf, who warned the world to “underestimate Donald Glover at your own peril.” This episode finds us talking a little about Gambino’s afro-futurist awakening on “Awaken” as a vehicle to talk a lot about Glover’s many punk rock masterstrokes.

Episode 005: Soundgarden's "Superunknown" Jun 16, 2018

The spirit of Superunknown perhaps is best captured by an offhand press quote from Kim Thayil: “Human beings are a wild composite of temporal events and insights and motivations and restrained behaviors ... and memories both delusional and accurate.” In this episode, we reflect on a masterpiece that captured the contradictions and complexity of raw emotion, and we explore the black hole-sized void torn open by the loss of a musical titan.

Episode 004: Sleep's "Dopesmoker" Jun 02, 2018

It’s easy to make a punchline out of this “album” (read: single 63-minute song) and the circumstances surrounding it, but as we explore the music that wound up becoming a heavy music landmark, we found something profound. On Sleep's "Dopesmoker", the journey really is the destination after all.

Episode 003: Portishead's "Dummy" May 19, 2018

Portishead’s dark, timeless mystique is hard to capture, so instead we mostly meditate on “the air around the thing.” Venture into the fog with Bristol’s anti-heroes and the cinematic landscape of what the BBC called “quite simply one of the greatest debut albums of the 1990s.”

Episode 002: Led Zeppelin's "Houses of the Holy" May 05, 2018

Led Zeppelin's follow-up to "IV" arrived as they were becoming the biggest rock band in the world—but they didn't choose to play it safe. We discuss all the twists and turns amassed on this behemoth of an album and give you some new ways to hear these nearly 50-year-old songs that still feel fresh.

Episode 001: Outkast's "Stankonia" Apr 20, 2018

We kick off the podcast with one of our all-time favorite records, embedded deeply in our hometown. It turns out the south did have something to say, and it's influenced decades of music just as much as it borrowed from the funkiness of the past.

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