Completely Conspicuous 635: Get Guilty
Completely Conspicuous
Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2009. Show notes: In 2009, Phil had a newborn and was expecting another We had a global pandemic in '09 (H1N1 swine flu) Biggest selling album in the world was by Susan Boyle Black Eyed Peas had a big year U2 had an album out, but didn't make much of an impression on us Phil's non-top 5s: The Dead Weather, Son Volt, Wilco, Jason Isbell, Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, A.C. Newman, Titus Andronicus, Deer Tick To smarm or not to smarm To be continued Completely Conspicuous is available through Apple Podcasts. Subscribe...
info_outline
Completely Conspicuous 634: Stay Positive
Completely Conspicuous
Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2008. Show notes: Phil's #5: My Morning Jacket changes things up Jay's #5: Big space rock ripper from Black Mountain Phil's #4: Springsteen-inspired indie rock from the Gaslight Anthem Jay's #4: Stephen Malkmus gets jammy Phil's #3: Tom Petty's early band Mudcrutch gets back together Jay's #3: Sloan with an economical power pop release Phil's and Jay's #2: Dark, inspired record from the Gutter Twins Phil's #1: Brooding classic from Death Cab for Cutie Jay's #1: The Hold Steady hits an anthemic peak Craig...
info_outline
Completely Conspicuous 633: Stop, Drop and Roll
Completely Conspicuous
Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2008. Show notes: In '08, Phil became a dad M.I.A. with the Clash fakeout intro Phil's non-top 5s: The Hold Steady, Stephen Malkmus, Vampire Weekend, TV on the Radio, the Raconteurs, Beck, R.E.M., JJ Grey and Mofro, Sloan, Drive-By Truckers, Black Keys The Kelly Gruber Effect The other Phil Stacey releases his debut album, as did Scarlett Johansson and Bronson Arroyo Jay's non-top 5s: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Black Angels, Foxboro Hot Tubs, Destroyer Green Day was punk until they weren't Phil: Hearing the Kinks for the...
info_outline
Completely Conspicuous 632: Don't You Evah
Completely Conspicuous
Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2007. Show notes: Phil's #5: Sharp alt-country debut from Deer Tick Jay's #5: Nick Cave rocks out with Grinderman Phil's #4: Compelling raunch rock from QOTSA Jay's #4: Ted Leo and the Pharmacists with another quality ripper Phil's #3: Soulful belter Sharon Jones with a great throwback Jay's #3: Radiohead's "pay what you want" experiment Labels were not happy that they took the risk Phil's #2: Dad-rock kings Wilco with a mellower affair Jay's #2: The original Dino Jr. lineup with their first album since '88 Phil's and Jay's...
info_outline
Completely Conspicuous 631: Into Action
Completely Conspicuous
Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2007. Show notes: In 2007, Jay had a kid starting kindergarten; that kids graduates from college soon Zeppelin played two reunion shows Separating the music from artists' bad behavior Daughtry had the #1 selling album of '07 Phil's non-top 5s: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, the National, St. Vincent, Jason Isbell, Okkervil River, Buffalo Tom, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Arctic Monkeys Let's hear it for Dad Rock On Madonna's career Discovering music through commercials or movies Music services Jay's non-top 5s: LCD...
info_outline
Completely Conspicuous 630: Goin' Against Your Mind
Completely Conspicuous
Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2006. Show notes: Jay's non-top 5s: The Black Angels, Mission of Burma, Twilight Singers, The Tragically Hip, Girl Talk, Iron Maiden, Lemonheads Phil's #5: Beck's last really good album, especially the first half Jay's #5: First solo release from Pulp's Jarvis Cocker Phil's #4: Last Drive-By Truckers album with Jason Isbell expands their world view Jay's #4: Expansive and excellent outing from TV On the Radio Phil's #3: Droney, psychedelic fuzz from the Black Angels Jay's #3: Yet another great one from the Hold Steady Phil's...
info_outline
Completely Conspicuous 629: Star Witness
Completely Conspicuous
Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2006. Show notes: First episode of the year In 2006, Jay had two little kids Phil was having fun When you don't know anybody playing the festival Top-selling album of the year was High School Musical soundtrack The Who released an album in 2006 Phil's non-top 5s: Neko Case, Destroyer, the Hold Steady, the Walkmen, Dylan, Heartless Bastards, Tom Petty, Eagles of Death Metal, Black Keys, Yo La Tengo, Sonic Youth, Pearl Jam, Yeah Yeah Yeahs Jay: Check out Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins To be continued Completely Conspicuous...
info_outline
Completely Conspicuous 628: 2023 and Me
Completely Conspicuous
Part 2 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling as we discuss our favorite music of 2023. Show notes: We're in there like swimwear On to the top 10 lists Breitling's #10: Return to from by Fog Lake Breitling's #9: Frog's new release unexpectedly has received critical praise Kumar's #9: Another consistenly great album from Protomartyr Breitling's #8: Minimalist excellence from Colleen that tests Jay's French pronunciation skills Kumar's #8: After an 11-year absence, the Hives' formula de rock still kicks ass in 2023 Breitling's #7 and Kumar's #10: Yo La Tengo still bringing the heat,...
info_outline
Completely Conspicuous 627: The Year in Music, Let It Bleed Edition
Completely Conspicuous
Part 1 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling as we discuss our favorite music of 2023. Show notes: Recorded at Clicky Clicky HQ The 14th year of "Year in Music" episodes Taylor Swift is big, but not bigger than Starbucks Breitling making fun of Croz Perfect synergy: The Stones tour sponsored by AARP Hall v. Oates KISS passes the torch to digital avatars of themselves The "new" old Beatles song Check it out on the YouthTube Spotify blows The kids love the streaming and whatnot Check out Parcheesi Redux Tuesday and Thursday on Mixcloud Also check out Brad Searles' show on the first...
info_outline
Completely Conspicuous 626: Entertain
Completely Conspicuous
Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 2005. Show notes: Jay's #5 and Phil's #4: New Pornographers with another all-star power pop classic Phil's #5: Early '70s singer-songwriter jams from Ryan Adams and the Cardinals Still in the era of artists putting out overlong albums Jay's #3: Spoon expands their sound, grows their popularity Phil's #3: A powerful R&B belter from Sharon Jones Jay's #2: Queens of the Stone Age with a punchy follow-up to a monster hit Phil's #2: Beck with an Odelay-esque release with a nod to Latin music Phil's #1 and Jay's #4:...
info_outlineI'm joined by guest Phil Stacey as we discuss the Grateful Dead album In the Dark.
Show notes:
- Recorded via Zoom
- We originally planned to do this in early March, but then something happened
- In the Dark was released in July 1987, seven years after the last Dead studio album
- Phil had just graduated from high school, Jay was going into junior year of college
- The band had been playing the songs in concert for years
- Jerry Garcia had gone into a diabetic coma in '86
- Had to re-learn how to walk, talk, play guitar
- Band was renewed after his recovery
- CDs were just starting to get popular
- We both didn't get CD players until 1989
- First CDs: Phil's was 10,000 Maniacs, Jay's were Cult, the Who, Joe Jackson
- The Best of Steve Miller was a college staple in the '80s
- Recorded live in an empty theater
- "Touch of Grey" was all over MTV and rock radio that summer
- Very catchy single
- Phil: Album was breath of fresh air after two disappointing releases
- "Touch of Grey" resonated with Boomers as well as younger listeners
- New fans were known as "Touch heads" by veteran fans
- People were going to Dead shows for the scene, not the music
- Released videos for "Hell in a Bucket" and "Throwing Stones"
- The one clunker is sung by keyboardist Brent Mydland
- Jay: His vocals didn't seem to fit
- They ladled on the synths
- Phil: Mydland was good at harmonies
- Vocals sounded like Kenny Loggins or Bob Seger
- Phil: Listening to at least one album he hasn't heard every day
- "West LA Fadeaway" may have been inspired by Belushi
- Phil gives it a B+
- The success of "Touch of Grey" was so unexpected
- Next up: We talk about the last Dead studio album
Completely Conspicuous is available through Apple Podcasts and anywhere else you get podcasts. Subscribe and write a review!
The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.