The Radio Ga Ga Podcast
The Radio Ga Ga Podcast is a weekly album review podcast that explores why we like the music we like. Host Justine Piehowski dives into each album in depth, with artist backgrounds, song-by-song meanings, and notes from the recording studio. The goal of the Radio Ga Ga Podcast is to help you as the listener feel more knowledgeable and connected to the music you love, and maybe even music you didn't know you would. Available wherever you listen to podcasts. https://radiogagapodcast.com/
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Maggie Rogers, "Heard It In A Past Life"
05/04/2021
Maggie Rogers, "Heard It In A Past Life"
Though Maggie Rogers began songwriting in her teens, it wasn't until Pharrell Williams critiqued her masterclass at NYU when she got her big break. Many of the songs on "Heard It In A Past Life" deal with this overnight success and all the waves of emotion that come with that. She says "Heard It In A Past Life" was the introduction that she never really got to make. We discuss all the different production and writing styles reflected on the album, as well as Maggie's synesthesia and writing process.
/episode/index/show/radiogagapod/id/18844547
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Television, "Marquee Moon"
04/27/2021
Television, "Marquee Moon"
In this episode, we're diving into one of punk's most enduring albums, "Marquee Moon" from 1977. We'll talk about Television's role in CBGB & OMFUG becoming the epicenter of American punk and the history of the venue, as well as the friendship and later falling out of Tom Verlaine and Richard Hell. Also–the Lower East Side poetry scene, Patti Smith helping build the mystique around the band, turning down a record contract, and what a good name change can do for the soul. Television, don't go to my head.
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The Weeknd, "After Hours"
04/13/2021
The Weeknd, "After Hours"
"After Hours" is like a film noir in album format. It depicts the rise and fall of an anti-hero, The Character, as he admits that his loneliness is more unbearable than he lets on. In this episode, we discuss The Weeknd's whole visual campaign around "After Hours," including an important series of music videos and appearances where The Weeknd showed up with facial bandages. Also, we'll discuss his evolution from releasing music anonymously to becoming one of the biggest pop stars in the world.
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Music Criticism with Jamieson Cox
03/23/2021
Music Criticism with Jamieson Cox
In this episode, I talk to music writer Jamieson Cox, whose work has been featured in Pitchfork, Time Magazine, and more. We discuss how he finds new music, what made him get into criticism, and towing the line between having a hobby and keeping it one. We also get into his role in Pitchfork’s first-ever review of Taylor Swift, how the Pitchfork scoring system works, and Jamieson’s newsletter, One Good Song. Episode includes music by Frank Ocean, Madeline Kenney, Jazmine Sullivan, Mamalarky, and Darksid
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Between The Buried And Me, "Colors"
03/16/2021
Between The Buried And Me, "Colors"
Even though metal isn't at the top of my list, "Colors" is one of the most interesting albums I've heard in a long time. Between The Buried And Me is a progressive metal band made up of virtuosos and friends, most of whom have been playing together since high school. Whether you're already a fan or just curious, my guest Job Fickett is amazingly helpful. He helps guide us through the world of modern prog metal, explains the different vocal styles, and shares all the reasons BTBAM is his favorite band.
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The Radio Ga Ga Podcast is on Patreon!
03/09/2021
The Radio Ga Ga Podcast is on Patreon!
Exciting news... The Radio Ga Ga Podcast is now on Patreon! We're talking swag, we're talking exclusive content, all the good stuff. Get all the details in this mini-episode update and join at Patreon.com/radiogagapodcast. Thank you for your ongoing support!
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10 Great Albums I Just Realized Existed
03/02/2021
10 Great Albums I Just Realized Existed
One of my personal goals for 2021 was to listen to a LOT more new music, or at least "new" to me. In this episode, I'm sharing 10 albums I just listened to for the very first time recently. To be fair, a few of these just came out in 2021 so they are actually new. But a lot of these, I wish I would've listened to much earlier. If you're like me and are looking for a refresh of your old go-to playlists, listen to this episode.
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Mariah Carey, "Daydream" Pt. II
02/23/2021
Mariah Carey, "Daydream" Pt. II
In the final installment of our Mariah Carey series, we get into the later years of her career, the tryst with Derek Jeter that was the catalyst to ending her abusive marriage, and the surprising side hustle Mariah was working on during the recording of "Daydream." Also, Christmas wishes, Tommy Mottola's revenge on Mariah via a J.Lo song, and the hunt for a very special white baby grand piano. Episode 2 of 2.
/episode/index/show/radiogagapod/id/18030386
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Mariah Carey, "Daydream" Pt. I
02/16/2021
Mariah Carey, "Daydream" Pt. I
Though we know Mariah Carey as a high-maintenance diva, there's a LOT more to the story. She grew up in an incredibly turbulent environment with a family that could have very easily kept Mariah down (and keeps trying to). Her professional and personal life also merged in her early 20s, when she married a music exec who treated her like a prisoner. We'll get into Mariah's desire to shift "Daydream" to a more R&B sound, her signature whistle tones, and the earliest years of her global success. Episode 1 of 2.
/episode/index/show/radiogagapod/id/17953835
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Song Stories, "Spirit In The Sky"
01/26/2021
Song Stories, "Spirit In The Sky"
“Spirit In The Sky” by Norman Greenbaum is a fantastic song, and one of rock music’s definitive one-hit wonders. Its omnipresence across television, film, and advertisements has earned it a permanent spot in classic rock history. And from "Apollo 13," to "Remember The Titans," to "Guardians of the Galaxy" and everything in between, "Spirit In The Sky" continues to live on as a cross-generational favorite. We talk about Greenbaum's past, the making of the song, and the reasons it became his only major
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R.E.O. Speedwagon, "Hi Infidelity"
01/15/2021
R.E.O. Speedwagon, "Hi Infidelity"
I always thought of R.E.O. Speedwagon as an '80s band, but their breakthrough album, "Hi Infidelity" from 1980 was actually the band's ELEVENTH album. Formed in 1967, R.E.O. spent basically the first decade of their career struggling to expand past their Midwestern roots. We'll talk about their major change in sound over the years, and how the pressure to go pop worked really well…until it didn't. Also–the Bo Diddley beat, a Joe Cocker ripoff, and how Netflix's "Ozark" brought R.E.O. back from the dead.
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The Vince Guaraldi Trio, "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
12/15/2020
The Vince Guaraldi Trio, "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
Vince Guaraldi’s soundtrack for "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was perfect for the animation of the Peanuts comics. It’s not just jazz, it’s what Charlie Brown sounds like. It’s what Christmas sounds like. And it perfectly encapsulates that melancholic feeling that comes around this time each year. In this episode, we'll talk about how jazz came to define the Peanuts sound, depression and anxiety as tackled by Charlie Brown, and the little Christmas tree that could.
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Shania Twain, "Come On Over"
12/08/2020
Shania Twain, "Come On Over"
“Come On Over” is still the all-time best-selling country album, and one of the best-selling albums of all time in any genre. In this episode, we explore Shania Twain's rise to pop-country fame, from her early days as Eilleen Twain in Timmins, Ontario all the way to Nashville. Things were extremely difficult for Shania most of her life growing up, but she fought every step of the way to earn her spot in country music's storied history. Also: Mutt Lange, "shopping" for songs, and Tim the German Shepherd.
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Sleater-Kinney, "Dig Me Out"
11/17/2020
Sleater-Kinney, "Dig Me Out"
"Dig Me Out" is an album that feels harsh and feminine at the same time. It’s not comfortable or nurturing, and in direct contrast with expectations of female vocals at the time. Guest Phoebe Reilly and I discuss Sleater-Kinney's role in the riot grrrl movement, what unique elements Corin, Carrie, and Janet bring to the table, and how Sleater-Kinney broke through walls constantly to create a space in music for themselves and for other women. Also - feminism, the concept of "selling out," and "Portlandia."
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Production Profiles: Bernard Herrmann
10/29/2020
Production Profiles: Bernard Herrmann
American composer Bernard Herrmann is most remembered for his spooky, suspenseful film scores in collaboration with directors including Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles, and Rod Serling. From the shower scene in "Psycho" to some of our favorite episodes of "The Twilight Zone," Herrmann was a master at creating dramatic tension and character development through music. We'll talk about some of his most memorable pieces, his early use of the theremin, and modern composers who still adapt Herrmann's work today.
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The Killers, "Hot Fuss"
10/21/2020
The Killers, "Hot Fuss"
“Hot Fuss” is one of my all-time favorite albums. In this episode, I'm diving in to the history of the album and how it came to be the Killers' signature work. My guest is Jon Landman of The Syndicate, who worked with the Killers in their earliest days to help promote the band and get “Hot Fuss” on American radio. We talk about the “Murder Trilogy,” the Bruce Springsteen and Duran Duran comparisons, how to write a song about your former bully, and why we don’t see a ton of bands coming out of
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Alice In Chains, "Dirt"
10/06/2020
Alice In Chains, "Dirt"
Musically and lyrically, "Dirt" was far more sinister than anything that had come before it in grunge music. Nearly half of the album's songs are explicitly about heroin addiction, which we'll find is the one true villain in the Alice In Chains story. In this episode, we talk about how metal impacted the earliest days of Seattle grunge, the vocal harmonies between Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell, who "Rooster" is, and how drug abuse brought one of the best bands of the early '90s to a screeching halt.
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Song Stories, "Take On Me"
09/22/2020
Song Stories, "Take On Me"
"Take On Me" by Norwegian trio A-Ha is one of the greatest pop songs ever made. We'll talk about the history of the song, Morten Harket's vocal gymnastics, and all the '80s instruments they used including the LinnDrum and the Roland Juno 60 synthesizer. "Take On Me" also had one of the greatest music videos ever made. We'll talk about how the video's animation was created, and how it gave new life to the song for American audiences.
/episode/index/show/radiogagapod/id/16078922
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Halsey, "Manic"
09/15/2020
Halsey, "Manic"
Listening to Halsey is like touching a wire you know is going to give you a shock. But you touch it anyway, letting little sparks of electricity bolt through you. She's an artist who has grown on me over the past few years, and her story is wild. The road was difficult for Halsey, then her entire life changed basically overnight. From the release of "Manic", to her openness about her life and struggles, she's setting the bar for what it means to be a pop star in 2020.
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The Jimi Hendrix Experience, “Axis: Bold As Love” Pt. II
09/01/2020
The Jimi Hendrix Experience, “Axis: Bold As Love” Pt. II
We conclude the story of Jimi Hendrix starting with "Axis" Side 2, which has one of the most beautiful songs Jimi ever wrote, "Castles Made of Sand." We talk about the techniques and gear Jimi used, what it was that made him such a good guitarist, and how things took a turn for The Jimi Hendrix Experience after the release of "Axis" in the U.S. We'll also talk about Jimi's drug use, downward spiral, his untimely death in 1970, and the legacy of the world's greatest guitarist five decades later.
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The Jimi Hendrix Experience, “Axis: Bold As Love” Pt. I
08/25/2020
The Jimi Hendrix Experience, “Axis: Bold As Love” Pt. I
We all know Jimi Hendrix, one of the most legendary and influential musicians to ever walk the planet. But there's a lot about his life we don't hear about. In this episode, we talk about Jimi's rough childhood and life before he had a guitar in his hands, his time in the Army's 101st Airborne Division, and rise to music fame in the late '60s. We'll end with a track analysis of "Axis" Side 1, including two of my all-time favorite Hendrix tracks: "Spanish Castle Magic" and "Little Wing." Episode I of II.
/episode/index/show/radiogagapod/id/15743009
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Hole, "Live Through This"
08/12/2020
Hole, "Live Through This"
Hole's prophetically titled "Live Through This" would release just one week after the suicide of Courtney Love's husband, Kurt Cobain. The album is haunted, a bit psychic, and stands up against any of the big '90s grunge albums. If you’re like me and only knew Courtney as a tabloid cover girl, listen to this episode. My guest, music writer Phoebe Reilly, has spent significant time interviewing Courtney Love. Phoebe helps us get to know the real Courtney - her brilliance, her messiness, and all.
/episode/index/show/radiogagapod/id/15578570
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Vampire Weekend, "Modern Vampires of the City"
07/28/2020
Vampire Weekend, "Modern Vampires of the City"
In this episode, we dive into the world of Ivy League indie pop with Vampire Weekend's third studio album. Though much of the indie world fell in love with this band from the start, some music media pegged Vampire Weekend as privileged, waspy Columbia grads using cultural appropriation to their advantage. My guest Jerry Bell explains how the band rose to popularity, overcame assumptions to bring more international music to the forefront, and evolved both together as a band and as individuals.
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The Story Of Disco Pt III: Demolition Night
06/30/2020
The Story Of Disco Pt III: Demolition Night
In the summer of 1979 came one of the harbingers of disco’s doom, Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park. In this episode, we talk about how that evening at the baseball field got increasingly out of control, and the many other reasons disco fever didn't last. We'll talk about what disco stars did in the 80s to stay relevant, how some of disco's best producers made their mark, and all the ways disco shows up in every decade up to now. In fact, I believe it's about to make a full comeback. Episode 3 of 3.
/episode/index/show/radiogagapod/id/15022088
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The Story of Disco Pt II: Disco Fever
06/16/2020
The Story of Disco Pt II: Disco Fever
Get ready to dance! In the second installment of our series, we talk about the artists that brought disco to the mainstream including Donna Summer, the BeeGees, and Gloria Gaynor. There’s also a number of other artists who created songs just to join the trend, including the Rolling Stones, Dolly Parton, and even the Grateful Dead. We’ll talk about the elements of disco music, what it was like going to the disco, and of course, all the classic songs heard on the dance floor. Episode 2 of 3.
/episode/index/show/radiogagapod/id/14827952
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The Story of Disco Pt. I: Start A Love Train
06/02/2020
The Story of Disco Pt. I: Start A Love Train
Disco is one of just a few music genres that can call itself a full-bodied cultural movement. The history of the discotheque begins as far back as World War II Europe, and by the 60s, begins blossoming in the American epicenter of disco, New York City. Disco music's true roots lie in American R&B, soul, and funk, so we'll talk about the impact of those genres and how they began to evolve by the early 70s. Also David Mancuso's loft parties, the disco as a safe space, and lots more. Episode 1 of 3.
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Counting Crows, "August and Everything After"
05/12/2020
Counting Crows, "August and Everything After"
It’s easy to look at Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz and not take him seriously. It seems like 1990-era MTV created him in a lab. But there's more to him, and "August and Everything After," than it seems. In this episode, we're highlighting the Counting Crows biggest hits, the time the mayor of Omaha offered Duritz the key to the city, and the progressive metal band that named themselves after a song on this album.
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The Unmistakable Sound of "James Bond"
05/05/2020
The Unmistakable Sound of "James Bond"
In this episode, we’re exploring why all the music we hear in the "James Bond" film franchise sounds so undeniably "Bond." Some of these songs were written nearly 40 years apart, yet musically, we immediately associate all of them with 007. I unpack the music theory behind the "Bond sound" and all the musical motifs and chord progressions that have been consistent since the early '60s up to today. Also - Adele gets cold feet, Marvin Hamlisch gets inspired by disco, and Tom Jones passes out.
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Portishead, "Dummy"
04/28/2020
Portishead, "Dummy"
"Dummy" is one of the defining records of the trip-hop genre, and one of the most unique albums we've covered here. We'll talk about all the elements that defined their otherworldly sound, the film Portishead made to "introduce" the band, and how the band got creative before there was such a thing as ProTools. I also talk to The Syndicate's Jon Landman about his work in music, how the pandemic is changing the industry, and what draws him in the most when he listens to Portishead.
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Leon Bridges, "Good Thing"
04/14/2020
Leon Bridges, "Good Thing"
Leon Bridges' music reflects a vintage quietness; an articulation of raw feelings of love and heartbreak that we've all felt, but rarely find the words for. On "Good Thing," he breaks away from the golden age soul comparisons to Sam Cooke to find a voice that's all his own. We also discuss the Grammys, Fort Worth, beauty in simplicity, and how a pair of jeans was the impetus for a conversation that would change Leon Bridges' life.
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