A Sonic Youth

Oliver looks at examples of great album bookends, records with great opening and closing tracks.

That’s plenty of examples of such from classic rock.

The first that comes to mind is the Stone’s ‘Let It Bleed’, which begins with ‘Gimme Shelter’ and closes with ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want'. Or, The Who’s ‘Who’s Next’. It starts with ‘Baba O’Riley’ and closes with ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’.

In this episode, and next week, we’re going to check out some favourite indie and alt rock album bookends.

Follow @asonicyouthpodcast on Insta and Facebook. This show is part of the Free FM 89.0 YOUTH ZONE. Made with support of NZ on Air.

Legendary Seattle hard-rockers Mudhoney are back in NZ for the first time since 2014!

Oliver prepares for a long-awaited gig by playing favourite Mudhoney live tracks, studio versions of live staples, and favourite tracks from their more modern LPs.

Tracklist:

1. Magnolia Caboose Babyshit (Blue Cheer Cover)

2. Touch Me I'm Sick (Live KEXP)

3. I'm Now (Live KEXP)

4. Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More

5. Hate The Police (Dicks Cover)

6. You Got It (Keep It Outta My Face)

7. Chardonnay

8. Please Mr. Gunman

9. Good Enough

Follow @asonicyouthpodcast on Insta and Facebook. This show is part of the Free FM 89.0 YOUTH ZONE. Made with support of NZ on Air.

Music old and brand new from Philly indie rock legends The War On Drugs! Plus, new release garage punk from Aussie band The Grogans and Christchurch's Best Bets. Then a look at favourites from The Fizzgates, which take sonic influence from Dinosaur Jr, Husker Du, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre.

Tracklist:

1 - The War On Drugs - Comin' Through

2 - The War On Drugs - Brothers

3 - The War On Drugs - Who's That

4 - The Grogans - Reasons

5 - Best Bets - More Good News

6 - The Fizzgates - BJM

7 - The Fizzgates - Dandy

Follow @asonicyouthpodcast on Insta and Facebook. This show is part of the Free FM 89.0 YOUTH ZONE. Made with support of NZ on Air.

The Hold Steady is one of Oliver's favourite bands, one that's all about rock ‘n’ roll power chords, frothing energy, and really fun lyrics. 'Boys and Girls in America' is the final record from the band's 3-album golden period. Oliver checks out favourite tracks and tells the interconnected stories behind the songs.

Plus, Drive-By Truckers' bold 2016 protest album 'American Band'. It's an album that, sadly, is as lyrically relevant 10-years on. And it sounds as great as ever.

Tracklist:

1. The Hold Steady - Stuck Between Stations

2. The Hold Steady - First Night

3. The Hold Steady - Arms and Hearts

4. The Hold Steady - Same Kooks

5. Drive-By Truckers - Guns of Umpqua

6. Drive-By Truckers - Surrender Under Protest

Follow @asonicyouthpodcast on Insta and Facebook. This show is part of the Free FM 89.0 YOUTH ZONE. Made with support of NZ on Air.

Oliver was a massive fan of This is Lorelei (Nate Amos)'s first 'full' album, 'Box for Buddy, Box for Star'. Now, he's signed to Matador Records and has released another great album of music which finds a space between slacker indie and alt-country.

Also, Silver Jew's sophomore record 'The Natural Bridge' 30 years on. Oliver plays favourite tracks and tells some of the story of enigmatic band leader David Berman.

Tracklist:

1. This is Lorelei - Billy Came Back

2. This is Lorelei - Nitro

3. This is Lorelei - Sailing (Your Baby's Down)

4. Silver Jews - Dallas

5. Silver Jews - How to Rent a Room

6. Silver Jews - Smith & Jones Forever

7. This is Lorelei - The Kid With the Crown

Follow @asonicyouthpodcast on Insta and Facebook. This show is part of the Free FM 89.0 YOUTH ZONE. Made with support of NZ on Air.

We are joined in the FreeFM studio this week by Nicholas Joseph, the day before the album release gig for his debut solo record ‘Sailing’.

Nicholas talks to Oliver about his music history and influences, playing in post-punk bands in the Auckland scene, and writing this new guitar-based album after settling back in New Zealand after a period living in Shanghai.

Tracklist:

1. Nicholas Joseph - Make it Simple

2. Nicholas Joseph - Living

3. Nicholas Joseph - Giving Up

4. Nicholas Joseph - Final Chance

5. Nicholas Joseph - Safety

Follow @asonicyouthpodcast on Insta and Facebook. This show is part of the Free FM 89.0 YOUTH ZONE. Made with support of NZ on Air.

Oliver checks out the beautiful cosmic Americana of Dylan LeBlanc's 'Coyote' and his latest album with The Family. Then, the psych-influenced power pop of Exploding Flowers. Also, Wand's Cory Hanson and a brilliant track omitted from his much revered 2023 solo album.

Tracklist:

1. Dylan LeBlanc - Coyote

2. Dylan LeBlanc - Hate

3. Dylan LeBlanc, The Family - Wicked Kind

4. Exploding Flowers - Self Help Starter Kit

5. Exploding Flowers - Suburban Warriors

6. Cory Hanson - Western Cum

7. Dylan LeBlanc - Wicked Kind

Follow @asonicyouthpodcast on Insta and Facebook. This show is part of the Free FM 89.0 YOUTH ZONE. Made with support of NZ on Air.

It's a full noise episode of the show this week! Oliver looks at the new Dinosaur Jr album, one which many, (Oliver included), are calling one of the best of their 'modern' reformation period.

Also, 'Chrome', the new album of sludgy guitar-based indie rock from Californian modern garage punk legend Ty Segall.

Tracklist:

1. Ty Segall - Black Paint

2. Ty Segall Band - Diddy Wah Diddy

3. Ty Segall - Glass

4. Dinosaur Jr - Several Got Away

5. Dinosaur Jr - No Friends

6. Dinosaur Jr - Take Me With You

7. Ty Segall - Chrome

Follow @asonicyouthpodcast on Insta and Facebook. This show is part of the Free FM 89.0 YOUTH ZONE. Made with support of NZ on Air.

NYC-based loud Americana band Wild Pink have released the follow-up to their brilliant 2024 record 'Dulling The Horns'. Can this new record, 'Still Coming Down' maintain the distortion-drenched brilliance of the previous?

Also, Scottish jangle rock legends Teenage Fanclub, and the first single from their upcoming thirteenth record.

Tracklist:

Wild Pink - Disitengrate

Wild Pink - Round Of Applause At The End Of The World

Wild Pink - Box Store

Wild Pink - Like Water

Teenage Fanclub - I Need Direction

Teenage Fanclub - Day In The Sun

Wild Pink - Plates Keep Spinning

Follow @asonicyouthpodcast on Insta and Facebook. This show is part of the Free FM 89.0 YOUTH ZONE. Made with support of NZ on Air.

In what was supposed to be the episode 250 special (before last week's short-notice interview with Courtney Barnett), Oliver looks at some favourite 'storytelling' protest songs.

Including an incredible unreleased song by MJ Lenderman about the Vietnam War, Jason Isbell and Drive-By Truckers with more introspective tales of U.S. involvment in The Iraq War, and a brilliant song about ex NRA Leader Harlon Carter's dark past.

Follow @asonicyouthpodcast on Insta and Facebook. This show is part of the Free FM 89.0 YOUTH ZONE. Made with support of NZ on Air.