Album Consumers

Following the "Week of the Monoliths," it's back to business as usual on the Album Consumers. Which means we're making a hard left turn in order to examine an array of albums that seemingly have nothing in common with one another. But some things are eternal as this episode demonstrates...such as Scott examining the vocal qualities of an artist, Greg diving deep into the psychological dynamics of a record, and Chris once again philosophically pondering "why this band; why this album??"

This week's Album Consumers album discussion lineup: Paul Simon - Paul Simon Rapsody - Laila's Wisdom Car Seat Headrest - Teens of Denial LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver Screaming Trees - Uncle Anesthesia The Vapors - New Clear Days

It's the "Week of the Monoliths" on the Album Consumers podcast, as one juggernaut album after another comes up for consideration. Somehow, Scott, Greg, and Chris try to make heads-or-tails of this momentous batch of records by diving deep into discussions about both their placement in their individual career arcs and in music history as a whole. On top of all that, Greg and Chris have a little side bet going about two of the best albums of 1971, which begs the question: who's viewpoint do you agree with?

This week's Album Consumers "Monoliths" album discussion lineup: Dire Straits - Making Movies Maritime - We, The Vehicles Nirvana - In Utero The Pixies - Doolittle Queen - Queen Led Zeppelin - IV The Who - Who's Next

On this episode of the Album Consumers podcast, Scott, Greg, and Chris trek deep into the weeds and explore a batch of albums that are varied in sound and provoking in content. There is a lot to unpack this week, and the group spends time discussing the emotional and psychological effects of the six albums present and accounted for. There are a lot of sidetracks on the way down the rabbit hole, and you can't help but wonder for a moment what the future of music and art holds.

This week's Album Consumers album discussion lineup: Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road Eels - Shootenanny! Freddie Gibbs - Alfredo Gil-Scott Heron - Pieces of a Man Run the Jewels - RTJ4 Hayley Williams - Petals for Armor

On this episode of the Album Consumers podcast, Scott, Greg, and Chris explore a thought-provoking batch of albums. These are not passive listens: these are records purposely designed to trigger minds and emotions, make you uncomfortable, recoil with whiplash, and wrap you up in a warm embrace. Through the dark and the light all of these albums seem to have connective tissue running through them, and the group gets passionate as they extol the strengths and weaknesses of each.

This week's Album Consumers album discussion lineup: Common - Be Afghan Whigs - Black Love Mock Orange - Mind is Not Brain Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible K's Choice - Echo Mountain Corrine Bailey Rae - Corinne Bailey Rae Allen Stone - Radius

Season 7 of the Album Consumers project begins with a bang with what may be, by consensus of the group, the best opening round so far! Scott, Greg, and Chris again fire up mics and warm up the hot takes to go over a collection of records that crosses a wide swath of the musical landscape. The docket for this one is simple: just three guys, a few current and future classics, and a lot of impressive songs.

This week's Album Consumers album discussion lineup: Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea Cowboy Bebop - Original Soundtrack Jeff Buckley - Grace Nada Surf - Let Go Bill Withers - +'Justments Heart - Little Queen Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls Dogleg - Melee

It's time to bring the curtain down on another full season of Album Consumers! The Season 6 tournament has been conducted and completed, and Scott, Greg, and Chris have the full tournament results to dissect and discuss! Each season of AC consists of 36 albums (9 members x 4 albums each), and once we have spent a day with all 36 we arrange them into a March Madness style bracket and vote to try and determine a winner.

In a season with more sharp turns and strange twists than any other so far, who will reach the top to be crowned the champion and who will stumble along the way? You will just have to listen to find out!

For the final time in Season 6 Scott, Greg, and Chris convene to talk about the last six albums remaining in this batch of Album Consumption. That doesn't mean that we are done of this batch of music: the Season 6 single elimination tournament looms large as the guys spend the final part of the show announcing the album tournament seeds and initial matchups!

This week's Album Consumers album discussion lineup: Sly & the Family Stone - There's a Riot Goin' On The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God Musiq Soulchild - Aijuswanaseing Grandfather Ridiculous - EP Screaming Females - All At Once The Get Up Kids - Something to Write Home About Season 6 tournament seedings and initial matchups!

It's our 10th podcast here at Album Consumers! Per tradition, we thank you in advance for sending us all of the tin curios you have lying around your basements. But Greg, Scott, and Chris were so glad to record this show and talk about this batch of albums for two reasons. One, after reaching max political burnout during election week in America, it was just nice to be able to focus our attentions elsewhere. And two, this was another wild week spent bouncing back and forth across the musical spectrum in what has become par for the course among the AC panelists/album selectors.

This week's Album Consumers album discussion lineup: St. Paul & the Broken Bones - Sea of Noise Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska Arrested Development - 3 Years, 5 Months and Two Days in the Life of... The Internet - Ego Death Rival Schools - United by Fate Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Ghosteen Cake - Fashion Nugget

As we race past the season's midpoint, the zigs seem to zig harder, and the zags deeper as this week's albums cover a huge swath of sounds and styles. When the annals of history are finally and definitively recorded, season 6 of the Album Consumers will likely be remembered for it's hard turns and bold transitions. In play this week is an assortment of records that Scott accurately described as "conversationally robust."

This week's Album Consumers album discussion lineup: Oingo Boingo - Dead Man's Party Aesop Rock - Labor Days M.I.A. - Kala The (International) Noise Conspiracy - A New Morning, Changing Weather Elliott Smith - Either/Or The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of Understatement Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Acme/XTRA-Acme

This is the part of the game where the Album Consumers get bold and the selected albums start to get more adventurous. As album #200 looms on the horizon, the AC panelists are beginning to dig deeper into their personal archives to pull some true gems and other things for the group to dive into. Better strap yourself in, this might get weird!

This week's Album Consumers album discussion lineup: Florence & The Machine - How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful Incubus - Make Yourself Kiss - Destroyer (Resurrected) Oasis - The Masterplan Sevendust - Home Lee Fields & The Expressions - Emma Jean Starsailor - Silence is Easy