In this icy installment of Best Song Ever we talk about the snowstorm of the century, shoveling, and petty snow plowers. Inspired by the Cruella trailer we pitch ideas for gritty Disney villain origin stories. Our songs take us to space to the beach and then back to space. We laugh at each other’s song picks but debate and defend our varied style preferences. All this while playing some lush and lively songs from amazing artists.

Songs Played In This Episode:

Thyla - Breathe out now on LAB Records, Ltd

The Weather Station - Tried To Tell You from Ignorance out now on Fat Possum Records

Frànçois & The Atlas Mountains - Tourne Autour from Banana Bleue out February 26th on Domino

Hether - Stick Thumb from Sticky Thumb out now on ear slime c/o R&R Digital

Geneva Jacuzzi - Do I Sad? from Lamaze (reissue) out February 26th on Mexican Summer

Jessie Murph - Upgrade out now on Columbia Records / Sony Music Entertainment

On our first BSE Minisode Luke tries to smash his guitar so he can be cool like Phoebe Bridgers. We discuss the musical performances at the Big Game and Luke tries to introduce a new catchphrase. We add additional info and thought on last week’s lineup in Corrections & Reflections, including Mister Rivers’ Neighborhood and the meaning behind serpentwithfeet’s pentagram tattoo. We discuss the best of last week’s releases in TOUTS and the new music Friday releases we’re excited for this week in SHOUTS.

TOUTS:

SHOUTS:

We prep for the Big Game but not the one you’re thinking of, then we play a Weezer-based game called What’s Red & Blue & Green & White & Black All Over? We talk about the harm of comparing yourself to others and being thankful for your friends. We talk about debates over the pronunciation of the word “bonafide” and the nutritional value of various juices. All this while playing a stellar selection of songs by magnificent and mysterious artists from all corners of the world.

Songs Played In This Episode:

Weezer - Numbers from OK Human out now on Crush Music/Atlantic Recording Corporation

serpentwithfeet - Fellowship feat. Sampha and Lil Silva from DEACON out March 26th on Secretly Canadian

Emotional Oranges - Bonafide feat. Chiiild from JUICEBOX coming soon on Avant Garden/Island Records

CYRRCA - Apocalypse Tao from CYRRCA out February 26th on World Tribe Productions

Pillow Queens - Handsome Wife from In Waiting out now on Pillow Queens Records

La Chica - La Loba from La Loba out now on Zamora

We celebrate Kevin’s 28th birthday in some questionable ways and play songs from some of our favorite albums of 2020. We count down our Top 10 Albums of last year as the party gets sloppy and the guests get sloshy. Kevin lays out his anti-long-album “Views rule” and talks about being a CRJ super-stan. We talk about the power of music binding itself to events in our lives and the world at large. Luke hides in a bathroom and it all ends with some shocking revelations.

Songs Played In This Episode:

The Beths - Jump Rope Gazers from Jump Rope Gazers out now on Carpark Records

Sa-Roc - Goddess Gang from The Sharecropper’s Daughter out now on Rhymesayers Entertainment LLC

Run The Jewels - JU$T feat. Pharrell Williams & Zach de la Rocha from RTJ4 out now on Jewel Runners LLC

Lomelda - Hanna Sun from Hannah out now on Loma Vista Recordings

Samia - Waverly from The Baby out now on Grand Jury Music

We start our new year with a new co-host as Kevin Connor joins Luke to talk about some of the best music of 2020. We discuss our Top 20 lists and countdown from 20-11. We catch up about how our new year is going, sing Abba hits, swap podcast recommendations and debate who is the greatest collaborator. All this while playing songs from some of 2020’s most unforgettable albums.

Songs Played In This Episode:

Soccer Mommy - yellow is the color of her eyes from color theory out now on Loma Vista Recordings

Caroline Rose - Feel The Way I Want from Superstar out now on New West Records

Naeem - Stone Harbor from Startisha out now on 37d03d

Cut Copy - Running In The Grass from Freeze, Melt out now on Cutters Records

Tennis - Tender As A Tomb from Swimmer out now on Mutually Detrimental/Thirty Tigers

“Cuties and Beauties.”

On the new episode Luke talks about owning a home, squirrel sex, spiders, and encourages the listener to appreciate Autumn more. He talks about all the great music content he’s been watching (and crying during): Song Exploder, Beastie Boys Story and David Byrne’s American Utopia. He talks about cycles of trauma and tries to guess which Black Mirror episode ruined Mike Eagle’s marriage. He waxes poetic about this season we’re in and plays an incredible lineup of beautiful songs from amazing artists.

Songs Played On This Episode:

Fleet Foxes - Sunblind from Shore out now on Anti

Sa-Roc - Something Real from The Sharecropper’s Daughter out now on Rhymesayers Entertainment

Open Mike Eagle - Death Parade from Anime, Trauma, and Divorce out now on Auto Reverse

Another Michael - New Music out now on Run For Cover Records

“Taylor Swift Ended You.”

Luke talks about his journalistic pursuits and plays a clip from his interview with Reks. He talks about a Kanye tweet comment section and reveals the best comeback response ever. Not to mention he plays an amazing playlist of songs that have epic explosions of sound and examine the things (or T.H.I.N.G.S.) that define a person.

Songs played in this episode:

Reks - T.H.I.N.G.S. from T.H.I.N.G.S. (The Hunger Inside Never Gets Satisfied) out now on Brick Records

Lunchbox - Gary of the Academy from After School Special out October 30th on Slumberland Records

Young Guv - Cold In The Summer out now on Run For Cover Records

Lomelda - It’s Infinite from Hannah out now on Double Double Whammy

Helena Deland - Someone New from Someone New out October 16th on Luminelle Recordings

Daniel Romano - A Rat Without a Tale from How Ill Thy World Is Ordered out now on You’ve Changed Records

“Ditch the No-Host and Switch to the Co-Host.”

On this episode Luke is flying solo, so he tries to fight his loneliness by listening to songs about feeling alone. He talks about seeing things from a new perspective, expectations vs. reality and how to not win an argument. He talks about classic works of art and nostalgically analyzing your past mistakes. Luke plays a clip from his interview with Georgia Anne Muldrow aka Jyoti, and plays a phenomenal selection of songs from amazing artists.

Songs Played In This Episode:

The Beths - Dying to Believe from Jump Rope Gazers out now on Carpark Records

Phil Augusta Jackson - Alone from The Redondo Tape out today on DSO A5 Certified Records

Anjimile - Maker from Giver Taker out September 18th on Father/Daughter Records

Jonsi - Swill feat. Robyn from Shiver out October 2nd on Krunk

Samia - Triptych from The Baby out now on Grand Jury Music

Jyoti - Orgone from Mama, You Can Bet! out now on eOne Music / SomeOthaShip Connect

“Oozy, Oozier, and Lil Oozy Vert.”

On this episode we talk Lake and Bakes, 4th of July, and patriotic dips. Luke plays a clip from his interview with Alex Izenberg. We talk about learning from our regrets and reminisce about childhood field trips to science museums. All while playing an awesome playlist of breezy tunes.

Songs Played in This Episode:

Alex Izenberg - Disraeli Woman from Caravan Château out July 31st on Domino Recording Co.

Pottery - Hot Heater from Welcome to Bobby’s Motel out now on Partisan Records

Jade Hairpins - Yesterdang from Harmony Avenue out now on Merge Records

Discovery Zone - Dance II from Remote Control out now on Mansions and Millions

Angelo De Augustine - Santa Barbara out now on Asthmatic Kitty Records

NOTE: One of our favorite music blogs Stereogum needs our help to keep going: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/save-stereogum-an-00s-covers-comp#/

“Those Things That Make God Laugh.”

In this episode the LaBenne cousins talk about Luke’s 30th birthday message from Sisqo and parody songs with Sisqo’s name. We talk about The Last of Us Part II and how it’s bigger and better than ever. We talk about AOL Instant Messenger and making an exciting discovery. We talk about sexy songs that transport you to bedroom time. We talk about how we should stop using phrases like “Infectious” and “Viral.” We talk about god thinking plans are jokes. We talk about honoring those who never had a voice, whose stories aren’t told. All this while playing a lineup of brilliant new songs from bold artists.

Songs Played In This Episode:

Deerhoof - Future Teenage Cave Artists from Future Teenage Cave Artists out now on Joyful Noise Recordings

Hinds - Good Bad Times from The Prettiest Curse out now on Mom+Pop

rum.gold - Waiting For (feat. Jamila Woods) from aiMless out now on Leola LLC

Kate NV - Plans from Room For The Moon out now on RVNG Intl.

Run The Jewels - a few words for the firing squad (radiation) from RTJ4 out now on Jewel Runners LLC

Shamir - On My Own out now