Candy Jail

Consider this the end of Season 1. Thanks and stay tuned!

The final installment of our deep dive into the second Silver Jews album.

David Berman recorded on Drag City records.

The second part of our deep dive into the 1996 Silver Jews album The Natural Bridge.

Silver Jews recorded on Drag City records.

Part one of our deep dive into the 1996 Silver Jews album The Natural Bridge.

Silver Jews recorded on Drag City records.

We discuss Christian Petzold’s 2014 film, Phoenix, in all of its preposterously implausible and emotionally poignant glory. We also explore the film’s explicit connections to Alfred Hitchcock’s legendary 1958 film, Vertigo.

Intro and outro music: Candy Jail, by Silver Jews

This episode marks our first deep dive into Silver Jews’ first studio album, Starlite Walker. 

Note: Due to technical issues (and apparently the fact that it’s no one’s favorite SJ song) there is no audio snippet for Tide to the Oceans.

Silver Jews recorded on Drag City records.

Ahead of our first Silver Jews album breakdown, we turn our attention to the most un-Berman of bands.

We discuss Phil Joanou’s 1988 documentary Rattle and Hum, and ponder superstardom, super fandom, and the role our favorite bands play in shaping identity.

Come for the love, stay for the hate.

Also mentioned: David Berman (holy shit didn't see that coming), Naomi Klein, Phil Elverum, Drive-By Truckers, The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Bernardine Dohrn, Jesse Helms, Karl Marx (whoa, slow down with the surprises there, Candy Jail!).

Intro music: Silver Jews, Candy Jail

Outro speechifying: Bono, McNichols Arena, Denver, CO, 11/8/87

What happens when a French philosopher writes about photography while grieving for his mother? Did you think that was the setup to a Freudian joke? What’s wrong with you? You people make us sick.

The wonderful Helen Miller joins us to discuss Roland Barthes’ seminal photography text Camera Lucida.

Also mentioned: John Berger, Giorgio Agamben, Aristotle, Georges Perec, Geoffrey Batchen, La Jetée, Walter Benjamin, Arnold Toynbee.

Intro music: Candy Jail by Silver Jews

Outro music: Broken Front Teeth by Scotland Yard Gospel Choir

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After much procrastinating and shoegazing we peel ourselves away from the punch bowl to ask if you’d like to hear us talk about a man named David Berman.

Also mentioned: U2, Guns n Roses, Tori Amos, Father John Misty, Lana Del Rey, Doseone, The Microphones, Dan Bejar

David Berman recorded on Drag City Records.

Mr. Hallorann, what’s in Room 237?

We watch Rodney Ascher’s 2012 documentary and ponder whether there really is such a thing as a harmless conspiracy theory.

Also mentioned: The X-Files, NXIVM, When Prophecy Fails, Kurt Vonnegut, Inglourious Basterds, Vic Chesnutt.

The pastor Brendan mentioned is Dan Barker. The cult expert is Stephen Hassan.

Opening and closing theme: Silver Jews, Candy Jail