Chorus Vs. Chorus

We’re humbled to be joined by all-around creative supernova Jeffrey Lewis (tinyurl.com/jeff-lewis-cvc) to choose three songs each that tell an amazing story. Featuring music by The Fall, Slick Rick, Bobbie Gentry, and more. (The interview in this episode has been edited and condensed for clarity).

Returning champion Evan Salazar helps us veer off the beaten path with demos, b-sides, and other rare delights from artists we love. Our categories are best: (1) b-side; (2) demo; (3) alternate recording. Featuring music from A.M. Gately, Joni Mitchell, Gram Parsons, and more.

A tour through the birth and re-births of audio recording technology, and how the media of listening to music have shaped, exploded, and rearranged the ways in which people make the music itself. The categories are the four distinct epochs of sound recording: (1) The Acoustic Era; (2) The Electric Era; (3) The Magnetic Era; (4) The Digital Era. Featuring music from Mamie Smith, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Madonna, and more.

We rappel into the uncanny valley to explore songs that violate expectations and have certain qualities that don't seem like they belong. Our categories are songs that are: (1) oddly pretty; (2) oddly moving; (3) oddly familiar; (4) oddly successful. Featuring music from Caetano Veloso, Sly & the Family Stone, and more.

CVC is schooling your ass. Songs relating to these four subject areas: (1) Math (2) Science (3) Drama (4) P.E. Featuring music by Bomba Estéreo, Hiatus Kaiyote, 10cc, and more.

On the concept of missing elements from music. Our categories are songs that are missing: (1) bass; (2) drums; (3) key band members; and (4) the musician themselves. Featuring music by The Replacements, Connie Converse, Lenine, and more.

Do you like bass? Well, so did Carol Kaye, one of the dozens of legendary session musicians we'll be profiling on today's episode, where we explain the hidden histories behind the following squads of hired-gun studio instrumentalists: (1) The Wrecking Crew; (2) The Nashville A-Team; (3) The Funk Brothers; (4) The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Featuring music from The Association, Roy Orbison, The Gants, and more.

Hey, scene kids: is your favorite pastime telling anyone who'll listen that you were one of five people present at Commander Venus' first show at the Sokol? Did you live in Athens in 1981 and know Michael Stipe's acupuncturist? Were you in gym class with Timbaland? Were you always... there? Then let's talk about four small American towns that, against all odds, have produced some of the most important music of the past 50 years: (1) Omaha, NE (2) Athens, GA (3) Virginia Beach, VA (4) Bakersfield, CA. Featuring music from Cursive, Aaliyah, Merle Haggard, and more.

We're joined by bard of all things brütal Luke Henley (Sex Headaches, Fibber) to discuss songs that rock, songs that stink, and the important ways in which artists sequence the music on their albums. Our categories are: (1) best first track; (2) best ‘side A’ closer; (3) best final track. Featuring music from In Solitude, Baby Huey, Lauryn Hill, and more.