Completely Conspicuous

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we dissect a classic mid-1970s song from a Canadian music legend. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Sloan and Stars.

Show notes:

- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ

- Dissecting Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

- Song's a total downer, no pun intended

- Based on a true life incident in 1975

- Sounds like Lightfoot put the Wikipedia entry to music

- Checking out the early '70s Canadian band Lighthouse

- Sounds like the Guess Who or Blood, Sweat and Tears

- Lightfoot's "Sundown" is a much better song

- Ric: A little like Velvet Underground's "Loaded"

- Frank Chacksfield, the king of elevator music

- Making slow '70s songs even slower

- Pat Boone and Paul Anka later made entire albums covering hard rock songs

- Anne Murray dominated Canadian radio in the '70s

- Canadian content rule meant a third of music on the radio had to be Canadian

- A random song from The Randoms to wash the MOR crap away

- Teenage Head was an Ontario punk band from the late '70s

- CanCon meant a lot of bands got on the radio that normally wouldn't have

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:Sloan - Everything You've Done Wrong

Stars - Hold On When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Sloan song is on the album One Chord to Another on Murderecords. Download the song for free at Noisetrade.

The Stars song is on the album The North on ATO Records. Download it for free at Epitonic.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Part 2 of my conversation with guest James Gralian about the post-lockout NHL. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from The Hush Now, Guided By Voices, Iceage and Game Theory.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- NHL surprises this season include talented teams struggling: Detroit, Philly, Nashville, Tampa

- Philadelphia's long stretch of bad goaltending

- Gotta love Ilya Bryzgalov

- Toronto-Detroit will be in Winter Classic next year

- Chicago's been the best team in the league by far

- The long, strange journey of Ray Emery

- Jay: Making the case for the Leafs

- Pittsburgh messes with success, keeps winning

- Realignment kicks in next season

- Playoff hockey is the best

- James picks a team to root for when the Avs don't make it

- Jay: Just happy to see Leafs in playoffs

- Players rarely stay on same team for entire career

- Rooting for dirty teams

- NHL has come back strong from lockout

- Fighting in hockey at most levels

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:The Hush Now - Marathon Monday

Guided By Voices - Flunky Minnows

Iceage - Morals

Game Theory - Erica's Word

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Hush Now song is available for free download at Clicky Clicky.

The Guided By Voices song is on the album English Little League on GBV Records. Download the song for free at Stereogum.

The Iceage song is on the album You're Nothing on Matador. Download the song for free at MatadorRecords.com.

The Game Theory song is on the album The Big Shot Chronicles. In memory of late Game Theory frontman Scott Miller, you can find all the now out-of-print Game Theory albums available for free download at LoudFamily.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Part 1 of my conversation with guest James Gralian about the post-lockout NHL. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Beck, Buffalo Tom, Dinosaur Jr. and Titus Andronicus.

Show notes:

- Recorded last weekend via Skype

- Last spoke in October before NHL lockout began

- Season relaunched in mid-January and is wrapping up in next few weeks

- Definitely some bitterness when the NHL came back

- James' many online efforts

- JG: Playing hockey has deepened my appreciation for the sport

- NHL teams sign plenty of undrafted college players

- Georges Vezina was known as the Chicoutimi Cucumber

- Jack Falla wrote some great hockey books

- JK: I was mad at both sides after the lockout

- Ended up getting satellite package and following the Leafs anyway

- Greed is a given in pro sports

- The Leafs fired their GM right before season started

- Now they're on the verge of making playoffs for first time in 9 years

- JK remembers the Leafs' 1993 playoff run

- JK: Not a fan of the shootout

- Rough year for James' favorite team, Colorado

- JG: The Avs need to clean house

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:Beck - Halo of Gold

Buffalo Tom - Mineral

Dinosaur Jr. - Freak Scene

Titus Andronicus - Titus Andronicus Forever

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Beck song is the B-side to the song "Tropicalia" from the album Mutations. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Buffalo Tom song is on the album Let Me Come Over on Beggars Banquet. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Dinosaur Jr. song is on the album Bug on SST. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Titus Andronicus song is on the album The Monitor on XL Recordings. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Matt Phillion about our narcissistic society. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Thee Oh Sees, Fidlar, The Kills and Drive Like Jehu.

Show notes:

- Anybody can have a show or self-publish a book

- Everybody's a photojournalist now

- Online commenters are the worst

- Talk radio callers are moving online

- Onion AV Club comment sections can be great

- Matt: Arguing on the Internet makes everyone dumber

- So easy to hit "send"

- Begging for RTs from celebs on Twitter is pathetic

- The ridiculousness of Google Glass

- How much information do you really need?

- Can you watch a movie or TV show without checking your phone?

- Staying off social media to avoid spoilers

- The need to live tweet TV shows

- The moviegoing experience sucks

- Matt can go entire days without dealing with a live human

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:Thee Oh Sees - Toe Cutter - Thumb Buster

Fidlar - Gimme Something

The Kills - Future Starts Slow

Drive Like Jehu - Caress

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Thee Oh Sees song is on the album Floating Coffin on Castle Face Records. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Fidlar song is on the band's self-titled album on Mom + Pop. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Kills song is on the album Blood Pressures on Domino Records. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Drive Like Jehu song is on the band's self-titled album on Cargo. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Matt Phillion about our narcissistic society. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from JEFF the Brotherhood, Le Butcherettes, Sleater-Kinney and Ty Segall.

Show notes:

- Narcissism is on the rise

- Recent study looks at the Internet "narcissism epidemic"

- We are part of the problem

- We're more likely to take photos of injustice than actually help out

- Matt works from home, posts on Facebook to get social interaction

- Some people need to post status updates of their every move

- Gay marriage debate has been ubiquitous on social media

- Linked In endorsements: What's the point?

- Matt's creepy clown photo

- Creating a false impression through upbeat self-promotion

- Selfies are everywhere

- People will do anything to get on TV

- Reality TV has never been more popular

- MySpace was a mess

- Googling yourself is a common activity

- Matt's IMDB page

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:JEFF the Brotherhood - Shredder

Le Butcherettes - Henry Don't Got Love

Sleater-Kinney - Jumpers

Ty Segall - You're the Doctor

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The JEFF the Brotherhood song is on the album We Are the Champions on Infinity Cat Recordings/Warner Music. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Le Butcherettes song is on the album Sin Sin Sin on Rodriguez Lopez Productions. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Sleater-Kinney song is on the album The Woods on Sub Pop. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Ty Segall song is on the album Twins on Drag City. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Part 3 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we wrap up the CompCon Awards. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Magnolia Electric Co., Dinosaur Jr., Kurt Vile and Dump.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- Worst Album by Best Band

- Mid-'90s Van Halen was really bad

- George Harrison had some questionable releases in early '80s

- The Clash's Cut the Crap was like a parody of the band

- Best Album by Worst Band

- The Strokes: One-hit-album wonder?

- Jay: Give the band Live credit for somehow having a career

- Best Non-Guitar Solo

- Jay: Looked at instruments other than drums

- Plenty of great bass solos over the years

- Best Live Album

- Stones played faster on Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out

- J. Geils Band were an amazing live act

- Sore Thumb Award for song that doesn't fit on album it's on

- What's the deal with skits on hip-hop albums?

- Best Moustache in Rock

- Jeff "Skunk" Baxter had a classic 'stache

- Zappa was defined by his 'stache

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:Magnolia Electric Co. - The Dark Don't Hide It

Dinosaur Jr. - Entertainment

Kurt Vile - Never Run Away

Dump - Superpowerless

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Magnolia Electric Co. song is on the album What Comes After the Blues on Secretly Canadian. Download it for free at Chromewaves.

The Dinosaur Jr. song is a cover of a Phoenix track and is available for free download at Chromewaves.

The Kurt Vile song is on the album Walkin' on a Pretty Daze on Matador Records. Download the song for free at Matador.

The Dump song is on reissue of the album Superpowerless on Morr Music. Download the song for free at Chromewaves.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we continue handing out the CompCon Awards. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Wire, Mikal Cronin, Parquet Courts and Ten Kens.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- Best Concept Album

- Brian: Not a fan of concept albums

- Jay: Afghan Whigs' Black Love is an underrated classic

- Townshend's book is a good read

- Best Album That Deviates From Band's Sound

- Brian: Prefers later Pavement to earlier stuff

- Tin Machine was welcome change after substandard Bowie albums

- Praising (or not hating) R.E.M.'s Monster

- Paul's Boutique was a masterpiece of sampling

- Best Song by Band Member Who Wasn't Main Songwriter

- Brian: George Harrison rules

- Best Rhythm Guitarist

- Post classic rock era, line between rhythm and lead has blurred

- Lee Ving and Dave Mustaine teamed up

- Bill Ward: Sabbath should give the drummer some

- Best Album Packaging

- Vinyl was the heyday of great packaging

- Zep's In Through the Out Door had several covers

- Music listening experience is less immersive now

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:Wire - Love Bends

Mikal Cronin - Shout It Out

Parquet Courts - Stoned and Starving

Ten Kens - When a Door Opens

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Wire song is on the album Change Becomes Us on Pink Flag Records. Download it for free at Stereogum.

The Mikal Cronin song is on the album MCII on Merge Records. Download the song for free at NPR.

The Parquet Courts song is on the album Light Up Gold on Dull Tools/What's Your Rupture. Download the song for free at NPR.

The Ten Kens song is on the album Namesake on Fat Cat Records. Download the song for free at NPR.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we present the first edition of the CompCon Awards. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Mudhoney, Frightened Rabbit, Marnie Stern and Telekinesis.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype while the Oscars telecast was on

- Jay: Picking top albums of the 1970s was tough

- The CompCon Awards are an alternative to the Grammys looking at different categories

- First category: Best Band Name

- Brian saw Trail of Dead back in the day

- Best Sophomore Album

- Bands like The Strokes have struggled to follow up strong debut

- Nirvana's success both killed and launched a lot of terrible bands

- Dave Grohl backlash

- Pondering Weezer's decline

- Graham Maby rules

- Best Side 1

- Harking back to the heyday of vinyl

- First Van Halen album had killer side 1 and 2

- Bowie had an incredible run of albums in the '70s

- Best Side 2

- Other outstanding album sides

- The Chili Peppers haven't aged well

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:Mudhoney - I Like It Small

Frightened Rabbit - State Hospital

Marnie Stern - Year of the Glad

Telekinesis - Ghosts and Creatures

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Mudhoney song is on the album Vanishing Point on Sub Pop. Download it for free from Sub Pop.

The Frightened Rabbit song is on the album Pedestrian Verse on Atlantic Records. Download the song for free at NPR.

The Marnie Stern song is on the album Chronicles of Marnia on Kill Rock Stars. Download the song for free at NPR.

The Telekinesis song is on the album Dormarion on Merge Records. Download the song for free at NPR.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Part 2 of my conversation with guests Ric Dube and Jay Breitling as we dissect a classic episode of the 1970s sitcom What's Happening. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Patrick Stickles and Me & Stupid.

Show notes:

- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ; check out the 50th episode of MLT (with cameos from Mr. Breitling and myself)

- Inspired by MST3K and Rifftrax, we're commenting while watching video

- Watch the episode along with us at the CompCon YouTube channel

- Breitling joins the fray

- Haywood Nelson was the inspiration for indie rock band Haywood

- JB: The satin jacket died with Rainbow's "All Night Long" video (featuring Graham Bonnet on vocals, not Joe Lynn Turner)

- Enter Big Al Dunbar

- Rerun wore his pants old-man high

- The original discomfort comedy

- Were the Doobies big anti-bootleg advocates?

- Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is a defense industry consultant now

- Baxter's wearing a Warner Bros. jersey

- Rocking out while seated

- Flaming gongs kick ass

- Dee's tripping

- "Pluggin' in the USB"

- Rerun drops tape recorder, feels shame

- The Doobies intimidate Big Al and henchman

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Let the Day Begin

Patrick Stickles - Hey Tonight

Me & Stupid - Receiver

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club song is on the EP Let the Day Begin. Download it for free (in exchange for your email address) at the band's website.

The Patrick Stickles song is a cover of a Free Energy song and available for free download at Stereogum.

The Me & Stupid song is on the album In a Cabin with Me & Stupid. Download the album for free at the Me & Stupid website.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we dissect a classic episode of the 1970s sitcom What's Happening. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from They Might Be Giants and The Thalia Zedek Band.

Show notes:

- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ

- Inspired by MST3K and Rifftrax, we're commenting while watching video

- Watch the episode along with us at the CompCon YouTube channel

- What's Happening!! had all the sitcom archetypes

- Formula elements at play

- This was a Very Special Episode

- No continuity in the '70s on TV shows

- The evils of bootlegging

- Check out CompCon episodes 218 and 219 about bootlegs

- Ric: Wonder if there's a bootleg of the Doobies' performance in this show

- Show inspired by the movie Cooley High

- Ric's a fan of Dee

- Did inner city kids really listen to the Doobie Brothers?

- Jay: I rocked the velour shirts back in the day

- Rerun gets roped into the bootlegging world

- All the parodies have been parodied now

- Ric's heard the "Which Doobie You Be?" line a million times

- Doobies are so big they're playing a podunk high school

- Patrick Simmons had a brief solo career

- Michael McDonald's vocal style

- The kids pretend to like the Doobies

- Jeff "Skunk" had magnificent facial hair

- The band Bread appeared on an episode of The Hardy Boys

- Simmons supposedly went to the kids' high school

- Four minutes of scenes from next week

- Theme by Henry Mancini!

- Next week, it's part 2 of the Doobie Brothers episode

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:They Might Be Giants - You're On Fire

Thalia Zedek Band - Walk Away

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The They Might Be Giants song is on the album Nanobots on Idlewild Records. Download it for free at Stereogum.

The Thalia Zedek Band song is on the album Via on Thrill Jockey. Download it for free at Soundcloud.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.