Discologist

In layman’s terms, the Boltzmann Brain Theory imagines a universe where the only thing that matters is what we perceive. Are we beings flitting about in a universe of someone else’s design or are we simply “brains” floating briefly thru the void, imposing OUR universe on that emptiness and anyone who happens to cross our path? 

That central idea was the spark that drove this piece for most of its development, but as it came in to sharper focus the question of “what?” or “why?” we exist and perceive became secondary to the act of perceiving itself.  

We spend so much of our lives searching for answers — Why do I exist? Why would “God” allow so much suffering in a world of his own creation? Is Bigfoot real? — and rarely have the thought to simply let a moment be, let it go, and look forward to the next. And that’s where this piece landed.  

At nearly twenty minutes of loops upon loops upon loops upon loops…it asks for commitment. It asks YOU, the listener, to put down whatever questions you have roiling through your mind and simply accept this brief moment as a thing that exists for you in whatever way YOUR universe perceives it.  

I could tell you more about what I think it is, but beyond being irrelevant — it is yours now —it would be missing the point. But I would be thrilled to discover what it means to you. How you perceive it. How it makes you FEEL. Because even if we are all just brains floating in space, waiting for the heat-death of some actual universe, nobody ever said we have to be alone in that.  

Even if we’re all made up in our minds.  

P.S. Gus (the cat) is very much still alive, though I don’t think I really care what his name is anymore. And neither does he. What I and my family are sure of is that he is beloved, and that’s all that really matters. 

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Washington D.C.’s Broke Royals have always been one of the hardest working indie bands we know, but like a lot of up-and-comers, COVID-19 slammed the brakes on what should have the beginning of their ascent to the big leagues. But rather than wait for things to return to normal, the band started a video series (Alone, Together), headed in exciting new creative directions, and came out of the experience stronger than ever!

Now the band [new addition Rebecca Silverstein (keys), Ben Wilson (guitar), Taimir Gore (bass), Colin Cross (drums), and Philip Basnight (vocals, guitar)] are back with a new energy, a new look, and a brand new album, Local Support (produced by Bartees Strange), ready to take over the world with a thrilling take on pop rock for the 21st Century.

Join as we sit down with one of the most exciting bands in D.C. on a very special edition of Discologist: In Conversation with Broke Royals.

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Panamá 77, the debut album from Chicago’s Daniel Villarreal (drummer for Dos Santos) is a psychedelic exploration of the music of his culture married to the modern jazz scene that label International Anthem excels at shining a light on. Part live session, part studio wizardry, and ALL soul, Panamá 77 is a powerhouse of undeniable vibes featuring a who’s who of special guests (Elliot Bergman, Jeff Parker, Kellen Harrison, Bardo Martinez, and more!), and is one of this, or any years, most enjoyable listens.

PLUS! Music we love from producer/multi-instrumentalist Bastien Keb off of his upcoming release Organ Recital, and new sounds from music legend Bruce Hornsby from his latest release ‘FlictedI

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Music plays a huge role in shaping the tone of any film, and on a special Holiday edition of Discologist we’re exploring some of the best to ever put sound to image, starting with John Carpenter whose new score for the film Firestarter mines familiar territory for the director/composer but manages to be a unique and essential addition to his growing film score catalog.

Dim the lights and break out the popcorn, we’re headed to the movies!  

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When they first collaborated almost sixty years ago, Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder came together over a shared love of the music of blues legends Sonny Terry and Brownie Mcghee. Now with the help of Joachim Cooder, the two friends have reunited to make sure that the music of the past isn’t forgotten and Get On Board, a recreation of the classic Folkways release is the result.

PLUS! Music we love from The Bogie Band’s debut album The Prophets in the City and Washington, D.C.’s Rosie Cima & What She Dreamed!

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Over the course of the pandemic, Gerald Clayton thought a lot about time. What it means, how we spend it, and how the past and the now influence the future in unexpected ways. His new album Bells On Sand is the result of this philosophizing and finds the acclaimed pianist and composer creating sublime new worlds out of simple melodies and space, and the resulting abstraction of time that both can provide.  

PLUS! Music we love from Father John Misty off of his latest LP Chloë and the Next 20th Century, and a new bluegrass classic of of Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway's Crooked Tree! 

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Alabaster DePlume’s (aka Gus Fairbairn) To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals, Vol. 1, was roundly praised as one of the best albums of 2020 and served as a balm for music fans of all types as they settled into a new, pandemic reality. Now he’s back with GOLD, an uplifting, quasi-spiritual journey towards understanding the value of self-worth in a world where it may no longer be valued. Part free-jazz, part primitive hymnal, GOLD builds on the strengths of DePlume's earlier work to coalesce into his strongest statement on our shared humanity to date.

PLUS! Music we love from Durham, NC’s The Dead Tongues, Peter Broderick & Friends covering Arthur Russell, and more!

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In 2006 Midlake set the bar for lush, thought-provoking indie rock with their album The Trials of Van Occupanther. On For The Sake Of Bethel Woods, their first album in eight years, the newly invigorated group is acknowledging the power of their earlier work while looking ahead to a limitless future of sonic innovation and pastoral existentialism. Join us as we discuss the legacy of the band, the seductive appeal of “bro-rock,” and more.

PLUS! Kevin and Eduardo are spinning new tracks they love from Holy Hive and Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros! 

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On her Blue Note debut, saxophonist Melissa Aldana is exploring the isolation, anxiety, and change that she experienced in the early days of the pandemic. 12 Stars is framed around the mythos of the Tarot and numerology, and even with that heady concept is an approachable and sophisticated session that highlights Aldana’s mastery of the tenor sax. Join us as we discuss this essential album and why jazz is the perfect music for anyone looking for a deeper connection to the others and to humanity as a whole in the 21st Century.

PLUS! Kevin and Eduardo are spinning new tracks they love from Camp Cope and Carson McHone! 

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