Steven is on the road this week doing book promotion and other fun things, so it seemed like a perfect time for he and Ian to answer some listener emails. As always, our listeners stepped up with some amazing topics this week.

First, the guys talk about the recent Sufjan Stevens Illinois musical and discuss other albums that might warrant the adaptation treatment (7:44). Second, they talk about the best three-year period in modern music history and why it's (probably) 2000-02 (16:01). Third, they revisit Car Seat Headrest's 2020 album Making A Door Less Open and whether it's the biggest drop-off from an acclaimed predecessor (25:22). Fourth, they talk about the run of recent jangle pop and shoegaze albums and whether it's possible for homages to be better than the originals (35:34). Finally, they discuss their favorite recent music books, and the overall state of the 33 1/3 series (44:46).

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 193 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

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After a brief Sportscast on the media meltdown over Caitlin Clark’s early stint in the WNBA (0:30), Steven and Ian have perhaps the least likely conversation in Indiecast history about Ian going to a Sarah McLachlan concert (!) and seeing a fight almost break out (!!) (7:21). They also talk about Steven’s upcoming book event on June 11 at Book Soup in LA that Ian is hosting (19:25).

From there, they talk about the new album from Texas band Good Looks, Lived Here For A While, which is one of 2024’s best indie rock records along with being one of the easiest to root for (22:54). They also talk about Brat, the new album by Charli XCX, as well as a larger conversation about how “indie pop” became known as “middle class pop” (32:54). Finally, they conclude with a discussion of The Killers’ Hot Fuss, which turns 20 this week (42:51).

In Recommendation Corner, Ian talks up the emo band Southtowne Lanes while Steven recommends the Indianapolis band Everything, Now! (53:47).

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 192 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week's episode begins with Steven talking about his visit to Brooklyn as part of the promotional tour for his new book, There Was Nothing You Could Do: Bruce Springsteen's "Born In The U.S.A." And The End Of The Heartland (7:15). They also commence a quick Sportscast to talk about the state of jinxes and reverse-jinxes concerning the Minnesota Timberwolves (10:59).

From there, they talk about how the Black Keys announced a change in tour plans from playing arenas to more "intimate" venues in light of weak ticket sales. Is this a sign of bigger changes in the live concert business (20:26)? They also discuss a recent article about the so-called "end of merch" and their respective feelings about band t-shirts (34:13). (Ian is indifferent, Steven has passionate opinions.) Then they address the recent soundtrack to the 2024 cult film I Saw The TV Glow, and how the album comments on the glory days of movie soundtracks from the 1990s (47:40).

In Recommendation Corner, Ian talks up the latest release from shoegaze band Draag while Steven stumps for a box set from The Waterboys documenting the making of an '80s alternative classic (57:36).

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 191 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven and Ian open this week's episode by recapping Ian's epic technical fail that canceled last week's episode (0:26). They also revisit last week's lost Kings Of Leon conversation and this year's wealth of memory-holed albums (2:43). Finally, Steven expresses gratitude that his Sportscast rant about jinxing the Timberwolves in the lost episode never aired (9:41).

Then the guys address Apple Music's list of the 100 Best Albums, which prompted a lot of conversation this week (20:34). For instance: Is 1989 (Taylor's Version) really the 18th best album of all time? Steven forwards the idea that 60 years might be too wide of a time span for one list when it comes to assessing music. From there, they review the new album by DIIV, Frog In Boiling Water, which Steven might like more than Ian (38:29).

In Recommendation Corner, Ian hypes up the latest from Young Jesus while Steven stumps for From Indian Lakes (56:17).

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 190 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter for all the latest news.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A short explanation from Steve about why there's no episode this week.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven and Ian begin today's episode with a quick recap of the seemingly on-pause rap battle between Kendrick Lamar and Drake (0:25), as well as a Sportscast segment on Steven's bandwagon-jumping with the Minnesota Timberwolves (3:39). After that, they address the sad news about the death of Steve Albini at the age of 61 (16:11). They recap the musician/producer's illustrious career, and wonder whether his death marks the end of an era in indie music. Then the guys delve into a recent interview with a member of the shoegaze band Whirr and Ian's run-in with them back in the 2010s (38:02).

In the mailbag, a listener comes up with a new term — Poochie band, after the famous Simpsons episode — to describe acts that have one song so good that it makes it impossible to hear any other song they have ever made (46:46). What bands apply as "Poochie" material?

In Recommendation Corner, Ian talks about the latest effort from hardcore band Knocked Loose while Steven backs the new album by Amen Dunes (55:19).

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 188 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter for all the latest news.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven and Ian begin today's episode by catching up with "Euphoria," the diss track that Kendrick Lamar unleashed on Drake this week. Did Kendrick really confuse The Sixth Sense star Haley Joel Osment with Texas televangelist Joel Osteen? Looks like it! (0:30) They also check in with the buzzy Sabrina Carpenter pop hit "Espresso," which has signaled the annual (tiresome) conversation about the song of the summer. (11:14)

Then they transition to a conversation about Local Natives, the LA band who recently lost one of their founding members. Steven and Ian recap the group's career and comment on the enduring popularity of early 2010s indie stars. (17:26) From there, they discuss three artists who Steven's Fantasy Albums team — Jessica Pratt, Mdou Moctar, and Kamasi Washington — who put out new albums today. (30:25)

In the mailbag, they give the yay-or-nay treatment to Amen Dunes (41:54), and also engage in more Lake Mendota/Hovvdy talk. (48:03)

For Recommendation Corner, Ian talks up the Swedish band Rain Recordings while Steven catches with the British group English Teacher. (53:31)

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 187 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter for all the latest news.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven begins this episode like he has many other installments of Indiecast — by complaining to Ian about the performance of his Fantasy Albums team. In this instance, he thought he had a sure thing — a new Taylor Swift album — but after a predictable wave of early raves, Taylor’s Metacritic score has tumbled amid a critical backlash. What happened? (0:30) Steven and Ian also recap their recent experiences at two very different concerts, Phish at Sphere and Cindy Lee in San Diego. (16:08)

After that, Steven proceeds to rant about Oasis not get inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this year, and how this underlines once again the Rock Hall’s bias against alt and indie bands of the 1980s and ’90s. (25:24) He also compares Foreigner and Peter Frampton to former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer. and it definitely makes sense. Then the guys review the new album by the charming Austin indie-pop duo Hovvdy, who make very good patio music. (36:23) In the mailbag, a listener brings up new music from Menomena and if it’s ever bad to sound too much like yourself. (45:07)

In Recommendation Corner, Ian talks about the “sasscore” band SeeYouSpaceCowboy while Steven goes for a classic rec with the ’80s band Love And Rockets. (52:57)

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 186 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter for all the latest news.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven and Ian begin this week’s episode by talking about shows they plan on seeing this weekend — Ian is going to check out the buzzy retro-pop master Cindy Lee (3:56) while Steven is venturing to Las Vegas to see Phish play the Sphere (0:29). They also briefly touch on the iffy-looking Taylor Swift album out today, The Tortured Poets Department, which has high “unintentional comedy” potential (12:16).

From there they follow up on last week’s Coachella discussion to cover some of the festival’s viral performances, which also happen to be the biggest trainwrecks of the opening weekend: Blur’s indifferently received spot and Grimes’ glitch-filled DJ set (18:07). Then they review two albums out today by veteran rock acts: Pearl Jam’s Dark Matter (25:36)and Cloud Nothings’ Final Summer (39.18). Do they still have the juice? The guys hash it out.

In Recommendation Corner, Ian recommends Chanel Beads and Steven raves about the new single by Ben Seratan (50:06).

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 185 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven and Ian open by talking about J. Cole’s botched diss track targeted at Kendrick Lamar (0:26). Is it lame to record a diss track and immediately apologize? Or is this actually a sign of personal growth? From there, the guys talk about the slumping ticket sales for Coachella (12:43). Is this a temporary bump or is the festival headed for a permanent downturn?

The guys also check in with the Fantasy Album Draft, with the release of new records by Maggie Rogers, Shabaka Hutchings, and Nia Archives (24:01). They also talk about early contenders for Album Of The Year from Q1-ish of 2024, including Waxahatchee, Vampire Weekend, and Mannequin Pussy (30:21). In the mailbag, there are two yay-or-nay questions on two very different bands: Khruangbin and Our Lady Peace (48:17).

In Recommendation Corner, Ian talks about the screamo band Heavenly Blue and Steven recommends the new documentary Lost Angel: The Genius Of Judee Sill (56:28).

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 184 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter for all the latest news.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.