Jams and Tea

For this week's Record Club, we have a special double-feature episode on both studio albums proper of the short-lived but unfathomably influential Joy Division, the band that set the standard for the 'post-punk' sound and scene, but themselves pulled from and reacted against so much of what was happening in the world of music in the late 70s. Today we discuss the band's unique and captivating sound, and the albums that represent it best, 1979's Unknown Pleasures and 1980's Closer.

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0:00 Intro / The Sound of Joy Division 16:15 Unknown Pleasures 38:21 Closer 1:01:14 Ratings / Outro

This week on the show we're excited to discuss yet another new Mountain Goats album, as one of our favourite and most reliable bands return with a swagger in their step with the heavy and raucous BLEED OUT! Also, we discuss the music of one Mr. Brendan Urie as he returns to revive Panic! at the Disco yet again for a surprisingly organic effort with the mixed bag of VIVA LAS VENGEANCE.

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0:00 Intro 1:33 Jake Gets Into Dalek 5:54 The Most Underrated Bright Eyes Album 8:26 Jake Climbs the Neutral Milk Mountain 11:52 New Albums from Stella Donnelly & White Ward 16:25 Morgan Is the Romans 18:06 Ryley's Muse Nightmare Ends 29:48 Ryley Gives Out a Fresh Perfect Score 32:56 Remember When Panic! at the Disco Were Good? 36:26 Panic! at the Disco - Viva Las Vengeance 1:00:29 The Mountain Goats - Bleed Out 1:21:57 Outro

For the 104th Record Club, we break down the minimalist one-man jazz of Colin Stetson, the idiosyncratic and incredibly powerful saxophonist who has carved out one of the most distinct presences in the modern era of the instrument. We discuss his techniques, the bizarre and multi-layered sounds he is able to pull out of the saxophone through sheer physical commitment, and the way these sounds manifest on his remarkable 2013 album New History Warfare Vol. 3: To See More Light.

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This week we're breaking down two exciting new records involving artists that are alone talented, but bring out extra strength in each other through the power of collaboration: first up is the new LP from Danger Mouse and Black Thought, CHEAT CODES, one of the year's finest and slickest hip-hop records that showcase both producer and MC at the top of their games. Secondly, we have the latest of many team-ups between Animal Collective drummer and co-founder Panda Bear and legendary Spacemen-3 producer Sonic Boom, RESET, the finest work either have released in years. We also use this album as an excuse to look back on the comeback album Animal Collective dropped earlier this year, TIME SKIFFS, to assess how these artists have revitalized their artistic output by rediscovering the power of their individual strengths unified. Also in this episode we have hilarious and unhinged conversations about Tool, death's dynamic shroud, TobyMac, Owl City, and of course, Muse, that you will not want to miss...

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TIMESTAMPS  0:00 Intro 2:00 Jake’s Tool Tirade 8:41 Journeys in Cyber Metal with Jake 14:10 The Best Sleep Album 16:58 Another Sky Are Art Rock Weirdos You Need To Hear 19:54 TobyMac is in the House Tonight 29:41 Gorguts’ Best Album? 34:14 Ashenspire Are the Scottish Jazz Metal Icons You Have to Hear 40:17 Ryley’s Biggest Ever Muse Hot Takes 59:58 Danger Mouse & Black Thought - Cheat Codes 1:26:42 Panda Bear & Sonic Boom - Reset 1:43:05 Animal Collective - Time Skiffs 2:07:24 Outro

This week on Record Club we discuss the legendary Brooklyn post-hardcore outfit Gospel and their jazz and prog-inflected 2005 masterpiece The Moon Is a Dead World, which remained their sole release until this year's equally fantastic The Loser. Join us as we discuss what makes this band special and their debut one of the great masterpieces of heavy music in the 2000s.

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This weekend we are joined by friend and first-time guest (as well as unofficial Beyhive representative) Cole to discuss the queen of pop, Beyoncé herself, and her latest long-awaited offering, RENAISSANCE, a thrilling house-inflected slice of brilliance that marks the beginning of an exciting new era for the artist. Also, we talk the new Chat Pile album God’s Country, a raw and serrated slice of sludge punk from an up-and-coming band that leave one of the biggest and boldest impressions of any new hardcore act in recent years. Though very different, both of these albums are essential, and we hope you’ll stick around to talk about why!

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After two years and three months of regular weekly uploads, we have finally made it to 100 episodes of our main weekly show, where we typically review two new releases and chat about what we've been listening to. Fittingly, to celebrate, we are doing neither of those things, and instead looking back at some of our favourite moments, episodes, and experiences making this gloriously self-indulgent but hopefully entertaining show. We want to thank all of you for joining us, whether you were there day one or whether you are just a casual newbie. Here's to 100 more, and beyond...  

TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 The Jams & Tea Origin Story 15:33 Our Highest Rated Albums 19:48 Our Most Divisive Reviews 30:00 A Special Thanks to All Our Guests 31:41 Albums Not Enough People Have Heard 38:21 Albums We Wish We Had Reviewed 44:43 Our Favorite Positive Reviews 51:38 Our Favorite Negative Reviews 59:00 Scores We Would Lower 1:06:05 Scores We Would Raise 1:16:07 Jake’s Favorite Moments 1:22:56 August’s Favorite Moments 1:32:12 Morgan’s Favorite Moments  1:41:44 Ryley’s Favorite Moments 1:53:25 The Reviews We’re Most Proud Of 2:05:55 A Little Podcast Trivia Quiz 2:21:50 Outro

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For this week's Record Club, Jake and Ryley are pitting two beloved sleeper hit concept albums from bands masterminded by the prolific Damon Albarn: Blur's bleary, deconstructive breakup album 13, and Gorillaz' environmentally-minded swampy disco trip Plastic Beach. How do the two records compare, what do they tell us about Albarn's approach to building a record around a core theme, and what is it about these particular records from each artist that makes them such enduring fan favourites, even while being less commercially successful than their predecessors? These questions and more are answered within...  

0:00 Intro / Blur vs Gorillaz 6:08 Blur - 13 44:40 Gorillaz - Plastic Beach 1:12:20 Ratings / Outro

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This Sunday we are joined by special guest Brett to tackle the long-awaited new album from Joey Bada$$, 2000, the sequel to his breakthrough mixtape 1999 (one of the best hip-hop mixtapes ever). We also talk the death metal / jazz fusion band Imperial Triumphant’s blistering and brilliant new record Spirit of Ecstasy, plus August joins us to run through regrettable records from Editors, Linkin Park, and TobyMac, and we shout out favourites from Andrew W.K., Santana, and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez. Plus, we give a recommendation to the great new EP from Billie Eilish, and Ryley delivers some fresh Muse hot-takes. There’s really something for everyone this week!

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For our 100th episode of Record Club, Jake, Morgan, and Ryley are breaking down a staple of pop-punk, emo, heartland rock, indie rock, and everything in between: The Wonder Years' genre-transcending masterpiece The Greatest Generation, one of the great rock records of the 2010s and a staple for an era that defined our coming-of-age. As this fantastic album approaches its tenth anniversary next year, and with a new Wonder Years record just months away, there's no better time than right now to celebrate this triumphant favorite.

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