Look At My Records!

Episode 161 of Look At My Records! features an interview with Ashley and Johanna of Brooklyn’s Groupie. The band has made waves over the last few years thanks to their high energy live performances and tireless work ethic, and late last month, they released their excellent debut album, Ephemeral. The record showcases the group’s evolution in both sound and themes, as the songs turn inward to dissect personal experiences and lean into more shoegaze and post-punk textures. Listen to our interview to hear all about the band’s beginnings (which started with a Craig’s List ad), the reckoning with their rock idols that they undertake on “Thick As Glue,” how Ashley came up with the idea to incorporate lyrics written by her mom on “Daleko,” the fate-like way that the final track “No Hands” came together, and much more. This episode features records from Hole, Sleater Kinney, Parquet Courts, Buzzcocks, Priests, Cocteau Twins, and Death Valley Girls! Follow along with their record picks with the official playlist for Episode 161!

Ephemeral is out now! You can order a copy on limited edition purple fruit punch vinyl or cassette via Bandcamp. You can also stream the record on Spotify. Keep up with the band by following them on Instagram and liking them on Facebook.

For Episode 160 of Look At My Records!, Los Angeles based musician Kaz Mirblouk joins Tom for an extensive conversation about his brand new album, Carless By Contrast. Coming almost five years after his debut solo effort, the record represents a big coming of age moment for Mirblouk, both personally and musically. On the record, he explores several different genres, like psychedelia, shoegaze, and post-punk, while simultaneously confronting issues of identity and personal growth in the lyrics. During the interview, the two chatted about the identity-centric themes on Carless By Contrast, the more relaxed approach to recording it that allowed Mirblouk more freedom to experiment, what his experiences touring with bands like Numb.er and Hoveriii taught him about being a musician, and much more. This episode features records from Jay Som, Sonic Youth, Fontaines D.C., Deerhunter, and Weyes Blood. Follow along with Kaz’s record picks with the official playlist for Episode 160!

Careless by Contrast is available on limited edition Golden Daze vinyl via Mock Records. You can purchase a copy via Bandcamp. Stream it on Spotify or Apple Music. Keep up with Mirclouk by following him on Instagram and liking him on Facebook.

Brooklyn’s The Big Net joins Tom for Episode 159 of Look At My Records! Their brand new record, In The Service of Song, dropped earlier this month via Marbled Arm. The album’s title serves as a guiding principle for the writing and recording process behind the songs on the record, as the trio of Kevin Copeland, Andrew Emge, and Logan Miley, focused on “not adding any instruments or sounds that were unnecessary,” instead providing only what the songs absolutely needed. Recorded live to tape over the course of two days with minimal overdubs at Copeland’s childhood home, the deeply personal record resonates through its diaristic lyrics and hauntingly sparse instrumentation.  During our interview, we chatted about the project’s origins, the experience of recording in Copeland’s childhood home in Connecticut, the meaning behind the phrase “In The Service of Song” and much more. This episode features records from Broken Social Scene, The Everly Brothers, Eric B. & Rakim, Adrianne Lenker, and The Beach Boys. Follow along with the band’s record picks via the official Spotify playlist for Episode 159!

In The Service of Song is out now via Marbled Arm. You can purchase a copy on limited edition Cyan Blue Marbled vinyl via Bandcamp. The album is also available on all streaming platforms. Keep up with the band by following them on Instagram and liking them on Facebook.

Episode 158 of Look At My Records features an interview with Philadelphia indie-rock quintet Goings.  This emo and math rock-influenced group got their start in drummer Chris Kearney’s grandmother’s dance studio while it was vacant in the winter of 2017, and they emerged with a batch of rhythmic, toe-tapping tunes that make up their debut, “It’s For You.” Released this past November on Know Hope Records, the album mixes vibrant synths with quirky beats and flowing rhythms for a sound that recalls bands like Motion City Soundtrack and The Dismemberment Plan. Tune in to hear all about the band’s early practices in the aforementioned dance studio, their highly collaborative songwriting process, how they’ve been spending their time lately, and a whole lot more. This episode features records from Donovan, The Zombies, Destroyer, The Dismemberment Plan, Crumb, and Cymbals Eat Guitar. Follow along with the band’s record pick through the official playlist for Episode 158!

You can purchase a copy of It’s For You on vinyl via Know Hope Records. The album is also available on Bandcamp and Spotify. Keep up with the band by following them on Instagram and liking them on Facebook.

You can purchase a copy of It’s For You on vinyl via Know Hope Records. The album is also available on Bandcamp and Spotify. Keep up with the band by following them on Instagram and liking them on Facebook.

Episode 157 of Look At My Records! features an interview with Chris Rosi of the Los Angeles-based indie pop outfit Smokescreens. In 2020, the band released their third album, A Strange Dream, and it impressed many, including Tom, who named it his favorite record of the year. Like their first two full-lengths, the band continues to wear their Kiwi influences on their sleeve, but on A Strange Dream, they focused on sharpening their sound and expanding their dynamic guitar interplay. The band also recruited New Zealand music legend David Kilgour to produce the album, recording it over the course of a week just outside of Los Angeles in picturesque Topanga Canyon. Tune in to hear all about the recording process behind A Strange Dream, what it was like hanging out and working with Kilgour, Rosi’s background playing music in Southern California, and more! This episode features records from Pylon, The Go-Betweens, The Feelies, and David Kilgour. You can follow along with Chris’ record picks via the Spotify playlist for Episode 157! 

Episode 156 of Look At My Records! Features an interview with Los Angeles-based songwriter Ryan Pollie.  Well known for the warm Laurel Canyon inspired folk music heard on his 2019 self-titled album and his two releases under the moniker Los Angeles Police Department, Pollie ended 2020 by dipping his toes into ambient music. In late December, he released an enchanting, meditative audiovisual album called Museum At The End Of Time via Perpetual Doom. The project was developed by Pollie in conjunction with video synthesis artists Nichole & Paul Pichon with the intention of alleviating anxiety through an audiovisual trance state, and was originally conceived by Pollie while toying with concepts of unguided, self-induced audial and visual hypnosis. Tune in to hear all about how Ryan first got into meditation, what drove him to shift gears and write an ambient record, the collaborative process behind making an audio-visual work, and much more. We even chatted about hockey and Ryan filled us in on the first-ever Highland Park Folk Festival, which happened right before the pandemic hit! Here’s to hoping the second edition happens in 2021! This episode features records from the Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, Animal Collective, and more! Follow along with the Spotify playlist for Episode 156!

You can purchase Museum At The End Of Time on limited edition cassette via Perpetual Doom. You can also check out the rest of Ryan’s excellent discography on Bandcamp or Spotify. Keep up with Ryan by following him on Instagram and liking him on Facebook. Stream the accompanying visual piece to Museum At The End Of Time below!

2020 is just about done! So, as is tradition on the Look At My Records! podcast, Zach Romano and Tom had an in-depth chat about their favorite records of the year. 2020 was a hellish year for musicians and non-musicians alike, but in spite of the challenging circumstances, artists from all over the world released some absolutely incredible records! In this episode, you’ll hear tunes from Laveda, Alex Nicol, Worthitpurchase, Hypoluxo, Nation of Language, Winter, Fleet Foxes, Smokescreens, Empty Country, Harry The Nightgown, Drew Citron, Destroyer, Adrianne Lenker, Protomartyr, Holy Wave, Fontaines D.C., En Attendant Ana, Phoebe Bridgers, and Habibi! Who landed where? Tune in to find out!

Episode 154 of Look At My Records features an interview with Brooklyn musician Drew Citron! For this episode, Deanna Dilandro joins Tom as co-host for an extensive chat with Drew on the heels of the release of her debut solo effort, Free Now.  Over the last decade and change, Drew has remained a constant force in the New York City music scene, fronting the critically acclaimed Beverly, playing bass in the post-punk quartet Public Practice, and as a touring member of both The Pains of Being Pure At Heart and Frankie Rose & The Outs.  On Free Now, Citron begins a new chapter in her musical story, as she turns the page on Beverly and plots a new course forward by experimenting with a more intimate, folk-pop inspired sound. During our interview, we chatted about her formative musical experiences in both her hometown of San Francisco and her adopted home of New York City, what it was like writing Free Now on the Northern Coast of California, how she adapted to life under quarantine, and a whole lot more.

Free Now is available on limited edition vinyl via Park The Van. You can purchase a copy on Bandcamp.  You can also stream the record on your platform of choice.  Keep up with Drew by following her on Instagram and liking her on Facebook.

Episode 153 features an interview with Gray Tolhurst and Jérémie Rüest of the San Francisco post-punk trio, Topographies. Zach Romano joins Tom as co-host for this edition of the podcast, and the two chatted with Gray and Jérémie about the band’s powerful brand new record, Ideal Form, which dropped earlier this month on Funeral Party Records. They’ve also had a pretty productive 2020 despite the circumstances, releasing two EPs earlier this year. Tune in to hear all about how the band adapted and modified their sound after losing their drummer, Tolhurst’s approach to lyric writing, what it was like collaborating remotely to write and record their quarantine EP, Not My Loneliness, But Ours, and much more. This episode features records from Ovlov, Galaxie 500, Fripp & Eno, DIIV, and Cocteau Twins.

You can purchase Ideal Form, along with the rest of the band’s discography, via Bandcamp. Vinyl copies of Ideal Form are currently sold out, but a repress is in the works. You can also stream their music on all platforms, including Spotify. Keep up with the band by liking them on Facebook and following them on Instagram.

Episode 152 of Look At My Records! features an interview with Los Angeles based musician Kacey Johansing.  Kacey just released her absolutely stunning fourth record, No Better Time, late last month.  It’s a gorgeously lush collection folk songs that explore learning to accept love in your life.  

Tune in to hear Kacey’s take on some of the record’s stand out tracks like “Even A Lot Feels Like Nothing” and “Let Me Walk Right In.” Plus, we chatted about how the experience making her 2017 album The Hiding compared to No Better Time, her early experiences playing music, how her surroundings have shaped her songwriting, working with her partner Tim Ramsey, her label Night Bloom Records, and much more.  This episode features records from Chris Cohen, Prefab Sprout, Big Star, Pure Bathing Culture, and Jessica Pratt.

You can purchase No Better Time on limited edition vinyl via Bandcamp. It’s also available on all streaming platforms.

Keep up with Kacey by following her on Instagram and liking her on Facebook. 

Tune in to hear Kacey’s take on some of the record’s stand out tracks like “Even A Lot Feels Like Nothing” and “Let Me Walk Right In.” Plus, we chatted about how the experience making her 2017 album The Hiding compared to No Better Time, her early experiences playing music, how her surroundings have shaped her songwriting, working with her partner Tim Ramsey, her label Night Bloom Records, and much more. This episode features records from Chris Cohen, Prefab Sprout, Big Star, Pure Bathing Culture, and Jessica Pratt.

You can purchase No Better Time on limited edition vinyl via Bandcamp. It’s also available on all streaming platforms.

Keep up with Kacey by following her on Instagram and liking her on Facebook.