Once again back across the pond to England, where we take a deep dive into the turbulent and fascinating career of Bloc Party. Rock, dance, electronic, experimental - is there anything these guys won't try? Steve and Doug also chat about the recent Newsboys fiasco, being a hero, and so many deluxe editions.

Music featured this episode:
The Prayer - A Weekend In The City
Octopus - Four
​Banquet - Silent Alarm 1:46 - You can watch the silly minute long real on YouTube here

5:35 - The excellently named Don Ferguson would regularly portray Preston Manning in the Royal Canadian Air Farce. It's really dated at this point, but back in the 90's this was hilarious (this isn't the specific sketch Doug was referring to, but it's the same sort of thing)

6:16 - Here is the Legal Eagle video "How Swift Got Her Masters Back"

6:32 - Rick Beato interviewing Sting. If you love music, you should watch Rick's channel

7:29 - Steve got two stories mixed up, and both are stupid. John Fogerty was sued by his old label for recording a new song that sounded too much like a previous song, and Neil Young was sued by his then-current label for not sounding ENOUGH like himself

12:44 - I know it sounds made up, but it's true: here's the article about how a search for a distressed man in the woods turned up a solo camper just singing Nickelback

14:22 - Here is the full archive of all stories pertaining to Michael Tait on The Roys Report

17:18 - Here were our thoughts up to 2014 in N Is For Newsboys

27:40 - Here is Matt Tong's interview with 22 Grand Pod from 2024 

45:22 - Here is Bloc Party's live performance of Banquet on Conan in 2005

48:44 - Unfortunately "God Bless Bloc Party" is quite boring, but you can judge for yourself

1:05:27 - Here's the video for Flux

1:10:14 - Here is the bonus documentary of "The Making Of A Weekend In The City"

​1:19:13 - Listen to our conversation S Is For Stars

1:25:35 - In case you missed it, the disco track is called "Dance With You" by Carrie Lucas

1:40:34 - Here is one of many videos of Louise Bartle killing it on the drums

​1:53:10 - Huh?? What??? Here's NME's incredibly poor quality interview with Bloc Party

1:54:11 - Here is REMIC's ranking of the Bloc Party albums as of 2022

1:57:40 - You can read all about Help! A Day In The Life here

Doug's Recommendations:
Little Thoughts - Silent Alarm
V.A.L.I.S. - Four
Ares - Intimacy
The Present - Help! A Day In The Life

Steve's Recommendations:
The Price Of Gasoline - Silent Alarm
Talons - Intimacy
In Situ - Alpha Games


Bloc Party's Official Website

bbb6.mp3File Size: 149809 kbFile Type: mp3Download File

After months of research, Steve and Doug return to examine the full(ish) career of Ariel Pink in all his incarnations! Often hailed as a forefather of hypnogagic pop, Pink has dabbled in beach rock, lo fi, shoegaze, and experimental rock. The fellas also wax on evolution of sound, fostering a reputation, cancel culture, and the Death of the Author.

Music featured this week:
Diaper Duty - Never Made A Demo, Ever
Round And Round - Before Today
For Kate I Wait - The Doldrums
Kitchen Witch - Dedicated To Bobby Jameson
aaa6.mp3File Size: 236340 kbFile Type: mp3Download File 10:09 - Check out our episode on One Album Wonders!

11:55 - I've been a big fan of the works of Doug Harrison for a couple years now. Show him some love on his Slug Comparison Bandcamp and his FEN Bandcamp 

18:16 - See for yourself! Here's Wikipedia's entry for Ariel Pink's Discography

 20:32 - Default's debut album was "The Fallout"

22:45 - If you haven't seen the trailer to Grindhouse, you're missing out

25:25 - It's "Dot's Vinyl Gone Bad" by Pogo

26:00 - You can read all about the D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L EP by Panchiko here

​35:42 - Upon revisiting this doc, it looks like the full group has been assembled by this point. This is "Raw Spice", if you're interested

43:56 - Here's the music video for "For Kate I Wait"

44:40 - No joke! Check out how low quality the video is for Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You"

45:54 - "Mariah Carey But She Needs To Sneeze"

​57:12 - Yeah, you heard him correctly. The lyrics are... really something

59:25 - The video for "Alisa" is down below

1:01:50 - Not much happens in the video for "Didn't It Click"

​1:15:30 - Here it is! All 10 tracks of Ariel Pink's Halloween on Spotify

1:31:20 - You can scope out the whole track here, it's "I Remember A Man" by Yeshimebet Dubale from 1980

1:37:07 - Here's the *not insanely priced* copy of Ku Klux Glam by R. Stevie Moore and Ariel Pink on Bandcamp (and here's the crazy one if you're interested)

1:38:39 - At least she had a good sense of humour about it! Geneva Jacuzzi is seen right at the beginning of "Only In My Dreams" kicking Ariel out of their apartment... or motel??

1:46:57 - Here's the full article from The Guardian: "I'm Not That Guy That Everyone Hates" from November 15 2014

1:55:15 - Take some time to check out the Myths 002 EP

​2:00:49 - Here's "White Stuff" by Royal Trux, and "Pink Stuff" by Ariel Pink

2:03:10 - Here's the trailer to "TFW No GF"

2:04:51 - Check out the video for "Burned Out Love"

​2:08:03 - Brake Check Podcast Episode 06: Ariel Pink (Spotify link)

2:11:45 - Wrong Opinion Podcast Episode 84: Ariel Pink (Spotify link)

2:13:45 - Here's Ariel Pink's appearance on the Adam Friedland Show

2:15:23 - TRIGGERnometry Podcast Episode Ariel Pink "I Lost My Career For Attending Peaceful Trump Rally" (Spotify link)

2:23:15 - Here's a link to an article by Pitchfork about the allegations, and then a follow up by The Guardian

 2:26:35 - Ariel Pink's interview with human wasteland Tucker Carlson

2:30:33 - If you haven't heard "Dracula's Music Cabinet" by The Vampires Of Dartmoore, you're missing out (Spotify link)

2:36:46 - Here's the Fox News segment where Ariel Pink and Winston Marshall talk about the Christmas single "Rudolph's Laptop", and here's the full music video by kingcon2k11

2:47:20 - If you're looking for something a little different, check out the Bandcamp page for Paul White

2:48:15 - The Roseanne Barr Podcast Episode 091: "Cancelled And Uncaged With Ariel Pink" (Spotify link)

3:01:34 - Here's Lindsay Ellis' two videos "Death Of The Author" and "Death Of The Author 2: Rowling Boogaloo". And yes, I know she had a really horrific experience with cancel culture (ironically), but no we're not getting into that right now

Doug's Recommendations:
​Immune To Emotion - Worn Copy
Not Enough Violence - pom pom
Round And Round - Before Today
Nonsequitar Segues - A Decade Deeper

Steve's Recommendations:
Bright Lit Blue Sky - Before Today
Trepanated Earth - Worn Copy
Baby - Mature Themes

​
Ariel Pink's Substack

Ariel Pink's Bandcamp

Darkside Family Jams on Bandcamp

Ariel Pink's YouTube Channel

Steve's in the mood to get a game going! The participants: Doug, father figure Stuart, and Their Friend Travis. The question? Do they know their Bond themes? Join the intrigue and silliness as the fellas get stumped or answer some teasers with ease. Which ones had you never heard?

Music featured this week:
James Bond Theme - John Barry & Orchestra (composed by Monty Norman)
Goldfinger - Shirley Bassey
quizspecial2.mp3File Size: 102569 kbFile Type: mp3Download File 1:21 - Stuart is referring to the episodes U Is For U2, Part 1 & Part 2

1:35 - Doug is correct! Both Travis and Stuart were around for our special episode on our Top Five Favourite Albums (although Stuart isn't in the picture)

​1:45 - You can listen to our special on One Album Wonders here

4:23 - Steve just managed to get that one. It was Mya who did the theme song for the video game "Everything Or Nothing"

4:28 - Esthero did the theme for "Nightfire" called "Nearly Civilized" and it's pretty great

5:10 - Monty Norman and John Barry are the two greatest influences to music in the Bond films, hands down

​7:12 - For the record "Millennium" by Robbie Williams is excellent

16:01 - In fairness, Shirley Bassey did THREE Bond themes. Can you name them?

17:47 - Dr, No doesn't have a dedicated theme song, per se. The opening credits open on the James Bond theme, before transitioning on Caribbean percussion (as heard in this clip), and then finally into a native rendition of "Three Blind Mice." This actually makes for a very stylized opening sequence.

24:31 - It was actually a huge bit of musical foreshadowing for the film. Those familiar with "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" would recognize that it signifies that Bond's newfound love was doomed.

29:00 - You can scope out the whole demo for "GoldenEye" by Bono and The Edge here

31:30 - You can check out Radiohead's "SPECTRE" synched up with the actual opening credit sequence here

​Stuart's Bond Theme Pick:
Diamonds Are Forever - Shirley Bassey

Travis' Bond Theme Picks:
Skyfall - Adele
Goldfinger - Shirley Bassey

Doug's Bond Theme Pick:
GoldenEye - Tina Turner

Steve's Bond Theme Pick:
You Know My Name - Chris Cornell

Calling a song or a band a one hit wonder can be dependent on region or even just faulty memory. But what about one album wonders? Steve and Doug take a look at bands who released just one glorious studio album, then faded away. Along the way they chat about AI Taylor Swift, strange live albums, and albums composed via mail.

Today's Albums:
Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill - August 1998
New Radicals - Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too - October 1998
The Postal Service - Give Up - February 2003
Hird - Moving On - September 2004
Beast - Beast - November 2008
Kordan - The Longing - October 2010

Music featured this week:
Harry Nilsson - One
Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
New Radicals - You Get What You Give
The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
Hird - Keep You Kimi
Beast - Finger Prints
​Kordan - Mirror followup5.mp3File Size: 163307 kbFile Type: mp3Download File 8:31 - You can listen to it here: D is for dep

9:09 - You can take a look at Danny Peck's new album on his official website

​26:49 - The movie is 1998's Bulworth, starring Warren Beatty and Halle Berry. It's about a politician who sudden decides to be honest, truthful, and... urban

42:55 - We spoke at length about the amazing and varied career of percussionist Pat Mastelotto in our last episode. Although a prolific prog drummer for King Crimson, the world may know him best as the drummer for The Rembrandts, whose song "I'll Be There For You" is the theme song for Friends

49:01 - I think I've pronounced Danielle Brisebois's name three different ways by this point

54:14 - I'm thinking of "Tonight, Tonight" by Smashing Pumpkins

1:37:40 - Here's "Running Low" and "Deep Mod" by Hird

1:59:22 - You can check out Artur Flor's Bandcamp page here

2:03:03 - Here's the Soundcloud page for TAKE's "Mirror (No Reflection Remix)"

​2:09:00 - Kordan has done quite a few remixes. The early ones no longer available on their Bandcamp page includes "Endless Spring" originally by Houses and "He Was Worse Than The Needle He Gave You" originally by The Delta Mirror

2:13:10 - We did indeed! R Is For Remy Shand

​
​Lauryn Hill's Official Website

New Radicals's AllMusic Entry

The Postal Service's Official Website

Christoffer Berg's (aka Hird) Soundcloud

Beast's AllMusic Entry

Kordan's Bandcamp

Wrapping up this alphabet run (for real this time guys), Steve and Doug investigate the 90's hair metal band 21 Guns! The fellas also chat about podcast hosting (how exciting!), compilations, soundtrack albums, and music released in the wrong decade.

Six Degrees From King Crimson:
21 Guns ->  Trapeze -> John Wetton -> King Crimson

Music featured this week:
Knee Deep - Salute
Blood Gone Bad - Demo-Lition
Mister Mofo - Nothing's Real 21_guns.mp3File Size: 158570 kbFile Type: mp3Download File 5:21 - It's true! We are on JioSaavn!

8:43 - Steve recommends it! Check out "Shine: How A MuchMusic Compilation Came To Define Canadian Alternative Music and Sell a Zillion Copies" by Mark Teo!

9:51 - Sloan's "The Good In Everyone" with an absurdly long intro

10:16 - Limblifter's "Ariel Vs Lotus"
​
12:24 - Here's the May 28th episode of Prog Rock Alley, where Doug shares an interesting discovery through a Spotify playlist

18:55 - If you haven't seen SNL's Celebrity Jeopardy with John Travolta, you really should

21:07 - Here's the video for "Method To My Madness" by A440

27:32 - You can find anything online these days. The August 22 1992 edition of Billboard. Salute is on page 82.

Doug's Recommendations:
Little Sister - Salute
King's Vengeance - Nothing's Real

Steve's Recommendations:
Battered and Bruised - Salute
Underground - Nothing's Real
Blood Gone Bad - Demo-Lition


21 Guns on Discogs

21 Guns on AllMusic

Wrapping up this fifth alphabet run (and thank you for bearing with us!), Steve and Doug explore the world of prog / arena / glam rockers Zon! Along the way they'll talk about bad newspaper reviews, riots, and all the good times.

Six Degrees From King Crimson:
Zon / Act III -> Rik Emmett -> Triumph -> Phil X -> Bon Jovi -> Tony Bongiovi -> Talking Heads -> Adrian Belew

Music featured this week:
Put On The Show - Astral Projector
Want My Baby - I'm Worried About The Boys!
Back Down To Earth - Back Down To Earth
Gods And Kings - Back Down To Earth
zzz5.mp3File Size: 164924 kbFile Type: mp3Download File 3:13 - Here's last year's episode Allie Hasn't... Heard Mid 2000's Music

10:46 - Over the next two days after recording this episode, Steve dug in and started distributing the show to other platforms, so take a look! We're probably on your fave one now!

11:35 - To hear the broadcast of Prog Rock Alley that Doug cohosted and curated the list for, click here!

11:55 - Steve's mostly joking

​15:00 - Watch it here! Check out Rock History Music's video "How Much Bad Luck Could One Band Possibly Have? The History Of Zon"

​19:33 - Steve's not even close. A&R stands for Artists & Repertoire. But he got the job right - the A&R person goes looking for talent

20:09 - Here's the full listing of nominees and winners of the 1979 Juno Awards, if you're into that 

57:00 - Here's a great article about the passing of Brian Miller

1:04:24 - Steve is referencing the negative feedback the guys got for **daring** to record an episode devoted to Queen City Kids. You can scope out that whole story here

1:05:15 - It's true! A Is For The Alan Parsons Project came out March 31, 2020

Doug's Recommendations:
Hollywood - Astral Projector
Just The Other Side Of Love - I'm Worried About The Boys!

Steve's Recommendations:
On The Road - Astral Projector
Point Of View / Spend My Dollar - Zon Live


​Zon's Discogs Entry

Howard Helms's Official Site

The duo are back to chat about post-punk turned dance electronic band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Along the way, the guys talk about the New York music scene of the early 00's, bands that come back from a long hiatus, cover art designed to make parents mad, and the nutty state of streaming services.

Music featured this week:
Zero - It's Blitz!
Maps - Fever To Tell
Burning - Cool It Down yyy5.mp3File Size: 163901 kbFile Type: mp3Download File 0:46 - It was a 5 day hike over 50 km (30 miles) of rough coastal rainforest terrain. Incredible but exhausting. The Juan de Fuca Trail

2:56 - Here's the new single from The Hives: Bogus Operandi

​10:24 - Here's the trailer for "Meet Me In The Bathroom" if you're interested! Good luck finding it!

13:49 - Do you think of The Hives as punk? Why not listen to our full argument in our episode H Is For The Hives?

21:43 - No joke! Here's the list of notable alumni from NYU's Tisch School Of The Arts

29:17 - For reference, here's the music video for "Maps"

​37:09 - That writer is Max Martin, who wrote a solid majority of the pop songs from that time period

40:06 - Sorry, not a cover but an interpolation. The song is "Hold Up", and the line is "They don't love you like I love you"

41:00 - If you're serious about learning about music, it's hard to go wrong with Trash Theory. Here's the video "How Yeah Yeah Yeah's 'Maps' Transcended The Post-Punk Revival"

42:25 - "There Is No Modern Romance" is a great little doc about their time touring for the release of 'Fever To Tell'

1:05:04 - Doug is, of course, quoting Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan. It totally derailed Steve

1:06:25 - If blood-sucking bugs give you the heebie-jeebies, don't watch the music video for "Mosquito"

1:11:20 - We actually had this conversation about guest rappers a little more in-depth in our episode N Is For No Doubt

1:23:02 - Werewolves make music videos awesome. Here's "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song" by The Flaming Lips

Doug's Track Recommendations:
Phenomena - Show Your Bones
Hysteric - It's Blitz!
Art Star - Yeah Yeah Yeahs EP

Steve's Track Recommendations:
Art Star - Yeah Yeah Yeahs EP
Heads Will Roll - It's Blitz!
Always - Mosquito
Y Control - Fever To Tell

Yeah Yeah Yeah's Official Website

Yeah Yeah Yeah's Bandcamp

Steve and Doug brush up on punk history this episode with a special request, X-Ray Spex, founded by fashion and music icon Poly Styrene. The guys also talk about mental illness, long-awaited reunions, and one killer sax. Also, screw Ticketmaster.

Six Degrees From King Crimson:
X-Ray Spex -> Falcon Stuart -> Adam & The Ants -> Chris Hughes -> Peter Gabriel -> Robert Fripp -> King Crimson

Music featured this week:
Oh Bondage Up Yours! - Oh Bondage Up Yours! single
Junk Food Junkie - Conscious Consumer
Germfree Adolescents - Germfree Adolescents
Party - Conscious Consumer
xxx5.mp3File Size: 197841 kbFile Type: mp3Download File 4:19 - Definitely check out our episode U Is For UJ3RK5

​10:04 - Hear our episode T Is For Tears For Fears

​22:35 - Steve and Doug are not orthodontists

30:22 - Lora Logic tells that and a bunch of more stories in this interview with The Guardian from November 2022

43:04 - No joke, check out the soundtrack to "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World"

48:48 - Just as a heads up, Steve has a degree in psychology, so he's not just stating a random opinion

​55:39 - Most notably in our episode N Is For Neon Indian

59:28 - This is "Is It A Dream" by Classix Nouveaux

59:47 - And this is "A Cry For Help In A World Gone Mad" by Agent Orange

1:00:08 - From the album Translucence by Poly Styrene, this is "Talk In Toytown"

1:01:08 - The obituary from the BBC has Boy George making this bizarre claim

1:03:36 - This was the smash, and many times sampled, his from The Waitresses "I Know What Boys Like" 

1:07:27 - AllMusic gives a pretty succinct biography of the band, but don't mention Conscious Consumer at all, which is a strange omission

1:09:25 - Here's Poly Styrene's interview with the Sunday Times, but it's behind a paywall so have fun with that

1:11:56 - Trash Theory did this great video on X-Ray Spex and their impact

1:20:15 - Here's Allie Hasn't Seen Batman: The Animated Series and Doug Hasn't Seen Teen Titans

Doug's Recommendations:
Obsessed With You - Germfree Adolescents
I Can't Do Anything - Germfree Adolescents
Crystal Clear - Conscious Consumer

Steve's Recommendations:
Highly Inflammable - Highly Inflammable single
Dog In Sweden - Conscious Consumer
I Can't Do Anything - Germfree Adolescents


X-Ray Spex's Official Website

X-Ray Spex's YouTube Channel

This episode, Steve and Doug reflect on the composing duo A Winged Victory For The Sullen who have mastered the blending of orchestra and electronic. The guys also wax about the Grammys, a new edition of the Kanye West Report, nipples, and insomnia music.

Music featured this week:
​Steep Hills Of Vicodin Tears - A Winged Victory For The Sullen
ATOMOS VII - ATOMOS
Adios, Florida - The Undivided Five
Only The Names Of The Airport Changes - Only The Names Of The Airport Changes (single)
www5.mp3File Size: 99748 kbFile Type: mp3Download File 1:58 - As you can see from this partial discography, prolific is the optimal word to use for Tony Levin's career

12:27 - It's really making the rounds, and here's a story from AV Club about Ben Affleck at the Grammys

19:50 - As mentioned again a bit later, the music has been set to a (mirrored) video of the Russian animated film "My Love", and the two compliment each other very well!

22:45 - We go back and forth between "winged" and "wing-ed" this entire episode

32:07 - Here's a trailer for Wayne McGregor's ATOMOS dance project

​40:16 - Doug is referring to "An Ending (Ascent)" by Brian Eno from the 28 Days Later soundtrack

Doug's Recommendations:
ATOMOS X - ATOMOS
Aqualung, Motherfucker - The Undivided Five
The Celestial City - Invisible Cities

Steve's Recommendations:
ATOMOS VI - ATOMOS
The Rhythm Of A Dividing Pair - The Undivided Five
Only The Names Of The Airport Changes - Only The Names Of The Airport Changes (single)


A Winged Victory For The Sullen's Official Website

A Winged Victory For The Sullen's Bandcamp

Steve and Doug get all spooooooky with one of the most influential British acts of the 1990's and the subject of one of the hands down most intriguing music legal battles in history: The Verve! The guys also yak about bargain store finds, the UK music market, and the Staple Singers. Poor guys.

Songs Featured This Week:
​Love Is Noise - Forth
History - A Northern Soul
Bittersweet Symphony - Urban Hymns vvv5.mp3File Size: 129344 kbFile Type: mp3Download File 1:08 - Here is the Moving_Piktures review of Kid Dracula

1:14 - And here's their Beast Wars Wednesday special on "Beast Wars Monopoly"

2:33 - And here's their episode of "Allie Hasn't... Seen The Monster Squad" hot on the heels of JoBlo's "WTF Happened To The Monster Squad Cast?"

6:13 - It's called The Seventh Seal

7:10 - Or here, just click here to see our Terminal City News episode called "The Real Losers"

8:00 - We once did a short zombie film called "Last Man Alive"

​17:54 - Although it's true that Muse's debut album "Showbiz" came out in 1999, the band officially formed in 1994!

47:10 - Doug has an ongoing series about his wife Allie being introduced to stuff, and it's strangely charming. Here's "Allie Hasn't... Heard 90's Pop Music"

54:01 - For more on that unfortunately named band, check out our episode M Is For The Music

​Doug's Recommendations:
This Time - Urban Hymns
Brainstorm Interlude - A Northern Soul
Valium Skies - Forth
Noise Epic - Forth

Steve's Recommendations:
A Storm In Heaven
See You In The Next One (Have A Good Time) - A Storm In Heaven
History - A Northern Soul
​Columbo - Forth
Noise Epic - Forth


The Verve's Official Website