Music A To Z

*Originally released January 19th 2019*

This episode, Steve and Doug tackle French act M83, from their humble electronica roots up through soundtracks, rock ballads, 70's infomercial themes, and haunting car chases in the middle of the night. Do it, try it!

Music featured this week:

Midnight City - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

Oblivion - Oblivion [soundtrack]

Don't Save Us From The Flames - Before The Dawn Heals Us

Where The Boats Go - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

9:41 - It was a pretty good chat, so look up X Is For Xiu Xiu

​12:37 - Hope you can read French! Here's Brain Magazine's interview with Marie-Christine, Anthony Gonzalez's mother

58:23 - Apparently "Je Vous Hais Petites Filles" translates to "I hate little girls"

58:44 - This is the fan-made video for "We Own The Sky"

​1:09:16 - Here's the trilogy of videos from Hurry Up, We're Dreaming: "Midnight City", "Reunion", and "Wait"

​1:12:21 - Oops! Steve was a little cut off here, but he's suggesting that the song sounds like the Forest Temple music from The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

1:23:12 - Teen Wolf himself (not really) performs for M83 on Jimmy Kimmel: "Do It, Try It"

1:33:51 - Here's the inclusion of "Kim & Jessie" in Doug's list of 100 Favourite Songs. It's #18

Doug's Recommendations:

Kelly - M83

Teen Angst - Before The Dawn Heals Us

Claudia Lewis - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

Kim & Jessie - Saturdays = Youth

Steve's Recommendations:

Car Chase Terror! - Before The Dawn Heals Us

Couleurs - Saturdays = Youth

Reunion - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

 Go! - Junk

M83's Official Website

M83's YouTube Channel

*Originally released December 22nd 2018*

Doug and Steve look at a special request this week with Gilbert, Arizona, band Lydia! The guys chat about line up changes, preserving a band's image, forming a distinct voice, and whatever emo skaters are up to these days. Also, Steve discovers new ways to sleep.

Music featured this week:

Goodside - Liquor

Smile, You've Won - This December; It's One More And I'm Free

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas [single]

33:22 - For more information, here's the link for our episode V Is For Vampire Weekend!

47:55 - Todd In The Shadows gave a great introspection on The Divinyls in his episode about "I Touch Myself"

Steve's Recommendations:

A Camera Lens And Careful Days - This December; It's One More And I'm Free

Seasons - Paint It Golden

Holidays - Devil

Doug's Recommendations:

Assailants - Assailants [EP]

Devil - Devil

Lydia's Official Website

Lydia's YouTube Channel

*Originally released October 18th 2018*

Steve and Doug are back to tackle the UK electronic rock band Kasabian. What does visual aesthetic have to do with an album? Where does politics end and the club begin? What does production work really do for an album's sound? And how awesome can facial hair truly be? Believe it or not, the guys manage to chat about it all!

Music featured this week:

​Empire - Empire

Goodbye Kiss - Velociraptor!

You're In Love With A Psycho - For Crying Out Loud

U-Boat - Kasabian

1:43 - Doug was right and there was a surge at the end! Ill-Legitimate made their $12'000

9:06 - Noel Fielding plays Richmond on The IT Crowd

9:47 - Here's our episode M Is For The Music

​29:16 - Here's the anti-imperial, anti-colonial, anti-war video for "Empire"

​44:00 - Starring Noel Fielding and directed by Richard Ayoade is this short grindhouse video for "Vlad The Impaler"

​1:03:42 - One of the guys' favourite music reviewers is Todd In The Shadows, and here's his TrainWreckords episode on Be Here Now by Oasis

1:19:50 - It's true! Björk technically has two debut albums: Her self-titled release from 1977 (when she was just 12), and her official debut in Debut in 1993. BUT you could also count her single 1990 jazz album with tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar, Gling-Gló, or the 1988 debut album of The Sugercubes, Life's Too Good. Or any of the other bands she's been a part of. 

Doug's Recommendations:

Club Foot - Kasabian

​Stuntman - Empire

treat - 48:13

Kasabian

Steve's Recommendations:

I.D. - Kasabian

Neon Noon - Velociraptor!

Are You Looking For Action? - For Crying Out Loud

Kasabian's Official Website

*Originally released September 22nd 2018*

Let's kick off the fall with a look at the short-lived but acclaimed career of Joy Division. Steve and Doug talk about the punk scene in blue-collar UK, destroying stages and manic dancing, and the effects of a fast-paced musician's lifestyle. Stay tuned for part 2 in a few months when we continue the story with New Order!

Music featured this week:

Atmosphere - Licht Und Blindheit [single]

Love Will Tear Us Apart - Love Will Tear Us Apart [single]

Shadowplay - Unknown Pleasures

27:22 - You can check out the early years of U2 here: U Is For U2 Part 1

47:57 - Aha! Found it! The version of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" that Doug was looking for was the mix found on the compilation Permanent

​59:02 - It's even on Doug's list of 100 Favourite Songs: Check out his write up for "Love Will Tear Us Apart", his number two song of all time

Doug's Recommendations:

Love Will Tear Us Apart - Love Will Tear Us Apart [single]

Disorder - Unknown Pleasures

Isolation - Closer

Steve's Recommendations:

Shadowplay - Unknown Pleasures

Transmission - Transmission [singles]

A Means To An End - Closer

Joy Division's Entry on AllMusic

Joy Division's YouTube Channel

*Originally released August 29th 2018*

​This episode, Doug and Steve look at California alternative rock band Incubus, known for their high energy anthems and beach-vibe guitar. Steve muses on lead singer Brandon Boyd's vocal mixing, Doug reflects on the film Stealth (or, as he calls it, "Danger Danger Death Plane"), and the two talk about album certifications, in case you aren't sure what platinum sales are - here's a hint: it depends on the country.

Music featured this week:

Wish You Were Here - Morning View

Take Me To Your Leader - Fungus Amongus

Drive - Make Yourself

Battlestar Scralatchtica - Make Yourself

12:59 - Listen to our episode D Is For De Lux

​27:58 - The California funk lives on with "Take Me To Your Leader"

​​49:25 - Yes, it is a real article: Metal Sucks wrote this bizarre entry "Former Unimportant Band Member Threatens To Kill Current Unimportant Band Member". DJ Lyfe's response is dated January 18th 2010

1:25:05 - Scope out the cool music video for "Dig"

​Doug's Recommendations:

Wish You Were Here - Morning View

Absolution Calling - Trust Fall (Side A) [EP]

Battlestar Scralatchtica - Make Yourself

Steve's Recommendations:

Azwethinkweiz - Enjoy Incubus [EP]

Magic Medicine - S.C.I.E.N.C.E.

In The Company Of Wolves - If Not Now, When?

​

Incubus' Official Website

incubusTV

*Originally released July 2nd 2018*

This episode, Steve and Doug look at Beaverton, Oregon, band The Helio Sequence! The fellas also chat about the rise of Modest Mouse, and working in a record shop, while Doug continually tries to sidetrack Steve with Menamena.

Music featured this week:

Don't Look Away - Love And Distance

Just Mary Jane (Calypso) - Com Plex

Red Shifting - The Helio Sequence

35:07 - Modest Mouse had a huge hit with "Float On" and if you look super closely, maybe you can see Benjamin Weikel playing the drums?

45:20 - Neither of these videos are up anymore! Tragic!

​59:49 - Looks like Helio Sequence has visited KEXP four times! Each performance is worth a watch: Sept 2 2012, Oct 16 2013, May 19 2015, and Oct 26 2018

Doug's Recommendations:

Let It Fall Apart - Love And Distance

Can't Say No - Keep Your Eyes Ahead

Hall Of Mirrors - Negotiations

(Square) Bubbles - The Young Effectuals

Love And Distance

Steve's Recommendations:

(Square) Bubbles - The Young Effectuals

S.O.S. - Love And Distance

Converter - Converter / Pilgrim's Progress [single]

Leave Or Be Yours - The Helio Sequence

The Helio Sequence's Official Website

The Helio Sequence's Bandcamp

*Originally released June 7th 2018*

The fellas take a jump over to Seattle to look at Grand Hallway, the chamber pop project spearheaded by Tomo Nakayama. The guys talk a bit about Spotify, Sasquatch Music Festival, and doing chores.

Music featured this week:

​Blessed Be, Honey Bee - Promenade

Little Sister - Winter Creatures

Piano Room - Yes Is The Answer

2:00 - As of April 9th 2020, "Allie Hasn't Seen The Lion King" is sitting at just shy of 50'000 views, which is still his most-viewed video

9:15 - Here, we saved you some trouble: Bravestation's Bandcamp

​​50:31 - Paste did a great interview with Tomo regarding his involvement with the film Touchy Feely that you can read here

Steve's Recommendations:

Off The Grid - Horses [single]

Under The Roof - Promenade

Seward Park - Yes Is The Answer

Doug's Recommendations:

Minimum Wage - Yes Is The Answer

Fourths - Winter Creatures

Horses - Horses [single]

Grand Hallway's Official Website

Grand Hallway's Bandcamp

Tomo Nakayama's Bandcamp

*Originally released May 11th 2018*

We're back after a quick April break and looking at Swedish sisters First Aid Kit. Steve and Doug talk about musical families, the resurgence of folk into the pop world, and the return of ABBA!

Music featured this week:

​It's A Shame - Ruins

The Lion's Roar - The Lion's Roar

The Bell - Stay Gold

7:14 - I'm sure we've all seen it, but just in case you haven't here's "This Is America" by Childish Gambino

14:01 - That's Central Park in Burnaby, BC, not in New York City

14:35 - Check out Lolita Pop's "Mind You Eye" here

24:19 - Here is First Aid Kit's performance of "Emmylou" for Emmylou Harris at the 2015 Polar Music Prize

​28:04 - We're strongly recommending our episode E Is For Eiffel 65

46:21 - Here it is: W Is For Washed Out

Doug's Recommendations:

My Silver Lining - Stay Gold

​It's A Shame - Ruins

Steve's Recommendations:

Blue - The Lion's Roar

Cedar Lane - Stay Gold

First Aid Kit's Official Website

First Aid Kit's YouTube Channel

*Originally released April 1st 2018*

A! What is ‘E up to?”, said A to Z. Long story short, Z replied “Elliott Smith”, and then the fun began. Join us as we take on the influential indie / lo-fi darling of the 1990s, and chat about songwriting tactics, substance abuse, experimentation, and the ever-controversial “posthumous release.”

Music A To Z says: "Hi."

Music featured this week:

Everything Means Nothing To Me - Figure 8

Condor Ave - Roman Candle

Needle In The Hay - Elliott Smith

Christian Brothers - Elliott Smith

Ballad Of Big Nothing - Either/Or

Cupid's Trick - Either/Or

Son Of Sam - Figure 8

King's Crossing - From A Basement On The Hill

5:05 - Too bad, that would have been awesome!

​​44:50 - That's a pretty punk attitude, if I do say so myself

1:39:08 - The credits are a bit out of date, so some of those links are out of order

​Jon's Recommendations:

Needle In The Hay - Elliott Smith

Everything Means Nothing To Me - Figure 8

Matt's Recommendations:

Roman Candle - Roman Candle

Angeles - Either/Or

Steve's Recommendations:

Condor Ave - Roman Candle

Christian Brothers - Elliott Smith

Elliott Smith's entry on AllMusic

*Originally released March 20th 2018*

From sunny Los Angeles, Doug and Steve look at New Wave (new New Wave? Newest Wave?) duo De Lux, and chat about awesome videos, observational lyrics, and how track length effects an album. It's hard not to show your influences, but while some bands are derivative, De Lux excels at keeping their voice.

Music featured this week:

Better At Making Time - Voyage

Someday Now - Generation

875 Dollars - More Disco Songs About Love

6:07 - Here's where it all began: M Is For Miami Horror

8:51 - You can listen to it on our F Is For Flaming Lips episode, but if you want the short version: Steve booked the time off work, and it was granted. However his relief managers were late coming back from a meeting, not because the meeting ran late but because they went to get a bite to eat first, and then were socializing in the lobby, knowing full well Steve was wanting to see a concert. Steve missed the opening act entirely but just managed to make it for the Lips' concert

16:45 - "Locked Out Of Heaven" by Bruno Mars is an absolutely shameless rip-off of The Police stylistically, but is probably Mars' best song

20:06 - Watch this man just lose it to "Better At Making Time"

20:36 - While you're at it, here's some corrupted cartoon characters for you when "It All Works All The Time"

Doug's Recommendations:

On The Day - Voyage

Oh Man The Future - Generation

Cause For Concern - More Disco Songs About Love

Steve's Recommendations:

Moments - Voyage

30 - Generation

Poorn In The Nightmare - More Disco Songs About Love

De Lux's Entry with Innovative Leisure

De Lux's Bandcamp