Musicology With Kurt

In this episode, I try to get my head around sampling and copyright law with regard to music, and end up learning about one of the most sampled recordings of all time, 'The Amen Break', which for years has been uncredited by producers from hip hop to drum 'n bass. We are also gifted with new releases from wily guitar wizard John Frusciante - all for free, and far-removed from his work with Red Hot Chili Peppers. Lastly, we remember the watershed moment in art-punk trio Yeah Yeah Yeahs career, where silky synth anthems began to assert their dominance on 2009's 'It's Blitz!'.

For comprehensive show notes and links, check out this episode's page at: http://www.kurtwritesthings.com/musicology-with-kurt/episode-17-sampling-the-amen-break-john-frusciante-yeah-yeah-yeahs

Episode 17 Segment Times:

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Sampling & 'The Amen Break' - 00:42 to 09:16

John Frusciante - 09:17 to 15:05

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - 15:06 to 20:42

Our theme music is provided by PodcastThemes.com - thanks!

In this episode, I notice a sharp increase in the number of musical biopic films being released over the past year, and given the news of an upcoming biopic about punk pioneers The Clash called 'London Town', I explain why so many music stories are becoming ripe for re-enactment. We also embark on an 'Adventure Of A Lifetime' - Coldplay's new single - and examine the unfinished work of an artist gone too soon (Jeff Buckley).

For comprehensive show notes and links, check out this episode's page at: http://www.kurtwritesthings.com/musicology-with-kurt/episode-16-the-clash-coldplay-jeff-buckley

Episode 16 Segment Times:

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The Clash - 02:25 to 09:19

Coldplay - 09:20 to 14:34

Jeff Buckley - 14:35 to 21:01

Our theme music is provided by PodcastThemes.com - thanks!

This week, I try to understand why some bands choose to soldier on after original members have passed away, with the news that guitar sensation John Mayer has joined the Grateful Dead off-shoot group Dead & Company. We also try to make sense of eclectic synthpop sorceress Grimes' new album 'Art Angels', and put on our tin-foil hats for a musical conspiracy theory concerning Radiohead in this week's retrospective.

For comprehensive show notes and links, check out this episode's page at: http://www.kurtwritesthings.com/musicology-with-kurt/episode-15-john-mayer-grateful-dead-grimes-radiohead

Episode 15 Segment Times:

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John Mayer & Grateful Dead - 01:46 to 09:18

Grimes - 09:19 to 14:59

Radiohead - 15:00 to 21:17

Our theme music is provided by PodcastThemes.com - thanks!

This week, I look at the musical phenomenon that is Adele, and how her first release in 3 years still has the music industry on the edge of its seat. We also buckle up for another wild ride with Eagles Of Death Metal on their new album 'Zipper Down', and take a snapshot from an oft-forgotten moment in Bruce Springsteen's catalogue, 1987's introspective 'Tunnel Of Love'.

For comprehensive show notes and links, check out this episode's page at: http://www.kurtwritesthings.com/musicology-with-kurt/episode-14-adele-eagles-of-death-metal-bruce-springsteen

Episode 14 Segment Times:

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Adele - 02:53 to 09:34

Eagles Of Death Metal - 09:35 to 14:40

Bruce Springsteen - 14:41 to 20:46

Our theme music is provided by PodcastThemes.com - thanks!

This week, I see the future of music videos in Usher and Nas' new anti-police brutality protest anthem, which uses your computer's webcam to force you to not look away from the victims of such injustices. We also discover that Billie Joe Armstrong of 90's pop-punk rabble-rousers Green Day has a teenage son (!) whose real name is Jakob Danger (!!) and the kid can write some pretty decent tunes (!!!). Lastly, I profess my undying love for Bloc Party's 2005 debut album Silent Alarm (and try to keep it as objective as possible).

For comprehensive show notes and links, check out this episode's page at: http://www.kurtwritesthings.com/musicology-with-kurt/episode-13-usher-nas-jakob-danger-bloc-party

Episode 13 Segment Times:

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Usher & Nas - 00:55 to 08:55

Jakob Danger - 08:56 to 13:46

Bloc Party - 13:47 to 19:39

Our theme music is provided by PodcastThemes.com - thanks!

Fresh from a vacation to my home country, I ponder what it means to make South African music, and offer 'The Answer' to any listeners interested in finding some great South African artists. We also deconstruct The 1975's brand-new pop-funk single 'Love Me', and delve into the archives of Johnny Cash's legacy-saving American Recordings series, focusing on 1994's stripped-down masterpiece of the same name.

For comprehensive show notes and links, check out this episode's page at: http://www.kurtwritesthings.com/musicology-with-kurt/episode-12-south-african-music-the-1975-johnny-cash

Episode 12 Segment Times:

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South African Music - 00:30 to 09:17

The 1975 - 09:18 to 14:24

Johnny Cash - 14:25 to 20:14

Our theme music is provided by PodcastThemes.com - thanks!

This week, I look at tradition and how certain artists are adhering to it. With the announcement of Sam Smith as the singer of the new James Bond theme, we look back at past Bond themes to determine what makes a great one. We also have a listen to The Arcs - a new retro-soul side project from Dan Auerbach - and go searching for The Tallest Man On Earth and his 2013 watershed moment 'There's No Leaving Now'.

For comprehensive show notes and links, check out this episode's page at: http://www.kurtwritesthings.com/musicology-with-kurt/episode-11-sam-smith-the-arcs-the-tallest-man-on-earth

Episode 11 Segment Times:

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Sam Smith - 3:00 to 10:57

The Arcs - 10:58 to 16:14

The Tallest Man On Earth - 16:15 to 21:34

Our theme music is provided by PodcastThemes.com - thanks!

In this week's episode, I look at rock 'n roll through various lenses, whether it's dealing with the inevitable aging of rockstars (Lemmy Kilmister), absorbing past influences to strike out in a new persona (Thunderbitch), or sidestepping your peers to experiment and evolve (Incubus).

For comprehensive show notes and links, check out this episode's page at: http://www.kurtwritesthings.com/musicology-with-kurt/episode-10-lemmy-kilmister-thunderbitch-incubus

Episode 10 Segment Times:

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Lemmy Kilmister - 1:19 to 8:26

Thunderbitch - 8:27 to 13:29

Incubus - 13:30 to 19:05

Our theme music is provided by PodcastThemes.com - thanks!

This week, I express my frustrations with award shows after finding out that my childhood friend was recently nominated for 2 MTV Video Music Awards​ as a co-director of the stunning music video for Irish singer-songwriter Hozier​'s 'Take Me To Church'. We also admire the confidence of indie rockers Foals​ in delivering their latest slice of arena-funk 'What Went Down', and soak up the wisdom from hip hop grandmaster GZA​ on his 2005 chess-themed concept album.

For comprehensive show notes and links, check out this episode's page at: http://www.kurtwritesthings.com/musicology-with-kurt/episode-9-hozier-foals-gza

Episode 9 Segment Times:

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Hozier - 2:22 to 9:10

Foals - 9:11 to 12:59

GZA - 13:00 to 18:47

Our theme music is provided by PodcastThemes.com - thanks!

This week, I expose the ugly side of online interactions with musicians, using recent case studies from Scottish indie pop trio CHVRCHES and their fellow countrymen Frightened Rabbit. But it's not all doom and gloom...or is it? We also have a glossy new single out from dexterous alternative rockers Mutemath, and remember stoner rock veterans Kyuss' 1994 riff-fest 'Welcome To Sky Valley'.

For comprehensive show notes and links, check out this episode's page at: http://www.kurtwritesthings.com/musicology-with-kurt/episode-8-chvrches-mutemath-kyuss

Episode 8 Segment Times:

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CHVRCHES - 1:04 to 10:36

Mutemath - 10:37 to 14:04

Kyuss - 14:05 to 18:40

Our theme music is provided by PodcastThemes.com - thanks!