Sonic Ventures

“You can taste the dishonesty
It’s all over your breath…”
These are the initiatory lyrics with which Beyonce begins her 2016 album, “Lemonade.” An album that takes the listener on a mixed genre journey of betrayal and self-reflection, exploring the intimacy of relationship through the lenses of racial context and generational trauma.

This album took Rob and Joël on a conversation unlike any other album in the growing canon of the Sonic Ventures Podcast. They discussed the significance and intricacies of creative collaboration, issues of betrayal, the state of the music industry and pop music, plus revealed their own experiences of the album.
All of this resulted in a highly nuanced conversation that evolves more like a zen koan than a sharing of opinions and perspectives.

Want to hear more of Rob and Joël's discussion of Lemonade? Visit the Sonic Ventures  Patreon page to hear the “Lemonade Aftercast," and avail yourself to all the other bonus content.

“I remember now…”
It is this thought that opens and catapults us into the mind and memories of Nikki, a young man contending with drug addiction and his dissatisfaction with the unscrupulous social and political climate of his time. In his anger and frustration, Nikki is lured into becoming an assassin for an underground revolution, and eventually finds himself questioning more than just the intentions and actions of the government, but those of the organization he has aligned himself with, as well as his very own thoughts and emotions.

In this episode, Rob and Joël discuss Queensrÿche's "Operation: mindcrime," venturing into its narrative, music, and legacy.
There is much to explore in the scope and scale of this hard rock/prog concept album. It is not only fashioned with a symphonic approach by way of Queensrÿche’s 5 piece lineup, but it also includes orchestral strings, a choir and sound effects that add to the compelling sonic theatrics of its dystopian world.

A very rich and heavy start to the third season of Sonic Ventures!

Want to hear more of Rob and Joël's discussion of Operation: mindcrime? Visit the Sonic Ventures  Patreon page to hear the “Operation: mindcrime Aftercast," and avail yourself to all the other bonus content.

Season 2 has been an eclectic mixture of concept albums! 
In keeping with the form of season 1, episode 8 is again a time for contemplation. 

And so in this episode, Rob and Joël reflect on the inspiration and insights that have come from their most diverse season yet: Kate Bush, Sinatra, Iron Maiden, Deltron 3030, Miles Davis, King's X and Tyler the Creator. 

Also, Rob and Joël reveal something of season 3's possibilities, such as film soundtracks and the inclusion of albums that are not officially considered concept albums, yet their sonic relevance deserves a place at the table of the concept album discussion.

What does one do with unrequited love? Get angry, get even, or get depressed? How about learn from Tyler, the Creator and create!
In this episode, Rob and Joël discuss Tyler, the Creator's 2019 concept album "IGOR."

The conversation explores Tyler's rich palette and manipulation of vocals, samples, synths and beats - a combination which expresses Tyler's compelling intuitive pastiche as a sound poet. They also give special attention to the multi-layered themes of love, heartache, self-identity and the viability of the realiable narrator. All the while setting a compelling tone for expanded conversation on Tyler's use of the "Igor" archetype as the dialogue continues into their unique Aftercast format.

Want to hear more of Rob and Joël's discussion of IGOR? Visit the Sonic Ventures  Patreon  page to hear the “IGOR Aftercast," and the cornucopia of additional bonus content.

The late 80's were a uniquely rich period for hard rock in the United States. There were strong existing scenes on both coasts and many regional hotspots where the bands were incubating and developing in small groups and pockets. But no one could have predicted the emergence of King’s X as they burst out alone in the middle of the country with a singularly unique and distinct sound that is as fresh and exciting today as it was when they first garnered attention.

In this episode, Rob and Joël discuss what some consider to be King's X's high water mark, "Gretchen Goes to Nebraska." A 1989 concept album that established their distinctive "heavy melody" sound of gospel inspired singing, heavy guitar riffs, and clever arrangements; all interwoven with poignant lyrics of wonder, spirituality and introspection. It is an album with a lot of soul.

Rob and Joël explore what makes this album so engaging and uplifting, while journeying into the finer details of musicianship, production and creating what feels genuine.

Want to hear more of Rob and Joël's discussion of Gretchen Goes to Nebraska? Visit the Sonic Ventures  Patreon page to hear the “Gretchen Goes to Nebraska Aftercast," and avail yourself to all the other bonus content.

Released in 1970, Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew" would become a unique album in the jazz canon, not only for its improvisational explorations, but also for the timbral and textural doors it opened in instrumentation and in the use of studio as instrument.

In their conversation, Rob and Joël discuss how the album came into their awareness and the influence it has had on them. They also explore the album's improvisational complexity and scope, and its organic and cinematic tone.

And no Sonic Ventures conversation is complete without some conversational side roads: mixed cassette tapes, forest bathing, Heidegger.

Want to hear more of Rob and Joël's discussion of Bitches Brew?
Visit the Sonic Ventures Patreon page to hear more in the "Bitches Brew Aftercast,"  which is the recorded continuation after the conclusion of this episode. 

"It's the year 3030..."
A dystopian future where galactic corporate entities sustain a strangle hold on the universe, and "Deltron-Zero" emerges to save humanity and music from this 31st century New World Order by winning The Galactic Rhyme Federation Championship.

This album delivers not only in its fantastic iterations of Afrofuturism, but also in its  rich tableau of multidimensional rhyme schemes and symbolism, woven into well crafted samples and turntable melodicism. Rob and Joël explore all these elements while reflecting on the album's underground legacy, and share their respective experiences and journey with this album.

This album ranks as the first hip hop concept album in the evolving canon of the podcast, and most certainly it will not be the last.

Want to hear more of Rob and Joël's discussion of Deltron 3030?
Visit the Sonic Ventures Patreon page to hear more in the "Deltron 3030 Aftercast,"  which is the recorded continuation after the conclusion of this episode. 

"Seven deadly sins, Seven ways to win, Seven holy paths to hell, And your trip begins..." are the first lyrical moments of Iron Maiden's "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son," and how potent these words were in setting the tone for Rob and Joël's conversational trip with this impressive and exuberant album.

As always, many avenues were explored, such as the concepts woven together to forge the album's narrative and mood; the music in its structure, performance and use of synthesizers; the evolution of the band, as well as Iron Maiden's legacy and influence.

Want to hear more of Rob and Joël's discussion of Iron Maiden?
Visit the Sonic Ventures Patreon page to hear more in the "Iron Maiden Aftercast,"  which is the recorded continuation after the conclusion of this episode. 

"Is Iron Maiden's Powerslave a concept album?" It is this question that Rob and Joël discuss in their first Vignette.

Recorded during the same sessions that captured our S2Ep.3 and Aftercast discussions about Iron Maiden's "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son", we chose to explore this question about "Powerslave" as our first published audio Vignette.  Vignettes are brief, focused conversations about a particular issue, question, or idea, related to concept albums, that stand alone as their own mini-discussion. We're making this first vignette available to everyone on all the regular podcast streaming platforms, but all future vignettes will be released exclusively as Bonus Content on our Patreon supporter page.

We hope to do more of these as the season continues. Feel free to let us know what you think by emailing us at [email protected] and don't forget to check out what other bonus content (including Aftercasts and Wildcards) on Patreon as well.

In this episode, Rob and Joël discuss "The Voice," Frank Sinatra, and his 1955 album, "In the Wee Small Hours."
Arguably the first concept album, this was the first of its kind with its innovative format and its introspective tone on love and heartache. 
Through their respective experiences, Rob and Joël look at not only Sinatra's performance and vision, but also the arrangements, the history of the album's creation and some conceptual and anecdotal thoughts that the album raised for them.