Under Records

Ever grateful to not be stricken with insomnia, Dan and Kev are discussing The Shins’ 2007 release Wincing The Night Away. Join them as they fail to unravel the mystery of James Mercer’s dense lyrics and instead choose to swoon over the melodies, song structures, and Mercer’s incredibly idiosyncratic way of saying “Girl”. Did The Shins get left out of the 2000s indie canon? Is there space for non-life-changing indie music that’s this poppy? Is Girl Sailor a song that’s worth dying in a concert brawl over? Give us some credit: this podcast came in under 3 hours, therefore it’s not a Sleeping Lesson.

Season 3 is kicking off with another Under Records Heavy Hitter: Talking Heads 77! Dan and Kev simply cannot believe how forward-thinking and ever-prescient the contents of these songs are. Join them in the track-by-track as they gush over David Byrne’s weirdness, Jerry Harrison’s reluctant awesomeness,Tina Weymouth’s invaluable bass playing. What was going on in this critical three year period of Talking Heads’ early career before all their influences came in? How does music like this surface out of a Punk movement? The only logical conclusion: David Byrne is living in the future!

In their second inter-season interlude, Dan’s got a bone to pick with…grocery store music? Was it really worth writing a screed on Reddit about? What does it mean to have music that plays in a public forum? What is this music supposed to signify, and who chose this music? Should music slow us down, and should we place more emphasis on ambient music? Should there be Music for Airports…in airports? Also, why does Dan hate your Spotify Wrapped? Kev is a good sport on this one and just lets the mad man ramble. See you in Season 3!

In their inaugural Punk Rock episode, and conclusion to Season 2, Dan and Kev are brushing off their unpreparedness to talk giddily about Parquet Courts’ 2012 release Light Up Gold. They discuss how in the hell a bunch of misfits from Texas ended up creating potentially the last great dent in the New York post-punk scene with their raw and enduring debut release. Will Dan and Kev ever nail down their definitions of post-punk or art punk? Does a straight-forward good time upstage a grand artistic statement? Who exactly are the kinds of people who love Parquet Courts and why are they so hard to find? Stay tuned for bonus content as Kev ventures to Ridgewood Queens for a pack of Swedish Fish.

Episode 21: Parquet Courts

In their inaugural Punk Rock episode, and conclusion to Season 2, Dan and Kev are brushing off their unpreparedness to talk giddily about Parquet Courts’ 2012 release Light Up Gold. They discuss how in the hell a bunch of misfits from Texas ended up creating potentially the last great dent in the New York post-punk scene with their raw and enduring debut release. Will Dan and Kev ever nail down their definitions of post-punk or art punk? Does a straight-forward good time upstage a grand artistic statement? Who exactly are the kinds of people who love Parquet Courts and why are they so hard to find? Stay tuned for bonus content as Kev ventures to Ridgewood Queens for a pack of Swedish Fish.

Dig out your Becktionary and join Dan and Kev as they talk about Beck’s mildly controversial 2014 release Morning Phase. They discuss this album’s relationship to Beck’s discography, but mostly whether it fulfills its stated purpose as a companion piece to 2002’s Sea Change. Has Beck “matured” in his songwriting since Sea Change? Why is Beck constantly expected to reinvent himself? Sure the album sounds amazing…but does that even matter? This album stole a Grammy from Beyonce! Join us because we just can’t Turn Away from discussing Grammycore.

After circling the drain on a broader discussion about Jam music, Dan and Kev are discussing the exquisite piece of proto-jam that is Little Feat’s 1974 release Feats Don’t Fail Me Now. They discuss how Little Feat’s fusion of rock, boogie, and funk form the bedrock of the Jam Band Sound, and the tomes of lore behind Lowell George and his bandmates. Is Little Feat truly the midpoint between Frank Zappa and Phish? Why exactly did Lowell George get kicked out of Zappa’s band? Is Swamp Rock just Californians cosplaying as Southerners? Put on your white overalls and meet us in Georgia cause we're the pod to meet (WERE THE POD TO MEET)

In a dramatic change of form, Dan and Kev decide to nerd out on their mutual love of classical music. Join them as they try to find the most precise and sophisticated words to describe twelve wordless pieces spanning the past three centuries. What is it about classical music that makes it so timeless and ageless? Is this music elitist or is it for everyone? And what pieces of classical do Dan and Kev want played at their respective funerals? Listen now to hear Dan and Kev make stupid out-of-key mouth noises in attempts to capture the beauty before them (and make sure you stay tuned to hear our first ever surprise guests!)

As a gesture of petty revenge against Kev, Dan decides to foist Kev into the absurd universe of MF DOOM and Dangermouse, with their Adult Swim concept album The Mouse and the Mask. They discuss DOOM’s mythos as an artist, and the impact of Adult Swim in raising the profile of these two sleeping giants of the hip-hop landscape. Dan and Kev (don’t) attempt to figure out who MF DOOM really was, and whether his influence can be felt today. Mostly though they just laugh at old movie slang

As a gesture of (failed) petty revenge against Kev, Dan decides to foist Kev into the absurd universe of MF DOOM and Dangermouse, with their Adult Swim concept album The Mouse and the Mask. They discuss DOOM’s mythos as an artist, and the impact of Adult Swim in raising the profile of these two sleeping giants of the hip-hop landscape. Dan and Kev (don’t) attempt to figure out who MF DOOM really was, and whether his influence can be felt today. Mostly though they just laugh at old movie slang