You, Me and An Album

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For this episode, virtuoso drummer Cindy Blackman Santana chose her 2020 album Give the Drummer Some as the focus for this discussion, but she and Al branch out into a wide-ranging conversation about several of her albums. Cindy talks about why she decided to write and sing lyrics for Give the Drummer Some, and she highlights some of the album’s notable tracks. Cindy also discusses her 2010 Tony Williams tribute album Another Lifetime, her recently-released album Coherence and the upcoming self-titled release for the supergroup Power of 3 (with Orianthi and Rhonda Smith).

As Cindy mentions on the episode, she has several live dates with her band over the next few months. Here are the dates for her shows in Baltimore and New York. For more information, go to cindyblackmansantana.com.

Oct. 24-25, Keystone Corner, Baltimore, MD

Dec. 4-6, Blue Note NYC, New York, NY

For more information on Cindy’s recordings and shows, give her a follow on these platforms…

Instagram, TikTok: @cindyblackmansantana

Facebook: @cindyblackmandrummer

The Power of 3 is also on Instagram at @thepowerof3official

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:24 Cindy’s introduction

2:23 Cindy explains why she wanted to talk about Give the Drummer Some

3:45 Cindy talks about the song that led to her making Give the Drummer Some with Narada Michael Walden

6:46 Cindy recalls how she took on the challenge of becoming a vocalist

9:14 Cindy discusses the songwriting process for Give the Drummer Some

15:44 Cindy highlights some of her favorite things about Give the Drummer Some

18:28 Cindy talks about the recording process for Give the Drummer Some

20:05 Cindy revisits her Tony Williams tribute album Another Lifetime

21:48 Cindy explains how her “suite” for “Coherence” came together

28:11 Cindy talks about the formation of the new supergroup The Power of 3

32:04 Cindy discusses the vinyl version of Coherence and her upcoming live dates

Outro music is from “Guitar Love” by Cindy Blackman Santana (feat. John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana).

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Jorina Stamm of the Swiss indie pop band Soft Loft joins Al for this week’s album deep dive, and she chose Phoebe Bridgers’ Lost Weekend (released on August 14) to discuss. Jorina explains why she wanted to talk about Lost Weekend and shares her early reactions to this highly-anticipated release. She also discusses how listening to Lost Weekend got her thinking more about concept albums. Jorina explains how Soft Loft unintentionally made a concept album with their recent release Throw the Dice, and she talks about the band’s upcoming tour dates and other plans.

Want to know more about Jorina and Soft Loft? You can find them in these places online…

softloftmusic.com (includes newsletter signup)

Instagram: @softloftsoftloft

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:21 Jorina’s introduction

2:04 Jorina explains why she picked Lost Weekend for this episode

4:04 Jorina talks about her initial experience with listening to the album

5:35 Jorina explains how doing research enhanced her listening experience

6:54 Jorina and Al react to the album opening with “The Outside”

10:09 Jorina notes the songs that have stood out to her so far

11:51 Jorina explains what she likes about Bridgers’ songwriting

13:11 Jorina and Al talk about the speculation over how much Bridgers’ lyrics are about her personal relationships

17:30 Jorina highlights the musical aspects of the album she likes

18:47 Jorina explains why her experience with listening to Lost Weekend was not a typical one for her

21:20 Jorina and Al identify their go-to tracks for one-offs

26:49 Jorina talks about why she has recently revisited some of Bridgers’ earlier work

29:36 Jorina and Al discuss Cameron Winter’s involvement with the album

33:57 Al had a failed attempt at listening to Lost Weekend right when it came out

34:57 Jorina explains how the theme of Throw the Dice came together

41:26 Jorina talks about the reaction to “Wednesdays”

44:15 Jorina reveals Soft Loft’s upcoming plans

Outro music is from “What Are The Odds” by Soft Loft.

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Albuquerque-based Americana singer-songwriter Michael Rudd joins Al for a deep-dive analysis of Townes Van Zandt’s 1969 self-titled album. Michael explains why he admires Van Zandt’s songwriting, notes what makes this album a special one in Van Zandt’s discography and breaks down the album’s highlights. He also discusses how he became inspired to create a five-album cycle over the last few years and goes into detail on some of the tracks off his latest release, Midnight at Dawn.

You can find Michael’s music and keep up with him through the following places.

https://www.michaelrudd.com/

https://michaelrudd.bandcamp.com/

@michaelruddmusic on YouTube

@michael.rudd.music on Instagram and Facebook

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:16 Michael’s introduction

2:32 Michael talks about his relatively recent introduction to Townes Van Zandt’s music

4:18 Michael explains why Townes Van Zandt is a perfect album

5:15 Michael and Al discuss the emotional nature of “Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel”

7:08 Michael explains why Van Zandt stands out to him among other great songwriters

12:21 Michael hears something about the Southwestern landscape in Van Zandt’s voice

13:25 Al and Michael discuss the spiritual nature of the lyrics in “Just For the Sake of the Song”

19:39 Michael picks out some of the other highlights from the album

25:37 How much does Michael listen to Townes Van Zandt?

26:39 Michael thinks the self-titled album distinguishes itself in Van Zandt’s discography

27:54 Michael explains how he wound up creating a five-album cycle

34:48 Michael talks about the perils of trying to interpret lyrics

37:11 Michael cites the biggest influence that Van Zandt has had on his own work

39:16 Michael discusses the meaning of “Made It Out of Jersey”

47:50 Michael provides an update on Palace of Flames

Outro music is from “Made It Out of Jersey” by Michael Rudd.

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For his album deep dive, singer, songwriter, author and educator Wesley Stace chose Robert Wyatt’s 1974 album Rock Bottom. Wesley recounts the adolescent friendship that led to his discovery of Rock Bottom, and he explains why it has been one of his favorite albums in the ensuing decades. He delves into the non-sensical nature of Wyatt’s lyrics and why they carry deep meaning for him. Wesley also talks about his latest album One Last Heist, his recent movement towards jazzier music and his upcoming shows.

There’s a lot to keep up with when it comes to Wesley’s music and shows, and you can do so at the following places online.

wesleystace.com

Instagram and Threads: @wesleystace

Facebook: @wesley.stace.9

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:02 Wesley’s introduction

2:00 Wesley recalls how he first got introduced to Robert Wyatt’s music

12:03 Wesley explains why he was drawn to Rock Bottom and how the album made him a lifelong Wyatt fan

18:05 Wesley makes a connection between Rock Bottom and the film Don’t Look Now

23:53 Wesley lauds Nick Mason’s production work and musical vision

27:00 It doesn’t take long for Rock Bottom to get non-sensical

32:14 Wesley sees the album as having broad appeal despite its bizarre quality

33:14 Wesley compares the non-sensical lyrics of Rock Bottom with those of Yes

36:23 A couple of childhood friends were instrumental to shaping Wesley’s musical explorations

39:47 Wesley sees a link between Robert Wyatt and Bob Dylan

44:37 Wesley and Al were impacted by Wyatt’s lyrics, even when they didn’t make sense

46:11 Wesley addresses why he didn’t pick a jazz album to discuss

48:51 Wesley was disappointed with one aspect of the Rock Bottom reissue

50:03 Wesley talks about the thread tying “One Last Heist” and “Hello Dead Horse”—the opening and closing tracks from One Last Heist

53:27 Wesley explains how he started making jazzier music

58:26 Wesley talks about upcoming Smithereens and Cabinet of Wonders shows

Outro music is from “Not My Speed” by Wesley Stace.

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Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, YouTuber, poet and satirist Bossi joins Al for a rare double album deep dive, as she talks about Bruce Springsteen’s 1980 release The River. Bossi discusses her Springsteen fandom, which dates back to her childhood, and she explains why The River has been one of her favorite albums for decades. She explores the prominent themes of The River and illustrates how many of those themes are present in her own work, particularly on her latest album Tell All the Other Girls. Bossi also talks about her Finishing School for Difficult Women video series and how it developed from its beginnings as a part of the rollout for Tell All the Other Girls.

You can explore the many facets of Bossi’s work in the following places:

www.iambossi.com

iambossi.bandcamp.com

www.houseofbossi.com

Instagram and TikTok: @iambossiofficial

Substack and YouTube: @iambossi

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:19 Bossi’s introduction

2:09 Bossi is a big believer in the album format

4:21 Bossi’s father was instrumental to her Springsteen fandom

6:45 Bossi explains how a Springsteen concert changed her life

11:05 Bossi talks about why “The Price You Pay” is a special song for her

16:22 “Two Hearts” is another track where Springsteen explores the theme of “keeping the spark alive”

17:43 Bossi explains how The River is a hopeful album, despite its many bleak moments

21:35 Bossi notes the parallels between the themes on The River and in her own music

25:25 Al and Bossi talk about the masculinity of Springsteen’s songs and image

31:09 Al thinks The River should be a single album

33:23 Bossi talks about an ongoing emotional connection she has with one of Springsteen’s songs

35:52 Bossi highlights some of her favorite tracks from the second half of the album

40:23 Bossi talks about the role of memory in Springsteen’s songs as well as in hers

45:53 Bossi and Al contrast the feel of the two discs of the album

48:10 Bossi and Al note the similarities in the sequencing between The River and Tell All the Other Girls

52:37 Bossi explains why she didn’t end Tell All the Other Girls with “Hold On”

55:43 Bossi admires how Springsteen sometimes sets heavy lyrics to upbeat music

58:25 Bossi explains how her Finishing School videos grew out of her process of rolling out Tell All the Other Girls

1:06:13 Bossi’s Finishing School character had its roots in some of her earlier performances

1:07:50 Bossi talks about her intent in creating the Finishing School videos and Substack

1:13:11 Bossi discusses the House of Bossi

1:16:39 Bossi explains why she chose “Bossi” as her artist name

Outro music is from “Run Baby Run” by Bossi.

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For this week’s album deep dive, Brazilian-born, Brooklyn-based musician, songwriter and video game designer Rafael Melo (who records and performs as Late Again) chose Arthur Verocai’s 1972 self-titled album. Rafael talks about how he first came across Verocai’s music and why he connected with this album instantly. He also delves into why he takes inspiration from Verocai’s music and career and how he came to collaborate with the Brazilian maestro on the song “People Pleasers.” Rafael discusses his soon-to-be-released EP I Dreamt I Was Awake (out September 4) and the upcoming debut Late Again album.

There are lots of places online where you can check out Late Again and follow Rafael…

Website: www.imlateagain.com

Bandcamp: imlateagain.bandcamp.com/

Instagram: @lateagainsta

YouTube: @reallylateagain

Spotify: Late Again

TikTok: @reallylateagain

Soundcloud: @reallylateagain

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:15 Rafael’s introduction

2:56 Al explains why his reaction to the album left him feeling a little stupid

4:20 Rafael talks about how he first got exposed to Arthur Verocai

8:51 Rafael hears Verocai’s voice through his arrangements

10:41 Rafael considers why Verocai’s music wasn’t discovered by many until decades after being released

14:13 Al and Rafael note the album’s eclecticism

17:56 Discovering Verocai was part of a larger exploration of Brazilian music for Rafael

21:33 Rafael explains how his collaboration with Verocai happened

27:04 Al found a surprise in the album’s credits

29:49 Rafael and Al appreciate Verocai’s vocals

31:26 Rafael picks his favorite tracks from the album

35:42 Al and Rafael discuss how “Na Boca do Sol” was sampled by several artists

37:42 Rafael and Al sort out their mixed feelings about sampling

39:49 Rafael finds inspiration in Verocai’s story

42:41 Rafael talks about the various musical elements in I Dreamt I Was Awake

46:28 Rafael discusses some songwriting challenges he gave himself

47:55 Rafael explains why he has not released a full album yet

51:25 Rafael provides an update on the upcoming Late Again album

52:49 Rafael talks about the many facets of his professional life

55:40 Rafael discusses his upcoming tour

Outro music is from “Crazy or Stupid” by Late Again.

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This week’s guest is Portland-based singer, songwriter, author, podcaster, educator and visual artist Laura Veirs, and she chose the 2021 release Promises by Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra for her album deep dive. Laura talks about her recent explorations of EDM and how that led her to listening to Floating Points and, ultimately, to Promises. She discusses the elements of Promises that make it an enthralling listening experience for her, as well as how the album has helped to her to reconnect to her own music. That reconnection resulted in the making of Temple Songs (released Aug. 14), and Laura delves into her process of writing and recording songs for the album.

There are many ways to keep up with Laura online!

lauraveirs.com

@lauraveirs on Instagram, Facebook and X

@_lauraveirs_ on Tiktok

@RavenMarchingBandLauraVeirs on YouTube

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:22 Laura’s introduction

2:38 Laura discovered Promises by way of Floating Points’ EDM work

5:06 Laura was also drawn to the album due to her interest in Pharoah Sanders

7:45 Laura talks about the relationship between Sam Shepherd and Sanders

9:32 Laura was impressed by the use of silence and human noises on Promises

14:16 Laura hears some elements of EDM in Promises

17:50 Laura revisits the moment when she decided to pick this album

19:39 Listening to the album sparked a greater interest in Floating Points and Pharoah Sanders

21:53 Promises helped Laura to reconnect with music after a period of burnout

25:00 Laura talks about how she wound up making Temple Songs

27:43 Laura focused on her performances and not on gear when making her album

32:18 Laura explains why she didn’t mix Temple Songs

36:27 Laura talks about the “No Masters” theme of Temple Songs and why she decided not to make that the name of the album

44:41 Laura discusses the upcoming reissued version of the case/lang/veirs album

47:57 Laura talks about her videos and upcoming tour dates

Outro music is from “Arc Still Bends” by Laura Veirs.

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On this episode, Kelley Dugan and Mina Walker of Daisy the Great drop by YMAAA. For their chosen album deep dive, they selected Fiona Apple’s 2005 release Extraordinary Machine. Kelley and Mina talk about their respective musical journeys with the album, from how they individually discovered and got hooked on it to how they collectively take inspiration from Apple’s songwriting and performances. They also chat with Al about their own latest album, The Rubber Teeth Talk with Friends, and why they decided to remake the songs from their 2025 album The Rubber Teeth Talk.

You can keep up with Daisy the Great via their website daisythegreat.com, as well as on the following social media accounts.

Instagram and Facebook: @daisythegreatband

YouTube and TikTok: @daisythegreat

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:18 Kelley and Mina’s introduction

2:08 Mina and Kelley talk about listening to the Jon Brion version of Extraordinary Machine

7:08 Mina and Kelley explain how they chose Extraordinary Machine for this episode

9:55 Mina recounts how she first encountered Extraordinary Machine

13:31 Kelley talks about first discovering Apple early in high school

15:54 Kelley, Mina and Al explore the theatrical side of Apple’s music

17:48 Kelley talks about what makes Extraordinary Machine stand out among Apple’s albums

20:26 Kelley, Mina and Al all view “Tymps” as a standout track

23:17 Mina explains how Apple’s rhythms accentuate her lyrics

24:32 Mina took some lessons about songwriting from the album

28:50 Kelley and Mina discuss the parallels between Apple’s music and their own

33:58 Mina and Kelley consider whether quirkiness is part of Apple’s appeal

37:10 Al was mystified the first time he had ever heard Apple

39:33 Kelley appreciates the tactile quality of Apple’s vocals

42:17 Kelley explains why she decided to go to school for theater

45:00 Kelley and Mina discuss how they came to create Daisy the Great

52:27 Mina and Kelley explain why they remade The Rubber Teeth Talk

1:01:24 Kelley and Mina talk about their upcoming plans

Outro music is from “Mary’s at the Carnival (Lutalo remix)” by Daisy the Great.

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Texas-based singer-songwriter Candace Hastings takes us on this week’s album deep dive, as she introduces Al to Adam Carroll’s 2000 album Lookin’ Out the Screen Door. Candace talks about first getting to know Carroll when he was a student in her creative writing class at Tyler Junior College in east Texas, and what it was like to first hear Lookin’ Out the Screen Door. She also talks about what she appreciates most about Carroll’s songwriting and how he helped her to restart her own musical career. Candace also chats with Al about her recently-released album Soft Place to Land, and how Carroll was instrumental to her writing one of the tracks.

You can keep up with Candace online in the following places:

https://www.candacehastings.com/

https://candacehastings.bandcamp.com/

Instagram and YouTube: @candacehastingsmusic

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:28 Candace’s introduction

2:12 Candace talks about her history with Carroll, beginning with him being a student of hers

6:00 Candace explains why she chose Lookin’ Out the Screen Door for this episode

7:57 Al and Candace discuss how “Sno Cone Man” exemplifies Carroll’s songwriting acumen

11:05 “Race Car Joe” shows a different side of Carroll’s songwriting

14:06 Al talks about the premise of this show

16:08 Candace revisits her first experience with listening to the album

18:23 Candace discusses how Adam helped her to re-launch her music career

23:19 Candace highlights “Screen Door” as a standout track

26:00 Candace pinpoints what she likes about Carroll’s songwriting

29:14 How autobiographical is “Errol’s Song”?

32:49 Candace talks about a special aspect of Carroll’s live shows

34:08 Candace explains why Carroll introduces his songs

36:12 Al appreciates the variety of moods on the album

38:35 Candace talks about how one of Adam’s workshops helped her to write “Come Home”

43:41 Candace discusses the sentiment behind a lyric from “Come Home”

46:12 Candace explains how her songs reflect her feelings of separation and belonging

54:54 Candace talks about her plans for the next several months

Outro music is from “Too Damn Hot” by Candace Hastings.

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Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Johanna Samuels joins Al to introduce him to Sparklehorse’s 2001 album It’s a Wonderful Life. Johanna shares the unique circumstance under which she first learned about Sparklehorse, and she explains what makes It’s a Wonderful Life a magical album for her. She and Al also explore two of the music videos that accompanied the release of the album. Johanna talks about her soon-to-be-released fourth album Sorry, Kid (out August 14 on Odd Man Out Records) and the music videos she made for the album’s singles.

#johannasamuels #sorrykid #sparklehorse #marklinkous #itsawonderfullife #albumdiscussions

There are lots of places to keep up with Johanna and hear her music…

https://www.johannasamuels.com/

https://johannasamuels.bandcamp.com/

https://johannasamuels.substack.com/

@johannasamuels on Instagram and YouTube

@johannasamuelsmusic on Facebook

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:29 Johanna’s introduction

2:49 Johanna revisits the unusual circumstance that led to her discovery of It’s a Wonderful Life

6:13 Johanna made a connection between Sparklehorse and Elliott Smith

8:50 Johanna recalls the artists who were on her iPod when she first heard Sparklehorse

10:25 Johanna talks about the experience of listening to It’s a Wonderful Life in its entirety

12:55 Johanna interprets the overarching theme of It’s a Wonderful Life

16:50 Johanna and Al make note of Mark Linkous’ frequent references to animals and nature in general

19:35 Johanna and Al talk about the indirectness of Linkous’ lyrics

21:19 “Gold Day” was Johanna’s entry point into the rest of the album

22:21 Johanna digs into some specific lyrics from the album

26:25 Johanna talks about some of the collaborators who appear on It’s a Wonderful Life

28:17 Johanna has bonded with people over Sparklehorse

32:21 Johanna thinks the stranger songs on the album play an important role

37:09 Johanna and Al discuss the video for “King of Nails”

42:36 Johanna and Al discuss the video for “Little Fat Baby”

49:09 Johanna’s final thought on It’s a Wonderful Life

50:10 Johanna and Al talk about the videos she made for Sorry, Kid

55:15 Johanna talks about the history of writing and recording “White Limousine”

57:45 Johanna explains how she recruited collaborators for Sorry, Kid

1:01:19 Johanna discusses her upcoming plans

Outro music is from “Full Story” by Johanna Samuels.

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