Shows
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#108 - RUSH 50th AnniversaryOn March 18, 1974 the debut album by Canadian power trio RUSH was released. Since then, they have become one of the biggest bands in the world, with a fanbase unlike any other. This week, Alan is joined by Gerry Schramm of the Something For Nothing podcast, and Vicki Hudson, lead vocalist of the tribute band The Spirit of Rush, to talk about that debut album, and our deep and abiding love for Rush. We discuss some favorite concert memories, working within the Rush fan community, our favorite album from every decade of Rush's career, and of course, Rush Mustard.
We h...2024-03-181h 15
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#107 - Changing GenresOn February 11, Beyonce surprise-released a new country-western single, "Texas Hold 'Em", along with a second song "16 Carriages", the first two singles from her upcoming country music album. The song became the first recording by a Black woman to gain the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, despite some country radio stations initially refusing to play it. Rob and Alan, joined by good buddy JM Tuffley, take a listen to the new songs and turn the conversation to other artists who have crossed genre lines in their career, like David Bowie, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Ray Charles, and many othe...2024-03-0455 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#106 - The Music of 1974This week we're jumping in our musical wayback machine and setting the dials for 1974! We talk about some of our favorite albums from that year, with music by Linda Ronstadt, Bowie, ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, John Lennon, Sparks, Kraftwerk, Parliament, Dolly Parton, Donny and Marie and Funkadelic. It was also a huge year for Prog, so we talk about masterpieces by Yes, Genesis, Renaissance, Camel, Kansas, Hawkwind, and more.
If you'd like to listen to all the music that we discuss, you can follow along with our accompanying Spotify Playlist!
Do you agree or disagree with our 19...2024-02-2655 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#105 - KISS 50th AnniversaryThe first KISS album was released on February 18, 1974! To help celebrate that momentous occasion, Alan is joined by good friend Matt Alschbach of the Rock and Metal Profs Podcast! We talk about the brilliance of that debut album and how it set the template for everything that followed; Matt tells us about seeing the End of the Road show twice and tells stories from last year's Creatures Fest, and then we name our favorite KISS albums from each decade.
Check out the Rock and Metal Profs Podcast here: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/rockandmetalprofs
Are you a K...2024-02-1956 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#104 - Rock Hall and Grammy CoverageIt's Awards Season again! In this episode we review the 2024 Grammy Award Ceremony. We talk about some of the outstanding musical moments from the show (like performances by Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and more) and share our reactions to some of the awards presented. And, of course, we cover the BIG Taylor Swift news (because, as a music podcast, we're legally obligated to do so!).
But before that, we take a look at the newly-announced list of nominations for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Spoiler alert: we're und...2024-02-1254 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#103 - Immediate Family DocumentaryAs soon as we saw the trailer for the Immediate Family documentary last year, we knew we wanted to review it on our show! The film covers the extraordinary careers of Russ Kunkel, Leland Sklar, Danny Kortchmar, and Waddy Wachtel, and the amazing music they've made over the years. They've been session players and band members for just about every artist on the planet, including James Taylor, Carole King, Jackson Browne, Phil Collins, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, Dan Fogelberg, Carly Simon, Toto, Jon Bon Jovi, James Taylor, Iggy Pop, Warren Zevon, Keith Richards, Don Henley, and literally hundreds of other...2024-02-0546 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#102 - BEATLES CoversThe Beatles, like most bands, started out as a cover band, but became arguably the most covered musical act in history. You can find covers of Beatles songs in literally every genre of music. This week, we talk about many of our favorite covers of Beatles classics, including different versions of "Helter Skelter"; weird covers by Tiny Tim, The Flaming Lips, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Tori Amos; Beatles songs transformed into county, soul, jazz, and metal; Christmas songs by The Fab Four; new versions of songs from various soundtracks (Sgt Pepper, Yesterday, Across the Universe); and much more. We...2024-01-2952 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#101 - Katherine Yeske Taylor InterviewWe're very excited to have the opportunity to chat with Katherine Yeske Taylor, author of the new book She's a Badass: Women in Rock Shaping Feminism, available now from Backbeat Books. In the book, Katherine talks to 20 musicians, from legends like Ann Wilson, Gina Schock, Suzi Quatro, Exene Cervenka, Amy Ray to younger artists like Tobi Vail, Laura Veirs, Orianthi, and Fefe Dobson about what it means to be a woman in the music industry and how ideas of feminism have changed over the decades. In our interview, we learn about the Atlanta- and Athens-area music scenes where Katherine go...2024-01-2256 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#100 - Listener QuestionsTo celebrate our 100th EPISODE, we've turned the show over to our listeners! We asked our audience to send us questions that we would answer as we launch into our THIRD YEAR, and wow did we get some doozies! In this episode, you'll learn some of our dream guests, the weirdest gigs we ever played (or attended), how we would cast each other in a blockbuster film, the most surprising things we learned about some of our past guests, what bands or artists we'd like to see a biopic made about, and more! We hope you have as much f...2024-01-151h 01
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#99 - Holiday MusicThe Winter Holidays are full of great music! Anthony, Stephanie and Alan share some of their favorite holiday traditions and talk about their favorite Christmas music. And as you'd expect, it's an eclectic mix to say the least, ranging from traditional Latin hymns to heavy metal holly! We have a couple of controversial tunes, breakup songs, camels crossing the desert, remembrances of lost friends, a tale of drugs and reindeer, and even a song about a space alien!
We've compiled everything we discuss in a big Spotify playlist that you can check out here (except for a co...2023-12-1859 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#98 - Interview with GINA SCHOCK!To continue our 2nd Anniversary celebration, we are pleased to welcome back to our show Go-Go's drummer GINA SCHOCK! She has an insane amount of stuff going on right now. She tells us all about reviving her band House of Schock, and gives us the lowdown on their new single, “Smile Pretty.” She tells us the story behind her new visual art project The Art of Rhythm, a series of art pieces created in conjunction with SceneFour, Inc. She shares her experience of standing on stage alongside rock legends as part of the groundbreaking ceremony for the Rock and Roll...2023-12-1158 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#97 - Interview with GARY CLARKThis week is our SECOND ANNIVERSARY! And we're celebrating by inviting back one of our favorite guests from last year -- musician and songwriter GARY CLARK. Mr. Clark is the composer of music for the new AppleTV Original Film, FLORA AND SON. He takes us behind the scenes to talk about the process of composing these songs, collaborating with actors Eve Hewson, Orén Kinlan and Joseph Gordon-Levitt on tailoring the songs for their characters, the journey of both the characters and the actors during the course of the film, and much more.
And definitely listen out for h...2023-12-0450 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#96 - The Rolling Stone List of 250 Greatest GuitaristsRolling Stone Magazine is at it again! Another list specifically crafted to make music fans' heads spin! This time they count down their ranking of the 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time! And, this being Rolling Stone, there are both some very odd inclusions and exclusions. Anthony and Alan dive into this controversial list and highlight some of their faves, like Eddie Van Halen, David Gilmour, Prince, Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore, HER, Steve Hackett, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Mark Knopfler, and more. Even A Taste of Honey get a shout-out! Then Anthony gives us his personal Top 10, and Alan shares a few na...2023-11-271h 12
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#95 - The Beatles RED & BLUE CollectionsWith the release of "Now and Then", the new single from The Beatles, comes reissues of the iconic two-volume collection, 1962 - 1966 (The Red Album) and 1967 - 1970 (The Blue Album). This week we are joined by Alan J. Porter, author of Before They Were Beatles: The Early Years 1956 - 1960 and host of the podcast Before They Were Beatles, to discuss these newly-remastered and newly-expanded landmark albums. We talk a little bit about the history of these albums, our reactions to the new additions to the collections, and what stands out the most (good and bad) in the new remasters, and where we...2023-11-2055 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#94 - Great ProducersNo matter how good a band or artist is, a producer can make or break them. A good producer can elevate mediocre material, and a bad producer can turn great songs into sludge. This week we're talking about some of the GREAT producers, those geniuses who work magic in the studio. We mention Eddie Kramer, Giorgio Moroder, Steven Wilson, Bob Ezrin, Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Trevor Horn, Quincy Jones, Nile Rodgers, Martin Birch, Steve Lillywhite, and a plethora of others. And Stephanie Seymour shares her experiences of her band The Aquanettas working with different producers.
We know we c...2023-11-131h 06
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#93 - The Beatles ”Now and Then” (with Ira Elliot from Nada Surf!)We're at a moment in history -- the release of "Now and Then", the very last new recording by the greatest rock band in history, The Beatles. We're joined by Ira Elliot, the drummer of Nada Surf and the Beatles tribute band Bambi Kino, to analyze this old/new track and the "long and winding road" it took to see fruition. We talk about the song itself, the music video, the making-of documentary, the technology that made this recording possible, the new editions of the Red and Blue compilations, and the emotional impact of hearing John's voice on a new...2023-11-061h 06
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#92 -GHOST and other Horror BandsGHOST
In time for Halloween, we thought we'd do a show all about our favorite spooky band, Ghost! Alan and Anthony are joined by our good friend Vicki Hudson, lead singer of the Atlanta-based Rush tribute band, The Spirit of Rush, to do a deep dive into the culture of Ghost; seeing the band live; their influences; protesters outside of rock concerts; favorite songs, albums, and covers; and much more. And if you like Ghost, Anthony has a list of other bands that you should check out as well.
Are you a Ghost fan? How did you...2023-10-3059 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#91 - Great Final AlbumsGREAT FINAL ALBUMS
Every artist or band eventually has a final album -- whether that be because of retirement, lack of interest, or in many cases, death. This week, Anthony, Rob and Alan talk about those bands or artists that went out on a high note, with a really great final album. We cover albums by The Beatles (but which one, eh?), David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Amy Winehouse, Rush, The Police, Genesis, Marillion, The Smiths, Joy Division, Johnny Cash, and many others.
Do you have a favorite final album? One that really stands out in a ba...2023-10-231h 01
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#90 - Best OPENING BANDSWe recount some of our favorite OPENING BANDS we've ever seen! And trust me, we've seen a lot! We talk about some really unexpected bands like Opus, Billy Satellite, Flesh for Lulu, Red Rider, Molly Hatchet, Ned's Atomic Dustbin and The Plasmatics!
You wanna hear stories? WE GOT STORIES! Like that time a member of Galaxie 500 peed in Rob's mother's rose bushes; or that time Steph's band The Aquanettas played Lalapalooza; or how 'bout when Alan asked to be John Mayer's drummer; or when Rob told Darryl Hall to leave his girlfriend alone?
What's your favorit...2023-10-1656 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#89 - The Albums of 1993This week we take our musical time machine back to the year 1993! It's a crazy year with a lot of competing styles and genres, which makes it exciting! We talk about great albums by bands like Nirvana, Mazzy Star, Sarah MacLachlan, Crowded House, Daniel Lanois, Prince, David Bowie (two of 'em!), Matthew Sweet, Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys, Velocity Girl, Bratmobile and more, plus debuts by Aimee Mann, Sheryl Crow, Björk, The Verve, and others.
Follow along with our picks with our Spotify Playlist.
What's your favorite album from 1993? Is there a favorite of your...2023-10-091h 00
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#88 - The Art of HIPGNOSISHIPGNOSIS -- the graphic design team comprised of Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey "Po" Powell -- dominated the music scene in the 70s and 80s and created some of the most iconic album covers ever. Their client list included Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney & Wings, Peter Gabriel, Def Leppard, T. Rex, the Pretty Things, Black Sabbath, the Alan Parsons Project, Yes, Genesis, Electric Light Orchestra, Rainbow, Styx, Wishbone Ash, UFO, 10cc, Bad Company, AC/DC, Scorpions, The Nice, and many others. Their career is chronicled in the new documentary Squaring the Circle, available on AppleTV, and is highly recommended.
...2023-10-0250 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#87 - Novelty RecordsHave we got a fun one for you this week! Thanks to a suggestion by one of our regular listeners, Bill Lemmond, we are delving into the massive catalog of Novelty Songs and Parody Songs! And when you mention Parody Songs, obviously the first name that comes to mind is Weird Al Yankovic. But this topic offers so much more beyond Weird Al. We talk about "great" songs by Dickie Goodman, the king of novelty songs for decades, Sheb Wooley, Bobby "Boris" Pickett, Ray Stevens, MECO, Shirley Ellis, Johnny Cash, The Blues Brothers, Steve Martin, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and m...2023-09-2555 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#86 - SLEEPY KITTY InterviewThis week Rob, Steph and Alan have the great pleasure of interviewing Evan Sult and Paige Brubeck, who together make up the rock duo Sleepy Kitty. We talk at length about their new BLESSING/CURSE, their philosophy of art, their influences, adding new players to their live shows, Paige's love of musicals, Evan's time in Harvey Danger . . . and, of course, kitties.
To learn more about Sleepy Kitty and investigate their music and art more, visit sleepykittymusic.com
Give us your feedback about this episode! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wh...2023-09-181h 20
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#85 - 50 Years of HIP-HOPWE'RE BACK! After a week off for Dragon Con (which Alan and Rob were attending), the Modern Musicology team is back with a new episode celebrating the 50th anniversary of the birth of HIP-HOP! 50 years ago, Cindy Campbell threw a party in the rec room of her family’s Bronx apartment building at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue and charged admission (.25 for ladies, 50 for fellas) to raise money to buy back-to-school clothes, and she asked her older brother Clive (later known as Kool Herc) to DJ. Using two turntables and a stack of classic soul and funk records, he and his buddy Coke...2023-09-111h 04
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#84 -Dark Side of the MoonThis week we celebrate the (belated) 50th Anniversary of arguably the greatest rock album ever recorded, Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd. We're joined by DJ, journalist, and self-professed Floydian Widgett Walls of NeedCoffee.com to discuss the history and impact of this groundbreaking album, its importance, and its legacy. It's the fourth biggest-selling album ever and has spent 981 weeks (almost 19 years!) on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart.
What's your history with this monumental album? We'd love to hear about it! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find ou...2023-08-2851 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#83 - Favorite Music BooksRob and Alan geek out on one of their favorite topics: music books! Both are avid readers of books of all types about music -- biographies, analyses, histories, what have you. The discussion goes from recent reads of books by John Robb, Richard Evans, Nick Hornby, Nick Griffiths, Jann Wenner, Susan Rogers, and more, and then we get into some of our older faves by Sheila E, Stewart Copeland, Maceo Parker, and others. We open up our libraries and offer recommendations for anyone looking for their next great read!
Let us know what some of your favorite mu...2023-08-2150 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#82 -The Music of 1988 (Part 2)We continue on our journey through 1988 with the albums released in the second half of the year (June through December). We hit the highlights in rock (Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Crowded House, Nick Cave), rap (NWA, Public Enemy, Fat Boys, Stetsasonic), metal (Metallica, Slayer, Helloween, Anthrax), alt and industrial (Skinny Puppy, Ministry, Sonic Youth), pop (Pet Shop Boys, The Bangles, Paula Abdul, Kylie Minogue) and a whole lot more.
If you'd like to follow along with the music as we discuss it, or explore more of this great music on your own, check out our Spotify Playlist that...2023-08-1445 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#81 - The Music of 1988 (Part 1)The Modern Musicologists (Anthony, Rob, Stephanie and Alan) take a look at the albums that were released in the first half of 1988! We hit the highlights in rock (Robert Plant, Cinderella, Van Halen), rap (Boogie Down Productions, DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince, Run DMC), metal (Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Queensryche), R&B (Prince, Sade, Ziggy Marley), and major debuts from Living Colour, Tracy Chapman, The Pixies, Kingdom Come, Melissa Ethridge, and a whole lot more.
We start the whole thing off with a tribute to Sinead O'Connor and a look at her debut album, The Lion and the...2023-08-0759 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#80 -MTV!This week we celebrate the anniversary of one of the most important and iconic phenomena of the modern music era: MTV. MTV began life on August 1, 1980 and within a few years changed the entire cultural landscape, from music and fashion to advertising to television. In this show we relive the glory days of MTV (you know, when they played music) and talk about our favorite videos and video artists, the way MTV evolved over the years, the new bands that broke because of MTV and the classic bands that embraced MTV and staged a resurgence in their popularity, and...2023-07-301h 09
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#79 - Reviewing the WHAM! DocumentaryThis week your hosts Rob and Alan, joined by our good buddy JM Tuffley, do the jitterbug as we take a peek at the new Wham! documentary on Netflix. Described by Decider as "a buddy film disguised as a music documentary, Wham! tells the story of how Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael met, became besties, formed a band, and achieved massive worldwide fame -- as well as some of the personal struggles along the way.
After that, we do our Picks of the Week (including Garbage, Pet Shop Boys, Sleepy Kitty, BDRMM, Lloyd Cole, and more, plus a sho...2023-07-241h 10
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#78 - METAL!!! (with Matt Alschbach)This week the MM gang (Stephanie Seymour, Anthony Williams and R. Alan Siler) is joined by Matt Alschbach of The Rock and Metal Profs Podcast to talk all things hard rock and heavy metal! We talk about where our love of metal began (for Alan and Matt it was two different shows on the same tour in 1979), the albums that mean the most to us, the uselessness of metal sub-genres, Steph's legit hardcore street cred, that time Anthony worked for a metal frontman, and a lot more! All the big names get a mention in this ep, including KISS, Ir...2023-07-171h 07
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#77 - Tommy Stinson InterviewThis week we're honored to be joined by Tommy Stinson, former member of The Replacements, Soul Asylum, Guns N' Roses, and Bash & Pop, to talk about his new album with Chip Roberts, Wronger. We talk about Tommy's songwriting process, writing songs so good they make your butt pucker, creating music in the digital / social media age, Prince and the Minneapolis music scene, his current tour, recent memorable shows, upcoming venues he's looking forward to playing, and much more!
Check out more about Tommy and his newest release at https://www.tommystinson.com/
We hope you enjo...2023-07-1053 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#76 - What Makes a Great Singer?What Makes a Great Singer?
That's the question that we explore this week! This episode is a recording from a live we did on our Facebook Page and YouTube Channel on Sunday, July 2, 2023. We talk about what we listen for in a great singer, what part charisma and performance play in it, how genre matters, etc. And we talk about some of the iconic voices in pop music -- from country and metal to soul and rock -- like Johnny Cash, Linda Ronstadt, Ronnie James Dio, Prince, Little Richard, Elton John, Bruce Dickinson, Grace Slick, and a lot...2023-07-031h 10
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#75 - Surprise FavoritesYou know those songs, or maybe an album or an artist, that totally catch you by surprise? Either it's an album that you discovered in a surprising way, or an artist you don't care for but that one song stood out for you, or maybe it's someone that you normally wouldn't like but something made you change your mind about them. That's what we're talking about this week! We cover artists like NWA, Raphael Saadiq, Neil Diamond, a-ha, Wa Wa Nee (I'll bet you never heard of them!), Elvis Costello, Springsteen, Paula Abdul, John Legend, Al Jarreau, and many mo...2023-06-261h 13
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#74 - The Music of 1983 (Part 2)This week we talk about the second half of 1983 -- July through December. With incredible debuts by Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Wham!, Metallica, Slayer and more, plus major releases from Yes (90125), Genesis (Genesis), Huey Lewis and the News (Sports), KISS (Lick it Up), Motley Crue (Shout at the Devil), Lionel Richie (Can't Slow Down), John Cougar Mellencamp (Uh Huh), Paul McCartney (Pipes of Peace), Eurythmics (Touch), Duran Duran (Seven and the Ragged Tiger), and many others, the second half of 1983 proves to be just as much a musical bulldozer as the first half.
We hope you enjoyed this tw...2023-06-191h 12
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#73 - The Music of 1983 (Part 1)Shoulder pads, spandex and Return of the Jedi -- it's 1983, baby! This week we look back at one of the most important years in music, with more huge albums and singles celebrating their 40th anniversary than you can shake a Cabbage Patch Doll at. The year is SO big, in fact, that we're splitting up into two episodes!
In Part 1, we take a look at the amazing music that was released January through June of 1983, including Eurythmics (Sweet Dreams), Def Leppard (Pyromania), Journey (Frontiers), U2 (War), Quiet Riot (Metal Health), ZZ Top (Eliminator), David Bowie (Let's Dance), Sparks (In...2023-06-121h 23
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#72 - Rob & Steph’s Super Awesome Musical Explosion SHOW!What do you do when two of your co-hosts are absent and you had a guest cancel at the last minute? You improvise! That's exactly what happened this week as Stephanie Seymour and Rob Levy find themselves in the Modern Musicology studios alone! So what did they do? They interviewed each other!
Rob and Steph share memories of their days working in radio and at record labels, with stories of meeting people like Tina Turner, David Bowie, Madonna, Bjork, Billy Bragg, Metallica; Rob talks about some of the shows that he's seen; Steph tells the story behind why s...2023-06-051h 00
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#71 - Interview with RICKY BYRDThis week we have the pleasure of chatting with RICKY BYRD -- guitarist, songwriter, current solo artist, former member of the classic line-up of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee. In this interview, Ricky talks about learning Beatles and Stones songs off the radio as a kid, seeing bands at the Fillmore East, Max’s Kansas City, and Nobody’s, seeing Queen open for Mott the Hoople, his time as the lead guitarist with the Blackhearts, playing with the likes of Paul McCartney, Mavis Staples, Ian Hunter, Gene Chandler, Roger Daltrey, Sheila E, Eddie...2023-05-291h 23
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#70 - The Music of Saturday Night LiveThis week we turn our attention to one of the greatest television institutions in history -- SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- and its amazing musical legacy. We talk about some of our favorite musical performances ever (and some of the worst, too), what artists the show introduced us to that became favorites, the performances that changed our minds (for good or for ill) about an artist, some of the controversies over the decades, and some of our favorite musical skits and impressions.
After that we do our Picks of the Week, including new releases by The Pretenders, Sparks, Bea...2023-05-221h 12
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#69 - John Robb InterviewThis week on Modern Musicology we have the extreme pleasure of chatting with bassist, author, radio and TV presenter, journalist, DJ, publisher, and founder of Louder Than War JOHN ROBB, talking about his new book The Art of Darkness: The History of Goth, which releases in the US on Tuesday, May 16. We chat with John about being influenced by the Beatles and the Stones as a young kid, his band The Membranes, the roots of Goth in the Glam era, his early interviews with Kurt Cobain, how to make the world a better place, and much more.
...2023-05-151h 21
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#68 - Greatest ComebacksThis week we recount the stories of the greatest comebacks ever in pop music! The discussion includes bands and artists that actively left music and then reentered the scene, as well as those who bounced back from disastrous periods in their career. Our topic ranges from Elvis (of course) and Tina (of course) to Genesis (a reunion tour with Phil Collins after a career slump with another singer), Iron Maiden (similar story, except they continued to make new albums), Heart and Aerosmith (commercial resurgence after a career slump), David Bowie (a hugely successful surprise album after a 10-year retirement), and m...2023-05-081h 12
MODERN MUSICOLOGYBonus - Reviewing the Taylor Swift ERAS TourAlan and his two buddies Daniel and Tillman caught Taylor Swift's Eras Tour on April 30 in Atlanta, GA ... and here's their review! What did they think of the show? What about favorite songs or moments? And what was their favorite era?? They cover it all, from the performance to the staging to the wardrobe to the FANS!
If you've already seen the Eras Tour, let us know what you thought of it! Do you disagree with our review? What's YOUR favorite era? We'd love to hear your feedback! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a...2023-05-0556 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#67 - It’s a SPARKS Show!SPARKS Show!
This week, with Stephanie and Alan away for the week, the podcast is taken over by Rob and Anthony, who take the opportunity to do a deep-dive on one of their favorite bands, SPARKS! They discuss how they became Sparks fans, what they love about the band, seeing the band live, the Mael Brothers' importance and impact on the music scene, and share recommendations for good starting points for listeners who may want to take the plunge into the Sparks pool!
We'd love to hear your feedback! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail...2023-05-011h 03
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#66 - The 27 ClubThe 27 Club
There have been a shocking number of artists who have all died at the same very young age, early into what was already a hugely successful and influential career, but should have been a long and legendary career. They are The 27 Club. We discuss the major figures that the public most associates with this club -- Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse -- but we bring in a bunch of other members as well, like artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan of the Grateful Dead, D. Boon of The...2023-04-241h 06
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#65 - The Albums of 1978The musical archaeologists of Modern Musicology are on an expedition to uncover albums that are celebrating 45th Anniversaries -- The Albums of 1978! It was a great year with amazing game-changing debuts from Prince, Van Halen, The Police, The Cars, Kate Bush, Generation X, Devo, and many more. It was a big year for Disco and Funk. Two metal and hard rock institutions (Rainbow and Black Sabbath) both faced crossroads in their career. It was a huge year for Casablanca Records, with major releases from KISS, Donna Summer, Parliament, The Village People, and others (anyone remember Teri DeSario??). Plus, we cover...2023-04-171h 11
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#64 - Two or Three Hit WondersYou always hear about one-hit wonders . . . well, what about two- or three-hit wonders?
This week the Modern Musicology team (Anthony Williams, Stephanie Seymour and Rob Levy) talks about those acts that made it beyond one hit. But what makes a two- or three-hit wonder? Some bands had a handful of singles and that was it for them, never to be heard from again. But then a massive band with a huge album catalog like Deep Purple, Judas Priest and Pink Floyd also only had a couple of Top 40 hits. And what about bands that were massive on...2023-04-101h 04
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#63 - Steve Fossen and Michael Derosier of HEART!This week we have the privilege of speaking with two original members of the band Heart -- bass player Steve Fossen and drummer Michael Derosier! Steve and Mike played on the first six Heart albums, from 1975 to 1982, and can be heard on hits like "Crazy On You", "Magic Man", "Dreamboat Annie", "Barracuda", "Love Alive", "Straight On", "Dog and Butterfly", "Even it Up", and more! They recount stories of the band's origin, recording some of the band's biggest hits (and a couple of deep tracks too!), going from playing clubs in Vancouver to stadiums all over the world, and some of...2023-04-031h 10
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#62 - TONY LEVIN InterviewThis week we had the extraordinary honor of chatting with the legendary Tony Levin! We talk with Mr. Levin about the imminent release of the new Peter Gabriel album and his preparations for the upcoming Peter Gabriel tour. He then regales us with stories from throughout his impressive career, from his early days studying jazz and classical to his most recent tour with his own band, Stick Men. Along the way, we hear about his invention of Funk Fingers, getting kicked out of Buddy Rich's band, the challenge of playing with three drummers at once in King Crimson, meeting Da...2023-03-271h 21
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#61 - Composer / Musician Gary ClarkThis week we're excited to welcome Gary Clark to the show! Gary began his career in the late 80s as frontperson of the Scottish band Danny Wilson, writing and singing the band's 1987 international hit "Mary's Prayer." Throughout the 90s and 2000s, he recorded one solo album and two albums as a member of King L and Transister, while also songwriting and producing for many other artists, including Natalie Imbruglia, Liz Phair, Lloyd Cole, Mel C, The Veronicas, McFly, The Wanted, Demi Lovato, and many more.
In 2016 he wrote or co-wrote the original songs for John Carney's film Sing...2023-03-201h 19
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#60 - LA Punk Rock Photographer Theresa KereakesThis week Alan and Stephanie -- joined by Steph's husband Bob Perry -- chat with Theresa Kereakes, one of the 150 or so core members of the original LA punk rock scene. Theresa began taking photos at a very young age, and by extension, she chronicled the early LA punk scene with her camera. Her famous photos were used on many of the punk albums from that era and have been shown all over the country in an exhibit called Unguarded Moments: Backstage and Beyond. They also appear in three coffee table books: Punk 365, The Official Punk Rock Book of Lists...2023-03-131h 17
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#59B -80 Metal Explosion BONUS EPISODEAs a bonus this week, we present to you a 10-minute off-the-cuff and unedited discussion about the sexism on the Sunset Strip hard rock scene in the 80s and in the music industry as a whole. This discussion was taken from our interview with Tom Beaujour, co-author of the book Nothin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion.
Pick up a copy of the book by Tom Beaujour and Richard Bienstock HERE.
Were you (or are you still) a fan of 80s metal? Who were your favorites? What bands...2023-03-1013 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#59 - 80s Metal Explosion with author TOM BEAUJOURGet out your Spandex, your hair spray, and your earplugs! We're talking all about the rise and fall of the 80s metal scene with TOM BEAUJOUR, co-author of the book Nothin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the 80s Hard Rock Explosion! Hear stories about the early successes like Van Halen and Quiet Riot that paved the way for the metal wave; bands that made it big from the Sunset Strip scene, like Motley Crue, Guns 'n' Roses, Winger, Ratt and WASP; some of the bands that were active on the scene that never quite broke big, and...2023-03-061h 07
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#58 - When Celebrities Make Records!This week we take a look at celebrities who aren't immediately thought of as musicians that make records. Sometimes they're schlocky crap, but sometimes the celeb has legit musical talent and sustains a whole successful second career. We cover everything from Shatner and Hasselhoff to The Bacon Brothers, Clint Eastwood, Patrick Swayze, Katey Sagal, Scarlett Johansson and cast members of Stranger Things, Saturday Night Live, Starsky and Hutch, and The X-Files. But FIRST we react to the big Rolling Stones / Beatles news of the week!
What's your favorite (or least favorite) song by a non-musical celebrity? Let us know...2023-02-271h 10
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#57 - The Albums of 1973!This week the Modern Musicology crew piles into the DeLorean, fires up the flux capacitor, hit a cruising speed of 88 mph, and heads back to the year 1973!
We talk about some of the great music released that year, with debuts by Bruce Springsteen, Queen, and Aerosmith, plus influential records by Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder, Wings, Iggy and the Stooges, Linda Rondstadt, David Bowie, and a whole lot more. We then return to 2023 to share our Picks of the Week!
Let us know your favorite album released in 1973! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave...2023-02-211h 05
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#56 - The Rock Hall NominationsThis week the Modern Musicology crew -- joined by our good friend Gerry Schramm of the Something For Nothing Podcast -- takes a look at the recently announced nominated artists for the 2023 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! The nominees are (in alphabetical order): Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, Soundgarden, The Spinners, A Tribe Called Quest, The White Stripes, and Warren Zevon. Who deserves to get in this year? Who do we think will definitely get in, but maybe not...2023-02-131h 06
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#55 - Richard Evans InterviewRichard Evans is the author of the new book Listening to the Music the Machines Make: Inventing Electronic Pop 1978-1983. This definitive book explores how krautrock, disco, glam rock, and punk inspired an electronic pop revolution and how that revolution went on to establish the foundations for hip-hop, house, and EDM, and tells the stories of the movement’s underground pioneers and its superstars: from Devo, The Normal, Telex, and Cabaret Voltaire to Gary Numan, OMD, Duran Duran, and Depeche Mode. In our interview, we learn about the earliest experiments in electronic compositions, the importance of Kraftwerk, the influence of D...2023-02-061h 17
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#54 - Second AlbumsThis week the Modern Musicology gang, joined by our good friend JM Tuffley, chats about that difficult, stressful, tricky sophomore album! You've had your entire early career to write, perform, and perfect the songs that'll go on your first album. But what then? What about the second album? If your first album was a hit, will the next one live up to it? If your debut didn't make a splash, there's a lot of pressure on your next effort. We have great examples of BOTH!
We'd love to hear from you. What's your favorite example of a sec...2023-01-301h 09
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#53 - The Beatles Go SOLO!What happens when one of the most successful and most influential bands ever, which literally changed the face of music, breaks up? Well, if you're a Beatle, you go on to an equally important and prosperous solo career. In this episode, the Modern Musicology gang takes a look at the post-Beatles careers of George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr. We discuss where each member was, musically and personally, at the time of the Beatles' split, and how their paths diverged as they launch their individual careers. We also talk about the various other bands that became pa...2023-01-231h 08
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#52 - Critiquing Rolling Stone’s 200 Best Singers List!On January 1st, Rolling Stone Magazine published their list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time, and caused a good bit of controversy by doing so. Fans of certain artists were up in arms that their fave was omitted from the list. The Modern Musicology gang has our own take on it, and of course we had to weigh in! Should Bono really be on the list? Should Ozzy Osborne be ranked so much higher than Ronnie James Dio? Is Billie Eilish simply too young to qualify? And what about rap? These and more divisive topics are covered!
W...2023-01-1658 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#51 - Reviewing the Abbey Road DocumentaryTo kick off our second year, the Modern Musicology gang takes a look at the new documentary If These Walls Could Sing, by filmmaker Mary McCartney, investigating the history of Abbey Road, the studio home of The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Wings, Oasis, Cliff Richard, Radiohead, The Alan Parsons Project, Fela Kuti, Kate Bush, James Bond, Star Wars, and many others.
After our review, we talk about what we've been listening to over the past couple weeks and pay tribute to some musicians who have passed away recently.
What did you think of If These Walls Could Sin...2023-01-0958 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#50 - Interview with DAVID LEAFThis week we celebrate not only our 50th episode but also the final episode of our first year with a really special interview with author and filmmaker DAVID LEAF, author of the new book God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys, and the California Myth. David tells us remarkable stories of Brian's friendship with Paul McCartney, his struggle with psychiatrists, and his rebirth via the music of Smile, plus the friendship that David and Brian have shared over the years. We also talk about some of David's other work, including The Night James Brown Saved Bosto...2022-12-191h 22
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#49 - Interview With David FishofThis week the Modern Musicology gang goes away to camp as we pay a visit with the founder of the Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp, David Fishof, who is celebrating the release of his new book, Rock Camp: An Oral History - 25 Years of the Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp. He tells us amazing stories of how the camp got started, some of the amazing people he's met (both campers and rock stars) and what the experience has meant to him over the years. We think you'll really enjoy this one!
Have you ever attended the Rock Ca...2022-12-1252 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#48 - Our 1st Anniversary / Best releases of 2022This week the Modern Musicology gang celebrates the show's FIRST ANNIVERSARY by taking a look back at some of the highlights of the past year! Then we review some of our favorite album, single, book and film releases of the past year. If you have music lovers on your holiday shopping list, we have suggestions!
Thank you to all of our listeners over the past year. We're absolutely amazed by how much our show has grown in its first twelve months. Thank YOU for accompanying on this journey! If there's a topic that you'd like to hear us...2022-12-051h 15
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#47 - Guilty PleasuresCourt is in session and the Modern Musicology gang has been found GUILTY of liking some of the most un-hip and embarrassing stuff EVER! This is us confessing our Guilty Pleasures! We unrepentantly bask in our love of Shaun Cassidy, Donnie and Marie, The Spice Girls, The Bee Gees, The Monkees, Liberace, and even opera, plus a whole lot more.
What about you? What are some of your favorite guilty pleasures that you'd like to confess? Let us know! Email us at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode!
Find us on F...2022-11-281h 05
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#46 -Banned SongsThis week the Modern Musicology crew ignores what's good for society and celebrates banned songs! These are the tunes that are too sexual, too controversial, too inflammatory or too revolutionary to be heard on the radio or anywhere else! These subversive tracks include obvious and important things like "Fuck the Police" by NWA and "Cop Killer" by Body Count, but also things that seem incredibly innocuous now, like "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood and "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John. Find out what some of our favorites are!
What about you? What are some of your favorite banned song...2022-11-2157 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#45 - Concert MemoriesThis week the Modern Musicology gang relives some favorite concert experiences -- from the good to the bad to the truly bizarre. Stephanie talks about touring with the Aquanettas, Alan tells the story of playing a show in a roller skating rink, Anthony saw Iron Maiden play soccer on stage, and Rob talks about his favorite soundcheck experience.
No Shetland ponies were harmed in the making of this episode.
What about you? What are some of your favorite concert stories? Let us know! Email us at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find...2022-11-1447 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#44 - The Albums of 1992This year we dip back in time to discuss the albums that celebrate 30th Annivesaries this year -- the albums of 1992! How can these be thirty years old??? We dig in deep with things like Dirt by Alice in Chains, Automatic for the People by REM, Henry's Dream by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Rage Against the Machine, Body Count, Check Your Head by the Beastie Boys, Rites of Passage by the Indigo Girls, Images and Words by Dream Theater, Countdown to Extinction by Megadeth, Erotica by Madonna and many more, plus OF COURSE we check in with what was...2022-11-071h 01
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#43 - The Songs of HALLOWEEN!It's the Great Pumpkin, Modern Musicology! Yes, this is our Halloween special, where we talk about all the great music that's associated with the spookiest season of the year! We cover classics from rock, hip-hop, jazz, soul, goth, and metal. If you're wanting to put together a great Halloween playlist, we've got suggestions for you.
00:00 - Introductions
02:00 - Shout Outs (What We've Been Listening To)
08:40 - THE SONGS OF HALLOWEEN
We'd love to hear from you! What's your favorite Halloween song? Is there a good one that we missed mentioning? Let us know! E...2022-10-3151 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#42 - Great (and not so great) Collaborations!This week the Modern Musicology gang celebrates some of the greatest musical collaborations of all time! What happens when two artists, two songwriters, an artist and a producer, or two bands come together to create something entirely new? The results are always amazing, right? Well, most of the time, but not always! We cover it all -- the good and the bad!
00:30 - Introductions
01:55 - Weekly Shoutouts (What We've Been Listening To)
09:40 - COLLABORATIONS
We'd love to hear from you! What's your favorite collaboration? Is there a good one that we missed mentioning? Le...2022-10-241h 08
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#41 - The Albums of 19771977 was a landmark year for a lot of reasons: Disco is in full swing, culminating in the release of Saturday Night Fever and the opening of Studio 54, but along with that we have punk rock making a huge global push, the release of one of the biggest selling albums in music history, one artist having to follow up the surprise hit of the previous year, and most significantly the death of a 50s icon weeks before a New Wave artist of the same name makes his debut. We discuss the enormous and lasting impact of 1977 and talk about artists l...2022-10-171h 01
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#40 - The Albums of 1972This week the Modern Musicology gang is joined by guitarist / songwriter / solo artist BOB PERRY to talk about some of our favorite releases from the crazy year that was 1972! Some of the artists that get a mention are Bowie, Michael Jackson, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Wonder, Fleetwood Mac, Deep Purple, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, The Eagles, King Crimson, The Osmonds, Alice Cooper, The Carpenters, Jefferson Airplane and many more.
First we chat a bit with Bob to find out what's up to, and then we shout out what's been on our turntables and MP3 players this week.
00...2022-10-101h 10
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#39 - Woodstock ’99!This week the Modern Musicology team takes a look at two documentaries about Woodstock '99: the two-hour film Woodstock '99: Peace, Love and Rage (HBO 2021) and the three-part series Trainwreck: Woodstock '99 (Netflix 2022). Both tell a similar story but each one reveals different details. How did an event supposedly dedicated to peace go so wrong?
0:00:45 - Welcome
0:01:40 - Shoutouts (What We've Been LIstening To)
0:10:45 - Tributes to Anton Fier, Pharaoh Sanders and Ramsey Lewis
0:14:20 - ad break
0:14:45 - Woodstock '99
We'd love to hear from you, especially if you were at Wood...2022-10-031h 14
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#38 - Interview with GINA SCHOCK of the Go-Go’s!This week the Modern Musicology crew sits down with GINA SCHOCK, the drummer of The Go-Go's! We chat with Gina about her role as an influence on the music industry, being inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, her musical influences, her beginnings as a photographer, her successes as a songwriter, band dynamics, some of the current artists that she loves (like the Linda Lindas, Glass Animals, and Harry Styles), her new book Made in Hollywood: All Access With the Go-Go's, and a whole lot more!
Order your copy of Gina's book HERE.
We want...2022-09-221h 10
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#37 - Artists We Wish We Had SeenArtists We Wish We Had Seen
We all have those artists that we regret never having seen live for whatever reason -- work, proximity, cost, or not having been born yet. The Modern Musicology gang talks about some of theirs, including Prince, Bowie, Roxy Music, ELO, Elvis, the Beatles, the Clash, and many more.
How about you? What are some of the bands or artists that you never saw that you wish you had? We'd love to hear from you! Contact us at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave us a comment wherever you're listening!
Fin...2022-09-1257 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#36 - Taylor Hawkins TributeThis was supposed to be a week off for the Modern Musicology gang! Alan, Rob and Anthony were at Dragon Con in Atlanta all weekend, and there wasn't an opportunity for the four of us to record a new episode. But I came home from the convention on Monday and had the opportunity to watch the entire Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert, and I really wanted to record a review. So I called up my good friend Vicki Hudson, lead singer of the RUSH tribute band The Spirit of Rush, who had watched the concert live!
We talk about The...2022-09-0752 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#35 - What Makes a Great Drummer (with Ira Elliot from Nada Surf!)The spotlight is on the drummers this week as Anthony, Stephanie and Alan are joined by IRA ELLIOT, the drummer from the band NADA SURF, to talk about what makes a great drummer! We debate the qualities that a good drummer needs to have and cite some of our favorite players, like Neil Peart (Rush), Stewart Copeland (The Police), Phil Collins (Genesis), Keith Moon (The Who), Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree), Gina Schock (The Go-Go's), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Michael Derosier (Heart), and many others. And then we attempt to sing to each other our favorite drum fills! But first we get...2022-08-291h 17
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#34 - Songs We Love by Artists We Don’t LoveSongs We Love by Artists We Don't Love
Even bands we can't stand get lucky sometimes and craft a song so good that we can't deny them! That's the topic this week for the Modern Musicology Team -- finding that oasis in the desert. Stephanie, Rob, Anthony and Alan excavate some unexpected treasures from bands and artists like Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, The Smashing Pumpkins, Shania Twain, and a whole lot more.
1:15 -Listener Feedback
5:30 - Shout Outs (What We've Been Listening To)
14:15 - SONGS WE LOVE BY ARTISTS WE DON'T LOVE
Can you...2022-08-2257 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#33 - Bad Albums (or Songs) by Great ArtistsBad Albums (or Songs) by Great Artists! Every artist or band, no matter how great they are, have that one (hopefully only one!) album that just doesn't stack up to the rest of their output. Or, maybe that artist or band has a great album, but right in the middle is that one track that you just don't care for. That's the topic this week as Stephanie, Anthony, Rob and Alan dig through their collections to find some of the lowlights by U2, Prince, Stevie Nicks, INXS, Marillion, Suede and more. But first, we take a few moments to re...2022-08-161h 04
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#32 - Travel Music: Interview with Julianne WurdenTravel Music! The Modern Musicology Team is joined by Julianne Wurden, a travel advisor for Rick Steves Europe and a host of Monday Night Rick, to talk about the role music can play in international travel as a way of learning a language, immersing in a culture, and getting to know the locals. She also tells us about her new album, Goodbye, Forget Me, which she recorded and released in 2020.
Take a listen to Julianne's album on Spotify.
This episode:
0:55 - Listener Feedback
3:25 - Tribute to Nichelle Nichols
4:30 - Shout Outs (what we've...2022-08-091h 04
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#31 - Killer B-Sides!Killer B-Sides - In our last episode we talked about songs that should have been released as singles. This week, we flip the 45 over to talk about some of our favorite B-Sides: exclusive tracks, live recordings, alternate versions, Part 2s, and more. We go all the way to the very first rock single by Bill Haley and His Comets, and along the way we cover releases by The Police, Prince, Oasis, Suede, Blur, Elton John, Yes, Marillion, Iron Maiden, the Go-Go's, Fleetwood Mac, Duran Duran, and more!
1:20 - Tribute to Radu Sanchez of Dead Rites
4:05 - Sho...2022-08-011h 06
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#30 - It Should Have Been a Single!We know that this has happened to you -- you're listening to an album, you hear a great song, and you think "Damn, that should have been a single!" Yep, we all have examples that come immediately to mind. This week, the MM Gang, joined by solo artist and former Aquanettas drummer Stephanie Seymour, discuss some of our favorites, including songs by Bowie, Prince, Elvis, Oasis, the Waterboys, Simple Minds, the Fixx, Sparks, and a whole lot more.
0:00 - Intros
1:20 - Shout Outs (What we've been listening to)
11:55 - The Cancelation of SiriusXM Volume Channel
17:00 - "It Should Have...2022-07-271h 10
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#29 - Tony Fletcher InterviewRob and Alan sit down for a chinwag with Tony Fletcher, author of books like Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend, Perfect Circle: The Story of REM, In the Midnight Hour: The Life & Soul of Wilson Pickett, a memoir called Boy About Town, and his newest, The Best of Jamming!: Selections and Stories From the Fanzine That Grew Up, 1977 - 1986, and more.
Tony tells us stories about starting a fanzine at age 13, interviewing Paul McCartney, meeting Keith Moon, a compare/contrast of REM and The Smiths, his own band the Dear Boys, and much more. 2022-07-181h 06
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#28 - Kate Bush: Running Up Those ChartsKate Bush is having an extraordinary resurgence due to one of her most iconic songs, "Running Up That Hill", being used in the new season of Stranger Things. A whole new generation is being introduced to the mysterious, reclusive rock chanteuse. Here, we delve into the career of this extraordinary artist and unveil all the weird quirks that we love about her, and name some great songs that new listeners should check out.
First, though, we have some recommendations from one of our listeners and we give our weekly shoutouts.
:50 - Listener Feedback
2:00 - Shout...2022-07-1158 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#27 - Glastonbury 2022This week we pay a visit to Somerset, England to recap this year's Glastonbury Festival! We review the major performances (McCartney, Crowded House, Diana Ross, etc) and talk about some of our other faves (Wet Leg, IDLES, Skunk Anansie, Phoebe Bridgers, HAIM, Jack White, Sam Fender and more).
First, though, we talk about some new releases we're into and review the new Porcupine Tree album.
1:00 - Weekly Shoutouts (new releases by Mama, Smile, My Raining Stars)
5:00 - Review: Porcupine Tree Closure/Continuation
14:20 - Listener Feedback
19:30 - Glastonbury 2022
Did you attend Glas...2022-07-0456 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#26 - Our Favorite LabelsIRS! Motown! WaxTrax! Island! Megaforce! Alternative Tentacles! The Modern Musicology team (Rob and Alan, joined once again by the amazing Stephanie Seymour) talk about the labels that we love and why we love them. Labels that have a specific identity, that have an identifiable sound, or that champion new or cutting-edge artists.
1:00 - Catching up with Stephanie
4:20 - Weekly Shoutouts (what we've been listening to, watching or reading)
12:50 - LABELS
Do you have a favorite record label? Let us know! Email us at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave us a comment whe...2022-06-291h 06
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#25 - The Albums of 1982 (Part 1)!Thriller! 1999! Vacation! Hot Space! This week the Modern Musicology gang (joined once again by former Aquanettas drummer and solo artist Stephanie Seymour) jumps into our time machine and sets the controls for 1982! We talk about that year's biggest releases and some of the most significant debuts, as well as some of the less obvious things that we love -- and even a release or two that we hated.
1:40 - What We've Been Listening To
6:40 - Listener Feedback
9:30 - The Albums of 1982
Who are your favorite releases from 1982? Is there a favorite of yours that...2022-06-2059 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#24 - BritPop!It's the musical battle of the 90s -- BLUR vs. OASIS -- winner takes all! This week on Modern Musicology we talk all things BritPop! The bands that set the stage and inspired the movement, the "Big Four" (Blur, Oasis, Suede and Pulp), the big BritPop chart war, some of the other BritPop bands like Echobelly, Kenicki, Corner Shop, Ocean Color Scene, the amazing Kula Shaker, and yes, even Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine!), and then we name our favorites from the post-BritPop era.
1:00 - Listener Comments
5:00 - What We've Been Listening To
12:15 - RIP J...2022-06-141h 02
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#23 - Girl Groups (with Stephanie Seymour!)We're talking about women in music, specifically all-girl bands, and we're joined by someone who used to be in an all-girl band, former Aquanettas drummer Stephanie Seymour! We cover the gamut -- we talk about our favorite all-girl bands, what the term "girl group" means to us, why we label women in music, and how we can celebrate women's contributions to music without putting them in a separate category.
Who are some of your favorite female artists? Let us know! Email us at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave us a comment wherever you're listening!
Find us...2022-06-071h 00
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#22 - How Old is Too Old?Does rock 'n' roll have an expiration date? When does an artist outstay his or her welcome? Are there bands that should have hung it up a few years earlier? Should Grace Slick really have retired from music at 50? Are holograms and avatars the path to the future of performance? Anthony, Rob and Alan delve into these and more burning questions in "How Old is Too Old?" But first, we reveal some of what we've been listening to this week and pay tribute to some fallen heroes (Alan White, Andy Fletcher, and Cathal Coughlin).
Do you know a...2022-05-311h 04
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#21 - Festival Season!Festival Season is here! Rob, Anthony and Alan talk about recent and upcoming festivals and recall some great stories from festivals past. We talk about what makes a great festival for us, extol the virtues of streaming shows, and Anthony discovers the funniest band name in human existence. But first, we talk about what we've been listening to this week and spend a few minutes paying tribute to Vangelis.
Let us know what you think! Email us at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave us a comment wherever you're listening!
https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology
h...2022-05-2459 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#20 - Rock Hall of Fame 2022 InducteesAnthony, Rob and Alan analyze the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of '22 inductees! We talk about who we're excited to see go in, who wish we wish had gone in, who will induct who, what performances we're looking forward to, and much more! But first we reveal what we've been listening to the past week and take a brief look at the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest!
Let us know what you think! Email us at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave us a comment wherever you're listening!
https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology
ht...2022-05-1655 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#19 - Stage Manager KEN BROWNIn this episode, Alan and Rob sit down for a chat with stage and road manager Ken Brown, who has worked for numerous bands and festivals such as Coachella, Bonnaroo, RiotFest, The Smashing Pumpkins, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and more. Here some backstage stories of life on the road from a man who has lived it.
Let us know what you think! Email us at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave us a comment wherever you're listening!
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https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4b...2022-05-0359 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#17 - Grammy Awards Wrap-Up!Delayed by internet woes, we're back with our review of the 2022 Grammy Awards! We talk about our favorite performances, the worst performance, the big award winners of the night, the In Memorium segment, and whether the Grammys actually matter.
Alan and Rob are joined by our good friend JM Tuffley (@tuffley on the Twitterbox) as our regular co-host, Anthony, is on holiday in the UK.
Let us know what you think! What were your favorite performances? Did any of your award picks win? Email us at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave us a comment wherever you...2022-04-1159 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#17 - 2022 Grammy Review!With Rob and Anthony AWOL, Alan grabs the mic and reviews this year's Grammy Awards show. He covers the best performances, worst performances, funniest moments, surprise wins, glaring ommissions, and more.
Let us know what you thought of the show! What were your favorite performances? Email us at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave us a comment wherever you're listening!
https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology
https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw
Modern Musicology is part of the Earth Station One podcast netw...2022-04-0624 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#16 - Interview with Stephanie Seymour!This week the MM gang have a chin wag with Stephanie Seymour -- singer, songwriter, solo artist, former drummer of the Aquanettas! We chat about her career at record labels, her crazy stories with David Bowie, Gina Schock, the Pogues and Peter Buck, her time with the Aquanettas, and life as an independent solo artist!
Let us know what you think! Email us at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave us a comment wherever you're listening!
https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology
https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j...2022-03-291h 13
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#15 - Favorite Opening Tracks EVERAn opening track should be more than simply the first song you hear on an album. A really good opening track sets the tone; it tells you what to expect from the rest of the album. But the BEST opening tracks are a statement of intent. It's a declaration. It's shots fired. We talk about some of our favorite opening tracks ever with our friend Courtland Lewis.
What are your favorites? Do you disagree with any of our picks? Did we miss one that you love? Tell us what it is and why it's great! Email us at...2022-03-2259 min
MODERN MUSICOLOGY#14 - Rock Docs!Woodstock... The Sparks Brothers... Get Back... Summer of Soul...
We love ROCK Documentaries! We talk about some of our favorites and name subjects that we wish would get the documentary treatment! Let us know your favorite Glam artist, album or song! Email us at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave us a comment wherever you're listening!
https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology
https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw
2022-03-151h 02
MODERN MUSICOLOGYIt’s a GLAM SLAM!Sprinkle your glitter, strap on your guitar, and put on your tallest pair of platform boots, because this week we're talking all about GLAM! From the genius of Bowie, Bolan and Roxy to the unbridled fun of Slade, Quatro and Sweet and lots of other artists in between, we cover the original Glam scene as well as Glam's lasting influence in the musical landscape!
Let us know your favorite Glam artist, album or song! Email us at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave us a comment wherever you're listening!
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...2022-03-0757 minMODERN MUSICOLOGYMetal Anniversaries: Iron Maiden and WASP!Co-Hosts Anthony and Alan talk two Heavy Metal classics -- the 40th Anniversary of Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast and the 30th Anniversary of WASP's The Crimson Idol! Let us know your thoughts about these two great albums\! Email us at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or comment on our Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/modernmusicology).
2022-02-011h 07MODERN MUSICOLOGYCarving Our Mt. Rushmore of ROCK!Anthony, Rob and Alan take chisel and hammer in hand to add five (no, six!) faces to their own personal Mt. Rushmore of ROCK. Who do they each select as their representative guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, vocalist, drummer and producer? Which Deep Purple line-up does Anthony prefer? Who is the big curveball that Rob throws in the vocalist category? And what does Alan really think of Topographic Oceans? All the answers await you!
We'd love to hear your picks for your Mt Rushmore faces! Email us at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or comment on our Facebook group (https://www.f...2022-01-251h 15