Love That Album Podcast Episode 120 - Favourite First Time Listens of 2018

Love That Album episode 120 is ready for your aural gratification.

It’s December, so as is the annual tradition, I provide for you the first of two programs where I ask some wonderful fellow music lovers to give their opinions as to the great first time listens of the year. I know most people like to contemplate the greatest music released over the previous 12 months, but I like to ask my guests to talk about the best albums they heard for the first time over the past year – regardless of when it was released. That way there’s plenty of scope for recommendations of things you may have missed.

I am thrilled that returning from last year are music journalist and author Jeff Jenkins, broadcaster and podcaster Billy Pinnell, and rock historian and author Ian McFarlane. Also taking part for the first time in a few years is Rockwiz co-host and adjudicator Brian Nankervis. These four fellows are inspirations to me. They listen to plenty of music and I just know that there is enough variety in their picks for something to appeal to you or for you to nod your heads wisely in agreement with their selections. Huge thanks to them all for the giving of their time to this podcast.

The second episode with music recommendations will come in January 2019 when I will be joined by my son Max (an accomplished musician and keen devourer of new sounds) to have an across-the-kitchen table discussion as to our faves for 2018.

You can download all episodes of the podcast from Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher or from the website at http://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com (or just type it into your podcast app of choice).

Jeff’s weekly columns can be read in The Music and you can hear him every month on Radio 774 and 3RRR’s The Australian Mood.

You can (and should) subscribe to Billy’s podcast The Music Show with Billy Pinnell (https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/the-music-show-with-billy-pinnell/id1084610942?mt=2) as well as hearing him on Sundays on 3AW.

Keep up with all things Rockwiz at the Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/RocKwizOfficialpage/)

Ian McFarlane’s essential The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop is available from https://www.thirdstonepress.com.au/

Send the show feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum.


If you’d consider writing an iTunes review or recommending the show to a friend, I’d be immensely grateful.

Right click to download episode 120 here.

Love That Album Podcast Episode 119 - XTC "English Settlement"

When the late 70s arrived, many musicians wanted to sweep away the “dinosaurs” of rock (imagine that in 2018). Punk was about to sweeping away the complexities (among other things) and getting back to raw honest energy. Many musos liked the rawness and energy of punk but felt they had stronger musical chops that they wanted to apply to that realm, as well as explore other stylistic avenues. 1977 saw the release of the debut album of one such band from Swindon, XTC.

Welcome to episode 119 of Love That Album – the second episode for November 2018.

Like The Beatles before them, the back catalogue of XTC shows a development where the band that released their final album scarcely sound like the band that released their first. By 1982, they were only five years into their recording career, but the album of that year, English Settlement bore little resemblance to White Music released only a few years prior.

For this episode of the podcast, I welcome guitarist and first-time guest, Geoff Pearlman, as well as the return of Sydney guitarist Shane Pacey to focus on English Settlement as well as the development of the band that reached that point. The discussion is wide and varied covering the musicianship of the band and the different songwriting approaches of Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding. We also discuss how the songs on the album covered social issues like domestic violence, gun ownership, and the fragility of modern existence. We had a wonderful time and I thank Shane and Geoff for working their senses overtime for the show. I even found an excuse to do my Tom Waits impersonation.

You can download the podcast from Spotify, iTunes (search for “Love That Album podcast”) or from the website at http://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com.

You can follow Shane at http://shanepaceytrio.com.au/ and https://bondicigars.com/

Geoff’s musical activities can be found at https://www.geoffpearlmanmusic.com/

Both can be found on the usual social media platforms (Facebook, twitter etc)

Both of these gents make terrific music in their own right, so check them out and give them your support.

Send the show feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum.

If you’d consider writing an iTunes review or recommending the show to a friend, I’d be immensely grateful.

Right click to download episode 119 here.

Love That Album podcast Episode 118 - Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues Interview Special

I love a music festival. It had been a long while since I last went to one, so a few months back I decided to book a weekend away at the Victorian rural town of Wangaratta and attend their annual Festival of Jazz And Blues. I’d promised myself that I’d attend the fest years ago…this year I finally did it.

“But hey”, I thought to myself, “why not incorporate the podcast into the weekend????” With the approval of the festival PR, I was granted media access and was allowed to approach musicians for interviews.

Welcome to episode 118 of Love That Album podcast.

The beauty of a festival is you can wander from stage to stage and take risks with seeing performers you’d never heard before as well as long time favourites. So it is for the show, I approached 4 musicians - two drummers I’d long been a fan of and two guitarists I only became aware of as a result of the festival. All were wonderful musically and as interview subjects.

Drummers Anthony Shortte (formerly of Collard Greens and Gravy, currently of Opelousas), and David Jones (Pyramid, Atmasphere, Peter Cupples Band, Third Ear and many others) are very different stylistically, but I’m a huge fan of them both and they told great stories of their passion for their music and how they approach their playing.

Guitarists Alex Stuart and Ben Hauptmann were new to me. Both graduated from ANU in Canberra, but both take a different approach to their composition and arrangement. In each case though, their music tells stories of their experiences and responses to those experiences. Their recorded work and their live performances were highlights of the festival.

Regardless of whether you know these musicians or their work (or even care for jazz and blues music), if you like hearing about creativity and how life inspires one's art, you’ll (hopefully) enjoy these discussions. I feel privileged to have been a part of them.

You can download the podcast from Spotify, iTunes (search for “Love That Album podcast”) or from the website at http://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com.

You can follow the artists via these means:

Opelousas: https://www.facebook.com/Opelousas-Band-428336044323888/

Alex Stuart: http://www.alex-stuart.com/

Ben Hauptmann: http://benhauptmann.com/

David Jones: https://davidjonesdrums.com/

Send the show feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum.

If you’d consider writing an iTunes review or recommending the show to a friend, I’d be immensely grateful.

Right click to download episode 118 here.

Love That Album Podcast Episode 117 - Dennis Wilson “Pacific Ocean Blue”

Since the 1995 documentary “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times” was released, ex Beach Boy Brian Wilson has deservedly undergone a resurgence in popularity. Musicians and fans have been reminded about the brilliance of Wilson’s melodies and arrangements as well as his troubled past.

However, what most people don’t recall is that brother Dennis had also inherited some of that Wilson compositional brilliance. In 1977, he released an album called Pacific Ocean Blue – the only solo album released in his lifetime (Bambu was partly recorded, discarded, then released as a bootleg). In 2008, the album was given a brilliant CD re-release with Bambu and other bonus cuts - the ever so cheerful rock critic Robert Christgau rated it a "bomb". Yeah whatever, Rob....

I'm on my own for this episode (please take pity on me - the episode is mercifully short) to talk about the musical expectations of a solo album held for a Beach Boys drummer, Pacific Ocean Blue's themes, the troubled state of mind I imagine Wilson was in to write some of these songs, and how ultimately the two sides of the record reflect the two sides of Dennis himself.

You can download the show from Spotify, iTunes (search for “Love That Album podcast”) or from the website at http://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com.

Send the show feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum.

If you’d consider writing an iTunes review or recommending the show to a friend, I’d be immensely grateful.

Right click to download episode 117 here.

Love That Album Podcast episode 116 - Emmylou Harris "Wrecking Ball"

I'm a huge admirer of people who drastically changes they way they do things because they have no satisfaction from the “tried and true” way. This is especially true of musicians. Most of the greatest ones challenged their audiences to accept them for who they wanted to be, not what they previously were.

Welcome to episode 116 of Love That Album podcast.

By 1995, Emmylou Harris needed creative change, so she met with the hot producer of the day Daniel Lanois and made Wrecking Ball. This was an album that was far removed from the country styles of Elite Hotel, Pieces of the Sky or Roses In The Snow. She picked songs from well beloved songwriters and was backed by a band whose sound was a long way from the Hot Band. This was not a rejection of her past, merely an opportunity for her to see what else she could do.

Shane Pacey from Sydney funk and blues outfits The Bondi Cigars and The Shane Pacey Trio joins the show for the first time. Shane and I discuss all manner of songwriting and arrangements on this album and what made it one of our favourite records of the nineties.

A huge thanks to Shane not only for being a part of the show, but for his patience in sticking around while I sorted through technical difficulties which nearly killed the podcast for good (I kid you not). This was not an easy show to record, and when the solution was found, it became one of the more challenging shows I've had to edit. Technology can be a wonder, but when it turns on you, it can be vindictive.....thanks to communication tool starting with S for making this show a....memorable one. Problem now sorted. Rant Over.

Dave Blom returns with an Album I Love segment to talk about the album Big Big Love from Perth band Little Birdy from 2004. My gratitude to Dave for covering for Eric while he takes a break. Dave knows and loves music.

You can download the show from iTunes (search for “Love That Album podcast”) or from the website at http://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com.

You can listen to Shane's music and order albums from http://bondicigars.com/ or keep in touch with his activities at https://www.facebook.com/bondicigars. Both of his bands are fantastic and worthy of your attention. Blues with a groove.

Send the show feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum.

If you’d consider writing an iTunes review or recommending the show to a friend, we’d be immensely grateful.

If you enjoy what you hear, please tell a friend or ten to tune in.

Right click to download episode 116 here.

Love That Album: The Compilation Edition Episode 54 - The Music of John Martyn

Eric  Reanimator is still on his two month sabbatical away from Love That Album: The Compilation Edition. In his absence, the most diverse podcaster out there, Tom Kwei, has prepared an episode for your earholes.

Tom is a keen guitarist, and one of his heroes and inspirations is English folk player John Martyn. Martyn didn't stick to the traditional rules or styes of English folk or folk-rock. For episode 54 of LTA - The Comp Edition, Tom dedicates the show to explaining what made Martyn's music special to him and refers to four key cuts in his catalog that demonstrate what made him such an intventive musician. Listen and be converted.

You can download the show from iTunes (search for “Love That Album podcast”) or from the website at http://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com.

A huge thanks to Tom for filling in Eric's shoes so admirably. You really need to listen to his other podcasts. We first became aware of each other a few years back via his and Sam Whiles' brilliant Tom Waits show "Down In The Hole". Currently his projects are:

Alphabeatallica - a show dedicated to the discussion of every Metallica song...in alphabetical order (https://metallicapodcast.podbean.com/)

Battle Rap Resume - chats with British battle rappers about their craft (https://battlerapresume.podbean.com/)

Watching The Watchmen - analyses and discussions about the Watchmen graphic novels (https://watchingthewatchmen.podbean.com/)

Send the show feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum.

If you’d consider writing an iTunes review or recommending the show to a friend, we’d be immensely grateful.

If you enjoy what you hear, please tell a friend or ten to tune in.

Right click to download bonus episode 54 here.

Love That Album podcast Episode 115 - Tamam Shud’s “Evolution” and new Aztec releases

According to the Collins Dictionary website (because I don't have a physical dictionary handy), “evolution” is “a process of gradual development in a particular situation or thing over a period of time.” There could not be a more apt title for the name of the debut album by Newcastle band, Tamam Shud.

For episode 115 of Love That Album podcast, I am once again joined by music journalist and author of The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop, Ian Mcfarlane, to talk about psychedelic prog-rock (and some suggest surf) band Tamam Shud and their debut album Evolution. They'd formed several years prior as The 4 Strangers, then changing their name to The Sunsets. The general consensus was that they made surf music, though singer songwriter Lindsay Bjerre has never placed much stock in that description. What is indisputable is that they provided the soundtrack for surf movies directed by Paul Witzig. When the late sixties counter-culture turned its musical ears to the sounds from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Cream, and Jefferson Airplane, The Sunsets changed their sound and name and evolved to Tamam Shud (and they continued to evolve beyond that point as well). They were a highly charged and exciting band.

Ian and I discuss the history of the band and it's place in Australian rock history, as well as the album itself. Evolution was recorded in only a couple of hours It took almost as long to record the podcast!  We also talk about how the band changed its sound drastically just a couple of years later with its contributions to the soundtrack to Morning Of The Earth, regarded as one of the greatest surf films of the era.

But wait....there's more. Ian has been a regular writer of liner notes for the wonderful Australian archival label, Aztec Records. We spend time discussing some recent re-releases on the label, as well as a hugely important box set of sixties pop material from the independent label Go! Records. Gotta tell you folks, I considered myself schooled after this episode in Australian music history. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I did recording it.

If you've been following the Facebook page, notes or are regularly subscribed to the podcast, you'd know that Eric Reanimator is taking a break from the show, so my great friend David Blom has elected to do a couple of Album I Love segments. This show around, he talks about the debut EP from Kevin Parker (aka Tame Impala). I always thought Innerspeaker was debut album, but there was an EP that came before that, and Dave brings his thoughts about why you need to have it in your life. Thanks for the segment, Dave.

You can download the show from iTunes (search for “Love That Album podcast”) or from the website at http://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com.

You can (and should) order a copy of Ian's brilliant encyclopedia from https://www.thirdstonepress.com.au/ The site also features an archive of Ian's liner notes for a number of the Aztec releases....all hugely informative. My thanks for his support of the podcast.

You can send me feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum.

If you’d consider writing an iTunes review or recommending the show to a friend, we’d be immensely grateful.

If you enjoy what you hear, please tell a friend or ten to tune in

Right click to download episode 115 here.

Love That Album: The Compilation Edition Episode 53- Barbarella and Shaft Soundtracks

Eric Reanimator is taking a podcasting break, but we at LTA HQ don't want the listenership to miss out on their fix of Love That Album: The Compilation Edition.....nosiree Bob.

Terry Frost is the Head honcho at Paleo Cinema and Martian Drive In Podcast. He REALLY knows his cinema history and is great at putting it into social context. Terry is also a fan of great film scores, and on this episode, he has decided to talk about two of them.

The first is the score for Barbarella composed by Bob Crewe (a hit song writer for The Four Seasons among many others). Terry then turns his attention to the Isaac Hayes score for Shaft. Hayes had long been a hit songwriter at Stax Records, most notably for Sam And Dave (Soul Man, When Something Is Wrong With My Baby). He became a huge artist in his own right, and the theme from Shaft is arguably his most famous composition. From the moment you hear those closed hi hats (played by Willie "Too Big" Hall later of The Blues Brothers) and the track builds, you know that the music is an important part of the Blaxploitation film experience.

You can download the show from iTunes (search for “Love That Album podcast”) or from the website at http://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com

My gratitude to Terry for subbing for Eric this month. You can  download his wonderful podcasts at either https://paleocinema.podbean.com/ (for his thoughts on a wide variety of films older than 20 years) or from The Martian Drive In Podcast at https://martiandrivein.podbean.com/(for any genre related cinema regardless of age).

Send the show feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum.

If you’d consider writing an iTunes review or recommending the show to a friend, we’d be immensely grateful.

If you enjoy what you hear, please tell a friend or ten to tune in.

Right click to download bonus episode 53 here.

Love That Album podcast Episode 114 - The Replacements “Pleased To Meet Me”

We talk a lot about musical progression on Love That Album podcast. If you knew nothing about The Replacements background, and heard “Dope Smoking Moron” followed by Skyway (or even Can’t Hardly Wait), you’d be hard pressed to determine how they walked the line between one point and the other.

For LTA episode 114, I'm joined once again by the wonderful music and film writer Heather Drain, and by the CEO of Cigar City Management, Randy Ojeda to discuss the ‘Mats fifth studio record Pleased To Meet Me. This was an important record. It was the first official album with Bob Stinson pushed from the band (it’s alleged he was rarely around for the “Tim” recordings). It was recorded with revered Memphis producer Jim Dickinson and featured a song with their hero Alex Chilton playing guitar (as well as another about him....as all LTA listeners are aware). This should have been a monster release for the band, but it only seems to be regarded as a well-received cult album.

We discuss their respective discoveries of The Mats, their favourite albums, how Paul Westerberg changed as a songwriter, the myth of their musicianship being shoddy, Iggy Pop, the music industry and love as song topic influences, and anything else that they can think of in relation to the band and this album.

Eric Reanimator discusses the band Zuzu's Petals whose album “When No One's Looking” appeared on The Replacements' original label Twin Tone.

Huge thanks to both Heather and Randy for their enthusiastic involvement and insight. Contributors like them make doing the show a joy.

You can download the show from iTunes (search for “Love That Album podcast”) or from the website at https://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com/2018/07/love-that-album-podcast-episode-114.html

You can read Heather’s writings about music and film at http://mondoheather.com. You can also find her works at Diabolique Magazine on line: https://diaboliquemagazine.com/author/heatherdrain/ You can also find out details about her forthcoming encyclopedia on Bizarro Films from https://bizarrocentral.com/2017/07/18/the-bizarro-encyclopedia-of-film-vol-1-pre-sale-event/

You can either find out about the wonderful artists Randy manages at Cigar City Mgmt, or get details about his wonderful musician interview podcast Cigar City Radio from http://www.cigarcitymanagement.com/

You can send me feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum.

If you’d consider writing an iTunes review or recommending the show to a friend, we’d be immensely grateful.

If you enjoy what you hear, please tell a friend or ten to tune in.

Right click to download episode 114 here.

Love That Album: The Compilation Edition Episode 52- Live Punk Best of Albums

When punk rock bands put out live albums, it can be a crap shoot. Are they trying to keep a buzz alive? Are they filling out a contract? Do they want to make a best of record but have albums and tracks across several labels some of which are no longer active?

On this episode of LTA: The Compilation Edition, Eric talks about two live albums that act as best of records for two of the most enduring of the 80s SoCal punk bands.

T.S.O.L. Live in '91 finds a band ... who didn't even use their band name.. reclaiming their music and starting to reclaim their legacy. 

Social Distortion Live at the Roxy is a victory lap of sorts, as the band celebrates it's rebirth and pays tribute to the trials of the past.

Eric also has important news. Tune in.

You can download the show from iTunes (search for “Love That Album podcast”) or from the website at http://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com

Send the show feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum.

If you’d consider writing an iTunes review or recommending the show to a friend, we’d be immensely grateful.

If you enjoy what you hear, please tell a friend or ten to tune in.

Right click to download bonus episode 52 here.

Love That Album podcast episode 113 - The Tubes S/T

When punk arrived in the mid 70s, its charter was to shake the establishment and give the finger to all that it stood for. Aim was also taken at bands taking months to record an album that were needlessly complex. They were seen as being part of the “machine”. In 1973, along came San Franciscan band The Tubes. They had punk attitude, but were not content to play 2 minute stripped-back punk songs. Their songs were making fun of middle America’s consumer obsessed society and its conservative values (haven’t we come a long way since then………right????) They weren’t angry, though. They were definitely laughing while pointing that finger, and doing shows that were part rock show, part theatre, all supposed to make your parents feel uncomfortable. They weren’t quite punk, they weren’t quite glam….what were they?

For Love That Album episode 113, I am joined by the marvellous writer and podcaster Heather Drain to discuss our love of The Tubes, the nature of theatrical rock (and what defines it), how the band evolved, their live shows, and their discography. In particular, we spend time talking about their debut self titled album from 1975, inclusive of its thematic elements, the music and its inspiration, an iconic song abut bored rich youth and another about their bored rich parents. In the eighties, the band found some level of commercial popularity (with great songs), but at a cost.

If you’re not a fan of The Tubes before listening to this episode, I like to think our conversation will at least make you interested to give their work a try. My gratitude goes to Heather for being giving of her time and bringing some fantastic insight. Make no mistake, folks – she’s going to be on the show a lot more going forward.

Eric’s Album I Love segment follows with another theatrical band that had things to say, The Atomic Swindlers. Tune in and hear why this was his choice for this episode.

You can download the show from iTunes (search for “Love That Album podcast”) or from the website at http://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com

I urge you to read Heather’s writings about music and film at http://mondoheather.com. You can also find her works at Diabolique Magazine on line: https://diaboliquemagazine.com/author/heatherdrain/

You should also check out every episode she’s on (well every episode period) of Mike White’s Projection Booth podcast: http://projection-booth.blogspot.com/

You can send me feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum.

If you’d consider writing an iTunes review or recommending the show to a friend, we’d be immensely grateful.

If you enjoy what you hear, please tell a friend or ten to tune in.

Right click to download episode 113 here.