Love That Album episode 64 - Robert Ellis "The Lights From The Chemical Plant"

We have a weird chronology going with Episode 64 of Love That Album.

Great friend of the show, Dave Mclemore and I discuss the 2014 album by Houston-bred, Nashville-based singer songwriter Robert Ellis, “The Lights From the Chemical Plant”. It was supposed to be a companion discussion to episode 61’s chat about Richard & Linda Thompson’s “Shoot Out The Lights” but technical issues prevented Dave from joining that show so I saved it for later. When we DID record, it was simultaneous to Eric and Tim recording episode 62…which obviously got released first. Then I did episode 63 by myself. Does any of this this make sense? Do you care?

Anyway, Dave and I had a terrific discussion about Robert Ellis and his subject matter of infidelity, being babysat by the TV, drowning sorrows in wine and cocaine, and life on the road – standard song writing subject matter. There are comparisons abound with song writing greats like Paul Simon, Randy Newman and Bruce Springsteen. Tune in and find out why this album is worthy of your attention. It was an absolute pleasure having Davey Mac back on the show. A true gent.

NOTE: For any Melbourne based LTA listeners, Robert Ellis is appearing at a new Americana Festival called Out On The Weekend along with a bunch of other talented singer songwriters like Justin Townes Earle on October 18 at Seaworks in Williamstown. 

Eric Peterson (aka Reanimator) returns for another Album I Love segment to talk about Californian band, Thin White Rope and their record “In The Spanish Cave” from 1988. See how they fit in between punk and alt-country.

You can download the podcast at iTunes by searching for “love that album”. You can also stream or download it at “http://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com”.

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

Right click to download and save Episode 64 here

Love That Album episode 58 - Burce Springsteen - High Hopes

Episode 58 of the Love That Album podcast has finally shaken off the curse….yes, Dr Geoff Smith has finally overcome internet dropouts, Skype collapse, my previously poor file editing skills – all collectively known as the Hiatt Curse – to join John Stirrat and myself to discuss some BROOOOOCCCCE. This is Love That Album’s third Bruce-cast. (Check out episodes 1 and 17 for further Springsteen0related chat).

Since the beginning of the 21^st Century, Bruce Springsteen has found new strength and purpose. He’s been touring heavily with the beloved E Street band, and recorded (for a major artist in the current age of rock) at a prolific rate. Early 2014 has seen him release High Hopes, an album some believe should be called Tracks 2. It’s a collection of songs written over the last 10 years that didn’t make the cut on previous recordings, as well as some interesting covers. We grapple the big questions: Does the album work as one artistic statement or is it just a grab bag of songs that have no connection? Is he following similar lines to Wrecking Ball or does he cut a different path? Is the E Street Band the most hip-shaking, love-making, Viagra-taking musical entity on the planet? There is much discussion on the current tour of Australia, the last decade of Bruce-related music, and if Bruce is an overtly political songwriter.

Eric Reanimator’s “Album I Love” segment appropriately for a Bruce show is Alejandro Escovedo’s 2008 album Real Animal.

You can download the podcast at iTunes by searching for “love that album”. You can stream or download it at “http://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com”.

Send me any feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum and let us know your thoughts on your favourite BROOOCCCE moments.

I’d be hugely grateful for any iTunes reviews should you be so kind to submit one.

Right click to download and save Episode 58 here

Love That Album Episode 17 - Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball

On Episode 17 of Love That Album, we try something new and something old. For the first time, there are three of us discussing the album of the episode. In addition to LTA regular Geoff Smith, I’m joined from Sydney by Springsteen aficionado John Stirrat (not he of Wilco fame), to discuss Bruce’s latest long player, “Wrecking Ball”. The fact that we’re covering Bruce is the “something old”, since Jeff Jenkins and I went head-to-head way back in Episode 1 discussing Springsteen’s “Darkness on the Edge of Town” versus “Wild, Innocent & E Street Shuffle”.

So like many other artists of Bruce’s age and experience, is he treading water or is he trying something new? Can he lay claim to be the 21^st century Woody Guthrie? How does this album stack up against another potential claimant of the title, Ry Cooder’s “Pull Up Some dust and Sit Down”? How does Bruce deal with the absence of “The Champion of the Universe”, Clarence Clemons? Geoff, John and I go into these questions and discuss the themes present on the album.  Most importantly, we ask the most basic question: Is “Wrecking Ball” any good. Listen to the show and find out.

Download the show from either http://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com or by searching for “lovethatalbum” in the iTunes store. Send written or mp3 feedback to rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au

Right click to download and save Episode 17 here.