Love That Album Podcast Episode 132 - Wilco's "Summerteeth"

Tired of having your social media filled with the latest COVID-19 stats or fire and brimstone messages from friends who aren't virologists offering their two cents worth? Never fear. This month on LTA, we will digress your mind with stories of murder, depression, and drug addiction. There you go...feel better?

For episode 132 of Love That Album, I am joined by electronic music duo, Lovers and Poets ….oh yeah and the hosts of the wonderful All Time Top Ten podcast, Shannon Hurley and Ben Eisen to talk about Wilco's third album Summerteeth.

To the casual listener, Wilco are thought of mostly for their collaboration with Billy Bragg, “Mermaid Avenue” or for the stranger than fiction story surrounding the recording of their Yankee Hotel Foxtrot album. Summerteeth was YHF's predecessor and is often written off as a transitional album. As great as YHF is, Summerteeth is not transitional to anything – it's its own magnificent beast. The lyrical subject matter gets very dark, which can be easily overlooked because many of the melodies are bright and poppy. As wonderful as Wilco's catalogue is, they never made another album that sounded quite like this again. Of course, aside from Jeff Tweedy and John Stirrat, Wilco in 2020 is not the same band as Wilco of 1998.

Ben, Shannon and I discuss band dynamics, musical contributions and the stories told on Summerteeth. I make a really large stretch in suggesting that the record is a concept album. Do I justify it? What are Ben and Shannon's thoughts? Tune in and find out.

You can download this episode of  LTA from Spotify, Stitcher or iTunes (search for “Love That Album podcast”). Love That Album is proudly part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Go to http://www.rocknrollarchaeology.com/ to check out all the great shows in the Pantheon family.

I am so hugely grateful for Ben and Shannon for having this great conversation with me. Check them out weekly on ATTT Podcast (wherever you get your podcasts, or from the website at https://alltimetopten.podomatic.com/). You can check out their musical collaborations from https://loversandpoets.com/ - listen to their music and smile.

Also, in a cross-podcast venture this month, I will be joining Ben on ATTT talking about the greatest cathartic albums. I will provide a separate link for this.

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 we’d be immensely grateful. However, it’d be even better if you told a friend about the podcast and Pantheon – at a (socially distanced) barbecue, over coffee (on Skype), on social media….whatever way you choose, consider me grateful.

Right click to download episode 132 here.

Love That Album episode 54 - Bill Fay's "Life Is People" and Mark Eitzel's "60 Watt Silver Lining"

Episode 54 of LTA is a world away from episode 53. Whereas in episode 53, Eric Reanimator and I discussed two dangerous front men in rock, this time around, I am joined by the greatest film and music expert Bath has ever known, Mr Bernard Stickwell (Sticky to his friends) to discuss two sensitive singer songwriter types.

2012 saw the first release of new, non-demo material in 40 odd years from British songwriter Bill Fay. His new album “Life Is People” is a warm sounding album rich in its song arrangements. Fay writes songs about what he has discovered about life - both the disappointing and hopeful – through actually living it. He has worked in a multitude of jobs since originally giving up the industry (not giving up music) to keep himself afloat. It’s these experiences that dictate his subject matter, and it all rings true, as Sticky and I discuss.

We also cover the 1994 album by former American Music Club frontman, Mark Eitzel, “60 Watt Silver Lining”. Sticky introduced me to this record, and it’s become a favourite. Imagine Tom Waits, Burt Bacharach and Roy Orbison getting together at a late night bar, and you get a vague idea of what’s going on here. Eitzel’s obviously had his heart broken and stomped on. From misery comes great art, but it’s been suggested that he’s often taking the piss.  This is part of our discussion (and we cover blaxploitation films too). We had fun, and I hope you dig it.

Speaking of Eric, he returns with his Album I Love segment to discuss a couple of long players by Kevin Kinney, Macdougal Blues from 1990 and Down Out Law 1994. Kevin was the lead singer of a band Eric has long championed, Drivin’ and Cryin’. Eric’s reflections on Kinney’s solo work makes for interesting listening.

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 singer songwriters, whether you prefer the attempt at a slightly new show format, or just anything music related that you’d like to chat about.

If you’re enjoying the show, please spread the word. Let friends know that there’s a podcast where albums are discussed passionately. If you want to write an iTunes review in support of the show, I’d be hugely grateful for that too.

Right click to download and save Episode 54 here