The Album of Record Craig Lyndall
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- Music
The Album of Record podcast is a weekly conversation between Craig Lyndall and Andrew Schnitkey through the lens of growing up with 90s rock music as the backdrop.
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1994 Rock Album Fantasy Draft
Summary
In this episode, Craig and Andrew discuss the top albums of 1994. They start by talking about the heat in Craig's house and then dive into the topic of the best albums from that year. They mention the significance of 1994 as a great year for rock music, particularly alternative rock. They discuss albums from bands like Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Oasis, Blues Traveler, and Toadies. They share their personal favorites and the impact these albums had on them. In this conversation, Craig and Andrew discuss their personal top albums of 1994. They cover a wide range of genres and artists, including Nine Inch Nails, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Oasis, Blues Traveler, Toadies, Dave Matthews Band, Green Day, and more. They share their personal connections to these albums and discuss the impact they had on their lives. The conversation highlights the diversity of music in 1994 and the lasting influence of these albums.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and the Heat in Craig's House
01:55 The Great Year of 1994: A Look Back at Rock Music
06:07 Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and the Impact of Their Albums
11:18 The Diverse Sounds of Soundgarden and Stone Temple Pilots
26:40 The Underrated Brilliance of Blues Traveler's 'Four'
41:50 The Personal Importance of Albums
42:19 One-Hit Wonders and Difficult Choices
43:20 The Impact of 'Under the Table and Dreaming'
45:41 Shifting Musical Tastes in the 90s
48:59 The Place of Dave Matthews Band in Music History
52:45 The Significance of 'Dookie'
59:30 The Stark Contrast of Music in 1994
01:09:01 The Impact of Henry Rollins and 'Wait'
01:13:43 The Profound Influence of Henry Rollins
01:19:19 The Importance of 'Sabotage' -
Reconstructing Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness into a Single Disc
Summary
In this episode, Craig and Andrew discuss their recent experiences at baseball games and dive into the world of Pearl Jam, including their unique concert videos and setlist structure. They also pay tribute to the late Steve Albini, a renowned musician, audio engineer, and music critic who had a significant impact on the industry. The hosts share their favorite albums produced by Albini and reflect on his principled stance on music production and the music industry as a whole. Lastly, they revisit their project of creating a single-disc version of the Smashing Pumpkins' album 'Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness.' Craig and Andrew discuss their process of resequencing the album 'Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness' by the Smashing Pumpkins. They wanted to create a single-disc version of the album that still had the feel of two sides. They had two rules: the album couldn't exceed the running length of a CD, and it had to have the feel of two sides. They debated and made tough cuts, but ultimately created a resequenced version of the album that they both love.
Chapters
00:00 Baseball Games and Concerts
03:14 Pearl Jam's Innovative Concert Experience and Setlist Structure
12:35 Remembering Steve Albini: A Principled Figure in Music Production
27:15 Creating a Single-Disc Version of 'Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness'
30:08 Resequencing 'Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness'
35:20 The Rules of Resequencing
37:48 Tough Cuts and Debates
39:44 The Flow and Satisfaction of the Resequenced Album -
Sam Ash Closes, and a 90s Music Virtual Mailbag talking Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Spacehog, and Hum
In this episode, Craig and Andrew discuss various topics related to music, including the Pearl Jam tour, the closure of Sam Ash, 90s bands they appreciate now, concerts they missed out on, favorite deep cuts from popular 90s albums, and favorite one-hit wonders from the 90s. In this conversation, Andrew and Craig discuss various topics related to 90s music. They talk about their favorite one-hit wonders, lesser-known 90s bands, iconic moments in 90s music history, and trends they miss from that era. They also share personal associations with 90s songs and albums. The conversation is filled with nostalgia and appreciation for the music of the 90s.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Pearl Jam Tour
03:46 The Closure of Sam Ash and the Challenges of In-Person Music Shopping
14:56 Appreciating 90s Bands: Bush and Gin Blossoms
27:45 Favorite Deep Cuts from Popular 90s Albums: Mark Lanegan and Blues Traveler
30:29 Favorite One-Hit Wonders from the 90s: Dishwalla and The Flys
32:27 Exploring the World of 90s One-Hit Wonders
35:11 Unearthing Lesser-Known 90s Bands
42:47 Reliving Iconic Moments in 90s Music History
47:01 Personal Associations with 90s Songs and Albums
54:46 Nostalgia for 90s Trends: Flannel Shirts and Loud Choruses -
(Audio) Who is the Greatest American Rock Band? Plus Taylor Swift's Billie Jean?
Summary
In this episode, Craig Lyndall and Andrew Schnitkey discuss the greatest American rock bands of all time. They start by talking about Taylor Swift and her impact as a pop phenomenon. They then dive into the question of whether a song like Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' could happen today, given the changes in the music industry and how people consume music. They then move on to the main topic of the episode, ranking the top American rock bands. They discuss bands like Rage Against the Machine, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Aerosmith, Prince, Red Hot Chili Peppers, REM, and Foo Fighters. In this conversation, Craig and his guest discuss the top American rock bands. They cover bands like Foo Fighters, Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, Guns N' Roses, Metallica, and Pearl Jam. They discuss the peak, longevity, and cultural impact of each band, sharing personal preferences and experiences. They also mention the omission of Green Day and acknowledge that there may be other bands that should have been included.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Taylor Swift
09:50 Ranking the Greatest American Rock Bands
23:25 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
26:45 Aerosmith
29:09 Prince
32:47 Red Hot Chili Peppers
38:52 REM
43:33 Foo Fighters
44:03 Foo Fighters: Consistently Good or Nebulous Mesh?
47:46 The Beach Boys: More Than Surf Songs
52:00 Bruce Springsteen: The Coolest September 23 Birthday
56:26 Nine Inch Nails: Iconic Imagery and Cultural Impact
01:00:16 Nirvana: The Explosive Impact of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'
01:06:49 Guns N' Roses: The Most Dangerous Band in the World
01:12:04 Metallica: The Last Great Rock Band
01:20:46 Green Day: The Omission That Should Have Been Included -
(Audio Only) More Pearl Jam Dark Matter Reaction Plus Cloud Nothings Final Summer Review
In this conversation, Craig Lyndall and Andrew Schnitkey discuss Pearl Jam, 'Dark Matter,' a week later, as well as the latest release from Cloud Nothings, Final Summer. They reflect on their initial reactions to 'Dark Matter' and how their enthusiasm for the album has grown. They also discuss the album reviews, including a mixed review from Pitchfork. The conversation then shifts to Cloud Nothings and their history as a band. They discuss the evolution of their sound and the impact of their album 'Attack on Memory.' Cloud Nothings is a band that has evolved and experimented with their sound over the years. They have released several albums, each with its own unique style and energy. From their self-titled album to Attack on Memory, they showcased their edginess and catchy vocal melodies. Life Without Sound marked a shift towards a more melodic sound, while Last Building Burning brought back their aggressive rock sound. Their latest album, Final Summer, blends elements from their previous albums and delivers a consistent and enjoyable listening experience. Cloud Nothings' ability to consistently produce great albums is a testament to their talent and dedication as a band.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties Last Episode
14:01 Reviewing the Reviews: Pitchfork and 'Dark Matter'
35:26 The Importance of Listening to New Music
42:28 Exploring Cloud Nothings' Discography
49:12 The Consistency of Cloud Nothings' Albums -
Pearl Jam Dark Matter Reaction and Review
In this episode, Andrew and Craig dive into Pearl Jam's latest release, "Dark Matter," offering track-by-track insights. They kick off with a look at the band's collaboration with Andrew Watt, noting how it ignited a creative resurgence and influenced the album’s production, especially the nuanced use of compression.
They start by examining the album's fresh direction and its deviation from Pearl Jam's traditional sound. Special attention is given to tracks 'Scared of Fear' and 'React Respond,' sparking a lively debate over their contributions to the album's narrative. The song 'Wreckage' is then singled out for its emotional depth, earning high praise as a standout piece in Pearl Jam’s recent discography.
The hosts share their affection for 'Wreckage' and dissect 'Dark Matter,' the track, for its intense homage to the band’s rock roots. 'Won't Tell' stirs a split verdict due to its chorus, with discussions also covering 'Upper Hand’s' nod to rock legends through its compelling guitar work. Additionally, the episode highlights the album's drumming excellence and the impactful vocals on 'Waiting for Stevie,' culminating in its anthemic close.
Overall, "Dark Matter" is portrayed as a pivotal Pearl Jam album that showcases Eddie Vedder's iconic vocals and the band's evolved songwriting prowess. Featuring gems like 'Wreckage,' 'Waiting for Stevie,' and 'Setting Sun,' the album marks a significant point in the band's journey, blending their signature rock sound with a newfound vibrancy. Essential listening for fans, "Dark Matter" promises to leave a lasting impression with its memorable tracks.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Overall Album Review
12:19 Chapter 1: Pearl Jam's New Album: A Departure and a Creative Spark
31:53 The Emotional Impact of 'Wreckage'
41:28 Mixed Opinions on 'Won't Tell'
53:37 Exceptional Drumming on the Album
01:00:02 The Triumphant Finish of 'Waiting for Stevie'
01:14:39 The great ending with 'Setting Sun'
01:27:46 A culmination of something long-awaited and believed