You, Me and An Album

Al Melchior
  • 5.0 (17)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY
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On each episode, a guest introduces the host, Al Melchior, to an album they love but that he doesn't know.

  1. 5D AGO

    216. Maia Sharp Discusses Lord Huron, Vide Noir

    Send us a text On this episode, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Maia Sharp gets Al acquainted with Lord Huron’s 2018 album Vide Noir. (Maia was previously a guest on Ep 124, when she and Al talked about Historian by Lucy Dacus.) Maia explains why Vide Noir is on heavy rotation at her home and how this album—and Lord Huron’s music more generally—has informed her own songwriting. She also discusses the making of her latest album Tomboy, delving into some of the lyrical themes, arrangements and songwriting processes. Learn more about Maia and her music at https://www.maiasharp.com/! To hear exclusive songs, previews and much more, check out Maia’s Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/maiasharp. You can also follow Maia on Instagram at @maiasharpmusic and on Facebook at @maiasharpofficial. At the end of this episode, Al mentioned the song that Maia co-wrote as part of the Songwriting With Soldiers program. To learn more about the making of “Strumming Hand,” see the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDhW4szERds. To learn more about Songwriting With Soldiers, visit their website at https://songwritingwithsoldiers.org/. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.  The first six episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum 1:19 Maia’s introduction 2:19 Al had heard of Lord Huron before…barely 6:03 Maia explains why she picked Vide Noir for this episode 11:02 Maia talks about songwriting lessons she has learned from Lord Huron 16:04 Al and Maia compare the experiences of listening to Lord Huron and Bon Iver 21:20 Al and Maia talk about the lack of action in Ben Schneider’s story 24:51 Maia loves the slackness of the drums on Vide Noir 30:16 Why doesn’t Maia usually like music that sounds theatrical? 32:18 Maia and Al note the album’s blend of retro and futuristic sounds 34:21 Maia appreciates how listening to Vide Noir is a full experience 39:04 There’s not much suspense as to how the protagonist’s story is going to end 40:13 Maia took a different approach to listening to Vide Noir in preparing for this episode 43:13 Maia talks about the use of percussion on Tomboy 48:08 Maia recounts the process of writing “Better Story” with Matthew Perryman Jones 52:30 Maia talks about her upcoming plans Outro is from “Strumming Hand” by Maia Sharp. Support the show

    1h 3m

  2. 12/26/2025

    215. Scott Dudelson Discusses Dillard & Clark, The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark

    Send us a text For the final YMAAA episode of 2025, music photographer, podcaster, entrepreneur and record collector Scott Dudelson introduces Al to Dillard & Clark’s 1968 debut album The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark. Scott talks about how he first encountered the album, why it had special significance for him during an important time in his life and why it continues to be a favorite album of his. He also discusses how bluegrass legend Doug Dillard and rock icon Gene Clark became a duo and how Bernie Leadon came to be an important contributor to their work. Scott also talks about his Legends podcast, his work as a music photographer and rebuilding his substantial record collection after losing his home in the Palisades Fire. You can check out Scott’s interviews on his @alldayvinyl YouTube channel or at the home for his Legends podcast, https://musiclegendspodcast.com/. Scott mentioned his Instagram account, and you can follow him there at @alldayvinyl. He also has an IG account for his photography at @photos_by_the_dude. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.  The first five episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum 1:15 Scott’s introduction 2:08 Scott explains why he picked this Dillard & Clark album for this episode 3:40 Learning about Dillard & Clark helped both Scott and Al to better see the connections between country and rock 5:24 Scott revisits his experience of buying The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark 9:08 Scott recalls what impressed him about the album initially 10:33 Scott talks about Bernie Leadon’s role on the album 13:10 Scott discusses some of the details regarding the album that he learned from interviewing Leadon 17:21 Scott explains why this album resonates for him personally 22:35 Scott spotlights the songs that stand out for him 25:58 “Train Leaves Here This Morning” sent Al on a musical exploration 27:44 "The Radio Song” reminded Scott and Al of other songs 30:41 The Dillard & Clark album inspired Scott to explore other music 33:35 Scott talks about starting All Day Vinyl and interviewing Leadon 35:30 Scott discusses the process of rebuilding his record collection with help from donations 39:44 Scott doesn’t just listen to music on vinyl 41:33 Scott mentions some interviews he has done for his Legends podcast 43:02 Scott explains how he got started as a music photographer Support the show

    48 min

  3. 12/10/2025

    214. Madison Cunningham Discusses Silver Apples, self-titled

    Send us a text Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter-guitarist Madison Cunningham joins Al to introduce him to the 1968 debut album by Silver Apples, Madison talks about how she became acquainted with the album, the unusual way the album was made and why it has become a meaningful album for her personally. She and Al highlight their favorite tracks and discuss how they relate to the album’s lyrics. Madison also discusses the making of her latest album, Ace, and the process of selecting its three singles. For Madison’s tour info, merch, newsletter and more, go to her website at https://www.madisoncunningham.com/. You can also follow Madison on the following platforms: Instagram: @madicunningham Facebook: @madisoncunninghammusic Tiktok: @madisoncunningham_ YouTube: @madisoncunningham Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.  The first five episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum 1:26 Madison’s introduction 2:21 Madison explains what makes Silver Apples special for her 4:49 Madison shares how she first discovered this album 5:52 Madison talks about her initial experiences with listening to the album 9:08 Al describes his listening experience 11:35 Madison got some songwriting insights from listening to Silver Apples 13:39 Sliver Apples reminded Al of another artist covered on YMAAA 16:19 Madison and Al talk about the surprisingly human quality of the music, even though it’s electronic 19:09 Madison talks about Silver Apples' performance in Central Park for the moon landing 21:29 Madison recounts how Silver Apples disbanded after the release of their second album 23:57 Al explains why he finds “Oscillations” amusing 25:51 Madison and Al discuss their favorite tracks from the album 31:07 “Dancing Gods” left both Madison and Al confused 34:09 Madison appreciates Danny Taylor’s approach to drumming 36:39 Madison talks about her reactions to the album’s lyrics 41:52 Madison sees bands like Silver Apples as an antidote to the negative side of the singer-songwriter scene 43:46 Is there a common link between Silver Apples and Madison’s work? 47:36 Madison talks about her mindset during the time of making Ace 50:58 Do the singles from Ace feel like singles? 54:51 Madison explains why she recorded new live versions of songs for music videos 59:28 Madison talks about her upcoming tour and plugs one of her favorite albums of 2025 Outro music is from “Goodwill” by Madison Cunningham Support the show

    1h 5m

  4. 12/01/2025

    213. Jack Cooper Discusses Michael Head Introducing The Strands, The Magical World of the Strands

    Send us a text On this episode, UK-based guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Jack Cooper of Modern Nature introduces Al to the 1997 Michael Head Introducing The Strands album The Magical World of the Strands. Jack talks about how and when he first learned about Head’s work and how he eventually became familiar with The Magical World of the Strands. He explains why he thinks this particular album stands out in Head’s discography and why it has a timeless quality. Jack also discusses Modern Nature’s latest album, The Heat Warps, and the ways in which it is a departure from the band’s prior releases. To learn more about Modern Nature, their music and tour schedule, visit their website at modernnature.band. Also, you can follow the band on Instagram at @m0dernnature and on Facebook at @modernnatureuk. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.  The first four episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:18 Jack’s introduction 2:11 Jack was first introduced to Head’s music through Shack 6:58 Head’s music was never heavily marketed 8:54 Jack recalls how he wound up exploring The Magical World of the Strands 15:06 Jack explains what makes The Magical World of the Strands stand out among Head’s albums 17:32 Al shares his initial reactions to the album 20:33 Jack theorizes how Head and the Strands were able to make an album that sounded like it was from a different time 23:02 Jack and Al talk about the album’s “horizontal” nature 25:42 Al discusses the circumstance in which he did most of his listening to the album 27:49 Jack is a fan of Head’s more recent work with the Red Elastic Band 33:33 Jack shares his final thoughts about the album 36:13 Al sees a link between a comment made by Miki Berenyi and the themes on The Heat Warps 38:45 Jack talks about his perception of the U.S. based on his tour experiences 41:16 Jack stresses the importance of artists showing solidarity with those who resist the rise of fascism 43:37 Al explains why he finds The Heat Warps to be a rewarding listen 45:16 Jack talks about the importance of making albums sound cohesive 48:39 Jack explains why he referenced a line from “Stairway to Heaven” in “Jetty” 54:54 Jack shares the upcoming plans for Modern Nature Outro music is from “Pharaoh” by Modern Nature. Support the show

    59 min

  5. 11/19/2025

    212. Wreckless Eric Discusses Tom Petty, Full Moon Fever

    Send us a text On this episode, English alternative rock singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and engineer Wreckless Eric talks to Al about Tom Petty’s 1989 multi-Platinum solo debut Full Moon Fever. Eric explains how he was belatedly introduced to the album, and what he loves and doesn’t love about it. He also makes the case for Full Moon Fever being the original Dad Rock album. Eric talks about his new solo album, England Screaming, which is a remaking of A Roomful of Monkeys, the lone album released by his mid-‘80s project Captains of Industry. You can find all things Wreckless Eric-related on his website, wrecklesseric.com. You can also follow Eric on Instagram at @thewrecklesseric. For Eric’s videos, check out his YouTube channel at @wrecklessericericgoulden6001. You can buy or stream England Screaming—and some of Eric’s other work—on Bandcamp at https://wrecklesseric.bandcamp.com/. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.  The first four episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:25 Eric’s introduction 2:11 Eric explains why he chose Full Moon Fever for this episode 5:10 Eric talks about the homemade nature of the Full Moon Fever recording 9:24 Eric was not listening to Petty around the time that Full Moon Fever came out 12:47 Eric recalls what impressed him about the album when he first listened to it 15:28 Eric talks about the unique way the drums were recorded 20:40 Eric thinks Full Moon Fever could be the first Dad Rock album 28:06 Does “Free Fallin’” fit the theme of the album? 33:52 Eric explains how the bright acoustic guitar sound was created on “Free Fallin’” 36:41 Eric recalls an encounter with producer Denny Cordell 41:17 Eric has a theory for why Petty included a cover of “Feel a Whole Lot Better” on the album 45:28 Eric talks about how Full Moon Fever was initially going to have fewer tracks 47:28 Al didn’t realize Full Moon Fever preceded The Traveling Wilburys 49:16 Eric explains why the album wasn’t called Songs from the Garage 52:32 Eric discusses what makes Full Moon Fever a complicated listening experience for him 1:04:17 Eric and Al talk about features of “Runnin’ Down a Dream” they like 1:07:14 Eric recommends that the “haters” listen to the whole album 1:08:13 Eric explains why he remade A Roomful of Monkeys as England Screaming 1:14:33 Eric talks about recording England Screaming with drummer Sam Shepherd 1:21:43 Eric extols the virtues of playing slow 1:25:09 Eric explains why A Roomful of Monkeys didn’t turn out the way he envisioned 1:28:09 Eric talks about his upcoming live events 1:29:29 Eric discusses the importance of the arts Outro music is from “Land Of The Faint At Heart” by Wreckless Eric. Support the show

    1h 39m

  6. 11/07/2025

    211. Emma Swift Discusses Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago (see notes re: TW)

    Send us a text On this episode, Nashville-based, Australian-born singer-songwriter Emma Swift introduces Al to Bon Iver’s 2007 album For Emma, Forever Ago. Emma talks about how she first learned about Bon Iver and this particular album as a DJ in Sydney. She explains what drew her to Justin Vernon’s music and what set him apart from other indie artists of the late 2000s. Emma also highlights some of her favorite aspects and moments from For Emma, Forever Ago. She and Al wind up by discussing her latest album, The Resurrection Game, how it came to have its full, cinematic sound, and what she has planned for the months ahead. TRIGGER WARNING: At 44:47, Emma makes a brief reference to suicidal ideation. Skip ahead to 45:14 to resume with the next topic. Correction: Al says that For Emma, Forever Ago was Justin Vernon’s solo debut. However, prior to that album, Vernon had made two albums under his own name and one as “JD Vernon.” There is no shortage of ways to keep up with Emma, so make sure you visit/follow her on the following platforms! Socials: @emmaswiftsings on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Website: https://www.emmaswift.com/ Blog: https://emmaswiftsings.substack.com/ Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.  The first four episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:31 Emma’s introduction 2:10 Emma and Al were not trying to be cute with this episode’s album selection 3:00 Emma shares her reasons for picking For Emma, Forever Ago 6:47 Emma admires the introspective creative process that Vernon employed for making this album 11:40 Al explains why he had a difficult time getting into the album 14:04 Should Al have chosen a different album from Emma’s short list? 15:51 Emma talks about what distinguishes For Emma, Forever Ago from other late-Aughts folk 20:36 Listening to Bon Iver is part of Al’s effort to catch up on music he missed in the 2000s and 2010s 24:31 Emma names some artists that she has caught up on recently 26:23 Vernon’s honesty about his struggles caught Emma’s attention 28:44 Al talks about some of the features of Vernon’s production that he liked 31:47 Emma focuses on two of the tracks she enjoys from the album 37:09 Emma explains why she thinks this album is “uncoverable” 41:03 Emma talks about why she opted for a cinematic approach with The Resurrection Game 46:57 Emma notes the ascendancy of a new model of masculinity in indie music 52:41 Emma talks about her upcoming touring and recording plans 59:02 Emma tells us about the concerts she has recently attended 1:00:58 Emma has another covers album coming out 1:03:24 Emma talks about some of the music she’s been listening to 1:07:27 Emma has a theory about Al’s musical tastes 1:10:28 Emma recommends the Michael Shannon/Jason Narducy R.E.M. shows Outro music is from “No Happy Endings” by Emma Swift. Support the show

    1h 17m

  7. 10/30/2025

    210. Andrea Walker Discusses Fleetwood Mac, Tango in the Night

    Send us a text Andrea Walker, co-founder, primary songwriter and guitarist for the Portland-based indie rock band Glitterfox, visits YMAAA to talk about Fleetwood Mac’s 1987 album Tango in the Night. Andrea discusses how she got into Fleetwood Mac, and this album in particular, through learning and performing the songs, and how playing Fleetwood Mac covers was instrumental to the development of Glitterfox. She also talks about what she likes about the sound of Tango in the Night, and which songs are her favorites. She and Al break the album down by the clusters of songs written and sung by each of the band’s three primary songwriters—Lindsey Buckingham, the late Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks. They wrap up by discussing Glitterfox’s recently-released album Decoder and the band’s tour plans. You can follow Andrea on Instagram at @andreaplaysguitar. There are several ways to keep up with Glitterfox. On Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, they’re at @glitterfoxband. There’s also their website, https://glitterfoxband.myshopify.com/. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.  The first four episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:42 Andrea’s introduction 2:33 Andrea talks about Glitterfox’s history of covering Fleetwood Mac songs 6:11 Andrean discusses her role as Glitterfox’s main songwriter 8:01 Andrea explains why she chose Tango in the Night for this episode 11:51 Al explains why he never bought or listened to Tango in the Night 16:11 Andrea talks about the production technique that gives Tango in the Night its ethereal feel 20:08 The different sound on Tango in the Night extends to the vocals 23:02 Andrea pinpoints when she started getting into Tango in the Night 25:18 Andrea explains why she didn’t focus much on soloing until recently 28:02 Learning Fleetwood Mac covers was instrumental to Glitterfox’s growth as a band 28:51 Andrea picks her favorite tracks from the album 30:01 Al sees a common link among his favorite songs from Tango in the Night 32:29 Al talks about the part of the album he might skip 34:04 Andrea and Al discuss the Stevie songs 42:30 Andrea and Al are “Team Christine,” but Andrea is also “Team Lindsey” 47:20 Andrea is impressed by the struggles and determination needed to complete Tango in the Night 48:40 Al is fascinated by the post-TITN era of Fleetwood Mac 51:50 Andrea talks about some of the specific ways that Glitterfox and Fleetwood Mac are similar 57:00 Andrea pinpoints what makes Glitterfox’s sound distinct 1:01:04 Andrea talks about the videos Glitterfox made for Decoder 1:03:50 Andrea lays out Glitterfox’s upcoming tour plans Outro music is from “Wildfires” by Glitterfox. Support the show

    1h 9m

  8. 10/22/2025

    209. Leanne Butkovic and Angie Boylan of Freezing Cold Discuss No Doubt, Tragic Kingdom

    Send us a text Leanne Butkovic and Angie Boylan, who comprise the rhythm section of the New York-based indie rock trio Freezing Cold, join Al to discuss No Doubt’s 1995 breakthrough album Tragic Kingdom. Leanne and Angie each talk about how the album was formative for them, why they still enjoy it and why being a fan of the band—and of Gwen Stefani in particular—is sometimes challenging. They also talk about Freezing Cold’s latest album, Treasure Pool, and their collaborative songwriting process. You can follow Angie on Instagram at @angie_boylan. Freezing Cold also has an account on Instagram: @freezingcoldband. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.  The first four episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:38 Leanne and Angie join the show 2:04 Al talks about his preconceptions about Tragic Kingdom 3:43 Angie details how she became obsessed with Tragic Kingdom and No Doubt when she was 12 7:46 Leanne recalls her first concert and her early music listening experiences 10:58 Leanne identifies the elements of No Doubt’s sound and image that she found so appealing 14:14 Angie talks about Gwen Stefani as a fashion icon 15:18 Leanne discusses the complicated nature of being a Gwen Stefani fan 20:43 Angie talks about the more politically progressive side of No Doubt 23:03 Leanne and Angie have felt betrayed by Stefani at times 25:10 Al got over his preconceptions 27:31 No Doubt demonstrate their versatility on Tragic Kingdom 30:49 Leanne talks about Gwen Stefani as a lyricist 32:00 Angie, Leanne and Al discuss how Adrian Young and Gwen Stefani thrived as relatively inexperienced musicians 36:13 Angie and Leanne cite some of their favorite tracks from the album 39:39 Angie notes the one track that she skips 40:27 Leanne thinks No Doubt may have benefited from Interscope needing Tragic Kingdom to be a hit  41:48 Leanne shares her reactions to the album’s final two tracks 45:34 Leanne and Angie enjoyed No Doubt’s 2024 reunion performance at Coachella 47:08 Leanne explains how she joined Freezing Cold 48:52 Leanne discusses how Freezing Cold typically write songs 50:40 “The Day” is an outlier on Treasure Pool 55:20 Angie talks about how she and Jeff Cunningham have simplified their songwriting for Freezing Cold 57:03 Angie explains how she became the touring and studio drummer for Sleater-Kinney 58:26 Leanne discusses some of Marissa Paternoster’s contributions to Freezing Cold 1:00:12 Angie and Leanne talk about Freezing Cold's upcoming plans Outro music is from “Eclipse” by Freezing Cold. Support the show

    1h 6m
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About

On each episode, a guest introduces the host, Al Melchior, to an album they love but that he doesn't know.

Information

  • Creator
    Al Melchior
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    217
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 You, Me and An Album
  • Show Website
    You, Me and An Album