You, Me and An Album

Al Melchior
  • 5.0 (18)
  • Music Interviews
  • Updated Weekly

If you're looking for fresh perspectives on beloved albums, this is the show for you. Get to know albums through the ears of the musicians, journalists and music enthusiasts who love them. Host Al Melchior and his guests discuss the magic of music discovery and building lifelong relationships with their favorite albums.

  1. 4d ago

    Joey Held Discusses The Gaslight Anthem, The '59 Sound

    Send us Fan Mail Writer, podcaster, guitarist and voiceover artist Joey Held joins Al to introduce him to The Gaslight Anthem’s 2008 album The ’59 Sound. Joey talks about the experience that led him to become a fan of The Gaslight Album and of The ’59 Sound in particular. He explains what it is about The ’59 Sound that makes it one of his favorite albums, and he and Al explore the many musical references that are captured in the album’s lyrics and sounds. Joey also talks about his recent work, including what’s new for his band Burning Years and why he began his Sports R Dumb podcast. You can follow Joey on Instagram at @phat_phoodies and check out his work on his websites joeyheld.com and wackytravel.com. As Joey mentioned, there are many places where you can buy or stream Burning Years’ music. Bandcamp is one of those places, and the band has a page there: burningyearstexas.bandcamp.com. Listen to Sports R Dumb! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-r-dumb/id1614525956 You can also follow the show on Instagram at @sportsrdumb. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.  To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:17 Joey’s introduction 2:36 Joey shares why he chose The ‘59 Sound for this episode 5:06 Joey has a vivid memory of how he first got introduced to The Gaslight Anthem 7:37 Joey and Al talk about The Gaslight Anthem’s connections to Bruce Springsteen 9:39 The Gaslight Anthem evoked other artists and eras for both Joey and Al 13:49 Joey cites a couple of settings where it was especially fun to listen to The ’59 Sound 18:44 Joey speaks to the album’s flow and sequencing 22:46 Joey highlights a couple of his favorite tracks 24:55 Al and Joey react to the many musical references in the lyrics 28:32 Joey explains why he thinks The ’59 Sound is The Gaslight Anthem’s best album 33:39 Joey singles out one thing that could have been improved on The Gaslight Anthem’s albums 35:22 Joey talks about how he started the Sports R Dumb podcast 40:44 Joey updates us on his band Burning Years 44:15 Joey discusses the many places online where he’s posting Outro music is from “Under Pressure” by Burning Years. Support the show

  2. Oct 16

    Ben Hozie Discusses Milk Dick, It Grows on You

    Send us Fan Mail Guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and film director Ben Hozie of the Brooklyn-based indie rock band Bodega visits YMAAA to talk about Milk Dick’s 2014 album It Grows on You. Ben explains how he got acquainted with Milk Dick’s music and why It Grows on You has been his musical companion for more than a decade. He discusses how the band’s theatrical and sometimes serious side co-exists with the humor and silliness inherent to their musical style and band name. Ben also breaks down several of his favorite tracks from the album. He talks about the musical influences that informed Bodega’s new album All Inside Aquarium as well as discussing his ATM: At This Moment podcast and upcoming film Jack London Calling. To learn more about Bodega or to check out their music, please visit their website and Bandcamp page, respectively at bodega-band.com and bodegabk.bandcamp.com. You can also follow the band on Instagram and TikTok at @bodegabk and check out their videos at @bodegaNYC on YouTube. To hear Ben’s interview with Milk Dick’s Mike Delaney on his ATM: At This Moment podcast, go to https://podcasts.apple.com/bw/podcast/s1-ep17-mike-delaney-cry-when-yr-young/id1759971591?i=1000678578548. For information on Ben’s latest film project, Jack London Calling, and Pretorius Pictures generally, go to https://pretoriuspictures.tumblr.com/. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.  To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:28 Ben’s introduction 2:06 Ben explains why he chose It Grows on You for this episode 3:40 Ben and Al address the band’s name 4:43 Ben talks about first getting acquainted with Milk Dick through their live shows 5:20 Ben notes how Milk Dick combines their playful and serious sides 9:44 Ben talks about the theatrical nature of Milk Dick’s music, particularly on “Bathroom Door” 15:22 Ben provides some history on Milk Dick 18:03 Ben highlights “Grey Shapes” as one of his favorite songs on the album 19:50 Ben ponders the meaning of “My BF, Socrates” 21:34 Ben and Al talk about their reactions to “Rhythm Rock” 23:55 Is “Beach Needles (Coney)” in poor taste or ironic? 28:03 Ben reveals which track from It Grows on You is his favorite 30:40 Ben and Al discuss the brevity of the album’s songs 32:27 Ben talks about Delaney’s ability to confront his dark side 34:24 Ben addresses how It Grows on You has continued to be an important part of his life 35:37 Ben explains why he is a musical obsessive (or “cultural consumer”) 40:53 Ben shares which album he has listened to dozens of times this year 42:55 Al and Ben grapple with the definition of post-punk and how it applies to All Inside Aquarium 50:44 Ben talks about Bodega’s ‘60s and ‘90s inspirations 57:16 Ben elaborates on why All Inside Aquarium is so riffy 58:37 Ben explains why he started the ATM: At This Moment podcast 1:02:36 Ben talks about his upcoming film Jack London Calling Outro music is from “Pick up the Check” by Bodega. Support the show

  3. Oct 8

    Paula Fong Discusses Gillian Welch, Revival

    Send us Fan Mail Los Angeles-based Americana singer-songwriter Paula Fong joins Al to introduce him to Gillian Welch’s 1996 album Revival. Paula explores what made Revival instantly appealing to her, and she explains why it continues to be one of her favorite albums and an important influence on her own music. Paula also discusses her new album A Bird on the Wing and her collaboration with Nickel Creek guitarist Sean Watkins on her cover of “Turn! Turn! Turn!”. For information on Paula’s music, upcoming live dates and more, visit her website paulafong.com. You can also follow her on Instagram and YouTube at @paulafongmusic. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.  To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:11 Paula’s introduction 2:19 Paula recalls how she first got acquainted with Revival 4:49 Paula explains why she was drawn to the sound of Revival right away 7:40 Paula and Al talk about the authenticity of Welch’s music 9:48 Al had to warm up to the album 10:47 Paula talks about a formative experience she had with Celtic folk music 13:32 Paula and Al talk about the importance of formative experiences in shaping musical tastes 15:18 Paula talks about what she finds particularly striking about the songs on Revival 19:52 Paula and Al have very different reactions to “Paper Wings” 22:42 Paula explains what separates Revival from the rest of Welch’s discography 24:22 Paula notes how influential David Rawlings’ guitar playing has been 25:44 Paula cites the ways in which Welch and Rawlings have influenced her music 30:01 Paula and Al get more clues that they have very different tastes 31:56 Paula and Al talk about the value of repeated listening 33:14 Paula explains how she wound up collaborating with Watkins on her cover of “Turn! Turn! Turn!” 37:46 Paula goes into how her version of “Turn! Turn! Turn!” got arranged 40:30 Paula explains the story behind “What Are We Running From” 44:49 Paula talks about her upcoming live dates Outro music is from “Up and Out” by Paula Fong. Support the show

  4. Sep 30

    Cindy Blackman Santana Discusses Her Work Past, Present and Future

    Send us Fan Mail For this episode, virtuoso drummer Cindy Blackman Santana chose her 2020 album Give the Drummer Some as the focus for this discussion, but she and Al branch out into a wide-ranging conversation about several of her albums. Cindy talks about why she decided to write and sing lyrics for Give the Drummer Some, and she highlights some of the album’s notable tracks. Cindy also discusses her 2010 Tony Williams tribute album Another Lifetime, her recently-released album Coherence and the upcoming self-titled release for the supergroup Power of 3 (with Orianthi and Rhonda Smith). As Cindy mentions on the episode, she has several live dates with her band over the next few months. Here are the dates for her shows in Baltimore and New York. For more information, go to cindyblackmansantana.com. Oct. 24-25, Keystone Corner, Baltimore, MD Dec. 4-6, Blue Note NYC, New York, NY For more information on Cindy’s recordings and shows, give her a follow on these platforms… Instagram, TikTok: @cindyblackmansantana Facebook: @cindyblackmandrummer The Power of 3 is also on Instagram at @thepowerof3official Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.  To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:24 Cindy’s introduction 2:23 Cindy explains why she wanted to talk about Give the Drummer Some 3:45 Cindy talks about the song that led to her making Give the Drummer Some with Narada Michael Walden 6:46 Cindy recalls how she took on the challenge of becoming a vocalist 9:14 Cindy discusses the songwriting process for Give the Drummer Some 15:44 Cindy highlights some of her favorite things about Give the Drummer Some 18:28 Cindy talks about the recording process for Give the Drummer Some 20:05 Cindy revisits her Tony Williams tribute album Another Lifetime 21:48 Cindy explains how her “suite” for “Coherence” came together 28:11 Cindy talks about the formation of the new supergroup The Power of 3 32:04 Cindy discusses the vinyl version of Coherence and her upcoming live dates Outro music is from “Guitar Love” by Cindy Blackman Santana (feat. John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana). Support the show

  5. Sep 24

    Jorina Stamm Discusses Phoebe Bridgers, Lost Weekend

    Send us Fan Mail Jorina Stamm of the Swiss indie pop band Soft Loft joins Al for this week’s album deep dive, and she chose Phoebe Bridgers’ Lost Weekend (released on August 14) to discuss. Jorina explains why she wanted to talk about Lost Weekend and shares her early reactions to this highly-anticipated release. She also discusses how listening to Lost Weekend got her thinking more about concept albums. Jorina explains how Soft Loft unintentionally made a concept album with their recent release Throw the Dice, and she talks about the band’s upcoming tour dates and other plans. Want to know more about Jorina and Soft Loft? You can find them in these places online… softloftmusic.com (includes newsletter signup) Instagram: @softloftsoftloft Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.  To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:21 Jorina’s introduction 2:04 Jorina explains why she picked Lost Weekend for this episode 4:04 Jorina talks about her initial experience with listening to the album 5:35 Jorina explains how doing research enhanced her listening experience 6:54 Jorina and Al react to the album opening with “The Outside” 10:09 Jorina notes the songs that have stood out to her so far 11:51 Jorina explains what she likes about Bridgers’ songwriting 13:11 Jorina and Al talk about the speculation over how much Bridgers’ lyrics are about her personal relationships 17:30 Jorina highlights the musical aspects of the album she likes 18:47 Jorina explains why her experience with listening to Lost Weekend was not a typical one for her 21:20 Jorina and Al identify their go-to tracks for one-offs 26:49 Jorina talks about why she has recently revisited some of Bridgers’ earlier work 29:36 Jorina and Al discuss Cameron Winter’s involvement with the album 33:57 Al had a failed attempt at listening to Lost Weekend right when it came out 34:57 Jorina explains how the theme of Throw the Dice came together 41:26 Jorina talks about the reaction to “Wednesdays” 44:15 Jorina reveals Soft Loft’s upcoming plans Outro music is from “What Are The Odds” by Soft Loft. Support the show

  6. Sep 18

    Michael Rudd Discusses Townes Van Zandt, self-titled

    Send us Fan Mail Albuquerque-based Americana singer-songwriter Michael Rudd joins Al for a deep-dive analysis of Townes Van Zandt’s 1969 self-titled album. Michael explains why he admires Van Zandt’s songwriting, notes what makes this album a special one in Van Zandt’s discography and breaks down the album’s highlights. He also discusses how he became inspired to create a five-album cycle over the last few years and goes into detail on some of the tracks off his latest release, Midnight at Dawn. You can find Michael’s music and keep up with him through the following places. https://www.michaelrudd.com/ https://michaelrudd.bandcamp.com/ @michaelruddmusic on YouTube @michael.rudd.music on Instagram and Facebook Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.  To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:16 Michael’s introduction 2:32 Michael talks about his relatively recent introduction to Townes Van Zandt’s music 4:18 Michael explains why Townes Van Zandt is a perfect album 5:15 Michael and Al discuss the emotional nature of “Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel” 7:08 Michael explains why Van Zandt stands out to him among other great songwriters 12:21 Michael hears something about the Southwestern landscape in Van Zandt’s voice 13:25 Al and Michael discuss the spiritual nature of the lyrics in “Just For the Sake of the Song” 19:39 Michael picks out some of the other highlights from the album 25:37 How much does Michael listen to Townes Van Zandt? 26:39 Michael thinks the self-titled album distinguishes itself in Van Zandt’s discography 27:54 Michael explains how he wound up creating a five-album cycle 34:48 Michael talks about the perils of trying to interpret lyrics 37:11 Michael cites the biggest influence that Van Zandt has had on his own work 39:16 Michael discusses the meaning of “Made It Out of Jersey” 47:50 Michael provides an update on Palace of Flames Outro music is from “Made It Out of Jersey” by Michael Rudd. Support the show

  7. Sep 10

    Wesley Stace Discusses Robert Wyatt, Rock Bottom

    Send us Fan Mail For his album deep dive, singer, songwriter, author and educator Wesley Stace chose Robert Wyatt’s 1974 album Rock Bottom. Wesley recounts the adolescent friendship that led to his discovery of Rock Bottom, and he explains why it has been one of his favorite albums in the ensuing decades. He delves into the non-sensical nature of Wyatt’s lyrics and why they carry deep meaning for him. Wesley also talks about his latest album One Last Heist, his recent movement towards jazzier music and his upcoming shows. There’s a lot to keep up with when it comes to Wesley’s music and shows, and you can do so at the following places online. wesleystace.com Instagram and Threads: @wesleystace Facebook: @wesley.stace.9 Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.  To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:02 Wesley’s introduction 2:00 Wesley recalls how he first got introduced to Robert Wyatt’s music 12:03 Wesley explains why he was drawn to Rock Bottom and how the album made him a lifelong Wyatt fan 18:05 Wesley makes a connection between Rock Bottom and the film Don’t Look Now 23:53 Wesley lauds Nick Mason’s production work and musical vision 27:00 It doesn’t take long for Rock Bottom to get non-sensical 32:14 Wesley sees the album as having broad appeal despite its bizarre quality 33:14 Wesley compares the non-sensical lyrics of Rock Bottom with those of Yes 36:23 A couple of childhood friends were instrumental to shaping Wesley’s musical explorations 39:47 Wesley sees a link between Robert Wyatt and Bob Dylan 44:37 Wesley and Al were impacted by Wyatt’s lyrics, even when they didn’t make sense 46:11 Wesley addresses why he didn’t pick a jazz album to discuss 48:51 Wesley was disappointed with one aspect of the Rock Bottom reissue 50:03 Wesley talks about the thread tying “One Last Heist” and “Hello Dead Horse”—the opening and closing tracks from One Last Heist 53:27 Wesley explains how he started making jazzier music 58:26 Wesley talks about upcoming Smithereens and Cabinet of Wonders shows Outro music is from “Not My Speed” by Wesley Stace. Support the show

  8. Sep 3

    Bossi Discusses Bruce Springsteen, The River

    Send us Fan Mail Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, YouTuber, poet and satirist Bossi joins Al for a rare double album deep dive, as she talks about Bruce Springsteen’s 1980 release The River. Bossi discusses her Springsteen fandom, which dates back to her childhood, and she explains why The River has been one of her favorite albums for decades. She explores the prominent themes of The River and illustrates how many of those themes are present in her own work, particularly on her latest album Tell All the Other Girls. Bossi also talks about her Finishing School for Difficult Women video series and how it developed from its beginnings as a part of the rollout for Tell All the Other Girls. You can explore the many facets of Bossi’s work in the following places: www.iambossi.com iambossi.bandcamp.com www.houseofbossi.com Instagram and TikTok: @iambossiofficial Substack and YouTube: @iambossi Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.  To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:19 Bossi’s introduction 2:09 Bossi is a big believer in the album format 4:21 Bossi’s father was instrumental to her Springsteen fandom 6:45 Bossi explains how a Springsteen concert changed her life 11:05 Bossi talks about why “The Price You Pay” is a special song for her 16:22 “Two Hearts” is another track where Springsteen explores the theme of “keeping the spark alive” 17:43 Bossi explains how The River is a hopeful album, despite its many bleak moments 21:35 Bossi notes the parallels between the themes on The River and in her own music 25:25 Al and Bossi talk about the masculinity of Springsteen’s songs and image 31:09 Al thinks The River should be a single album 33:23 Bossi talks about an ongoing emotional connection she has with one of Springsteen’s songs 35:52 Bossi highlights some of her favorite tracks from the second half of the album 40:23 Bossi talks about the role of memory in Springsteen’s songs as well as in hers 45:53 Bossi and Al contrast the feel of the two discs of the album 48:10 Bossi and Al note the similarities in the sequencing between The River and Tell All the Other Girls 52:37 Bossi explains why she didn’t end Tell All the Other Girls with “Hold On” 55:43 Bossi admires how Springsteen sometimes sets heavy lyrics to upbeat music 58:25 Bossi explains how her Finishing School videos grew out of her process of rolling out Tell All the Other Girls 1:06:13 Bossi’s Finishing School character had its roots in some of her earlier performances 1:07:50 Bossi talks about her intent in creating the Finishing School videos and Substack 1:13:11 Bossi discusses the House of Bossi 1:16:39 Bossi explains why she chose “Bossi” as her artist name Outro music is from “Run Baby Run” by Bossi. Support the show

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5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

If you're looking for fresh perspectives on beloved albums, this is the show for you. Get to know albums through the ears of the musicians, journalists and music enthusiasts who love them. Host Al Melchior and his guests discuss the magic of music discovery and building lifelong relationships with their favorite albums.

Information

  • Creator
    Al Melchior
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    255
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 You, Me and An Album
  • Show Website
    You, Me and An Album

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