That Awful Sound

Today we're revisiting the corporate circus of Woodstock '94 as Travis Duscay and I analyze performances by Green Day and Live. Could something like this ever happen at a modern festival like Coachella? Was their mudfight the precursor to Billie Joe's iHeartRadio "meltdown"?  Will Live get lucky again and release a single to coincide with an attack on American soil? Find out today! Good music: Woodstock performances of NIN's "Reptile" and and Metallica's "For Whom The Bell Tolls"

  Today I'm joined by Albert "311" Albanez to talk about two bizarre novelties from the 90's: Scatman John's "Scatman," and Lou Bega's "Mambo #5." We explore the Scatland utopia described in the Scatman's 1995 hit concept album, Scatman's World; try to decide if Mambo #5 is a failed attempt at a Macarena-style dance craze, and examine Lou Bega's stunningly rich assortment of terrible covers. We also remember David Bowie and share a story of a drunken scat-along to Under Pressure. Lots of scat.

Aimee-Beth returns to talk about Breakfast at Tiffany’s—a song by that band whose name you don’t know. We dissect their on-the-nose, breakfast-filled music video, fashion styles lost to the ages, and with the help of a few YouTube commenters, take Beethoven down a notch. We also discuss Good Songs by Broken Social Scene, Garbage, Save Ferris, and Polaris (yes, it’s that one)

Guest Aimee-Beth details her love/hate relationship with Reel Big Fish, and I argue that this cover might be the superior version of the song. We also discuss how the overbearing dorkiness of the two frontmen would have appealed to middle-school kids, and how the trumpet player reminds Aimee of a Nightmare Theater Boyfriend she had in high school.

Aaron Brock returns to help me dissect Dad Jam Anthems, Two Princes and Blues Traveler's Run-Around. Why are these supposed hippies in Spin Doctors writing lyrics about medieval courtship rituals? Is the fake band in Run-Around a deliberate parody of Counting Crows' Adam Duritz? Are either of these groups actual jam bands? Aaron also tells me about seeing Soul Asylum and Jimmy Buffet in concert as a kid, we discuss the Dad Rave known as the HORDE Festival, and discuss a couple "Adult Alternative" songs we actually like: Weezer's El Scorcho and Ben Folds Five's Do It Anyway.

Season 2! I talk to returning guest Cahn Curtis about swing revivalists Cherry Poppin' Daddies' "Zoot Suit Riot" and Brian Setzer's Stray Cats' "Rock This Town." We discuss the swing revival of the 90's, whether or not Stray Cats are punk (they're not), and argue about the merits of revisionist Americana. Happy New Year!

Today Nick Guenzler and Matt Booth return to talk about the disappointing career trajectory of Tom DeLonge. We're dissecting Blink 182's "All the Small Things," Box Car Racer's "I Feel So," and the incredibly masturbatory and highly entertaining Angels & Airwaves documentary, "Start the Machine."           We discuss Blink songs we actually like, Tom's transformation into a high school goth, and posit a possible connection between his grandiose, generically ambitious space operas and Scientology.

Leigh Ann Diefendorf and I are talking about nonsense words as we dissect Crash Test Dummies' Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm and Kid Rock's Bawitdaba. My guest opens up about her embarassing taste in showtunes, watching VH1 instead of MTV, and we also discuss Brad Roberts' bad poetry(?) and Kid Rock's dad owning a dealership(s).

Continuing with our theme of "Vaguely Folkish Alterna-Emo," I chat with Cahn about the bane of our 2006: Hey There Delilah by The Plain White T's. Cahn reminisces about being subjected to the song while on the clock, and I reminisce about hearing the song while buying alcohol in bulk. There's a story about an unusual phone-in request to the local radio station, Cahn adds a new bit to his routine, and we spend much more time than usual on music we actually like. Discussed on this episode: Jethro Tull, David Kauffman and Eric Caboor, Neil Young, My Morning Jacket, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, James Taylor Swift, Nirvana, and Iron & Wine

Cahn returns to the show and we debate how tolerable Bright Eyes' First Day of My Life is, while we generally agree that Dashboard Confessional's Screaming Infidelities is at best a "cool alternative" to traditional worship music. 

Today I talk to friend Kenny about two Cool music videos directed by Cool Hollywood Director McG: The Offspring's Pretty Fly for a White Guy and Korn's Got the Life. No further description. It's midnight. I'm tired. Goodnight. 

This week we tackle Monster Magnet's Space Lord--allegedly the first video broadcast on TRL. We delve into the world of self-appointed "sex-symbol" status, space breasts, and Marilyn Manson and Hole's co-headlining tour. I also read some listener email and give shoutouts to commenters on the site. 

On today's episode I'm joined by Shaina to talk about our middle school years and dissect Marilyn Manson' Dope Show and Hole's Celebrity Skin. My guest talks about her transformation fom Xena superfan into goth kid, being called a poser at the mall, and her dispute with Montel Williams (or possibly Montel Jordan). We also talk about one of my weirder ex-girlfriends and solve the murder of Kurt Cobain with the help of some plucky YouTube commenters.

Today, Kevan returns to help me hone in on the infamously terrible 90's hit "Tubthumping" by Chumbawumba. We dissect the painfully awkward video, remember our adolescent impressions of the song, discuss the band's anarcho-punk background, talk about finding hardcore and punk music in the age before YouTube and Spotify, and try to figure out why YouTube commenters have such a hard time finding good music nowadays.

Today I talk to friend and musician Kevan Aguilar about the semi-alt rock of the late 90's, including The Wallflowers' odd contribution to the Godzilla soundtrack and Third Eye Blind's meth and sex-laden hit Semi-Charmed Life. I try to figure out the video for Heroes, Kevan also discusses being introduced to bands by his older sisters, and we both realize what a loser Stephen Jenkins is.

We're finishing our Nu-Metal conversation today by remembering and dissecting Korn's "Falling Away From Me." We talk about how amazing it is that a music video about child abuse made it onto TRL, the crazy stories from their recording sessions, and growing up latino and listening to "white" music. We also talk extensively about navigating the early days of internet pornography, Nu-Metal we still actually like, and James's and my old hardcore band Life Tyrant.

In this episode I'm joined by two friends from the hardcore scene, James Hernandez and Derek Chacon, to make fun of the nu-metal we liked as kids, but also to talk about how it possibly led us to hardcore music. We're remembering and dissecting Static-X's "Black and White," their hilariously awkward collaboration with DMC, and Pantera's "Revolution Is My Name." Are Adidas responsible for this weird collab? Are moms everywhere responsible for preventing horrible adolescent fashion choices? Is Peter Criss responsible for Vinnie Paul's terrible facial hair? Find out on today's episode.

Movie Themes! I talk to Alex Shaw of the Digital Drift podcast about two ridiculous movie themes: Wild Wild West from the film Wild Wild West and Deepest Bluest from the film Deep Blue Sea. We've got fake beatboxing, lots of nipples, cute cowboy outfits, and LL Cool J literally morphing into a shark. We also discuss two movie themes we actually like, including Fiona Apple's cover of Across the Universe from the film Pleasantville and Aimee Mann's Wise Up from the film Magnolia.  

In this very special episode, Alex Shaw of the Digital Drift podcast joins me to discuss the Goo Goo Dolls' Iris as well as the film for which the song was written, City of Angels. The first half of the episode is spent on sandpaper vocals and unnecessary guitar solos, while we spend the second half tying the song's creepy lyrics to an even creepier film. Does anyone really believe the singer is looking at film footage through all those telescopes? Where was God while Nic Cage was camping out in Meg Ryan's bathroom? Does this song hold the record for having the greatest number of terrible covers? Listen to find out!

Continuing our conversation from last week, Albert and I tackle two videos from turn-of-the-century chill rap rock acts: Incubus's "Pardon Me" and Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Around The World." We discuss the plausibilty of spontaneous combustication, ghost cunnilinggus, and which beach Sublime reminds us of.