Crash Chords Podcast

There's a glitch in the system... several of them, actually. But it's okay, really; we let them in. They're called The Glitch Mob and they brought their own album, Love Death Immortality. After all, how could we refuse this opportunity to explore the intricate world of rock-inspired EDM? And how could you? So just fistpump your way to that play-button and join right in! And don't go away or you'll miss a great chat about the process of finding new music. We share some of our stories, now share yours! Continue reading

Our 90th episode's review is brought to you by the world-travelling, rhyme-spitting, ivory-tickling Louis Logic! Not so incidentally, he is also our guest. As for the album of study, we look at II, the self-implied second LP by the curiously eclectic Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Afterwards, Louis walks us through the trials and fortuities that have landed him his one-of-a-kind solo career as a rapper/keyboardist. He even touches upon his own eclectic range of influences, culminating in his recent release, Look on the Blight Side. Listen for yourself in the sample he supplies to sign us off. Continue reading

Finally giving the biggest collaborator of the music industry his due, this week's review spotlights Pharrell Williams' latest solo album, GIRL With the artist's smooth rhythms and groovy textures, it's no surprise that his singles seem to find their way to every DJ's library. Simply put, they're easy on the feet. And so, for our discussion, we open the floor to dance music! We cover its varied history and cultural quirks, so be sure to boogie down with us after the review. Continue reading

You all know Suzanne Pike from The Barbaric Yawps... well now you'll know her as a bona fide CCP guest! Yes, we're honored to have the famed Indi icon on the podcast, not only for an interview, but also to provide us with this week's album review. Spurring another genre-first for Crash Chords, she has us examine the 2007 album Rival Factions by the Christian hardcore rock band, Project 86. After unpacking this issue-straddling album, we of course question Suzanne about her rise to fame. And, if you stick around, there's a chance you'll receive a treat performance — a good chance. Continue reading

Ease off the throttle for this week's lighthearted surprise-cast. First we welcome guests Kim & Sage of Head Over Feels, the most heartfelt website in all of pop culture "fannon". Then, in lieu of our weekly review, we discuss and dissect the common practice of compiling playlists, using Kim & Sage's personal submission as our model: The Ultimate Rose/Doctor Mixtape. Of course, our discussion covers only a minute fraction of their monstrous homage to the popular sci-fi series, Doctor Who, which dices the season-spanning forbidden love story into 728 bite-size morsels of feels. Also stick around for a discussion of playlists in the broad, and a brief interview chronicling the origins of Head Over Feels. Continue reading

Strap yourselves in for this week's big review. It's time for St. Vincent by St. Vincent! But don't be fooled... it's musical sainthood we're speaking of. Armed with a pop-fusion edge and a chamber composer's sensibilities, St. Vincent is actually the stage name of composer/singer-songwriter Annie Erin Clark. She's certainly a saint to all her fans, as they might testify in reaction to her latest "miracle", the release of her self-titled album. In response, we take some time after to field our own impressions on the otherwise prevailing boundaries between formal composition and pop songwriting—if any at all. Continue reading

This week we check out one of the many side-projects of world-renowned bassist and Primus frontman, Les Claypool. This particular side-project is known as Duo de Twang, a union of Claypool and M.I.R.V. guitarist Bryan Kehoe. Their debut album (and our review): Four Foot Shack. Then join us in a discussion of a band's "namesake" — that is, the thing we search for in our libraries. From a marketing and artistic standpoint, what does the name mean for a band's collective members? And what does it mean when it changes? Continue reading

Prepare to ease yourself into the creamy lo-fi world of Beck. After a six-year hiatus, Beck has returned to making studio albums. This week, we'll be reviewing his highly-praised Morning Phase. Then, on the topic frontier, we sidle back over to an old favorite: cinema — only this time in regards to its bite-size self-portrait, the trailer! Join us in uncovering just what variety of music makes a good trailer flow... or better yet, sell. Continue reading

You might know him as an actor and a comedian, but don't forget about that banjo! That's right, grammy-award winning musician Steve Martin has teemed up with Edie Brickell (of Edie Brickell & New Bohemians) for an original roots and bluegrass album called Love Has Come for You. This album review is brought to us by our guest (another folk talent, singer-songwriter, actor, and member of the Waysties), Sarah Bisman Storm. Stick around for an interview on her musical background, some treat performances, and a hefty discussion on folk theater. Continue reading

Hope the title isn't too much for you, because you can expect no less from their music. The seasoned post-rock ensemble, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra (a.k.a. the band of too many a.k.a.'s) has released their bold new LP, F*** Off Get Free We Pour Light On Everything. You know the drill; now let's dissect this behemoth! Then, for our topic, we wander into the fiery ring of copyrights vs. fair use. Don't miss this great debate! Continue reading

It's back to flannels, patches, and malcontent for this week's episode. Our review confronts the latest punk release by Against Me!, a cathartic work bluntly titled, Transgender Dysphoria Blues. We also take some time in the beginning to discuss the Olympic Opening Ceremony, and for our topic we cover the influence of activism in music over the years (for better or worse). Continue reading

In the mood for some satirical gibberish? Who isn't. That's why we're pushing forward with more reviews of comedy music albums. This week we chose The Wack Album by The Lonely Island (the comedy Hip-Hop troupe composed of former SNL staff & cast members, Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg, and Jorma Taccone). Then stick around for a brief intro to the use of satire in art. Conversely, stay tuned for a future discussion on the use of music to a comedic end. Continue reading

This week we take a trip into... well, suffice it to say, we take a "trip". After forty-eight years of burrowing down the rabbit hole, the Brazilian psychedelic rock band, Os Mutantes, has released their tenth studio album (their second since reuniting in 2006). The album is called Fool Metal Jack, and we're putting it to the panel! Then, from artistry to controversy, we get into a broad discussion on the impacts of psychedelics and hallucinogens on music creation. Continue reading

You might know him from System of a Down. Or perhaps you know him from his solo work. Well now we're all privileged to know him as... a classical composer? Yup. Serj Tankian wrote a symphony. It's his first symphony, titled Orca, and you can bet we're reviewing it! Then afterwards, be sure to catch our little discussion on the cross-pollination of various aesthetics. Can music directly influence our other tastes, like literature, art, décor, or even food? Continue reading

Today we explore the layered worlds of Glitch-Hop and Chillwave with an album called Vapor City by Machinedrum. This album review is brought to us by today's guest, the talented rapper, Hops. Afterwards, stick around for an interview and learn how Hops cultivated his knack for wordsmithing. In fact, stay a bit more and you may find a treat to close us out. Continue reading

We're kicking off the year with a common thread by tackling the most influential Pop/Rock songwriter ever to bridge the Atlantic: Sir Paul McCartney. Join us in this review of his new album, New. And don't go away! You've probably heard the phrase, "They don't make 'em like that anymore!" We'll be discussing just what fascinates people about music from bygone times. Is it just that pesky nostalgia at work, or something more fundamental? These and more unquenchable queries in a brand new year of Crash Chords! Continue reading

Strap yourselves in! This episode is for all the completists out there. It’s our long-awaited 2013 Year in Review! We’ll be divvying up the year’s music into select categories, awarding trophies and booby prizes. It’s also our annual opportunity to express our outstanding hopes, surprises, corrections, and rationalizations. This is the final word, folks — for now. Continue reading

It’s that time again. Time to take stock of all things wrought by this crazy year. That’s why you should check in with tomorrow’s very special Year-End Review! But first, a lighthearted prelude: some outright silliness to fill that inner-holiday void. Enjoy! Continue reading

To close off the year, we thought we’d take a little stroll through the Billboard 200 and see what all the fuss is about. So when we heard that one of the world’s top-selling artists just released a “surprise” album slated to top the charts without any marketing or hype, our choice became apparent: Beyoncé’s self-titled, self-proclaimed “visual album”, BEYONCÉ. Then, in keeping with the artist’s decision to release a music video for each track on her album, we get into a little discussion on how other artists have applied the visual element in their work. Continue reading

We're returning to an old favorite this week with the cheerful theatrics of three musical robots: Steam Powered Giraffe. Incidentally, another old favorite (guest Nelson Lugo), is returning to us! For review, he delivers us Steam Powered Giraffe's third studio release, MK III. (To hear our review of their second album, see Ep. #39!) And stick around, because after this fun-filled excursion through the band's most daring product yet, we get to hear all about Nelson's excursions through the world of magic and theater, namely his upcoming show, "Gathering the Magic." Enjoy! Continue reading