Completely Conspicuous

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling about our favorite music of 2025. Show notes: Counting down the rest of our favorite albums of the year Kumar's #8: Indie rock godfather Bob Mould is still pissed off and rocking Mould has also reunited his '90s band Sugar Kumar's #7: Triumphant return for Mclusky Falco and crew having fun ripping on various targets Breitling's #6: Superchunk keeps going with new drummer If you thought they were angry in 2018... Chock full of "banglociraptors" Kumar's #6: Straight outta Asheville with Wednesday's killer combo of alt-country, shoegaze and heavy guitar rippers  Band features MJ Lenderman but it's Karly Hartzman's show Breitling's #5: Debut from Slumberland act The Cords Scottish indie jangle-pop banglociraptors Kumar's #5: Thrilling post punk from South London act Shame Returning to harder rocking sound of first few albums More albums are shorter nowadays Breitling's #4: Prolific Chicago psych-pop act Sharp Pins keeps bringing it Flashes of GBV and early Kinks

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling about our favorite music of 2025. Show notes: The 17th annual year in music review AI-generated music is lame Especially fake music that purports to be by real artists Spotify is a juggernaut that still sucks Checking out other services (Qobuz, Amazon) You don't get to own downloads via streaming services The kids love the K-pop Only a handful of artists make any money these days Oh yay, LIve Nation is going to get richer Ticketmaster is now a ticket reseller as well We're still seeing the live rock Breitling: Thumbs up for the Aimee Mann/Ted Leo Christmas show Saw Oasis in Mexico City We both saw Hallelujah the Hills  Kumar: Saw Frank Black, Narducy/Shannon do R.E.M., Gang of Four with Ted Leo, Bob Mould, Greg Norton, Ducks Ltd., Pixies, the Who, Buffalo Tom Breitling's bubbling under music picks: Ava Luna, Lifeguard, Winter, Frankie Cosmos, Golden Apples, Lemonheads, Sister Ray Davies, Jeff Tweedy, Glimmer, Tiberius, Telephone Numbers Kumar's honorable me

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey as we pick our favorite songs released in the 21st century.  Show notes: Phil's #6: Frenetic assault from Parquet Courts Definite late '70s post-punk influences Jay's #6: A bold move into electronic sounds by Radiohead Phil still doesn't get Radiohead Phil's #5: Slacker guitar hero vibes from Kurt Vile Stream-of-consciousness lyrical approach Jay's #5: Garage rock anthem that introduced the Hives to the world Punchy and super catchy, it took two years to hit in the U.S. The battle for car music supremacy Phil's #4: New Orleans vibe from Tedeschi Trucks Band Phil's intro to the band Jay's #4: A first single that will never be topped by Franz Ferdinand Catchy, danceable stomper comparing love to a sniper's duel Phil's #3: Goose brings jam band versatility to the masses Blew up since the pandemic and are now selling out Madison Square Garden Jay's #3: Queens of the Stone Age craft a perfect hard rock song The magic of the killer riff plus Dave Grohl's drumming P

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey as we pick our favorite songs released in the 21st century. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as"). Show notes: We're a quarter through this century Phil: Thought this would be easy but came up with a long list What about a song grabs you? Jay: Original top 10 list was all songs from the 00s Songs that didn't make our top 10 Phil: Tribe Called Quest, Vampire Weekend, Meatbodies, Wilco, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, TV On the Radio, Wet Leg, Franz Ferdinand, Michael Kiwanuka, MJ Lenderman, U2, Frances Forever, Patrick Sweeney, Mudcrutch, Sufjan Stevens, Shearwater, Jason Isbell, Songs: Ohia Jay: Radiohead, Bowie, At the Drive-In, Drive-By Truckers, Sloan, Sleater-Kinney, Death from Above 1979, Jay-Z, Hold Steady, Gord Downie, Tragically Hip, Living Colour, Outkast, Wild Flag, White Stripes, PJ Harvey, Parquet Courts, Spoon, M.I.A., Kaiser Chiefs Jay: Found out about a lot of new music from MP3 blogs in the early 00s Phil's

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey as we pick our favorite songs by randomly selected artists. Show notes: More of our favorites from artists picked out of a hat Phil: Pretenders Overcoming the deaths of half the band Jay: James Brown Love the '70s funk era Prince was able to replicate JB's dance moves in concert Phil: Parquet Courts Built a great catalog over the last 13 years or so Influenced by the late '70s NYC CBGB sound Jay: Beatles How do you pick a single Beatles song? Phil: Sleater-Kinney Powerful band Janet Weiss is a powerhouse drummer Jay: Led Zeppelin Favorite song depends on the day Phil: Prince He could play any style Jay: Hoodoo Gurus Saw them for the first time last year Caught the mid-80s college rock wave Phil: The Police Ghost in the Machine was one of the first albums Phil ever bought Early Police is untouchable Jay: The Clash Political rock that still holds true today Covered a lot of musical ground Phil: R.E.M. Was introduced to the band by his uncle People who jumped of

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey as we pick our favorite songs by randomly selected artists. Show notes: Phil's idea: Blind rankings We each pick 10 artist names out of a hat and name a favorite song for each Phil picks names from N-Z, Jay gets A-M No prep time for our answers Phil: Velvet Underground Plenty to choose from Trying not to choose popular songs Jay: B-52s They made the "no play list" at Jay's wedding Great catalog of bangers Phil: Talking Heads Band had different phases Mixed Afro rhythms, funk and skronky guitar from Adrian Belew New David Byrne album is good Jay: Living Colour Band played many different styles well They still bring the heat Phil: Neil Young A musical chameleon Amazing solo or with Crazy Horse (or other backing bands) Jay: Grateful Dead Easy choice Always had a favorite song by them To be continued Completely Conspicuous is available through Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and write a review! The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big

This week, I'm joined by fellow podcast pioneer Brian Salvatore as we discuss the first 20 years of podcasting.  Show notes: Brian: First heard about podcasts in 2004 Started making the FrankBlack.net Podcast in 2006 Jay: Got my first iPod in 2004 and then learned about podcasts Brian: The internet was so much better 20 years ago Great for digging into niche interests Jay and Brian met through the Frank Black podcast in 2010 and realized that Brian lived near Jay's brother-in-law Jay: The start of CompCon in 2006 Always loved radio but never worked at the college station First few years were just me talking about pop culture Eventually started bringing on guests after a few years Podcasting got an early boost when Apple started a podcast directory Early podcasts I listened to were by Adam Curry, Ricky Gervais Marc Maron started his podcast in 2009 and is airing his last episode next week Now everybody's got a podcast Brian: Before podcasts, blogging was a thing Brian produces podcasts for other people in ad

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about songs we hate to love.  Show notes: Our top 10 songs we hate to love in no particular order Phil: A song from the infamous Great White One of the many bands who tried to sound like Zeppelin Jay: Rupert Holmes somehow got cheesier than the "Pina Colada Song" Classic AM gold shizz Phil: A big hit for the Carpenters Originally written for a bank commercial Jay: Monster disco one-hit wonder from Patrick Hernandez Phil: Britney with an earworm Jay: Raspy pop smash from Kim Carnes Crossed over to MOR stations that our parents listened to Phil: Digging into the Jefferson Starship ballads Marty Balin got on the wrong side of the Hell's Angels at Altamont Jay: Phil Collins did a lot of soundtrack music in the '80s in addition to everything else A patented Collins Angry Ballad Phil digs that calypso beat in one of Lionel Richie's biggest hits Richie was one of the driving forces behind "We Are the World" Jay: A synth pop cover of "Lean On Me" Phil: Secretly loved

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about songs we hate to love.  Show notes: Surprised at how good the Who were in concert despite their advanced age Songs we hate to love, not necessarily guilty pleasures Things we were embarrassed to say we liked when we were in school Most of our picks were from when we were kids Jay: I liked hard rock and metal and would never admit I liked poppier stuff like Duran Duran Jay: In doing research, I discovered there was a "rock" version of the Lord's Prayer that was a minor hit in 1973 Phil: ABBA wrote some pop classics When REO Speedwagon had that one huge album AOR was huge in the early '80s Jay: I loved KISS's disco song, but never got into the band Phil: Listened to a lot of Manilow as a kid Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" captured that swinging '60s vibe The pop goodness of the Association Phil: The band Boston has been played to death in these parts, but they had their moment Controversial choice: Phil likes the worst Genesis song Dum

Part 3 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about concerts we'd like to go back in time to see.  Show notes: Jay: Bowie on the Ziggy Stardust tour in 1973 Never saw Bowie Phil: Grateful Dead's famous Cornell show 5/8/77 The Holy Grail for Deadheads Jay: Canadian art rock weirdos Max Webster in southern Ontario 8/9/79 Band split up in 1981 as singer-guitarist Kim Mitchell went solo Opened for Rush in the U.S. in the mid- to late '70s Phil: The Stones at the Boston Garden, 1972 Jagger and Richards were arrested in Providence and Boston mayor bailed them out in time for the Garden show Mick Taylor era was notable Jay: Van Halen at Oakland Arena in June 1981 A few songs were captured on video; VH fans have hoped for more Phil: Zeppelin at Berkeley, Calif., September 1971 Touring before their fourth album was released Playing some of their acoustic songs Jay: SST legends Husker Du at the Channel in Boston 9/30/84 In the middle of a killer stretch of albums; this one was for Zen Arcade Two classic albums wer

Celebrating 19 years of podcasting with part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about concerts we'd like to go back in time to see.  Show notes: On to our top 10 shows Phil's are in chronological order, Jay's in no particular order Phil: Neil Young and Pearl Jam on their short Euro tour, 8/26/95 in Dublin PJ standing in for Crazy Horse The Velvet Sundown, lame AI band Jay: The Clash from June 1980 at Hammersmith Palais 31 songs from throughout their career The Clash opened for the Who on the Schlitz Rocks America tour Apparently Schlitz was once a big name in beer Phil: Stevie Ray Vaughan on 9/21/85 at the Capitol Theatre Jay: PJ Harvey on the Rid of Me tour in '93 Saw her on the next tour in '95 Phil: Talking Heads on the Speaking in Tongues tour in Oct. 1983 in Billerica, Mass. Jay: I would've picked the 1980 tour with Adrian Belew on guitar Jay: Living Colour at TT the Bears in Cambridge, Mass. in the summer of '88 Taped the show off the radio simulcast on WBCN Killer show before the band blew u

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about concerts we'd like to go back in time to see.  Show notes: We're taking advantage of time machine technology That time Zebra opened for their own Zep cover band We're listing specific shows So many great artists to choose from YouTube makes it easier to see a lot of shows you missed Honorable mentions Jay: Surprise show by the Stones at a small Toronto club in '77 Two shows were turned into a live album decades later Phil: Bob Marley and the Wailers in London, Monterey Pop, Bowie on Diamond Dogs tour, Sleater-Kinney in Berkeley, James Brown at the Boston Garden in '68, Beatles in Hamburg or the rooftop set, Prince on Purple Rain tour, Phish in '98, Steely Dan in '74   Jay: JB at the Soul Train studios in '73, the Police in '79, Iggy and the Stooges in '73, Zeppelin in '70, Mission of Burma's first farewell in '83, Drive Like Jehu in '94, Black Sabbath in '70, Iron Maiden in '81 with their original singer The Police jumped on the new wave bandwagon and b

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling about our favorite music of 2025 so far. Show notes: Counting down our favorite albums Breitling's #6: Dan Bejar with another well-done Destroyer album "Slacker Sinatra" singing about aging Kumar's #6: Striking solo effort from Tunde Adebimpe Breitling's #5: Shoegaze goodness from NJ's High Kumar's #5: Dax Riggs with fuzz-laden goth grunge Breitling's #4: Digging the Estonian dream pop from mariin k. Kumar's #3: Impressive 15th solo album from Bob Mould plays to his strengths Still kicking ass into his mid-60s Breitling's #3: Boston trio with a dumb name and a great album, (T-T)b Kumar's #2: Mclusky returns after 21 years with a razor-sharp ripper Breitling's #2 and Kumar's #4: Surprise return to thunderous form from The Men Kumar's #1: PUP's fifth album finds them exploring more mature themes while still kicking ass Breitling's #1 and Kumar's #7: The four-album magnum opus from Hallelujah the Hills exceeds expectations Many guest appearances among the 54 s

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling about our favorite music of 2025 so far. Show notes: Drinking some Italian beer Rock is dead commercially Billboard album chart contains nearly no rock Fleetwood Mac's Rumours still riding high for some reason Festival cancellations: Bonnaroo, Boston Calling next year, Lollapalooza Too many festivals, high ticket prices Black Sabbath farewell show Lots of big rock deaths: Brian Wilson, Sly Stone, David Johansen, Marianne Faithfull, etc. We saw Hallelujah the Hills recently and it was glorious Kumar saw some shows: Frank Black, Shannon/Narducy, Gang of Four, Bob Mould Breitling will see Oasis in Mexico, as one does Who's the Who's drummer? Breitling's bubbling under albums: Whirr, Winter, Lunchbox, Pink Floyd reissue, Rough Francis, The Get Quick, Autocamper, Viagra Boys, Thalia Zedek Band Kumar's list: Kinski, Ty Segall, Civic, Cameron Keiber, Dean Wareham, Pulp, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, The Bug Club, Turnstile, The Tubs, Kestrels, Lifeguard, Hotline TNT

Part 4 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey as we crown the winner of a March Madness-style tournament featuring our favorite rock artists.  Show notes: Round 3 begins The Smiths vs. Led Zeppelin James Brown vs. Rush Rolling Stones vs. The Cure The Clash vs. The Police U2 vs. The Replacements The Who vs. Talking Heads Tom Petty vs. Neil Young The Beatles vs. David Bowie Round 4 The Final Four The Championship Completely Conspicuous is available through Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and write a review! The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Part 3 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey as we wrap up the second round of a March Madness-style tournament featuring our favorite rock artists.  Show notes: Round 2 forced some difficult choices The Smiths vs. Spoon Led Zeppelin vs. Prince James Brown vs. Queens of the Stone Age Rush vs. Allman Brothers Band Rolling Stones vs. Beastie Boys The Cure vs. The Afghan Whigs The Tragically Hip vs. The Clash The Police vs. Mark Lanegan Stevie Wonder vs. U2 Sonic Youth vs. The Replacements The Who vs. Beck Talking Heads vs. Dinosaur Jr. Tom Petty vs. Pixies Neil Young vs. Steely Dan Van Halen vs. Beatles Pearl Jam vs. David Bowie Next: The final two rounds Completely Conspicuous is available through Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and write a review! The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey as we wrap up the first round of a March Madness-style tournament featuring our favorite rock artists.  Show notes: Finishing up the rest of round 1 Stevie Wonder vs. the Pretenders Talking Heads vs. U2 St. Vincent vs. Sonic Youth Elvis Costello vs. the Replacements R.E.M. vs. the Who Beck vs. Dire Straits Jimi Hendrix vs. Jason Isbell Dinosaur Jr. vs. Foo Fighters Drive-By Truckers vs. Tom Petty Pixies vs. Fleetwood Mac Neil Young vs. Sleater-Kinney Steely Dan vs. Husker Du Van Halen vs. Blondie White Stripes vs. the Beatles J. Geils Band vs. Pearl Jam Nirvana vs. David Bowie Coming soon: Round 2, with more tough decisions Completely Conspicuous is available through Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and write a review! The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey as we talk our way through a March Madness-style tournament of our favorite rock artists.  Show notes: We left out artists that we both didn't like: Grateful Dead, Black Sabbath, Radiohead, Joni Mitchell, Phish, Iron Maiden Also had to leave off a number of artists just for space considerations: Ramones, AC/DC, Feelies, Breeders, Camper Van Beethoven, etc. Some tough matchups in round 1 with randomized seeding The Smiths vs. PJ Harvey Spoon vs. Courtney Barnett Led Zeppelin vs. Bob Dylan The Cure vs. Prince Elton John vs. James Brown Pavement vs. Queens of the Stone Age Buffalo Tom vs. Rush Allman Brothers Band vs. Soundgarden The Kinks vs. The Rolling Stones Alice in Chains vs. Beastie Boys Bob Marley vs. The Cure Joe Jackson vs. The Afghan Whigs The Tragically Hip vs. Velvet Underground The Clash vs. Iggy Pop Stevie Ray Vaughan vs. The Police Sloan vs. Mark Lanegan To be continued with the rest of Round 1 Completely Conspicuous is available through Apple P

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about bad songs from good artists.  Show notes: Songs we hate by artists we love Phil's #6: U2 makes a misstep Bono's talking tough Jay's #6: A #1 hit from Cheap Trick featuring outside songwriters The power ballad became huge for hard rock bands Phil's #5: AC/DC hits it big after losing their singer Jay's #5: When the biggest band tries to get weird Phil's #4: When GNR decided to cover Dylan They had lots of bad covers Jay's #4: When Aerosmith hit #1 with a soundtrack ballad Late-period Aerosmith is tough to take Phil's #3: The Smiths get preachy about animal rights Let's hear it for Bovine University Morrissey with ham-fisted lyrics about vegetarianism Jay's #3: R.E.M. had a couple of stinkers A version of the song ended up on Sesame Street Phil's #2: Punk rock upstarts go acoustic Green Day ended up becoming very mainstream Jay's #2: Bowie and Jagger with a very '80s abomination of a cover Video premiered during Live Aid Phil's #1: A definitive low for the

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about bad songs from good artists.  Show notes: Songs we hate by artists we love Jay: Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees" is so whiny it turned me off the band for a few years Songs you hate vs. songs you're sick of hearing Phil: Nirvana had some dumb songs Phil's dishonorable mentions: Songs from Bowie and Jagger, Beck, XTC, Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, the Cars, Bob Seger  Phil bashes the Brits  Jay's dishonorable mentions: Songs by Soundgarden, Van Hagar, Rush, U2, Lou Reed Sammy Hagar's lyrics are...something Phil's #10: One of the Stones' bigger hits Jay's #10: Zeppelin goes honky tonk with meh results Phil's #9: Frat boy antics from the Beastie Boys Jay's #9: Andy Summers let his freak flag fly in the Police Phil's #8: The Dead goes disco with some rough lyrics The late '70s saw lots of rock acts try disco Jay's #8: Macca had some missteps, including his first teamup with MJ Phil's #7: The Beatles stumbled with an avant garde instrumental Maybe it was the dru