Completely Conspicuous 319: Dumbing Down

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Matt Phillion as we discuss whether the world is getting dumber. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").


Show notes:
- There are studies that claim humans are getting dumber
- Our IQs are supposedly dropping
- We rely on smartphones for a lot of information
- We're cramming so much info in our heads
- Smart TV: True Detective did it right
- Disney Channel sitcoms hark back to hacky TV crap of the '70s
- Movie industry favors bigger, louder, dumber
- Sometimes it's good to watch dumb stuff
- Anonymous online comments are a prime source for idiocy
- Wasting time online is so easy
- People are so self-involved
- Reality TV is a haven for dummies
- People will do anything to get on TV
- The Onion keeps fooling people
- Beauty pageants
- Our ability to self-incriminate
- To be continued

Music:
Cloud Nothings - I'm Not Part of Me
Eagulls - Possessed
The So So Glos - Lost Weekend

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Cloud Nothings song is on the album Here and Nowhere Else on Carpark Records. The Eagulls song is on the band's self-titled album on Partisan Records. The So So Glos song is on the album Blowout on Votiv Records. Download all three songs for free at NPR.org.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 317: Too Much to Bear

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we look at the career of an obscure 1970s Canadian band that had a huge hit and then disappeared. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").


Show notes:
- Recorded in late January at More Lost Time world HQ
- What the hell is Edward Bear?
- Named after character in Winnie the Pooh
- Their one big hit, "Last Song," is instantly recognizable
- Sounds like a studio act
- No high or low end in '70s AM pop hits
- Manilow had great timing
- Second single from that album hit top 40
- Singer Larry Evoy was the one constant member of the band
- Opened for Led Zeppelin in '69
- First album had a psychedelic "acid rock" sound
- Geddy Lee's mellower uncle
- Going for a Canned Heat/Steve Miller Band/Doors vibe
- Endless jamming
- Early Edward Bear ain't half bad
- Opportunistic band, like The Police
- Riding whatever music wave was trending
- To be continued

Music:
Protomartyr - Come & See
The Collected Fictions - It Don't Matter Much
Cloud Nothings - Didn't You

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Protomartyr song is on the album Under Color of Official Right on Hardly Art. Download the song for free at Stereogum.

The song by The Collected Fictions is on the band's self-titled EP. Download the EP for free (in exchange for your email address) at Bandcamp.
The Cloud Nothings song was released as a single in 2010. Download it for free at Epitonic.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 236: The Midyear Rock Report, Part 1

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling as we discuss our favorite music of the first half of 2012. Listen to the episode below or download it directly.

Show notes:
- Recorded at Clicky Clicky World HQ

- Kumar: New Smashing Pumpkins ain't bad
- Breitling: Golden Gurls do not feature Bea Arthur but do rock

- Kumar: High on Fire brings metallic fury
- Kumar: Check out Henry Rollins' great radio show
- Breitling: Former Books leader Zammuto released terrific album
- Kumar: Cloud Nothings are young and really good
- Breitling: Boston act Autochrome brings the post-punk
- WFNX's demise will result in two streaming stations
- Kumar: Torche is heavy and poppy
- Breitling: Check out Big Science
- Dumb band name: The Internet
- Kumar: Japandroids unleash unbridled fury
- Breitling: Karl Hendricks Trio back with another great record
- Kumar: GBV returns with the classic lineup
- Breitling: Infinity Girl debut features quality shoegaze
- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Golden Gurls - Excited
Cloud Nothings - No Future/No Past
Autochrome - We Are the System
Torche - Kicking
Karl Hendricks Trio - The Men's Room at the Airport
Guided By Voices - The Unsinkable Fats Domino

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Golden Gurls song is from the album Typo Magic. Download the song and the album for free at GoldenGurls.Bandcamp.com.
The Cloud Nothings song is on the album Attack on Memory on Carpark Records. Download the song for free at Epitonic.
The Autochrome song is on the album Separation Realms. Download the song for free (in exchange for your email address) at Bandcamp.
The Torche song is from the album Harmonicraft on Volcom Entertainment. Download the song for free (in exchange for your email address) at TorcheMusic.
The Karl Hendricks Trio song is on the album The Adult Section on Comedy Minus One Records. Download the song for free from Comedy Minus One.
The Guided By Voices song is on the album Let's Go Eat the Factory on Guided By Voices Records. Download the song for free at GBVDigital.com.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian; check out his site PodGeek.

Completely Conspicuous 224: Dirty Work

Part 2 of my conversation with special guest Matt Phillion as we discuss the evolution of profanity. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").




Show notes:
- Mother jokes led to popularity of "m-f'er"
- Eddie Murphy's Comedian album introduced a whole new world of profanity
- Most words have lost shock value
- Little girl swearing in "Kick Ass" was shocking
- We had more freedom as kids, but kids can access so much more now
- Still isn't cool to randomly drop f-bombs in public
- Matt: Won't call a female a bitch
- Becoming more sensitive about calling your friends gay
- Hollywood has become introduced to foul-mouthed Boston Irish characters

- Swear words we won't say anymore
- Songs with profanity are becoming more commonplace
- Comedians have always pushed the boundaries
- The Simpsons were once the paragon of rudeness
- Violence on TV is no problem, but sex and some profanity is still banned
- Cell phones have taken over people's lives
- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Japandroids - The House That Heaven Built
Cloud Nothings - No Sentiment
Ceremony - Hysteria
Yukon Blonde - Stairway


Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!


The Japandroids song is from the album Celebration Rock on Matador Records. Download the song for free from Epitonic.
The Cloud Nothings song is on the album Attack on Memory on Carpark Records. Download the song for free from Epitonic.
The Ceremony song is on the album Zoo on Matador Records. Download the song for free from Epitonic.
The Yukon Blonde song is on the album Tiger Talk on Dine Alone Records. Download the song for free from Chromewaves.



The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian; check out his site PodGeek.

Completely Conspicuous 213: Wave of Mutilation

Part 2 of my conversation with special guest Brad Searles as we discuss band reunions, among other rock topics. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").




Show notes:

- Check out Brad's excellent blog, Bradley's Almanac

- Recorded at the Sunset Grill in Allston, Mass.

- Brad's bad memories of seeing Pixies open for U2

- Praise for Stewart Copeland

- The massive influence of the Pixies

- Brad: Recording at Fort Apache was daunting

- Possible Stone Roses reunion in the works

- Codeine's doing reunion shows and releasing box set

- Chickfactor is bringing a bunch of bands back together: Lilys, Small Factory

- Guided By Voices reunites classic lineup

- The power of Janet Weiss

- Great music blogs: Chromewaves, Clicky Clicky, Largehearted Boy

- Brad recommends Soma.fm streaming radio

- Brad does a DJ night with Jay Breitling at River Gods in Cambridge, Mass.

- Making time to do things your way

- A lot of blogs died after chasing the big payout

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Cloud Nothings - Stay Useless

Joseph Arthur - Travel As Equals

The Cult - Lucifer

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Cloud Nothings song is on the album Attack on Memory on Carpark Records. Download the song for free at Brooklynvegan.

The Joseph Arthur song is on the self-released album Redemption City. Download the album for free at his website.

The Cult song is on the forthcoming album Choice of Weapon on Cooking Vinyl. Download the song for free (in exchange for your email address) at TheCult.us.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blogs Clicky Clicky and Keeping Some Dark Secrets. Thanks to Bob Durling for the album art; find out more about his photography at his blog. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian; check out his site PodGeek.