Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Completely Conspicuous 609: Right About Now

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 1998. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as").

Show notes:

  • More of Phil's non-top 5s: Monster Magnet, R.E.M., Hole, Dave Matthews Band
  • Jay's non-top 5s: Tragically Hip, Monster Magnet, Jerry Cantrell, Frank Black and the Catholics, Beastie Boys, Rocket From the Crypt, Rancid, Cat Power
  • Phil tells of a magical mixtape service
  • Phil's #5: Moe with a jazzy jam band album
  • Phil says he's not a "Moe-ron"
  • Not hating on Steely Dan
  • Jay's #5: Silver Jews with downbeat indie rock classic
  • Phil's #4 and Jay's #2: The debut from Queens of the Stone Age kicks serious ass, combining stoner rock with robotic grooves
  • Jay's #4: Followed up Odelay with the experimental Mutations
  • Phil's #3: A fun release from the Beastie Boys
  • Jay's #3: R&B-influenced album from Afghan Whigs was last before they broke up
  • Phil's #2: Phish's 7th album featured a "cow funk" sound
  • Phil's #1: Big breakthrough from Fatboy Slim paved the way for DJ as frontman
  • Jay's #1: Sloan with a '70s vibe, from arena rockers to sunny AM pop
  • Favorite songs: "Praise You" (Phil), "She Says What She Means" (Jay)

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.

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Completely Conspicuous 608: Tubthumping

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Phil Stacey about the music of 1998. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as").

Show notes:

  • 1998 was 25 years ago!
  • Jay turned 31, Phil turned 29
  • The one-hit wonders were abundant
  • Alt-rock was fading in popularity
  • MTV was predominantly airing programming that wasn't videos
  • MP3s became another way to share/steal music
  • Paved the way for Napster and eventually the near-collapse of the music industry
  • Pop was taking over: Britney, Backstreet Boys, N Sync
  • Artists who started out great and then just sold out/sucked
  • Phil's non-top 5's: PJ Harvey, Mercury Rev, Drive-By Truckers, Pearl Jam, Government Mule, Mark Lanegan, Jerry Cantrell, Tragically Hip, Neutral Milk Hotel 
  • The Hip played at Woodstock '99 (correction: it was the weekend after JFK Jr.'s plane crash)
  • 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 F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.