Completely Conspicuous 235: Read 'em and Weep

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Christian Douglass as we talk about the state of the book industry. Listen to the episode below or download it directly.

Show notes:
- Recorded in Beverly, Mass.
- Christian: So many good books out there go undiscovered
- Kindles and other e-readers have people
- Attitudes towards owning music and books change as folks get older
- Jay: My kids are still reading books
- The debate over digital media and artist royalties rages on in music industry
- Different revenue models: Amanda Palmer raised over $1 mil on Kickstarter for new album
- That won't work for artists without huge followings, though
- The popularity of oral histories
- Crafting an oral history involves skill in selecting right quotes, telling a story
- "Narrative non-fiction" is an interesting sub-genre
- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
The Henry Clay People - 25 for the Rest of Our Lives
Japandroids - The Nights of Wine and Roses
The Hives - High School Shuffle

Wye Oak - Spiral

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

The Henry Clay People song is from the album Twenty-Five for the Rest of Our Lives on TBD Records. Download the song for free at HenryClayPeople.com.
The Japandroids song is on the album Celebration Rock on Polyvinyl Records. Download the song for free at Epitonic.
The Hives song is on the album Lex Hives on Disques Hives. Download the song for free at RCRDLBL.
The Wye Oak song is from the Adult Swim Singles Series. Download the song 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; 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 143: Hardy Har Har

Special guest Ric Dube joins me on the podcast as we discuss our comedy influences. Listen to the show in streaming audio or download it directly (right click and "save as").

The show notes...

Topics:

- Dube got into standup comedy through listening to albums with his dad

- Johnny Carson's Tonight Show was huge for comedians

- Only three main channels in the '60s and '70s

- Audience is diluted now by cable, DVRs, Internet

- Kumar: Listened to sketch comedy on radio from National Lampoon, Firesign Theater

- Watched SNL, Fridays, SCTV

- Stereos used to be furniture

- Dube's uncle would invite friends over to listen to new comedy LPs

- Kumar: Watched reruns of "Bob Newhart Show" with dad

- Comedy in the '70s went from a social to a solitary experience

- Differing opinions on SCTV

- Kids in the Hall was a brilliant show

- Letterman's 12:30 a.m. NBC show was amazing

- Kumar went to one of the last Letterman shows on NBC; Leno was guest

- Leno was hilarious back in the day

- Marc Maron's podcast features great interview with Judd Apatow

- As 16-year-old, Apatow interviewed Seinfeld, Leno, Shandling about comedy

- Steve Martin's autobiography focuses on standup days

- Martin got a job at Disneyland to get into showbiz

- Apatow started as a busboy in a comedy club

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

Japandroids - Heavenward Grand Prix

Marnie Stern - Transparency is the New Mystery

Grinderman - Heathen Child

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

The show is sponsored by Eastbay/Footlocker.com, a leading supplier of athletic footwear, apparel and sports equipment. Use promo code AFCOMP15 to get 10% off any order of $50 or more at Eastbay.com, AFCOMP20 to get 15% off any order of $75 or more at Eastbay.com, and AFCOMPFL to get 10% off any order of $50 or more at Footlocker.com.

The Japandroids song is part of the band's ongoing 7-inch single series. Download the song for free at Pitchfork.

The Marnie Stern song is from her eponymous forthcoming album on Kill Rock Stars Records. Download the song for free at Stereogum.

The Grinderman song is on the Grinderman 2 album on ANTI Records. Download the song for free at 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 blogs Clicky Clicky and Keeping Some Dark Secrets. Additional music used in the show is by Me and Boris the Bull, which is the brainchild of the mighty Mark Campbell. Thanks to Bob Durling for the album art; find out more about his photography at his blog.

Completely Conspicuous is a Tan God Production. Word.

Completely Conspicuous 130: Over the Hills and Far Away

I'm joined on the podcast by special guest Matt Phillion as we conclude our conversation about his experiences in Ireland. Listen to the show in streaming audio or download it directly (right click and "save as").

The show notes...

Topics:

- In Ireland, liquor stores are called "off licenses"

- They loves the hard cider

- Not a great beer selection in stores

- No anti-American sentiment

- The Irish call McDonald's "Maccy D's"

- Matt bonded with the immigrants

- Irish don't pronounce "th" sounds

- Fashion: They rock the popped collar

- Matt left a few shirts behind to avoid getting his ass kicked here

- The skinny jeans incident

- Mullets live on

- The women are "makeup ninjas"

- Tales of airport security

- Tough to break into Irish acting scene

- Shocked to get some modeling offers

- Sorting out customs paperwork

- A care package of 6 lbs. of Twizzlers

- Missing Dunkin' Donuts

- Metric still confounds

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

Black Mountain - Old Fangs

Japandroids - Younger Us

The Vaselines - I Hate the '80s

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

The show is sponsored by Eastbay/Footlocker.com, a leading supplier of athletic footwear, apparel and sports equipment. Find gear from top brands such as Nike, Adidas and Asics. Use the promo code AFCOMP15 to get 15% off any order at Eastbay.com, AFCOMP20 to get 20% off any order at Eastbay.com and AFCOMPFL to get 15% off any order at Footlocker.com.

The Black Mountain song is on the forthcoming album Wilderness Heart on Jagjaguwar Records, where you can download the song for free.

The Japandroids song is on the band's Younger Us 7-inch. Download the song for free at Pitchfork.

The Vaselines song is on the forthcoming album Sex With an X on Sub Pop Records. Download the song for free from the Vaselines' site.

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. Additional music used in the show is by Me and Boris the Bull, which is the brainchild of the mighty Mark Campbell. Thanks to Bob Durling for the album art; find out more about his photography at his blog.

Completely Conspicuous is a Tan God Production. Word.

Completely Conspicuous 127: The Boob Tube

Noted bon vivant Ric Dube joins me again on the podcast for part 3 of our adventures in TV programming. Listen to the show in streaming audio or download it directly (right click and "save as"). If you missed them, check out parts 1 and 2.

The show notes...

Topics:

- Wednesday: Kumar presents The Great American TV Theme-a-thon

- Dube: Million Dollar Pet Challenge, a competition show based on Stupid Pet Tricks

- Kumar: That Guy Again

- Dube thinks it's a Quantum Leap ripoff

- Dube: Dover, a nighttime soap based in the NH city

- Kumar: Slow Case

- Dube came up with Good Cop, Black Cop, a TV take on the old Eddie Murphy movie 48 Hours

- Thursday: Dube presents Gulf Hospital

- Kumar: Dolly, starring Dolly Parton and Pam Anderson

- Kumar: Schmasier, with Kelsey Grammer as a snooty garbageman

- Kumar: Norm and Tony, starring Norm MacDonald and Tony Danza

- Kumar: Snoop, There It Is

- Dube: Public Option

- Kumar: Skank Quest: Tara Reid

- Friday: Dube's sci-fi show, Werewolves of Grunden

- Dube gets deep

- Kumar: Sad Men

- Dube: Honey Island, the "anti-LOST"

- Kumar: 30/30, a short attention span newsmagazine show

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

The Henry Clay People - Your Famous Friends

Japandroids - To Hell With Good Intentions

Versus - Invincible Hero

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

The show is sponsored by Eastbay/Footlocker.com. Find gear from top brands such as Nike, Adidas, Asics and more. Use promo code AFCOMP15 to get 15% off any order at Eastbay.com, AFCOMP20 to get 20% off any order of $75 or more at Eastbay.com and AFCOMPFL to get 15% off any order at Footlocker.com.

The Henry Clay People song is on the forthcoming album Somewhere Along the Gold Coast on TBD Records. Download the song for free at Clicky Clicky.

The Japandroids song is on the No Singles compilation on Polyvinyl Records. Download the song for free at Saucony.

The Versus song is on the band's forthcoming album On the Ones and Threes on Merge Records, where you can download the song for free.

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. Additional music used in the show is by Me and Boris the Bull, which is the brainchild of the mighty Mark Campbell. Thanks to Bob Durling for the album art; find out more about his photography at his blog.

Completely Conspicuous is a Tan God Production. Word.

Completely Conspicuous 114: Close Encounters of the Nerd Kind

Another episode of the podcast is up. Special guest Dave Brigham joins me to discuss society's fascination with UFOs. Click here to listen to the show in streaming audio or download it directly here (right click and "save as").

The show notes...

Topics:

- Interest in UFOs stoked by book "Chariots of the Gods"

- Dave's interest is mixed with mockery

- Close Encounters of the Third Kind was huge

- The UFO subculture is as interesting as UFOs themselves

- If actual alien was captured, nobody would believe it

- Bigfoot sightings are still popular

- The X-Files kept all the conspiracy stuff alive

- In NM, Dave was too drunk to visit Roswell

- Dave vs. the armless panhandler

- UFOs have contributed much to pop culture

- Dave talks about his UFO concept album and novel

- UFO-related songs: Jay's favorite is Gary Numan's "Down in the Park"

- Dave says Flaming Lips' movie "Christmas on Mars" is bad

- Dave gives shout out to the Ass Ponys

- Jay hates the Stone Temple Pilots

- Dave: Split TV seasons are annoying

- Dave reflects on his childhood, UFOs

- 2012 doomsday scenarios loom

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

- Japandroids - Art Czars

- Yeasayer - Ambling Alp

- We Were Promised Jetpacks - Ships With Holes Will Sink

- Los Campesinos! - The Sea is a Good Place to Think of the Future

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

The Japandroids song is the first of a five-part singles series. Download the song for free at Stereogum.

The Yeasayer song is on the album Odd Blood on Secretly Canadian Records. Download the track for free here.

The We Were Promised Jetpacks song is on the album These Four Walls on Fat Cat Records. The Los Campesinos! song is on the album Romance is Boring on Arts and Crafts Records. Both songs are courtesy of IODA Promonet:

We Were Promised Jetpacks
"Ships With Holes Will Sink" (mp3)
from "These Four Walls"
(Fat Cat Records)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic Delivery
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album



Los Campesinos!
"The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future" (mp3)
from "Romance Is Boring"
(Arts & Crafts)
Buy at Napster
More On This Album

The show is sponsored by Budget, the country's premier car rental service with 900 locations. Visit Budget and save 10% off any reservation or $30 off a weekly rental.

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. Additional music used in the show is by Me and Boris the Bull, which is the brainchild of the mighty Mark Campbell. Thanks to Bob Durling for the album art; find out more about his photography at his blog.

Completely Conspicuous is a Tan God Production. Word.

Completely Conspicuous 88: The Great White North

Back from vacation with a new episode of the podcast featuring a discussion with my cousin Dev Sarathy about the differences between the U.S. and Canada. Click here to listen to it in streaming audio or download it directly here (right click and "save as").

The show notes...

Topics:

- Dev: Americans are friendlier

- U.S. cultural assimilation vs. Canada's melting pot

- More Muslim influence seen in Canada

- Religion leads to conflict

- Sports: Hockey's still #1 in Canada

- Toronto is extremely multicultural

- U.S. businessowners are more aggressive

- Political correctness runs amok in Canada

- Debating the merits of Jim Rice

- Whose beer is better?

- Dev's "eh?" moment

- Dev explains Hinduism

- Pinhead of the Week

Music:

- Metric - Help I'm Alive

- Yo La Tengo - Here to Fall

- Japandroids - Young Hearts Spark Fire

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

The Metric song is on the band's album Fantasies on Metric Music International; find out more and download the song here. The Yo La Tengo song is on the album Popular Songs on Matador Records, where you can find out more and download the song.

The Japandroids song is on the album Post-Nothing on Polyvinyl Records. The song is courtesy of RCRDLBL, where you can download the song.

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. Additional music used in the show is by Me and Boris the Bull, which is the brainchild of the mighty Mark Campbell. Thanks to Bob Durling for the album art; find out more about his photographic work here.

Completely Conspicuous is a Tan God Production. Word.