Completely Conspicuous 330: Reeling in the Years, 1986 (Part 2)

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we look back at the music of 1986. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as").


Show notes:
- Recorded via Skype
- Check out Brian's comics podcast The Hour Cosmic
- Sammy Hagar's lyrical prowess
- Sam Halen?
- Jay: Saw VH and DLR touring separately in summer of '86
- The sad tale of Jason Becker
- Amnesty International's Conspiracy of Hope tour featured U2, Peter Gabriel, Sting
- Led to ill-fated Police reunion
- Bands that formed or released debut albums in '86: NWA, 2 Live Crew, Buffalo Tom, Pixies, Throwing Muses, Goo Goo Dolls, Firehose, Big Audio Dynamite
- A comeback of sorts for Neil Young
- Ramones album was plagued by bad '80s production
- Jay was conflicted about XTC's "Dear God"
- Brian's #5 album
- Jonathan Richman's mostly under the radar career path
- Jay's #5
- Eat 'Em and Smile out-Van Halened Van Halen
- Brian's #4
- Mark Sandman's pre-Morphine act, Treat Her Right, released debut
- Jay's #4
- John Lydon put together a crack session band including Steve Vai and came up with a great album
- Lydon was set to tour in Jesus Christ Superstar but show was cancelled
- To be continued...

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

Music:
Superchunk - Untied (live)
Bottomless Pit - Fleece (live)
Lazy - Party City (live)

The Superchunk song is part of the band's Epitonic Saki Session. Download the set for free at Epitonic.
The Bottomless Pit song is part of the band's Epitonic Saki Session. Download the set for free at Epitonic.
The Lazy song is part of the band's Epitonic Saki Session. Download the set 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 308: Your Favorite Thing

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling as we discuss our favorite music of 2013. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").


Show notes:
- Recorded at Clicky Clicky World HQ
- JK's #6
- New Bowie album was kept secret until it came out
- Cover art's either brilliant or lazy...or both
- JB's #5
- Los Campesinos! perseveres through lineup changes
- JK's #5
- The Chunk keeps bringing the rock
- Jon Wurster's the busiest guy in rock
- R.I.P., The Best Show on WFMU
- JB's #4
- The long-awaited MBV album
- Getting the album was a chore
- Kevin Shields took his time
- JK's #4
- Strong leap forward for Speedy Ortiz
- New EP on the way
- Memories of Epitonic
- JB's #3
- Veronica Falls' album sounds like a singles comp
- JK's #3
- Back to Philly with Kurt Vile
- Vile was a frequent guest on The Best Show
- JK's #2
- Krill first released album on USB stick in ball of mozzarella
- JB: My default setting is to hate everything
- JK's #2
- Arctic Monkeys' sound has evolved
- Went from punk to stoner rock to catchier R&B feel
- Very English band
- To be continued

Music:
Los Campesinos! - What Death Leaves Behind
Superchunk - FOH

Krill - Never a Joke

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

The Los Campesinos song is on the album No Blues on Wichita Recordings. Download the song for free at Soundcloud.

The Superchunk song is on the  I Hate Music on Merge Records. Download the song for free as part of the Merge Records Summer Sampler 2013 on Amazon.

The Krill song is on the band's self-released album Lucky Leaves. Download the song for free at Gimme Tinnitus.

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 286: Good Riddance

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we discuss music we've outgrown. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").


Show notes:
- Recorded via Skype
- Check out Brian's comics podcast The Hour Cosmic
- Jay: U2 was favorite band from late '80s to early '90s
- Diminishing returns over last 20 years; sick of Bono
- Brian: R.E.M. was approaching that territory when they quit
- Brian: Done with Metallica
- Jay: Musically, haven't dug them since The Black Album
- Brian: Want to get back into old (non-Metallica) thrash
- Not loving the Cookie Monster vocals
- Jay: Once liked Don Henley's solo work, now hate him
- Brian: Second incarnation of Aerosmith from 1985-on is terrible
- Music got dumb, started working with outside writers
- The curse of '80s production techniques
- Brian: Not a good time for hard rock recording now; too much compression
- Jay: Hair metal lost its appeal quickly
- Saw many hair metal shows in mid-80s: Ratt, Motley Crue, Dokken
- Brian: Mall punk and ska have lost their luster
- Bands specialized in terrible covers
- Culprits include Blink 182, Goldfinger, Less Than Jake, Save Ferris
- Jay: Clapton is NOT God
- Brian: Not a fan of the blues; too samey
- Jay: Still like the blues, but don't listen much anymore
- Bonehead of the Week


Music:
Queens of the Stone Age - My God is the Sun
The National - Don't Swallow the Cap
Superchunk - FOH
Eleanor Friedberger - Stare at the Sun
Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Queens of the Stone Age song is on the album ...Like Clockwork on Matador Records. Download the song for free as part of the Matador Intended Play 2013 sampler on Amazon.
The National song is on the album Trouble Will Find Me on 4AD. Download the song for free as part of the 4AD Sampler on Amazon.
The Superchunk song is on the forthcoming album I Hate Music on Merge Records. Download the song for free as part of the Merge Records Summer Sampler 2013 on Amazon.

The Eleanor Friedberger song is on the album Personal Record on Merge Records. Download the song for free as part of the Merge Records Summer Sampler 2013 on Amazon.

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 231: Rock This Town

Part 1 of my conversation with filmmaker Eric Green as we discuss his documentary about V66, the short-lived Boston music video channel. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").

Show notes:
- Recorded in Cambridge, Mass.
- V66 was on the air from 2/85 to 9/86
- Eric's documentary is called Life on the V
- UHF station that reached throughout New England
- Cable still hadn't reached many towns
- There were other music video shows including Friday Night Videos on NBC
- Videos had been around for awhile but didn't catch on until MTV arrived
- V66 introduced a lot of new music, played diverse styles
- We both watched it as kids
- Run DMC's "King of Rock" was most requested song on V66
- Boston bands were given more attention: Del Fuegos, Til Tuesday, New Man
- Ex-radio guy John Garabedian started V66
- Station did non-music programming like sports, weather
- MTV began adding different programs in late '80s
- Eventually, V66 was sold to Home Shopping Network
- Something like V66 could never happen today
- Eric worked at Fuse, the video station out of NYC
- Began making documentary in 2008
- Did many interviews with former V66 staff, as well as viewers
- Collected footage from fans
- Talked to musicians inspired by the station
- V66 teamed up with local radio stations on events
- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
The Walkmen - Love is Luck
Beachwood Sparks - Sparks Fly Again
King Tuff - Bad Thing
Superchunk - Misfits & Mistakes
Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!
The Walkmen song is from the album Heaven on Fat Possum Records. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Beachwood Sparks song is on the album The Tarnished Gold on Sub Pop. Download the song for free at Sub Pop.

The King Tuff song is on the band's self-titled album on Sub Pop. Download the song for free at Sub Pop.
The Superchunk song is on the EP Leaves in the Gutter on Merge Records. 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 199: We Used to Wait

Part 1 of my conversation with special guest Phil Stacey as we discuss what happens to long-suffering sports fans when their favorite team finally wins the big one. Listen to the show below or download it directly (right click and "save as").

Show notes:

- Bruins' Stanley Cup win was a long time coming

- Plenty of championships in Boston in recent years

- Phil predicted Bruins win before last season

- The greatness of Tim Thomas

- Bruins did it the hard way

- Game 7 is always special

- Watching the big game alone

- Bruins had many heartbreaking losses over the years

- Last time the Leafs won the Cup, NHL was very different

- Sports is less life or death as you get older

- Texas Rangers came so close to winning

- Jay watched the Blue Jays win two World Series in early '90s

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Superchunk - Where Eagles Dare

The Hush Now - The Legend of Dudley Town
Guided by Voices - The Unsinkable Fats Domino
Nada Surf - When I Was Young

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

The show is sponsored by Eastbay/Footlocker.com. Use the following codes to get athletic gear from Nike, Adidas, Asics and more. AFCOMP15 will get you 10% off any order of $50 at Eastbay.com, AFCOMP20 will get you 15% off any order of $75 at Eastbay.com and AFCOMPFL will get you 10% off any order of $50 or more at Footlocker.com.

The Superchunk song was recorded especially for Halloween and is available for free download at Superchunk.com.

The Hush Now song is available for free at Bandcamp.

The Guided by Voices song is on the band's forthcoming album Let's Go Eat the Factory on Guided by Voices Records. Download the song for free from Matador Records.

The Nada Surf song is on the album The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy on Barsuk Records. You can download the song for free (in exchange for your email address) at the band's website.

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.

Completely Conspicuous is a Tan God Production. Word.

Completely Conspicuous 151: The Year in Rock, Part 2

Special guest Jay Breitling joins me on the podcast for part 2 of our discussion of the best music of 2010. Listen to the show in streaming audio or download it directly (right click and "save as").

Or you can listen to it here:



The show notes...

Topics:

- Breitling's #6

- Breitling schools us on the videogames and such

- Kumar's #6

- Breitling's #5

- eMusic's changing again

- Kumar's #5

- What's the deal with Mumford & Sons?

- Breitling's #4

- Kumar's #4

- Breitling's #3

- Kumar's #3

- Breitling's #2

- Kumar's #2

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

Superchunk - Digging for Something

Everyone Everywhere - Obama House, Fukui Prefecture

Walter Schreifels - Arthur Lee's Lullabye

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

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

The Superchunk song is on the album Majesty Shredding on Merge Records, where you can download it for free (right click and "save as").

The Everyone Everywhere song is on the band's self-titled album on Tiny Engines. Download it for free courtesy of Clicky Clicky.

The Walter Schreifels song is on the album An Open Letter to the Scene on Dine Alone Records. Download it for free courtesy of Clicky Clicky.

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. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous is a Tan God Production. Word.

Completely Conspicuous 135: Taking Care of Business

Flying solo on the podcast this week as I discuss the art of the business trip while on a business trip to Tampa. Listen to the show in streaming audio or download it directly (right click and "save as").

The show notes...

Topics:

- Live from Tampa Bay

- Haven't traveled for work since December 2006

- My first day on job was at a conference in Pittsburgh

- Have been on many trips over the years

- Memorable trips to New Orleans, San Francisco

- Last trip to Nawlins, was stuck in St. Louis airport for a night because of ice storm

- Not much happening in Tampa on a Sunday

- Day 2: Set up booth in convention center

- Company across from us brought in "booth babes"

- Plenty of booth babes at the old Webnoize conference

- No fear of flying

- George Clooney's "Up in the Air" is good look at business traveling

- Had a screaming baby across aisle on trip to Tampa

- More sympathetic to folks with kids now

- Flight back from Orlando in '99 was full of kids

- On same flight, saw old lady get scalded by hot water

- Lawyer called me few years later to ask what I saw

- Can't get meals on flights anymore, just snacks

- Security measures are annoying

- Day 3: Went for early run

- Working conference booth is different role for me

- Trips are a good distraction from day-to-day work

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

Superchunk - Digging for Something

Versus - Gone to Earth

LCD Soundsystem - Drunk Girls (Holy Ghost Adult Swim remix)

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

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

The Superchunk song is on the album Majesty Shredding on Merge Records. The Versus song is on the album On the Ones and Threes on Merge Records, where you can download both songs for free.

The LCD Soundsystem song was remixed for the Adult Swim Singles Program. The original version is on the album This is Happening on DFA Records. You can download the remix for free at Stereogum.

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.