No Filler Music Podcast

We begin our batch of year-end recaps with our top 10 discoveries of 2019. While there was certainly a ton of great new releases this year (and we'll review those next week), sometimes it's the album put out decades ago that ended up being your heaviest rotation of the year. If you're hearing it for the first time - it's just as new to your ears as the latest single from your favorite artist. So this episode is all about those amazing discoveries that we stumbled upon this year, some of these songs a few years old, and some a few decades old! Tracklist A L E X - Its Been A Really Long Time Textual - Dirty South Still Life Toe - tremelo+delay The Soft Boys - School Dinner Blues Pinkshinyultrablast - Land's End Frankie Broyles - L Bright Narrow Head - Uncover Al Green - Get Back (Beatles Cover) Sweet Trip - To The Moon The Soundcarriers - Step Outside This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hot on the trails of our deep dive into Larry Carlton's Steely Dan guitar solos, we thought we'd pay some homage to another guitar god from the same era: the one and only Jeff Beck. On this episode, we take a listen to his 1975 debut solo record Blow By Blow. Having tried a few times to put together a successful rock group after his departure from The Yardbirds, Beck gravitated more toward the jazz-rock fusion from his sessions with the band Upp, whom he produced and played on their first record. Out of those sessions came the groundwork for Blow By Blow, an incredible showcase of Beck's prowess behind the fretboard. Produced by George Martin (the fifth Beatle himself), and with help from Stevie Wonder (who lended 2 of his tracks to the record and even plays clavinet on one of them), join us as we Blow By Blow geek out over how truly amazing this record is and how it helped put Beck on the path to becoming one of the greatest guitar players of all time. Check out more great music podcasts on Pantheon: www.pantheonpodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this very special episode of No Filler, we welcome our father Stan to the pod to help us commemorate our 100th episode. He ignited our passion for music at a young age, introducing us to bands like Steely Dan early and often. And he was once the Music Director and morning drive DJ at a small town Texas radio station back in the 70s. Together we take a look at Larry Carlton's many contributions to the sound of Steely Dan, with a listen back at some of his greatest guitar solos in their catalog. This includes "Kid Charlemagne", "Don't Take Me Alive", "I Got The News", and "Third World Man." Tracklist Kid Charlemagne Don’t Take Me Alive I Got The News Third World Man Everything You Did This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we're digging up an old episode that we recorded over 2 years ago that we never ended up posting. We tackle our favorite Steely Dan album Pretzel Logic, from 1974. This was the band's final release as a proper five-piece before Walter Becker and Donald Fagen posted up shop in the studio, recording all future albums with a constantly revolving cast of studio musicians. Pretzel Logic varies widely in style from track to track, and showcases what each of the five members brought to the table, and what made Steely Dan such a powerhouse in their genre-bending jazz rock stylings. To this day, the song "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" from Pretzel is the band's most successful single, over 40 years later. Track Listing: Night By Night Through With Buzz With A Gun Charlie Freak Marvin Gaye - One More Heartache Check out more great music podcasts on Pantheon: www.pantheonpodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

​On this episode we listen to Texas natives Midlake, and their 2004 debut album Bamnan and Slivercork. One of the more successful bands to emerge from the Denton music scene, Midlake's meticulous blending of acoustic guitars and lo-fi electronica create the perfect blend of psychedelic and folk. Vocalist and lead songwriter Tim Smith's whimsical lyricism and Thom Yorke-like falsetto truly sets this album apart from other indie groups of the early aughts, and reminded music lovers everywhere that Austin is not the only city in Texas worth paying attention to. Tracklist Midlake - They Cannot Let It Expand Midlake - Rollerskate (Farewell June) Midlake - I Guess I'll Take Care Midlake - Some Of Them Were Superstitious Mux Mool - Boner Of A Lonely Heart Skinshape - Oracolo Jimmie Spheris - Long Way Down Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we tackle The Shins' seminal indie record Oh, Inverted World. James Mercer and company blended 60s pop influences such as The Beatles & The Zombies effortlessly with Mercer's whimsical lyricism and infectious melodies to create a sound that is unmistakably The Shins. Clocking in at just 33 minutes, the record packs a powerful punch as a debut record, cementing the group as one of the most iconic indie bands of the decade. And having prominent placement in Zach Braff's Garden State certainly helped. Check out all the podcasts over on Pantheon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Sidetrack we're checking out Jake Bellows and his band Neva Dinova, a group that basically wrote songs for no one in particular, until Conor Oberst (of Bright Eyes fame) shined a light on them back in 2004, showcasing them on "One Jug Of Wine, Two Vessels". We focus on one song from their 2005 release, "The Hate Yourself Change", and talk a little bit about Jake Bellows' reflection on his lyrics during the Neva Dinova era, and how as a solo artist he is now actively working towards writing and sharing more positive and optimistic tunes with the world. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh out of the Metal Month oven, we hop onto the cooling rack and chill out with a little Coldplay and their 2000 debut Parachutes. We admire the atmosphere and tone with some tracks that aren't named after a primary color with a look at the dark mood of Spies, the dreamy Sparks, and the hard to ignore Radiohead vibes of High Speed. Perfectly paired with the piano and acoustic melodies of Chris Martin, it's the guitar riffs and segues of Jonny Buckland that make these filler tracks so memorable. Take a listen with us as we explore one of the most successful bands of all time at the moment that started it all. Tracklist: Coldplay - Spies Coldplay - Sparks Coldplay - High Speed Penelope Isles - Round Horse Jumper of Love - Sun Poisoning Travis - Big Chair This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On our last sidetrack episode in Metal Month, we take a look at groove-thrashers Prong and their 1990 record Beg to Differ. The band blended their hardcore punk upbringings with a slightly slowed down thrash sound to help start the groove metal movement of the early 90s along with bands like Pantera and Sepultura. Also the question on everyone’s mind is answered: did Quentin learn anything in Metal Month? Tune in to find out. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this, the Eve of Hallow's, we're heading to the graveyard with shovels in hand. We bring along a Walkman and Quentin's CD copy of "We Dig With Finger's Crossed" to help set the ambiance for the evening. One of The Undoing of David Wright's only full-length albums, this little known gem from 2005 tells the story of William Burke & William Hare, the infamous 19th century grave robbers of Edinburgh, Scotland. The UoDW was an extremely short-lived post-modern electro-punk band hailing from Denton, Texas circa early 2000s. While attending college at The University of North Texas, these guys made a name for themselves for their Rocky Horror Picture Show-esque vibes, often donning makeup and wearing clothes fashioned out of trash bags. Episode Tracklist: We Dig With Fingers Crossed Cold Meals & Warm Whiskeys Slap Dash Street Trash By The Sign Of The Disceaux This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode we fight fires and summon Cthulhu with Metallica's second album Ride the Lightning. Determined not to follow the metal cliches that came before them, or even the trends that they themselves were setting in thrash metal, Metallica pushed themselves further on Ride, with more complex arrangements and deeper lyrical meaning at the core of the album. Bassist Cliff Burton spearheaded this shift in the band's sound, introducing the group to the basics of music theory and the writings of H.P. Lovecraft. So strap in and prepare yourself for 2000 volts of metal passing through your veins as we dive into the album that helped expand the boundaries of metal and solidified Metallica as the modern era. Tracklist Metallica - "Ride the Lightning" Metallica - "No Remorse" Metallica - "Fight Fire with Fire" Metallica - "For Whom the Bell Tolls" Metallica - "The Call of Ktulu" Hatchie - "Obsessed" Narrow Head - "Feels Like Sand" Metallica - "Trapped Under Ice" This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're 11 days out from Halloween night, so for our Sidetrack this week we're heading to church. Well, I guess it's maybe more of an anti-church? Cardinal Copia and his Nameless Gouls lead the worship service as one of the most evil metal bands of all time, Ghost. We've made it just in time...The Satanic Mass is about to start. Episode Tracklist From The Pinnacle To The Pit Stand By Him Year Zero Con Clavi Con Dio This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many metal heads remember the time they were truly impacted by a metal song. That's the goal of the Denver-based four-piece, Khemmis: to recapture that feeling with every song they write. Originally thrown in the doom metal camp after their first release Absolution, Khemmis has evolved their signature vocals and dual-guitar solos into a sound that is uniquely them. Phil Pendergast's clean vocal delivery paired with the occasional growls and grunts of guitarist Ben Hutcherson help bring depth to the storytelling in Khemmis' lyrics about depression, grief, and paralyzing fear. Khemmis expertly weave in a variety of influences and genres into their music to create their signature sound, and it is one that is sure to turn any budding metal fan into lifelong loyalists. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Sidetrack we buckle up and head to Sky Valley with Josh Homme (HOM-ee) and his band Kyuss, the desert rock gods of the early 90s. The band garnered a cult following by the early 1990s, often driving for hours to isolated locations in the desert and plugging into generators to perform. These events, known as "generator parties", became urban legend among rock subculture. Episode Tracklist 1. Green Machine 2. Demon Cleaner 3. Hurricane 4. SASAMI - Morning Comes 5. DIIV - Blankenship Check out more great music podcasts on Pantheon: www.pantheonpodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this jam-packed episode, we worship at the alter of desert deity Josh Homme with our deep dive into Queens of the Stone Age and their 2002 release Songs For The Deaf. In a year with such a wide spectrum for rock music (from Papa Roach to The White Stripes, and Avril Lavigne to Wilco), Songs For The Deaf reminded us that rock can still be heavy, while simultaneously providing some of the catchiest hooks in recent memory. You'll hear clips from the recording sessions, interviews with Homme that dive into his unique guitar sound, and a conversation with producer Eric Valentine that delves deep into the mics and pedals that were used to achieve the guitar sound on the record. There's a lot to cover on this episode, so strap in and crank up the volume as we drive into the desert with Queens of the Stone Age. Episode Tracklist 1. Song For The Dead 2. The Sky Is Fallin' 3. Six Shooter 4. Do It Again 5. Song For The Deaf 6. Hanging Tree Check out more great music podcasts on Pantheon: www.pantheonpodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's sidetrack episode, we listen to another track from early prog rockers The Nice. Although short-lived, the group's fusion of rock, jazz, classical music was a key influence of the progressive rock movement throughout the 70s. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode we finally shake ourselves out of the shoegaze daze and pay homage to one of the greatest rock records of all time: 1971's Fragile by progressive rock pioneers, Yes. Before we dive in, we explore two groups that laid the groundwork for the genre and proved to the music world that rock and roll had a lot more to say beyond the 12 bar love song, Days of Future Past by The Moody Blues and The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack by The Nice. This is a music-heavy episode, with lots of clips from the record that you may have missed if you only tuned in for the singles. Let's take a listen and hear what made Fragile such an iconic record, with its complex melodies and arrangements that only a group like Yes could deliver. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, we listen to a few tracks from our favorite shoegazey dream pop act out of Seattle, Cock & Swan. Johnny Goss and Ola Hungerford have a knack for creating these wonderfully dark & dazey, lusciously lo-fi tunes, often with jerky, slightly odd rhythms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, we take a deep dive into shoegaze and the album that laid the foundation for the genre: My Bloody Valentine's 1991 album "Loveless". Loveless oozes a sonic balm that first embraces and then softly pulverizes the frantic stress of life; a challenging storm of bent pitch, undulating volume and fractured tempos. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Sidetrack we take a quick look at the shoegazing dream pop outfit Slowdive. As one of the early pioneers of the genre, Slowdive's melancholy, druggy & spaced-out ​vibes sound just as fresh and modern today as it did in the early 90s. No Filler is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

​On this week's episode, we take a look at the emergence of chillwave and the role of those dime-a-dozen music blogs of the early 2000s in helping launch this short-lived & blissed-out, shoe-gaze dance genre. Our main dig is on the DIY home recordings of Ernest Greene Hemingway Jr., aka Washed Out, who, along with Toro Y Moi and Neon Indian, were the three main influencers of the chillwave sound. We give a listen to songs from his first three releases spanning from 2009 to 2011. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Sidetrack we listen to a handful of tracks from Mr. Twin Sister's Eric Cardona. Unlike the band's jazz and disco-tinged pop tunes​, Cardona's solo work is much more personal, often acoustic-heavy, and intimate. We fade out the episode with "3AMFM", Cardona's take on Mr. Twin Sister's "Alien FM". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

​We make the case in this episode that Mr. Twin Sister is one of the most talented acts to come out of the last decade, with a look at their 2014 self-titled 3rd album. Having gone through some rough patches as a band in the previous year (parting ways with Domino Records, lead vocalist Andrea Estella's MS diagnosis, and the entire group surviving a harrowing car crash while touring in Florida), Mr. Twin Sister emerges on the other end with a renewed energy and a fresh sound to go along with their slightly altered name (they used to go by simply Twin Sister, and were one of the many dream pop buzz bands of 2010). Effortlessly and expertly blending jazz, disco, and house electronic with a distinctly 70s and 80s vibe, this record is a true hidden gem for music lovers who want to hear something unique and refreshing.​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Sidetrack we take a quick peak at 1970's Zambia and the emergence of its Africa-tinged rock n' roll scene, affectionately named "Zamrock". We dive into the circumstances leading up to its creation, and play some tunes from three of our favorite acts out of Zambia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From bedroom side project to headlining Coachella, Kevin Parker's blend of psychedelic, space rock, and jangly Brit pop has made Tame Impala one of the most unique and highly sought-after acts to emerge out of rock music in the last decade. With Lennon-esque vocals and phase-fuzz heavy melodies, Tame Impala is arguably the most notable acts of the psychedelic resurgence of the early 10s, and as his music continues to evolve and crossover into the mainstream, Tame Impala is always taking the genre to new places and new audiences. In this episode, we explore the origins of Kevin Parker in the Perth music scene and we listen to the music of his debut album Innerspeaker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A young 20-something James Taylor moves to London in hopes of starting a career in music and somehow manages to get himself an audition to play a few of his demo songs for none other than Paul McCartney & George Harrison at Apple Records. Hear the rest of the story on this week's Sidetrack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yeah, we know....it's been a hot minute. But we are back in the swing of things and decided to bring along one of our dearest friends for this one: singer-songwriter Larry Llodra, hailing from Austin TX, to talk with us about one of the most under-appreciated folk artists of the last half century, Nick Drake. In the span of just three years, Nick Drake gave us three incredibly beautiful folk-pop records that are nothing short of masterpieces, each one bringing us just a little bit closer to the man himself. Just two years after his extremely vulnerable, poetic & raw third studio album "Pink Moon" was released to the masses, he succumbed to his own overwhelmingly troubled & isolated mind, overdosing on prescription pain medication at the age of 26. Join us as we dive into his second studio album, "Bryter Layter". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CBGB...Late 1970s...The birthplace of punk rock in New York City. Television was all up in it...at the ground floor. Join us as we dive into their debut full-length album "Marquee Moon" from 1977. Alongside Blondie and The Ramones, Television was lumped into the punk rock category, and for good reason...but their jazz-improve guitar stylings and sporadic vocals placed them on the other side of that punk rock coin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following our Strokes episode last week, we take a look at Balkans, a short-lived act from Atlanta that garnered obscure success with their self-titled debut in 2011. With the rock landscape already having moved past the post-punk revival of the early 2000s, Balkans proved that there was still some juice left in the lo-fi garage sound of their predecessors while still bringing something fresh to the table with an album that changes tempo nearly as often as it changes tracks. Singer-guitar player Frankie Broyles' off-key and monotone vocals pays perfect homage to Casablancas atop often relentless percussion and angular punk guitar riffs. An excellent album for those longing for a fresh take on the post-punk 2000s, Balkans proved that the next generation of rockers were paying attention and gave hope that perhaps the movement wasn't completely troubled and done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

​The boys are back together in different time zones to cover one of their favorite bands and albums of all time, The Strokes debut album from 2001, ​"Is This It".​ One of many noteworthy bands to emerge out of NYC during the post-punk, garage rock revival of the early 2000s, The Strokes gave us one of the genres' best efforts from that time. With both croonish and harsh vocals, simple, yet succinct bass lines & drum beats, and guitar solos to boot, "​Is This It​" truly is one of rock n' rolls' last hurrahs! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Quentin is flying solo again this week and continuing his journey through the eras and genres leading up to garage rock. A main influencer on rock as we know it today emerged in the 1960s alongside psychedelia & The British Invasion: Surf Rock. With fuzzy distortion, twangy reverb, & Middle Eastern tinged picking, guitarists Dick Dale, Link Wray, & Duane Eddy found mainstream success in their instrumental surf rock, and had an everlasting impact on rock n' roll. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travis is in and out of town again for the next couple weeks, so I am all by my lonesome and we are postponing our episode on The Strokes AGAIN! Sad times. But in the meantime I'm diving into all the genres and eras leading up to the garage rock revival of the 2000s. A Wiki rabbit hole led me to these saucy boys from the late 70s: the Neo-psychedelic, post-punk group The Soft Boys. Their debut album A Can Of Bees is so goddamn good, full of killer hooks, bluesy riffs, and danceable drum beats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Sidetrack we take another peak at the term ​"yé-yé​", a specific style of French pop music popularized in the 60's that continues to influence groups to this day, with its twangy surf guitar & upbeat bubblegum pop melodies. A favorite of ours that stands out in this style is a group that goes by Juniore, who have been perfecting that 60's retro French pop sound since 2013. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

​After a month of headbanging and raging with Korn and Static X, we take a breather and relax with the loungy, space rock synth vibes of Air's 2004 release ​Talkie Walkie​. The French duo somehow manage to cultivate a sound that is both retro & futuristic, with the use of vintage synth keys, guitar pedals, and vocoders. ​​With help from Nigel Godrich (see also: Radiohead, Beck) Talkie Walkie ​is a wonderfully warm & intimate, "elegantly moody soundtrack for imaginary films". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Sidetrack we take a quick peak at Static X, one of the many bands that "followed the leader" Korn in the Nu Metal movement of the late 90s. Static X brought their own taste to the mix, dropping in some solid "four on the floor" dance beats and more repetitive hooks, leaning heavily into the industrial metal category. We also listen to a song from the movie "Queen Of The Damned", performed by Wayne Static, but written by Korn frontman Jonathan Davis​. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We take a deep dive into Korn, the pioneers that took metal into new directions with their unique blend of funk, hip hop, and thrash. Nu-metal took off with a slew of imitators and fast-followers, but Korn's lead singer Jonathan Davis and the rest of his bandmates always stayed one step ahead of the sound they created, pushing the envelope and finding new ways to evolve the genre. What really made Korn so different than their successors was Davis' truly unique vocal performances, ranging from unfiltered emotional outbursts to spazzy scat freakouts and everything in between. Here's our look at Korn's first four amazing records. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

​On this week's episode, we take our first dive into hip hop, and listen to possibly its most influential album, "The Low End Theory"​. A Tribe Called Quest emerges from the Native Tongues in the early 90s, bringing with them positive-minded, Afrocentric lyrics and eclectic, unique, & jazz-influenced beats. We also take a quick peak at the golden age of hip hop, focusing on New York's hip hop community in the mid to late 80s and early 90s, leading up to the rise of A Tribe Called Quest.​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

​On this week's Sidetrack we finish up our Radiohead stint with "Bangers and Mash", a B-side from ​In Rainbows Disk 2​. Borrowing From The Basement once more, we listen to audio from that recording and geek out over Thom Yorke singing and drumming alongside Philip Selway. Check out the video From The Basement in our show notes! https://www.nofillerpodcast.com/episode/ep-31-radiohead-in-rainbows#sidetrack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode we welcome our first guest to No Filler - musician and Radiohead superfan Nathan Forster​. To finish up our coverage of Radiohead (for now), we take our first true deep dive, and go track by track through their 2007 release "​In Rainbows​". Join us as we geek out over not just "​In Rainbows"​, but all things Radiohead - everything from Yorke's infamous lazy eye to Godrich's awe-inspiring recordings From The Basement. For more info, check out the show notes: https://www.nofillerpodcast.com/episode/ep-31-radiohead-in-rainbows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

​On this week's Sidetrack we focus on the vibes and styles from Beck's 1994 release, "One Foot In The Grave", by taking a look at some of his early influences. Starting out as a "folk teenage hobo", Beck would take his guitar with him on city buses, covering Mississippi John Hurt and other standard folktales made famous by acts such as The Carter Family. For more info, check out the show notes: https://www.nofillerpodcast.com/episode/episode-30-beck-sea-change#sidetrack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The anti-folk, alt pop rock legend Beck has been cranking out some of the most unique and memorable albums for the better part of the last 20 some-odd years. Back in 2002, after making a household name for himself with songs like "Loser", "Devil's Haircut", and "Where It's At", Beck flipped the script on himself and shared his hauntingly beautiful, acoustic-heavy break-up album, ​Sea Change​, shortly after his relationship of 9 years fell apart. As David Fricke of Rolling Stone puts it, "Sea Change, gleaming with twang and heartbroken strings, is an entire album of spectacular suffering.​" For more info, check out the show notes: https://www.nofillerpodcast.com/episode/episode-30-beck-sea-change Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

​On this week's Sidetrack we take a listen to Jonny Greenwood's soundtrack for the 2017 psychological thriller ​"You Were Never Really Here​". With both ambient and beat-heavy tracks, the OST gives us a solid representation of Greenwood's diversity as both a composer and an electronic artist. For more info, check out the show notes: https://www.nofillerpodcast.com/episode/album-review-radiohead-hail-to-the-thief#sidetrack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We continue our deep dive into Radiohead with a look at Hail To The Thief. Coming out of the Kid A and Amnesiac tunnel where Thom nearly turned his back completely on guitar-based melodies, Hail is a return to Radiohead embracing the traditional rock song format and Thom finding his voice again. The computer was still a critical component to the song-writing process, but treated like the other instruments used in the recording session. The result is uniquely Radiohead, a mashup of every stepping stone that brought them to that point. For more info, check out the show notes: https://www.nofillerpodcast.com/episode/album-review-radiohead-hail-to-the-thief Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David LeBleu​, drummer for The Mercury Program (and The Album Leaf!) and all-around dabbler in sound manipulation, has been creating his own electronic music for at least a couple decades now under the name Textual. We take a quick look at his first full-length, ​Hindsight Sunglasses​, which is the much more melodic and rhythmic side of Textual. Robot Science finishes out the episode with "Teacups", a song from his 2010 album, ​Square​. For more info, check out the show notes: https://www.nofillerpodcast.com/episode/ep-28-the-mercury-program-a-data-learn-the-language#sidetrack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Quentin is back from vacation and back on the mic with Travis to cover one of their favorite instrumental albums, "a data learn the language", by The Mercury Program. Drummer Brian Lebleu and bassist Sander Travisano showcase their skills and unique dynamic as a rhythm section, playing in tandem with Sander's brother Whit on keys and vibes and Thomas Reno on guitar to deliver one of the most memorable instrumental rock albums of the last 20 years. For more info, check out the show notes: https://www.nofillerpodcast.com/episode/ep-28-the-mercury-program-a-data-learn-the-language Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travis flies solo again on this episode and decides to crank it to 11 with a quick look at Soulfly's crushing and relentless track "The Summoning". Their latest album "Ritual" marks a return to form for Max Cavalera, with a throwback to the sound and energy he brought to his first group Sepultura. Fans of both groups have something to love about this new album, a tour de force and proof that Max still has something to say 12 years since his departure from Sepultura. For more info, check out the show notes: https://www.nofillerpodcast.com/episode/music-review-soulfly-the-summoning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travis takes a quick look at 90s alt-metal outfit Helmet and their track "Vaccination" off the 1994 album Betty. With their unique blend of metal and alternative rock, these guys went on to have a huge impact many of the nu-metal and post hardcore acts that followed them. And as showcased in "Vaccination", with their syncopated guitar riffs and unconventional time signatures one could even argue that Helmet flirts with math-rock, or perhaps math-metal? Either way you look at it, Helmet's originality made them stand out the crowd of grunge and alternative that dominated rock radio. For more info, check out our show notes: https://www.nofillerpodcast.com/episode/ep-27-radiohead-amnesiac#sidetrack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No Filler kicks off the new year with another one of our favorite Radiohead albums, Amnesiac. After emerging from his musical existential crisis post OK Computer, Thom Yorke began loosening his grip on creative control and started to reach out to other band members in the songwriting process. The band ended up having over 60 sketches for song ideas and structures, narrowing down & piecing them together to give us both Kid A and Amnesiac within 8 months time. For more info, check out our show notes: https://www.nofillerpodcast.com/episode/ep-27-radiohead-amnesiac Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From doom metal to Thai-inspired funk, we each bring 5 of our favorite albums from 2018 to the table and play a song from each. Tracklist: 1. Graham Coxon - Lucifers Behind Me 2. Khruangbin - Evan Finds the Third Room 3. YOB - Ablaze 4. Hayley Heynderickx - The Bug Collector 5. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Hanoi 6 6. Echlo - Got Me Drinking 7. Mr. Twin Sister - Echo Arms 8. Courtney Barnett - Hopefulessness 9. Yimino - Cartoon 10. Wand - The Gift For more info, check out our show notes: https://www.nofillerpodcast.com/episode/favorite-albums-of-2018 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We take a look at R.E.M. guitar player Peter Buck's side project The Minus 5, headed by Scott McCaughey of the Seattle-based The Young Fresh Fellows. The Traveling Wilburys also sneak into this episode as Quentin was shocked and dismayed that Travis had never heard of them before, arguably the most "super" of super groups to ever assemble. For more info, check out our show notes: https://www.nofillerpodcast.com/episode/music-review-rem-lifes-rich-pageant#sidetrack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices