Under Records

Episode 21: Parquet CourtsIn their inaugural Punk Rock episode, and conclusion to Season 2, Dan and Kev are brushing off their unpreparedness to talk giddily about Parquet Courts’ 2012 release Light Up Gold. They discuss how in the hell a bunch of misfits from Texas ended up creating potentially the last great dent in the New York post-punk scene with their raw and enduring debut release. Will Dan and Kev ever nail down their definitions of post-punk or art punk? Does a straight-forward good time upstage a grand artistic statement? Who exactly are the kinds of people who love Parquet Courts and why are they so hard to find? Stay tuned for bonus content as Kev ventures to Ridgewood Queens for a pack of Swedish Fish.

Dig out your Becktionary and join Dan and Kev as they talk about Beck’s mildly controversial 2014 release Morning Phase. They discuss this album’s relationship to Beck’s discography, but mostly whether it fulfills its stated purpose as a companion piece to 2002’s Sea Change. Has Beck “matured” in his songwriting since Sea Change? Why is Beck constantly expected to reinvent himself? Sure the album sounds amazing…but does that even matter? This album stole a Grammy from Beyonce! Join us because we just can’t Turn Away from discussing Grammycore.

After circling the drain on a broader discussion about Jam music, Dan and Kev are discussing the exquisite piece of proto-jam that is Little Feat’s 1974 release Feats Don’t Fail Me Now. They discuss how Little Feat’s fusion of rock, boogie, and funk form the bedrock of the Jam Band Sound, and the tomes of lore behind Lowell George and his bandmates. Is Little Feat truly the midpoint between Frank Zappa and Phish? Why exactly did Lowell George get kicked out of Zappa’s band? Is Swamp Rock just Californians cosplaying as Southerners? Put on your white overalls and meet us in Georgia cause we're the pod to meet (WERE THE POD TO MEET)

In a dramatic change of form, Dan and Kev decide to nerd out on their mutual love of classical music. Join them as they try to find the most precise and sophisticated words to describe twelve wordless pieces spanning the past three centuries. What is it about classical music that makes it so timeless and ageless? Is this music elitist or is it for everyone? And what pieces of classical do Dan and Kev want played at their respective funerals? Listen now to hear Dan and Kev make stupid out-of-key mouth noises in attempts to capture the beauty before them (and make sure you stay tuned to hear our first ever surprise guests!)

As a gesture of petty revenge against Kev, Dan decides to foist Kev into the absurd universe of MF DOOM and Dangermouse, with their Adult Swim concept album The Mouse and the Mask. They discuss DOOM’s mythos as an artist, and the impact of Adult Swim in raising the profile of these two sleeping giants of the hip-hop landscape. Dan and Kev (don’t) attempt to figure out who MF DOOM really was, and whether his influence can be felt today. Mostly though they just laugh at old movie slang

Take a step into the Craigverse as Kev surprises Dan with his most challenging album yet: The Hold Steady’s 2023 album “The Price of Progress”. Dan and Kev will discuss the ins-and-outs of Craig Finn’s vivid and verbose lyrics and the characters contained therein. They also talk about sports…Will Dan and Kev even be friends at the end of this? Can Dan overcome Craig Finn’s attitude? It’ll hurt a little bit, but Dan will do what he do to survive.

Wait…are we still here? In their first ever two-parter, Dan and Kev continue to discuss Dave & Tim’s 1996 concert Live at Luther College. Dan and Kev are getting into uncharted (and unpolished) song territory, but they’ll get through it by discussing the tenets of the jam band ethos and mid-90s mainstream weirdness. How does this early snapshot of Dave Matthews as a songwriter reflect on his career in the 2000s and beyond? What makes this guy so polarizing and Tim so amazing? How many of these songs were they even planning to play? These topics, Christmas, lyrical nonsense and Neil Young are all discussed in this thrilling conclusion. This pod is poured from the hands of angels, so get in the Warehouse because part two is far from a Typical Situation.

A new weird-voiced challenger approaches the Under Records podcast: the unmistakable Dave Matthews and his faithful acoustic savant Tim Reynolds. Dan and Kev cover Dave & Tim’s 1996 release Live at Luther College. What makes Dave so ubiquitous and yet so difficult to describe? Are these songs better performed with a band or as an acoustic duo? Is Tim really a robot that Dave built in his basement? Between discussing Dave’s incredible riff writing, voice, and lyrics, and Tim’s one-of-a-kind accompaniment, Dan and Kev will be lucky to keep this under 3 hours! They don’t particularly have a problem with splitting this one up. What Would You Say?

Dan and Kev reach peak indie this month as they discuss Regina Spektor’s 2006 release Begin To Hope. We talk about Regina’s various eclectic styles and mannerisms, her influence on the Indiesphere, and the stereotypes she patented/violated. How much can a bubbly Bronx pianist push the envelope? What life circumstances produce a work of this much variety? Why does she do that thing with her voice? Brace yourself to FEEL THE WALTZ!

Kev finally subjects Dan to one of his lifelong favorite artists; Richard Thompson. They discuss Richard's background in the seminal folk-rock band Fairport Convention, his most famous works with his ex-wife Linda, and his consistent and enduring legacy as a songwriter, instrumentalist, music historian and successful journeyman. His 1999 album Mock Tudor is perhaps his most acclaimed solo effort, but where does it stand in the world of popular music and taste? Where do his instincts as a writer thrive and where do they fail? What is his status as an influence and what influenced him? What does he have in common with Bobby Baccalieri from The Sopranos? Every time you hear this podcast Bathsheba Smiles, so Crawl Back (Crawl Back) under your stone and listen to Dan and Kev break it all down.

There comes a time when every pair of music nerds must talk about Radiohead, and that time is now for Dan and Kev. We discuss how this not-so-obscure band became the darling of music critics everywhere for the last few decades, and what their sophomore release says about all their material since its release. Is Radiohead ultimately popular? Why don’t more band evolve their sounds like this? Do you know The Note? You most certainly will after this episode, along with a small handful of Britishisms. Don’t leave Dan and Kev High and Dry. Just listen to the episode and feel it in your Bones.

Happy New Year Under Records fans! As a break between Seasons 1 and 2 of breaking down potentially underappreciated albums, Kev and Dan decide to slow it down and instead have a wide ranging conversation about music, technology, popularity and the monoculture. Is technology a bigger driving force than generational change in music popularity? Is the monoculture gone or secretly stronger than ever? How has technology impacted the way we hear, talk and think about music? What video game did Dan have as a soundtrack on a cassette as a youth? Will Kev ever shut the fuck up? All of these questions will be revealed in this Oops! All Concluding Thoughts episode. (Spoiler; the answer to the last one is no).

Dan and Kev are embracing their inner hermit to discuss Tame Impala’s 2012 release Lonerism. Dan reminisces about being an awkward 20-something having Lonerism as the lyrical validation for his struggles, and Kev nods along empathetically. We also attempt to answer the most important questions surrounding Tame Impala, like, What’s going on in Kevin Parker’s perfectionist head? Does he really sound that much like John Lennon? Does Elephant belong on this album, or any Tame Impala album? Does anyone even know this album exists? We’ll attempt to move this discussion forward even though it feels like we only go backwards.

Dan and Kev are getting in touch with their soul, soul music that is, with a discussion of Al Green’s 1971 album Al Green Gets Next to You. We discuss the roots of Soul music, the dynamics of working with a studio band, and what made this record so special that it made Al Green into a household name. How does Al Green differentiate himself from his contemporaries? Is this album a secret concept album? Is Al Green a Ram? Or a Driving Wheel? We’re gonna talk about this Right Now Right Now.

Dan and Kev are mining the depths of human depravity with Tool’s 1993 release Undertow. We discuss the measured complexity of Tool’s debut studio album, how it stands up to the music of the time, and whether its rawness makes it any better or worse than Tool’s future progressive releases. Does Undertow share commonalities with its grunge contemporaries? Is it an animal all its own? How is it that this eclectic rock band achieved mainstream success at all and dodged the designation of underground or extreme metal? We’ll see if we can get to the Bottom (ft. Henry Rollins) of this.

Dan and Kev are absolutely giddy to be talking about R.E.M.’s 1986 album Life’s Rich Pageant. We talk about the critical inflection point this album was in creating a division between old college-rock R.E.M., and the arena-packing juggernaut they were about to become. Do any of Michael Stipe’s lyrics make sense? Does it even matter if they don’t? Is R.E.M. being forgotten by the greater culture? Why do all these songs kick so much butt? Seriously, we can’t wait to talk about the passion…wait that’s not on this album. Whatever, keep it in.

Dan and Kev can’t stand how outstanding Wilco is, especially on their 1999 release Summerteeth. Of course we’ve all heard Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, but what kind of status did Wilco have before the release of their tumultuous 2002 album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot? Is this old Wilco’s peak? Or is this just a druggy love affair between Jeff Tweedy and Jay Bennet? Can Dan be convinced that Wilco is at all remarkable as a band? Maybe all he needs is a shot in the arm

Dan and Kev dip their toes into the folk-jazz intersection that is Joni Mitchell’s For the Roses. Context plays an important role for this 1972 album, which finds itself jammed between two major Joni releases. We dive into Joni’s life and career, and Dan tries to sell Kev on Joni’s angelic-yet-sometimes-cringeworthy voice. Are there hidden gems on For The Roses? How does knowing what we know now about Joni Mitchell’s life inform the interpretation of these lyrics? Is Blonde In The Bleachers the ultimate underrated Joni song? Join us as we discuss Joni’s heart and mind.

Dan and Kev prep themselves for some psychedelic surfing lessons as they talk about MGMT’s 2010 release Congratulations. Was MGMT destined for a sophomore slump? Or did they inadvertently make their most artful album ever with the odds stacked against them? Is Siberian Breaks the greatest song ever written? What does Brian Eno know? We discuss all of this without ever mentioning drugs. I know, we didn’t think it could be done either. Give us a round of applause.

Dan and Kev strap on some camo gear and pith helmets to talk about Cracker’s 2009 release Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey. We discuss the band’s DIY ethos, and critically dissect every fiber of bandleader David Lowery’s being, from his weird voice to his love of the troops. What cracks in the musical landscape does Cracker fill in? Is this...dad rock? Are there really any features on this album or are they just pulling our leg? Is this the swan song of 2000s rock music? We could be wrong, we could be right.

Dan and Kev sit down to talk about Pixies’ 1990 album Bossanova. We discuss Bossanova’s divisive status as being a less collaborative Pixies album than Surfer Rosa or Doolittle. With Kim Deal taking more of a back seat on this album, does it still pass muster as being a great Pixies album? Is Black Francis going to come to Dan’s house and beat him up? Why are all the band members wrong about Hang Wire? Do any of these lyrics make sense? Come Bossanova with us!

Dan and Kev talk about Tom Waits’ 1999 release Mule Variations, in all its dusty, grimey, bluesy glory. We discuss Tom Waits’ background as a singer-songwriter, and how he managed to remain simultaneously relevant yet obscure enough to evade Dan’s boomer parents’ awareness. What sets apart Waits’s late-career release from his 70s and 80s material? Is this Waits at his earthiest? What the hell is a Filipino Boxspring Hog? Is Mule Variations underrated? We’ll find out, but first you gotta get behind the mule