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March 2013
S M T W T F S
     
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3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31

Syndication

Part 3 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling as we discuss our favorite music of 2013. I've also got music from Speedy Ortiz, Mudhoney and METZ.

Show notes:

- Recorded at Clicky Clicky World HQ

- JB's #1

- Speedy Ortiz jumped to Carpark Records

- Sadie Dupuis is an actual poet

- JK's #1

- Queens of the Stone Age went to interesting places on ...Like Clockwork

- Matador's first #1 record

- Favorite live shows

- JB saw Lilys in a tiny venue

- Whirr and Nothing at Great Scott made Breitling's brain shake

- Krill, Speedy Ortiz record release shows

- Saw Soccer Mom several times

- JK: Golden Gurls, Soccer Mom and Reports at TT's

- Clicky Clicky benefit was great

- Saw Titus Andronicus twice

- Obits and Pile at TT's

- Just got ticket for Rocket From the Crypt reunion show in April

- Mission of Burma and Reports at the Sinclair

- JK: Vinyl continued to make comeback

- JB: The reality of YouTube as a legit streaming music service

- No sympathy for the record industry

- We're in a pop-driven era

- Novelty songs, bubblegum were huge

- Rock bands have no staying power on the charts

- Anticipated albums for '14

- JB: Johnny Foreigner, Lubec, Soccer Mom, Golden Gurls, White Laces

- JK: Titus Andronicus, Malkmus, Speedy Ortiz EP, Soccer Mom

- Many '80s bands will release new albums

Music:

Speedy Ortiz - No Below (live)

Mudhoney - I Like It Small

METZ - Can't Understand

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

The Speedy Ortiz song is on the band's Epitonic Saki Session. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Mudhoney song is on the album Vanishing Point on Sub Pop. Download it for free from Sub Pop.

The METZ song is part of the Adult Swim Singles Series. Download the song 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 blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.
Direct download: CompCon_309_123113.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 4:34pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling as we discuss our favorite music of 2013. I've also got music from Los Campesinos!, Superchunk and Krill.

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! perserveres 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.
Direct download: CompCon_308_122413.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 9:01am EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling as we discuss our favorite music of 2013. I've also got music from Guillermo Sexo, Calories and Savages.

Show notes:

- Recorded at Clicky Clicky World HQ

- Breitling's working on a new catchphrase

- Zeppelin's on Spotify

- Brought to you (not really) by Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

- When did year-end lists begin?

- Breitling: Listen to Bandcamp and Soundcloud all day

- Olive the dog nearly causes technical difficulties

- JB's albums that just missed his top 10: It Hugs Back, Bent Shapes, Kal Marks, Slowdim

- JK's bubbling under albums: Iceage, Diarrhea Planet, Deer Tick, Swearin', Mudhoney, YLT

- JB's #10

- Joey Sweeney's second solo album

- JK's #10

- Great return to form for Barrence Whitfield

- JB's 9

- Guillermo Sexo album was picked up by Midriff Records

- JK's #9 and JB's #8 are the same

- Ovlov plays the hot rock

- Exploding in Sound label had a monster year

- Music scene in the Boston area is terrific right now

- JK's #8

- Future of the Left's latest album was crowdfunded

- JB's #7

- Beyonce's new album release isn't that groundbreaking

- Calories did it last month

- The upside of releasing "pay what you want" music

- JK's #7

- Savages' debut album is excellent

- JB's #6

- Radiator Hospital is another Philly act with a fine 2013 release

- To be continued

Music:

Guillermo Sexo - Fall Lens

Calories - Neighbours

Savages - She Will

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

The Guillermo Sexo song is on the album Dark Spring on Midriff Records. Download the song for free at Soundcloud.

The Calories song is on the album Calories III. Download the song for free at Bandcamp.

The Savages song is on the album Silence Yourself on Matador. Download the song for free as part of the Matador Intended Play 2013 sampler 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.
Direct download: CompCon_307_121713.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 6:08pm EDT

Part 3 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we look back at the music of 1980. I've also got music from Shy Boys, Dog Day and PUP.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- Jay's #3

- Bowie's last great album?

- Jay: Tin Machine was an interesting experiment

- Brian's #2

- Sandinista! is a bloated, but great, album

- The Clash went to great lengths to keep price down

- A little better than Extreme's triple album

- A case study of success going to a band's 'head'

- TV theme producer Mike Post produced VH III

- Jay's #2 pick is Brian's #1

- Brian: "Once in a Lifetime" is one of the stranger smash hits of all time

- Great albums created after a serious case of writer's block

- Jay's #1

- Pretenders debut is flawless

- Band only formed two years earlier

- Half the band was dead within three years

- Crappy recording techniques hadn't started yet in 1980

- Next up: 1998

 

Music:

Shy Boys - Is This Who You Are

Dog Day - Wasted

PUP - Reservoir

 

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

 

The Shy Boys song is on the band's self-titled album on High Dive. Download it for free at Soundcloud

The Dog Day song is on the album Fade Out on Fundog Records. Download the song for free at Chromewaves.

The PUP song is on the band's self-released and self-titled album. Download the song for free at Bandcamp.

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.
Direct download: CompCon_306_121013.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 7:25pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we look back at the music of 1980. I've also got music from The Harmonica Lewinskies, Idiot Genes and Tame Impala.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- Roller disco was once a thing

- Brian: Mainstream American rock was in a slump

- Just missed Brian's top 5: Queen's The Game

- Lennon's Double Fantasy and McCartney II

- The legend of Linda

- Peter Gabriel's Melt, the debut of the Lounge Lizards

- Jay: Blizzard of Ozz, Permanent Waves, Heaven and Hell, Empty Glass

- Townshend's writing style had changed

- Max Webster's Universal Juveniles

- Band combined Rush and Zappa influences

- 1980 was one of four years in Zappa's recording career he didn't release an album

- Brian's #5

- Pretenders' debut was amazing

- Jay's #5

- Back in Black was surprising given Bon Scott's death months earlier

- The expanding umbrella of classic rock

- Brian's #4

- Ozzy's solo debut reinvented his image

- Singers who don't write lyrics

- Jay's #4

- Jay: Melt is my favorite Gabriel album

- The greatness of Gabriel's early solo work

- Brian: Face Dances would be considered a great Townshend solo album

- Brian's #3

- Interesting debut from the Feelies

- Unlikely but successful Feelies comeback in recent years

- Rooting for local acts

- To be continued

Music:

The Harmonica Lewinskies - Jesus Christ is Just Rock and Roll

Idiot Genes - Soaked Pillow

Tame Impala - Feels Like We Only Go Backwards (Chrome Canyon De-mix)

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

The Harmonica Lewinskies song is available for free download (in exchange for your email address) at Bandcamp.

The Idiot Genes song is on the album Lousey. Download the song for free at Bandcamp.

The Tame Impala song is on the album Lonerism on Modular Recordings. Download the remix of 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.
Direct download: CompCon_305_120313.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 6:59pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we look back at the music of 1980. I've also got music from Calories, Shearwater and Mark Kozelek.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- Brian: 1980 was a much better year for music than our last choice, '87

- Jay: Was living in Toronto in '80

- Brian: Was -2 years old, but really dig the music of 1980

- Jay: New wave and post-punk really came into their own: B-52s, Talking Heads, U2, Pretenders

- Brian: Arena rock bands like Queen and Rush took different paths

- New sounds on the radio

- Brian: Guitar rock was strong with VH, Ozzy, Sabbath, AC/DC

- Poor Bob Daisley

- New Wave of British Heavy Metal: Maiden, Leppard, Motorhead all influenced thrash scene that emerged a few years later

- Worst musical moments: Wuss rock like Christopher Cross and Air Supply thrived

- Brian: Blues Brothers movie came out

- Put spotlight on music that was considered unhip at the time

- Early hip-hop in the mainstream: Kurtis Blow, Blondie's "Rapture," Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight"

- The Clash were incredibly prolific: London Calling and Sandinista! both came out within less than a year

- The crumminess of Cut the Crap

- Worst musical moment: John Lennon was killed

- Other deaths included John Bonham, Bon Scott, Ian Curtis, Darby Crash

- Death of the Beatles: John killed, Paul was busted, George's album was held up, Ringo was wasted

- Led Zeppelin also broke up in 1980

- Trading hockey cards for a Rush album is uniquely Canadian

- Soundtrack of Decline of Western Civilization came out in late '80

- To be continued

Music:

Calories - DMT

Shearwater - A Wake for the Minotaur

Mark Kozelek - I Know

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

The Calories song is on the album Calories III. Download the song for free at Bandcamp.

The Shearwater song is on the album Fellow Travelers on Sub Pop. Download the song for free at The Current.

The Mark Kozelek song is on the compilation album You Be My Heart benefiting 826 National. Download the song for free at GLGPub.com.

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.
Direct download: CompCon_304_112613.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 7:50pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we discuss a pair of 1970s hitmakers. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Little Big League, Soft Focus, Idiot Genes and Wavves.

Show notes:

- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ

- "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree"

- Tony Orlando and Dawn got their own variety show

- Telma Hopkins of Dawn went on to appear in several sitcoms

- Renewed popularity during Gulf War

- Actually about coming home from prison

- Was "Knock Three Times" a swingers' anthem?

- By the late '70s, Tony Orlando was forgotten

- "He Don't Love You" was another big hit

- In praise of KC and the Sunshine Band

- Tales of KC's pratfall in Vegas

- "Please Don't Go" was a major hit for KC

- "I'm Your Boogie Man" was funky, great stuff

- Learning about music as a kid in the '70s

- Young Ric saw the Sex Pistols on Howard Cosell's "Saturday Night Live"

- Good bands played on "Fridays" on ABC

- Dick Clark was a brilliant businessman, not necessarily a music lover

- Check out episode 54 of More Lost Time, remembering Charlie Chesterman

- Coming soon: Ric and Jay's video show Trust Fund Challenge

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

Little Big League - Lindsey

Soft Focus - Runner Up

Idiot Genes - Regular

Wavves - Horse Shoes

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

The Little Big League song is on the self-released album These Are Good People. Download the song for free on Bandcamp.

The Soft Focus song is on the EP Day. Download the EP for free at Bandcamp.

The Idiot Genes song is on the album Lousey. Download the song for free at Bandcamp.

The Wavves song was released as a one-off single. 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.

Direct download: CompCon_303_111913.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 7:06pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we discuss an unlikely number one single from 1973. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Pixies, Quasi, The Julie Ruin and Ghost Wave.

Show notes:

- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ

- Talking about Vicki Lawrence's "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia"

- We forgot to watch the movie

- This was her only hit

- Written by Bobby Russell

- Lawrence was already a regular on The Carol Burnett Show

- Later starred in Mama's Family and her own talk show

- Very confusing story song about murder and infidelity

- Song was offered to Cher but Sonny Bono nixed it

- Later covered by Reba McEntire

- Ric: Should've been an animated movie with animals

- Revenge and death throughout

- We're confused

- Casey Kasem would've been annoyed

- Bobby Russell had two top 40 songs of his own

- "1432 Franklin Pike Circle Hero" hit #36

- Could've used an oompah band

- Satire on suburban life

- "Saturday Morning Confusioon" got up to #28 in 1971

- Merging Charlie Rich and Harry Nilsson

- Ric: This guy might be a genius

- Next up: Tony Orlando and Dawn

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

Pixies - Indie Cindy

Quasi - You Can Stay But You Got to Go

The Julie Ruin - Oh Come On

Ghost Wave - Here She Comes

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

The Pixies song is on the self-released EP-1.

The Quasi song is on the album Mole City on Kill Rock Stars.

The Julie Ruin song is on the album Run Fast on TJR Records.

The Ghost Wave song is on the album Ages on Flying Nun Records. All four songs can be downloaded for free at KEXP.

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.

Direct download: CompCon_302_111213.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 6:44pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Matt Phillion as we discuss horror flicks and rooting for the bad guy. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Fu Manchu, Pissed Jeans and JEFF the Brotherhood.

Show notes:

- Movies we watched before we were ready

- Jay: Psycho at age 8

- Matt: Monster movies always freaked him out

- The reinvention of Jackie Earle Haley

- Swamp Thing vs. Man-Thing

- Sympathizing with unsympathetic characters

- Liam Neeson is the new Charles Bronson

- Watch out for giant deformed hillbillies

- Cool TV shows that didn't last long

- American Horror Story is pretty wacky

- Bates Motel is good

- Rooting for the charismatic bad guy: Tony Soprano, Vic Mackey, Loki

- Bad guy roles are more fun to play

- Watching crappy movies like 2012

- Amazing acting on In Treatment

- The varied and great career of the Coen Brothers

- Cormac McCarthy, horror writer?

- Stephen King keeps adding to old books

- Matt wearing clown makeup freaks people out

- People like to be scared

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

Fu Manchu - Robotic Invasion

Pissed Jeans - Cathouse

JEFF the Brotherhood - Melting Place

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

The Fu Manchu song is on the EP Scion AV Presents Fu Manchu and Moab. Download the song for free at Soundcloud.

The Pissed Jeans song is on the album Honeys on Sub Pop. Download the song for free at SubPop.com.

The JEFF the Brotherhood song is on the compilation Garage Swim. Download the song for free at Adult Swim.

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.
Direct download: CompCon_301_110513.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 6:23pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Matt Phillion as we discuss Halloween and horror flicks. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Dead Meadow, The Cloud Room and The Beatings.

Show notes:

- Salem, Mass., is Halloween Central

- Just a straight-out fun holiday

- Can be frustrating for those who live in Salem

- Old-school newspaper pro-tip: Keep booze in yer desk

- "Write drunk, edit sober"

- As a kid, Matt was excited to dress up on Halloween

- Jay: All about the candy

- In NH, rural location meant we didn't have trick-or-treaters

- Don't get that many now

- Matt's costumes over the years: Robin, Julius Caesar

- Jay: Moses, Don King, Bootsy Collins

- Matt has a Batman mask this year

- When kids are scared of your costume

- Enjoyed Halloween more as an adult

- The Lunchlady and the Flasher

- Scary movies are fun

- Matt: Blair Witch had a great gimmick, not a great story

- So much more scary watching movies by yourself

- Matt: The Saw movies are terrible, but creepy

- Zombie movies are everywhere

- Allegory for fear of disease

- Real-life face-eating is scarier

- Horror movie remakes are coming out all the time

- Jay: Still remember the trailer for the late '70s flick It's Alive

- Horror films are good investments

- Jay: Loved the film version of The Shining

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

Dead Meadow - Yesterday's Blowin' Back

The Cloud Room - Mrs. Marquis de Sade

The Beatings - How Many Times Can You Say Goodbye to the Same Person?

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

The Dead Meadow song is on the album Warble Womb on Xemu Records. Download the song for free at RollingStone.com.

The Cloud Room song is on the compilation You Be My Heart. Download the song for free at Soundcloud.

The Beatings song is on the album Italiano on Midriff 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.
Direct download: CompCon_300_102913.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 7:49pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling as we discuss benefit concerts. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from The So So Glos, Grooms, Black Hearted Brother and Slowdim.

Show notes:

- Recorded at Casa Breitling before a live studio audience

- Breitling's hosting the 2nd annual Community Servings benefit show on Nov. 3 at TT the Bears in Cambridge, Mass.

- Featuring K. Heasley of Lilys, Soccer Mom, The Hush Now and Earthquake Party

- Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz will provide DJ sets

- Providing meals to the chronically ill

- Roger Waters held huge benefit show in Berlin in 1990

- Breitling was in Germany at the time

- The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert was huge in '92

- Two big post-9/11 concerts in NYC

- SARS benefit concert in 2003 was the biggest show in Canadian history, with the Stones, AC/DC, Rush

- Live 8 in 2005 was actually eight concerts in eight cities on the same day

- Pink Floyd reunited with Waters

- Did benefits have more impact in the past?

- Increased capacity to put on benefit shows now

- Hear 'N Aid was the mid-'80s metal version of We Are the World

- Featured a ridiculous number of guitar solos

- Big charity show in Boston earlier this year after the Marathon bombing

- Hot Stove Cool Music started in Boston, now also in Chicago

- Recent Crash Safely MS benefit ran four nights in Boston-area clubs

- Breitling: Bands and venue make benefits happen by giving their time

- Club bookers were a huge help

- Plenty of logistics to consider

- Last year Community Servings benefit was at Great Scott

- Different kind of benefit for Community Servings, reaching a different audience

- Get yer tickets now

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

The So So Glos - Emergency

Grooms - I Think We're Alone Now

Black Hearted Brother - This is How It Feels
Slowdim - Wishing Well
Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The So So Glos song is on the compilation Shaking Through Volume 4. Download the comp for free at Bandcamp.

The Grooms song is on the album Infinity Caller on Western Vinyl. Download the song for free at Bandcamp.

The Black Hearted Brother song is on the album Stars Are Our Home on Slumberland Records. Download the song for free at Chromewaves.

The Slowdim song is a reworked version of a song on the band's self-titled album. Download the song for free at Bandcamp.

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.
Direct download: CompCon_299_102213.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 7:15pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling as we discuss the benefit concert he's organizing. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Shearwater, Deer Tick, FIDLAR and Come.

Show notes:

- Recorded at Casa Breitling before a live studio audience

- Breitling's hosting the 2nd annual Community Servings benefit show on Nov. 3 at TT the Bears in Cambridge, Mass.

- Featuring K. Heasley of Lilys, Soccer Mom, The Hush Now and Earthquake Party

- Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz will provide DJ sets

- Olive sniffs the recorder

- Get tickets now

- Providing meals to the chronically ill

- Last year's event featured Johnny Foreigner

- Rock benefits have been happening for decades

- They seem less impactful now

- Live Aid was a huge event in 1985 with shows in Philly and London

- Controversy over charity administration

- The Concert for Bangaldesh in '71 was the first big charity concert

- The Secret Policeman's Ball was run by Amnesty International

- Sting's Rock for the Rainforest benefit has been happening for 20+ years

- Amnesty International's Conspiracy of Hope was a big deal in 1986

- Breitling: Axl Rose has Vince Neil-itis

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

Shearwater - Fucked Up Life

Deer Tick - The Dream's in the Ditch

FIDLAR - Got No Money
Come - String (live)

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

The Shearwater song is on the album Fellow Travelers on Sub Pop. Download the song for free at Stereogum.

The Deer Tick song is on the album Negativity on Partisan Records. Download the song for free as part of the Partisan Records Summer/Fall Sampler 2013 on Amazon.

The FIDLAR song is on the EP Don't Try on Mom + Pop Music. Download the song for free at Chromewaves.
The Come song is part of the band's Epitonic Saki Session, which you can download 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.
Direct download: CompCon_298_101413.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 3:34pm EDT

Part 3 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we look back at the music of 1987. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Sebadoh, The Men and The Besnard Lakes.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- Jay's #2 album of '87: The Cult's Electric

- Used to crank it while working supermarket night shifts

- Brian's #2: R.E.M.'s Document

- Mike Mills is the band's secret weapon

- R.E.M. was burdened by U2 comparisons

- Stipe and Mills formed Automatic Baby with U2's Clayton and Mullen

- Jay's #1: GNR's Appetite for Destruction

- Paved the way for rawer hard rock

- Brian's #1: Pixies' Come On Pilgrim EP

- New Pixies is okay but nowhere near the old one

- Teenage metalhead Jay also dug Joe Satriani's Surfing With the Alien

- Enjoying That Metal Show

- Terrible moments in '87 music

- Jay: Bruce Willis releases an album

- Brian: Pink Floyd's post-Waters output

- "That's What Friends Are For"

- Jay: Terrible movie soundtrack music, like Bob Seger's "Shakedown"

- "Shakedown" was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe

- Starship's "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"

- Brian: The death of legendary jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius

- The fascinating story of Aaron North (ex-Icarus Line and NIN guitarist)

- The Jesus Lizard got a record deal thanks to Kurt Cobain

- Next on our hit list: 1980

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

Sebadoh - I Will

The Men - I Saw Her Face

The Besnard Lakes - People of the Sticks

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

The Sebadoh song is on the album Defend Yourself on Joyful Noise Recordings. Download the song for free (in exchange for your email address) as part of the Paste Fall Preview 2013 at NoiseTrade.

The song from The Men is on the album Campfire Songs on Sacred Bones Records. Download the song for free at Aquarium Drunkard.

The Besnard Lakes song is on the album Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO on Jagjaguwar 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 blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.
Direct download: CompCon_297_100513.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 2:23pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we look back at the music of 1987. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Okkervil River, Beachwood Sparks and Midlake.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- Brian: Birth of the cassingle

- Inexpensive way to buy singles, B-sides

- Brian: Collecting 45s for a jukebox

- Jay: 1987 was big for female pop artists

- Madonna, Bangles, Belinda Carlisle, Lisa Lisa, Heart

- Older songs like "Stand By Me" were re-released

- Young Brian bought his first album in '87: The Monkees' Greatest Hits

- New Monkees TV show came and went

- Jay: Made two top 5 album lists, Then and Now

- Jay: Then list (#5 to #1): Def Leppard's Hysteria, INXS's Kick, Cult's Electric, Whitesnake's s/t and U2's Joshua Tree

- Whitesnake was the hard rock version of Ringo Starr's All Starr Band

- Brian's #5: George Harrison's Cloud Nine, despite Jeff Lynne's heavy handed production

- Jay's #5: Husker Du's Warehouse, not their best but still pretty great

- Incredible run of albums over a short period

- Brian's #4: Prince's Sign o' the Times, maybe his last great album

- Jay's #4: Replacements' Pleased to Meet Me; Westerberg's focuses on songwriting and less on aggression

- Brian's #4: Tom Waits' Franks Wild Years; did Izzy Stradlin play on this album?

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

Okkervil River - Stay Young

Beachwood Sparks - Make It Together

Midlake - Antiphon

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

The Okkervil River song is on the album The Silver Gymnasium on ATO Records. Download the song for free (in exchange for your email address) on Goodbye Summer: ATO Records 2013 Fall Sampler at ATORecords.com.

The Beachwood Sparks song is on the album Desert Skies on Alive Naturalsounds Records. Download the song for free at Soundcloud.

The Midlake song is on the album Antiphon on ATO Records. Download the song for free (in exchange for your email address) on Goodbye Summer: ATO Records 2013 Fall Sampler at ATORecords.com.

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.
Direct download: CompCon_296_092613.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 4:26pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we look back at the music of 1987. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Guillermo Sexo, Natural Velvet and Speedy Ortiz.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- Different perspectives: Brian was 5 in 1987, Jay was in college

- Brian: The impact of La Bamba, movie about Richie Valens

- Kicked off a roots rock revival

- Jay: Big year for alternative rock

- Breakout year for R.E.M., The Cure, The Cult

- Jay: Making the transition from metalhead to alt-rock fan

- No regional radio anymore

- Brian: CDs started catching on, especially when Beatles catalog was released

- CDs provided definitive versions of albums

- Became easier to make mixtapes

- Jay: Huge year for U2 with The Joshua Tree

- Landing tickets for U2 in '87 was no easy feat

- Brian: GNR's Appetite for Destruction actually paved the way for hair metal's demise

- Harked back to sleazier sounds of '70s garage rock

- Jane's Addiction seemed dangerous back then

- Guitar music was moving in different directions

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

Guillermo Sexo - Fall Lens

Natural Velvet - Dark Inertia

Speedy Ortiz - Plough (live)

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

The Guillermo Sexo song is on the album Dark Spring on Midriff Records. Download the song for free at Soundcloud.

The Natural Velvet song is on the EP Salome with the Head of John the Baptist. Download the EP for free at Bandcamp.

The Speedy Ortiz song is on the band's Epitonic Saki Session. 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.
Direct download: CompCon_295_091913.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 3:00pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we discuss actors turned singers. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Sebadoh, Mind Spiders and Diarrhea Planet.

Show notes:

- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ

- John Travolta's music career was dragged out over three albums

- "All Strung Out on You" could've been a Velvet Underground outtake

- Co-writer Nino Tempo had an illustrious acting career as an extra

- Burt Reynolds made an album in '73

- Burt reads from his childhood diary

- Ric serves up crap on my podcast, not his

- Adam West's novelty record

- Other actors who made albums: Telly Savalas, Ted Knight

- Plenty of musicians who became actors: Kris Kristofferson, Jagger, Bowie

- Mark Wahlberg and Justin Timberlake have done well as actors

- Actors turned musicians: Kevin Bacon, Bruce Willis, Keanu Reeves, Russell Crowe, Steven Seagal, Don Johnson

- Rick James produced Eddie Murphy's "Party All the Time"

- Eddie had already moved from comedian to movie star

- In "Boogie Nights," Dirk Diggler thinks he's got musical talent

- Murphy and Michael Jackson teamed up in '93's "Whatzupwitu"

- Corey Feldman's musical aspirations

- Ric's list of actresses who shouldn't make records

- Jodie Foster made an album when she was a kid

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

Sebadoh - State of Mine

Mind Spiders - Make Make Make Make

Diarrhea Planet - Separations

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

The Sebadoh song is on the forthcoming album Defend Yourself on Joyful Noise Recordings. Download the song for free at Soundcloud.

The Mind Spiders song is on the forthcoming album Inhumanistic on Dirtnap Records. Download the song for free at LargeheartedBoy.

The Diarrhea Planet song is on the album I'm Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams on Infinity Cat Recordings. Download the song for free at Amazon MP3.

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.

Direct download: CompCon_294_091213.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 3:39pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we discuss actor-turned-singer David Soul's massive 1977 hit song. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Mean Creek, Los Campesinos and Shearwater.

Show notes:

- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ

- David Soul, aka Hutch from "Starsky and Hutch," just turned 70

- "Don't Give Up on Us" hit #1 in April 1977

- Soul started out as a folk singer

- "Don't Give Up on Us" in the same vein as wuss rock by Bread, Dan Hill, Manilow

- Ric: Soul was on Private Stock Records, which churned out pop hits

- Label run by Larry Uttal, who was previously a hitmaker for Bell Records

- Private Stock master tapes were all lost after label went bankrupt

- Soul just had the one hit

- The B-side was weird song called "Black Bean Soup" that sounded like old Robert Palmer

- John Travolta was another actor with a record deal in the '70s

- Travolta was a teen idol after "Welcome Back, Kotter" and "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble"; pre-Saturday Night Fever and Grease

- Big single was "Let Her In," even schmaltzier than the David Soul song

- No vocal range whatsoever

- "Rack jobbers" were big business; putting records in racks in drugstores and supermarkets for impulse shoppers

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

Mean Creek - Cool Town

Los Campesinos - What Death Leaves Behind

Shearwater - I Luv the Valley OH!

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

The Mean Creek song is on the forthcoming album Local Losers on Old Flame Records. Download the song for free at Soundcloud.

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

The Shearwater song is on the album Fellow Travelers on Sub Pop. Download the song for free at Sub Pop.

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.

Direct download: CompCon_293_090513.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 11:20pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Matt Phillion as we discuss our society's obsession with the apocalypse. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Marnie Stern, The Superman Revenge Squad Band, Radstewart and Thee Oh Sees.

Show notes:

- Recorded at Chez Phillion

- Neil Gaiman's American Gods may someday become an HBO series

- Seven stories keep getting retold

- When authors can't finish their series

- John Irving writes last line of a novel first

- Writing novels vs. screenplays

- Barrier to entry in moviemaking was cost of film, with books was publishing

- Now you can self-publish online

- Matt's film Certainly Never was screened at Massachusetts Independent Film Festival

- The satisfaction of slamming down a phone is gone

- Fun at the Boston "Nerd Prom," aka ComiCon

- Nerds rule the world

- Why does The Hobbit require a movie trilogy?

- When reality and satire are easily confused

- Outrage-powered culture

- Viagra has created an army of horny geezers

- Hopefully we won't have to deal with the End Times

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Marnie Stern - This Was It

The Superman Revenge Squad Band - A Funny Thing You Said

Radstewart - Beer Swindlers

Thee Oh Sees - Castiatic Tackle

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

The Marnie Stern song is part of the Adult Swim Singles Program 2013. Download the song for free at Adult Swim.

The Superman Revenge Squad Band song is a single released on Audio Antihero. Download the song for free at Bandcamp.

The Radstewart song is the EP Whig Crooks and Beer Swindlers on Alcopop. Download the song for free at Soundcloud.

The Thee Oh Sees song is on the album Warm Slime on In the Red 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.

Direct download: CompCon_292_082713.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 8:45pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Matt Phillion as we discuss our society's obsession with the apocalypse. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Nine Inch Nails, Obits, Girls Against Boys and Wavves.

Show notes:

- Recorded at Chez Phillion

- Obsessing over the end of the world is nothing new

- Harold Camping boldly predicted the end date in 2011...twice

- Heaven's Gate cult committed mass suicide in '97

- Kirk Cameron and the Rapture

- Recent apocalyptic movies include This is the End and Pacific Rim

- Disaster movies have done big business for decades

- Matt's dog doesn't dig doomsday discussion

- Zombies are all the rage

- Matt recommends Peter Heller's post-apocalyptic thriller "The Dog Stars"

- Matt: Are all our best stories about the end of the world?

- In the '80s, fears of nuclear annihilation

- Lots of crazy natural disasters happening

- Fears of a virus wiping out mankind

- Stephen King's "The Stand" explored these issues in '78

- Japanese monster movies came after the A-bomb

- Miami face eater

- Making money off doomsday preppers

- Sales of bunkers, food, weapons, etc.

- Religious "Chick tracts" designed to freak people out

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Nine Inch Nails - Copy of a

Obits - Spun Out

Girls Against Boys - It's a Diamond Life

Wavves - I Wanna Meet Dave Grohl

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

The Nine Inch Nails song is on the forthcoming album Hesitation Marks on Columbia. The song is available for free download at Amazon.

The Obits song is on the album Bed & Bugs on Sub Pop. Download the song for free at Sub Pop.

The Girls Against Boys song is the band's first new music in a decade. Download the song for free at Stereogum.

The Wavves song is on the EP Life Sux on Ghost Ramp. 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 blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Direct download: CompCon_291_081913.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 7:08pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Amanda Guest as we discuss the new online radio station she's launching. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from PJ Harvey, The Moondoggies, Wavves and King Tuff.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- Launching her own radio station, BFF.fm

- Taking back real radio

- Hope to bring back the college radio experience

- KUSF is trying to stay alive

- Amanda: College radio had a huge impact

- Amanda lives within walking distance of rock clubs in SF

- Already had discussions with venues about sponsoring shows

- Starting with seven DJs

- One DJ in Massachusetts pre-recording shows

- Even before launch, BFF.fm has generated a lot of enthusiasm

- Amanda: Work full-time gig so she can do this during her spare time

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
PJ Harvey - Shaker Aamer

The Moondoggies - Red Eye

Wavves - Hippies is Punks

King Tuff - Anthem

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

The PJ Harvey song was recorded in support of Shaker Aamer, the last British prisoner being held in Guantanamo Bay prison. The song is available for free download at Soundcloud.

The Moondoggies song is on the album Adios I'm a Ghost on Hardly Art. Download the song for free at HardlyArt.

The Wavves song is a bonus track on the album Afraid of Heights on Warner Bros. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The King Tuff song is on his self-titled album on Sub Pop. 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.

Direct download: CompCon_290_080813.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 11:07pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Amanda Guest as we discuss the new online radio station she's launching. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Black Rebel Motorcycle, Quicksand, Rocket From the Crypt and Dinosaur Jr.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- Amanda was last on CompCon in October 2010

- Moved to San Francisco a year ago

- Launching her own radio station, BFF.fm

- Did a radio show at WMWM at Salem State

- Found studio space to rent at The Secret Alley

- Adventures in Console Purchasing

- Have 4-5 DJs lined up to do shows

- Possible launch date is Sept. 1, but you can listen to music there now

- Best Frequencies Forever

- Using word of mouth

- Partnering with San Francisco venues and brands

- Possible remote broadcasts with DJs from around the world

- Focused on underground music

- DJs "pay to play" in SF

- Hoping to get sponsorships

- Still working full-time while getting BFF going

- Lifelong dream to start a radio station

- SF is a lot more optimistic

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Hate the Taste (live)

Quicksand - Fazer (live)

Rocket from the Crypt - Born in '69 (live)

Dinosaur Jr. - The Only Other Way

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

The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Quicksand and Rocket from the Crypt songs are on the Converse Represent San Francisco live EP, available for free at Soundcloud.

The Dinosaur Jr. song is an unreleased track available for free download at SkullCandy.

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.

Direct download: CompCon_289_080213.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 10:02pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling as we discuss our favorite music of the first half of 2013 and look ahead to the rest of the year. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Savages, Veronica Falls and Mikal Cronin.

Show notes:

- Recorded at Clicky Clicky world HQ

- JB: Lady Lamb the Beekeeper - Ripely Pine

- Maine native wrote songs while working in video store

- JK: The National - Trouble Will Find Me

- Still digging into this one

- What's the deal with Vampire Weekend?

- JB: Slowdim - s/t

- "A real nice listen"

- JK: Mikal Cronin - MC II

- Plays in Ty Segall's band

- The Besnard Lakes are an interesting band

- JK: New Sabbath is surprisingly non-sucky

- Old bands getting eclipsed by cover acts

- The Stones should just stop

- New Arcade Fire album expected in the fall

- JB: New Soccer Mom full-length may be out this year

- New music from Earthquake Party and Guillermo Sexo

- JK: Looking forward to new Obits album

- More new Pixies music on the way?

- Superchunk's new album coming in the fall

- New Arctic Monkeys and Pearl Jam albums due out

- JB: Anticipating new Polvo, Johnny Foreigner, Weekend, Golden Gurls

- JB: Predict the John Hughes soundtrack sound is going to come back

- Small venues are where it's at

- Pop country is attracting older fans who used to like rock

- Wear earplugs to shows, kids

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Lady Lamb the Beekeeper - Rooftop

Savages - She Will

Veronica Falls - Bad Feeling

Mikal Cronin - Weight

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

The Lady Lamb the Beekeeper song is on the album Ripely Pine on Ba Da Bing! Download the song for free at Spinner.

The Savages song is on the album Silence Yourself on Matador. Download the song for free as part of the Matador Intended Play 2013 sampler on Amazon.

The Veronica Falls song is on the album Waiting for Something to Happen on Slumberland Records. Download the song for free as part of the Slumberland Records Spring/Summer 2013 Sampler on Amazon.

The Mikal Cronin song is on the album MCII 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.

Direct download: CompCon_288_072713.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 12:40pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling as we discuss our favorite music of the first half of 2013. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Speedy Ortiz, Radiator Hospital, Kurt Vile and Light Heat.

Show notes:

- Recorded at Clicky Clicky world HQ

- Rick Moranis has a new album out

- Rush's only U.S. top 40 hit was 1982's "New World Man"

- Brought to you (not really) by Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin'

- JK: iTunes crashed, lost all playlists and play counts

- Spotify recently added music recommendations

- Serious signal-to-noise ratio

- YouTube's a great source of cool audio and video

- JB: A lot of great music from Exploding in Sound label

- JB: Ovlov - Am

- JK: Speedy Ortiz - Major Arcana

- Featured on JB's Lilys comp

- Many young bands embracing '90s sounds

- JB: Krill - Lucky Leaves

- Bass-playing singers free up space for guitarists

- JK: Palma Violets - 180

- Catchy Britpop that rocks

- JB: Radiator Hospital - Something Wild

- Album title comes from Jonathan Demme movie

- JK: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away

- More subdued effort, but still excellent

- JB: Colleen - The Weighing of the Heart

- Former French schoolteacher

- Speedy Ortiz posted a great mixtape on their blog

- JK: David Bowie - The Next Day

- Unexpected but surprisingly good

- JB: Veronica Falls - Waiting for Something to Happen

- Melodic British guitar pop

- JK hasn't purchased any CDs this year; JB's bought fewer than 10

- Vinyl ain't cheap

- JB's listed in liner notes of new Speedy Ortiz album

- JK: Kurt Vile - Wakin' on a Pretty Daze

- Very chill, lots of long jams

- Kurt's brother sells Jell-O shots at festivals

- JB: Light Heat - s/t

- Former Mazarin fronter on his own

- JK: Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork

- Expected hard rocker and got something more interesting

- New QOTSA drummer is Jon Theodore, ex of Mars Volta

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Speedy Ortiz - Tiger Tank

Radiator Hospital - Your Boyfriend

Kurt Vile - Wakin' on a Pretty Day

Light Heat - The Mirror (live)

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

The Speedy Ortiz song is on the album Major Arcana on Carpark Records. Download the song for free at Stereogum.

The Radiator Hospital song is on the album Something Wild. Download the entire album for free at Bandcamp.

The Kurt Vile song is on the album Wakin' on a Pretty Daze on Matador Records. Download the song for free at Matador.

The Light Heat song is on the band's self-titled album on Ribbon Music. Download the live version for free as part of the WXPN/Key Studio Session at The Key.

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.

Direct download: CompCon_287_071613.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 7:40pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we discuss music we've outgrown. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Queens of the Stone Age, The National, Superchunk and Eleanor Friedberger.

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

- 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.
Direct download: CompCon_286_070913.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 7:37pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we discuss music we've outgrown. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from The Pixies, Obits, Adam Franklin and Bob Mould.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- Check out Brian's comics podcast The Hour Cosmic

- Will launch Input/Output, a music-themed show, soon

- Tracking the different Black Flag reunions

- Rollins doesn't sing anymore

- Kim Deal leaves Pixies

- Rumors of new Pixies recordings (we talked a few days before the new Pixies song dropped)

- Music we once loved but have outgrown

- Brian: The Offspring (on Jay's list as well)

- Somehow grew popular

- Jay: Red Hot Chili Peppers

- Really, it's Kiedis who hasn't aged well

- Awkward moments at Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame inductions

- The greatness of Tom Scharpling and The Best Show

- The bland rock of Bad Company

- Brian drops a bomb with Sonic Youth

- Just can't get into them

- Jay: Sting has grown tiresome

- Big fan of The Police, but in the early '90s, Sting began to suck mightily

- Brian: Wank guitar (also on Jay's list)

- Yngwie Malmsteen led a wave of classically-inspired speed guitarists

- The Vinnie Vincent Invasion was so dumb, so fast

- Soft spot for That Metal Show

- Stephen Malkmus crams tons of solos into good songs

- DLR and Ozzy had plenty of hot guitarists come through their bands

- Brian: Recent McCartney concert was best show he's ever seen

- Listening to music is no longer a sole activity; now, it's always done while you do something else

- Music discovery was a challenging pursuit prior to the Internet

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

The Pixies - Bagboy

Obits - Taste the Diff

Adam Franklin - Boocat Leah

Bob Mould - The Descent

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

The Pixies song is available for free download (in exchange for your email address) at PixiesMusic.

The Obits song is on the forthcoming album Bed & Bugs on Sub Pop. Download the song for free at Sub Pop.

The Adam Franklin song is on the album Black Horses on Goodnight Records. Download the song for free at Largehearted Boy.

The Bob Mould song is on the album Silver Age on Merge Records. Download the song for free as part of the Forecastle Festive Sampler at Noisetrade.

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.
Direct download: CompCon_285_070213.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 8:45pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we present our ideas for rebooting classic sitcoms. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from METZ, Majical Cloudz, Speedy Ortiz and Murray A. Lightburn.

Show notes:

- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ

- Jay: Movie reboot of Laverne and Shirley starring Emma Stone and Ellen Page

- Set at a Seattle microbrewery

- AV Club's Random Roles feature is terrific

- Ric: Sets Happy Days in 1991 Seattle, called Dazed and Abused

- Jason Everman's strange trip

- Let it go, Dave Mustaine

- Jay: Bosom Buddies reimagined with dudes dressing as women in drag

- Ric's take on Hangover 3

- Dueling Mork and Mindy remakes

- Ric: Get Robin Williams to play older Mork

- Jay: Alien lands in Portland, followed around by documentary crew

- What the hell is the Modern Family documentary about?

- Arnold does great commentary tracks

- Ric: Leave It to Cheever

- Partridge Family reboot with the Kardashians

- The new Jay Leno Show

- Ric still wants to make the reality show Blue Balls

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

METZ - Can't Understand

Majical Cloudz - Bugs Don't Buzz

Speedy Ortiz - No Below

Murray A. Lightburn - Motherfuckers

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

The METZ song is part of the Adult Swim Singles Series. Download the song for free at Stereogum.

The Majical Cloudz song is on the album Impersonator on Matador Records. Download the song for free at Chromewaves.

The Speedy Ortiz song is on the album Major Arcana on Carpark Records. Download the song for free at Stereogum.

The Murray A. Lightburn song is on the album Mass: Light. 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 blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Direct download: CompCon_284_062513.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 8:25pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we present our ideas for rebooting classic sitcoms. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Speedy Ortiz, Hunx and His Punx, Moon King and Mikal Cronin.

Show notes:

- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ

- Ric beats a cybersquatter at his own game

- Ric wants to reboot American Idol

- "Celebrity Barrel Jumping"

- Tom Scholz of the band Boston is into "freestyle figure skating"

- Ric: Judges would be voted off each season by fans

- Show would have weekly winner like Jeopardy

- Chuck Barris was talent show pioneer with The Gong Show

- Jay: Reimagined take on Sanford and Son starring Indian father and son convenience store owners

- Stretch of minority-themed sitcoms in the '70s

- UPN network had several black sitcoms in the '90s

- The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer was comedic look at slavery

- All in the Family could never air today; people are too sensitive

- The late '60s scourge of "interracial touching"

- Recent Cheerios commercial with interracial family drew racist complaints

- Racial sensitivity in the workplace

- Ric: Reboot of The Bob Newhart Show, set in a nursing home

- Original Newhart show is a comedy classic

- Wondering how Northern Exposure has aged

- Newhart's breakthrough comedy album was recorded live

- Jay: Modern take on Chico and the Man would touch on immigration debate

- How funny was Freddie Prinze?

- Ric: Simpsons 2800 AD would combine elements of ghost-chasing cartoons

- New Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated show looks interesting

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Speedy Ortiz - Tiger Tank

Hunx and His Punx - Bad Skin

Moon King - Only Child

Mikal Cronin - Get Along

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

The Speedy Ortiz song is on the album Major Arcana on Carpark Records. Download the song for free at Stereogum.

The Hunx and His Punx song is on the album Street Punk on Hardly Art. Download it for free at Hardly Art.

The Moon King song is on the EP Obsession 1 on One Big Silence. Download it for free at Chromewaves.

The Mikal Cronin song is on his self-titled album on Trouble in Mind Records. Download it 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 blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Direct download: CompCon_283_061813.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 8:50pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Brian Lewandowski as we discuss our status as outsider sports fans in the Boston area. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from David Byrne and St. Vincent, Overseas, John Vanderslice and Stephen Malkmus.

Show notes:

- Recorded on a sweaty night in Beverly, Mass.

- Boston went from Loserville to Titletown

- The legend of Wayne Gretzky started when he was a kid

- Jay: Rooted for the Patriots when they were horrible

- Supporting our teams has been a mostly futile endeavor

- Jay: Reliving the Leafs' horrible choke against Boston

- Big sporting events somehow lead to idiots rioting

- NFL games are much more fun when you watch at home

- Jay: Still go to college hockey games

- Brian wept when his team won college lacrosse championship

- Jay: I want to see the Leafs win the Stanley Cup before I die

- Brian roots for New England Revolution

- Jay: Watching the Leafs in the playoffs is a tense, miserable experience

- Brian: Still hoping Sabres and Bills will win it all

- More "pink hat" fans in Boston

- Jay: I watch every Leafs game no matter how much they suck

- Find Brian's comedy dates and fun stuff at his website

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
David Byrne and St. Vincent - Cissus

Overseas - Old Love

John Vanderslice - Raw Wood

Stephen Malkmus - The Hook

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

The David Byrne and St. Vincent song is on the EP Brass Tactics. Download the song from Stereogum.

The Overseas song is on the band's self-titled album on Undertow Music Collective. Download the song for free at Chromewaves.

The John Vanderslice song is on the album Dagger Beach on Secretly Canadian. Download the song for free at Chromewaves.

The Stephen Malkmus song is on his self-titled album on Matador 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.

Direct download: CompCon_282_061113.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 8:58pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Brian Lewandowski as we discuss our status as outsider sports fans in the Boston area. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Fidlar, Eddie Spaghetti, TV on the Radio and Archers of Loaf.

Show notes:

- Recorded on a sweaty night in Beverly, Mass.

- Brian changed his standup name to Brian Gerard

- Experimented with different names

- We both grew up elsewhere and moved to New England

- Rooting for non-Boston teams

- Brian grew up in Buffalo, is a big Sabres and Bills fan

- We're used to our teams losing

- Buffalo also had an NBA team in the '70s

- Brian moved to Kentucky as a kid

- Jay moved to southeastern Washington state

- Nobody there knew what hockey was at the time

- Jay: Right after we moved away, a junior hockey team moved to the area

- Jay: Never a fan of the Montreal Canadiens

- The magic of Don Cherry

- Cherry was played by Jared Keeso in a couple of Canadian miniseries

- Brian roots for the Atlanta Braves because he lived there for a while

- Jay: Rooted for Red Sox to win World Series in '04

- Brian's not a fan of the Blue Jays' stadium

- Jay: Grew up going to Blue Jays games when they were a new expansion team

- Jays' farm team is now in Buffalo

- Remembering the Hartford Whalers

- Sabres lost in Stanley Cup finals to Philadelphia in 1975

- Jay: One of my favorite players was Buffalo star Gilbert Perreault

- Big heartbreak for Sabres fans was in '99

- Brett Hull scored Cup-winning goal for Dallas with his skate in the goal crease

- Against the rules but officials didn't overturn it

- Atlanta's attendance problem

- The Bills had four straight Super Bowl losses

- Lamenting lost Super Bowl bets

- Jay: Still stinging from Leafs' game 7 loss to Bruins last month

- Leafs' loss to LA in 1993 also a painful memory

- Blue Jays had some horrible chokes in '85 and '87

- Jay: Joe Carter's World Series-winning homer in '93 was probably my last great sports moment

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Fidlar - Cheap Beer

Eddie Spaghetti - The Value of Nothing

TV on the Radio - Will Do

Archers of Loaf - What Did You Expect?

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

The Fidlar song is on the band's self-titled album on Mom & Pop Music. Download the song from Chromewaves.

The Eddie Spaghetti song is the track track of his new album The Value of Nothing on Bloodshot Records. Download the song for free at Soundcloud.

The TV on the Radio song is on the album Nine Types of Light on Interscope. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Archers of Loaf song is a bonus track on the reissue of Icky Mettle 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.

Direct download: CompCon_281_060413.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 8:49pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling as we discuss some of our favorite compilation albums. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Speedy Ortiz, Thee Oh Sees, Mikal Cronin and The Melvins.

Show notes:

- Recorded at Clicky Clicky world HQ

- Drinkin' beer and talking rock

- Check out JB's new comp, And I Forgot a Long Time Ago How You Feel

- Covers of early period Lilys songs

- JK: Three basic types of comps, not including soundtracks

- Tribute, genre and benefit comps

- No Alternative came out in '93

- We learn more about Lance Diamond

- During the Goo Goo Dolls' last days of non-suckage

- Part of Red Hot series

- JB: Red Hot and Bothered was the indie rock version

- JK: Deadicated was a Grateful Dead tribute featuring the likes of Jane's Addiction, Elvis Costello, Lyle Lovett

- Taping songs off the radio

- JK: The Bridge was a great Neil Young tribute featuring alt-rock artists like Pixies and Sonic Youth

- Lots of tribute comps came out in early '90s

- Now there are string quartet and bluegrass tributes to just about everyone

- Label comps are fun, like What's Up Matador?

- Safe and Sound comp featured Boston bands from mid-'90s

- JB: Simple Machines comp featured great DC acts

- JK: Twisted Willie paid tribute to Willie Nelson

- JB: Darla 100 may have been too long

- JB: Ten Cent Fix was a good one

- JB: Why Do You Think They Call It Pop? was collected by Pop Narcotic

- First SPINart release was One Last Kiss, featuring Swirlies, Small Factory, Velocity Girl

- JB: This is Harrisburg, Not Topeka featured the mighty Torgo, with one Jay Breitling on guitar

- A takeoff of the great This is Boston, Not LA

- Get Jay's comp at Clicky Clicky

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Speedy Ortiz - The Hermit Crab

Thee Oh Sees - Devil Again

Mikal Cronin - Better Man

The Melvins - Dr. Mule

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

The song from Speedy Ortiz is available on the compilation And I Forgot a Long Time Ago How You Feel. Download the comp exclusively at ClickyClickyMusic.

The songs from Thee Oh Sees and Mikal Cronin are on the compilation Garage Swim. Download the entire compilation for free at AdultSwim.com.

The Melvins song is on the Scion 10 Series Music Release. Download the song for free at Soundcloud.

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.

Direct download: CompCon_280_052813.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 7:55pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling as we discuss the new Lilys tribute compilation he curated. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Pet Milk, Infinity Girl and The Weaks.

Show notes:

- Recorded at Clicky Clicky world HQ

- JB's writing for new music site Vanyaland

- Breitling's second compilation; first one came out a year ago

- Comp's called And I Forgot a Long Time Ago How You Feel

- Covers of early period Lilys songs

- Found bands from Boston and beyond who were Lilys fans

- Would have liked to do this comp first

- Great response to Nofuckingwhere, the first comp

- Ride's management contacted JB

- Future .38 Special comp?

- Shout out to our good friend Mike Piantigini

- Why aren't we getting free beer?

- JB also organized a great benefit show last November

- Starting to plan next benefit for Community Servings

- JB's doing some promo for the comp

- Hasn't talked to Lilys leader Kurt Heasley about the comp

- Last four songs come from album Eccsome the Photon Band

- Would have liked to include some rare tracks

- Get it at Clicky Clicky

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Pet Milk - February Fourteenth

Infinity Girl - Claire Hates Me

The Weaks - Elsa

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

The songs from Pet Milk, Infinity Girl and The Weaks are available on the compilation And I Forgot a Long Time Ago How You Feel. Download the comp exclusively at ClickyClickyMusic.

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.

Direct download: CompCon_279_052113.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 7:27pm EDT

Part 3 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we dissect a swingin' episode of I Dream of Jeannie. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from At the Drive-In, Shellac and Jawbox.

Show notes:

- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ

- Watch the episode along with us at the CompCon YouTube channel

- Season 2 of I Dream of Jeannie, episode aired in April 1967

- Larry Hagman, R.I.P.

- Did Americans really throw "mod parties"?

- Pre-Summer of Love '67

- Barbara Eden hasn't really done anything else

- Young Dabney Coleman makes a cameo

- Bill Daily plays the George Costanza-esque sidekick

- Sitcom lies are so badly written

- This show was a clear ripoff of Bewitched

- Jay breaks out his Paul Lynde impression

- Trying to create a new dance craze

- Unrelated sight gag in the kitchen

- Imagining a darker turn of events

- Much of the episode was people dancing

- Dube: Too much plot and not enough going on

- The whole master-servant theme was odd

- Dube goes off on Kate Hudson

- Modern version would make the guy dumb and the woman smarter

- Coming soon: We pitch remakes of old shows

- Lassie reimagined

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
At the Drive-In - One-Armed Scissor

Shellac - Watch Song

Jawbox - 68

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

The At the Drive-In song is on the album Relationship of Command on Grand Royal. Download it for free at Epitonic.

The Shellac song is on the album 1000 Hurts on Touch and Go. Download it for free at Epitonic.

The Jawbox song is on the album My Scrapbook of Fatal Accidents on DeSoto Records. Download it 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.

Direct download: CompCon_278_051513.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 8:50pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we dissect a not-so-classic episode of the Brady Bunch. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from The Gories, King Khan and Mind Spiders.

Show notes:

- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ

- Watch the episode along with us at the CompCon YouTube channel

- Season 5 of the Brady Bunch, episode aired in January 1974

- Brady Bunch producer used the show to air a pilot for a spinoff

- Ken Berry was the "star"

- Berry was in Disney movies, F Troop, failed pilots, later Mama's Family

- Show's kind of a bummer

- Brady Bunch audience must have been annoyed by lack of Bradys

- Gotta love the racial platitudes

- Where are the blue kids?

- The mini-Warriors

- Berry teaches the kids the ol' soft shoe

- Snobby racist neighbor character

- Groovy Greg Brady makes an appearance

- Dube makes gratuitous Arkancilliopoulos reference

- Pilot was never picked up

- Norman Lear was doing cutting edge racial humor; this show, not so much

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
The Gories - On the Run

King Khan - Strange Ways

Mind Spiders - They Lie

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

The songs from the Gories, King Khan and the Mind Spiders are on the Adult Swim compilation Garage Swim. Download the entire compilation for free at AdultSwim.com.

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.

Direct download: CompCon_277_050813.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 11:49pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we dissect a classic mid-1970s song from a Canadian music legend. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Sloan and Stars.

Show notes:

- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ

- Dissecting Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

- Song's a total downer, no pun intended

- Based on a true life incident in 1975

- Sounds like Lightfoot put the Wikipedia entry to music

- Checking out the early '70s Canadian band Lighthouse

- Sounds like the Guess Who or Blood, Sweat and Tears

- Lightfoot's "Sundown" is a much better song

- Ric: A little like Velvet Underground's "Loaded"

- Frank Chacksfield, the king of elevator music

- Making slow '70s songs even slower

- Pat Boone and Paul Anka later made entire albums covering hard rock songs

- Anne Murray dominated Canadian radio in the '70s

- Canadian content rule meant a third of music on the radio had to be Canadian

- A random song from The Randoms to wash the MOR crap away

- Teenage Head was an Ontario punk band from the late '70s

- CanCon meant a lot of bands got on the radio that normally wouldn't have

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Sloan - Everything You've Done Wrong

Stars - Hold On When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It

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

The Sloan song is on the album One Chord to Another on Murderecords. Download the song for free at Noisetrade.

The Stars song is on the album The North on ATO Records. Download it 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.

Direct download: CompCon_276_043013.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 10:00pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest James Gralian about the post-lockout NHL. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from The Hush Now, Guided By Voices, Iceage and Game Theory.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- NHL surprises this season include talented teams struggling: Detroit, Philly, Nashville, Tampa

- Philadelphia's long stretch of bad goaltending

- Gotta love Ilya Bryzgalov

- Toronto-Detroit will be in Winter Classic next year

- Chicago's been the best team in the league by far

- The long, strange journey of Ray Emery

- Jay: Making the case for the Leafs

- Pittsburgh messes with success, keeps winning

- Realignment kicks in next season

- Playoff hockey is the best

- James picks a team to root for when the Avs don't make it

- Jay: Just happy to see Leafs in playoffs

- Players rarely stay on same team for entire career

- Rooting for dirty teams

- NHL has come back strong from lockout

- Fighting in hockey at most levels

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
The Hush Now - Marathon Monday

Guided By Voices - Flunky Minnows

Iceage - Morals

Game Theory - Erica's Word

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

The Hush Now song is available for free download at Clicky Clicky.

The Guided By Voices song is on the album English Little League on GBV Records. Download the song for free at Stereogum.

The Iceage song is on the album You're Nothing on Matador. Download the song for free at MatadorRecords.com.

The Game Theory song is on the album The Big Shot Chronicles. In memory of late Game Theory frontman Scott Miller, you can find all the now out-of-print Game Theory albums available for free download at LoudFamily.

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.
Direct download: CompCon_275_042313.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 8:18pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest James Gralian about the post-lockout NHL. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Beck, Buffalo Tom, Dinosaur Jr. and Titus Andronicus.

Show notes:

- Recorded last weekend via Skype

- Last spoke in October before NHL lockout began

- Season relaunched in mid-January and is wrapping up in next few weeks

- Definitely some bitterness when the NHL came back

- James' many online efforts

- JG: Playing hockey has deepened my appreciation for the sport

- NHL teams sign plenty of undrafted college players

- Georges Vezina was known as the Chicoutimi Cucumber

- Jack Falla wrote some great hockey books

- JK: I was mad at both sides after the lockout

- Ended up getting satellite package and following the Leafs anyway

- Greed is a given in pro sports

- The Leafs fired their GM right before season started

- Now they're on the verge of making playoffs for first time in 9 years

- JK remembers the Leafs' 1993 playoff run

- JK: Not a fan of the shootout

- Rough year for James' favorite team, Colorado

- JG: The Avs need to clean house

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Beck - Halo of Gold

Buffalo Tom - Mineral

Dinosaur Jr. - Freak Scene

Titus Andronicus - Titus Andronicus Forever

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

The Beck song is the B-side to the song "Tropicalia" from the album Mutations. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Buffalo Tom song is on the album Let Me Come Over on Beggars Banquet. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Dinosaur Jr. song is on the album Bug on SST. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Titus Andronicus song is on the album The Monitor on XL Recordings. 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.
Direct download: CompCon_274_041713.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 9:50pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Matt Phillion about our narcissistic society. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Thee Oh Sees, Fidlar, The Kills and Drive Like Jehu.

Show notes:

- Anybody can have a show or self-publish a book

- Everybody's a photojournalist now

- Online commenters are the worst

- Talk radio callers are moving online

- Onion AV Club comment sections can be great

- Matt: Arguing on the Internet makes everyone dumber

- So easy to hit "send"

- Begging for RTs from celebs on Twitter is pathetic

- The ridiculousness of Google Glass

- How much information do you really need?

- Can you watch a movie or TV show without checking your phone?

- Staying off social media to avoid spoilers

- The need to live tweet TV shows

- The moviegoing experience sucks

- Matt can go entire days without dealing with a live human

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Thee Oh Sees - Toe Cutter - Thumb Buster

Fidlar - Gimme Something

The Kills - Future Starts Slow

Drive Like Jehu - Caress

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

The Thee Oh Sees song is on the album Floating Coffin on Castle Face Records. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Fidlar song is on the band's self-titled album on Mom + Pop. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Kills song is on the album Blood Pressures on Domino Records. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Drive Like Jehu song is on the band's self-titled album on Cargo. 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.
Direct download: CompCon_273_040913.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 9:28pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Matt Phillion about our narcissistic society. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from JEFF the Brotherhood, Le Butcherettes, Sleater-Kinney and Ty Segall.

Show notes:

- Narcissism is on the rise

- Recent study looks at the Internet "narcissism epidemic"

- We are part of the problem

- We're more likely to take photos of injustice than actually help out

- Matt works from home, posts on Facebook to get social interaction

- Some people need to post status updates of their every move

- Gay marriage debate has been ubiquitous on social media

- Linked In endorsements: What's the point?

- Matt's creepy clown photo

- Creating a false impression through upbeat self-promotion

- Selfies are everywhere

- People will do anything to get on TV

- Reality TV has never been more popular

- MySpace was a mess

- Googling yourself is a common activity

- Matt's IMDB page

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
JEFF the Brotherhood - Shredder

Le Butcherettes - Henry Don't Got Love

Sleater-Kinney - Jumpers

Ty Segall - You're the Doctor

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

The JEFF the Brotherhood song is on the album We Are the Champions on Infinity Cat Recordings/Warner Music. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Le Butcherettes song is on the album Sin Sin Sin on Rodriguez Lopez Productions. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Sleater-Kinney song is on the album The Woods on Sub Pop. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Ty Segall song is on the album Twins on Drag City. 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.
Direct download: CompCon_272_040213.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 9:06pm EDT

Part 3 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we wrap up the CompCon Awards. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Magnolia Electric Co., Dinosaur Jr., Kurt Vile and Dump.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- Worst Album by Best Band

- Mid-'90s Van Halen was really bad

- George Harrison had some questionable releases in early '80s

- The Clash's Cut the Crap was like a parody of the band

- Best Album by Worst Band

- The Strokes: One-hit-album wonder?

- Jay: Give the band Live credit for somehow having a career

- Best Non-Guitar Solo

- Jay: Looked at instruments other than drums

- Plenty of great bass solos over the years

- Best Live Album

- Stones played faster on Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out

- J. Geils Band were an amazing live act

- Sore Thumb Award for song that doesn't fit on album it's on

- What's the deal with skits on hip-hop albums?

- Best Moustache in Rock

- Jeff "Skunk" Baxter had a classic 'stache

- Zappa was defined by his 'stache

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Magnolia Electric Co. - The Dark Don't Hide It

Dinosaur Jr. - Entertainment

Kurt Vile - Never Run Away

Dump - Superpowerless

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

The Magnolia Electric Co. song is on the album What Comes After the Blues on Secretly Canadian. Download it for free at Chromewaves.

The Dinosaur Jr. song is a cover of a Phoenix track and is available for free download at Chromewaves.

The Kurt Vile song is on the album Walkin' on a Pretty Daze on Matador Records. Download the song for free at Matador.

The Dump song is on reissue of the album Superpowerless on Morr Music. 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 blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.
Direct download: CompCon_271_032513.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 6:18pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we continue handing out the CompCon Awards. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Wire, Mikal Cronin, Parquet Courts and Ten Kens.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- Best Concept Album

- Brian: Not a fan of concept albums

- Jay: Afghan Whigs' Black Love is an underrated classic

- Townshend's book is a good read

- Best Album That Deviates From Band's Sound

- Brian: Prefers later Pavement to earlier stuff

- Tin Machine was welcome change after substandard Bowie albums

- Praising (or not hating) R.E.M.'s Monster

- Paul's Boutique was a masterpiece of sampling

- Best Song by Band Member Who Wasn't Main Songwriter

- Brian: George Harrison rules

- Best Rhythm Guitarist

- Post classic rock era, line between rhythm and lead has blurred

- Lee Ving and Dave Mustaine teamed up

- Bill Ward: Sabbath should give the drummer some

- Best Album Packaging

- Vinyl was the heyday of great packaging

- Zep's In Through the Out Door had several covers

- Music listening experience is less immersive now

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Wire - Love Bends

Mikal Cronin - Shout It Out

Parquet Courts - Stoned and Starving

Ten Kens - When a Door Opens

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

The Wire song is on the album Change Becomes Us on Pink Flag Records. Download it for free at Stereogum.

The Mikal Cronin song is on the album MCII on Merge Records. Download the song for free at NPR.

The Parquet Courts song is on the album Light Up Gold on Dull Tools/What's Your Rupture. Download the song for free at NPR.

The Ten Kens song is on the album Namesake on Fat Cat Records. Download the song for free at NPR.

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.
Direct download: CompCon_270_031813.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 6:34pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we present the first edition of the CompCon Awards. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Mudhoney, Frightened Rabbit, Marnie Stern and Telekinesis.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype while the Oscars telecast was on

- Jay: Picking top albums of the 1970s was tough

- The CompCon Awards are an alternative to the Grammys looking at different categories

- First category: Best Band Name

- Brian saw Trail of Dead back in the day

- Best Sophomore Album

- Bands like The Strokes have struggled to follow up strong debut

- Nirvana's success both killed and launched a lot of terrible bands

- Dave Grohl backlash

- Pondering Weezer's decline

- Graham Maby rules

- Best Side 1

- Harking back to the heyday of vinyl

- First Van Halen album had killer side 1 and 2

- Bowie had an incredible run of albums in the '70s

- Best Side 2

- Other outstanding album sides

- The Chili Peppers haven't aged well

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Mudhoney - I Like It Small

Frightened Rabbit - State Hospital

Marnie Stern - Year of the Glad

Telekinesis - Ghosts and Creatures

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

The Mudhoney song is on the album Vanishing Point on Sub Pop. Download it for free from Sub Pop.

The Frightened Rabbit song is on the album Pedestrian Verse on Atlantic Records. Download the song for free at NPR.

The Marnie Stern song is on the album Chronicles of Marnia on Kill Rock Stars. Download the song for free at NPR.

The Telekinesis song is on the album Dormarion on Merge Records. Download the song for free at NPR.

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.
Direct download: CompCon_269_031113.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:21pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guests Ric Dube and Jay Breitling as we dissect a classic episode of the 1970s sitcom What's Happening. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Patrick Stickles and Me & Stupid.

Show notes:

- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ; check out the 50th episode of MLT (with cameos from Mr. Breitling and myself)

- Inspired by MST3K and Rifftrax, we're commenting while watching video

- Watch the episode along with us at the CompCon YouTube channel

- Breitling joins the fray

- Haywood Nelson was the inspiration for indie rock band Haywood

- JB: The satin jacket died with Rainbow's "All Night Long" video (featuring Graham Bonnet on vocals, not Joe Lynn Turner)

- Enter Big Al Dunbar

- Rerun wore his pants old-man high

- The original discomfort comedy

- Were the Doobies big anti-bootleg advocates?

- Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is a defense industry consultant now

- Baxter's wearing a Warner Bros. jersey

- Rocking out while seated

- Flaming gongs kick ass

- Dee's tripping

- "Pluggin' in the USB"

- Rerun drops tape recorder, feels shame

- The Doobies intimidate Big Al and henchman

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Let the Day Begin

Patrick Stickles - Hey Tonight

Me & Stupid - Receiver

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

The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club song is on the EP Let the Day Begin. Download it for free (in exchange for your email address) at the band's website.

The Patrick Stickles song is a cover of a Free Energy song and available for free download at Stereogum.

The Me & Stupid song is on the album In a Cabin with Me & Stupid. Download the album for free at the Me & Stupid 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 blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.
Direct download: CompCon_268_030413.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 9:08pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we dissect a classic episode of the 1970s sitcom What's Happening. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from They Might Be Giants and The Thalia Zedek Band.

Show notes:

- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ

- Inspired by MST3K and Rifftrax, we're commenting while watching video

- Watch the episode along with us at the CompCon YouTube channel

- What's Happening!! had all the sitcom archetypes

- Formula elements at play

- This was a Very Special Episode

- No continuity in the '70s on TV shows

- The evils of bootlegging

- Check out CompCon episodes 218 and 219 about bootlegs

- Ric: Wonder if there's a bootleg of the Doobies' performance in this show

- Show inspired by the movie Cooley High

- Ric's a fan of Dee

- Did inner city kids really listen to the Doobie Brothers?

- Jay: I rocked the velour shirts back in the day

- Rerun gets roped into the bootlegging world

- All the parodies have been parodied now

- Ric's heard the "Which Doobie You Be?" line a million times

- Doobies are so big they're playing a podunk high school

- Patrick Simmons had a brief solo career

- Michael McDonald's vocal style

- The kids pretend to like the Doobies

- Jeff "Skunk" had magnificent facial hair

- The band Bread appeared on an episode of The Hardy Boys

- Simmons supposedly went to the kids' high school

- Four minutes of scenes from next week

- Theme by Henry Mancini!

- Next week, it's part 2 of the Doobie Brothers episode

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
They Might Be Giants - You're On Fire

Thalia Zedek Band - Walk Away

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

The They Might Be Giants song is on the album Nanobots on Idlewild Records. Download it for free at Stereogum.

The Thalia Zedek Band song is on the album Via on Thrill Jockey. Download it for free at Soundcloud.

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.

Direct download: CompCon_267_022613.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 10:52pm EDT

Part 3 of my conversation with guests Mike Piantigini and Brad Searles as we discuss the new music we're looking forward to in 2013. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from The XX, The Thermals, Redd Kross and !!!

Show notes:

- Recorded at Piantigini Place, Somerville, Mass.

- Mike: New Big Dipper album is great

- Bettie Serveert is back with a new release

- Brad: The Neats reunion is happening

- Shockingly, Brad's never been to SXSW

- SXSW has grown into a huge spectacle

- Thumbs up to The Sinclair

- Def Leppard's Vegas residency

- Bob Mould can't play acoustic shows quietly

- Sting's "Back to Bass" tour

- Bands going out on a bad note

- Guitar Hero/Rock Band games flamed out quickly

- Do not taunt the Zoo TV

- Brad and Mike reminisce about the Merge Records 20th anniv. show

- Wilco's Solid Sound Festival is always good

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
The XX - Reconsider

The Thermals - Born to Kill

Redd Kross - Stay Away from Downtown

!!! - Slyd

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

The XX song is on the album Coexist on XL Recordings. Download it for free at Chromewaves.

The Thermals song is on the album Desperate Ground on Saddle Creek. Download the song for free (in exchange for your email address) at Soundcloud.

The Redd Kross song is on the album Researching the Blues on Merge Records. Download the song for free at Chromewaves.

The !!! song is on the album Thri!!!er on Warp Records. Download the song for free at Soundcloud.

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.

Direct download: CompCon_266_021913.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 8:01pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guests Mike Piantigini and Brad Searles as we discuss the new music we're looking forward to in 2013. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Low, Thee Oh Sees, Mikal Cronin and Ken Stringfellow.

Show notes:

- Recorded at Piantigini Place, Somerville, Mass.

- The Who's Live at Hull sounds a lot like Live at Leeds

- Hearing bands play old favorites vs. new material

- Selling your music for commercial use

- Pete Townshend was a major solo artist in the '80s

- '80s recording techniques have not aged well

- Debating McCartney's solo work

- Kids these days...

- YouTube as music delivery mechanism

- Not just videos, but full albums and lyric videos

- The sad tale of Myspace

- Bandcamp's fan pages

- Brad: Psyched about new LP from Kid Canaveral

- The death of Lovejoy's, a great Austin dive bar

- Alamo Drafthouse rules

- Brad: Upcoming Mark Kozelek and Album Leaf collaboration

- Indie bands love covering the Misfits

- Bands keep touring without original members (Misfits, Dead Kennedys)

- Violent Femmes are reuniting with original lineup at Coachella

- Prog is coming back

- Brad dug Genesis in the Duke/Abacab era

- "Illegal Alien" is a horrible song

- Long-awaited albums that may never come: Dylan at the Movies, The Wrens

- Brad bets My Bloody Valentine won't release new album by time this airs (he loses bet)

- Mike can't stop talking about his trip to SXSW

- The power of chocolate chip cookies

- Labels are running out of classic rock to reissue, turning to alt-rock

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Low - Just Make It Stop

Thee Oh Sees - Minotaur

Mikal Cronin - Apathy

Ken Stringfellow - Doesn't It Remind You of Something

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

The Low song is on the forthcoming album The Invisible Way on Sub Pop. Download it for free at SoundCloud.

The Thee Oh Sees song is on the forthcoming album Floating Coffin on the Castle Face label. Download the song for free at Stereogum.

The Mikal Cronin song is on his self-titled album on Trouble in Mind Records. Download the song for free from SoundSpike.

The Ken Stringfellow song is on the album Danzig in the Moonlight on Spark and Shine 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 blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Direct download: CompCon_265_021113.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 6:10pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guests Mike Piantigini and Brad Searles as we discuss what we're looking forward to in 2013, musically speaking. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from The Spinto Band, FIDLAR, King Tuff and The Maccabees.

Show notes:

- Recorded at Piantigini Place, Somerville, Mass.

- Breitling couldn't make it

- Brad: Unusual collaborations including New Medicants (Joe Pernice and Norman Blake), Kristen Hersh and Pond, Greg Dulli and Steve Kilbey

- Hersh is super busy

- Artists escape from the album-tour-album cycle

- Robert Pollard is a freak of nature

- Mike: Replacements cover EP to benefit Slim Dunlap

- Westerberg should tour again

- Axl Rose soldiers on...at his own pace

- Great artists aren't always great businessmen

- Mike watches "Nashville"

- Breitling's list includes the Come reunion

- Come reissue has live set that Brad had hosted on his blog

- Jay: Bowie's back

- New Marnie Stern album on the way

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
The Spinto Band - Shake It Off

FIDLAR - Got No Money

King Tuff - Keep On Movin'

The Maccabees - Go

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

The Spinto Band song is on the album Cool Cocoon on Spintonic Recordings. Download it for free at Spintonic.

The FIDLAR song is on the EP Don't Try on Mom and Pop Music. Download the song for free at Chromewaves.

The King Tuff song is on the self-titled album on Sub Pop. Download the song for free from Sub Pop.

The Maccabees song is on the album Given to the Wild on Fiction. 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 blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Direct download: CompCon_264_020413.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 2:08pm EDT

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Matt Phillion as we discuss our angry society. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from The Joy Formidable, Bad Religion, Screaming Females and Titus Andronicus.

Show notes:

- Recorded at Chez Phillion, Salem, Mass.

- Matt and his siblings got the angry gene

- Be nice to your crazy co-workers

- Copycat wackos

- Blaming the videogames and Hollywood

- Violent movies don't necessarily make you violent

- When you recognize the bank robber

- Matt's been shot at before

- It's unrealistic to think guns are going away

- Who's paranoid? Not us.

- Talk radio is another forum for angry people

- The 2nd Amendment

- Universal healthcare gets people angry

- "People aren't totally shitbags"

- High-powered hunting

- Matt's advocating for an asteroid to wipe us out

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
The Joy Formidable - Wolf's Law

Bad Religion - True North

Screaming Females - Poison Arrow

Titus Andronicus - Upon Viewing Oregon's Landscape with the Flood of Detritus

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

The Joy Formidable song is on the album Wolf's Law on Atlantic. Download it for free at Chromewaves.

The Bad Religion song is on the band's new album True North on Epitaph. Download the song for free at Chromewaves.

The Screaming Females song is on the cassette-only album Chalk Tape on Don Giovanni. Download the song for free from Stereogum.

The Titus Andronicus song is on the album Local Business on XL Recordings. 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.

Direct download: CompCon_263_012813.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 7:35pm EDT

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Matt Phillion as we discuss anger management. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Mudhoney, Camper Van Beethoven, Guided By Voices and Lovestreams.

Show notes:

- Recorded at Chez Phillion, Salem, Mass.

- The joys of home ownership

- We've talked in the past about profanity and politics, which both tie in to anger

- Many forums available for people to vent anger

- Dealing with crazy co-workers

- Matt's an angry man at times

- Running can be therapeutic...or not

- Getting behind the wheel instantly amplifies anger level

- Road rage is scary

- Are we an angrier society than we used to be?

- Like driving a car, social media makes you a lot braver

- Online comments can be particularly vicious

- Putting up with conflicting opinions on Facebook

- The gun debate has stoked anger on both sides

- Matt has a "Spanish face"

- Matt: The rest of the world sees Americans as "overweight, angry and armed"

- Some friends love to troll "the other side" online

- Seagull Facebook: Fly in, make a bunch of noise, crap on everything and fly away

- Anger is stoked at sporting events

- Alcohol doesn't help

- Giants fan beaten at Dodgers Stadium

- Matt wrecked his shoulder venting on a punching bag

- To be continued

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Mudhoney - The Only Son of the Widow of Nain

Camper Van Beethoven - Someday Our Love Will Sell Us Out

Guided By Voices - She Lives in an Airport

Lovestreams - Shock Corridor

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

The Mudhoney song is on the forthcoming album Vanishing Point on Sub Pop. Download it for free (in exchange for your email address) at SubPop.com.

The Camper Van Beethoven song is on the band's new album La Costa Perdida on 429 Records. Download the song for free at Soundcloud.

The Guided By Voices song is on the self-released album The Bears for Lunch. Download the song for free from Soundcloud.

The Lovestreams song is available for free download from the Lovestreams Tumblr.

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.

Direct download: CompCon_262_012113.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 4:54pm EDT

This week, I'm joined by guest Brian Lewandowski as he discusses navigating the Boston standup comedy scene. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Iceage, Chelsea Light Moving, Pere Ubu and The Figgs.

Show notes:

- Brian's back doing standup for the last few months

- Did it in the early '90s

- Started working townie bars

- Just stopped and began doing humor writing

- Did an early humor blog that he turned into a self-published book

- Recently decided to get back into comedy

- In college, ran the radio station with Ronnie James Dio's son

- Early heroes were Buddy Hackett, Woody Allen, Steve Martin

- Most comedians are loners

- Took comedy class; one week, Janeane Garofalo was guest instructor

- Hosts comedy nights now

- Dealing with cats in the audience

- Storytelling with embellishments

- Brian interviewed Marc Maron for his blog in the '90s

- The genius of SCTV

- Passing on your sense of humor to your kids

- Brian worked at AMC and Bravo in their early days

- "The Spiteful Salad"

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Iceage - Coalition

Chelsea Light Moving - Empires of Time

Pere Ubu - Free White

The Figgs - Brain Be Gone

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

The Iceage song is on the album You're Nothing on Matador Records. Download it for free at Pitchfork.

The Chelsea Light Moving song is on the band's self-titled album on Matador Records. Download the song for free at MatadorRecords.com.

The Pere Ubu song is on the album Lady from Shanghai on Fire Records. Download the song for free from Soundcloud.

The Figgs song is on the album The Day Gravity Stopped. Download the song (in exchange for your email address) for free at Noisetrade.

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.

Direct download: CompCon_261_011413.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 7:58pm EDT

Part 3 of my conversation with guests Jay Breitling and Mike Piantigini as we review our favorite music of 2012. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Divine Fits, Golden Gurls, Karl Hendricks Trio, Mark Lanegan Band and Paul Westerberg.

Show notes:

- Recorded at Clicky Clicky world HQ

- Breitling's #3 album of 2012

- Piantigini and Kumar agree on #3

- Stripped down songs

- JB's #2

- Golden Gurls: No relation to Bea Arthur

- MP's #2

- Plenty of Teenage Fanclub activity

- Imagining Breitling as a goth kid

- JK's #2

- The problem with doing covers

- JB's #1

- Piantigini's band Lump once opened for Karl Hendricks Trio

- Metallica owns their own masters

- Bands are now re-recording their classic tracks

- MP's #1 (sort of)

- New Big Dipper album out

- JK's #1

- JB's favorite song of the year

- MP's favorite song

- Westerberg releases material as he records it

- Jason Everman got around

- JK's favorite song

- Breitling's N SYNC sighting

- Trumped by Rock's Destiny's Child sighting

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Divine Fits - Civilian Stripes

Golden Gurls - I Can See the City

Karl Hendricks Trio - The Men's Room at the Airport

Mark Lanegan Band - The Gravedigger's Song

Paul Westerberg - My Road Now

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

The Divine Fits song is on the album A Thing Called Divine Fits on Merge Records. Download it for free at Epitonic.

The Golden Gurls song is on the self-released album Typo Magic. Download the entire album for free at Bandcamp.

The Karl Hendricks Trio song is on the album The Adult Section on Comedy Minus One Records. Download the song for free from Comedy Minus One.

The Mark Lanegan Band song is on the album Blues Funeral on 4AD. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Paul Westerberg song was self-released and is available for free download from 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 blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian

Direct download: CompCon_260_010713.mp3
Category:Completely Conspicuous -- posted at: 8:47pm EDT

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