This podcast is no more, but I have a new one in store... Coming May 25th, it's "Losing My Opinion". The last music critique podcast you'll ever need. Hosted by two indie musicians and self-confessed pop encyclopedias Thin Lear (Matt Longo) and Niagara Moon (Thomas Erwin). Subscribe on your fave podcast platform o' choice! https://losingmyopinion.podbean.com ..read more

Elliott Smith - with all his carefully crafted, brooding yet ultimately hopeful pop/baroque/folk tunes - taps into a certain kind of honesty no one else can. As this week's guest Leezy puts it, it's as if he's singing directly to you. Many feel 1997's "Either/Or" is him at his best. Still not famous on a major label, but a little more evolved from his beginnings in the basement, alone with a tape recorder. Either way, it's all great tunes and deeply personal, poetic lyrics. Leezy is an amazing up-and-coming indie pop artist in her own right - definitely worth a listen: https://www.leezymusic.c ..read more

"TUSK!" Fleetwood Mac. 1979. All the rock n roll riches in the world having been attained with "Rumours", there was no direction left to go but weird. Sometimes sublimely relaxing - other times brittle and manic - it's chockful of solid pop, and behind-the-scenes drama, naturally. Tusk superfan Nicholas Krgovich is back on the pod to help me break it all down! Check out his own lovely solo work, as well as Polaris Music Prize-nominated supergroup Shabason, Krgovich & Harris. https://nicholaskrgovich.bandcamp.com/ https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com ..read more

Perhaps you've heard of it...? It's a little daunting trying to cover The Beach Boys' classic 1966 masterpiece "Pet Sounds". This is Brian Wilson's shining moment, though you wouldn't have known it judging by their US sales at the time... Paul McCartney knew what was up, though. What else is there to say? It's Pet Sounds. Enjoy me and Joe gushing over it. www.niagaramoonmusic.com ..read more

Adore. That's the keyword with Prefab Sprout's 1985 album "Steve McQueen" (aka "Two Wheels Good"). I adore this wonderful collection of heartfelt, sophisticated, slick yet earnest perfect pop songs - a perfect sonic marriage between frontman Paddy McAloon and producer Thomas Dolby, along with many others... Joining me to revel in the wonder of this vastly underrated band is Joseph Shabason, friend of the pod and fantastic ambient/jazz composer, producer, saxophonist, etc. https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://josephshabason.com ..read more

Beck's 1996 classic "Odelay"... This rapping deadpan cowboy slacker can do it all, especially with The Dust Brothers workin the turntables. A lovely balance of kaleidoscopic hip-hop sampling, bizarre lyrics, and solid songwriter hooks. Mark Grundhoefer helps me along as we tap into its nostalgic magic. https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.patreon.com/thecompleteguitarist ..read more

I'm not much of a Phish guy... Mark loves them dearly. Together we explore both the impact of this band and their 1995 live double album, as well as the reasons each of us actually enjoy the music we listen to, dang it. However, I think we can both agree Phish is a bunch of grilled cheese-loving goofballs... https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.patreon.com/thecompleteguitarist ..read more

1980's "Remain In Light" by Talking Heads... So far ahead of its time I still don't think we've caught up. David Byrne's insane antics. Weymouth and Frantz holdin down the grooves. Adrian Belew's next-level guitar solos. Brian Eno doing... whatever he does. A mind-blowing blend of art rock, African music and much more in this stone-cold classic. Mark joins me again in an in-depth album discussion! https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.patreon.com/thecompleteguitarist ..read more

By all accounts I should be a huge Ben Folds Five fan, but I'm just dipping my toes in the water now. He's a beast at piano. A master storyteller. Phenomenal composer. And that band is *on fire*. I can definitely dig it. Mark Grundhoefer is fortunately a Folds expert, so we dive into all the lore for the latest episode of the NMP. I'm presumably now back from my hiatus ..read more

2001's Amnesiac by Radiohead raises so many questions... Another album already - right after Kid A? Why is this song backwards? What time signature is this? Do I... like it? A weirder album from an already weird band, broken down by myself and Mark Grundhoefer for the 100th(!) installment of the NMP. https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.patreon.com/thecompleteguitarist ..read more