Album vs Album (Cail Judy, Lucas Lawrence)

It's here — our first "versus" episode. The expectation-bucking Kid A goes head-to-head with Amnesiac, guided by the shining light that is Jordan Klassen. 

• Check out Jordan's music videos here.
• Listen to "Tell Me What To Do" on your preferred streaming service.

The boys discuss the debut releases from two important Vancouver bands. One is a psychedelic barn-burner—the other, a jangly, Lou Reed-inspired tour de force,  loaded with sex. It's a great discussion with special guest Curtis Collier (writer, teacher, and book critic) bringing insights and laughs.

Links:

Fred Flintstone Rocks Out

Black Mountain: Don't Run Our Hearts Around (video)

Pink Mountaintops: Tourist In Your Town (video)

Part two of our Björk convo with des hume is here. We swan-dive into Vespertine, a sexy-swirl of a record. Tune-in for the nuance and stay for the hot takes at the end.

Links

• Further Seems Forever covers Pagan Poetry
• des hume - Shockerbaby (official video) 
• Pagan Poetry - Björk - (Live at Royal Opera House)

We're back with part two of our conversation with Corey Poluk, talking Toots and the Maytals and all things reggae. Dive back in, you never stop learning at AvA, baby. 

Links:

Toots & The Maytals Wiki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toots_and_the_Maytals

We Shall Overcome Wiki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Shall_Overcome

Leslie Kong Wiki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Kong

Prophecy of A Wailer

http://thewailingwailers.free.fr/TheprophecyofaWailer.html

Toots Prison Number

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20181014/music-diaries-5446-was-toots-prison-number

Video Links

The Specials - Monkey Man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCpmJHFMNRI

Pete Seegar - We Shall Overcome

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhnPVP23rzo

Guy Carowan - We Shall Overcome

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7gfyPKAT_c

Civil Rights March Recording

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH01RAIv4j0

Zilphia Horton - We Will Overcome

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tFvhg3fSoc

Odetta - No More Auction Block For Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfbpsmbxE2c

The Maytals - The Harder They Come Scene

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErQ2UB44k-o&t=18s

The Ethiopians - Train To Skaville

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5fJQ9DYL0k

The Maytals - 54-46 Was My Number

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X77YpLnmr24

The boys are back with a new playlist of songs that deserve more listens. 8 pure gems!

Listen to the tunes here --> AvA: Underrated Gems (A Spotify Playlist)

Tracklist:

1. Golden Frames - Shannon Shaw

2. Vapour Trail Boogie - Dada Plan

3. Living Room, NYC - Laura Stevenson

4. Dark Lights, Shine Loud - Gabriel Bruce

5. In Light of Us - Honey Harper

6. Mr. Similar - The Passenger

7. Seventy Times Seven - Peace Chord

8. When You Sleep - Japancakes

Links:

• Dada Plan
• Peace Chord
• Gabriel Bruce
• The Passenger
• Honey Harper 

*Correction: Dada Plan's first record came out in  2014, not 2004. : )

POW! Lucas and Cail join the RTJ revolution. Join us for a discussion of American hip-hop duo Run the Jewels, which consists of rappers El-P and Killer Mike. They scorch the earth with their third record, calling for blood and looking for hope. Listen to Lucas and Cail poorly recite their favorite lyrics.

Note: This episode was recorded on March 31, 2020, before the tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of the police. AvA supports Black Lives Matter and RTJ is the protest music of our current times.

Links:

• Pitchfork review of RTJ3 we reference.
• Our barber's Instagram.
• Spotify playlist of "Hero Songs" and notable tracks.
• Killer Mike's Emotional Speech at Atlanta Mayor's Press Conference
• Donate to the Hogan's Alley Society, which advocates for Black Vancouverites who have endured the legacies of urban renewal and their erasure from the official historical narrative.

We play a Winnipeg trivia game, delve deep into Reunion Tour and hear one of the most elegant responses to the Virtute the cat saga committed to tape. Which album will be crowned the Wheat King? 

The boys share a nine-song playlist of the hottest bops with returning guest Matthew Walko. Get ready to smile.

Links:

• "Is Pop Music Getting Better?" — A Spotify playlist 

*Note: We recorded this before DaBaby made his unfortunate remarks, which is why we don't mention it when talking about "Levitating." 

Lucas and Cail are joined by Tatenda Musewe (musician/cool pal) to discuss the debut studio album by Black Star. Two legendary emcees, rollerblading, an inside look at NYC...what more could you want? 

Links:

• AvA: Tatenda's Picks for Black Star (Spotify Playlist)
• Knowone - "Psychedelic Soul" - Tatenda's band
• Insane Black Star performance 
• The Departure - Yasiin Gaye (Yasiin Bey + Marvin Gaye) 
• Just Wright Trailer (Common's basketball movie with Queen Latifa) 

The boys are joined by Dave Laird (Concavity Show) to discuss the greatest(!!) Canadian band of all-time. If you don't know the Cons, no better time than today to get on-board, buster! There's room in the pool for everybody. 

The boys are back with eight songs to make you cry. Sadness guaranteed or your tears back.

Songs To Make You Cry: A Spotify Playlist

Tracklist:

1. Casimir Pulaski Day - Sufjan Stevens

2. Into My Arms - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

3. If We Were Strangers - Northcote

4. Guess I'm Doing Fine - Beck

5. Your Life In France - Ceremony

6. Something - Julien Baker

7. Mother - John Lennon

8. Tryin' To Get To Heaven - David Bowie

It's a big one! The top Gallagher expert we know joins us to dive deep into Oasis, how they were signed to Creation Records and what the best song on their second album is. What IS the story? Tune in to find out.

Links:

• Noel Gallagher: Evolution Since Oasis, Meeting Bruce Springsteen and Best Of Album | Apple Music
• Oasis at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut (Glasgow, 1993) 
• Jordan's Tedx Talk on "How to convene a better future"
• 73 Questions with Liam Gallagher

The full title of today's episode is styled "That Was The Worst Podcast Ever! vs Album vs Album: A Sufjan Stevens Crossover Episode about Illinois vs Michigan" — enjoy!

Links:

• Check out all the other fine episodes of That Was The Worst Podcast Ever!

"The podcast crossover event of the decade!" —Justin Bills

Welcome to AvA Lite, a snack-sized version of our regular episodes. Lucas and Cail debate which folk festival lover had the better "quarantune" release — T. Swift or Robin Pecknold?

Sweet dreams, everybody. Cail and Lucas talk through a ten-song playlist made to help you get a good night’s sleep (or just chill). Check the show notes for the playlist.

It's Sleepy Time: A Playlist (Spotify)

It's Sleepy Time: A Playlist (Apple Music)

*Note: Mary Lattimore's record "Silver Ladders" was produced by Slowdive’s Neil Halstead, not Brian Eno. 

Tracklisting

1. Lay Your Head Down - Keren Ann
2. Rainwater Coffee - Teen Daze
3. Window - The Album Leaf
4. Hello from the Edge of the Earth - Mary Lattimore
5. 1/1 - Brian Eno
6. Against the Sky - Harold Budd, Brian Eno
7. Appendix B - Holy Hum
8. Theme From Antarctica - Vangelis
9. 8 AM - Neighborhood Libraries
10. Re: Stacks - Bon Iver

It's part two of our convo with Julia— we get into the nitty-gritty of 2007's Cassadaga, the band's highest-charting album in the US upon its release. Where will the "Four Winds" take us? Tune in to find out. 

Links

• Conor Oberst does a track-by-track breakdown of Cassadaga
• Malcolm Jack's Bandcamp

Mariah Carey, the Queen of Christmas, goes head-to-head with everyone's favorite blockhead, Charlie Brown. Lucas and Cail bring you a face-off you can deck the halls with. 

Christmas Playlists:

1. Sounds & Pressure Presents: A Very Reggae Christmas 
2. AvA presents: A Sad Bastard Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, one and all!

There's a good chance you listened to "Give Up" back in 2003. It was everywhere, from the beaches of Orange County to the dorm rooms of British Columbia. Lucas and Cail discuss their feelings on this seminal indie-pop record, the story of how they first became friends and why you shouldn't date Ben Gibbard.

• Spotify playlist of Heroes and Notable Mentions

Today could be the "First Day of My Life" or maybe, your life. Writer and producer Julia Kochuk joins us to talk about how Bright Eyes hits harder and in different ways in the here and now. Join us for part one of this fun, dynamic convo where emotions are a-okay.

Links

• Julia's website — https://www.juliakochuk.com/
• Bright Eyes on the Late Late Show
• David Bazan - I Flirted With You All My Life 

Lucas and Cail were live in attendance at Bruce Springsteen's final show of his world tour in Vancouver, BC! They share tasty treats, heroes/zeroes, and praise the power of the Boss and E Street Band. 

• Springsteen turned 75 in September 2024.
• The set was three hours and 20 minutes.  The 31-song set was the longest of his tour with the 17-member E Street Band!

Photo by Harry Zimmerman

Lucas and Cail catch-up (in-person at long last!) for an in-depth look at the biggest album of the 1960s. Cail springs a surprise on Lucas, Lucas talks about the highs of being a lead singer/songwriter and they debut a new segment, "Tasty Treats."

The boys are not trying to break your heart, but they will entertain you. Lucas and Cail are joined by Mack Gordon from Theatre In the Dark for a deep-dive into this seminal record from one of Chicago's finest.

Links

• Grab tickets for "War of the Worlds" until November 21st.

It's our last "Versus" episode of the year, and who better to end it all with than Phoebe Bridgers? 

Links:

• 20th Century Boss - Nebraska w/Phoebe Bridgers podcast
• 60 Songs That Explain the 90's
• Louis Wain

Cail and Lucas get down to the riddim with Vancouver's own Corey Poluk (aka Young Royal), famed reggae-and-soul DJ. Take a trip through the history of Jamaican music with Pat Kelly leading the way, with stops at Skaville, Sad-Town and the Astoria.

Dr. Sara Judy (PhD in U.S. poetry & religion) joins AvA to dive into the inner workings of blink-182. 

"Well same old Bobby, same old beat, TEN episodes and that's a feeeeeEEEat, well easy come and easy gooooooo..."  

Cail talks about the debut album from South London's favorite son King Krule, and how it impacted his life. Lucas brings the sizzle with Man Alive!—the newest record. 

Come join us for a (pub) crawl through the streets of London.

Lucas and Cail each share their top two records for 2021. 

Cail

1. Tyler, the Creator - CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST
2. Nick Schofield - Glass Gallery

Lucas

1. The Felice Brothers - From Dreams To Dust
2. Arlo Parks - Collapsed In Sunbeams

Links:

• See What You Can See
• Lucas - Work Playlist 

Congratulations to HAIM, who were nominated this week for Album of the Year and Best Rock Performance in the 2021 Grammy Awards.  Do we have great timing or what? 

The titans of indie-rock...and good Canadians to boot, eh? Lucas and Cail are joined by musician Cole Friesen to dissect and battle the first two Arcade Fire records. Which one will "Win" in the end? 

Links

• Cole's music profile

Lucas and Cail are joined by Carson Mills (music writer behind Vikings & Beekeepers) to discuss Fucked Up, the most "restless and progressive" hardcore band in North America. Are you a Glass Boy or do you Dose Your Dreams?

Links:

• Vikings & Beekeepers - Carson's long-running music blog
• Up Toppers - Musical Gluttony From Two Hangry Listeners

We dive into records linked across space and time. Alex Wyder joins us to talk about his love for BSS and the life of a music manager. Cause = AvA. 

Lucas and Cail take a trip back to 1970 when Loaded, the fourth studio album by The Velvet Underground, is released. Find out if it's "loaded with hits" as Atlantic Records said, and hear their shock in learning just how much Doug Yule contributed to this record.

We made a Spotify playlist for you here. Give it a follow.

White Light/White Heat: The Velvet Underground Day-by-Day by Richie Unterberger is a key book we reference throughout the episode. Very in-depth, check it out if you're a VU fan. 

Are you alright with a slow burn? Kacey Musgraves sure is, and so are we. The boys have their first guest, longtime friend/music aficionado Matthew Walko come by to discuss Golden Hour, the bonafide country-pop slam dunk from Nashville's favorite daughter.  

Big shout-out to Matt for our new theme song and segment intros!!

The Killers drifted off into the Las Vegas Strip for a while, but they roared back with two unique records. Join us on the brightside. 

The boys are back with eight songs to make you happy. Smiles guaranteed or your joy back.

Songs To Make You Happy: A Spotify Playlist

Tracklist:

1. Wild World - des hume

2. There's No One Crying over Me Either - American Wrestlers

3. basking in the glow - Oso Oso

4. Miracles - Benny Sings

5. A - Restorations

6. Stray Dog And The Chocolate Shake - Grandaddy

7. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight - James Taylor

8. Katchi - Nick Waterhouse & Leon Bridges

Cover art by Frank Sinatra!

The boys debate the value of nostalgia-acts, and where Leon Bridges is (or isn't) taking his sound. Hot takes! Laughs! Come on in, the water is warm.  

Lucas and Cail tackle one of their all-time heroes, pitting his first two records for Columbia against each other.  

Chris Kelly (Kelly&Kelly) joins us to discuss the first two Bon Iver records, exceptional tasty treats, and secrets hidden in the songs. Put on your parka and join us in the cathedral of Justin Vernon's mind. Find out what "Holocene" means!  

Links:

• Kelly & Kelly website

We discuss two magnificent Björk albums with "garbage-pop princess" des hume. In today's episode, we discuss Homogenic!

Links:

• des hume on YouTube
• des hume on Bandcamp
• Bjork Live At Royal Opera House December 7, 2001
• https://preachervan.bandcamp.com/

Can the king of smooth jazz and America’s ‘Old Groaner’ help Cail find his holiday spirit?

The boys are joined by Mason Judy (psychotherapist, writer) and get deep into The Weakerthan's much-beloved second album. How did they become Mason's favorite band? Is John K. Samson actually Winnipeg's poet laureate? What will their Heros be? Tune in to find out.

Part Two is out next week.

Links:

• The Weakerthans - Pamphleteer - live Heidelberg 2001
• John K. Samson's website
• City Still Breathing: Listening to the Weakerthans (Geist article we reference)

It's the battle royale you've been waiting for. Lucas and Cail are joined by longtime friend and musician Dillon Adams to discuss Weezer's most beloved records. You know 'em, you have an opinion—let's get into it, shall we?

• Weezer - SNL w/Matt Damon

There's just not enough 'Don't Believe the Truth' content out there. We remedy that with part two of our Oasis discussion. Join Jordan, Cail and Lucas for a second dip into the Gallagher pool. 

Links:

• Oasis: B Here Now — A b-sides playlist curated by Jordan Eshpeter

If you're a fan of these Sheffield sweethearts, this is a must-listen AvA episode. Buckle-up, this one is a four out of five. 

Links

• Annie Mac interview with Alex Turner
• "Why Arctic Monkeys' Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino Is a Masterpiece"
• Nardwuar vs. Arctic Monkeys
• Dua Lipa covers Arctic Monkeys Do I Wanna Know? in the Live Lounge
• First-Ever Monster Jam Truck front flip - Lee O'Donnell