Screw It, I'm Just Gonna Talk About Music Or Whatever

I'm joined for this episode by my close friend Kate Riley! We each contributed songs whose lyrics strike us as very funny and don't seem to be a joke on purpose (i.e. unintentionally funny). Send us your picks for songs on this theme! Buy Kate's amazing debut novel "Ruth", out 8/19/25!   Songs discussed in this episode: The Beach Boys - Wouldn't It Be Nice (1966) Bob Lind - Elusive Butterfly (1966) Drake - Best I Ever Had (2009) Flo Rida - My House (2015) Prince - Nothing Compares 2 U (1985? 1991?) Electric Light Orchestra - Yours Truly 2095 (1981) Dick Curless - 'Tater Raisin' Man (1966) Neil Sedaka - Going Home To Mary Lou (1961) Pete Shelley - Yesterday's Not Here (1981) Brenton Wood - Gimme Little Sign (1967) Basement Jaxx - Raindrops (2009)  

Back again with more songs that have the same titles but otherwise have nothing in common!   Songs discussed in this episode: Dion & The Belmonts - A Teenager In Love (1959) The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - A Teenager In Love (2009) Arthur Alexander - Soldier of Love (1960) Sade - Soldier of Love (2010) Wye Oak - Holy Holy (2011) Geordie Greep - Holy, Holy (2024) Moondog - Do Your Thing (1978) Basement Jaxx - Do Your Thing (2001) Don Cherry, Ray Conniff - Ghost Town (1956) The Specials - Ghost Town (1981) XTC - Helicopter (1979) Deerhunter - Helicopter (2010)

This is a pretty flimsy theme BUT all the songs are good so let's all just cool it. The theme is prepositions. Songs that have prepositions in the title. That's it. Anyway, they're good songs.   Songs discussed in this episode: Viagra Boys - Down In The Basement (2018) Klaus Johann Grobe - Between The Buttons (2014) Cannonball Adderly Quintet - Inside Straight (1973) Brewer & Shipley - One Toke Over The Line (1970) Rubblebucket - Came Out Of A Lady (2010) The Toms - Standing In The Shadows (1979) The Slits - I Heard It Through The Grapevine (1979) Snoh Aalegra - Under The Influence (2016) Vashti Bunyan - I'd Like To Walk Around In Your Mind (1970) Paul McCartney - Coming Up (1980) Slow Children - Staring At The Ceiling (1981) Shamir - On The Regular (2015)

We're all gonna die someday! Also it's almost spring, and that's nice.   Songs discussed in this episode: Arthur Lee - Everybody's Gotta Live (1972) Sufjan Stevens - Fourth of July (2015) William Onyeabor - Try And Try (1979) Yard Act - 100% Endurance (2022) Tol-Puddle Martyrs - Time Will Come (1967) Viagra Boys - Worms (2018) Paul Williams - The Hell Of It (1974) Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over The Sea (1998) La Luz - Sure As Spring (2013) Slow Children - Spring In Fialta (1981) Max Richter - Spring 1 (2012) (2014) Operating Theater - Spring Is Coming With a Strawberry In The Mouth (1986)

This is the 50th episode of this podcast! I'm joined by friend Eric D. Johnson (Fruit Bats, Bonny Light Horseman) to talk about handclaps. We talk about handclaps in the songwriting and recording process, play some of our favorite songs featuring handclaps, and also have a bunch of digressions about other stuff.   Songs played in this episode (maybe not exactly in this order): The Shins - Kissing the Lipless (2003) Led Zeppelin - Bron-Y-Aur Stomp (1970) Fruit Bats - When U Love Somebody (2003) The Routers - Let's Go - Pony (1962) Rose Royce - Car Wash (1976) Boston - Foreplay / Long Time (1976) Erasmo Carlos - Mundo Deserto (1971) The Cure - Close to Me (1985) The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - Eighteen Is over the Hill (1968) Air - La femme d'argent (1998) Alice Coltrane - Govinda Jai Jai (1977) The Meters - Hand Clapping Song (1970)    

This episode features all songs whose titles are questions, even though some aren't punctuated as such. There are many songs that would qualify for this theme that aren't included, but I tried to gather a bunch that are all pretty different from one another.   Songs discussed in this episode: Them Two - Am I A Good Man (1967) Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Who Do You Think You're Fooling (1967) Art Fact - Whom Are You Dancing For? (1989) Todd Rundgren - Does Anybody Love You? (1972) Fatlip - What's Up Fatlip? (2000) Duffy Power - Where Am I (1964) Bjork - Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right) (2004) Paul Clayton - Who's Gonna Buy You Ribbons (1960) Soft Machine - Why Are We Sleeping? (1968) Kim Deal - Are You Mine? (2024) Sparks - When Do I Get To Sing "My Way" (1994) T. Rex - Is It Love? (1971) Bright Eyes - You Will. You? Will. You? Will. You? Will. (2002) The Rapture - How Deep Is Your Love? (2011)

Songs in this episode feature two-part harmony for most of the song! Also, they're all good. Hopefully it isn't new information that the songs on this podcast are good.   Songs discussed in this episode: The Beatles - There's A Place (1963) Ween - What Deaner Was Talking About (1994) The B-52's - Topaz (1989) Peter & Gordon - A World Without Love (1965) Unknown Mortal Orchestra - From The Sun (2013) Chad & Jeremy - A Summer Song (1965) The Breeders - Divine Hammer (1993) Doves - M62 Song (2002) The Statler Brothers - Flowers On The Wall (1966) Rihanna - Never Ending (2016) Iron & Wine - Jezebel (2005) Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes (2009)

Here are pairs of songs that share some feature (melody, chord progression, instrumentation, etc) and therefore remind me of each other. I hope that when you hear them you also go "hey!" or maybe just "oh yeah, okay", that works too.   Songs discussed in this episode: The Tonettes - I Gotta Know (1965) Yumi Arai - Ruju no Dengon (ルージュの伝言) (1975) Elliott Smith - Sweet Adeline (1998) Ty Segall - My Room (2024) Tears for Fears - Mad World (1982) R.E.M. - Shiny Happy People (1991) The Kinks - Wicked Annabella (1968) Elliott Smith - Speed Trials (1997) Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney - Monkberry Moon Delight (1971) Brian Protheroe - Fly Now (1974) The Smashing Pumpkins - Disarm (1993) Duncan Dhu - En Algun Lugar (1987) Sleigh Bells - Tell 'Em (2010) Charli xcx - Sympathy Is A Knife (2024)

All songs in this episode feature use of chromatic scales. Have you thought about doing a bunch of half steps lately? Something to consider!   Songs discussed in this episode: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman - The Phantom of the Opera (1987) Fever Ray - Even It Out (2023) Fat White Family - Touch The Leather Redux (2014) Nina Simone - Tomorrow Is My Turn (1965) Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney - Too Many People (1971) Bobby Hebb - Sunny (1966) The Beatles - Hey Bulldog (1969) The Chills - The Great Escape (1989) Paul McCartney - Maybe I'm Amazed (1970) Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made For Walkin' (1966) The Mothers Of Invention - Anyway The Wind Blows (1966) Anna Meredith - Nautilus (2016) Hercules & Love Affair - Hercules Theme (2008)

Here's a selection of songs featuring "If" in the title. We're getting conditional, baby (if you're into that).   Songs discussed in this episode: Blonde Redhead - If (2023) Cat Stevens/Yusuf - If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out (1970) Guided By Voices - If We Wait (1996) Fever Ray - If I Had A Heart (2009) Bright Eyes - If Winter Ends (1998) Nolan Porter - If I Could Only Be Sure (1972) The Beatles - If I Fell (1964) Paul McCartney - If You Wanna (1997) George Harrison - If Not For You (1970) Aaliyah - If Your Girl Only Knew (1996) Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind (1970) Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass - If You Don't Know Me By Now (1972) The Creation - If I Stay Too Long (1967)   Plus a few snippets of "Space Is Only Noise If You Can See" by Nicolas Jaar and "Freak, Go Home" by DARKSIDE.

Today's playlist contains all songs with finger-picked guitar parts! Or at least I'm pretty sure that's right, I don't play guitar. The songs are all good though.   Songs discussed in this episode: Elizabeth Cotten - Freigh Train (1957) Elliott Smith - Pretty Mary K (Other Version) (2007) Dando Shaft - Coming Home To Me (1971) Nick Drake - Which Will (1972) Lightnin' Hopkins - Shaggy Dog/Dad (1967?) Aldous Harding - The Barrel (2019) Labi Siffre - Cannock Chase (1972) Leo Kottke - Watermelon (1974) Fleetwood Mac - Never Going Back Again (1977) Dolly Parton - Jolene (1974) Nico - These Days (1967) Jacco Gardner - Brightly (2015)

Today's playlist features songs whose titles are people names (names only, not names in a phrase).   Songs discussed in this episode: Basement Jaxx - Romeo (2001) Pixies - Allison (1990) Jennie Lawless - Annie (2021) Ween - Gabrielle (2005) Paul Simon - Duncan (1972) Jack Ladder - Susan (2018) Weezer - Susanne (1994) Perfume Genius - Jason (2020) Boney M - Rasputin (1978) The Replacements - Alex Chilton (1987) Prefab Sprout - Faron Young (1985) David Bowie - Andy Warhol (1971) Gillian Welch - Caleb Meyer (1998) Paul McCartney - Jenny Wren (2005) Robert Palmer - Johnny And Mary (1980)  

My friend Joel Spence is here to talk about The B-52's 1983 album "Whammy"! We also talk a lot about The B-52's in general and I manage to also sneak in "Janitor" by Suburban Lawns.

Today's playlist is all songs featuring both male and female singers. Sometimes harmonizing, sometimes in unison, sometimes call and response, sometimes doing background for each other. Fun! Songs discussed in this episode: Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell - Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing (1968) The Jesus and Mary Chain - Sometimes Always (1994) Dirty Projectors - Useful Chamber (2009) Emillia Contessa - Terbuka (1980) Suburban Lawns - Anything (1981) The Rosebuds - Shake Our Tree (2005) John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John - You're The One That I Want (1978) Pixies - I Bleed (1989) Kevin Ayers - The Oyster and the Flying Fish (1970) Ohtis, Stef Chura - Schatze (2021) The Fall - In These Times (1988) Shintaro Sakamoto - One Day (2022) X - Make The Music Go Bang (1983) Cults - Abducted (2011)

Today's playlist contains songs with numbers 1-10 in the titles! Kind of a flimsy theme but they're all good songs so I guess deal with it.   Songs discussed in this episode: The Lemon Twigs - The One (2020) Frank Black - Two Spaces (1993) Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney - 3 Legs (1971) Masumi Hara - 4 X A Dream (1984) David Bowie - Five Years (1972) The Cure - Six Different Ways (1985) Nancy - 7ft Tall Post-Suicidal Feel Good Blues (2021) Hüsker Dü - Eight Miles High (1990) Kitty Craft, Bonnie Koloc - Devil's Nine Questions (2020) XTC - Ten Feet Tall (1979)  

Today my friend Mel Cowan joins me to talk about a sampling of our favorite album openers! We didn't have time to play and talk about every possible entry in this list, but we mention a ton that weren't discussed and you should check out.   Songs discussed in this episode: The New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers (2014) Orange Juice - Rip It Up (1982) Beastie Boys - Sure Shot (1994) Portishead - Mysterons (1994) The Pogues - The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn (1985) Radiohead - Everything In Its Right Place (2000) Courtney Barnett - Elevator Operator (2015) Carole King - I Feel The Earth Move (1971) Marnie Stern - Vibrational Match (2007) The Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored (1989)

Today we're talking about time signatures - what are they, and why are songs with non-traditional time signatures so cool sounding? This is not super math heavy or expert-level analysis, but in it I share some of my favorite songs with weird time signatures and/or meter changes.   Songs discussed in this episode: The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963) (snippet only) OCS - Memory Of A Cut Off Head (2017) The Beatles - We Can Work It Out (1965) The Mad Capsule Markets - 公園へあと少し (1994) Wipers - Taking Too Long (1981) Ben LaMar Gray, Finom - Sometimes I Forget How Summer Looks On You (2021) Robert Palmer - Woke Up Laughing (1980) Genesis - It's Gonna Get Better (1983) Rihanna - Desperado (2016) Basement Jaxx - Distractionz (2009) The Stranglers - Golden Brown (1981) Pentangle - Light Flight (1969) Animal Collective - What Would I Want? Sky (2009) Ty Segall - To You (2024) The Chills - Don't Even Know Her Name (1989) Kassa Overall, J. Hoard, Angela Davis - Show Me A Prison (2020)  

This week we're exploring one facet of how stupid the written system of English is by featuring songs that feature words containing various pronunciations (all 6!) of "ough".    Discussed in this episode: Fleetwood Mac - Although The Sun Is Shining (1969) Stephen Stills - Thoroughfare Gap (1978) The Beatles - I'm Looking Through You (1965) The Creation - Through My Eyes (1967) Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - It's Not Enough (1977) Beastie Boys - Tough Guy (1994) Misfits - Cough/Cool (1977) Butthole Surfers - Cough Syrup (1996) X - I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts (1983) Alanis Morissette - You Oughta Know (1995) Beyonce - Love Drought (2016)

Today's theme is doing something more than once, so all titles reference that concept. Musically repetitive songs will be a theme for another time!   Discussed in this episode: Grizzly Bear - Yet Again (2012) Ty Segall - Repetition (2024) Robert Palmer - Not A Second Time (1980) Roger Fakhr - Gone Away Again (197?, released 2021) Michael Kiwanuka - Home Again (2012) Daft Punk - One More Time/Aerodynamic (2007) Badly Drawn Boy - Say It Again (1999) The Durutti Column - Requiem Again (1989) Fiery Furnaces - Benton Harbor Blues (Again) (2006) Hot Chip - Over And Over (2012)

Today's theme is geography, so these are all songs with geographical names in the titles. And - get this - the songs are all good.   Discussed in this episode: Sufjan Stevens - Flint (For The Unemployed and Underpaid) (2003) Parquet Courts - Berlin Got Blurry (2016) Foxygen - San Francisco (2013) Brazilian Girls - St. Petersburg (2008) Ric Wilson, Terrace Martin, BJ the Chicago Kid - Chicago Bae (2020) Bob Marley, The Wailers - Zimbabwe (1979) Fugazi - Turkish Disco (1999) Stereolab - French Disko (1995) Amanaz - Africa (1975) The Psychadelic Furs - Sister Europe (1980) Wilco - Impossible Germany (2007) Sufjan Stevens, Angelo de Augustine - Fictional California (2021) Frank Black - (I Want to Live on an) Abstract Plain (1994)