Look At My Records!

pisode 240 of Look At My Records features an interview with Pittsburgh-based songwriter Zack Keim. Keim just released his long-awaited second full-length, Battery Lane, earlier this month. The record represents a big step forward in sound for the 27-year-old musician, as the 11 songs build off of the solid foundation that Keim established on his stripped-down 2017 debut, First Step. Drawing heavy influence from Dion’s 1975 album Born To Be With You, Keim leaned into Phil Spector’s wall-of-sound production style to create an immersive listening experience on Battery Lane. During the interview, Zack and Tom chatted all about the album, including some of the stories behind its standout tracks, the piecemeal recording process, and how decades-old songs like “Alice” evolved over time. Plus, Keim shared some pandemic-era stories and dove into his history with the garage rock band The Nox Boys. He selected some awesome records from Tijuana Panthers, The Velvet Underground, The Rain Parade, and more! You can follow along with the official playlist for Episode 240.You can purchase Battery Lane on vinyl via Bandcamp. The record is also available on all streaming platforms. Keep up with Keim by following him on Instagram. Keim kicks off a tour in support of Battery Lane tonight at Comet Ping Pong in Washington D.C. Tomorrow night, he’ll be playing at Alphaville in Brooklyn. A full list of dates is below! Get your tickets here.

Episode 239 features an interview with author Bennett Kelly! Known across New Jersey for his excellent journalistic contributions to publications like New Brunswick Today and the Look At My Records! music blog, Kelly recently shared his first-ever work of non-fiction, a novel titled Sensation Blues. The book, which is set deep in the Mississippi Delta, tells the story of a young, aspiring musician named McKinley as he navigates his journey through the world of the blues. Along the way, McKinley is mentored by his uncle Ira and encounters some exciting rock and roll antics, which are playfully detailed across Sensation Blues’ almost 300 pages. During the interview, Ben and Tom chatted about the process behind writing a work of fiction, the influence of New Jersey legend Paul Robeson on the book, the type of research he performed, and much more. Plus, Ben picked some awesome records from Blur, The Beatles, and the Jam. You can follow along with Ben’s picks via the official playlist for Episode 239.You can purchase a copy of Sensation Blues via Ben’s website. Keep up with Ben by following him on Instagram!

Episode 238 of Look At My Records! Features an interview with Jersey City-based songwriter Sean Kiely. Last month, Kiely released his long-awaited new record, Postcards of the Reckoning, an 8-song collection of folk-inspired tunes that features some of his most personal songwriting to date. His songs expound on experiences spanning both love and loss, and feature a wide range of collaborators, including Minnie Jordan, Bobby Hawk, Jean Rohe, and more. During the interview, Tom and Sean dive into the nooks and crannies of the album, touching on the meaning and inspirations behind its stand-out tracks, the writing and recording process, and much more. Sean also picked some awesome records from Joni Mitchell, Fiona Apple, and Angel Olsen. Follow along with Sean’s picks via the official playlist for Episode 238. You can purchase Postcards of the Reckoning on limited edition vinyl via Bandcamp.Sean will be performing at White Eagle Hall on Friday, February 21st in support of Richard Thompson. Tickets are available now via See Tickets.

Episode 237 of Look At My Records! Features an interview with Bay Area songwriter Ainsley Wagoner, who performs as Silverware. In August, Silverware released their second full-length album, One True Light. It’s a record characterized by change, specifically, in Wagoner’s process, and in turn, her sound. In contrast to her 2021 album, No Plans, which was recorded quickly, Wagoner spent considerable time pouring over details and refining the end product for this go around. Though she made some alterations, Wagoner continued her fruitful collaboration with Omar Akrouche, a partnership that continues to pay dividends in terms of creative output. During the interview, Tom and Ainsley chatted about making One True Light, including the inspiration behind some of its standout tracks like “No Expectations” and the piecemeal recording process. They also touched on her background in music, which started in Kentucky, and her artistic growth while living in the Bay Area. Ainsley also picked some awesome records from Tom’s collection, including choice cuts from Le Tigre, Liz Phair, and Broken Social Scene. You can follow along with her picks via the official playlist for Episode 237.One True Light is out now via Ghost Mountain Records. You can order it on vinyl or cassette via Bandcamp. You can also pre-save the record on your platform of choice. Keep up with Silverware via Instagram.

Episode 236 of Look At My Records! features an interview with New York-based artist and musician, Shonali Bhowmik. Late last month, Shonali released her second-ever solo record, One Machine At A Time, the follow up to 2011’s 100 Oaks Revival. On One Machine At A Time, Shonali takes listeners on a personal journey across multiple genres, touching on themes of love, loss, and life. During the interview, Tom and Shonali talked about her past, including her Nashville roots, her time spent on the road with her bands Ultra Babyfat and Tigers & Monkeys, and how she got involved in the world of comedy. Plus, we dove deep into the writing and recording process of the new record and the inspiration behind some of its key tracks. And of course, Shonali picked some awesome records from the Modern Lovers, Big Star, and the Beatles. Follow along with her picks via the official playlist for Episode 246.One Machine At A Times is available to purchase on limited edition vinyl via Bandcamp. You can also stream it on your platform of choice. Keep up with Shonali by following her on Instagram.The One Machine At A Time tour kicks off tomorrow night (8/16) at the Bowery Electric in New York City! Shonali will be performing alongside comedians Shalewa Sharpe and Clare O’Kane. Kissed By An ANimal is also performing. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are available to purchase via Ticketweb. For a full list of tour dates and tickets, check out Sonali’s website.

Episode 235 features an interview with Sophie Negrini of Los Angeles’ Janelane. Back in April, Janelane released their long-awaited debut full-length, Love Letters. The record was over a decade in the making, collecting songs that have origins in the mid-2010s, and showcasing Negrini’s expert ability at crafting love songs that are equal parts cutting, dreamy, and poppy. During the interview, Sophie and Tom chatted about the project’s teenage origins, its hiatus and eventual reemergence in 2020, and the evolution of its sound over the last decade. Plus, Sophie picked some awesome records from Bob Dylan, Big Star, and Guided By Voices! Check them out via the official playlist for Episode 235.Love Letters is out now via Kingfisher Bluez! You can purchase a copy on limited edition vinyl via Bandcamp. Keep up with Janelane via Instagram.Janelane will be performing live on Friday, August 16th at Genghis Cohen in Los Angeles. Mirrorball and Fleur Bleu•e are also on the bill. Tickets are available via Dice.FM.

Episode 234 of Look At My Records! features an interview with Sun Kin. The Los Angeles-based project of Kabir Kumar just released a new record titled Sunset World, which has been years in the making. The record features songs written as far back as November 2020 and thematically, explores the dichotomy between the beauty and terror of the natural world and the convenience of the virtual. The album also features a litany of collaborators, including Kabir’s partner Nicole Levin, his bandmates in Guppy, Julian Fader of Ava Luna, Dawson Timpany of Plum, and Mark “Echo” Edwards of Cheekface. We chatted about all of this and more, including how the previously mentioned collaborations informed the record and how Khalid partially inspired the song “Water Turns Black At Night.” Plus, Kabir picked some awesome records, including choice cuts from Depeche Mode, Tele Novella, and Twin Sister. You can follow along with his picks via the official playlist for Episode 234.Sun Kin will be celebrating the release of Sunset World this Saturday, April 27th at the Scribble Community Center in Los Angeles. Pacing and Preformer are also on the bill. You can purchase Sunset World on Bandcamp. The album is also available on all streaming platforms. Keep up with the project via Instagram.

Episode 233 of the Look At My Records! podcast features an interview with Marc Masters, author of High Bias: The Distorted History of the Cassette Tape. The cassette has a long, storied, and complex history, and in High Bias, Masters takes readers through some of its most notable moments. From the birth of magnetized sound to the proliferation of the game-changing Sony Walkman, and much of what happened in between and after, Masters dives into key technological advancements, tape subcultures, mixtapes, tape traders, and more. During the interview, Tom and Marc spoke about some of the book’s highlights, including the massive popularity of the cassette in Eastern cultures and Africa, and the format’s recent resurgence in underground circles. Marc also picked some awesome records from Times New Viking, Silver Jews, and more. You can follow along with Marc’s picks via the official playlist for Episode 233.This episode also features music from the cassette accompaniment to High Bias. You can purchase the book and the cassette via Bandcamp.

Episode 232 features an interview with Eliza Vera, who performs under the moniker Hot Moms Club. The San Diego-based project just released their second EP, Welcome To The Club, which features three songs that soothingly reflect on finding joy in simple pleasures, like the calming effects of wading through Trader Joe’s and the memory-triggering scent of fried pork. But before Eliza and Tom dove into the here and now, they spoke at length about her background in music, including how winning a guitar at a raffle sparked her interest in pursuing the instrument, her first time performing in front of an audience at summer camp, and her free-wheeling college years at the University of San Diego. Plus, Eliza shared how her friendship and collaboration with acclaimed songwriter Bartees Strange blossomed, the development of her creative relationship with producer Mallory Hauser, and what’s in store for Hot Moms Club in 2024. Eliza also picked some great records from Tom’s collection, including some choice cuts from Lomelda, Barrie, Katy Kirby, and more. Check out the official playlist for Episode 232 to peep her selections.Welcome To The Club is out now! You can purchase a copy of the EP on Bandcamp (along with other cool merch) or stream it on your platform of choice. Keep up with Hot Moms Club on Instagram.

Episode 231 of Look At My Records! features an interview with Matt Allan of the Brooklyn-based band Star 80. We last chatted with Allen prior to the pandemic on the Look At My Records! radio program. Back then, he was releasing his first singles as Star 80, and in the intervening years, he’s accumulated a bevy of solid material. Much of it appears on his brand new, debut full-length, New View. The record is a cohesive, yet eclectic mix of stories and sonics, with Springsteen, British post-punk, and more playing an influential role. During the interview, Matt and Tom chatted at length about New View, including how Atlantic City inspired the second track on the album, “Atlantic City,” how a well-known Sopranos quote worked its way into the sixth track, “Autumnal Baby,” and much more. Plus, Matt picked some excellent records from Tom’s collection, including choice cuts from Tommy Keene, Purple Mountains, and Pulp. You can follow along with his selections via the official playlist for Episode 231.New View is available to purchase via Bandcamp. You can also stream it on Spotify.

Our friend Kip Berman, who performs as The Natvral returns to the Look At My Records! podcast for Episode 230! Since he last appeared on the podcast in 2021  the former Pains of Being Pure at Heart frotman has released a few singles as The Natvral, and last week, he shared the project’s second full-length, Summer of No Light. The title, which was inspired by the climate crisis of 1816, draws parallels to two “lost summers” in Berman’s own life, specifically, his first summer post-grad in 2002 and the shut-in pandemic summer of 2020. It was during the latter that Berman penned the songs that appear on the record, escaping nightly to the basement of his Princeton home after putting his kids to sleep. During the interview, Berman and Tom chatted about this period of deep reflection, including what it was like sifting through past memories and relationships during a time of isolation, how the writer Mary Shelley inspired the record’s themes, the more full band sound of “Summer of No Light,” recording with producer Andy Savors for the fourth time, and more. Kip also picked some awesome records from Tom’s collection, including some great cuts from the Kinks, Girls, Billy Bragg, and more. You can follow along with the official playlist for Episode 230.Summer of No Light is out now via Dirty Bingo Records. You can order a copy on limited edition vinyl via Bandcamp. You can also listen to The Natvral on your streaming platform of choice. Keep up with the project by following them on Instagram.The Natvral will be performing at Pet Shop in Jersey City next Thursday, September 14th. He’ll be performing alongside Desir Decir and Joy Cleaner. Doors are at 7 pm and admission is free. For more information, check out the event listing here on the site.

Episode 229 of Look At My Records! features an interview with Brooklyn artist Oropendola. The project of songwriter Joanna Schubert recently shared their debut album as Oropendola, an eclectic and vibrant 11-song collection titled Waiting For The Sky To Speak. The record, which is described as a “celebration of choosing life even in the face of its ephemerality, and of finding motion even in the midst of stillness,” shimmers with bursts of energy and emotion, swinging from playfulness to earnestness with deft, technicolor brushstrokes. During the interview, Shubert and Tom spoke at length about the record, including its themes, her “morning pages” writing strategy for certain tracks, and how playing a supporting role in projects like Barrie helped shape her songwriting.  They also touched on Schubert’s formative years in New Jersey, her experiences attending LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan, and more. Schubert also picked some excellent records from my collection, including choice cuts from Joni Mitchell, TLC, Beach House, and more. You can follow along via the official playlist for Episode 229.Waiting For The Sky To Speak is out now via Spirit House Records. You can purchase it on limited edition vinyl via Bandcamp. It’s also available on all streaming platforms. Keep up with the project via Instagram.

Well, it’s that time of year again. Actually, it’s a little past that time of year, but, what the hell. It’s time for Tom and Look At My Records! contributor Zach Romano’s favorite records of the year. Better late than never, right? 2022 was another stellar year for music. From New York City, New Jersey, and beyond, bands and artists of all ilks released some killer full-lengths. In Episode 228 of Look At My Records, Tom and Zach highlight some of their favorites, including great LPs from Sooner, The Beths, Smooch, Blushing, Winter, Alvvays, MJ Lenderman, and more. Listen to the end to hear their NUMBER ONE FAVORITE RECORDS OF THE YEAR!Zach’s Top Ten:Greet Death - New Low (Featured Track: "New Low") ANORAK! - S/T (Featured Track: "Shinjuku")MJ Lenderman - Boat Songs (Featured Track: "You Are Every Girl to Me")Viagra Boys - Cave World (Featured Track: "Baby Criminal")Sooner - Days and Nights (Featured Track: "Thursday")Launder - Happening (Featured Track: "Become") Knifeplay - Animal Drowning - (Featured Track: "Lonely Sun")The Reds, Pinks, and Purples - Summer at Lands End (Featured Track: "New Light"Horse Jumper of Love - Natural Part (Featured Track: "I Poured Sugar in Your Shoes")Blushing - Possessions (Featured Track: "Bed")Tom’s Top Ten:Ribbon Stage - Hit With The Most (Featured Track: Playing Possum”)Papercuts - Past Life Regression (Featured Track: “Sinister Smile”)Alvvays - Blue Rev (Featured Track: “Easy On Your Own?”)Steph Green - Thanks for That (Featured Track: “Devotion”)GIFT - Momentary Presence (Featured Track: “Share The Present)Winter - What Kind of Blue Are You? (Featured Track: “mr. on-my-mind”)Van Chamberlain - In The Sun (Featured Track: “87”)Smooch - Watermelon (Featured Track: “Agnes Lynagh”)The Beths - Expert In A Dying Field (Featured Track: “Expert In A Dying Field”)Sooner - Days and Nights (Featured Track: “Boscobel”)

Episode 227 of Look At My Records! features an interview with Dawn Moraga and Tim Lusk of North Carolina post-punk band Cor de Lux. Recently, the band shared their second full-length, Media, a towering, eclectic-sounding record that melds elements of shoegaze, multiple eras of punk rock, dream pop, and more, while tackling themes and feelings of uncertainty, division, and human connection. During the interview, Tom spoke with Dawn and Tim about the process behind writing and recording the album, early musical inspirations, Tim’s surprising familial connection to a country music legend, and much more. Dawn and Tim also picked some awesome records from Tom’s collection, including choice cuts from the Minutemen, Blonde Redhead, Corridor, and the Appleseed Cast. You can follow along with their picks via the official playlist for Episode 227.You can purchase Media on cassette and compact disc via Bandcamp. The album is also available to stream on all platforms. Keep up with the band by following them on Instagram.Cor de Lux is on tour this month. They’ll be performing in Jersey City on Friday, May 5th alongside Tom Barrett and the Cuts, CR and the Nones, and Sean Kiely. For more information and tickets, head to the event listing here on the site. Cor de Lux is also appearing at Our Wicked Lady on Saturday, May 6th for the Rites of Spring Fest.

Logan Farmer is Tom’s guest for Episode 226 of Look At My Records! In late 2022, Farmer released his stunning sophomore effort, A Mold For The Bell. Inspired by the films of Andrei Tarkovsky and the literature of Olga Tokarczuk, the intimate and tranquil-sounding record was born out of a two-day session with Grammy-nominated producer Andrew Berlin. The rest of the album’s creation occurred remotely, over texts, phone calls, and emails with a series of collaborators, including saxophonist Joseph Shabason (who also mixed the album) and renowned harpist Mary Lattimore. During the interview, Tom and Logan talked about the progression in his songwriting from his 2020 album Still No Mother to A Mold For The Bell, the record’s lone harsh moment on “Crooked Wires,” and much more. Logan also picked some excellent records from The Blue Nile, Bruce Springsteen, and others. You can follow along with his picks via the official playlist for Episode 226. A Mold For The Bell is out now via Western Vinyl. You can purchase a copy on limited edition vinyl via Bandcamp. You can also stream it on Spotify. Keep up with Farmer by following him on Instagram.

Episode 225 of Look At My Records! features an interview with Zach Ellis of Brooklyn post-punk phenoms Dead Tooth. After an eventful 2022 that saw Dead Tooth release a well-received EP called Pig Pile, take home the top prize at the annual Our Wicked Lady Winter Madness tournament, and make an indelible impression at South By Southwest, Ellis is keeping the momentum going in 2023. Dead Tooth hits the road later this month for their biggest gigs yet in support of Bass Drum of Death and has plans to release more new music in the coming months. But it took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears for Ellis to get to this point. After coming to New York at 19 years old, Ellis cut his teeth as the drummer of notable 2010s Brooklyn indie rockers Haybaby, before branching out on his own with his first solo project,  The Adventures of the Silver Spaceman. It was then that Ellis developed a creative relationship with DIIV guitarist Andrew Bailey, and the folk-inspired sounds of Silver Spacemen slowly evolved into the fierce, frenetic post-punk of Dead Tooth. Zach and Tom chatted about all of this and more, including his 2022 experience at SXSW and memorable moments from years past, including a chance encounter with Daniel Johnston, how he’s fully embraced the performance aspects of being a frontman, and much more. Ellis also picked some excellent records, including great cuts from Neil Young, ESG, Liz Phair, and more. You can follow along with his picks via the official playlist for Episode 225.Dead Tooth is about to hit the road for a string of dates with Bass Drum of Death, including on March 31st at Music Hall of Williamsburg and April 1st at White Eagle Hall in Jersey City. Check out the Dead Tooth Bandsintown page for a full list of dates.You can purchase Pig Pile on limited edition cassette via Bandcamp. Their music is also available on all streaming platforms. Keep up with the project by following them on Instagram.

For Episode 224 of Look At My Records!, Tom spoke with songwriter Katy Rea. Rea just released her debut full-length, The Urge That Saves You, late last year. The record is a long time coming for Rea, who got her start in music in the mid-2010s on New York City’s open mic circuit, honing her craft at venues like the Sidewalk Cafe. After catching the songwriting bug during the pandemic, Rea began work on The Urge That Saves, eventually tracking the entire record live at Figure 8 Studios by Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The songs on the album chronicle her life’s journey through personal anecdotes and character-driven narratives that live in symmetry with ebbs and flows of intense instrumentation. During the interview, Rea and Tom talked about how The Urge That Saves came to be, including how learning how to mix and engineer helped guide her creative process, the importance of recording the record live, and the meaning behind some of its stand-out tracks like “Flood of Houston.” Rea also picked some awesome records, including classics from Sly Stone, Sam Evian, and more. You can follow along with her picks via the official playlist for Episode 224. The Urge That Saves You is out now. You can purchase a copy via Bandcamp. Catch Rea on tour in March. A list of dates is below. For more information and tickets, check out her Instagram.

Episode 223 of Look At My Records! features an interview with Michael Grace, Jr. of Long Island indie pop legends My Favorite. After a long stretch of years since their last release, the project returned in the fall with the first in a trio of EPs, “Tender Is The Nightshift: Part 1.” The five-song collection is the first My Favorite extended play in nearly two decades and features more beat-driven tracks that draw on nostalgia while contemplating love and loss. During the interview, Tom and Michael chatted about My Favorite’s history, including what it was like recording early singles with Mark Kramer, the band’s rabid fan base in Sweden, how this current revival came to be, and much more. Plus, Michael picked some great records from my collection, including some sick tracks from Lou Reed, Sade, and Prefab Sprout.  You can follow along via the official playlist for Episode 223.You can purchase Tender Is The Nightshift​:​ Part 1 via Bandcamp. The EP is also available on all streaming platforms. A vinyl edition is available for purchase via Where It’s At Is Where You Are and HHBTM Records.

Episode 222 of Look At My Records! Features an interview with Gabbi Coenen, the Los Angeles-based musician who performs under the moniker RVBY MY DEAR. The Perth, Australia native recently released a new self-titled EP, which arrives on the heels of some changes for Coenen. It’s the project’s first release since Coenen relocated from New York to Los Angeles and also follows the dissolution of the backing band that appeared on her 2019 debut full-length, Waiting. The EP also marks her first collaboration with producer Andrew Lappin and also sees Coenen drawing influence from pop and ambient source material. During the interview, Gabbi and Tom chatted about growing up in Perth, her experiences studying jazz in music school, the process behind crafting the EP, and much more. She also picked some excellent records from Tom’s collection, including choice cuts from Aimee Mann, Aaliyah, and Dirty Projectors. You can follow along with her picks via the official playlist for Episode 222.You can purchase a copy of the EP via Bandcamp. It’s also available to stream on all platforms. Keep up with the project by following them on Instagram. RVBY MY DEAR will be celebrating the release of the EP with a special performance on January 18th at Gold-Diggers in Los Angeles. The show is presented by The Witching Hours. Sonoda and Rainee Blake are also performing. Tickets are available now!

For Episode 221 of Look At My Records!, Harry the Nightgown returns for their second appearance on the podcast. Since the release of their excellent, analog-centric self-titled debut in 2020, the songwriting duo of Spencer Hartling and Sami Perez have leaned further into the electronic elements of their sound, which blossomed on their 2021 singles “The Painter” and “If You Were Wrong.” Last month, the duo released the follow-up to their first full-length, an EP titled Airy the Light Cloud, which sees them further exploring more digital proclivities while still staying true to the pop sensibilities they developed in the analog recording realm. During the interview, Spencer and Sami share a song-by-song breakdown of the EP, including their thought process behind certain unique sonic choices on tracks like “Swing Song.” Plus, they chatted about current happening at their LA-based studio Wiggle World, their experiences touring in 2022,  and much more. The two also picked some awesome records, including classics from Wire, Stereolab, and New Order. You can follow along with their picks via the official playlist for Episode 221. You can purchase Airy The Light Cloud via Bandcamp. The EP is also available on all streaming services. Keep up with the band by following them on Instagram.Don’t miss Harry The Nightgown’s next show at Gold Diggers in Los Angeles on January 19th! They’ll be joined by Mary Sea and Laena. Get your tickets now via Dice.FM.