Poetic Wax: Music History Hidden in the Grooves

To Echo & the Bunnymen’s Ian McCulloch, "The Killing Moon" from Ocean Rain is a work of fate, born from dreams, chance discoveries, and cosmic obsession. From his claim that the lyrics were “already written in the stars” to the band’s surreal trip to Russia and the chaotic recording sessions that nearly tore them apart, this story behind one of the 80s music greats. It's time to unravel how one of the most haunting and timeless post punk and new wave tracks came to life. 🍿 Watch the episode (and see the full series) on YouTube.  📕 Read the transcript and hear the songs on the Poetic Wax Substack. 🎧 Get Echo & the Bunnymen on Vinyl 🎧 https://amzn.to/47SUGYI  🎧 Get Ocean Rain on Vinyl 🎧 https://amzn.to/4lPvypa  Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

"Ashes to Ashes" is one of David Bowie’s most iconic songs. It collapses myth, reinvents old characters, and confronts the shadows of his own past. In this episode, we trace the story behind the song: its deep ties to "Space Oddity," its place within Bowie's 1980 album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps), and the new era it ushered in for Bowie after the Berlin Trilogy. Along the way, we’ll uncover the darker meanings beneath its art-pop surface, explore the groundbreaking artistry that surrounded its creation and its music video, and arrive at a moment of unexpected humiliation when Bowie himself was stripped of all mystique by a single passerby on a beach. This song is a reminder that even pop’s great chameleon was never beyond being humbled. 🍿 Watch the episode (and see the full series) on YouTube.  📕 Read the transcript and hear the songs on the Poetic Wax Substack. 🎧 Get David Bowie on Vinyl 🎧 https://amzn.to/4lQg7xe  🎧 Get "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" on Vinyl 🎧 https://amzn.to/3UGWjB5  Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

"The Head on the Door" transformed The Cure from cult favorites into global icons, blending irresistible pop hooks with unsettling undercurrents of melancholy. This is the story of the band’s creative rebirth, shaped by surreal dreams that haunted Robert Smith. The adventurous recording sessions introduced flamenco guitars, brass sections, and jangling synths into their sound. Together, these moments show why this album remains both a breakthrough and a bittersweet masterpiece. At its heart lies the tension between joy and sorrow, light and shadow; a delicate balance that continues to resonate forty years later. 🍿 Watch the episode (and see the full series) on YouTube.  📕 Read the transcript and hear the songs on the Poetic Wax Substack. 🎧 Get The Cure on Vinyl 🎧 https://amzn.to/4mOEZ9t 🎧 Get "The Head On The Door" on Vinyl 🎧 https://amzn.to/4mOEZ9t  Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

Most people remember Blind Melon for a single song, but their 1995 album was raw and misunderstood. This is the story of Blind Melon's struggles with fame after the success of "No Rain", leading to the creation of an album that was completely misunderstood: "Soup." Yet, it was a big leap from their earlier sound, showcasing the band's fearless creativity amidst personal chaos. Today it's regarded as one of the most under-appreciated albums of the 90s. 🍿 Watch the episode (and see the full series) on YouTube.  📕 Read the transcript and hear the songs on the Poetic Wax Substack. 🎧 Get Blind Melon on Vinyl: https://amzn.to/4m9h0lr  Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

Radiohead debuted "True Love Waits" in Brussels in 1995 while on tour for The Bends. They tried to capture it in the studio for OK Computer, then again for Kid A and Amnesiac, failing at every turn. Yet fans LOVED it. This is the story of Radiohead's 'secret song,' "True Love Waits," and how things finally came together for their 2016 album A Moon Shaped Pool. The result was unexpected. The result was perfect. The result was worth the wait. 🍿 Watch the episode (and see the full series) on YouTube.  📕 Read the transcript and hear the songs on the Poetic Wax Substack. 🎧 Get Radiohead on Vinyl: https://youtu.be/cgviPLd7-XI  Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

In 2001, the most unlikely rock album took the world by storm. It didn't feature seasoned musicians. It featured 200 elementary school kids in a school gym, performing rock and pop songs of the 1970s, in the 1970s, in a single take. It's backbone: the music of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys. A main attraction among many: a song by David Bowie that he felt was the best cover of one of his songs he had ever heard. This is the story of The Langley Schools Music Project, the release of Innocense & Despair, and the teacher behind it, Hans Fenger. It's a story that ultimately inspired the film School of Rock featuring Jack Black. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.  ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Substack  🎧 Get The Langley Schools Music Project on Vinyl: https://amzn.to/4mcGlu6  Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

It's time to peel back the layers of The Smashing Pumpkins’ iconic 1995 masterpiece "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" to explore how the haunting artwork shaped the emotional world created within the album. We jump into Billy Corgan and John Craig’s creative dialogue: the faxed prompts, the evocative collage of Greuze, Raphael, and found imagery, and how those visuals echo the album’s themes of longing, wonder, and melancholy. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.  ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Substack  🎧 Get The Smashing Pumpkins on Vinyl: https://amzn.to/4kNQNHt   🎧 The Smashing Pumpkins "Mellon Collie" 4LP Vinyl Box Set https://amzn.to/45jNmmn  Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

"The Last of the Famous International Playboys" was a critique of the media's idolizing tendencies that, decades later, has consistently gotten worse. This episode unravels the depths of Morrissey's third single and its dark ties to real-life gangsters (Ronnie and Reggie Kray), the glamorization of violence, and the media’s obsession with infamy. This story traces the song’s roots in British crime history, its place in Morrissey’s post-Smiths identity, and the dangerous allure of being seen, even if it means becoming the villain. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.  ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Substack  🎧 Get Morrissey on Vinyl: https://amzn.to/44JwBjQ 🎧 Get The Smiths on Vinyl: https://amzn.to/4lmPArz Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

In 1973, at the height of glam rock chaos, Elton John pulled one of the strangest pranks in music history: storming a Stooges concert in a full gorilla suit and tackling a drug-addled Iggy Pop onstage. We unpack the bizarre true story behind that moment, tracing Iggy’s downward spiral after Raw Power, the chaos surrounding its infamous mix by David Bowie, and how Elton’s surreal prank became a weirdly touching gesture between two rock legends. It’s a snapshot of a wilder time when even the most absurd moments carried real meaning. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.  ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Substack  Iggy and Elton on Wax and Paper: Stooges: Raw Power (Vinyl) https://amzn.to/4l76muM Gimme Danger: The Story of Iggy Pop (Joe Ambrose, 2004) https://amzn.to/40neZsQ Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk (Legs McGee & Gillian McCain, 2016) https://amzn.to/40CvqS2  Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Vinyl): https://amzn.to/44gu1mK Stooges on Vinyl: https://amzn.to/401xm6u Iggy Pop on Vinyl: https://amzn.to/4ksiENk  Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

What happens when a pop band turns a London council block into a concept album? In 2005, Saint Etienne released "Tales from Turnpike House," a quietly radical record that captured the rhythms, routines, and quiet poetry of suburban life. Today we explore the album’s architectural inspiration, its place in the revival of the concept album, and how it laid the groundwork for Saint Etienne’s later work. From Xenomania pop polish to David Essex bedtime tales, this is the story of one of British pop’s most overlooked masterpieces. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.  ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Substack  🎧 Get Tales From the Turnpike House on Vinyl: https://amzn.to/3I8bG2p  🎧 Get Saint Etienne on Vinyl: https://amzn.to/4enIaBQ  Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah didn’t sidestep the music business. They bulldozed right past it. And in doing so, they changed how bands could break through. This is the story of the band that went viral before “going viral” was really even a thing. It’s a story of raw sound, right timing, and one album that rewrote the rules. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.  ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter  🎧 Get Clap Your Hands Say Yeah on Vinyl https://amzn.to/4kOxKxn  Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

Today, we remember Brian Wilson, the soul of the Beach Boys and a true voice of a generation. His unforgettable melodies defined an era, spanned generations, and shaped the early days of pop music. It's time to reflect on his legendary career and the impact he had on music, and on me. RIP Brian Wilson. This is why your passing hit me harder than I expected. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.  ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter  🎧 Get The Beach Boys on Vinyl https://amzn.to/3FDqyFj  Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

In the summer of 2000, Modest Mouse released The Moon & Antarctica, and today we take a deep dive into the stories, sounds, and strange mythology behind Modest Mouse’s major-label debut. From cosmic themes and broken jaw myths to existential dread and the Volkswagen controversy, this video explores how the band created one of indie rock’s most haunting and forward-looking albums just as the world itself began to fracture. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.  ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter  🎧 Get The Moon And Antarctica on Vinyl https://amzn.to/4n5nSkG  🎧 Get Modest Mouse on Vinyl https://amzn.to/3BEoPgW  Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

Before becoming a worldwide rock icon, Jack White almost became a priest. And nowhere is the parallels between rock and roll and religion more present than on The White Stripes' 2005 album "Get Behind Me Satan." This video documents the story of Jack White's pivot away from priesthood, giving up the alb for an amp, and how he continues to weave his own parables of faith and morality into his music to this day. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.  ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter  🎧 Get Jack White on Vinyl https://amzn.to/43EkaFC  🎧 Get The White Stripes on Vinyl https://amzn.to/3T37hQv   Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.  

Pain and tragedy were no stranger to Charles Bradley, who struggled throughout his life to find his footing yet never gave up on his dreams of being a musician. At age 62, he released his debut album, "No Time For Dreaming." Over the next 5 years, he recorded 3 more, the final being released after he passed in 2017. Known as the Screaming Eagle of Soul, this is the story of Charles Bradley. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.  ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter  🎧 Get Charles Bradley on Vinyl https://amzn.to/3STwH2U  Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.  

This is the story of how Blonde Redhead created Evil Morty's theme song, and how Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons and "For The Damaged Coda" went from a cult classic to a cultural phenomenon thanks to Rick & Morty. ACCIDENTAL OMISSION: In addition to the core trio of Blonde Redhead, Tobias Nathaniel also contributed to this piece, providing the haunting piano part that dominates the song. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.  ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter  🎧 Get Blonde Redhead on Vinyl https://amzn.to/4diKCJy Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons https://amzn.to/4ksMDVO More Blonde Redhead Vinyl: https://amzn.to/3DKAtHJ Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.  

With just two months to craft an album to support an upcoming tour, Hawkwind created "Warrior on the Edge of Time," and it very nearly broke them. Members left, including the infamous departure of Lemmy Kilmister, who would then form Motörhead. This is the story of the chaos behind that album, its sci-fi cred, the fall out, and its lasting legacy. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.  ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter  🎧 Get Hawkwind on Vinyl https://amzn.to/4diKCJy Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.  

After touring to support OK Computer, Radiohead was at a breaking point. Thom Yorke more so than the rest of the band. And as they approached the album that would follow, he fell into a slump. He couldn't write, he couldn't create, and he was spiraling toward complete destruction. Then something miraculous happened. One song formed out of snippets he began to collect after a period of throwing everything away, and suddenly everything came together. This is the story of KID A, and how Thom Yorke's breakdown led to a major breakthrough. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.  ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter  Get Radiohead on Vinyl 🎧 Kid A on Vinyl https://amzn.to/3YRqIiP Kid A Mnesia on Vinyl https://amzn.to/3EEoPiy More Radiohead Vinyl https://amzn.to/4jEVX99   

By the time The Decemberists released "Picaresque" in 2005, frontman Colin Meloy had been honing his narrative, storytelling style of songwriting for more than half a decade. Despite having dabbled in the theatrical side of indie rock with both Castaways & Cutouts and Her Majesty, Picaresque brought it to a whole new level. This is the story of that album, and how The Decemberists made history cool. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. The YouTube episode includes reference links to audio/video clips featured in the episode. 🎧 THE DECEMBERISTS ON VINYL: Get Picaresque on Vinyl: https://amzn.to/3GpwW2V  More by The Decemberists on Vinyl: https://amzn.to/4jOVUqD  ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter.  Poetic Wax is a weekly music history video series and podcast hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little known or little told history from within.

Ever wonder why David Bowie’s eyes looked like they belonged to an alien? If you’ve ever wondered why Bowie’s gaze felt like it could pierce through dimensions, you’re about to find out why. This is the weird truth of David Bowie and his strange eyes... Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter  🎧 DAVID BOWIE ON VINYL: Station to Station on Vinyl 👉 https://amzn.to/3XBDxNd  Young Americans on Vinyl 👉 https://amzn.to/4hXY32S  More Vinyl by David Bowie 👉 https://amzn.to/3XrANCc