MODERN MUSICOLOGY

#87 - Novelty Records

Have we got a fun one for you this week! Thanks to a suggestion by one of our regular listeners, Bill Lemmond, we are delving into the massive catalog of Novelty Songs and Parody Songs! And when you mention Parody Songs, obviously the first name that comes to mind is Weird Al Yankovic. But this topic offers so much more beyond Weird Al. We talk about "great" songs by Dickie Goodman, the king of novelty songs for decades, Sheb Wooley, Bobby "Boris" Pickett, Ray Stevens, MECO, Shirley Ellis, Johnny Cash, The Blues Brothers, Steve Martin, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and many others. 
To hear (nearly) all the music that we talk about in this episode, check out our accompanying Spotify Playlist. 
Give us your feedback about this episode! Is there a Novelty Song that you love that we didn't mention? Let us know! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode and let us know! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/
Find more about us:Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtapositionStephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/ 

#86 - SLEEPY KITTY Interview

This week Rob, Steph and Alan have the great pleasure of interviewing Evan Sult and Paige Brubeck, who together make up the rock duo Sleepy Kitty. We talk at length about their new BLESSING/CURSE, their philosophy of art, their influences, adding new players to their live shows, Paige's love of musicals, Evan's time in Harvey Danger . . . and, of course, kitties. 
To learn more about Sleepy Kitty and investigate their music and art more, visit sleepykittymusic.com
Give us your feedback about this episode! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode and let us know! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/
Find more about us:Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtapositionStephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/ 
 

#85 - 50 Years of HIP-HOP

WE'RE BACK! After a week off for Dragon Con (which Alan and Rob were attending), the Modern Musicology team is back with a new episode celebrating the 50th anniversary of the birth of HIP-HOP! 50 years ago, Cindy Campbell threw a party in the rec room of her family’s Bronx apartment building at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue and charged admission (.25 for ladies, 50 for fellas) to raise money to buy back-to-school clothes, and she asked her older brother Clive (later known as Kool Herc) to DJ. Using two turntables and a stack of classic soul and funk records, he and his buddy Coke la Rock shouted out spontaneous rhymes over the instrumental breaks. And with that, a new phenomenon was born. 
We talk about our own journeys with rap and hip-hop, our first exposures to it, some of the standout acts that we love, favorite albums, and a lot more. 
Want to share your favorite hip-hop artist, album, song, or moment? We'd love to hear about it! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode and let us know! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/
Find more about us:Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtapositionStephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/ 

#84 -Dark Side of the Moon

This week we celebrate the (belated) 50th Anniversary of arguably the greatest rock album ever recorded, Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd. We're joined by DJ, journalist, and self-professed Floydian Widgett Walls of NeedCoffee.com to discuss the history and impact of this groundbreaking album, its importance, and its legacy. It's the fourth biggest-selling album ever and has spent 981 weeks (almost 19 years!) on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. 
What's your history with this monumental album? We'd love to hear about it! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode and let us know! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/
Find more about us:Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtapositionStephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/ 

#83 - Favorite Music Books

Rob and Alan geek out on one of their favorite topics: music books! Both are avid readers of books of all types about music -- biographies, analyses, histories, what have you. The discussion goes from recent reads of books by John Robb, Richard Evans, Nick Hornby, Nick Griffiths, Jann Wenner, Susan Rogers, and more, and then we get into some of our older faves by Sheila E, Stewart Copeland, Maceo Parker, and others. We open up our libraries and offer recommendations for anyone looking for their next great read!
Let us know what some of your favorite music books are so that we can add them to our ever-growing to-be-read piles! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/
Find more about us:Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtapositionStephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/ 

#82 -The Music of 1988 (Part 2)

We continue on our journey through 1988 with the albums released in the second half of the year (June through December). We hit the highlights in rock (Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Crowded House, Nick Cave), rap (NWA, Public Enemy, Fat Boys, Stetsasonic), metal (Metallica, Slayer, Helloween, Anthrax), alt and industrial (Skinny Puppy, Ministry, Sonic Youth), pop (Pet Shop Boys, The Bangles, Paula Abdul, Kylie Minogue) and a whole lot more. 
If you'd like to follow along with the music as we discuss it, or explore more of this great music on your own, check out our Spotify Playlist that goes along with this episode!
Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode and let us know what your favorite album is from 1988! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/
Find more about us:Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtapositionStephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/ 

#81 - The Music of 1988 (Part 1)

The Modern Musicologists (Anthony, Rob, Stephanie and Alan) take a look at the albums that were released in the first half of 1988! We hit the highlights in rock (Robert Plant, Cinderella, Van Halen), rap (Boogie Down Productions, DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince, Run DMC), metal (Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Queensryche), R&B (Prince, Sade, Ziggy Marley), and major debuts from Living Colour, Tracy Chapman, The Pixies, Kingdom Come, Melissa Ethridge, and a whole lot more. 
We start the whole thing off with a tribute to Sinead O'Connor and a look at her debut album, The Lion and the Cobra. 
If you'd like to follow along with the music as we discuss it, or explore more of this great music on your own, check out our Spotify Playlist that goes along with this episode! 
Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode and let us know what your favorite album is from 1988! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/
Find more about us:Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtapositionStephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/ 
 

#80 -MTV!

This week we celebrate the anniversary of one of the most important and iconic phenomena of the modern music era: MTV. MTV began life on August 1, 1980 and within a few years changed the entire cultural landscape, from music and fashion to advertising to television. In this show we relive the glory days of MTV (you know, when they played music) and talk about our favorite videos and video artists, the way MTV evolved over the years, the new bands that broke because of MTV and the classic bands that embraced MTV and staged a resurgence in their popularity, and more. Mentioned in this show are bands like Duran Duran, ZZ Top, a-ha, Eurythmics, Culture Club, David Bowie, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Jackson, Billy Idol, and a lot more. 
After that, we pay tribute to the fallen legend, Tony Bennett. 
Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode and let us know what your favorite video or video artist was back in the day! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/
Find more about us:Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtapositionStephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/ 

#79 - Reviewing the WHAM! Documentary

This week your hosts Rob and Alan, joined by our good buddy JM Tuffley, do the jitterbug as we take a peek at the new Wham! documentary on Netflix. Described by Decider as "a buddy film disguised as a music documentary, Wham! tells the story of how Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael met, became besties, formed a band, and achieved massive worldwide fame -- as well as some of the personal struggles along the way. 
After that, we do our Picks of the Week (including Garbage, Pet Shop Boys, Sleepy Kitty, BDRMM, Lloyd Cole, and more, plus a short tribute to Jane Birkin), and Rob gives us reviews of the Taylor Swift and Sparks shows he saw last week. 
What did you think of the Wham! doc? What are your favorite Wham! songs? Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/
Find more about us:Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtapositionStephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/ 

#78 - METAL!!! (with Matt Alschbach)

This week the MM gang (Stephanie Seymour, Anthony Williams and R. Alan Siler) is joined by Matt Alschbach of The Rock and Metal Profs Podcast to talk all things hard rock and heavy metal! We talk about where our love of metal began (for Alan and Matt it was two different shows on the same tour in 1979), the albums that mean the most to us, the uselessness of metal sub-genres, Steph's legit hardcore street cred, that time Anthony worked for a metal frontman, and a lot more! All the big names get a mention in this ep, including KISS, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, WASP, Van Halen, Slayer, Metallica, Venom, Def Leppard, and more.
To learn more about the Rock and Metal Profs podcast, please visit them on their Facebook Page or find their episodes on any streaming platform. 
Who are your favorite metal bands or artists? Let us know! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/
Find more about us:Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtapositionStephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/ 

#77 - Tommy Stinson Interview

This week we're honored to be joined by Tommy Stinson, former member of The Replacements, Soul Asylum, Guns N' Roses, and Bash & Pop, to talk about his new album with Chip Roberts, Wronger. We talk about Tommy's songwriting process, writing songs so good they make your butt pucker, creating music in the digital / social media age, Prince and the Minneapolis music scene, his current tour, recent memorable shows, upcoming venues he's looking forward to playing, and much more!
Check out more about Tommy and his newest release at https://www.tommystinson.com/
We hope you enjoyed out interview with Tommy Stinson! Let us know! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/
Find more about us:Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtapositionStephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/ 

#76 - What Makes a Great Singer?

What Makes a Great Singer?
That's the question that we explore this week! This episode is a recording from a live we did on our Facebook Page and YouTube Channel on Sunday, July 2, 2023. We talk about what we listen for in a great singer, what part charisma and performance play in it, how genre matters, etc. And we talk about some of the iconic voices in pop music -- from country and metal to soul and rock -- like Johnny Cash, Linda Ronstadt, Ronnie James Dio, Prince, Little Richard, Elton John, Bruce Dickinson, Grace Slick, and a lot more. 
What rock / pop singer do you consider to be the best? Did we not name one of your faves? Let us know! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/
Find more about us:Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtapositionStephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/