This Chicago singer/songwriter fronted Dolly Varden for six albums from the ’90s through 2013. He also started releasing solo records in 2003 and has just released his seventh. We discuss “A Mile South of Town” (and listen at the end to “Oh, California”) from Ghosts (2024), the title track from The Dumbest Magnets by Dolly Varden (2000), and “Bronk…

Though Dale is known as the long-time drummer for Washington sludge-metal band Melvins (’88-present), he’s also a guitarist and singer who led the band Altamont though four alternative rock albums (’97-’05) and has now released his third full-length, stylistically varied solo album. We discuss “I Quit” from Glossolalia (2024) featuring Soundgarden’…

As a young person in NYC, Amy played briefly in a punk band, then in the “cow punk” band Last Roundup with her brother, and then in a vocal trio called The Shams that released an album and an EP around 1993. She finally emerged as a full front-person as a solo artist in 1997; she’s since released nine solo albums plus three more with her husband Wr…

The New York-based singer/keyboardist/guitarist issued three albums and four EPs with Nova Social (initially called Stretch) from ’98-’14 while also serving as music director for Wesley Stace’s Cabinet of Wonders variety show. After four solo releases, he’s formed a new project setting his droll lyrics in a ’60s Brazilian setting called As For the …

John Wardle (named Jah Wobble by Sid Vicious) started playing bass in John Lydon’s post Sex Pistols band Public Image Ltd. in 1978, left after two albums, and has since recorded 50+ solo and collaborative albums, largely led by the bass, but spanning many genres including some particularly famous work in the world-music area. We discuss “Last Exit”…

Oliver is the son of Yes keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman, and has not shied from this association, displaying similar sounds and chops, and serving as Yes’ keyboardist himself for four years. His work has in part played in this prog rock space, creating concept albums with Clive Nolan, working with Yes’ Steve Howe and Peter Banks, and playing with Sta…

Pat has been a session drummer since the mid ’70s, was a founding member of Mr. Mister in the ’80s, and played in all line-ups of King Crimson since ’94. He’s also a producer and no stranger to electronics. We discuss “31” by Tu-Ner from T-1 Contact Information (2023), “Flinch” by TUNER from Totem (2005), “Life Goes On” by Mr. Mister from I Wear th…

Richard started as guitarist in the folk-rock staple Fairport Convention in 1967 but left in 1970 after five albums. He then recorded his debut solo album, six as Richard and Linda Thompson, and has since recorded 20 more solo albums of lyrically inventive, stylistically varied tunes that nearly always feature very skilled guitar work. We discuss “…

Kim has recorded about ten meticulously recorded country-evolving-to Americana albums out of Nashville since 1995. We discuss “Joy Rider” (written with Aaron Lee Tasjan) from Every New Beginning (2024), “A Place Called Home” (written with Mike Henderson) from Rise (2002), and “I’m Alright” (written with Angelo Petraglia and Larry Gottlieb) from Bit…

Singer-songwriter Lynn has released 10 albums since 2001. We discuss the title track (and listen at the end to “I Waited Too Long”) from High Tide (2024), “11:11” from Rise of the Fall (2017), and “Drugstore” from Crossing Frequencies (2001). Intro: “City Life” from Sugar on the Floor (2011). Hear more at lynndrury.com. Watch some video about the m…

It's a new, discussion-only format, just for this episode (and perhaps some rare ones in the future)! When we write, how much is planned vs. improvised? How much is inspirational vs. double-or-triple checked? How does this factor weigh into how much music we release, how eclectic our sound is, and how well we improvise with others? This discussion …

Illinois singer/bassist Paul had his first release in 1985 and joined with drummer Ric Menck to form a band eventually called Velvet Crush, which released six albums from 1991-2004. He has since played in Matthew Sweet's band and has released two albums under the name The Small Square. We discuss "Can't Let Go (Oh, Tommy)" by The Small Square from …

Graham has released 25+ studio albums of soul-infused British singer-songwriter goodness since 1976, first with the Rumour, but often in the second half of his career playing live entirely solo. We discuss "Lost Track of Time" by Graham Parker and the Goldtops from Last Chance to Do the Twist (2023), "Going There" by Graham Parker & The Rumour from…

Coming from a family who played traditional cajun music in Louisiana, violinist Louis and his accordion-playing brother Andre have released nine albums (plus some live releases and EPs since 2001), winning two Grammy awards, plus Louis has had a couple of releases under the name Michot's Melody Makers, and he just released his first solo album. We …

After Matt's "paisley underground" band Rain Parade recorded two albums and an EP from '83-'85, he was a member of Crazy Horse (taking the Neil Young guitar role in Neil's absence), and released a few albums intermittently as he worked in law enforcement. Now that he has retired, he's back devoting all his time to music, and Rain Parade has been to…

Bruce is best known for his first album The Way It Is (1986), but has come light years since then through 18+ albums, experimenting with different styles, playing over 100 shows with the Grateful Dead, and scoring numerous projects for Spike Lee. He's won three Grammys and recorded with music royalty including Elton John, Ornette Coleman, Branford …

After winning a TV reality competition in 2007 to become Sandy in Grease on Broadway, Laura went on to star in shows like South Pacific, Bonnie & Clyde, Anything Goes, and Cinderella. In 2021 she left Broadway and is now a pop-country songwriter. We discuss her 2023 singles "Getaway" and "Enough," and her performance of the Bonnie & Clyde song "How…

Jason plays bass for Bob Mould's band, is a touring member of Superchunk, and has been making the promo rounds as he tours as guitarist with actor Michael Shannon to play R.E.M.'s debut Murmur live for its 40th anniversary. He's a singer-songwriter who played as Verbow in the 90s, and more recently as Split Single. We discuss two Split Single tunes…

Eric Goulden has recorded 29 albums since 1978, typically as Wreckless Eric but also with his wife Amy Rigby or under band names like Captains of Industry and The Len Bright Combo. We discuss "Standing Sunday Morning" from Leisureland (2023), "Another Drive-In Saturday" by Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby from their self-titled debut (2008), and "Depress…

Tom is best known as a steel guitar player who has guested with artists like Alejandro Escovedo, John Doe, and Sonny Smith. He started in the late '80s with the Philadelphia energetic alt-country band Go to Blazes. After five albums with them, he moved to San Francisco in 1997 and has since released six solo albums of Dylan-esque, lyrically driven …

Tim began with The Windbreakers in Mississippi in 1982 and has released around 30 albums including solo albums starting in the late '80s plus albums with his wife Susan Bauer Lee (first on bass, then on drums) as The Tim Lee 3 and now Bark. We discuss Bark's "Love Minus Action" from Loud (2023), "Magnolia Plates" by Tim Lee 3 from 33 ⅓ (2015), "Lik…

Andy has released 20 albums since 1986, touring with just him and his acoustic guitar. We discuss "The Happiness Index" from AT (2023), his second collaboration with Tim Finn; the title track from The Guilty and the Innocent (2017); and "Speechless" from Out There (1992). End song: "Italian Girls on Mopeds" from Boy 40 (2003). Intro: "Vision of You…

Glenn's albums with the Feelies since 1980 have a unique sound, due to his insistence that production is part of the composing process. We discuss "Been Replaced" and "Gone Gone Gone," from The Feelies' 2017album Here Before, then "Larmaie" from Glenn's instrumental solo album Incidental Hum (2015). We conclude by listening to "Should Be Gone" by t…

Richard joined Television in 1973 and has released three albums with them, plus seven solo albums starting in 1980. He has also played with Matthew Sweet, John Doe, Rocket from the Tomb, and others, and has a 2019 memoir Everything Is Combustible. We discuss "So Sad" from The Countdown (2018), "Glurp" from Radiant Monkey (2007), "Pleading" from Fie…

Ivan is the keyboardist/singer/multi-instrumentalist son of Aaron Neville and has played with the Neville Brothers, The Rolling Stones The Spin Doctors, etc. He has released eight albums since 1988, half of these under the band name Dumpstaphunk. We discuss "Pass It Around" and listen to "Hey All Together" from Touch My Soul (2023), "They Don’t Car…

Mikaela has a degree in harp performance and has been recording since 2011. We discuss "Cinderella" (and listen at the end to "Leave It Alone") from her second label-released album, And Southern Star (2023), "Left Hand Path" (2002, released on the compilation album Spelljams), and "In My Groove" from Delivery (2018). Intro: "When You're Away" (reco…

Alan has released 50+ albums, starting in the late '70s with The Deep Freeze Mice, then with several collaborative bands, experimental surf in the '00s with The Thurston Lava Tube, and now typically records as Alan Jenkins and the Kettering Vampires. We discuss "The Multibear" from Be My Enemy £1 (2023), "Hitler’s Knees" by The Deep Freeze Mice fro…

Chris started in the mid 70s in Sneakers, then backed Alex Chilton, started a record label, and then founded the dB's, which he left after two albums in 1983. He then became a producer and has released nine solo albums plus avant garde guitar collaborations with Kirk Ross and four reunion albums with Peter Holsapple and/or the dB's. We discuss "I W…

Bonjo started in the '70s as a session hand percussionist, played for a few years with Creation Rebel, and became a band leader in 1980, first recording a bit as Noah House of Dread, then creating African Head Charge, which has had more than 20 releases. More at africanheadcharge.bandcamp.com. We discuss "Microdosing" and listen to "A Bad Attitude"…

Swans started in the early '80s with a brutal sound gradually became more subtle and textured. The band broke up in 1995 after ten albums (and three other releases under the name World of Skin), then Michael released a couple of solo albums and six alt-country releases as Angels of Light before starting a new chapter of Swans in 2010 which has now …

Nick has fronted 10+ carefully arranged solo albums since 1985 in various styles from R&B to Latin to alt-country. We discuss "Amanda and the God’s Honest Truth" from Rarified World (2021), "Buffalo Man" from Little Big Songs (2008), and "River of Love" from More Than Truth (1986). End song: "Super Human Love" from For the Baby Doll (2013). Intro: …

Vashti was discovered in the mid-60s by the Rolling Stones manager, recorded a seminal acoustic album in 1970, then quit music until her work was rediscovered in 2000, recording two albums and releasing an autobiography since then. We discuss "I Want to Be Alone" (a 1965 single), "Rose Hip November" from Just Another Diamond Day (1970), "Wayward fr…

Initially compared as a rock singer with John Lennon in the late '70s and early '80s with The Nerves and The Plimsouls, his subsequent sixteen solo albums beginning in 1986 have embraced blues, solo acoustic guitar, and on his new album, highly percussive piano (on his new album). We discuss "Have You Ever Been in Trouble?" from Dr. Moan (2023), "E…

Ivan was a founding member of Richard Hell and the Voidoids in 1977, fronted The Outsets in the '80s, and has put out two solo albums while playing with Matthew Sweet, Shriekback, and other projects. We discuss "I am Not a Drone (Alone)" (and listen to "Voodoo Christmas") from Swing Your Lanterns (2023), the title track from Naked Flame (2011), and…

Chris and John are veterans of the Portland music scene since the mid '80s. By the '00s, John was drumming for bands like the Decembrists, while Chris was playing bass for Guided by Voices. They recorded together as Boston Spaceships (aka The Takeovers) with GBV frontman Robert Pollard from 2005-2011 and then founded Eyelids, which has now issued 1…

Jad estimates he's released over 180 albums between his band, solo, and collaborative work. He started Half Japanese with his brother David in 1975. We discuss "Fate Is On Our Side" by Jad with Samuel Locke Ward from Happy Hearts (2023), "Hold On" by Half Japanese from Perfect (2016), "Frankenstein Must Die" (1977), "Do It To It" from Now It's Back…

Claire is a folky singer-songwriter whose 13 albums since 1971 have ventured into prog, new age, dance, adult contemporary, and more. We discuss "Aphrodite Obscured" from A Pocket Full of Love Songs (2022), "Love Has a Mind of Its Own" from Over Dark Apples (2019), "The River Song" from One House Left Standing (1971), and conclude by listening to "…

Pat started in the late '70s New York No Wave scene with 8-Eyed spy, but quickly got into soundtrack work for shows like Nurse Jackie, plus cartoons and indie films. We discuss clips from Dexter: New Blood (2022), Bored to Death (2011), and Rocco's Modern Life (feat. the B-52s, with whom he was playing at the time in 1992), plus "In Another Time" f…

Richard garnered early fame as drummer for '60s New Jersey garage band The Doughboys and has put out 14 albums, largely as a one-man band, since 1988. We discuss the title track (and near the end play "And Then") from Incognito (2017) and Cornerstone (1998) and “Agnostic’s Prayer” from Tiers and Other Stories (2011). End song (new for this reissue)…

Eszter is an actor/musician, gaining initial fame starring in Jim Jarmusch's first major film Stranger Than Paradise (1984). She has released four albums of often autobiographical songs since 1998. We discuss "The First Day" (and end by listening to "Freaks") from I Hate Memory (2022) feat. Stew and Syd Straw; this album has been made into a stage …

Simon has produced programmed dance music since the early '90s, winning Grammys and topping charts with his partner Felix Buxton as Basement Jaxx through their seven albums and several EPs. We discuss "Village of the Sun" by his new project of that name from First Light (2022), "Flying by the Sun" by Ratcliffe from Dorus Rijkers EP (2011), to "Alka…

Bruce is best known as Elvis Costello's bassist for his first on about a dozen albums as The Attractions, but he's been in bands since 1970 and has done numerous session gigs. We discuss his work on "Blood Makes Noise" by Susanne Vega from 99.9 Degrees (1992), play clips from several of the most famous Attractions tunes plus "La La La La Loved You"…

Mike has put out 18 releases of largely instrumental guitar music since 2004 and is now playing with legendary bassist Mike Watt and with drummer by either Jim Keltner. We discuss the title track to Everywhen We Go (2022), "Hospital Song" from Wall of Flowers (2019), and "The Mystery Of" from Main Street Stop Valve (2020). End song: "(What's So Fun…

Neil is known as the long-time collaborator of the late Elliot Smith in the Portland band Heatmiser, which released three albums and an EP starting in 1993. Then Neil fronted the band No. 2 for two albums before taking a break until recently from music. We discuss "You Might Be Right" (and listen at the end to "I'm on a Mission") from the new No. 2…

Through the 00's and four studio albums, Allan led the "baroque pop" Oklahoma band Starlight Mints. Then he met his wife Barb; as doubleVee, they've released two albums and an EP since 2017. The three of us talk about "The Middle Side of Me" from Treat Her Strangely (2022), then the title track from Jack the Rider (2017), then "Submarine #3" by Sta…

Robyn has been producing a distinctive flavor of very British rock with surrealist lyrics for 35+ albums since 1979. We discuss "The Raging Muse" (and close by listening to "The Shuffle Man") from Shufflemania (2022), "Mad Shelly's Letterbox" from Robyn Hitchcock (2017), "Television" from Spooked (2004), and "Glass" from Fegmainia! (1985). Intro: "…

Rebecca has balanced her musical career with her acting career since the mid '80s, starting in Scotland with Ruby Blue and then moving to New York in 1989 and releasing 10+ solo albums. We discuss "Silent Sound" from Parts of Speech Pieces of Sound (2022), the title track to the Stark Naked EP (2020), and "24 Hours of Love" from New York Girls' Clu…

Mike played keyboards and shared lead vocals for synth jazz-pop Level 42's initial run for nine albums from 1982-1994 (and rejoined in 2006) and is working on his fourth solo release. We talk about his new single, "Atlantia," plus "Madness" from On the One (2011) and Level 42's "Weave Your Spell" from The Pursuit Of Accidents (1982). End song: "Hea…

Chastity has since 2007 released seven albums from Minneapolis that she calls "new blues," but which spread into pop, Americana, soul, and Irish-flavored spirituals. We discuss "Wonderment" and listen at the end to "Back Seat" from Sing to the Walls (2022), "Drive Slow" from Silhouette of Sirens (2017), "Many Prayers" from Do the Best You Can (2007…

Susan teaches songwriting at Berklee and has released six albums since 2009. She wanted to be a Nashville songwriter, decided to then sing country songs herself, but that felt phony, so she remade her whole style. We discuss "Broken Things" (and listen at the end to "Time + Love + Gravity") from All Is Quiet (2022), "Revival" from Haunted Heart (20…