My Favorite Album With Jeremy Dylan

Today, rock'n'roller Des Rocs joins me for our first ever episode on the King himself, Elvis Presley, as we get into it on the 1972 live album 'Prince from Another Planet'. We talk about how the album captures Elvis between his two iconic eras, how he existed apart from both the rock era he inspired and the pop that came before him, the frenetic rearrangements of his classic songs, his choice to include contemporary covers in the set, his uneasy history with New York prior to these shows, Elvis's future if he hadn't died when he did, the influence on Des's music and performance style and his other favorite live albums.          

Today acclaimed singer-songwriter and fellow podcaster (The Working Songwriter) Joe Pug joins me for an unexpected choice of favorite album - Weezer's classic 1996 LP 'Pinkerton'. We talk about the seeming dissonance between Pinkerton and Joe's own music, discovering the album as a 12 year old and why you are more open to change in music at that age, how the CD age dictated listening habits, how the lyrics have aged, why he would be wary of collaborating with Rivers Cuomo, why supergroups are overrated, Rivers' strange relationship with this record and why young people can make sophisticated music.

Today our returning champion Ben Lee joins me on the show to talk (a little bit) about his new single 'Born for this Bullshit' and (mainly) about cult heroes Smudge and their classic 1994 album 'Manilow'. We talk about confidence, the 90s, the sound of pre Pro Tools recordings, how Smudge intersected with The Lemonheads, Tom Morgan's slacker, superior, smart arse aesthetic and how his lyrics are the real definition of authenticity, similarities with country songwriting and more.

Today COLLAR's Spencer White joins me to talk about the Dandy Warhols' classic 'Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia'. We talk about how this record made him want to write music, the Warhols' idea of cool and embracing uncool influences, how the album set out to be the ultimate classic rock album, the contrast between the slower meat of the record and the peppy singles, how major labels treated rock bands in the 90s, Spencer's experience touring with the band and why Lizzo is the modern day Dandy Warhols. 

Today, Children Collide frontman Johnny Mackay (aka Fascinator) joins me to delve into a pair of albums that represent the two poles of Beck, 1996's 'Odelay' and 2002's 'Sea Change'. We talk about the importance of exploring multiple genres as an artist, how Johnny's bifurcated musical identity reflects Beck's, Beck's use of samples in rock music, his journey to embracing his folk roots, different kinds of breakup albums, finding great lyrics in scratch vocals, songs that start as jokes, how Johnny balances his work on Children Collide and Fascinator, Beck's Song Reader project and for some reason, David Byrne's incredible American Utopia show.

Today, one of Australia’s most dexterous singer-songwriters, Gretta Ray, returns to the show so that we can finally do an episode on Taylor Swift, as we dive into the queen of pop’s 2008 sophomore album ‘Fearless’. We talk about Taylor’s recent rerecording of the album, the different contexts the album assumes as Taylor and Gretta age past the experiences of teenage life in the songs, how songwriting changes once people have expectations of you, Taylor as a big sister for her fans, the difference between sad songs and dark songs, how Taylor gave Gretta permission to be vulnerable and how her songs give her audience permission to process and heal. Plus, we talk about Gretta’s imminent debut album ‘Begin to Look Around’, the songwriting process, touring with Gang of Youths and more.

Today Girlpuppy’s Becca Harvey joins me to talk about Best Coast’s hugely influential debut album ‘Crazy for You’. We talk about discovering the album amidst a sea of yacht rock and top 40 country music, being the same age Bethany Cosentino was when this record came out, how music exists as a time capsule, how this album defined California for a new generation, how the ‘quiet ones’ in music duos like Bobb Bruno can be underrated and more. Plus, we take a left turn into a Taylor Swift cul-de-sac and tease a rematch on the album ‘Red’, and get inside Becca’s hopes and anxieties as she prepares to release her EP and go on her first ever concert tour.

Today I’m joined by Elroy Finn, singer-songwriter and Crowded House drummer, on the eve of his self-titled LP ’Elroy’’s release, to talk about the iconic cult r&b album ‘Inspiration Information’ by Shuggie Otis. We talk about how the album is suitable for all moods and occasions, how the song Strawberry Letter 23 and its appearance in movies helped people discover Shuggie, how young Shuggie was when he made this record, the power and pitfalls of making a record by yourself, the classic drum machines Shuggie uses on the album, the advantages of keeping lyrics vague, and how music can infiltrate your hangs.

As Australia heads back into lockdown, friends of the show Seja Vogel and Davey Lane join me and our respective bottles of whiskey for a truly epic deep dive into Paul McCartney’s ‘rockdown’ LP McCartney III. Starting with an overview of Sir Paul’s 21st century output so far, we dig into the record track by track and discuss, dissect, argue, sing and do some truly diabolical impressions along the way as we work our way through the latest work by the greatest pop artist of all time. This is a vast and by the end, totally unhinged, conversation between three confirmed Beatles tragics about not just this album, but what Paul McCartney’s legacy means and what it’s like to operate as an artist with literally no peers long after your heyday. Topics discussed include: - Pandemic pop songs - The differences in approach from McCartney to McCartney II and McCartney III - McCartney’s drumming style and how ‘non-drummers’ play drums - McCartney’s lyric writing process and if that has changed since the 60s - Jeff Lynne’s

Pond guitarist and singer-songwriter Shiny Joe Ryan joins me from Fremantle, on the eve of his new solo album ‘Shiny’s Democracy’, to talk about a favorite album at once logical and surprising - Pink Floyd’s 1971 LP ‘Meddle’. We talk about how the album serves as a transitionary album between the Syd Barrett and Roger Waters dominated eras of the band, Floyd’s flirtation with folk-rock, making 70s rock music before the sound of the decade had been defined, the underrated genius of keyboardist Richard Wright, Roger Waters and David Gilmour’s battles over the legacy of the band, Joe’s encounters with the infamous flying pig and how the record has influenced Joe’s own music.

Today, the woman who wrote the book on Duran Duran’s Rio (out now as part of the 33 1/3 series), Annie Zaleski, joins me to unpack the making of the classic album, how the band’s reputation as great musicians has grown the further time moves on from their initial success, how preparation and cooperation helped them make intricate records despite limited studio time, how the sound of the album sits on the precipice before things went ‘full 80s’, the unexpected influences on the band’s sound, their musical and career ambition, John Taylor’s genius as a bass player and why they probably won’t be jumping on the biopic train anytime soon.

Today we’re back in lockdown on both ends of the chat as emerging Aussie queen of pop Charley joins me over Zoom to unpack the genius of one of the last decade’s most significant pop songwriters, Julia Michaels, and her debut ‘mini-album’, 2017's Nervous System. We talk about how this record helped Charley figure out who she wanted to be as an artist, identifying with the anxiety issues and relationship dramas Michaels writes about and the transparency of the lyrics, how Michaels’ song ‘Issues’ propelled her from songwriter to pop star, the signature lyrical and rhythmic hooks of a Julia Michaels song, use of contained metaphors and when double entendres become single entendres in song lyrics. Plus we talk about Charley’s infectious debut single ‘Hard for Me’, why she wrote it in Nashville, how COVID changed her release plan and teases her forthcoming song ‘Arizona’.

Today, legendary producer and Crowded House keyboardist Mitchell Froom joins me to unpack the making of the iconic band’s new album ‘Dreamers Are Waiting’. We talk about how Mitchell helped define the sound of the band twice - first as the producer of their debut album 35 years ago, and again as a fully-fledged member on this new album, the moment the new lineup of the band played together for the first time, why it reminded him of working with Elvis Costello, recording without click tracks or a producer, how they managed to finish the songs remotely during lockdown and how some of them radically transformed, what it was like to revisit classic Crowded House material ahead of their NZ tour earlier this year and whether there are plans for another new record from this incarnation of the band.

Today, we turn our attention to the most successful solo male artist of the last decade as genre-bending rising star Ashwarya joins me to discuss Drake’s 2011 sophomore album ‘Take Care’ and the ins and outs of what makes Drake connect with her and so many people. We discuss how his blending of hip-hop and R&B was controversial at the time but has gone on to set a template many others have followed, how the record showcased Drake’s emotional vulnerability, how the songs have broad appeal despite being about what it’s like to be a rich and famous musician, how embracing cringe made Drake a superstar, memes and whether he is the Coldplay of hip-hop.

Today, I meet a potential soul mate, singer-songwriter Max Quinn. We open the power pop bag and pull out Fountains of Wayne’s almost 20 year old classic ‘Welcome Interstate Managers’ and somehow crowbar the Beatles into the conversation, while also talking about Max’s theory that this album contains the history of pop music, the contrasting writing styles of Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood, our love of well-crafted songs, the band’s mixed feelings about ‘Stacey’s Mom’, the character storytelling on the album and why it’s a white collar version of Bruce Springsteen, alcohol, the CD era, signature chord changes, joy and hope and depression and much more.