Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Poetic Wax: Music History Hidden in the Grooves
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A GIFT FROM GOD: The Story of Echo & the Bunnymen's "The Killing Moon" | 01 Sep 2025 | 00:11:07 | |
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" and the Humiliation of David Bowie | 25 Aug 2025 | 00:21:18 | |
"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. | |||
| From Cult Heroes to Global Icons: The Cure’s “The Head On The Door” | 18 Aug 2025 | 00:14:40 | |
"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. | |||
| Blind Melon’s Soup: The Dark, Brilliant Album No One Understood | 11 Aug 2025 | 00:14:59 | |
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. | |||
| True Love Waits: The Song That Took Radiohead 21 Years to Create | 04 Aug 2025 | 00:15:26 | |
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. | |||
| How The Beach Boys & David Bowie Inspired Rock’s Most Unexpected Album | 29 Jul 2025 | 00:37:44 | |
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. | |||
| The Surreal SECRETS Behind Mellon Collie’s Iconic Album Art | 22 Jul 2025 | 00:13:07 | |
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. | |||
| Morrissey, the Kray Twins, and the Glamour of Violence | 15 Jul 2025 | 00:10:33 | |
"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. | |||
| Rock’s Strangest Prank: Elton John’s Gorilla Suit Attack on Iggy Pop | 08 Jul 2025 | 00:10:47 | |
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:
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. | |||
| Saint Etienne’s Forgotten Gem: A Love Letter to British Suburbia | 01 Jul 2025 | 00:10:38 | |
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. | |||
| CYHSY: The Internet’s First DIY Indie Rock Phenomenon | 25 Jun 2025 | 00:11:49 | |
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. | |||
| Why Brian Wilson’s Passing Hit Harder Than I Expected | 17 Jun 2025 | 00:06:46 | |
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. | |||
| How a Broken Jaw and Existential Dread Shaped Modest Mouse’s Darkest Album | 10 Jun 2025 | 00:13:23 | |
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. | |||
| Jack White and the Gospel According to Noise | 03 Jun 2025 | 00:14:41 | |
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.
| |||
| How Charles Bradley Turned Pain Into Love | 27 May 2025 | 00:08:57 | |
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.
| |||
| Evil Morty's Theme: How Blonde Redhead Created "For the Damaged Coda" | 21 May 2025 | 00:12:24 | |
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
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 CHAOS Behind Hawkwind’s "Warrior On The Edge of Time" | 13 May 2025 | 00:09:06 | |
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.
| |||
| How Thom Yorke’s Breakdown Created Radiohead’s "KID A" | 08 May 2025 | 00:16:29 | |
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 🎧
| |||
| Picaresque at 20: How The Decemberists Made History Cool | 30 Apr 2025 | 00:11:20 | |
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:
✉️ 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. | |||
| The WILD Truth Behind David Bowie’s Eyes | 26 Apr 2025 | 00:09:16 | |
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:
| |||
| How a NAKED Manager Saved New Order’s "The Perfect Kiss" | 22 Apr 2025 | 00:08:45 | |
In 1985, New Order released 'Low Life.' It's time to dive into the wild story behind "The Perfect Kiss" and discover how a naked manager, Rob Gretton, sparked a synth-pop classic with a desktop rant, and how Jonathan Demme’s iconic video sealed its legacy. From studio chaos to dance floor glory, this is Low-Life’s craziest tale! 🎵🔔 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. 🎧 NEW ORDER ON VINYL:
| |||
| From 1968 to Severance Season 2: The Wild History of 'The Windmills of Your Mind' | 18 Apr 2025 | 00:11:19 | |
EVERYONE is talking about Severance Season 2. Today we look at the WILD history behind the Apple TV series finale's "The Windmills of Your Mind" and its journey from 1968 to 2025. This one includes it all -- a high flying playboy (Steve McQueen), an olympic skier, an Oscar, and about 5000 covers from the likes of Mel Torme, the Muppets, Dusty Springfield, Sting, Jose Feliciano, and countless others. This is the story of "The Windmills of Your Mind." 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. Watch the full clip of The Libertines performing "The Windmills of Your Mind" live for la Blogoteque on YouTube. | |||
| GOD IS EMPTY: The Nihilism in The Smashing Pumpkins' "Zero" | 13 Apr 2025 | 00:12:24 | |
"‘God is empty, just like me’—this single line fueled the iconic track "ZERO" off The Smashing Pumpkins' monumental 1995 album 'Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.' How did Billy Corgan channel his self-loathing into a track that redefined The Smashing Pumpkins, and what made it resonate with a ‘messed-up generation’? Was it the nihilism? The desire for controversy? Corgan's negation? Join me as I explore the history and heart of 'Zero.'" 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 SMASHING PUMPKINS ON VINYL:
| |||
| The DARK History of The Smiths' "Suffer Little Children" | 09 Apr 2025 | 00:15:05 | |
One of the first songs Morrissey wrote for The Smiths was "Suffer Little Children" and it was also one of his darkest. This is the story behind the song, its relation to the Moors Murders, the controversy it caused locally in Manchester, and its legacy. You DON'T want to miss this one! 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. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter. 🎧 THE SMITHS ON VINYL & MORE:
| |||
| The Baroques: The Band RUMORED To Have Outsold Sgt. Pepper | 07 Apr 2025 | 00:12:14 | |
Released the same day in 1967 as The Beatles’ infamous Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Baroques’ lone release is rumored to have outsold the much more wildly popular release in the local Wisconsin market. This is the story of a band that should have garnered more clout, and the struggles they had along the way during their short-lived tenure as a band. It’s the story of a song that was banned for being too pro-drug despite definitely being anti-drug. This is the story of The Baroques. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 🎧 THE BAROQUES ON VINYL:
| |||
| The TRAGIC History of Stone Temple Pilots "Interstate Love Song" | 02 Apr 2025 | 00:08:43 | |
"Interstate Love Song" by Stone Temple Pilots is a story of deception, of heartache, and of addiction. This is the history of the song off the band's 1994 album Purple, and how it reflected the inner struggles of frontman Scott Weiland. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 🎧 STONE TEMPLE PILOTS ON VINYL & MORE:
| |||
| The GHOSTS of Broadcast’s ‘The Noise Made by People’ | 29 Mar 2025 | 00:07:13 | |
In March of 2000, Broadcast (helmed by Trish Keenan and James Cargill) released their debut album "The Noise Made By People." Blending a dreamy psychedelia with both futuristic and vintage inspired pop sensibilities, their sound was one that has built quite the cult following over the years. This is the story of that album and how the ghosts within linger, long after Keenan's passing. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 🎧 BROADCAST ON VINYL:
| |||
| How Sonic Youth’s “Bad Moon Rising” Captured the Dark Side of America | 25 Mar 2025 | 00:10:10 | |
Before they became the patron saints of noise rock, before the major labels and festival headlining slots, Sonic Youth were a band lurking in the dark corners of the New York underground. And in 1985, they released Bad Moon Rising, an album that captured both the decay of America and the restless experimentation of a band on the verge of something bigger. This is the story of that album and how it still resonates more than 40 years later. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 🎧 SONIC YOUTH ON VINYL:
| |||
| The Exorcism of David Bowie's Swimming Pool | 20 Mar 2025 | 00:12:04 | |
In the mid 1970s, David Bowie released "Station to Station" as he transformed into the Thin White Duke. His mental and physical state was in major decline due to addiction. Becoming obsessed with the occult, he felt Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin was casting dark spells on him. And then there was his haunted Los Angeles swimming pool. This is the story of David Bowie around that time, how he spiraled into madness, and how he hired a white witch to help him conduct an exorcism on his possibly possessed pool. CLARIFICATION: In Angela Bowie's memoir Backstage Passes, she recounts this story, noting that Walli Elmlark guided David Bowie in the process of conducting the exorcism as opposed to being present in Los Angeles and doing it herself. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. You can also subscribe to the Poetic Wax Podcast Newsletter. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 🎧 DAVID BOWIE ON VINYL:
| |||
| The Censorship of "Sister" by Sonic Youth | 16 Mar 2025 | 00:11:00 | |
Twice censored, this is the story of Sonic Youth's pivotal release "Sister" from 1987, how and why the album's unique cover art got those black boxes, and the story of the photographer that sparked the change. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 🎧 SONIC YOUTH ON VINYL:
| |||
| How ‘The Bends’ by Radiohead Changed Alternative Rock Forever | 13 Mar 2025 | 00:16:54 | |
After the success of "Creep," Radiohead was at a crossroads. They struggled to cope with the potential of being a 'one-hit-wonder.' While their label EMI sought another big hit, they went a different direction. The result was The Bends, an album that saw them redefining their sound, and thus, the trajectory of alternative rock for the next decade. This is the story of Radiohead and The Bends, and how it set the stage for Radiohead becoming one of the biggest bands in the world at the time. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 🎧 RADIOHEAD ON VINYL:
| |||
| Are The Kinks a MOD Band? | 11 Mar 2025 | 00:08:13 | |
Are The Kinks a MOD band? When you look at The Kinks' early work from the mid 1960s, they seem to fit the part. Sharp suits, R&B influences. But it's not as simple as that. Today, we break it down, defining what a MOD band is, and sharing the arguments for and against the claim. ▶️ Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more Poetic Wax video episodes. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 🎧 Get THE KINKS on Vinyl 👉 https://amzn.to/3Dczxfj | |||
| The DARK History Behind David Bowie's 'Young Americans' | 07 Mar 2025 | 00:10:34 | |
As David Bowie transitioned out of his glam phase, he set his sights on Philadelphia and Philly Soul. What came from this was the upbeat "Young Americans" and the album of the same name. This is the story of how that coincided with an incredibly dark period if Bowie's life as he transitioned from glam to plastic soul to the thin white duke. This is the dark history behind Bowie's "Young Americans." Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. You can also subscribe to the Poetic Wax Podcast Newsletter. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 🎧 DAVID BOWIE ON VINYL:
| |||
| Was "Kinks-Size" The Kinks' Forgotten Album or Just a Cash-Grab? | 04 Mar 2025 | 00:06:06 | |
Released in March 1965 as a US and Canada only compilation, is "Kinks-Size" The Kinks' forgotten album, or was it just a label cash grab? This is the story of that album, why it was released, and how it sizes up today. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 🎧 THE KINKS ON VINYL:
| |||
| A Complete History of Bright Eyes’ “I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning” | 26 Feb 2025 | 00:15:34 | |
In January 2005, Bright Eyes released two albums, among them the widely acclaimed "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning." This is the complete history of that album, a look at where frontman Conor Oberst was in his career at that time, and some of the events that led up to the stunning double release and the standout singles "The First Day of My Life," and "Lua," as well as other highlights on the album like "Road to Joy" and "Land Locked Blues." Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 🎧 BRIGHT EYES ON VINYL:
| |||
| The REAL History and Meaning Behind Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees" | 18 Feb 2025 | 00:14:30 | |
"Fake Plastic Trees" is one of Radiohead's most heartbreaking songs. But what does it mean? And how did Thom Yorke come up with those lyrics? This is the REAL history and meaning behind the classic song off Radiohead's sophomore album The Bends, how they recorded it, and how it became one of their most endearing tracks. Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 🎧 RADIOHEAD ON VINYL:
| |||
| Why "Meat is Murder" by The Smiths Still Matters Today | 11 Feb 2025 | 00:16:45 | |
In February 1985, The Smiths released Meat is Murder, an album that connects the dots between various forms of violence that perpetuate our society. This is the story of that album and why it still matters today. 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. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter. 🎧 THE SMITHS ON VINYL: | |||
| Did Marianne Faithfull Inspire "Wild Horses" by The Rolling Stones? | 01 Feb 2025 | 00:09:03 | |
Did Marianne Faithfull really inspire Mick Jagger to pen "Wild Horses" off The Rolling Stones' 1971 album 'Sticky Fingers?' In this video, we look at the lore and the legend of one of the hottest It Couples of the Swinging Sixties, and how the song may (or may not) have been about the late muse. 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. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter. 🎧 THE ROLLING STONES & MARIANNE FAITHFULL ON VINYL:
| |||
| Why ‘Pygmalion’ by Slowdive Failed | 28 Jan 2025 | 00:15:11 | |
In early 1995, Slowdive released an album so misunderstood that it effectively ended their career. But today, Pygmalion is hailed by some as a masterpiece. How did something so ahead of its time fail so spectacularly? This is the story of that ill fated album and why it ultimately led to the band calling it quits. 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. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter. 🎧 SLOWDIVE ON VINYL:
| |||
| The WILD Story of ‘Soldier’ by Iggy Pop | 13 Jan 2025 | 00:19:28 | |
It's a miracle Iggy Pop finished 'Soldier' with the amount of chaos an infighting that took place during the recording sessions late in 1979. Within the album is a fever dream cast of stars from David Bowie and ex Sex Pistols' bassist Glen Matlock to XTC's Barry Andrews and The Patti Smith Group's Ivan Kral. Love it or hate it, this is the wild story of how the album came to be, and how Iggy Pop rang in the new decade with his 1980 release 'Soldier'. 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. ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 👉 https://poeticwaxpodcast.com/join 🎧 IGGY ON VINYL:
| |||
| The Untold Story of Blonde Redhead’s Explosive Beginnings | 07 Jan 2025 | 00:14:13 | |
Conflict and creativity. Connection and chaos. Love and hate. These all defined Blonde Redhead in their early days, and the themes continue to drive them after more than three decades. This is the story of how three foreigners on the streets of New York City to create one of the most fascinating bands in modern alternative and indie rock. This is the story behind Blonde Redhead's debut self-titled album. 👉 Subscribe to the Poetic Wax YouTube Channel ✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 👉 https://poeticwaxpodcast.com/join | |||
| How Going Solo Changed Everything for M83 | 02 Jan 2025 | 00:13:35 | |
Before the Dawn Heals Us by M83 was a big departure from the band's first two records. We know M83 as a synth-heavy electronic pop outfit centered around Anthony Gonzalez, made famous the world over by the GRAMMY nominated 2011 hit "Midnight City," but back in 2004 they were more known for electronic-based shoegaze. The departure of Nicholas Fromageau changed everything. This is the story of how M83's "Before The Dawn heals Us" was made. 👉 Subscribe to the Poetic Wax YouTube Channel 👉 Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter | |||
| David Bowie's GREATEST Embarrassment | 30 Dec 2024 | 00:14:48 | |
How and why did David Bowie, one of the most iconic musicians of all time, create such an embarrassing song? And why does it keep rearing its head? This is the story of Bowie's 1967 single "The Laughing Gnome," how it returned with a vengeance in 1973, and how it caused mischief in 1990. This episode contains a clip called "Requiem for a Laughing Gnome" which was recorded for Comic Relief in 1999. For the full effect of the clip, including humorous textual commentary from the original video, you can see it on the video version of the episode. 👉 Subscribe to the Poetic Wax YouTube Channel 👉 Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter | |||
| David Bowie and the Story of 'Andy Warhol' | 27 Dec 2024 | 00:12:06 | |
On David Bowie's "Hunky Dory" is a track titled "Andy Warhol" which Bowie wrote about the pop art icon, whom he admired. But what did Warhol think of it? Not much... so goes this week's episode of Poetic Wax. Today, host Andy Fenstermaker pulls out his copy of the album, dives into the lead up to "Hunky Dory," the history of the song, and the time he went to The Factory and played it for the artist himself. This episode is pulled from before I had a fancier microphone and before I officially launched this series as a podcast, back when Poetic Wax was just an occasional series on my YouTube Channel. But, as my next episode calls out this one, I figured I should post it here for reference. Stay tuned as I dig into David Bowie's Greatest Embarrassment in the next episode of Poetic Wax... 👉 Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter | |||
| When Modest Mouse Built Nothing Out of Something | 24 Dec 2024 | 00:09:33 | |
Before Modest Mouse achieved critical acclaim with their 2004 album "Good News for People Who Love Bad News" on Epic Records, the band had become indie rock darlings of the Pacific Northwest. In 2000, they’d give us their major label debut, "The Moon And Antarctica," but before that came an indie culmination of creativity — a compilation on their soon-to-be former label Up Records, released in January of 2000 and dubbed "Building Nothing Out Of Something." This is the story of their transformation and the compilation that sealed their indie years as they looked forward to major label success. Poetic Wax: Music History Hidden in the Grooves is a weekly podcast, YouTube Series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker. 👉 Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter | |||
| The Story of the Failed Television & Brian Eno Sessions | 22 Dec 2024 | 00:19:00 | |
In December of 1974, an Island Records A&R exec out of London put together a demo session for punk pioneers Television. They were joined in the studio by Brian Eno, formerly of Roxy Music, who had gone solo that same year. With hopes of a promising endeavor to pitch the band to label heads, the sessions instead were a complete failure with the band and Eno leaving frustrated. This is the story of those fateful demo sessions, the stakes on the table for both Television and Eno, and why they went so catastrophically wrong. CLARIFICATION: The original video version implied David Bowie tapped Eno to produce his Berlin trilogy. These albums were produced by Tony Visconti. Eno is credited to some extent with arrangement and accompanied Bowie and Visconti in the studio. Poetic Wax: Music History Hidden in the Grooves is a weekly podcast, YouTube Series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker. 👉 Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter | |||
| The 10 BEST Indie Rock Albums of 2024 | 14 Dec 2024 | 00:18:25 | |
These are my picks for the 10 best albums of 2024, mostly spanning the indie rock genre. What's missing, and what's not worthy? Visit my channel on YouTube and share your thoughts! Poetic Wax: Music History Hidden in the Grooves is a weekly podcast, YouTube series, and Substack blog hosted by Andy Fenstermaker.
| |||
| The Tormented Soul of Jason Molina: The Story of ‘The Lioness’ | 09 Dec 2024 | 00:12:50 | |
In January of 2000, Songs: Ohia, the project of Jason Molina, released The Lioness. Ripe with metaphor and deeply personal lyrics, this album is among the many pillars of Molina's vast career. This is the story of that album, the songs within, and the hint of Jason Molina's tragic fate 13 years later. Poetic Wax: Music History Hidden in the Grooves is a weekly podcast, YouTube series, and Substack blog hosted by Andy Fenstermaker.
| |||
| Down With Wilco: When Jeff Tweedy Met The Minus 5 | 07 Dec 2024 | 00:09:18 | |
Between the chaotic recording of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and the success that followed, Wilco had a meeting of the minds with The Minus 5, a collaborative effort from Scott McCaughey (pronounced McKoy, not McKai, as I say throughout this video) of The Young Fresh Fellows. Joined by R.E.M.'s Peter Buck and The Posies' Ken Stringfellow, this collective came together to create "Down With Wilco," and this is the story behind that 2003 album by The Minus 5. Poetic Wax: Music History Hidden in the Grooves is a weekly podcast, YouTube series, and Substack blog hosted by Andy Fenstermaker.
| |||
| Before Loveless: My Bloody Valentine’s Forgotten Goth Era | 04 Dec 2024 | 00:08:26 | |
In the early days, My Bloody Valentine was far from the iconic shoegaze band they'd become know as. Today we look back at "This Is Your Bloody Valentine." Released in January of 1985, it was the band's debut, and its goth undertones would help shape the sound they'd eventually pioneer: shoegaze. This is the story of that mini album, and the transformation the band underwent to become the #1 shoegaze band of all time. Poetic Wax: Music History Hidden in the Grooves is a weekly podcast, YouTube series, and Substack blog hosted by Andy Fenstermaker.
| |||