Explore every episode of the podcast You, Me and An Album
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jorina Stamm Discusses Phoebe Bridgers, Lost Weekend | 24 Sep 2026 | 00:49:26 | |
Jorina Stamm of the Swiss indie pop band Soft Loft joins Al for this week’s album deep dive, and she chose Phoebe Bridgers’ Lost Weekend (released on August 14) to discuss. Jorina explains why she wanted to talk about Lost Weekend and shares her early reactions to this highly-anticipated release. She also discusses how listening to Lost Weekend got her thinking more about concept albums. Jorina explains how Soft Loft unintentionally made a concept album with their recent release Throw the Dice, and she talks about the band’s upcoming tour dates and other plans. Want to know more about Jorina and Soft Loft? You can find them in these places online… softloftmusic.com (includes newsletter signup) Instagram: @softloftsoftloft Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:21 Jorina’s introduction 2:04 Jorina explains why she picked Lost Weekend for this episode 4:04 Jorina talks about her initial experience with listening to the album 5:35 Jorina explains how doing research enhanced her listening experience 6:54 Jorina and Al react to the album opening with “The Outside” 10:09 Jorina notes the songs that have stood out to her so far 11:51 Jorina explains what she likes about Bridgers’ songwriting 13:11 Jorina and Al talk about the speculation over how much Bridgers’ lyrics are about her personal relationships 17:30 Jorina highlights the musical aspects of the album she likes 18:47 Jorina explains why her experience with listening to Lost Weekend was not a typical one for her 21:20 Jorina and Al identify their go-to tracks for one-offs 26:49 Jorina talks about why she has recently revisited some of Bridgers’ earlier work 29:36 Jorina and Al discuss Cameron Winter’s involvement with the album 33:57 Al had a failed attempt at listening to Lost Weekend right when it came out 34:57 Jorina explains how the theme of Throw the Dice came together 41:26 Jorina talks about the reaction to “Wednesdays” 44:15 Jorina reveals Soft Loft’s upcoming plans Outro music is from “What Are The Odds” by Soft Loft. | |||
| Michael Rudd Discusses Townes Van Zandt, self-titled | 18 Sep 2026 | 00:53:26 | |
Albuquerque-based Americana singer-songwriter Michael Rudd joins Al for a deep-dive analysis of Townes Van Zandt’s 1969 self-titled album. Michael explains why he admires Van Zandt’s songwriting, notes what makes this album a special one in Van Zandt’s discography and breaks down the album’s highlights. He also discusses how he became inspired to create a five-album cycle over the last few years and goes into detail on some of the tracks off his latest release, Midnight at Dawn. You can find Michael’s music and keep up with him through the following places. https://michaelrudd.bandcamp.com/ @michaelruddmusic on YouTube @michael.rudd.music on Instagram and Facebook Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:16 Michael’s introduction 2:32 Michael talks about his relatively recent introduction to Townes Van Zandt’s music 4:18 Michael explains why Townes Van Zandt is a perfect album 5:15 Michael and Al discuss the emotional nature of “Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel” 7:08 Michael explains why Van Zandt stands out to him among other great songwriters 12:21 Michael hears something about the Southwestern landscape in Van Zandt’s voice 13:25 Al and Michael discuss the spiritual nature of the lyrics in “Just For the Sake of the Song” 19:39 Michael picks out some of the other highlights from the album 25:37 How much does Michael listen to Townes Van Zandt? 26:39 Michael thinks the self-titled album distinguishes itself in Van Zandt’s discography 27:54 Michael explains how he wound up creating a five-album cycle 34:48 Michael talks about the perils of trying to interpret lyrics 37:11 Michael cites the biggest influence that Van Zandt has had on his own work 39:16 Michael discusses the meaning of “Made It Out of Jersey” 47:50 Michael provides an update on Palace of Flames Outro music is from “Made It Out of Jersey” by Michael Rudd. | |||
| Wesley Stace Discusses Robert Wyatt, Rock Bottom | 10 Sep 2026 | 01:03:28 | |
For his album deep dive, singer, songwriter, author and educator Wesley Stace chose Robert Wyatt’s 1974 album Rock Bottom. Wesley recounts the adolescent friendship that led to his discovery of Rock Bottom, and he explains why it has been one of his favorite albums in the ensuing decades. He delves into the non-sensical nature of Wyatt’s lyrics and why they carry deep meaning for him. Wesley also talks about his latest album One Last Heist, his recent movement towards jazzier music and his upcoming shows. There’s a lot to keep up with when it comes to Wesley’s music and shows, and you can do so at the following places online. Instagram and Threads: @wesleystace Facebook: @wesley.stace.9 Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:02 Wesley’s introduction 2:00 Wesley recalls how he first got introduced to Robert Wyatt’s music 12:03 Wesley explains why he was drawn to Rock Bottom and how the album made him a lifelong Wyatt fan 18:05 Wesley makes a connection between Rock Bottom and the film Don’t Look Now 23:53 Wesley lauds Nick Mason’s production work and musical vision 27:00 It doesn’t take long for Rock Bottom to get non-sensical 32:14 Wesley sees the album as having broad appeal despite its bizarre quality 33:14 Wesley compares the non-sensical lyrics of Rock Bottom with those of Yes 36:23 A couple of childhood friends were instrumental to shaping Wesley’s musical explorations 39:47 Wesley sees a link between Robert Wyatt and Bob Dylan 44:37 Wesley and Al were impacted by Wyatt’s lyrics, even when they didn’t make sense 46:11 Wesley addresses why he didn’t pick a jazz album to discuss 48:51 Wesley was disappointed with one aspect of the Rock Bottom reissue 50:03 Wesley talks about the thread tying “One Last Heist” and “Hello Dead Horse”—the opening and closing tracks from One Last Heist 53:27 Wesley explains how he started making jazzier music 58:26 Wesley talks about upcoming Smithereens and Cabinet of Wonders shows Outro music is from “Not My Speed” by Wesley Stace. | |||
| Bossi Discusses Bruce Springsteen, The River | 03 Sep 2026 | 01:21:30 | |
Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, YouTuber, poet and satirist Bossi joins Al for a rare double album deep dive, as she talks about Bruce Springsteen’s 1980 release The River. Bossi discusses her Springsteen fandom, which dates back to her childhood, and she explains why The River has been one of her favorite albums for decades. She explores the prominent themes of The River and illustrates how many of those themes are present in her own work, particularly on her latest album Tell All the Other Girls. Bossi also talks about her Finishing School for Difficult Women video series and how it developed from its beginnings as a part of the rollout for Tell All the Other Girls. You can explore the many facets of Bossi’s work in the following places: www.houseofbossi.com Instagram and TikTok: @iambossiofficial Substack and YouTube: @iambossi Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:19 Bossi’s introduction 2:09 Bossi is a big believer in the album format 4:21 Bossi’s father was instrumental to her Springsteen fandom 6:45 Bossi explains how a Springsteen concert changed her life 11:05 Bossi talks about why “The Price You Pay” is a special song for her 16:22 “Two Hearts” is another track where Springsteen explores the theme of “keeping the spark alive” 17:43 Bossi explains how The River is a hopeful album, despite its many bleak moments 21:35 Bossi notes the parallels between the themes on The River and in her own music 25:25 Al and Bossi talk about the masculinity of Springsteen’s songs and image 31:09 Al thinks The River should be a single album 33:23 Bossi talks about an ongoing emotional connection she has with one of Springsteen’s songs 35:52 Bossi highlights some of her favorite tracks from the second half of the album 40:23 Bossi talks about the role of memory in Springsteen’s songs as well as in hers 45:53 Bossi and Al contrast the feel of the two discs of the album 48:10 Bossi and Al note the similarities in the sequencing between The River and Tell All the Other Girls 52:37 Bossi explains why she didn’t end Tell All the Other Girls with “Hold On” 55:43 Bossi admires how Springsteen sometimes sets heavy lyrics to upbeat music 58:25 Bossi explains how her Finishing School videos grew out of her process of rolling out Tell All the Other Girls 1:06:13 Bossi’s Finishing School character had its roots in some of her earlier performances 1:07:50 Bossi talks about her intent in creating the Finishing School videos and Substack 1:13:11 Bossi discusses the House of Bossi 1:16:39 Bossi explains why she chose “Bossi” as her artist name Outro music is from “Run Baby Run” by Bossi. | |||
| Rafael Melo (Late Again) Discusses Arthur Verocai, self-titled | 27 Aug 2026 | 01:02:23 | |
For this week’s album deep dive, Brazilian-born, Brooklyn-based musician, songwriter and video game designer Rafael Melo (who records and performs as Late Again) chose Arthur Verocai’s 1972 self-titled album. Rafael talks about how he first came across Verocai’s music and why he connected with this album instantly. He also delves into why he takes inspiration from Verocai’s music and career and how he came to collaborate with the Brazilian maestro on the song “People Pleasers.” Rafael discusses his soon-to-be-released EP I Dreamt I Was Awake (out September 4) and the upcoming debut Late Again album. There are lots of places online where you can check out Late Again and follow Rafael… Website: www.imlateagain.com Bandcamp: imlateagain.bandcamp.com/ Instagram: @lateagainsta YouTube: @reallylateagain Spotify: Late Again TikTok: @reallylateagain Soundcloud: @reallylateagain Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:15 Rafael’s introduction 2:56 Al explains why his reaction to the album left him feeling a little stupid 4:20 Rafael talks about how he first got exposed to Arthur Verocai 8:51 Rafael hears Verocai’s voice through his arrangements 10:41 Rafael considers why Verocai’s music wasn’t discovered by many until decades after being released 14:13 Al and Rafael note the album’s eclecticism 17:56 Discovering Verocai was part of a larger exploration of Brazilian music for Rafael 21:33 Rafael explains how his collaboration with Verocai happened 27:04 Al found a surprise in the album’s credits 29:49 Rafael and Al appreciate Verocai’s vocals 31:26 Rafael picks his favorite tracks from the album 35:42 Al and Rafael discuss how “Na Boca do Sol” was sampled by several artists 37:42 Rafael and Al sort out their mixed feelings about sampling 39:49 Rafael finds inspiration in Verocai’s story 42:41 Rafael talks about the various musical elements in I Dreamt I Was Awake 46:28 Rafael discusses some songwriting challenges he gave himself 47:55 Rafael explains why he has not released a full album yet 51:25 Rafael provides an update on the upcoming Late Again album 52:49 Rafael talks about the many facets of his professional life 55:40 Rafael discusses his upcoming tour Outro music is from “Crazy or Stupid” by Late Again. | |||
| Laura Veirs Discusses Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra, Promises | 20 Aug 2026 | 00:53:21 | |
This week’s guest is Portland-based singer, songwriter, author, podcaster, educator and visual artist Laura Veirs, and she chose the 2021 release Promises by Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra for her album deep dive. Laura talks about her recent explorations of EDM and how that led her to listening to Floating Points and, ultimately, to Promises. She discusses the elements of Promises that make it an enthralling listening experience for her, as well as how the album has helped to her to reconnect to her own music. That reconnection resulted in the making of Temple Songs (released Aug. 14), and Laura delves into her process of writing and recording songs for the album. There are many ways to keep up with Laura online! lauraveirs.com @lauraveirs on Instagram, Facebook and X @_lauraveirs_ on Tiktok @RavenMarchingBandLauraVeirs on YouTube Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:22 Laura’s introduction 2:38 Laura discovered Promises by way of Floating Points’ EDM work 5:06 Laura was also drawn to the album due to her interest in Pharoah Sanders 7:45 Laura talks about the relationship between Sam Shepherd and Sanders 9:32 Laura was impressed by the use of silence and human noises on Promises 14:16 Laura hears some elements of EDM in Promises 17:50 Laura revisits the moment when she decided to pick this album 19:39 Listening to the album sparked a greater interest in Floating Points and Pharoah Sanders 21:53 Promises helped Laura to reconnect with music after a period of burnout 25:00 Laura talks about how she wound up making Temple Songs 27:43 Laura focused on her performances and not on gear when making her album 32:18 Laura explains why she didn’t mix Temple Songs 36:27 Laura talks about the “No Masters” theme of Temple Songs and why she decided not to make that the name of the album 44:41 Laura discusses the upcoming reissued version of the case/lang/veirs album 47:57 Laura talks about her videos and upcoming tour dates Outro music is from “Arc Still Bends” by Laura Veirs. | |||
| Kelley Dugan and Mina Walker of Daisy the Great Discuss Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine | 13 Aug 2026 | 01:06:01 | |
On this episode, Kelley Dugan and Mina Walker of Daisy the Great drop by YMAAA. For their chosen album deep dive, they selected Fiona Apple’s 2005 release Extraordinary Machine. Kelley and Mina talk about their respective musical journeys with the album, from how they individually discovered and got hooked on it to how they collectively take inspiration from Apple’s songwriting and performances. They also chat with Al about their own latest album, The Rubber Teeth Talk with Friends, and why they decided to remake the songs from their 2025 album The Rubber Teeth Talk. You can keep up with Daisy the Great via their website daisythegreat.com, as well as on the following social media accounts. Instagram and Facebook: @daisythegreatband YouTube and TikTok: @daisythegreat Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:18 Kelley and Mina’s introduction 2:08 Mina and Kelley talk about listening to the Jon Brion version of Extraordinary Machine 7:08 Mina and Kelley explain how they chose Extraordinary Machine for this episode 9:55 Mina recounts how she first encountered Extraordinary Machine 13:31 Kelley talks about first discovering Apple early in high school 15:54 Kelley, Mina and Al explore the theatrical side of Apple’s music 17:48 Kelley talks about what makes Extraordinary Machine stand out among Apple’s albums 20:26 Kelley, Mina and Al all view “Tymps” as a standout track 23:17 Mina explains how Apple’s rhythms accentuate her lyrics 24:32 Mina took some lessons about songwriting from the album 28:50 Kelley and Mina discuss the parallels between Apple’s music and their own 33:58 Mina and Kelley consider whether quirkiness is part of Apple’s appeal 37:10 Al was mystified the first time he had ever heard Apple 39:33 Kelley appreciates the tactile quality of Apple’s vocals 42:17 Kelley explains why she decided to go to school for theater 45:00 Kelley and Mina discuss how they came to create Daisy the Great 52:27 Mina and Kelley explain why they remade The Rubber Teeth Talk 1:01:24 Kelley and Mina talk about their upcoming plans Outro music is from “Mary’s at the Carnival (Lutalo remix)” by Daisy the Great. | |||
| Candace Hastings Discusses Adam Carroll, Lookin' Out the Screen Door | 08 Aug 2026 | 01:02:09 | |
Texas-based singer-songwriter Candace Hastings takes us on this week’s album deep dive, as she introduces Al to Adam Carroll’s 2000 album Lookin’ Out the Screen Door. Candace talks about first getting to know Carroll when he was a student in her creative writing class at Tyler Junior College in east Texas, and what it was like to first hear Lookin’ Out the Screen Door. She also talks about what she appreciates most about Carroll’s songwriting and how he helped her to restart her own musical career. Candace also chats with Al about her recently-released album Soft Place to Land, and how Carroll was instrumental to her writing one of the tracks. You can keep up with Candace online in the following places: https://www.candacehastings.com/ https://candacehastings.bandcamp.com/ Instagram and YouTube: @candacehastingsmusic Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:28 Candace’s introduction 2:12 Candace talks about her history with Carroll, beginning with him being a student of hers 6:00 Candace explains why she chose Lookin’ Out the Screen Door for this episode 7:57 Al and Candace discuss how “Sno Cone Man” exemplifies Carroll’s songwriting acumen 11:05 “Race Car Joe” shows a different side of Carroll’s songwriting 14:06 Al talks about the premise of this show 16:08 Candace revisits her first experience with listening to the album 18:23 Candace discusses how Adam helped her to re-launch her music career 23:19 Candace highlights “Screen Door” as a standout track 26:00 Candace pinpoints what she likes about Carroll’s songwriting 29:14 How autobiographical is “Errol’s Song”? 32:49 Candace talks about a special aspect of Carroll’s live shows 34:08 Candace explains why Carroll introduces his songs 36:12 Al appreciates the variety of moods on the album 38:35 Candace talks about how one of Adam’s workshops helped her to write “Come Home” 43:41 Candace discusses the sentiment behind a lyric from “Come Home” 46:12 Candace explains how her songs reflect her feelings of separation and belonging 54:54 Candace talks about her plans for the next several months Outro music is from “Too Damn Hot” by Candace Hastings. | |||
| Johanna Samuels Discusses Sparklehorse, It's a Wonderful Life | 30 Jul 2026 | 01:06:01 | |
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Johanna Samuels joins Al to introduce him to Sparklehorse’s 2001 album It’s a Wonderful Life. Johanna shares the unique circumstance under which she first learned about Sparklehorse, and she explains what makes It’s a Wonderful Life a magical album for her. She and Al also explore two of the music videos that accompanied the release of the album. Johanna talks about her soon-to-be-released fourth album Sorry, Kid (out August 14 on Odd Man Out Records) and the music videos she made for the album’s singles. #johannasamuels #sorrykid #sparklehorse #marklinkous #itsawonderfullife #albumdiscussions There are lots of places to keep up with Johanna and hear her music… https://www.johannasamuels.com/ https://johannasamuels.bandcamp.com/ https://johannasamuels.substack.com/ @johannasamuels on Instagram and YouTube @johannasamuelsmusic on Facebook Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:29 Johanna’s introduction 2:49 Johanna revisits the unusual circumstance that led to her discovery of It’s a Wonderful Life 6:13 Johanna made a connection between Sparklehorse and Elliott Smith 8:50 Johanna recalls the artists who were on her iPod when she first heard Sparklehorse 10:25 Johanna talks about the experience of listening to It’s a Wonderful Life in its entirety 12:55 Johanna interprets the overarching theme of It’s a Wonderful Life 16:50 Johanna and Al make note of Mark Linkous’ frequent references to animals and nature in general 19:35 Johanna and Al talk about the indirectness of Linkous’ lyrics 21:19 “Gold Day” was Johanna’s entry point into the rest of the album 22:21 Johanna digs into some specific lyrics from the album 26:25 Johanna talks about some of the collaborators who appear on It’s a Wonderful Life 28:17 Johanna has bonded with people over Sparklehorse 32:21 Johanna thinks the stranger songs on the album play an important role 37:09 Johanna and Al discuss the video for “King of Nails” 42:36 Johanna and Al discuss the video for “Little Fat Baby” 49:09 Johanna’s final thought on It’s a Wonderful Life 50:10 Johanna and Al talk about the videos she made for Sorry, Kid 55:15 Johanna talks about the history of writing and recording “White Limousine” 57:45 Johanna explains how she recruited collaborators for Sorry, Kid 1:01:19 Johanna discusses her upcoming plans Outro music is from “Full Story” by Johanna Samuels. | |||
| Tomas Rodriguez Discusses Toumani Diabaté, Kaira | 23 Jul 2026 | 00:55:21 | |
On this episode, Brooklyn-based classical guitarist and music educator Tomas Rodriguez introduces Al to Toumani Diabaté’s 1988 album Kaira. Tomas talks about discovering Kaira during a visit to a New York record store and how his eclectic musical upbringing primed him to develop a deep appreciation for this album of Malian kora music. Tomas explains why Kaira is a spiritual album and how it has helped him to stay centered during tumultuous moments. He also discusses how this album influences his own music, and in particular, his latest album Whispered Awakening. To get Tomas’ music, schedule of live dates and more, please visit his website tomasrodriguez.com/. You can also buy or stream his music on Bandcamp at tomasrodriguez.bandcamp.com/. You can follow Tomas on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube at @tomasrodriguezguitar. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:34 Tomas’ introduction 2:18 Tomas recalls when he was first introduced to Kaira and kora music 6:11 Tomas and Al talk about the uniqueness of the kora as an instrument 10:58 Tomas notes how the spirituality of Diabaté’s music drew him in 14:53 It took Al a while to notice the variety across the tracks of the album 17:30 Tomas explains how each track is derived from Malian standards 19:34 Tomas discusses the circularity of Diabaté’s music 22:36 Tomas and Al contrast and compare kora music with blues 24:44 Tomas makes a case for listening to tracks from Kaira as one-offs 26:56 Tomas talks about how Diabaté borrows specific lines from other genres 29:46 Tomas explains how listening to Kaira helps him with his own compositions 30:56 Tomas was influenced by a wide variety of musical genres growing up 33:16 Tomas talks about the tribute to Diabaté he recorded for his new album 40:02 Tomas revisits the lead-up to making Whispered Awakening 43:42 Tomas explains why he founded the Tomas Guitar Studio in Brooklyn and how he uses Kaira in his instruction 48:21 Tomas talks about teaching with Rick Beato’s materials 50:21 Tomas talks about his upcoming shows Outro music is from “Mélancolie” by Tomas Rodriguez. | |||
| Anne Richmond Boston Discusses The Glands (self-titled) | 16 Jul 2026 | 00:46:53 | |
Georgia-based vocalist, songwriter, graphic designer and illustrator Anne Richmond Boston (The Swimming Pool Q’s, solo) visits YMAAA to introduce Al to The Glands’ self-titled album, released in 2000. Anne talks about getting to know The Glands’ late frontman Ross Shaprio in Athens, Georgia, before learning he was in a band and then discovering The Glands’ music. She explains what she loves about the band’s self-titled album and about the band in general, discussing the contributions of Shaprio as well as other members. Anne also talks about her 2025 solo album I Should Be Happy, which was 32 years in the making. You can check out I Should Be Happy on Bandcamp at annerichmondboston.bandcamp.com. Learn more about Anne’s work at annerichmondboston.com. You can also follow her on Instagram at @annerichmondboston. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:32 Anne’s introduction 2:10 Anne explains why she picked The Glands for this episode 3:29 Anne recalls how she met Ross Shapiro and got introduced to the The Glands’ music 8:38 Anne talks about Shapiro’s artwork 10:42 Anne discusses the appeal of the album’s eclecticism 14:02 Anne listens to the album in a variety of settings 14:48 Anne works at spreading the word about The Glands 16:27 Anne has a hard time picking a favorite track 18:31 Anne talks about the Athens music scene past and present 21:01 Anne gives props to the other musicians who were in The Glands 23:33 Anne hears Shapiro’s “heart and soul” in The Glands’ music 25:16 Will Anne and her band cover a Glands song? 26:39 Al talks about the full-band sound on several of the tracks on I Should Be Happy 28:50 Anne discusses the process of making I Should Be Happy and the 32-year delay in releasing it 37:43 Anne talks about putting a band together to tour the new album Outro music is from “I Should Be Happy” by Anne Richmond Boston. | |||
| Bob Bert Discusses No New York (no wave compilation) | 09 Jul 2026 | 00:45:36 | |
Drummer and percussionist Bob Bert (Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore, Jon Spencer and the HITmakers, solo) visits YMAAA to introduce Al to the 1978 no wave compilation No New York. Bob talks about the music he listened to growing up in New Jersey and how he ultimately became immersed in the New York punk and no wave scenes. He details how No New York was an instrumental part of his exposure to no wave and how he eventually collaborated with some of the musicians from the scene, including Lydia Lunch. Bob also discusses his new album, Beach Bongo Bloodbath—the first solo album he has released under his own name. As Bob mentions on this episode, he has several upcoming shows and projects. You can learn more about those and whatever else Bob has coming up on his Instagram account. You can follow him at @therealbobbert. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:13 Bob’s introduction 2:26 Bob talks about the progression of his music listening, leading up to his discovery of no wave 7:35 Bob discusses joining Sonic Youth and meeting Lydia Lunch for the first time 10:15 Bob recalls some of the shows he went to growing up in New Jersey 13:27 Bob talks about the allure of the New York punk scene 17:37 Al shares his reaction to the compilation 20:25 Bob explains why he thinks no wave was accessible for him 21:36 Bob points out how interest in no wave has far outlasted the scene itself 24:06 Bob talks about the no wave scene beyond the compilation 30:22 Bob discusses the album’s ongoing importance to him 32:34 Bob recommends a pair of no wave documentaries 34:41 Bob explains how he came to make Beach Bongo Bloodbath and why he didn’t include guitars 38:18 Bob talks about the show from his recent album release party 40:40 Bob discusses his upcoming shows and projects Outro music is from “Foggy Notion” by Bob Bert. | |||
| Kira Roessler Discusses Bright Eyes, Digital Ash in a Digital Urn | 02 Jul 2026 | 00:56:46 | |
Bassist, songwriter, music producer and film dialogue editor Kira Roessler (Black Flag, dos, solo) introduces Al to Bright Eyes’ 2005 album Digital Ash in a Digital Urn. Kira talks about why this album has been one of her favorites for the last 10 years and explains why she admires Conor Oberst’s musicianship and songwriting in general. She delves into her favorite tracks on the album and explores why Oberst’s highly vulnerable performances are a central reason for why she revisits Digital Ash frequently. Kira also talks about her second and latest solo album Enigma and how her songwriting process shaped the album’s sound. If you want to hear Kira’s album Enigma in its entirety before it gets released on July 10, register for her Bandcamp listening party, which will take place on Tuesday, July 7 at 6pm ET. You can RSVP at kiraroessler.bandcamp.com. Follow Kira and her label Org Music on their socials! @kira_bassplayer on Instagram @kiraroessler on Facebook @orgmusic on Instagram Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:10 Kira’s introduction 2:13 Kira reveals how she first became aware of Bright Eyes 3:08 Kira explains why Digital Ash resonates with her 4:57 Al and Kira share their responses to Oberst’s vocal style 7:50 Oberst’s openness and vulnerability is part of the appeal for Kira 10:31 Al identifies the point where his experience with Digital Ash started to change 12:48 Kira and Al responded differently to “Hit the Switch” 16:01 Kira appreciates Conor’s songwriting and album-making craft 18:47 Coping with addiction is an important theme of Digital Ash 22:02 Kira and Al talk about the one anthemic track on Digital Ash 28:34 Al and Kira make note of the album’s loop-like nature 30:24 Kira addresses a few tracks towards the end of the album 34:27 Kira and Al talk about the Bright Eyes discography 37:32 Kira explains why she recently saw Bright Eyes perform Digital Ash and I’m Wide Awake, despite her dislike of nostalgia 39:57 Kira gives some examples of artists she can get nostalgic about 41:02 Kira talks about her cover of “Drinking and Driving” 43:17 Kira discusses the title track and album closer for Enigma 45:16 Kira explains how she created the spacious sound on Enigma 49:45 Kira talks about her recent singles and upcoming plans Outro music is from “You Will Feel My Pain” by Kira Roessler. | |||
| Caro Kelley Discusses Selected Albums from Her 1000 Albums Project - originally published on Bonus Tracks Patreon | 26 Jun 2026 | 00:43:45 | |
This episode was originally published on the YMAAA Patreon in October 2025. Munich-based soul-pop artist Caro Kelley visits Bonus Tracks to talk about her 1000 Albums project, in which she listened to three albums a day for an entire year. Caro shares why she started the project, and she explains how she determines what rating to give an album. She and Al get into discussions about seven of the albums she has listened to for the project, ranging from the one-star Flood by They Might Be Giants to Frank Ocean’s Blonde, which she gave five stars. To see Caro’s Google sheet, which lists every album she has listened to for the project and their ratings, go to: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lqeY7_ihNEpU-2ngUvmpn8p7FIrIRANCNWFwurbmM8I/edit?gid=0#gid=0 You can learn more about Caro and her music at https://carokelley.com! Also, you can follow her on the following platforms: Instagram and TikTok: @caro_kelley Facebook: @carokelleymusic YouTube: @CaroKelley Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 0:00 Re-introducing Caro 1:09 Caro explains why she decided to undertake her 1000 Albums project 2:33 Caro details the process she used to select the 1000 albums 4:53 Caro explains how she rates the records she listens to 9:04 Why Caro gave her own album five stars 10:57 Caro clarifies the familiarity data from her 1000 Albums spreadsheet Discussion of selected albums (with Caro’s ratings): 13:16 They Might Be Giants, Flood (1 star) 17:18 The Waterboys, This Is The Sea (2 stars) 24:07 Toto, self-titled (3 stars) 26:59 Sleater-Kinney, Dig Me Out (3 stars) 33:32 The Cars, Heartbeat City (4 stars) 36:40 Steve Winwood, Arc of a Diver (4 stars) 38:32 Frank Ocean, Blonde (5 stars) Outro music is from “Guilty Feeling” by Caro Kelley. | |||
| Peter Case Discusses Fred Neil, Sessions | 19 Jun 2026 | 01:07:23 | |
Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Peter Case (solo, The Plimsouls, The Nerves) returns to YMAAA to introduce Al to Fred Neil’s 1968 album Sessions. (Peter was previously on Ep 114 to discuss Bob Dylan’s self-titled debut album.) Peter talks about how he became fascinated with Neil and Sessions during his early teens, and he explains why Neil’s work has not received as much acclaim and appreciation as it deserves. He also discusses how Sessions is a concept album and why it’s not necessary to know about album’s cohesive theme in order to enjoy it. Peter walks through his long history with the Santa Monica venue McCabe’s Guitar Shop and discusses his new live album, My Life to Live, which was recorded there. As Peter mentioned, the best place to follow him is on Instagram. He’s @petercase111. You can also keep up with Peter and his music at petercase.com and petercasemusic.bandcamp.com. Peter talked about the work of Denise Sullivan (his wife), including her book Keep on Pushing. You can find out more about her work on her website, denisesullivan.org. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. As Al mentioned on this episode, excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking! Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:12 Peter’s introduction 2:14 Al explains why he picked Sessions from Peter’s short list 3:29 Peter provides some of the reasons for why Neil didn’t have more of a following despite his accomplishments 6:28 Peter talks about what drew him to Neil’s music during his teen years 11:44 Peter explains how Neil’s music is a synthesis of different genres 14:20 Peter talks about how the album’s emotion comes from its vibe 18:16 Peter discusses how Sessions is a concept album 24:25 Peter talks about the ways that Neil influenced Richie Havens and Bob Dylan (plus a Dave Von Ronk story) 31:22 Peter views Sessions as a late-night listen 33:57 Peter talks about Neil’s Coconut Grove period 35:12 Peter and Al appreciate the loose feel of Sessions 37:44 Peter highlights one aspect of the recording environment that gives Sessions its unique sound 40:06 Peter gave Al some new ways to listen to the album 41:10 Peter talks about Herb Metoyer and his contribution to Sessions 44:28 Peter contrasts Neil’s focus on social issues versus the relative lack thereof in current indie music 47:09 Peter gives Neil kudos for his rhythm guitar skills 48:04 Al makes a comparison between Fred Neil and Joni Mitchell (h/t Jesca Hoop) 49:53 Peter talks about his new live album and his history with McCabe’s Guitar Shop 58:39 Peter shares his upcoming tour and songwriting plans Outro music is from “I Shook His Hand” by Peter Case. | |||
| Robert Margouleff Discusses David Sanborn, As We Speak, and Revisits His Work with Stevie Wonder | 11 Jun 2026 | 01:07:22 | |
Grammy Award-winning producer, engineer, synthesizer programmer, studio owner, film producer and author Robert Margouleff stops by YMAAA to introduce Al to David Sanborn’s 1982 album As We Speak—an album that he produced. Robert talks about how he came to produce the saxophonist’s album and why the album had the novelty of two tracks with vocals by Michael Sembello. Robert and Al covered a wide range of topics, from how drum machines changed the nature of recorded music from the ‘80s forward to the demise of fade-outs to the drawbacks of noise-canceling headphones to the use of AI in music. Robert also discussed his recently-released memoir Shaping Sounds: Stevie Wonder, DEVO, The Synth Revolution and My Life Behind the Music, and he delved into his work with Stevie Wonder (along with his production and engineering partner Malcolm Cecil) during the early- and mid-‘70s. Robert’s website (which links to sites where you can buy his book) and socials: Instagram: @robertmargouleff Facebook: @robert_margouleff Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:41 Robert’s introduction 3:05 Robert talks about the archive of songs that provided tracks for Stevie Wonder’s albums from Music of My Mind to Fulfillingness’ First Finale 6:08 Robert delves into his first foray into digital recording for As We Speak 8:37 Robert points out the novelty of having tracks with vocals on a David Sanborn album 10:13 Robert and Al talk about some of the unquestioned conventions of album-making 12:31 Robert makes the case against noise-canceling headphones (and for cursive handwriting) 15:28 Robert mourns the loss of rubato and “objective listening” in recorded music 19:07 Robert explains why he wanted to record As We Speak as live as possible 20:19 Robert talks about how he came to produce As We Speak 22:48 Robert recalls the recording process for the album 27:08 Robert and Al talk about Michael Sembello’s contributions to As We Speak and why the album didn’t break him out 31:31 Robert talks about the impact of cocaine and drum machines on ‘80s music (plus an aside on crating dogs) 38:13 Robert pinpoints what makes Taylor Swift’s live performances powerful 39:18 Robert explains why he does not fear the use of AI in music 46:03 Robert shares his final thoughts on As We Speak and some observations about recording drums and percussion 51:55 Al sums up his reaction to listening to As We Speak 52:41 Robert explains why Music of My Mind has a joyous, human feel 1:01:16 Al cites one part of Robert’s book that made a big impression on him Outro music is from “Boogie On Reggae Woman” by Stevie Wonder. | |||
| Robert Deeble Discusses Florist, self-titled | 05 Jun 2026 | 01:03:14 | |
Seattle-based singer, songwriter and guitarist Robert Deeble joins Al to get him acquainted with Florist’s 2022 self-titled album. Robert talks about how he got introduced to the album and why he connected with it almost immediately. He also discusses the parallels between the album and some of his own music. Al notes some connections between Florist and Robert’s latest album The Space Between Us, and Robert talks about inspirations and meanings of two of the album’s tracks, “Forest From the Tree” and “Not on Your Team.” As Robert mentioned, you can check out his music and learn more about his work on his website, robertdeeble.com, and on his Bandcamp page, robertdeeble.bandcamp.com. You can also follow Robert on Instagram at @rdeeble. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:32 Robert’s introduction 2:16 Florist are nearly as new to Robert as they are to Al 4:59 Robert talks about some of the artists who have been influential to his music 7:07 Robert revisits his first impressions of the album 10:12 Robert shares his appreciation for music appreciators 11:51 Al found the album’s pacing and sequencing interesting 15:35 Robert talks about connections he’s discovered between his album’s and Florist’s 20:38 One similarity between Robert’s music and Florist’s was particularly notable 26:34 Robert explains what he likes about Florist’s sound and approach 29:05 Robert talks about Emily Sprague as a lyricist 31:15 Robert and Al discuss the healing quality of Florist 36:39 Robert talks about the album’s dreamlike quality 38:06 Al picks out the one track that stood out for him 40:00 Robert makes note of Sprague’s affinity for synths 43:12 Robert and Al sum up their reactions to Florist 44:15 Robert talks about the origins of his song “Forest From the Tree” 47:42 Robert reveals the conceptual layers of “Not on Your Team” 57:50 Robert talks about his upcoming plans Outro music is from “Orphan Song” by Robert Deeble. | |||
| Grace Bennett and Jade Alcantara of Sub*T Discuss Plumtree, Predicts the Future | 29 May 2026 | 01:00:13 | |
Grace Bennett and Jade Alcantara of the Brooklyn-based band Sub*T introduce Al to Plumtree’s 1997 album Predicts the Future (or, as it is alternatively known, Plumtree Predicts the Future). Grace and Jade talk about why the album is an important one for both of them and the influence it has had on their own music. They also discuss favorite tracks from the album and the phenomenon that grew out of the song “Scott Pilgrim.” Grace and Jade talk about the evolution of their friendship and how that led to the formation of Sub*T, and they delve into their recently-released debut album, How My Own Voice Sounds. Here’s where you can learn more about Sub*T… @subtrules on Instagram and YouTube https://subtrules.substack.com/ For information on the June 6 show at AS220 in Providence, go here: https://as220.org/calendar/guppy-subt-stupid-robots. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:39 Introducing Jade and Grace 2:17 Al barely knew what Scott Pilgrim was 3:11 Al had some confusion over the album’s name 4:16 Grace explains why they chose to talk about Predicts the Future 5:17 Grace and Jade talk about their early impressions of Plumtree 9:18 Jade and Grace point out the features of the album they find so appealing 14:20 Jade shares some interesting details about Plumtree’s members 16:38 Grace, Jade and Al talk about some of their favorite tracks from the album 21:20 Jade and Grace discuss how Plumtree’s sound progressed 24:50 Jade brings up some more of her favorite tracks 26:11 Grace and Jade talk about the album’s middle section 27:56 Jade and Grace discuss the phenomenon of “Scott Pilgrim” 36:31 Grace explains the origins of the album title, How My Own Voice Sounds 39:39 Grace reveals how she came up with the title for “Imaginal Cells” 41:33 Grace and Jade discuss how they determine vocal roles on their songs 46:55 Grace and Jade talk about how they became a band 54:14 What’s next for Sub*T? Outro music is from “Mirror Image” by Sub*T. | |||
| Joe Adragna and Mary Beth Melchior Discuss The Monkees, Head (film and soundtrack) - originally published on Bonus Tracks Patreon | 21 May 2026 | 01:13:36 | |
This episode was first published in February 2026 on the You, Me and An Album Bonus Tracks Patreon. Joe Adragna (The Junior League) and Mary Beth Melchior join me for this episode to discuss the Monkees’ film Head, as well as its soundtrack, both released in 1968. We talk about our impressions of the movie, what we liked about the songs from the soundtrack and the ways in which the film and songs were and weren’t a departure for the group. We also discuss why the film, the soundtrack and the Monkees in general have not received more acclaim.’ Joe talks about his new album The Moon Neither Noticed Nor Ignored (out Feb. 6), and Mary Beth delves into her YouTube poetry channel OnThePath88. 0:00 Re-introducing Joe and Mary Beth 1:43 Joe encouraged Mary Beth and Al to watch the Head movie 2:55 Mary Beth explains why she hadn’t yet watched Head 6:10 Joe talks about when he first saw the movie 7:47 Joe and Mary Beth talk about the different way that the Monkees were presented in the film, as opposed to the TV series 14:12 The darkness of the Monkees' new image came more from the story than from the music itself 16:19 Mary Beth talks about the use of “Daddy’s Song” in the film and compares it to “Cuddly Toy” 21:33 Joe and Mary Beth discuss how topical Head was (and still is) 26:44 Joe explains how the movie came together and the degree to which the Monkees were involved 31:56 Joe and Mary Beth talk about how the film exposes the ways the Monkees were trapped in their TV series personas 39:02 Head was a difficult film to market 41:40 Joe relates an encounter he had with Peter Tork regarding the movie 44:18 Can the soundtrack be experienced as separate and distinct from the movie? 46:43 Joe recalls a live performance of “Porpoise Song” that he saw 47:55 Mary Beth ponders the strangeness of being a Monkee after the band’s heyday 48:58 Joe and Mary Beth celebrate the catalog of songs written by the Monkees themselves 54:47 Mary Beth and Joe discuss how Mickey Dolenz continues to build on the Monkees’ legacy 56:31 Is there a scenario where the Monkees could have continued the direction signaled by Head? 59:16 Al is more motivated now to explore more of the Monkees’ discography 1:00:42 Contrary to public perception, the Monkees were real musicians 1:02:20 Could there be another Monkees episode in the future? 1:03:19 Joe talks about his new album The Moon Neither Noticed Nor Ignored 1:06:53 Mary Beth shares the latest developments on her YouTube poetry channel, OnThePath88 Outro music is from “Forget Forget Me Nots” by The Junior League. | |||
| Jesca Hoop Discusses Joni Mitchell, For the Roses | 15 May 2026 | 01:00:25 | |
Manchester-based singer, songwriter and guitarist Jesca Hoop joins Al to introduce him to Joni Mitchell’s 1972 album For the Roses. Jesca talks about how she first discovered For the Roses as well as the earlier albums in Mitchell’s catalog after having minimal exposure to popular artists during much of her childhood. She explains why she connects with this album and why it’s a notable part of Mitchell’s discography. Jesca also discusses her new album Long Wave Home and delves into her experience as the album’s sole producer. You can find Jesca online in each of the following places: @jescahoopster on Instagram @JescaHoopMusic on Facebook @JescaHoop on YouTube Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:28 Jesca’s introduction 2:21 Jesca explains why she chose to talk about For the Roses 5:26 Jesca shares how she first encountered For the Roses and some of the other albums in Mitchell's catalog 8:29 Jesca talks about Mitchell’s progression from her earliest albums to For the Roses 11:49 Jesca explains why the album resonated for her during a lonely period of her life 14:34 Jesca singles out the first track that she felt a connection to 17:03 Jesca identifies a key element that separates Mitchell from many other musicians and songwriters 18:59 Jesca talks about the adventurousness of Mitchell’s poetry on For the Roses 21:35 Jesca discusses the artistry behind Mitchell’s arrangements and pacing 25:53 Did Mitchell make better singles on Court and Spark than on For the Roses? 29:02 Jesca explains why she listened to For the Roses a lot while on tour with Mark Knopfler 32:07 Jesca and Al contrast “For the Roses” with “Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire” 38:44 Jesca notes the recent Record Store Day reissue of For the Roses 39:53 Jesca talks about being the sole producer of Long Wave Home 45:48 Jesca explains some of her lyrical choices for “Designer Citizen” 51:48 Jesca discusses the comforting feel of “Long Wave Home” 55:15 Jesca talks about upcoming plans for The Songs of Joni Mitchell and her solo tour Outro music is from “Big Storm” by Jesca Hoop. | |||
| Ryan Sollee Discusses No Knife, Fire in the City of Automatons | 07 May 2026 | 00:49:25 | |
On this episode, The Builders and The Butchers frontman Ryan Sollee joins Al to introduce him to No Knife’s 1999 album Fire in the City of Automatons. Ryan shares why he chose to talk about this No Knife album for this episode, and he explains what is special to him about this band and this album. He delves into his favorite tracks from Fire in the City of Automatons and talks about the rare encounter he had with another No Knife “mega-fan.” Ryan also talks about the new Builders and The Butchers album, No Tomorrow, the band’s recent performances with the Portland Cello Project and the band’s new board game. Note: The clip of No Knife performing “Minus One” at The Casbah in San Diego in 2009 comes from the YouTube account for Mvideojukebox. Ryan talked about The Builders and The Butchers’ Patreon on this episode. You can check it out and join at https://www.patreon.com/TheBuildersandtheButchers. He also mentioned the band’s Bandcamp page. Find their music there at https://thebuildersandthebutchers.bandcamp.com/. You can also learn more about The Builders and The Butchers at the following places: https://www.thebuildersandthebutchers.com/ @thebuildersandthebutchers on Instagram and Facebook Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Though Al mentioned that he has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum. 1:13 Ryan’s introduction 1:48 Ryan explains why he chose Fire in the City of Automatons and cites some of his other favorite albums 3:51 Ryan revisits his introduction to No Knife, and Al shares his reaction to first hearing them 6:10 Ryan explains what he thinks sets No Knife apart from other emo-adjacent bands 8:51 Ryan shares what he liked about Fire in the City of Automatons right from the first listen 10:30 Al and Ryan really like No Knife’s vocals 11:49 Ryan and Al talk about the No Knife-Mission of Burma connection 14:34 Ryan discusses his favorite tracks from the album 16:55 Al was impressed by the album’s sonic variety 18:41 Ryan found another No Knife superfan while he was on tour 20:03 Ryan and Al try to understand why No Knife didn’t build a larger following 25:18 Ryan recommends another No Knife album 26:09 Ryan gives No Knife’s bassist (Brian Desjean) his props 27:52 Are there connections between No Knife and The Builders and The Butchers? 30:10 Ryan talks about No Tomorrow’s closing track, “A Wall/A Fire” 36:05 Ryan discusses The Builders and The Butchers’ album release shows with the Portland Cello Project 38:37 Ryan talks about the new Builders and The Butchers board game 40:21 Ryan explains how the band commemorated their 20th anniversary 41:28 Ryan discusses how The Builders and The Butchers keep in touch with their fans outside of social media Outro music is from “Mother Mary” by The Builders and The Butchers. | |||
| James Petralli (White Denim) Discusses Stevie Wonder, Music of My Mind | 30 Apr 2026 | 00:41:51 | |
L.A.-based singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer James Petralli of White Denim joins Al for this episode to introduce him to Stevie Wonder’s 1972 album Music of My Mind. James talks about the album’s “value system,” and why it appealed to him so much when he first started listening to the record. He also discusses the ways in which Music of My Mind was a departure from Wonder’s previous work and how it foreshadowed his run of critically- and commercially-successful albums in the ‘70s. James talks about White Denim’s new album 13 and explains how the band’s songwriting process works. You can follow James and White Denim in all of the following places: Instagram and Facebook: @whitedenimmusic YouTube: @whitedenim Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:20 James’ introduction 2:00 There will be a second episode where Music of My Mind will be discussed 2:44 James explains why he likes the “value system” of Music of My Mind 5:38 James and Al talk about how Music of My Mind was a pivotal album for Wonder 6:48 James recalls his initial experiences with the album 8:53 James appreciates the album’s combination of virtuosity and emotional feel 10:23 Al shares what he learned about Bernard Purdie’s involvement with the album, and why he doesn’t appear on it 12:16 James talks about some of the album’s great imperfect moments 15:59 James discusses similarities he hears with other artists’ work (and a disclaimer) 20:13 James explains why Music of My Mind is nostalgic for him 23:30 The songs on Music of My Mind were a precursor to Wonder's future hits 26:04 James recommends one of Wonder’s albums from the ‘80s 30:28 James talks about White Denim’s songwriting process Outro music is from "(God Created) Lock and Key" by White Denim. | |||
| Amelia Fletcher Discusses Girls at Our Best!, Pleasure | 25 Apr 2026 | 00:55:11 | |
On this episode, singer/songwriter/guitarist/economist Amelia Fletcher (Heavenly, Swansea Sound, Catenary Wires, Talulah Gosh) introduces Al to Girls at Our Best’s 1981 album Pleasure. Amelia revisits her teenage fandom of Girls at Our Best!, and she explains why they were—and continue to be—one of her favorite bands. She also talks about how their songwriting style has influenced her approach to writing songs and how that is reflected in Heavenly’s work. Amelia discusses several of the songs on Heavenly’s new album, Highway to Heavenly, and talks about how the recent virality of their 1993 song “P.U.N.K. Girl” contributed to the band’s reuniting. Finally, Amelia explains how balancing her careers as a musician and economist can sometimes be challenging. You can keep up with Amelia, Heavenly and her Skep Wax label in the following places: Instagram @ameliafletcher56, @heavenlyindie, @skepwax Facebook @amelia.fletcher.980, @HeavenlyGroupOfficial Tiktok @heavenlyindie Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:25 Amelia’s introduction 2:30 Amelia explains why she chose Pleasure for this episode 3:57 Amelia recalls how she first got into Girls at Our Best! 8:12 Amelia was not fooled by the band’s name 9:02 Amelia singles out the aspects of the band’s music that initially appealed to her 12:26 Amelia and Al share their observations about the album’s lyrics 17:26 Girls at Our Best! were influential to the sound of Heavenly 18:16 What ever happened to Girls at Our Best!? 23:00 Amelia likes other bands from the Leeds scene 25:29 Amelia and Al talk about their favorite tracks from Pleasure 30:48 Al noticed the connection between the songwriting style on Pleasure and on Highway to Heavenly 32:03 Is “Portland Town” based on Amelia’s experience? 34:20 Amelia talks about the real-life events she wrote about in “The Last Day” 38:11 The songs on Highway to Heavenly cover a wide range of moods 40:18 Amelia discusses Heavenly’s tour plans 41:30 Amelia explains why Heavenly decided to return to touring and recording 45:10 Amelia talks about her dual careers in music and economics Outro music is from “Deflicted” by Heavenly. | |||
| Matt Smith Discusses Songwriting in Politically Charged Times, Writing about Grief and More | 17 Apr 2026 | 00:39:36 | |
Austin-based producer, engineer, singer-songwriter and educator Matt Smith joins Al for the second part of their conversation. (You can hear the first part, in which they discuss Robert Plant’s Mighty ReArranger, on the previous episode.) This time around, Matt talks about the features of music that he enjoys listening to, his approach as a music producer and what he aimed to achieve as a songwriter on his latest album …this is not okay… Learn more about Matt and his work at https://www.mattsmithsworld.net/. You can also get information on Matt’s studio and music school, Six String Ranch, in the following places. Website: https://6stringranch.com/ Facebook: @6stringranch YouTube: @6stringranch148 Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:00 Matt shares what he looks for in the music he listens to 3:44 Matt talks about his approach to producing music at his studio 9:57 Matt explains how the focus of his songwriting has changed over time 13:18 Matt talks about how his last three albums reflect his feelings about the political climate over the last decade 23:28 Matt also wrote about the loss of his parents on …this is not okay… 29:52 Matt explains why he consciously tempered the angry tone of the album 33:46 Matt talks about his various educational forums Outro music is from “Bad Man” by Matt Smith. | |||
| Matt Smith Discusses Robert Plant, Mighty ReArranger | 10 Apr 2026 | 00:52:25 | |
Austin-based producer, engineer, singer-songwriter and educator Matt Smith joins Al to talk about Robert Plant’s 2005 album, Mighty ReArranger. Matt discusses why he chose this album for his short list of albums to talk about, and Al explains why he picked Mighty ReArranger from the albums on Matt’s list. Matt talks about the elements that make this album a high point in Plant’s solo discography and the role that members of Portishead played in making the album. Learn more about Matt and his work at https://www.mattsmithsworld.net/. You can also get information on Matt’s studio and music school, Six String Ranch, in the following places. Website: https://6stringranch.com/ Facebook: @6stringranch YouTube: @6stringranch148 Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 2:35 Matt’s introduction 4:09 Matt and Al talk about how they arrived at deciding to talk about Mighty ReArranger 10:26 Matt explains how Plant incorporated elements of world music into the songs on the album 14:13 Matt makes note of the parts of the album that harken back to Led Zeppelin 18:36 Matt and Al talk about the challenges Plant faced when he began his solo career 23:04 Matt has a theory about why Plant was able to reach new heights as a solo artist on Mighty ReArranger 28:34 Matt discusses how he borrows from music that he admires 33:31 Matt compares the arcs of Plant’s and Jimmy Page’s solo careers 35:02 Matt breaks down various sections of “The Enchanter” 39:31 Matt talks about “Freedom Fries” and the counting trick he learned from Trey Anastasio 42:25 Matt discusses the origins of the guitar pattern and rhythm on “Mighty ReArranger” 46:51 Matt talks about the lengths to which he geeks out on musical analysis Outro music is from “World Is a Wheel” by Matt Smith. | |||
| 225. Ben Vaughn Discusses Alex Chilton, Like Flies on Sherbert | 26 Mar 2026 | 01:05:48 | |
Singer, songwriter, musician, producer, TV and film composer, radio show host and podcaster Ben Vaughn drops by to introduce Al to Alex Chilton’s 1979 debut solo album Like Flies on Sherbert. Ben talks about the negative impression he got the first time he was exposed to Chilton, when he appeared on a local 1960s television show in Philadelphia, and how he eventually became a fan, friend and collaborator of Chilton’s. He explains why he thinks Like Flies on Sherbert is Chilton’s best album, digging into several of the album’s tracks and discussing the circumstances under which the album was recorded. Ben also talks about his recently-launched podcast Straight From The Hat, as well as his upcoming album with Deer Tick. Follow Ben on Instagram! He’s at @benvaughnmusic. You can also learn more about Ben and his work on his website https://benvaughn.org/. Ben also mentioned that Straight From The Hat has a website. Check out episodes and the extra goodies that Ben talked about at straightfromthehat.com. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first eight episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:48 Ben’s introduction 3:00 Ben revisits his earliest memories of Chilton 6:59 Ben shares the story of how he got introduced to Big Star 9:27 Ben explains how he first heard Like Flies on Sherbert 14:43 Ben talks about the circumstances under which Like Flies on Sherbert was made, as he learned from Chilton himself 18:09 Ben discusses the eclecticism of the album 21:06 Al talks about the album’s different versions 23:33 Al shares his reaction to the album 25:17 Ben talks about the musicians who played on Like Flies on Sherbert and the challenges they must have faced 27:48 Ben discusses the mysterious quality of the title track 30:10 Ben and Al talk about how the album feels unfinished 32:10 Ben explains why he thinks the album resonated with him 33:38 Ben talks about how he became friends with Chilton and how he and Chilton wound up working with Alan Vega 43:12 Chilton’s music used to be hard to find 49:53 Ben discusses the origins of his new podcast Straight From The Hat 57:21 Ben shares news of an upcoming release with Deer Tick Outro music is from “Magdalena ’94 (live)” by Ben Vaughn. | |||
| 224. Hannah Frances Discusses Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel... | 20 Mar 2026 | 01:09:05 | |
Vermont-based singer, composer, guitarist, dancer and poet Hannah Frances joins Al to introduce him to Fiona Apple’s 2012 album The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (aka The Idler Wheel…). Hannah talks about her earliest experiences with listening to The Idler Wheel… and why the album made such an impression on her. She and Al delve into several of the album’s tracks, and they highlight what they enjoy about Apple’s lyrics, vocal delivery and instrumentation in general. Hannah also discusses her most recent album Nested in Tangles as well as her recent and upcoming shows and projects, including her Landscapes of Song workshop. Correction: Al made an incorrect reference to Hannah's album Nested in Tangles as Nestled in Tangles. To find Hannah’s music, videos, merch and more, visit her website https://hannahfrancesmusic.com/. As mentioned on this episode, you will also be able to purchase the on-demand version of Hannah’s Landscapes of Song songwriting workshop via her website soon. You can follow Hannah on Instagram and Substack at @hannahfracesmusic. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first eight episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 2:02 Hannah’s introduction 2:38 Does Vermont need a new state seal? 3:17 Hannah talks about how she got introduced to The Idler Wheel… 5:53 Hannah explains why she chose to discuss The Idler Wheel… 8:27 Hannah discusses the personal loss that changed her music listening 13:27 Hannah revisits one of the first times she had listened to the album 17:01 Hannah explains why she thinks Apple’s anger is part of what makes The Idler Wheel… an important album 20:33 Hannah and Al find Apple’s lyrical directness appealing 23:10 Hannah explains why she needs to hear the album in full Discussion of specific tracks: 23:59 Daredevil/Valentine 27:09 Werewolf 30:20 Periphery 31:58 Regret 34:05 Hannah contrasts Apple’s approach on The Idler Wheel… to Fetch the Bolt Cutters and Extraordinary Machine 37:06 Al and Hannah comment on the variety in the use of percussion across the tracks on The Idler Wheel… 42:07 Hannah sums up what she loves about The Idler Wheel… 42:57 Hannah talks about the sonic and lyrical landscapes of Nested in Tangles 46:08 Hannah explains how she consciously wanted to defy genre labels 51:10 Hannah talks about how Joni Mitchell is an inspiration for her 54:38 Hannah discusses how her love of progressive rock impacts her own music 56:47 Hannah shares her upcoming plans for live and recorded music 1:00:43 Hannah talks about her recent songwriting workshop Outro music is from “Falling From and Further” by Hannah Frances. | |||
| 223. Ásgeir Discusses Atoms for Peace, Amok | 13 Mar 2026 | 00:42:51 | |
On this episode, Icelandic singer-songwriter Ásgeir introduces Al to the 2013 album Amok by the supergroup/Radiohead spinoff Atoms for Peace. Ásgeir talks about how he got acquainted with the album and why he and his bandmates had it on repeat during their 2013 tour. While Ásgeir highlights particular tracks that are his favorites, he explains how he experiences the album as a cohesive whole. Ásgeir also talks about his new album Julia, his upcoming Icelandic-language album and his tour plans. Keep up with Ásgeir on Instagram at @asgeirmusic! You can also find Ásgeir’s tour dates, music and more on his website, https://www.asgeirmusic.com/. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first eight episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:25 Ásgeir’s introduction 2;01 Al knew very little about Atoms for Peace before researching the album 3:16 Ásgeir explains why he chose to discuss Amok 4:03 Ásgeir cites some other artists he considered talking about on this episode 5:21 Ásgeir explains how he discovered Amok 8:16 Ásgeir talks about how the album is both immediate and nuanced 12:04 Ásgeir and Al both experience the album as more of a “vibe” than a collection of distinctive songs 16:37 Listening to Amok helped Ásgeir to take his own music into a more electronic direction 17:46 Ásgeir and his bandmates had a special motivation for having Amok on repeat 22:05 Al and Ásgeir enjoy what the rhythm section brings to the band’s sound 24:02 Ásgeir and Al both view “Ingenue” as a highlight 26:00 Ásgeir doesn’t listen to Amok nearly as often lately 29:08 Ásgeir acknowledges the Radiohead/Atoms for Peace influence on “Sugar Clouds” 31;34 Ásgeir talks about writing all of the lyrics for the songs on Julia 32:30 Ásgeir discusses the challenges of writing songs in two languages 34:28 Does Ásgeir have any upcoming collaborations? 35:34 Ásgeir talks about the success he has had in Australia 36:46 Ásgeir discusses his upcoming tour Outro music is from “Ferris Wheel” by Ásgeir. | |||
| 222. Olivia Barton Discusses Mount Eerie, A Crow Looked at Me | 05 Mar 2026 | 00:56:02 | |
On this episode, Nashville-based singer, songwriter and guitarist Olivia Barton introduces Al to Mount Eerie’s 2017 album A Crow Looked at Me. Olivia talks about why she chose this album to discuss, even though she hasn’t listened to it very often, and she explains why she considers this a life-changing album. She also highlights some of the most impactful lyrics and musical elements from the album. Olivia discusses her latest album For Myself and For You, as well as the .m4a version of the album she released in January. Correction: Al referred to Olivia’s song “The Hardest Thing” as “The Hardest Part.” To keep up with Olivia’s tour plans and much, much more, be sure to give her a follow on Instagram at @oliviabartonhaha. She has the same handle on TikTok and YouTube. You can also find tour information and merch on Olivia’s website, https://oliviabartonhaha.com/. Also, you can explore and buy Olivia’s music on Bandcamp at https://oliviabarton.bandcamp.com/. Olivia mentioned her collaboration with Lizzie McAlpine, “Learn Something,” which is now available on Bandcamp. All proceeds go to the Immigrant Rapid Response Fund in Minnesota. Check it out here: https://lizzymcalpine.bandcamp.com/track/learn-something. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first eight episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum 1:19 Olivia’s introduction 2:42 A Crow Looked at Me was an obvious choice for Olivia, even though she had listened to it only three times 5:30 Olivia recalls the part of the album that first made a big impression on her 10:22 Olivia and Al talk about some of the mundane details Phil Elverum sings about and the emotional impact they felt 14:24 Al and Olivia interpret some of the lyrics from “Emptiness Pt. 2” 17:40 Olivia explains how Elverum’s vocal style adds to the album’s emotional impact 18:50 Al and Olivia discuss Elverum’s unconventional use of noises in the recording 21:13 Olivia talks about the directness of Elverum’s lyrics 26:43 Olivia notes the album’s lack of hooks 28:16 Al and Olivia talk about the slight change in tone in the album’s last two tracks 36:51 Olivia discusses Elverum’s symbolic use of the crow 40:47 Listening to A Crow Looked at Me made Olivia think about stream counts 42:59 Olivia talks about her own emotionally difficult songs 45:27 Olivia mentions the other album she could have chosen for this episode 47:26 Olivia discusses the .m4a version of For Myself and For You 50:30 Olivia shares her upcoming tour plans Outro music is from “Kissing in Public” by Olivia Barton. | |||
| 221. Alan Williams Discusses Carla Bley and Paul Haines, Escalator over the Hill | 20 Feb 2026 | 01:14:21 | |
Musician, songwriter, producer, engineer and ethnomusicologist Alan Williams (solo, Birdsong at Morning, Knots and Crosses) joins Al to talk about Carla Bley and Paul Haines’ 1971 album Escalator over the Hill. Alan discusses why he decided to explore EOTH during his high school years, what his favorite parts of the album are, why it has stuck with him over the years and how much he actually likes the album. Alan explores the challenges the album presents to the genrefication of music and talks about several of the artists involved, including Linda Ronstadt, Jack Bruce and Charlie Haden. He also shares details about the making of his soon-to-be-released solo album Floating on the Dreamline (out on March 6) and his experiences with directing the Album Ensembles at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, where he is a Professor of Music. You can watch videos of the Album Ensembles’ live performances from Alan’s website: You can follow Alan on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube at @alanwilliamsevidence. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first seven episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum 1:16 Alan’s introduction 2:27 Alan explains why he got interested in Escalator over the Hill 3:55 Alan describes his initial experience with listening to the album 7:17 Alan and Al talk about the album’s lack of a story 11:01 Alan talks about the blending of the jazz and rock worlds on EOTH 16:29 Alan explains why EOTH made a big impact on him 19:47 Is it best to listen to all six sides of the album all the way through? 22:24 Alan picks out some of his favorite parts of the album 27:27 Linda Ronstadt’s involvement with this album puts the rest of her career in perspective 30:53 Alan is impressed that Bley got the project completed in spite of the obstacles 32:50 Bley continued to collaborate with rock musicians after EOTH 34:38 Does Alan actually like EOTH? 39:45 Alan explains why he finds EOTH inspirational 42:45 Alan recounts a personal encounter he had related to EOTH 44:20 Alan talks about artists who influenced the sound of Floating on the Dreamline 47:49 Alan discusses how “Feel No Pain” came together 51:16 Al hears FOTD as sonically cohesive 53:06 Alan talks about his students’ eclectic musical tastes 53:56 Alan discusses the Album Ensembles at University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1:06:37 Alan talks about his imminent retirement and upcoming events Outro music is from “Before My Eyes” by Alan Williams. | |||
| 220. Will Epstein Discusses Lou Reed, The Blue Mask | 11 Feb 2026 | 00:58:46 | |
Woodstock, NY-based composer and musician Will Epstein joins Al to introduce him to Lou Reed’s 1982 album The Blue Mask. Will talks about when he first got acquainted with the Velvet Underground and how he eventually started listening to Reed’s solo material and The Blue Mask specifically. He breaks down several of the album’s tracks, illustrating what impresses him about Reed as a songwriter and performer. Will also discusses his recently-released album Yeah, mostly and talks about his upcoming plans. You can follow Will on Instagram at @willcrushwater and find his music on Bandcamp at https://willepstein.bandcamp.com/. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first seven episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum 1:15 Will's introduction 1:55 Will talks about how he first got interested in the Velvet Underground and Lou Reed 5:24 Will explains why The Blue Mask impressed him when he first explored it 13:04 Al and Will discuss the album’s track sequencing 16:35 Will explains how “My House” inspires him 20:44 Will discusses the contradictions of “Women” and “Underneath the Bottle” 24:36 Will sees Reed as being connected to Larry David 26:50 Al is impressed by the fluidity of the moods on The Blue Mask 28:03 Will hears contradictions in “Waves of Fear,” too 32:15 Will talks about how listening to The Blue Mask had an impact on the making of Yeah, mostly 40:25 Will explains why he name-checked Reed in “Socks in LA” 42:23 Will revisits some of the times he saw Reed perform 44:07 Did Will channel Reed on “Dishwasher”? 49:03 Will explains why he chose Yeah, mostly as the album title 53:12 Will talks about his plans for the coming months Outro music is from “Brideshead Revisited Revisited” by Will Epstein. | |||
| 219. I Get So Emotional: What Makes These Sad Songs Sad? with Mary Beth Melchior | 29 Jan 2026 | 01:00:51 | |
This is an excerpt from the first-ever Patreon-only episode of You, Me and An Album, aka Bonus Tracks. On the original version of this episode, Mary Beth and Al Melchior discuss four songs, two that Mary Beth experiences as sad and two that Al experiences as sad. Al's choices were “Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)" by James and “Murmurations” by Amy Millan. Mary Beth’s were “Remember My Name” by Sons of Legion and “Hallelujah” by k.d. lang (specifically, her performance of the song at the 2005 Juno Awards). This excerpted version features the discussions of "Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)" and "Hallelujah." Mary Beth and Al wound up having very different reactions to each of the songs, and they try to figure out why each song made one of them sad but not the other. To hear k.d. lang's Juno Awards performance of "Hallelujah," you can find it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_NpxTWbovE&list=RDP_NpxTWbovE&start_radio=1. Mary Beth has a wonderful poetry channel on YouTube! Check it out and subscribe at https://www.youtube.com/@OnThePath88. You can also follow Mary Beth on Instagram at @mbmelchior. To hear the full version of this episode, plus all of the other Bonus Tracks episodes, join the YMAAA Patreon at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:47 What to expect from Bonus Tracks 4:38 Mary Beth joins the show 5:57 The theme of this episode was Mary Beth’s idea 7:05 Mary Beth and Al deal with sadness in music very differently Discussion of specific sad songs 8:37 James, “Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)" 29:36 k.d. lang, “Hallelujah” 45:10 Other versions of “Hallelujah” 48:39 Mary Beth helps Al to understand why he doesn’t get “Hallelujah” 58:15 Mary Beth’s final thoughts about comparing reactions to the songs | |||
| 218. Storey Littleton Discusses Madi Diaz, History of a Feeling | 21 Jan 2026 | 00:58:36 | |
Woodstock, NY-based singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist Storey Littleton joins Al to talk about Madi Diaz’s 2021 album History of a Feeling. Storey explains why she chose to discuss this album, even though she doesn’t always listen to it regularly, and she highlights certain tracks that are among her favorites. She also talks about how the album is a departure from the breakup albums that she used to listen to. Storey and Al chat about Storey’s soon-to-be-released debut album At a Diner (Feb. 6 on Don Giovanni Records), and Storey goes into detail about how the writing and recording process for her recent single “January” developed. You can pre-order At a Diner from Storey’s website, and while you’re there, you can also check out her videos, tour dates and more. Just go to https://storeylittleton.com/. Also, you can follow Storey and her bands on the following platforms… Storey: @storeylittletn on Instagram @storeylittleton on YouTube Monogamy: @m0nogamy on Instagram Ida: @talesofbraveida on Instagram Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first six episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum 1:33 Storey’s introduction 2:17 Storey chose History of a Feeling, even though she doesn’t always listen to it frequently 6:25 Storey’s mother was instrumental in her discovery of this album 9:01 Storey explains why she has such a strong affinity for the album 10:40 Storey talks about her most recent experience with listening to History of a Feeling 16:57 Al explains why he listened to the album backwards 20:27 Storey expounds on the indirectness of some of Diaz’s lyrics 21:54 Storey found listening to History of a Feeling to be a shocking experience 27:49 Al talks about a lyric that stood out for him 30:07 Storey and Al take note of the harmonies on “Do It Now’ 30:49 Storey explains why “Man in Me” is one of her favorite songs on the album 35:39 History of a Feeling was a gateway to other music for Storey 37:51 Storey talks about a couple of other tracks that are among her favorites 40:33 Storey mentions the various drummers who performed on At a Diner 42:33 Storey discusses her parents’ contributions to At a Diner 43:27 Storey talks about the development of “January” 51:11 Why does Storey like playing at Tubby’s? 53:13 What’s next for Storey? Outro music is from “At a Diner” by Storey Littleton. | |||
| 217. Exploring Unfamiliar Albums with Fretted Dulcimer Player Sam Edelston | 15 Jan 2026 | 00:48:42 | |
This is an excerpt from a Bonus Tracks episode published on the You, Me and An Album Patreon on Sept. 25, 2025. You can hear the entire episode, plus all of the other Bonus Tracks episodes, by joining the YMAAA Patreon at patreon.com/youmealbum. Dulcimer player Sam Edelston joins Al to talk about listening to albums that are off the beaten path. Whether we're listening to genres we're unfamiliar with or music that we come across unexpectedly, finding the key that allows us to enjoy that music can be a challenge. Sam and Al talk about their experiences with listening to albums on a list that Sam created, which features artists ranging from Tom Lehrer to Bobby Bare to Kazuhito Yamashita. Sam also discusses how he has discovered and reimagined music through the fretted dulcimer—and he and Al chat about his terrific dulcimer rock album Making Waves. You can keep up with Sam and his music at the following places: https://www.samthemusicman.com/ @contemporarydulcimer on Instagram and YouTube @Sam.Edelston.Music on Facebook Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 0:17 Introduction: Sharing excerpts from Bonus Tracks 2:55 Sam joins the show 3:08 Al explains how he is approaching this episode 4:36 Sam talks about why he took up fretted dulcimer 7:44 “Mellow Yellow” got Sam started on his exploration of rock songs on dulcimer 9:20 Sam talks about the advantages of playing a three-stringed instrument 11:49 Sam explains how he varies some of the arrangements on his cover songs 16:09 Sam aims to take the integration of dulcimer into rock music to another level 19:33 Al didn’t connect with some of the music on Sam’s list 24:02 Sam found each of the albums on his list in unexpected ways 28:03 Hearing a cappella versions of songs sometimes gets Sam to explore the originals 35:49 Sometimes record store recommendations fill in the gaps that radio listening leaves 37:05 Al highlights some of the music from Sam’s list that he liked the most 39:09 Arranging songs for dulcimer enhances Sam’s enjoyment of songs that are new to him Outro music is from “Wild Horses” by Edelston & Dulcimer. | |||
| 216. Maia Sharp Discusses Lord Huron, Vide Noir | 09 Jan 2026 | 01:03:09 | |
On this episode, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Maia Sharp gets Al acquainted with Lord Huron’s 2018 album Vide Noir. (Maia was previously a guest on Ep 124, when she and Al talked about Historian by Lucy Dacus.) Maia explains why Vide Noir is on heavy rotation at her home and how this album—and Lord Huron’s music more generally—has informed her own songwriting. She also discusses the making of her latest album Tomboy, delving into some of the lyrical themes, arrangements and songwriting processes. Learn more about Maia and her music at https://www.maiasharp.com/! To hear exclusive songs, previews and much more, check out Maia’s Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/maiasharp. You can also follow Maia on Instagram at @maiasharpmusic and on Facebook at @maiasharpofficial. At the end of this episode, Al mentioned the song that Maia co-wrote as part of the Songwriting With Soldiers program. To learn more about the making of “Strumming Hand,” see the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDhW4szERds. To learn more about Songwriting With Soldiers, visit their website at https://songwritingwithsoldiers.org/. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first six episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum 1:19 Maia’s introduction 2:19 Al had heard of Lord Huron before…barely 6:03 Maia explains why she picked Vide Noir for this episode 11:02 Maia talks about songwriting lessons she has learned from Lord Huron 16:04 Al and Maia compare the experiences of listening to Lord Huron and Bon Iver 21:20 Al and Maia talk about the lack of action in Ben Schneider’s story 24:51 Maia loves the slackness of the drums on Vide Noir 30:16 Why doesn’t Maia usually like music that sounds theatrical? 32:18 Maia and Al note the album’s blend of retro and futuristic sounds 34:21 Maia appreciates how listening to Vide Noir is a full experience 39:04 There’s not much suspense as to how the protagonist’s story is going to end 40:13 Maia took a different approach to listening to Vide Noir in preparing for this episode 43:13 Maia talks about the use of percussion on Tomboy 48:08 Maia recounts the process of writing “Better Story” with Matthew Perryman Jones 52:30 Maia talks about her upcoming plans Outro is from “Strumming Hand” by Maia Sharp. | |||
| 215. Scott Dudelson Discusses Dillard & Clark, The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark | 26 Dec 2025 | 00:47:40 | |
For the final YMAAA episode of 2025, music photographer, podcaster, entrepreneur and record collector Scott Dudelson introduces Al to Dillard & Clark’s 1968 debut album The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark. Scott talks about how he first encountered the album, why it had special significance for him during an important time in his life and why it continues to be a favorite album of his. He also discusses how bluegrass legend Doug Dillard and rock icon Gene Clark became a duo and how Bernie Leadon came to be an important contributor to their work. Scott also talks about his Legends podcast, his work as a music photographer and rebuilding his substantial record collection after losing his home in the Palisades Fire. You can check out Scott’s interviews on his @alldayvinyl YouTube channel or at the home for his Legends podcast, https://musiclegendspodcast.com/. Scott mentioned his Instagram account, and you can follow him there at @alldayvinyl. He also has an IG account for his photography at @photos_by_the_dude. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first five episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum 1:15 Scott’s introduction 2:08 Scott explains why he picked this Dillard & Clark album for this episode 3:40 Learning about Dillard & Clark helped both Scott and Al to better see the connections between country and rock 5:24 Scott revisits his experience of buying The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark 9:08 Scott recalls what impressed him about the album initially 10:33 Scott talks about Bernie Leadon’s role on the album 13:10 Scott discusses some of the details regarding the album that he learned from interviewing Leadon 17:21 Scott explains why this album resonates for him personally 22:35 Scott spotlights the songs that stand out for him 25:58 “Train Leaves Here This Morning” sent Al on a musical exploration 27:44 "The Radio Song” reminded Scott and Al of other songs 30:41 The Dillard & Clark album inspired Scott to explore other music 33:35 Scott talks about starting All Day Vinyl and interviewing Leadon 35:30 Scott discusses the process of rebuilding his record collection with help from donations 39:44 Scott doesn’t just listen to music on vinyl 41:33 Scott mentions some interviews he has done for his Legends podcast 43:02 Scott explains how he got started as a music photographer | |||
| 214. Madison Cunningham Discusses Silver Apples, self-titled | 10 Dec 2025 | 01:04:56 | |
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter-guitarist Madison Cunningham joins Al to introduce him to the 1968 debut album by Silver Apples, Madison talks about how she became acquainted with the album, the unusual way the album was made and why it has become a meaningful album for her personally. She and Al highlight their favorite tracks and discuss how they relate to the album’s lyrics. Madison also discusses the making of her latest album, Ace, and the process of selecting its three singles. For Madison’s tour info, merch, newsletter and more, go to her website at https://www.madisoncunningham.com/. You can also follow Madison on the following platforms: Instagram: @madicunningham Facebook: @madisoncunninghammusic Tiktok: @madisoncunningham_ YouTube: @madisoncunningham Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first five episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum 1:26 Madison’s introduction 2:21 Madison explains what makes Silver Apples special for her 4:49 Madison shares how she first discovered this album 5:52 Madison talks about her initial experiences with listening to the album 9:08 Al describes his listening experience 11:35 Madison got some songwriting insights from listening to Silver Apples 13:39 Sliver Apples reminded Al of another artist covered on YMAAA 16:19 Madison and Al talk about the surprisingly human quality of the music, even though it’s electronic 19:09 Madison talks about Silver Apples' performance in Central Park for the moon landing 21:29 Madison recounts how Silver Apples disbanded after the release of their second album 23:57 Al explains why he finds “Oscillations” amusing 25:51 Madison and Al discuss their favorite tracks from the album 31:07 “Dancing Gods” left both Madison and Al confused 34:09 Madison appreciates Danny Taylor’s approach to drumming 36:39 Madison talks about her reactions to the album’s lyrics 41:52 Madison sees bands like Silver Apples as an antidote to the negative side of the singer-songwriter scene 43:46 Is there a common link between Silver Apples and Madison’s work? 47:36 Madison talks about her mindset during the time of making Ace 50:58 Do the singles from Ace feel like singles? 54:51 Madison explains why she recorded new live versions of songs for music videos 59:28 Madison talks about her upcoming tour and plugs one of her favorite albums of 2025 Outro music is from “Goodwill” by Madison Cunningham | |||
| 213. Jack Cooper Discusses Michael Head Introducing The Strands, The Magical World of the Strands | 01 Dec 2025 | 00:59:15 | |
On this episode, UK-based guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Jack Cooper of Modern Nature introduces Al to the 1997 Michael Head Introducing The Strands album The Magical World of the Strands. Jack talks about how and when he first learned about Head’s work and how he eventually became familiar with The Magical World of the Strands. He explains why he thinks this particular album stands out in Head’s discography and why it has a timeless quality. Jack also discusses Modern Nature’s latest album, The Heat Warps, and the ways in which it is a departure from the band’s prior releases. To learn more about Modern Nature, their music and tour schedule, visit their website at modernnature.band. Also, you can follow the band on Instagram at @m0dernnature and on Facebook at @modernnatureuk. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first four episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:18 Jack’s introduction 2:11 Jack was first introduced to Head’s music through Shack 6:58 Head’s music was never heavily marketed 8:54 Jack recalls how he wound up exploring The Magical World of the Strands 15:06 Jack explains what makes The Magical World of the Strands stand out among Head’s albums 17:32 Al shares his initial reactions to the album 20:33 Jack theorizes how Head and the Strands were able to make an album that sounded like it was from a different time 23:02 Jack and Al talk about the album’s “horizontal” nature 25:42 Al discusses the circumstance in which he did most of his listening to the album 27:49 Jack is a fan of Head’s more recent work with the Red Elastic Band 33:33 Jack shares his final thoughts about the album 36:13 Al sees a link between a comment made by Miki Berenyi and the themes on The Heat Warps 38:45 Jack talks about his perception of the U.S. based on his tour experiences 41:16 Jack stresses the importance of artists showing solidarity with those who resist the rise of fascism 43:37 Al explains why he finds The Heat Warps to be a rewarding listen 45:16 Jack talks about the importance of making albums sound cohesive 48:39 Jack explains why he referenced a line from “Stairway to Heaven” in “Jetty” 54:54 Jack shares the upcoming plans for Modern Nature Outro music is from “Pharaoh” by Modern Nature. | |||
| 212. Wreckless Eric Discusses Tom Petty, Full Moon Fever | 19 Nov 2025 | 01:38:31 | |
On this episode, English alternative rock singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and engineer Wreckless Eric talks to Al about Tom Petty’s 1989 multi-Platinum solo debut Full Moon Fever. Eric explains how he was belatedly introduced to the album, and what he loves and doesn’t love about it. He also makes the case for Full Moon Fever being the original Dad Rock album. Eric talks about his new solo album, England Screaming, which is a remaking of A Roomful of Monkeys, the lone album released by his mid-‘80s project Captains of Industry. You can find all things Wreckless Eric-related on his website, wrecklesseric.com. You can also follow Eric on Instagram at @thewrecklesseric. For Eric’s videos, check out his YouTube channel at @wrecklessericericgoulden6001. You can buy or stream England Screaming—and some of Eric’s other work—on Bandcamp at https://wrecklesseric.bandcamp.com/. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first four episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:25 Eric’s introduction 2:11 Eric explains why he chose Full Moon Fever for this episode 5:10 Eric talks about the homemade nature of the Full Moon Fever recording 9:24 Eric was not listening to Petty around the time that Full Moon Fever came out 12:47 Eric recalls what impressed him about the album when he first listened to it 15:28 Eric talks about the unique way the drums were recorded 20:40 Eric thinks Full Moon Fever could be the first Dad Rock album 28:06 Does “Free Fallin’” fit the theme of the album? 33:52 Eric explains how the bright acoustic guitar sound was created on “Free Fallin’” 36:41 Eric recalls an encounter with producer Denny Cordell 41:17 Eric has a theory for why Petty included a cover of “Feel a Whole Lot Better” on the album 45:28 Eric talks about how Full Moon Fever was initially going to have fewer tracks 47:28 Al didn’t realize Full Moon Fever preceded The Traveling Wilburys 49:16 Eric explains why the album wasn’t called Songs from the Garage 52:32 Eric discusses what makes Full Moon Fever a complicated listening experience for him 1:04:17 Eric and Al talk about features of “Runnin’ Down a Dream” they like 1:07:14 Eric recommends that the “haters” listen to the whole album 1:08:13 Eric explains why he remade A Roomful of Monkeys as England Screaming 1:14:33 Eric talks about recording England Screaming with drummer Sam Shepherd 1:21:43 Eric extols the virtues of playing slow 1:25:09 Eric explains why A Roomful of Monkeys didn’t turn out the way he envisioned 1:28:09 Eric talks about his upcoming live events 1:29:29 Eric discusses the importance of the arts Outro music is from “Land Of The Faint At Heart” by Wreckless Eric. | |||
| 211. Emma Swift Discusses Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago (see notes re: TW) | 07 Nov 2025 | 01:16:48 | |
On this episode, Nashville-based, Australian-born singer-songwriter Emma Swift introduces Al to Bon Iver’s 2007 album For Emma, Forever Ago. Emma talks about how she first learned about Bon Iver and this particular album as a DJ in Sydney. She explains what drew her to Justin Vernon’s music and what set him apart from other indie artists of the late 2000s. Emma also highlights some of her favorite aspects and moments from For Emma, Forever Ago. She and Al wind up by discussing her latest album, The Resurrection Game, how it came to have its full, cinematic sound, and what she has planned for the months ahead. TRIGGER WARNING: At 44:47, Emma makes a brief reference to suicidal ideation. Skip ahead to 45:14 to resume with the next topic. Correction: Al says that For Emma, Forever Ago was Justin Vernon’s solo debut. However, prior to that album, Vernon had made two albums under his own name and one as “JD Vernon.” There is no shortage of ways to keep up with Emma, so make sure you visit/follow her on the following platforms! Socials: @emmaswiftsings on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Website: https://www.emmaswift.com/ Blog: https://emmaswiftsings.substack.com/ Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first four episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:31 Emma’s introduction 2:10 Emma and Al were not trying to be cute with this episode’s album selection 3:00 Emma shares her reasons for picking For Emma, Forever Ago 6:47 Emma admires the introspective creative process that Vernon employed for making this album 11:40 Al explains why he had a difficult time getting into the album 14:04 Should Al have chosen a different album from Emma’s short list? 15:51 Emma talks about what distinguishes For Emma, Forever Ago from other late-Aughts folk 20:36 Listening to Bon Iver is part of Al’s effort to catch up on music he missed in the 2000s and 2010s 24:31 Emma names some artists that she has caught up on recently 26:23 Vernon’s honesty about his struggles caught Emma’s attention 28:44 Al talks about some of the features of Vernon’s production that he liked 31:47 Emma focuses on two of the tracks she enjoys from the album 37:09 Emma explains why she thinks this album is “uncoverable” 41:03 Emma talks about why she opted for a cinematic approach with The Resurrection Game 46:57 Emma notes the ascendancy of a new model of masculinity in indie music 52:41 Emma talks about her upcoming touring and recording plans 59:02 Emma tells us about the concerts she has recently attended 1:00:58 Emma has another covers album coming out 1:03:24 Emma talks about some of the music she’s been listening to 1:07:27 Emma has a theory about Al’s musical tastes 1:10:28 Emma recommends the Michael Shannon/Jason Narducy R.E.M. shows Outro music is from “No Happy Endings” by Emma Swift. | |||
| 210. Andrea Walker Discusses Fleetwood Mac, Tango in the Night | 30 Oct 2025 | 01:09:17 | |
Andrea Walker, co-founder, primary songwriter and guitarist for the Portland-based indie rock band Glitterfox, visits YMAAA to talk about Fleetwood Mac’s 1987 album Tango in the Night. Andrea discusses how she got into Fleetwood Mac, and this album in particular, through learning and performing the songs, and how playing Fleetwood Mac covers was instrumental to the development of Glitterfox. She also talks about what she likes about the sound of Tango in the Night, and which songs are her favorites. She and Al break the album down by the clusters of songs written and sung by each of the band’s three primary songwriters—Lindsey Buckingham, the late Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks. They wrap up by discussing Glitterfox’s recently-released album Decoder and the band’s tour plans. You can follow Andrea on Instagram at @andreaplaysguitar. There are several ways to keep up with Glitterfox. On Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, they’re at @glitterfoxband. There’s also their website, https://glitterfoxband.myshopify.com/. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first four episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:42 Andrea’s introduction 2:33 Andrea talks about Glitterfox’s history of covering Fleetwood Mac songs 6:11 Andrean discusses her role as Glitterfox’s main songwriter 8:01 Andrea explains why she chose Tango in the Night for this episode 11:51 Al explains why he never bought or listened to Tango in the Night 16:11 Andrea talks about the production technique that gives Tango in the Night its ethereal feel 20:08 The different sound on Tango in the Night extends to the vocals 23:02 Andrea pinpoints when she started getting into Tango in the Night 25:18 Andrea explains why she didn’t focus much on soloing until recently 28:02 Learning Fleetwood Mac covers was instrumental to Glitterfox’s growth as a band 28:51 Andrea picks her favorite tracks from the album 30:01 Al sees a common link among his favorite songs from Tango in the Night 32:29 Al talks about the part of the album he might skip 34:04 Andrea and Al discuss the Stevie songs 42:30 Andrea and Al are “Team Christine,” but Andrea is also “Team Lindsey” 47:20 Andrea is impressed by the struggles and determination needed to complete Tango in the Night 48:40 Al is fascinated by the post-TITN era of Fleetwood Mac 51:50 Andrea talks about some of the specific ways that Glitterfox and Fleetwood Mac are similar 57:00 Andrea pinpoints what makes Glitterfox’s sound distinct 1:01:04 Andrea talks about the videos Glitterfox made for Decoder 1:03:50 Andrea lays out Glitterfox’s upcoming tour plans Outro music is from “Wildfires” by Glitterfox. | |||
| 209. Leanne Butkovic and Angie Boylan of Freezing Cold Discuss No Doubt, Tragic Kingdom | 22 Oct 2025 | 01:05:52 | |
Leanne Butkovic and Angie Boylan, who comprise the rhythm section of the New York-based indie rock trio Freezing Cold, join Al to discuss No Doubt’s 1995 breakthrough album Tragic Kingdom. Leanne and Angie each talk about how the album was formative for them, why they still enjoy it and why being a fan of the band—and of Gwen Stefani in particular—is sometimes challenging. They also talk about Freezing Cold’s latest album, Treasure Pool, and their collaborative songwriting process. You can follow Angie on Instagram at @angie_boylan. Freezing Cold also has an account on Instagram: @freezingcoldband. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first four episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:38 Leanne and Angie join the show 2:04 Al talks about his preconceptions about Tragic Kingdom 3:43 Angie details how she became obsessed with Tragic Kingdom and No Doubt when she was 12 7:46 Leanne recalls her first concert and her early music listening experiences 10:58 Leanne identifies the elements of No Doubt’s sound and image that she found so appealing 14:14 Angie talks about Gwen Stefani as a fashion icon 15:18 Leanne discusses the complicated nature of being a Gwen Stefani fan 20:43 Angie talks about the more politically progressive side of No Doubt 23:03 Leanne and Angie have felt betrayed by Stefani at times 25:10 Al got over his preconceptions 27:31 No Doubt demonstrate their versatility on Tragic Kingdom 30:49 Leanne talks about Gwen Stefani as a lyricist 32:00 Angie, Leanne and Al discuss how Adrian Young and Gwen Stefani thrived as relatively inexperienced musicians 36:13 Angie and Leanne cite some of their favorite tracks from the album 39:39 Angie notes the one track that she skips 40:27 Leanne thinks No Doubt may have benefited from Interscope needing Tragic Kingdom to be a hit 41:48 Leanne shares her reactions to the album’s final two tracks 45:34 Leanne and Angie enjoyed No Doubt’s 2024 reunion performance at Coachella 47:08 Leanne explains how she joined Freezing Cold 48:52 Leanne discusses how Freezing Cold typically write songs 50:40 “The Day” is an outlier on Treasure Pool 55:20 Angie talks about how she and Jeff Cunningham have simplified their songwriting for Freezing Cold 57:03 Angie explains how she became the touring and studio drummer for Sleater-Kinney 58:26 Leanne discusses some of Marissa Paternoster’s contributions to Freezing Cold 1:00:12 Angie and Leanne talk about Freezing Cold's upcoming plans Outro music is from “Eclipse” by Freezing Cold. | |||
| 208. Will Paquin Discusses Paulinho Nogueira, O Fino do Violão | 17 Oct 2025 | 00:58:24 | |
Nashville-based guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Will Paquin joins Al to introduce him to Paulinho Nogueira’s 1965 album O Fino do Violão. Will talks about how he got into Brazilian guitar, why he didn’t tell anyone about the music he discovered and why he has a particular affinity for Nogueira’s music. Will also highlights some of his favorite parts of the album and notes some features that can best be appreciated through active listening. He and Al talk about Will’s recently released debut album Hahaha and his upcoming plans. To find Will’s music, tour schedule and more, visit his site at https://www.willpaquin.com/ or check out his Bandcamp page at https://willpaquin.bandcamp.com/. You can also find Will at @will.paquin on Instagram and TikTok. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first four episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:19 Will joins the show 1:38 Will talks about how he got introduced to Brazilian music and how that influenced his guitar playing 5:33 Will explains how Nogueira’s approach is different from other Brazilian guitarists, such as Baden Powell and Luiz Bonfá 9:21 Will had second thoughts about discussing this album on this episode 11:06 Will explains why Nogueira’s style suits him better than Powell’s 14:54 Will and Al talk about the different moods on the album 17:13 Will talks about some of the things one may notice when listening actively to O Fino do Violão 24:04 Will has found the album comforting in many moments throughout his life 31:56 Will explains why “Largo” sounds different from the other tracks on the album 34:15 Will identifies his favorite moments on O Fino do Violão 35:50 Will gravitates towards the more spontaneous-sounding tracks 37:45 Will explains why he prefers to listen to O Fino do Violão rather than Noguiera’s other albums 39:54 Will talks about how he and other artists have been influenced by Brazilian music 43:17 Al cites some of the other influences that he noted on Hahaha 45:30 Does Will want his albums to be cohesive? 50:08 Will talks about the decade-long span involved in writing “I Work So Hard” 53:19 Will discusses his upcoming tour dates and recording plans Outro music is from “We Really Done It This Time” by Will Paquin. | |||
| 207. Caro Kelley Discusses Jacob Collier, Djesse Vol. 4 | 09 Oct 2025 | 00:53:00 | |
Munich-based soul-pop artist Caro Kelley joins Al to talk about Jacob Collier’s 2024 album Djesse Vol. 4. Caro revisits her first encounter with the album—and why it led her to go on an extended housecleaning binge—and she explains why she loved the album instantly. Caro also explains why she thinks the album’s eclecticism suits it well. She and Al wrap up by talking about her latest album QUIET, why she had to take a break from recording the album and why that hiatus led to her 1000 Albums project. You can learn more about Caro and her music at https://carokelley.com! Also, you can follow her on the following platforms: Instagram and TikTok: @caro_kelley Facebook: @carokelleymusic YouTube: @CaroKelley Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first four episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. That includes the Bonus Tracks episode with Caro that was published simultaneously with this one. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:29 Caro joins the show 2:12 Djesse Vol. 4 was instrumental in Caro undertaking her 1000 Albums project 3:46 Caro recalls the first time she listened to the album 5:23 Caro and Al talk about their reactions to “100,000 Voices” 10:08 Al explains why he had a hard time warming up to the album 13:36 Caro thinks the featured performers make the album even better 15:34 Having made a multi-genre album herself helps Caro to appreciate the variety on Djesse Vol. 4 22:40 Caro explains why “A Rock Somewhere” is a highlight 27:58 Caro admires Tori Kelly’s performance on “Bridge Over Troubled Water” 31:31 Caro shares her reaction to the album closer, “World O World” 34:10 Caro thinks albums should have a clear intro and outro 35:49 Caro feels that the “over-the-top” nature of the album is a genuine reflection of Collier as an artist 36:33 Caro helped Al to get more comfortable with talking to guests about albums he doesn’t like 38:55 Listening to Djesse Vol. 4 prompted Caro to think about how “weird” she wanted QUIET to be 45:31 Al hears similarities between Caro’s music and Toto 46:56 Caro discusses the setback that led her to start the 1000 Albums project Outro music is from “On the House” by Caro Kelley. | |||
| 206. Eliza Niemi Discusses The Cradle, Half a Double Life | 02 Oct 2025 | 00:53:20 | |
On this episode, Toronto-based singer, songwriter, composer and cellist Eliza Niemi joins Al to introduce him to Paco Cathcart’s project The Cradle and their 2021 album Half a Double Life. Eliza talks about how she first learned of Paco’s music, and Half a Double Life in particular, and she discusses the lyrical and musical elements that keep her coming back to the album. Eliza also delves into her 2025 album Progress Bakery, noting the features that were consciously and subconsciously influenced by Cathcart. Follow Eliza on Instagram at @eliza.niemi! You can also follow her label, Vain Mina Records, on Instagram at @vain.mina.records. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first three episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum, and more monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:31 Eliza joins the show 2:00 Eliza explains how she became a fan of The Cradle 5:08 Eliza notes why Half a Double Life stands out to her among Cathcart’s albums 6:15 Eliza breaks down some of Half a Double Life’s lyrical themes 14:46 Al enjoyed the contrasting imagery in “No Human Hands” 16:30 Eliza and Al talk about the cyclical nature of the album’s songs 19:54 Half a Double Life got Eliza more interested in minimal arrangements 22:28 Paco’s theme of compromise extends to “Always Certain Trades” 23:48 Is it easier to get attached to albums that are “growers”? 25:13 Eliza has listened to the album steadily since its release 27:43 Eliza has questions about the album that she’d like to ask Paco 29:25 Eliza appreciates the thought Paco gives to the musical elements they use 31:56 Eliza likes the album’s blend of darkness and silliness 33:45 Eliza and Al compare and contrast Half a Double Life with Progress Bakery 38:49 Eliza explains the origins of a lyric from “Do U FM” 42:10 Eliza talks about the ASMR quality of her music 45:04 Eliza explains why she called her album Progress Bakery 46:57 Eliza talks about some upcoming shows 48:52 Eliza alerts us to a new release on her label Outro music is from “Dusty” by Eliza Niemi. | |||
| 205. Tasmin Archer Discusses A Cauldron of Random Notes and Answers Your Questions | 29 Sep 2025 | 01:00:09 | |
British singer-songwriter Tasmin Archer returns to YMAAA to discuss her newly-released album, A Cauldron of Random Notes (or ACoRN for short), and to answers questions submitted on Instagram and via the YMAAA newsletter. (Tasmin first appeared here on Ep 161, when she discussed Daniel Lanois’ album Shine.) Tasmin revisits the process she and her partner John Hughes undertook to create ACoRN—her first album in 19 years—as well as the ways in which being an independent artist has changed since releasing On in 2006. She also addresses several other subjects, including her 1994 Shipbuilding EP, her vision for future live shows and her reaction to cover versions of her signature hit “Sleeping Satellite.” Al mentioned a YouTube video by Struthless in which he talks about overcoming creative blocks by borrowing from someone else's art. Here's the link; the section Al referred to begins at 5:35. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n8W6CBxc64&t=335s You can keep up with Tasmin at https://tasminarcher.com/. Also, you can follow her at @tasmin_archer on Instagram and @tasmin.archer on Facebook. To get notifications of Tasmin’s new videos, like the one for “Free Fall” that she mentions on this episode, subscribe to @tasminarcher on YouTube. Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first three episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum, and more monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:15 Tasmin joins the show 1:45 Al explains the format of this episode 2:27 Tasmin talks about the process of choosing songs for ACoRN 10:35 Will Tasmin’s next record sound very different? 12:02 Tasmin explains the basis on which she and John chose the singles from ACoRN 14:06 Tasmin talks about her and John’s lack of involvement in the Sweet Little Truths compilation 16:34 Tasmin discusses the changes in the independent artist environment since the release of On 27:28 Tasmin talks about the role of influences on her music 35:07 Has songwriting become easier or harder for Tasmin over the years? 39:17 Tasmin explains why she made the Shipbuilding EP after Great Expectations 43:29 Tasmin talks about the sorts of live shows she would want to do in the future 46:36 Tasmin describes her reaction to the “Sleeping Satellite” covers she’s heard 48:48 Does Tasmin have a favorite track from ACoRN? 52:32 Tasmin makes doing inner work a priority Outro music is from “In the Blood” by Tasmin Archer. | |||
| 204. Mark Brend Discusses David Ackles, self-titled | 19 Sep 2025 | 00:50:22 | |
This week’s episode features UK-based author, music journalist and musician Mark Brend, who introduces Al to David Ackles and his 1968 self-titled debut album. Mark talks about why he decided to buy the album 40 years ago without having heard any of it, and he revisits what his initial impressions were. He also shares what he learned about the making of the album and about Ackles’ career as a result of researching his latest book, Down River: In Search of David Ackles. Mark discusses his musical project Ghostwriter and how its latest album, Tremulant, was something of a departure. Mark mentioned that you can order Down River: In Search of David Ackles via the Jawbone Press website. You can find out more about the book and order it here: http://jawbonepress.com/down-river/ You can follow Mark on Bluesky at @minutebook To check out Mark’s music with Ghostwriter, head on over to their Bandcamp page…https://ghostwriter3.bandcamp.com/ Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first two episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum, and more episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:16 Mark joins the show 1:36 Mark recounts his first experience with listening to David Ackles 4:55 Mark talks about Ackles’ penchant for telling stories with his songs 6:33 Mark initially had a hard time finding information about Ackles 10:06 Mark explains why he chose this Ackles album to discuss 12:23 Mark highlights a couple of his favorite moments from the album 15:54 Mark surmises why Ackles hasn’t received more recognition 23:24 Mark talks about the recording of the album 29:21 Mark and Al talk about how well the album’s final two tracks work together 32:55 Mark acknowledges the contributions of Michael Fonfara and Jerry Penrod 35:37 Mark explains why he decided to write Down River 36:51 Mark talks about some discoveries that surprised him while researching the book 39:44 Ackles has some devoted fans, including some well-known musicians 43:24 Mark talks about his musical project Ghostwriter Outro music is from “Often Forfeit” by Ghostwriter. | |||
| 203. Mac McCaughan Discusses New Order, Power, Corruption & Lies | 11 Sep 2025 | 00:47:30 | |
On this episode, Superchunk frontman and Merge Records co-founder Mac McCaughan talks to Al about New Order’s 1983 album Power, Corruption & Lies. Mac discusses why he decided to buy Power, Corruption & Lies not long after it was released, even though he was largey unfamiliar with New Order’s music, and why the album has been a favorite of his for more than 40 years. He also talks about what he likes about New Order more generally and how he feels about the band’s discography as a whole. Mac explains how the theme for Superchunk’s new album, Songs in the Key of Yikes, came together, and he also alerts us to some other recent and upcoming releases on Merge Records. There’s a lot to keep up with for Mac, Superchunk and Merge Records, and here’s where you can best find out what’s happening. Mac on Instagram: @macsuperchunk Superchunk website: https://superchunk.com/ Merge Records on Instagram: @mergerecords Merge website: https://www.mergerecords.com/ Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. The first two episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum, and more episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 1:19 Mac joins the show 1:30 Mac highlights the aspects of Power, Corruption & Lies that appealed to him when he first listened to it 7:23 New Order employs patience in their songwriting and arrangements 9:05 Mac appreciates the human elements of Power, Corruption & Lies 12:44 Mac explains how New Order created emotion differently from other bands from the ‘80s 16:20 Mac mentions a few of the songs on the album that kept him coming back to it 18:14 Mac thinks the mid-‘80s were as an especially good period for New Order 20:38 Mac admires New Order’s arrangements 23:08 Has Superchunk’s guitar sound been influenced by New Order? 26:36 What does Mac think about New Order’s discography as a whole? 29:49 New Order made great music, even when partying was a big priority for them 31:19 Mac is impressed by the success that New Order had despite the lack of a gimmick 36:40 Mac explains how Superchunk came up with the title for their new album 39:59 Mac talks about the artwork for Songs in the Key of Yikes 40:58 Mac talks about the addition of Laura King to Superchunk 42:02 Mac mentions some recent and upcoming releases on Merge Records Outro music is from “Care Less” by Superchunk. | |||
| 202. Marshall Crenshaw Discusses Rock 'n' Roll Boogie (compilation) | 04 Sep 2025 | 01:00:03 | |
Power pop singer-songwriter extraordinaire Marshall Crenshaw joins Al to introduce him to the Rock ’n’ Roll Boogie compilation album, released in 2014 by Rapier Records. The compilation features songs released on the Fortune Records label in Detroit, mostly in the '50s and early '60s. Marshall talks about growing up listening to the label’s artists and how he became increasingly fascinated with Fortune Records over time. Marshall also provides an update on his Tom Wilson documentary, and he discusses his new album From “The Hellhole,” which includes reworked versions of songs he released previously, mostly during the 2010s. Marshall made a couple of mentions of a book about Fortune Records that he recommends—Mind Over Matter by Billy Miller and Michael Hurtt. You can purchase it here: https://www.abebooks.com/9781940157146/MIND-OVER-MATTER-Myths-Mysteries-1940157145/plp. Check out Marshall's website for music, tour info and much more at marshallcrenshaw.com. You can also keep up with Marshall on the following platforms. @marshall.crenshaw on Instagram @marshallcrenshawofficial on Facebook @mcrenshaw on YouTube The first two episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes, posts and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. Also be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 1:32 Marshall joins the show 2:37 Marshall explains why he became a fan of Fortune Records and its artists 4:59 Marshall provides some historical background on the label Selected tracks from the album and label: 11:32 Hi Ho Little Girl by The Terrigan Brothers 12:37 Mind Over Matter by Nolan Strong 15:45 Village of Love by Nathaniel Mayer 16:32 Highland Park Girl by The York Brothers 17:17 Elvis tributes/Andre Williams 24:52 Marshall talks about the impact that the jukebox business had on popular music in the late ‘40s and ‘50s 27:58 Fortune Records’ roster was a reflection of Detroit’s diversity and migration patterns 30:58 Marshall pinpoints the moment when he realized the importance of Fortune Records 34:03 Marshall explains what separated Fortune Records from other labels, like Chess and Sun 37:07 Marshall talks about the status of his Tom Wilson documentary and the loss of director Sacha Jenkins 46:41 Marshall explains how From “The Hellhole” came to be an album 53:57 Marshall talks about his upcoming tour and reissues Outro music is from “Driving and Dreaming” by Marshall Crenshaw. | |||
| 201. Cassie Wieland (Vines) Discusses A Winged Victory for the Sullen (self-titled) | 21 Aug 2025 | 00:59:01 | |
New York-based composer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Cassie Wieland joins Al for this episode to introduce him to the 2011 self-titled debut album by A Winged Victory for the Sullen. Cassie talks about discovering this album during her college years and why it was an important album during that part of her life. She discusses how the album is compelling for her even though (or even because) it doesn’t make obvious demands for her attention. Cassie also delves into the process of making her first full-length album as Vines and making the transition from composer to songwriter. Learn more about Cassie’s music at https://www.vines.music/ and on her Bandcamp page at https://vinesmusic.bandcamp.com/. You can also follow Cassie and her Vines project on the following platforms: Instagram: @cassie__vines TikTok and YouTube: @cassievines Cassie and Al had mentioned her upcoming performance at Basilica SoundScape 2025. Get more information about the festival at https://basilicahudson.org/programs/soundscape/. The first episode of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—is now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes, posts and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going. Another way to support YMAAA is to buy the We Can Connect Through Music PDF guide. In just a few quick minutes, you can learn more about what your favorite music and your loved ones’ favorite music have in common. Learn more at https://almelchior.gumroad.com/l/wecanconnect. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum. 3:16 Cassie joins the show 4:02 Cassie explains how her varied musical tastes evolved 7:15 Cassie expounds on why she refers to her music as ambient 9:55 Cassie talks about how AWVFTS was unlike anything else she had heard when first discovering it 12:28 Cassie explains why listening to AWVFTS was helpful during her college years 14:47 Listening to the album now brings Cassie back to certain moments in the past 15:55 Cassie talks about one of her favorite elements of AWVFTS’ music 18:19 Al had trouble getting past his perception of the album as lacking contrast 23:48 Cassie likes that AWVFTS isn’t concerned with grabbing her attention 24:51 There are “tiny moments” that Cassie looks forward to on the album 26:45 Cassie talks about developing one’s own judgment about what good and bad music are 34:40 Cassie appreciates the synergy she hears between AWVFTS’ two members 36:25 Al was surprised by the hookiness of “Evicted” 38:34 Cassie talks about writing instrumentals versus writing songs with lyrics 40:52 Cassie discusses creating the shape of I’ll be here as a cohesive album 43:54 Cassie recounts the process of writing “Evicted” 46:01 Cassie talks about the making of the “Evicted” video 50:40 Cassie discusses “being loved isn’t the same as being understood”’s viral moment 52:54 Cassie talks about playing at Basilica SoundScape and other upcoming events Outro music is from “I’ll be here” by Vines. | |||