Kick The Jukebox
By KICK THE JUKEBOX
In each episode, expect to be turned on to music you never knew existed and a deep dive into an important album of the week.
Kick The JukeboxSep 15, 2020
Power Pop with Eli Bolin, Jason Boxer and Gretchen Unico
In this best-of episode, Kyle and Louie are joined by three special guests: songwriter Eli Bolin (John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch), Weezer expert Jason Boxer (Weezerpedia), and The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame's Gretchen Unico to discuss some great Power Pop gems: The Cars' self titled 1978 debut, Weezer's 1996 sophmore outing Pinkerton and Harry Nilsson's 1971 masterpiece Nilsson Schmilsson!
Also, be sure to check out our podcast recommendation: The Lyric Boys!
The World of Jamaican Music
In this best-of episode Louie and Kyle take a look back at some of their favorite tunes and albums from Jamaica: a place where the music is always cool, engaging and very often wonderfully informative. The boys deep dive into the soundtrack for The Harder They Come, Burning Spear's 1975 release Marcus Garvey and the career of Island Records founder Chris Blackwell.
Please check out our podcast recommendation for this week: Quarter Rest with Joe Diaco!
Season Finale: Scritti Politti - Cupid & Psyche 85
Kyle and Louie make some small talk over Scritti Politti's infectious, shimmering, danceable 1984 album Cupid & Psyche 85! On the surface, these tunes are some of the catchiest pop you've ever heard, but you actually need a PHD in literature to get all the lyrics. Join your favorite 20th century music geek buddies as they traverse the brilliant world of Scritti Politti's mastermind lyricist Green Gartside.
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Show notes:
This was such a fun one to bring it on home! We've had an amazing season and we're really excited for our next season, which is going to follow a pretty cool arc. Get pumped, Jukeheads! We talked about a lot of great music to follow-up on this episode including keyboardist David Gamson's wild cover of The Archies' "Sugar Sugar," the track "Say A Little Prayer" by the immortal Aretha Franklin, and the earlier Scritti Politti album Songs to Remember. Once you give Cupid & Psyche 85 plenty of spins, Kyle recommends following up with Erasure's 1988 album The Innocents and I think it's time to do your own deep-dive into 80's Freestyle. We'll be back with some greatest hits episodes and a brand new season soon! - Louie
A Look Back at Some Dance Tracks
In this best of episode, Louie & Kyle dive into some classic songs that make them want to dance, and get into the history of Chicago House, 80's New York No-Wave and some classic Disco in the process.
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Show notes: Here are the songs we chatted about. They all come highly recommended with the highest Kick the Jukebox seal of approval:
Material, Nona Hendryx - Bustin' Out
Marshall Jefferson - The House Music Anthem (Move Your Body)
The Joubert Singers - Stand on the Word
Also, here's the link to Louie's recommendation: Disco Music History
Marillion - Afraid of Sunlight (with Peter Smith)
Improviser, musician and beautiful British man Peter Smith leads Louie and Kyle on a deep dive into Marillion, the hugely successful British prog-rock band who over their 40 year career have gotten no respect from the radio or the press, but have legions upon legions of devoted fans that have allowed them to become their own cottage industry. In this episode we delve into their definitive 1995 release Afraid of Sunlight. This is a case where despite the fact Marillion are considered terminally uncool, their devoted fans get it completely right.
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Show notes:
It was great to have Peter on the show who is a killer musician highly influenced by Marillion. Please listen to his SoundCloud which has some beautiful work on it! https://soundcloud.com/damndirtygrapes
If you liked Afraid of Sunlight, Peter recommends the Marillion album Season's End next, Kyle would love for you to get more into Peter Gabriel and Louie doesn't fuck with Prog a lot, but when he does, he's listening to Can and Babe Ruth.
Blondie - Plastic Letters
Blondie's Plastic Letters wasn't fully appreciated when it was released in February 1978 and it's often eclipsed by its follow up Parallel Lines. It's a shame, because Plastic Letters contains some of Blondie's most melodic, sophisticated and rockin' work. Join hosts Kyle Gordon and Louie Pearlman as they discuss Plastic Letters' dirty New York rocker roots that show through the band's platinum blonde sheen.
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Show notes:
If you liked Plastic Letters, we recommend The Paragons' 1967 release On the Beach With the Paragons which introduced the world to the wonderful "The Tide Is High," later covered by Blondie. Also check out original Blondie bassist Gary Valentine's work with his band The Know for some mystically-charged, herky-jerky Power Pop and New Wave. - Louie
Sam Cooke - One Night Stand! Live at the Harlem Square Club 1963 (with Allison Boron)
Kyle and Louie are joined by BC The Beatles' co-host and Rhino Records' Allison Boron to talk about one of her favorite records, Sam Cooke's One Night Stand! Live at the Harlem Square Club. Deemed too raucous when recorded, this disc sat on the shelves for over 20 years after Sam's death before being released and heralded a total soul and rock n roll classic. They also get into how to find musical common ground with your partner and how true crime videos can be the key to a good night's sleep!
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Show Notes:
It's been a long time coming, but Allison is finally a guest on the show! She's been a huge influence on my music taste and a true blue friend for years. The three of us had plenty of reccos too. Kyle has been revisiting The Arctic Monkeys with his girlfriend this week, while Louie has been listening to a lot of Pup, Dog Park Dissidents and Jeff Rosenstock with his boyfriend. Allison took us on a tour of the new Paul McCartney Flaming Pie archive re-release.
When we got into Sam Cooke, we brought up his croonery appearance on Arthur Murray Dance Party, his work with his record label SAR (especially the song "Put Me Down Easy" by his brother LC Cooke) and the recent Netflix documentary ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke. Also, remember! Our Rave.DJ contest is ON! This was fun and soulful one, jukeheads. -Louie
The Pogues - Rum Sodomy & The Lash
Kyle 'N Louie both describe this episode as "very Irish" as they deep-dive into The Pouges' Rum, Sodomy & The Lash from 1985. This Elvis Costello-produced Celtic Punk album is the purest version of the The Pogues available, and Shane MacGowan's songs on it are frank, honest and riveting. Also, Kyle makes an argument for fried chicken sandwiches and the band Big Country and Louie does a quick review of the new documentary about the Disney KISS/Star Wars rip-off band (yup you read that right) Halyx.
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Show notes:
It's always fun when one of us brings in an album that is definitive for one of us, and Rum, Sodomy & The Lash is definitely that for Kyle. Here is that actually lovely birthday party for Shane MacGowan that was on The Late Late Show last year. Also, this is the week that we're all gonna get into Big Country and the Defunctland original documentary Live From The Space Stage: The Story of Halyx.
Finally: don't forget our Rave.dj mash mix competition is ON! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook for more info on how to enter!
The Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Kyle 'N Louie are waxin and milkin' all y'all square heads as they discuss 1989's Paul's Boutique, which was a game changing album for The Beastie Boys, The Dust Brothers and the golden age of Hip Hop. Plus Kyle discusses what music is best to listen to when reading about "the troubles" in Ireland and Louie has been obsessed with a real nightmare of a music website.
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Episode Notes:
We had some great reccos in this episode. Check out the NYT review of Say Nothing, the book currently in Kyle's hot little hands. Also check out Louie's actually halfway decent Kanye / Cut Copy mashup that he made on the nightmarish apocalyptic website Rave.dj (don't watch if you're prone to seizures, seriously).
There's been so much written and said about Paul's Boutique already if you want more info on this seminal album, but a great supplemental piece to this episode is this YouTube video that breaks down every sample on the album. - Louie
Frank Sinatra - In the Wee Small Hours
When Frank Sinatra released "Into the Wee Small Hours" in 1955, he changed the trajectory of American popular music in a big way. This week, Louie and Kyle delve into what's arguably the first concept album of all time and explore the arrangements and emotions that make "Into the Wee Small Hours" so classic.
Plus, the boys get into some musical shlock too as they have a lively discussion about a band fronted by a real British royal and another who were some sort of creepy cult!
E 41: Vince Guaraldi Trio - Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus w/ special guest Jason Boxer
E 40: Love - Forever Changes
E 39: Paul McCartney - McCartney II
E 38: Yo La Tengo - Electr-O-Pura with special guest Liam Carroll
E 37: Sly and the Family Stone - Stand!
E 36: Public Enemy - Fear Of A Black Planet with special guest Mike Joseph
E 35: The Cars - S/T with special guest Gretchen Unico
E 34: Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey
Black Lives Matter
Donate to Campaign Zero at www.joincampaignzero.org/
Look up your local bail fund and contribute at the National Bail Fund Network, which can be found at www.communityjusticeexchange.org/
Join a Black Lives Matter protest currently happening in your area: blacklivesmatter.com/
Thanks, and we'll see you next week.
E33: The Knack - Get the Knack
E32: John Martyn - One World
E31: X - Los Angeles
E30: Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism
E29: Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual
E28: The Pixies - Doolittle
E27: Fountains of Wayne - Welcome Interstate Managers w/ Special Guest Jo Kroger
E26: Oingo Boingo - Dead Man's Party
E25: Sade - Diamond Life
E 9: Daft Punk - Discovery
E 24 Aqua -Aquarium
E 23: The Carpenters - Close to You
E 22: Harry Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson w/ special guest Eli Bolin
E 21: Elton John - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
E 20: Prince Paul - A Prince Among Thieves w/ special guest Gabe Pacheco
We have a wonderful chat with Gabe, who is a hilarious and insightful comedian and teacher in NYC about one of his favorite albums: the underrated Hip Hopera A Prince Among Thieves by genius producer Prince Paul. Also, Kyle eats a sandwich that agrees with him, THANK GOD.
E 19: The B-52's - Cosmic Thing w/ special guest Mike Malone
Episode 8: Jane Wiedlin - Fur
Episode 17: New Order - Power Corruption and Lies
Episode 17: Crosby Stills & Nash (S/T) With Special Guest Joe Hennes
Episode 16: The Zombies - Odessey and Oracle
Episode 7: Weezer - Pinkerton
Plus! Kyle loves an obscure New Edition track! Jason brings in a Canadian track (NOT LOUIE!) by The Most Serene Republic. Louie introduces the boys to Dark Wave.
Episode 15: The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Thank God For Mental Illness
Episode 14: Joey Levine
For this episode instead of focusing on an album, Kyle and Louie wax poetic about Louie’s favorite singer-songwriter, bubblegum music father and punk godfather Joey Levine! And speaking of wax, wax was indeed spun as we listened to some vinyl live from the station! Also, Kyle classes it up with a Four Tops track! It’s an all late-sixties Kick the Jukebox.
E6 Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
E5 Graduation
Good morning, you drunk hot girls! Kick The Jukebox is BACK: harder, better faster stronger, (sorry we’ve been gone so long!) and Kyle and Louie take on Kanye West’s Graduation, an album that arguably changed the trajectory of Hip Hop forever! Also, Louie and Kyle chat about what they’re digging right now: namely pop-country rock from the 80’s and some 70’s Nigerian synth-pop!
Spotify Listen Along List: open.spotify.com/user/louie4711/playlist/4l6L0VPnUlUHYoOVh2YnEp
Kick The Jukebox Bonus: Interview with Heather Robb
E4: Rumours (Feat. Special Guest Heather Robb!)
Kyle and Louie tackle Rumours, the massive 70's rock Fleetwood Mac classic record. We also interview musician, actor, TV writer and member of fan favorites The Spring Standards Heather Robb about her connection to Fleetwood Mac. (interview starts at 01:01:55)
PLUS! Kyle reveals that he has a soft spot for Bruce Cockburn! Louie is in love with Fred Schneider from The B-52's, but we already knew that! A member of The Animaniacs was in a fake version of Fleetwood Mac but we don't remember which one!
Thanks to Heather Robb for being our first interview ever! Please check out her work at www.heatherrobb.com/
As always, check out our Spotify listen-along list! open.spotify.com/user/louie4711/playlist/7Cpsk8YJTZBkQ3coWAxKmA
PS: Apologies about the sub-par sound for parts of this episode. Much like Fleetwood Mac had to do on Rumours we had our own sound restoration to do. Things will be back to audiophile standard next episode. Promise!
Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/KickTheJukebox
E3: Beauty And the Beat
E2: Enter The Wu-Tang Clan - 36 Chambers
The Ramones - Rocket To Russia
Episode One Spotify Music Playlist: open.spotify.com/user/louie4711/playlist/1tet8GAKNgLxViBZVr1BYS