Rose-Colored Headphones

Ann Powers is here to share her insight into the creative life of Joni Mitchell in the 1980s. We delve into the influence of new musical technology, a shifting musical landscape, and Joni's romantic and creative partner Larry Klein. Don't you think it's time you checked out some of those Joni Mitchell albums you haven't heard yet? Start here. Also, check out Ann's wonderful book Travelling: On The Path of Joni Mitchell. And welcome back, listener. Thanks for joining us! This is going to be a really good season. We can already tell. Oh, also in this episode: Ralph performs "The Beat of Black Wings." Don't forget to subscribe to hear new episodes every other Tuesday! Find us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rchpodcast.bsky.social Or send us an email: rosecoloredheadphonespodcast@gmail.com Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks (@elaineprints on IG).

In the eighties, Nina Simone recorded one of her most eclectic and personal albums. It's also one of her best, and Ralph and Michael are here to tell you all about it, doing our best to understand her as a musician, as a person, and as a political figure. (Michael says this is his favorite album we've covered on this show so far. What do you think, listener?) Later, Ralph performs a Nina Simone original in the style of Radiohead. Find us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rchpodcast.bsky.social Or send us an email: rosecoloredheadphonespodcast@gmail.com Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks (@elaineprints on IG).

Dee Snider drops by to talk about Christmas music, his time as a choir boy, and the making of a yuletide metal classic on our first annual Holiday Spectacular! Yeah, we do holiday specials now, like Doctor Who! And don't worry, listener; we ask him about that book and he's got news about it. Also in this episode, Michael is visited by ghosts and he and Ralph grapple with complicated feelings about the holidays and uncertainty about the future. But mostly they talk about Twisted Sister. Happy Holidays, everyone! (Even you, Derek.) This episode is dedicated to the memory of our dear friend Rim Headley. Rose-Colored Headphones will return in 2025 with the rest of season two. Find us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rchpodcast.bsky.social Or send us an email: rosecoloredheadphonespodcast@gmail.com Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks (@elaineprints on IG).

Ralph and Michael dive into the Christian-Rock equivalent of Thriller and weigh DC Talk's evangelical credentials against DC Talk's counter-cultural inclinations. To whom is this album speaking? What is being said? Is it more than a collection of 1990s pastiche with religious lyrics? Maybe this album isn't what you remember. (Well, it probably is in a lot of ways, but there's more to it than that.) Also, is there a DC Talk group-chat where these guys argue about politics? (We will not find an answer to that question, but if you were once a member of DC Talk, drop us a line and let us know.) Later, we take a call from a listener in distress, Ralph converts "Just Between You and Me" into a delightful slab of reggae, and he and Michael turn that delightful slab of reggae into some spacey dub. Find us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rchpodcast.bsky.social Or send us an email: rosecoloredheadphonespodcast@gmail.com Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks.

Ralph and Michael put on full KISS makeup (trust us) to contemplate this heady concept album that Michael keeps calling "Music FOR the Elder," which is not the actual title. (Get it together, Michael.) Turns out there's more to Gene Simmons than most people realize, and we're going to convince you of that. Along the way, Ralph tries to define "butt rock," Michael rethinks his concept of heroism, and they take a call from someone with an unusual proposition. Later, Ralph performs "I." This episode is dedicated to all of our listeners, except for Derek. Find us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rchpodcast.bsky.social Or send us an email: rosecoloredheadphonespodcast@gmail.com Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks.

Ralph and Michael dig into the original "everybody hates it" album and try to unpack the incredibly negative reaction it received back in 1970. And wouldn't you know it? It's actually pretty dope! That's right, Rose-Colored Headphones is back! Season Two is going to be so good, you guys. We're definitely not as weird as before. This is a respectable show now. Maybe we'll even find out why that Unhinged Lunatic is forcing us to do this. But probably not. Anyway, this is a podcast episode about Bob Dylan, which is… maybe something no one's ever done before? There's no way to be sure. Later in this episode, Ralph performs "It Hurts Me Too." Find us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rchpodcast.bsky.social Or send us an email: rosecoloredheadphonespodcast@gmail.com Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks (@elaineprints on Instagram)

You know we couldn't make a show like this and not talk about Trans, right? So here we go: Ralph and Michael think you should circle back to Neil Young's synth-heavy early-eighties opus, and they'd like to raise questions about the nature of "folk" music, lycanthropy, and Neil Young's reaction to Blade Runner. Also, this podcast's interstitial music has a mind of its own, Michael uses a vocoder to cover a Neil Young classic, and we end on a cliffhanger! Send us an email: rosecoloredheadphonespodcast@gmail.com

On this episode of your favorite PodKast, Ralph and Michael daydream about an MF DOOM movie, plan a Stevie Wonder heist, wonder if Andre 3000 likes King Crimson, and eventually get around to making a case for why you should give OutKast's final album (and the accompanying film) another chance. Also, Michael misremembers dialogue from the Sun Ra movie and Ralph performs "Idlewild Blue." Send us an email: rosecoloredheadphonespodcast@gmail.com