The Album Club

1234! This episode explores Forest Hills' finest punk underdogs' 3rd album and who, why and what TF were the Ramones. We examine how they started and if they were really a punk band at all, why they never got the recognition they deserved until they broke up, the revolving Ramone lineup and the personalities that created one of the most toxic band feuds ever. And we talk about the songs. Count it in...

They came from L.A. with a message to the world and a huge sound that has never been replicated. Like its cover, Rage's first album was an explosion that set alight numerous bands, movements and genres. Their politics, spat out with the incomparable Zach De La Rocha to the hitherto unheard guitar bleeps of Tom Morello worried the CIA, politicians and parents everywhere. This week The Album Club reunites to celebrate one of the 90s' most important albums. Wake up!

Listen my friends! It's the story of Moby Grape, the band most likely to succeed, that failed, horrendously, though through no fault of their own. Bad management, bad tours, bad drugs, bad production, bad promotion all conspired against this remarkable supergroup. Listen to how they came together and created a classic debut before they succumbed tot hat age old pitfall of novelty songs, black magic and hallucinogens. Part one of two.

Meet the new boss! The Who's 1971 masterpiece is nestled between two rock opera double albums and was supposed to have been the rock opera concept to change the face of music, Lifehouse. Instead, a metal breakdown, a heroin addiction, suicide attempt and a band on the brink meant the ashes of Lifehouse were transformed into a single collection of songs which would go on to become one of the most innovative rock albums of the 70s. 

Jagwar who? It's Australia week so it's time for us to cover one of our favourite Australian bands Jagwar Ma and their insane debut album, Howlin. It's dance, it's rock, it's soul, it's Madchester, it's awesome. We discuss how the band turned from a side project into a hugely blog-hyped viral sensation and put together the pieces of their history, go through each track and find out what happened post release. We'll follow this episode up with our interview from Jagwar Ma head honcho Jono Ma next.

The first of a Strokes double header. The band that started the early 00s new garage rock revolution reshaped rock music for the new millennium and smashed open the door for a swathe of incredible bands.  We discuss the impact they made and how and why it happened, the unprecedented hype, bidding war, release of their EP and album and insane, inherent hipness that took coolness to a whole other level. Take it or leave it...

This week we enlist the help of a real life former goth to explore the sepulchral behemoth that is The Cure's Disintegration. 

The season finale everyone's talking about (.... that doesn't involve dragons)! To mark this special occasion, we've decided to do a slightly different episode so, instead of exalting one of our favourite bands, we've decided to salute the people behind the scene(s) who made it possible for us to even hear the music we love.... the all too often unsung heroes: RECORD LABELS! We go through the history of some of our favourite indie labels, how important they were in kicking off a sound, a feel, and a scene for some of our faves. We go to New Zealand to cover the revered Flying Nun Records, then cross to Australia to check out Au Go Go records, before heading to Hollywood to eulogise the mighty Epitaph Records. And along the way we'll check out some of the cooler bands on their rosters! See you in Season 3, amigos. Expect dragons.

So what do you do if you have it all? The jaw dropping cat-like sexual allure, the universe-cracking enlightenment of the drugs, and the effortless swagger of the rock'n'roll; exuding poetry, lust, mystery and an irresistible smile that suggests you ARE love, life, death and everything in between? Well we started a podcast. But you could just as easily be one of rocks most enduring icons and be Jim Morrison. Ride into the storm with us as we take a desert drive through the history of The Doors and the making of their debut, swirl through each track and take a trip along the rest of their career before it all came crashing down. 

Before they were the one of the biggest bands in the world, Metallica were the biggest metal band in the world (sorry Maiden), and while they still remain one of the biggest names in the stadium game, they are unarguably the most important US metal band of all time. Paying the world a service by spearheading the movement that fought tooth, nail and beer tab to destroy poseurs and the hair metal polluting the stages and airwaves, these guys not only played faster and harder than most, they also possessed a musical vocabulary unparalleled in the then nascent world of thrash. Mixing NWOBHM fist pumping riffery with Venom’s over-the-topness and Motorhead’s relentless, effortless cool, these guys brought metal out of the garage and into the mainstream. For a while there, they were untouchable. There was the one with the talent (and THAT roar), the hyperactive businessman, the one who was just happy to be there and the not-of-this world musical behemoth hippie. We sit down to discuss their roots, the making of this unrivaled masterpiece, go from front to back (and “back to the front!”) through all eight blitzkrieg thrash classics. And for those left wondering, yes, there are Lars jokes. But probably marginally more Mustaine jokes, to be honest.

We may outnumber the White Stripes here at Chez  Album Club, but there's no way one could possibly outgun them. Not only one of the shining lights of the New Rock revolution at the beginning of this century, the truth is this brother and sister duo (just kidding, we've actually done our research) were louder and heavier than most of their peers. And certainly more confounding a proposition. Straight outta Detroit, these candy striped retro charmers, had minimalist slabs of caveman fuzz, slick as hell blues licks not heard in rock since the days of Zep, all kept from falling apart at the seams by Mr. White's pained mewls, croons, screams and possessed carnival barker speaking-in-tongues oddness. And then, on top of that, the man could also pen sweet folky nostalgic ditties. We do give Jack and Meg playful ribbin' here and there, but it's all done with love for what is arguably one of the decade's finest albums and one of rock's most original talents.

This week The Album Club is repping our little corner of the world because we haven't "gone local" since we discussed The Avalanches in Season 1. However, we chose not go for the obvious old school big fish such as ACDC, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, or The Saints (there'll be time for all of those, friends!) or even the more contemporary bright lights such as Tame Impala, Jagwar Ma or Courtney Barnett (these too. Boy, are we gonna be busy!). Instead, we thought we'd fly the flag for one of Australia's rock legends: Rowland S Howard. Founding member of the Birthday Party and noise guitarist extraordinaire,it's hard to imagine someone not only keeping up with but, in many ways, outshining the aforementioned Mr. Cave. There's a special place in our hearts for interesting rock stars here at The Album Clubhouse and you just have to Google Rowland, or better yet, fire up the ol' YouTube and watch the man set a figurative fire to his instrument to see where we're coming from. All jangley, steel scratching, shrapnel wielding maelstrom. Sadly, Howard's life was strewn with struggles with addiction and retreated into relative obscurity for a while before his untimely death, but not before surprising many with not one but two fantastic comeback albums earlier this decade; arguably his best work. If you aren't familiar with his god tier caterwauling and and pained howl, you're in for a treat. We give the low down on his origins, his larger than life stage presence, the confoundingly unique approach to guitar playing, and the making of this record, before plunging into the track by track and concluding with a what happened next while the wash of feedback still rings in our ears. Always honest, sometimes troubled, sorrowful but never bitter, Rowland was a total Rock'n'Roll legend. Ben, Andrew and Alex approve.

Hola esses! There's a reason this album never fails to make those "Best punk/hardcore albums of all time" lists.... uhh... it's because it's one of the greatest punk/hardcore albums of all time. Venice Beach's finest cholos were shrouded in folklore and infamy from the get go, with rumours of gang affiliation and violence. Rumours, may we add, the band were all too happy to keep alive. We love a band with a great story, angle, cast of characters and ethos here at The Album Club HQ; and these vatos do not disappoint. We examine the myth, the formation and making of this record (all four days of it) and blitz through the tracks one by one, while stopping to giggle at the shtick and discussing their transition into one of the 80's best crossover thrash bands. So lower your bandana over your eyes, get cyco and stay sui, homes!