You, Me and An Album

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This episode was originally published on the You, Me and An Album Patreon on Dec. 8, 2025.

For this episode, Lee Jennings—frontman of the Atlanta-based emo-hardcore band The Funeral Portrait—continues the My Chemical Romance discussion he began with Al on Ep 194 of You, Me and An Album. Progressing through the MCR discography, they move on from Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge to the 2006 follow-up album, The Black Parade. Lee discusses why he wanted to talk about The Black Parade, and he delves into the album’s importance to MCR and to the emo genre more generally. He also revisits his initial experiences with listening to the album and explains how it enhanced his MCR fandom.

Keep up with Lee on Instagram at @leejennings!

Also, you can learn more about The Funeral Portrait at https://thefuneralportrait.com/ and follow them in the following places…

TikTok: @tfp_devotion

Instagram and Facebook: @thefuneralportrait

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at https://youmealbum.ghost.io/.

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

You can listen to excerpts of YMAAA episodes on YouTube. Please consider subscribing to the YMAAA channel there at @youmeandanalbum.

0:00 Lee’s introduction

1:31 Lee explains why he wanted to come back to the show and discuss The Black Parade

6:05 Lee and Al talk about their experiences with listening to albums that followed up albums they fell in love with

8:14 Lee details how My Chemical Romance matured along with their audience

11:41 Lee thinks fans could connect more easily to the themes on The Black Parade

14:55 Lee discusses the background behind Danger Days

16:59 Lee explains why The Black Parade became a sensation

20:16 Lee doesn’t think The Black Parade would have made the same impact without Bullets and Three Cheers coming before it

22:37 Lee talks about The Black Parade’s timeless sound

28:42 Lee lauds the depth of quality songs recorded during the sessions for The Black Parade

30:00 Lee and Al have questions about the album’s sequencing

35:45 Al was surprised by a couple of things he learned in preparation for this episode

36:51 Is the fourth album “the artist’s album” (h/t Jessica Dobson)?

Outro music is from “Stay Weird” by The Funeral Portrait.

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Writer, podcaster, guitarist and voiceover artist Joey Held joins Al to introduce him to The Gaslight Anthem’s 2008 album The ’59 Sound. Joey talks about the experience that led him to become a fan of The Gaslight Album and of The ’59 Sound in particular. He explains what it is about The ’59 Sound that makes it one of his favorite albums, and he and Al explore the many musical references that are captured in the album’s lyrics and sounds. Joey also talks about his recent work, including what’s new for his band Burning Years and why he began his Sports R Dumb podcast.

You can follow Joey on Instagram at @phat_phoodies and check out his work on his websites http://joeyheld.com and wackytravel.com.

As Joey mentioned, there are many places where you can buy or stream Burning Years’ music. Bandcamp is one of those places, and the band has a page there: http://burningyearstexas.bandcamp.com.

Listen to Sports R Dumb! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-r-dumb/id1614525956

You can also follow the show on Instagram at @sportsrdumb.

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.

1:17 Joey’s introduction

2:36 Joey shares why he chose The ‘59 Sound for this episode

5:06 Joey has a vivid memory of how he first got introduced to The Gaslight Anthem

7:37 Joey and Al talk about The Gaslight Anthem’s connections to Bruce Springsteen

9:39 The Gaslight Anthem evoked other artists and eras for both Joey and Al

13:49 Joey cites a couple of settings where it was especially fun to listen to The ’59 Sound

18:44 Joey speaks to the album’s flow and sequencing

22:46 Joey highlights a couple of his favorite tracks

24:55 Al and Joey react to the many musical references in the lyrics

28:32 Joey explains why he thinks The ’59 Sound is The Gaslight Anthem’s best album

33:39 Joey singles out one thing that could have been improved on The Gaslight Anthem’s albums

35:22 Joey talks about how he started the Sports R Dumb podcast

40:44 Joey updates us on his band Burning Years

44:15 Joey discusses the many places online where he’s posting

Outro music is from “Under Pressure” by Burning Years.

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Guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and film director Ben Hozie of the Brooklyn-based indie rock band Bodega visits YMAAA to talk about Milk Dick’s 2014 album It Grows on You. Ben explains how he got acquainted with Milk Dick’s music and why It Grows on You has been his musical companion for more than a decade. He discusses how the band’s theatrical and sometimes serious side co-exists with the humor and silliness inherent to their musical style and band name. Ben also breaks down several of his favorite tracks from the album. He talks about the musical influences that informed Bodega’s new album All Inside Aquarium as well as discussing his ATM: At This Moment podcast and upcoming film Jack London Calling.

To learn more about Bodega or to check out their music, please visit their website and Bandcamp page, respectively at http://bodega-band.com and https://bodegabk.bandcamp.com/.

You can also follow the band on Instagram and TikTok at @bodegabk and check out their videos at @bodegaNYC on YouTube.

To hear Ben’s interview with Milk Dick’s Mike Delaney on his ATM: At This Moment podcast, go to https://podcasts.apple.com/bw/podcast/s1-ep17-mike-delaney-cry-when-yr-young/id1759971591?i=1000678578548.

For information on Ben’s latest film project, Jack London Calling, and Pretorius Pictures generally, go to https://pretoriuspictures.tumblr.com/.

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 Ben’s introduction

2:06 Ben explains why he chose It Grows on You for this episode

3:40 Ben and Al address the band’s name

4:43 Ben talks about first getting acquainted with Milk Dick through their live shows

5:20 Ben notes how Milk Dick combines their playful and serious sides

9:44 Ben talks about the theatrical nature of Milk Dick’s music, particularly on “Bathroom Door”

15:22 Ben provides some history on Milk Dick

18:03 Ben highlights “Grey Shapes” as one of his favorite songs on the album

19:50 Ben ponders the meaning of “My BF, Socrates”

21:34 Ben and Al talk about their reactions to “Rhythm Rock”

23:55 Is “Beach Needles (Coney)” in poor taste or ironic?

28:03 Ben reveals which track from It Grows on You is his favorite

30:40 Ben and Al discuss the brevity of the album’s songs

32:27 Ben talks about Delaney’s ability to confront his dark side

34:24 Ben addresses how It Grows on You has continued to be an important part of his life

35:37 Ben explains why he is a musical obsessive (or “cultural consumer”)

40:53 Ben shares which album he has listened to dozens of times this year

42:55 Al and Ben grapple with the definition of post-punk and how it applies to All Inside Aquarium

50:44 Ben talks about Bodega’s ‘60s and ‘90s inspirations

57:16 Ben elaborates on why All Inside Aquarium is so riffy

58:37 Ben explains why he started the ATM: At This Moment podcast

1:02:36 Ben talks about his upcoming film Jack London Calling

Outro music is from “Pick up the Check” by Bodega.

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Los Angeles-based Americana singer-songwriter Paula Fong joins Al to introduce him to Gillian Welch’s 1996 album Revival. Paula explores what made Revival instantly appealing to her, and she explains why it continues to be one of her favorite albums and an important influence on her own music. Paula also discusses her new album A Bird on the Wing and her collaboration with Nickel Creek guitarist Sean Watkins on her cover of “Turn! Turn! Turn!”.

For information on Paula’s music, upcoming live dates and more, visit her website paulafong.com. You can also follow her on Instagram and YouTube at @paulafongmusic.

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.

1:11 Paula’s introduction

2:19 Paula recalls how she first got acquainted with Revival

4:49 Paula explains why she was drawn to the sound of Revival right away

7:40 Paula and Al talk about the authenticity of Welch’s music

9:48 Al had to warm up to the album

10:47 Paula talks about a formative experience she had with Celtic folk music

13:32 Paula and Al talk about the importance of formative experiences in shaping musical tastes

15:18 Paula talks about what she finds particularly striking about the songs on Revival

19:52 Paula and Al have very different reactions to “Paper Wings”

22:42 Paula explains what separates Revival from the rest of Welch’s discography

24:22 Paula notes how influential David Rawlings’ guitar playing has been

25:44 Paula cites the ways in which Welch and Rawlings have influenced her music

30:01 Paula and Al get more clues that they have very different tastes

31:56 Paula and Al talk about the value of repeated listening

33:14 Paula explains how she wound up collaborating with Watkins on her cover of “Turn! Turn! Turn!”

37:46 Paula goes into how her version of “Turn! Turn! Turn!” got arranged

40:30 Paula explains the story behind “What Are We Running From”

44:49 Paula talks about her upcoming live dates

Outro music is from “Up and Out” by Paula Fong.

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For this episode, virtuoso drummer Cindy Blackman Santana chose her 2020 album Give the Drummer Some as the focus for this discussion, but she and Al branch out into a wide-ranging conversation about several of her albums. Cindy talks about why she decided to write and sing lyrics for Give the Drummer Some, and she highlights some of the album’s notable tracks. Cindy also discusses her 2010 Tony Williams tribute album Another Lifetime, her recently-released album Coherence and the upcoming self-titled release for the supergroup Power of 3 (with Orianthi and Rhonda Smith).

As Cindy mentions on the episode, she has several live dates with her band over the next few months. Here are the dates for her shows in Baltimore and New York. For more information, go to cindyblackmansantana.com.

Oct. 24-25, Keystone Corner, Baltimore, MD

Dec. 4-6, Blue Note NYC, New York, NY

For more information on Cindy’s recordings and shows, give her a follow on these platforms…

Instagram, TikTok: @cindyblackmansantana

Facebook: @cindyblackmandrummer

The Power of 3 is also on Instagram at @thepowerof3official

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.

1:24 Cindy’s introduction

2:23 Cindy explains why she wanted to talk about Give the Drummer Some

3:45 Cindy talks about the song that led to her making Give the Drummer Some with Narada Michael Walden

6:46 Cindy recalls how she took on the challenge of becoming a vocalist

9:14 Cindy discusses the songwriting process for Give the Drummer Some

15:44 Cindy highlights some of her favorite things about Give the Drummer Some

18:28 Cindy talks about the recording process for Give the Drummer Some

20:05 Cindy revisits her Tony Williams tribute album Another Lifetime

21:48 Cindy explains how her “suite” for “Coherence” came together

28:11 Cindy talks about the formation of the new supergroup The Power of 3

32:04 Cindy discusses the vinyl version of Coherence and her upcoming live dates

Outro music is from “Guitar Love” by Cindy Blackman Santana (feat. John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana).

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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…

http://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.

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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://www.michaelrudd.com/

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.

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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.

https://www.wesleystace.com/

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.

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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:

http://www.iambossi.com

http://iambossi.bandcamp.com

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.

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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: http://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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 https://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.

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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.

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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 http://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.

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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 https://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.

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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 http://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.

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