Welcome to Episode 67 of This Is Not Happening. An Album of the Month podcast. In Part 1, we do a deep drive review of our Album of the Month. This month Joey brings a slice of sophisticated, R&B tinged pop with Eliza's Jill latest album 'The Darkening Green'.In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. This month the theme is 'Sophisticated Pop'. —— Part 1 | Album of the Month | Eliza | The Darkening Green ——Eliza is an enigma. She has recorded under a different name but has been recording under 'Eliza' for the past 10 years or so.After 3 long, very complex albums on the pod we take a new direction, 9 tracks and 35 minutes of sophisticated pop, stylish soul driven vibes. Its full of grooves, it's full of tunes and its full of all of the emotions. I have become quite obsessed with this and am recommending it to everyone.Listen to the original album here.Read some interviews and bits here and here.If you love this album like I do … buy it here. —————- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | New Music —————- The theme is Sophisticaed Pop … but we also get a bit confused between this and 'sophisti-pop' and to be honest, Nolan looses his shit. The task is pick a track that fits the theme, the objective, get more 'spins' than your friends. We each pick four tracks for a 16 track play list . We then each pick select 1 track and ask the simple question 'Spin It Or Bin It'?Nolan chose 'Dance Little Sister' by Sanada Maitreya.David chose 'Uncertain Smile' by The The.Joey chose 'Sweetest Taboo' by Sade.Guy chose 'Hold me Now' by Thompson Twins.We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look – https://thisisnothappening.net/
TINH happening is officially 60 episodes old. Happy 60th to us.
We’re missing a team member again this month. David is back and in the hot seat, Guy is off making beautiful memories with his family.
In Part 1, we review and Album of the Month. This month it’s Davide’s choice and he’s picked Moisturizer, the sophomore release from Wet Leg, British Post-Punk, Post-Pop band that were previously catapulted to fame by their break out single Chaise Longue. Tune in to find out what we all thought.
In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. This month the theme is ‘English With An Accent’.
—–Part 1 | Wet Leg | Moisturizer —–
Wet Leg, AKA ‘that Chaise Longue band’ started their career with a bang. Their first single Chaise Longue became a global hit and created a massive amount of attention. Could they ever break the curse of being a novelty, one hit wonder band …? Well, yes is the simple answer. Their first album proved that (partially) but this second album smashes that idea out the park. Listen to the episode for more detail but there’s a lot of positivity about this one.
Listen to the album, listen to the pod, tell us what you think. Here are some links that we mention on the pod or think could be useful to explore;
Welcome to Episode 67 of This Is Not Happening. An Album of the Month podcast. In Part 1, we do a deep drive review of our Album of the Month. This month Joey brings a slice of sophisticated, R&B tinged pop with Eliza's Jill latest album 'The Darkening Green'.In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. This month the theme is 'Sophisticated Pop'. —— Part 1 | Album of the Month | Eliza | The Darkening Green ——Eliza is an enigma. She has recorded under a different name but has been recording under 'Eliza' for the past 10 years or so.After 3 long, very complex albums on the pod we take a new direction, 9 tracks and 35 minutes of sophisticated pop, stylish soul driven vibes. Its full of grooves, it's full of tunes and its full of all of the emotions. I have become quite obsessed with this and am recommending it to everyone.Listen to the original album here.Read some interviews and bits here and here.If you love this album like I do … buy it here. —————- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | New Music —————- The theme is Sophisticaed Pop … but we also get a bit confused between this and 'sophisti-pop' and to be honest, Nolan looses his shit. The task is pick a track that fits the theme, the objective, get more 'spins' than your friends. We each pick four tracks for a 16 track play list . We then each pick select 1 track and ask the simple question 'Spin It Or Bin It'?Nolan chose 'Dance Little Sister' by Sanada Maitreya.David chose 'Uncertain Smile' by The The.Joey chose 'Sweetest Taboo' by Sade.Guy chose 'Hold me Now' by Thompson Twins.We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look – https://thisisnothappening.net/
Welcome to Episode 59 of This is Not Happening (TINH), an Album of the Month (AOTM) Podcast. We’re missing a team-member this month as Davide is on an Anglo-French diplomatic mission.
In Part 1 we deep dive into an Album that one of us has chosen and in Part 2 we play ‘Spin it or Bin it’. We pick a theme and each pick a song that represents that theme. We judge the selections by asking the question ‘Spin It or Bin It’?
In Part 1, Nolan is in the seat. He brings Little Sim’z new album, Lotus. This was a reluctant choice when he made it. He thought it was an interesting album but he was far from loving it. Has that changed in a month?
In Part 2, we celebrate New Music. What are our favourite new tracks from the last couple of months?
—–Part 1 | Little Simz | ‘Lotus’ —–
This is the 2nd Little Simz album we’re reviewed as our little Album of the Month collective. Last time round was here debut album Grey Area which would all pretty much loved. I think our experience of her work since then has varied significantly. This album has been launched in a quite dramatic and controversial environment following the collapse of Simz’ relationship with former collaborator Inflo. What does Simz sound like without Inflo? Let’s find out.
Listen to the album, listen to the pod, tell us what you think. Here are some links that we mention on the pod or think could be useful to explore;
The theme this month is New Music. Simple. What new tunes are we loving? There’s LOADS of amazing music out but we also need to pick something that we think the rest of us will vote ‘spin it’ to.
Welcome to Episode 67 of This Is Not Happening. An Album of the Month podcast. In Part 1, we do a deep drive review of our Album of the Month. This month Joey brings a slice of sophisticated, R&B tinged pop with Eliza's Jill latest album 'The Darkening Green'.In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. This month the theme is 'Sophisticated Pop'. —— Part 1 | Album of the Month | Eliza | The Darkening Green ——Eliza is an enigma. She has recorded under a different name but has been recording under 'Eliza' for the past 10 years or so.After 3 long, very complex albums on the pod we take a new direction, 9 tracks and 35 minutes of sophisticated pop, stylish soul driven vibes. Its full of grooves, it's full of tunes and its full of all of the emotions. I have become quite obsessed with this and am recommending it to everyone.Listen to the original album here.Read some interviews and bits here and here.If you love this album like I do … buy it here. —————- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | New Music —————- The theme is Sophisticaed Pop … but we also get a bit confused between this and 'sophisti-pop' and to be honest, Nolan looses his shit. The task is pick a track that fits the theme, the objective, get more 'spins' than your friends. We each pick four tracks for a 16 track play list . We then each pick select 1 track and ask the simple question 'Spin It Or Bin It'?Nolan chose 'Dance Little Sister' by Sanada Maitreya.David chose 'Uncertain Smile' by The The.Joey chose 'Sweetest Taboo' by Sade.Guy chose 'Hold me Now' by Thompson Twins.We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look – https://thisisnothappening.net/
This month’s podcast could be re-titled ‘How to Disagree Nicely. Welcome to Episode 58 of This is Not Happening (TINH), an Album of the Month (AOTM) Podcast.
In Part 1 we deep dive into an Album that one of us has chosen and in Part 2 we play ‘Spin it or Bin it’. We pick a theme and each pick a song that represents that theme. We judge the selections by asking the question ‘Spin It or Bin It’?
In Part 1, Guy is in the seat. He brings Lucy Dacus’ new album, Forever is a Feeling for us to consider and discuss.
In Part 2, we celebrate the summer, it was hear, it has already gone. Nolan’s specialist subject, the Summer Night track is our theme for Spin It or Bin It.
—–Part 1 | Lucy Dacus | ‘Forever is a Feeling’ —–
We have varying levels of experience and history with Lucy Dacus but Guy has fallen for this album in a big way. It’s Lucy’s 4th solo album and sits alongside her work as part of Boygenius. The album is a really easy listen, it can sit with you on repeat for a significant chunk of time. The question that we explore is, can penetrate beyond a nice listen … opinions vary but at least one of us has this in their album of the year list at this point in the year.
Listen to the album, listen to the pod, tell us what you think. Here are some links that we mention on the pod or think could be useful to explore;
The theme this month is ‘Summer Nights’. Which tracks give us big summer night vibes. Ever since I’ve known Nolan he has always immediately given songs a season, I’ve never known anyone think as ‘seasonally’ about music. So no pressure but we play Spin It or Bin it with his specialist subject!
Welcome to Episode 67 of This Is Not Happening. An Album of the Month podcast. In Part 1, we do a deep drive review of our Album of the Month. This month Joey brings a slice of sophisticated, R&B tinged pop with Eliza's Jill latest album 'The Darkening Green'.In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. This month the theme is 'Sophisticated Pop'. —— Part 1 | Album of the Month | Eliza | The Darkening Green ——Eliza is an enigma. She has recorded under a different name but has been recording under 'Eliza' for the past 10 years or so.After 3 long, very complex albums on the pod we take a new direction, 9 tracks and 35 minutes of sophisticated pop, stylish soul driven vibes. Its full of grooves, it's full of tunes and its full of all of the emotions. I have become quite obsessed with this and am recommending it to everyone.Listen to the original album here.Read some interviews and bits here and here.If you love this album like I do … buy it here. —————- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | New Music —————- The theme is Sophisticaed Pop … but we also get a bit confused between this and 'sophisti-pop' and to be honest, Nolan looses his shit. The task is pick a track that fits the theme, the objective, get more 'spins' than your friends. We each pick four tracks for a 16 track play list . We then each pick select 1 track and ask the simple question 'Spin It Or Bin It'?Nolan chose 'Dance Little Sister' by Sanada Maitreya.David chose 'Uncertain Smile' by The The.Joey chose 'Sweetest Taboo' by Sade.Guy chose 'Hold me Now' by Thompson Twins.We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look – https://thisisnothappening.net/
This month we struggle with very conscious bias when we discuss how much we love Perfume Genius’ new album Glory. Welcome to Episode 57 of This is Not Happening (TINH), an Album of the Month (AOTM) Podcast.
In Part 1 we deep dive into an Album that one of us has chosen and in Part 2 we play ‘Spin it or Bin it’. We pick a theme and each pick a song that represents that theme. We judge the selections by asking the question ‘Spin It or Bin It’?
In Part 1, Joey is in the seat and basically bangs on about how much he loves Perfume Genius.
In Part 2, we celebrate contemporary queer music and play Spin It or Bin It with the theme. Joey’s track is unfairly and poorly treated … as is David’s but two other bangers make up for it.
—–Part 1 | Perfume Genius | ‘Glory’ —–
I love Perfume Genius. Always have … barring something horrific happening, I always will. I love him so much that I get nervous when a new album comes out. And this one is a belter. But is it for the fan-people or is there enough to attract and entertain newcomers?
Listen to the album, listen to the pod, tell us what you think.
—–Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | ‘Contemporary Queer’ —–
Music has always been massive to the Gay and Queer community and has always been an interesting area of crossover. Has it changed? What ever, we’re here to celebrate.
We’ve all had an album and/or artist that we’ve wanted to discuss on the pod. Often, as written many-a-time, the record release gods simply don’t play ball. With me and Perfume Genius, this is not the case. I’ve actually carefully avoided bringing any of Michael Hadreas’ albums to the pod. He’s mine. I don’t feel the need or the desire to share him. Of course I am joking, except that I’m not. Get your grubby little fingers of my guy.
My relationship with Perfume Genius goes back to late 2010. I had just had my first child, I had a lot of spare time. Pitchfork featured the single ‘Mr. Peterson’ (from PG’s debut album ‘Learning’) on their top tracks of the year playlist. I fell in love immediately. It was odd. It was deeply personal. It probably spoke of child protection offences. It made me cry. I felt it deeply and believed in it and of the Perfume Genius construct.
Then in 2012, PG released ‘Put Your Back N 2 It’. A 12 track, sub-33-min sophomore release. It was brutally beautiful, honest and for me, perfect. I listened to it an unhealthy amount and I still do. However, this is the album that ruined PG for me. There is no way that any album he makes will do to me what this album did. I kind of only ever want to talk about that album on the pod … but that ship has clearly sailed.
PG has since released at least 5 more studio albums including this one, Glory. The 2 albums that followed ‘Put Your Back N 2 It’, ‘Too Bright’ and ‘No Shape’ are incredible. The two that followed ‘Set My Heart …’ and ‘Ugly Season’ are both amazing albums in their own right. But none were ‘Put You Back N 2 It’ and none will be. Basically, what I am saying is, I get properly nervous when a new PG albums is inbound.
Exploring ‘Glory’
On March 28th, Glory was released, 11 tracks (thank you), 41 mins (thank you). The release, as is now common, was preceded by 3 singles, all of which were special. ‘It’s a Mirror’ is full bombastic Hadreas pop and felt similar to lead singles off Too Bright, No Shape and ‘Set My Heart …’, ‘No Front Teeth’ felt different and odd and angular, Clean Heart was, Michael in full on ‘Crooner’ mode which we’ve heard on previous work and has become something of a trademark. What was less special, is that it became clear that these were the 1st 3 tracks on the album. I don’t like this, I have a problem with this. It makes your experience with the album odd on first listen and it perhaps warns of an odd track sequencing?
Despite the album opening with the 3 singles, sequenced in order of release, the album feels like it’s perfectly put together … if you spend enough time with it and learn to understand the flow. We’ve reviewed another album that was similar recently but I can’t recall which one.
The first ‘new’ track is track 4, ‘Me & Angel’ which is Perfume Genius in full on, traditional, piano driven big ballad mode. This will feel super familiar to PG fans and is reminiscent of some of the tracks that I adore on ‘Put Your Back N It’. The ‘angel’ motif is not new in PG songs either, one of the many little ‘easter eggs’ for those in the know. PG has this habit of writing songs that feel like fucked up hymns, with irreverent angles and beauty available for those willing to give themselves into it.
Next up is “Left for Tomorrow’ that is an atmospheric track with haunting, wafer-thin, wispy vocals that seems to mesh with the organs and synths that provide the space filling sounds that drive the track. It’s a beautiful thing. There is a real, live, band like feel to this track, a perfectly synced jam session feel to the recording. It’s beautifully produced and instrumented and provides an amazing end to Side A.
The start to ‘Side B’ is the track that opened this album up for me ‘Full On’. This is one of the two tracks that almost feel like they could belong on ‘Put Your Back N 2 It’. There’s a raw, stripped back energy to the track that I can’t put my finger on. It’s actually quite complex with woodwind and lucious harp plucks but there is something about how his voice is recorded that brings back memories of his 2nd album. I am here all day for US High School imagery and the line ‘I saw every quarterback crying, laid up on the grass, nodding like a violet’ is a line that you could write a whole film around when it’s set in the atmosphere of this track.
Capezio is an odd, wonky, druggy, David Lynch movie soundtrack song. It re-introdces us to ‘Jason’, a character that has their own PG track named after them (on ‘Set My Heart …’). I feel very at home with PG when he is in this ethereal mood. I don’t think he writes and records tracks like this without first releasing more experimental and challenging albums like ‘Ugly Season’.
Dion, returns to piano driven balladry but with a large dose of the ethereal, again, similar to tracks like ‘All Waters’ on ‘Put Your Back’ (which is synth driven not piano but still). The soundscape that accompanies the piano threatens to take over, the discordance almost boils over but never does, it resolves perfectly.
… and it resolves and returns you to my favourite track ‘In a Row’. Yes, you’re right, its a song about being kidnapped and driven around in the boot of a car. Michael talks about the song being about seeking thrilling experiences, making poor choices. The atmosphere that he creates is both spine chilling but at the same time is utterly euphoric. Given the subject matter and his history of drug abuse, addiction and recovery, the final result is a master class in telling complex stories, in simple terms. The line ‘take me the long way round’ is a stroke of genius song writing. I love love love love love this track, the only thing I don’t like is that it only last three and a half minutes.
The album ends with two tracks that bring the energy down a little from the euphoria of ‘taking the long way round’ a thrilling if utterly dangerous experience. ‘Hanging Out’ returns us to the (even)dark(er) side of Perfume Genius. The track is both small and massive at the same time. This and the final track Glory might be a step into weirdness too far for some. They are both beautiful but in a much more brutal and visceral way to the tracks like Angel & Me.
I think Ugly Season was PG practicing and perfecting the journey into the weird, the wonky and the odd. The end of this album makes the whole thing feel like a soundtrack to a film that we’ve not seen but exists in Michael’s head.
Welcome to Episode 67 of This Is Not Happening. An Album of the Month podcast. In Part 1, we do a deep drive review of our Album of the Month. This month Joey brings a slice of sophisticated, R&B tinged pop with Eliza's Jill latest album 'The Darkening Green'.In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. This month the theme is 'Sophisticated Pop'. —— Part 1 | Album of the Month | Eliza | The Darkening Green ——Eliza is an enigma. She has recorded under a different name but has been recording under 'Eliza' for the past 10 years or so.After 3 long, very complex albums on the pod we take a new direction, 9 tracks and 35 minutes of sophisticated pop, stylish soul driven vibes. Its full of grooves, it's full of tunes and its full of all of the emotions. I have become quite obsessed with this and am recommending it to everyone.Listen to the original album here.Read some interviews and bits here and here.If you love this album like I do … buy it here. —————- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | New Music —————- The theme is Sophisticaed Pop … but we also get a bit confused between this and 'sophisti-pop' and to be honest, Nolan looses his shit. The task is pick a track that fits the theme, the objective, get more 'spins' than your friends. We each pick four tracks for a 16 track play list . We then each pick select 1 track and ask the simple question 'Spin It Or Bin It'?Nolan chose 'Dance Little Sister' by Sanada Maitreya.David chose 'Uncertain Smile' by The The.Joey chose 'Sweetest Taboo' by Sade.Guy chose 'Hold me Now' by Thompson Twins.We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look – https://thisisnothappening.net/
We dispense with the niceties this month and discuss an album where we have quite differing opinions. Welcome to Episode 56 of This is Not Happening (TINH), an Album of the Month (AOTM) Podcast.
In Part 1 we deep dive into an Album that one of us has chosen and in Part 2 we play ‘Spin it or Bin it’. We pick a theme and each pick a song that represents that theme. We judge the selections by asking the question ‘Spin It or Bin It’?
In Part 1, David, resident ‘Pop Being’, has the pleasure of presenting an album from one of his genuine musical obsessions. ‘Saya’ the latest release by Saya Gray.
In Part 2, following the theme of ‘Saya’, break-up and heart-break, we play Spin It or Bin It with the simple theme of ‘Heart Break’ with no additional rules!
—–Part 1 | Saya Gray | ‘Saya’ —–
To say David is a Saya Gray fan is something of an understatement. He has been championing the strange sounds of Saya for nearly 3 years. Nobody’s really sure if this is her debut album or not but that’s not important. It is an album and an artist that has divided opinion on the pod. 2 of us love this album, 1 of us doesn’t, and 1 of us has had such a busy month at work that we have no idea what they think pre-recording.
Regardless of how we feel about this album individually, we all think it’s an album that deserves a listen. Listen to the album, listen to the pod, tell us what you think.
Was music originally created to express heart-break? Probably not but it definitely feels like it when you start looking for your favourite tracks that embrace the subject. We’ve chosen a track each that may not be what you expect.
Welcome to Episode 67 of This Is Not Happening. An Album of the Month podcast. In Part 1, we do a deep drive review of our Album of the Month. This month Joey brings a slice of sophisticated, R&B tinged pop with Eliza's Jill latest album 'The Darkening Green'.In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. This month the theme is 'Sophisticated Pop'. —— Part 1 | Album of the Month | Eliza | The Darkening Green ——Eliza is an enigma. She has recorded under a different name but has been recording under 'Eliza' for the past 10 years or so.After 3 long, very complex albums on the pod we take a new direction, 9 tracks and 35 minutes of sophisticated pop, stylish soul driven vibes. Its full of grooves, it's full of tunes and its full of all of the emotions. I have become quite obsessed with this and am recommending it to everyone.Listen to the original album here.Read some interviews and bits here and here.If you love this album like I do … buy it here. —————- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | New Music —————- The theme is Sophisticaed Pop … but we also get a bit confused between this and 'sophisti-pop' and to be honest, Nolan looses his shit. The task is pick a track that fits the theme, the objective, get more 'spins' than your friends. We each pick four tracks for a 16 track play list . We then each pick select 1 track and ask the simple question 'Spin It Or Bin It'?Nolan chose 'Dance Little Sister' by Sanada Maitreya.David chose 'Uncertain Smile' by The The.Joey chose 'Sweetest Taboo' by Sade.Guy chose 'Hold me Now' by Thompson Twins.We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look – https://thisisnothappening.net/
The awesome albums keep coming early in 2025 and we’d love to introduce on to you today. Welcome to Episode 55 of This is Not Happening (TINH), an Album of the Month (AOTM) Podcast.
In Part 1 we deep dive into an Album that one of us has chosen and in Part 2 we play ‘Spin it or Bin it’. We pick a theme and each pick a song that represents that theme. We judge the selections by asking the question ‘Spin It or Bin It’?
In Part 1, Nolan, resident Hip Hop head stays true to form and brings a new album from a 47 year old artist! Brother Ali’s ‘Satisfied Soul’.
In Part 2, following Brother Ali’s exploration of peace, love, faith and religion, our Spin It or Bin It, our theme this month is ‘Religion’.
—–Part 1 | Brother Ali | Satisfied Soul —–
Nolan has been trying to introduce Brother Ali to us for years but … there’s a lot of music and not a lot of time. Previous album releases have not lined up with podcasts but this time they did! Satisfied Soul is an album that is worth any music fan spending some time with. It is not a niche hip hop album for niche hip hop fans. It’s soul music. It’s pop music. It’s Hip Hop. It’s intelligent. It’s massively thought provoking and massively accessible to anyone with an open mind and an open ear.
Popular music and religion have been uncomfortable bedfellows since … forever. We agreed to each select a track that ‘tackles’ the theme of religion in any way shape or form;
Welcome to Episode 67 of This Is Not Happening. An Album of the Month podcast. In Part 1, we do a deep drive review of our Album of the Month. This month Joey brings a slice of sophisticated, R&B tinged pop with Eliza's Jill latest album 'The Darkening Green'.In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. This month the theme is 'Sophisticated Pop'. —— Part 1 | Album of the Month | Eliza | The Darkening Green ——Eliza is an enigma. She has recorded under a different name but has been recording under 'Eliza' for the past 10 years or so.After 3 long, very complex albums on the pod we take a new direction, 9 tracks and 35 minutes of sophisticated pop, stylish soul driven vibes. Its full of grooves, it's full of tunes and its full of all of the emotions. I have become quite obsessed with this and am recommending it to everyone.Listen to the original album here.Read some interviews and bits here and here.If you love this album like I do … buy it here. —————- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | New Music —————- The theme is Sophisticaed Pop … but we also get a bit confused between this and 'sophisti-pop' and to be honest, Nolan looses his shit. The task is pick a track that fits the theme, the objective, get more 'spins' than your friends. We each pick four tracks for a 16 track play list . We then each pick select 1 track and ask the simple question 'Spin It Or Bin It'?Nolan chose 'Dance Little Sister' by Sanada Maitreya.David chose 'Uncertain Smile' by The The.Joey chose 'Sweetest Taboo' by Sade.Guy chose 'Hold me Now' by Thompson Twins.We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look – https://thisisnothappening.net/
Another year, another month, another pod. Welcome to Episode 54 of This is Not Happening (TINH), an Album of the Month (AOTM) Podcast. In Part 1 we deep dive into an Album that one of us has chosen and in Part 2 we play ‘Spin it or Bin it’. We pick a theme and each pick a song that represents that theme. We judge the selections by asking the question ‘Spin It or Bin It’?
In Part 1, Joey hosts a bit of a love-in on The Weather Station’s 7th album Humanhood.
In Part 2, Spin It or Bin It, our theme this month is ‘New Music’, tracks from the past 2-3 months.
—–Part 1 | The Weather Station | Humanhood —–
One of the rare times that we’ve double dipped on artist, we return to Tamara Linderman and The Weather Station. In 2021 we all (eventually) loved Ignorance. An album focusing largely on nature and the climate crisis. It was an album of global concerns. Humanhood is feels quite different, it feels deeply personal but retains global relevance in different ways.
I think this is going to be a big one for the pod this year. I know Joey and David will love this album but not so sure about Nolan and Guy. We discuss the album in comparison to Ignorance, we talk about production and sound mixing, percussion backing vocals and lovely lovely woodwind.
January / February is usually a great time for new tracks. This year is no exception. Let’s celebrate that. We each pick a new track and ask each other ‘Spin It or Bin It?’
Welcome to Episode 67 of This Is Not Happening. An Album of the Month podcast. In Part 1, we do a deep drive review of our Album of the Month. This month Joey brings a slice of sophisticated, R&B tinged pop with Eliza's Jill latest album 'The Darkening Green'.In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. This month the theme is 'Sophisticated Pop'. —— Part 1 | Album of the Month | Eliza | The Darkening Green ——Eliza is an enigma. She has recorded under a different name but has been recording under 'Eliza' for the past 10 years or so.After 3 long, very complex albums on the pod we take a new direction, 9 tracks and 35 minutes of sophisticated pop, stylish soul driven vibes. Its full of grooves, it's full of tunes and its full of all of the emotions. I have become quite obsessed with this and am recommending it to everyone.Listen to the original album here.Read some interviews and bits here and here.If you love this album like I do … buy it here. —————- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | New Music —————- The theme is Sophisticaed Pop … but we also get a bit confused between this and 'sophisti-pop' and to be honest, Nolan looses his shit. The task is pick a track that fits the theme, the objective, get more 'spins' than your friends. We each pick four tracks for a 16 track play list . We then each pick select 1 track and ask the simple question 'Spin It Or Bin It'?Nolan chose 'Dance Little Sister' by Sanada Maitreya.David chose 'Uncertain Smile' by The The.Joey chose 'Sweetest Taboo' by Sade.Guy chose 'Hold me Now' by Thompson Twins.We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look – https://thisisnothappening.net/
Another month, another pod. Welcome to Episode 513 of This is Not Happening (TINH), an Album of the Month (AOTM) Podcast. In Part 1 we deep dive into an Album that one of us has chosen and in Part 2 we play ‘Spin it or Bin it’. This is where we pick a theme and each select a song that represents that theme. We judge each others selections by asking the question ‘Spin It or Bin It’?
This month, in Part 1, Guy hosts an interesting discussion on Father John Misty’s (FJM) latest album, Mahashmashana. 50% of the Pod love FJM, 50% don’t!
In Part 2, Spin It or Bin It, our theme this month is ‘Location, Location, Location’, or ‘songs about places’ and it’s a belter!
Part 1 | Father John Misty | Mahashmashana
We often review artists that we all love. This month this is not the case. 2 of us love FJM, one of us gets very angry when listening to FJM and one of us doesn’t really have an opinion. Can this album keep the fans happy and win over the angry and the non-plussed?
Given the above, this is a surprisingly well mannered and coherent conversation about FJMs latest album. There’s only 8 tracks but they’re all pretty long. We discuss songwriting, song length and album themes like ageing and the associated ego deaths that accompany it.
Watch some of the videos for the tracks discussed … HERE
Watch the World Cafe interview that we reference on the pod … HERE
Watch a live performance of lead single ‘She Cleans Up’ … HERE
Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | ‘Location, Location, Location’
Songs about places are really common. It’s a theme explored by many (most?) artists at some point in their songwriting. This was a great chat and 4 great track selections.
Guy chose Paris by Friendly Fires feat. Au Revioire Simone.
Before we get into anything else, please listen to this album as loud as your device enables as it one of the best sounding albums I’ve heard in a long time. It’s a thing of sonic beauty.
We return to Tamara Lindeman’s The Weather Station and their 7th album, Humanhood. In 2021 we pretty much all loved their 5th album ‘Ignorance’. It was their career changing release and despite the lock down world that championed it, brought Lindeman to mainstream attention. She felt like a new discovery that just happened to have 4 previous albums under her belt.
Her debut album, ‘All of it Was Mine’, released in 2011 was her way of coping with the loss of someone very close in her life. She was not previously a musician, she was always deeply musical but she was an actor. I think it is telling that Lindeman has said of this new release that this is the album that the debut should have been. It is significantly more personally emotional than Ignorance, something that spending a little time with the album and the lyrics will underline.
Before we get into the tracks, a few overview points on the album. This is a 13 track album, that has differing energies through the first two thirds than it’s final third. The spoken word track, Irreversible Damage marks a pivot point in the album and three tracks that follow feel different to the nine that precede it. This is not a negative, just an observation. The tempo drops, the energy changes but the tracks are still beautiful. The final track, ‘Sewing’ is a gorgeous way to end the album.
Lindeman records this album with a 6 piece band comprising the Weather Station. They recorded mostly live as a band though it’s never clear how much is overdubbed? The sound of the album is incredible. I think partly this comes from the (relatively) live recording approach but also the post recording management of the sound. Lindeman gets a co-producer credit but was also critical to the mixing of the album. For me, when I listen to it, I am drawn immediately to the wind instruments that play a huge role in the overall sound. The bass is also a real stand out as is the percussion that is varied and adds drive but also a huge amount of texture to the tracks. There are semi hidden instruments that are easier to pick out after a number of listens and at the right volume , the banjo on the title track is a real stand out.
In terms of stand out tracks … and I am writing this on day 3 of my time with the album;
Neon Lights is the clear radio friendly ‘single’ and could have sat very comfortably on Ignorance. To anyone with significant experience with Ignorance, they will feel like they are in familiar hands with the way that this track opens up the album.
Keeping the radio friendly, more traditional rock feel going Neon Lights leads into Miror and then Window. David loves his runs of ridiculous tracks on albums and this trio is a belter. Just because I say ‘radio friendly’ these songs are not conventional radio rock. Lindeman has always sat in the middle of a triangle or rock, folk and jazz and this run of tracks punctuates this point perfectly.
Track 6 is an ‘instrumental’ interlude of static and synth ambience, it’s only 45 ish seconds and hints that something is about to change.
And Body Moves is that thing. Is this my favourite track? At the point of writing this it is but there is so much to choose from. This tracks feels so personal, for the writer and for the listener. It’s a truly beautiful experience. Synths are important to this track and they help the track wash over you if you choose … or pull you in if you choose. The backing vocals are a perfect accompaniment to the synths. The instrumentation builds and builds. Always calm but within that calmness is a stunning crescendo of sorts.
The album moves into ‘Passage’ and then another short interlude and then into the stunning title track. This feels the most urgent track of the album. There is a sense of subtle anxiety that feels new. And perhaps Irreversible Damage is the respite that is required after that escalation. It is a longer, ‘instrumental’ track that has a spoken word element that sits super low in the mix.
What’s left is three closing tracks, where the energy is lower, calmer, more classicly introspective. You get 2 ballads with Aurora, another shorter interlude between them.
The final track of the three and of the album is ‘Sewing’. If Body Moves isn’t my favourite track then Sewing is. It could have been written by any of the best songwriters in the past 40 years. It has a timeless quality to it that instantly hits the ears and the emotions. It is to this album what Kintsugi is to Lana’s latest. But for me, it’s placement as the closer suits it’s qualities perfectly. The track is cut in 2 by a climactic synth sound that comes from nowhere and is soon gone. It’s a stunning sonic impulse that is as effective as it is unexpected.
I hope it’s clear that I already love this. I think it’s a stunning record. I think we will all like it. I think at least 2 of us will love it. It’s only January and I would be highly surprised if this is not in our top 10 for this year.
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