It may be a bonus minisode of Sound for Thought, but it's packed with musical goodness. Marcos Vaca soundtracks his life story, or uh.. 3 different people's life stories.

The first BBBBonus episode of Bands, Beers & Buzzwords. A Music News segment from the great John Pagliassotti with special guest Mitchell Altman. They discuss the Outside Lands lineup for 2023. With a special story about Father John Misty.

Fond memories of first bands, pre-show rituals besides drugs and alcohol, and then specifically stories about alcohol.

This one features Connor Anthony, of Cultivate. Check out their music. Wanna be a guest star on a future episode of The Roundtable? Sign up to be a Melomaniac at patreon.com/redefiningrecords to get your chance and more.

Mitchell Altman, an outsider artist joins the program. You can’t hear his very strange work anywhere, but John trusts him so you should too. He has several pages of notes. And those notes are all about Ween’s second album The Pod. An album as brown as can be. Barbed wire covered in mud. The dirtiest sounds in the world, but it’s so good. If you think you don’t like Ween, we suggest you stop that and start worshipping Ween now. Grab a brew and play along, gulp (responsibly) and chomp a porkroll egg and cheese whenever Mitchell says a buzzword!

“I really think everybody can make cool songs, if they try.” Marcos Vaca joins the program for an excellent discussion of all things music. Marcos and I talk about how each of us met the great Jake Marino, the process of combining musical influences, what it means to have a signature sound, the idea of never being finished with a piece of art, and more. Marcos tells the story of his own musical journey, and most importantly, the reason why he makes music. Featured tracks: I Need You Now (More Than I Did Then) and Bastille Day.

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Crying at concerts, embarrassing moments, and Battle of the Bands bamboozlement.

Two people are better than one broh, Soleil Engin of Puddlejumper and producer / multi-instrumentalist Owen Korzec talk shop with Jakey Bakey. Who even needs a consistent format?

Jake Marino AKA Count Harriet of the brand new Trust the Process Podcast joins the program to break down the album 5 by SAULT. One of eleven studio albums released since 2019 by the prolific British music collective, Jake and John discuss how 5 redefines the concept of lo-fi, disregards any notion that lyrics need to be comprehensible, and perfectly blends a plethora of different musical genres and eras to create a contemporary classic. Grab a drink and play along, nurse a negroni (responsibly) whenever Jake says a buzzword!

“That’s the hater in me coming out…cause I just know I’m gonna hate it, and hate gives me enjoyment.” This episode features the incredibly talented, all around good guy, Jake Marino of Count Harriet! He’s also the host of a brand new podcast from Redefing Records called Trust the Process. Jake and I talk about the important things in life like the miracle of birth, SNL, and dogs. Jake tells us how and why he fell in love with playing guitar. And most importantly Jake explains why he makes music! Featured tracks: Tired Lies (world premiere!) and Stranger Things.

Magic ~ Fingers and Count Harriet make a Christmas song, broh. You can too, if you believe.

Jack Kellems of Shock Therapy, better known for his work delivering food for DoorDash, joins our boy John Pagliassotti for a brand new episode of the UK’s favorite-ish music history podcast. They dive deep on The Commercial Album by The Residents released in 1980 by Ralph Records. Both the album and this episode are at times “out there”, bizarre, even spooky, but also intriguing and guaranteed to make you think. Grab a drink and play along, take a swig or two (responsibly) whenever Jack says a buzzword!

“There’s certain things and people and places… that make you feel more musical, that just make you want to intuitively spend more time in, or invest in.” Brooklyn-based ambient artist Corntuth joins the show for a wonderfully meaningful conversation. We chat about living in how he got into ambient music, learning songwriting, demoitist, instruments as tools and how they inform the music creation process, plus much more. Most importantly, Corntuth explains why he makes music! Featured tracks: E-004 and C-003.

Read through the following story, put yourself in the shoes of this fictional character, and do this while listening to Delta Dagger’s album along the way. Simply hit play on each embedded song link found above each scene before you begin reading.

This EP is unique; it plays as one 8-minute-50-second-long musical suite, divided into four parts: Endless (1st), Endless (2nd), Endless (3rd), and Endless (Home). This idea plays out amazingly well in the format of an EP, bringing a level of artistic direction and clarity of purpose not often found in the short-format music tailored to satisfy Sp*tify’s all-knowing algorithm. It is basically a mini concept album.

Picture a room with Gordon from Double Wonderful, the utmost authority on The Dan, and our host John Pagliassotti, who references The Dan in almost every episode of this show, FINALLY doing a long awaited breakdown of a full studio album from Steely Dan. Dive deep with us on their 1980 release through MCA Records, Gaucho and get lost in the sauce just like Fagen and Becker. If you’re a member of any Steely Dan Facebook groups then this is the podcast for you. Grab a drink and play along, sip a beverage (responsibly) or partake in some fine Colombian (legally) whenever Gordon says a buzzword!

Jake Marino AKA Count Harriet joins the program for the first time, and Andrew Shults is back from the dead again alongside the most frighteningly talented podcast host in the multiverse John Pagliassotti for a very special spooooooky Halloween edition of Bands, Beers & Buzzwords! We discuss 6 of our favorite Halloween-themed songs and share some SCARY STORIES of our own. Don’t be a C.R.E.E.P! Grab a magic potion and play along, take a drink of your concoction whenever someone says a buzzword!

“I’ve never felt like I’ve been making music truer to how I want it to sound until now.” Dream-rock singer-songwriter Chloe Gallardo stops by the podcast for an enchanting chat. We discuss all sorts of things like how growing up in Orange County with a very musically talented family impacted her sound, how she handles social media and self-promotion as an indie artist, how she breaks out of writer’s block, the inspirations behind her new single and upcoming album, and so much more. Most importantly, Chloe explains why she makes music! Featured tracks: Cutting It Close and Fool’s Keeper.

Matt Pelletier of The Hypno Rings joins the program as the first face-to-face interview of the sorta-post-pandemic age of Bands, Beers & Buzzwords. He joins our host Johnny Pags in the newly designed top secret Redefining Records research facility to discuss the weirdly accessible and accessibly weird King Crimson album, Discipline. Released in 1981 by E.G. Records and Warner Bros. Records, the fearless dictator Robert Fripp led an all-star cast of prog rock greats and new wave trailblazers into creating music that masterfully transitioned the band from the 70s to the 80s. It’s got freaky instruments, guitar solos that don’t sound like guitars, lyrics that don’t rhyme, a member who leaves the group to become a monk, and rules that are made to be broken! This one’s a doozy in the best way possible. Grab a drink and play along, sip a beverage (responsibly) whenever Matt says a buzzword!

“When everything is gone for me, music will still be there.” The multitalented musician, actor and podcaster, Parker Wierling, joins the show and we dig deep. We chat about his new single “With A Little Love,” moving from ATL to LA back to ATL, the appeal and dangers of being a madgenius dedicated to one craft, his musical genesis story, a transformative Beatles listening experience, working at the edge of your comfort zone, his podcast On That Note, listening to albums in full and so much more. Most importantly, Parker explains why he makes music. Featured tracks: With A Little Love and Silver Words.

Bob Zany, comedian/lecturer and actor known for his appearances in The Gong Show, Joe Dirt, and Close but No Cigar, joins our very own John Pagliossotti on the podcast to discuss the underrated but classic Supertramp album, Breakfast in America. Released in 1979 by A&M records, this album is playful and fun to listen to, and definitely not an attempt to lampoon American culture! This episode is chock full of jokes, bits, and name-drops to both celebrities and John’s parents alike. As Bob says, “if we’re not laughing, we’re crying,” so stop what you’re doing and take a listen. Grab a drink and play along, or just rub some CBD oil on yourself whenever Bob says a buzzword!

Emily Arlen, the newest member of the Redefining Records Super Secret Task Force joins the show to discuss The Slow Rush by Tame Impala, released in 2020. A noticeably hungover John Pagliassotti is supported by special co-host Andrew Shults as the crew discusses the return of live music, how this record captures a multitude of moments especially the pandemic era, the evolution of Kevin Parker, emu sanctuaries, ostrich farms and more! Emily thoughtfully guides us through the deeper meanings behind the lyrics of this disco, hip-hop, R&B-inspired album. It’s about TIME (literally). Grab a drink and play along, snort some beer (responsibly) whenever Emily says a buzzword!

“When I'm working on songs and feeling really pumped about them, there really is no better feeling.” Strath, an indie synth-pop artist originally from Melbourne, but now based in LA, joins the show and we cover a lot of ground in our conversation. We chat about his ‘cliche’ experience of moving to LA to pursue music, how he was inspired to play the sax by Sesame Street, ‘mucking around’ on Logic Pro, NFTs, a transformative experience seeing Frank Ocean live in Sweden, his upcoming EP Soon Everything Will Be Perfect, cooking, Lebron James fandom and so much more. Most importantly, Strath explains why he makes music. Featured tracks: Watertight and I Like The Look Of Today.

Art of Conversation are an idyllic indie five-piece out of Detroit Michigan, and their first single, “Sunset of My Mind” is a wonderfully crafted acoustic soundscape that gives listeners remnants of early Father John Misty and Fleet Foxes.

Ricardo Morin, formerly of RabbitFoot, breaks ground on Bands, Beers & Buzzwords with our very first discussion on The Beatles. He and our host John talk about Magical Mystery Tour, released in 1967 through Parlophone and Capitol Records. Dubbed as one of the most underrated Beatles albums, sandwiched in between two titans (Sgt. Pepper’s and The White Album,) it’s full of classic tracks and hidden gems alike. Whether you’re a casual or die-hard Beatles fan, listen and enjoy a breakdown of John and Paul’s different writing styles, and debate a few popular conspiracy theories with us. Grab a drink and play along, snort some beer (responsibly) whenever Ricardo says a buzzword!

Honest, raw, and refreshing. Spurts nine-track LP, The Long Haul, is a wonderfully crafted culmination of the last few years of Robert’s life. It's a jumbled assortment of memories, moments, and snapshots, strung together to emphasize just how long the last couple of years have really felt.

Sean Perry of The Shakes, whose new single “Six Feet Below” just dropped, comes on the program to breakdown Disintegration by The Cure. Robert Smith’s masterpiece was released in 1989 by Fiction Records and represents a true, stereotypical but not schlocky, 80s record. The listening experience is akin to taking a walk through a John Hughes film with its euphoric melodies, lush sonic landscapes, and colorful instrumentation paired with somewhat depressing and downtrodden lyrics. Our host, John, dives into all the details of this alternative pop album with Sean while digressing into chats about The Shakes’ music, the attention economy, Spotify, guitar builds, and philosophical conundrums. Grab a drink and play along, drink (responsibly) whenever Sean says a buzzword!

“Music is the only thing that makes sense to me.” Sean Perry of The Shakes, an infectious indie pop band from SoCal, joins the show and we talk about how he grew up in Seattle, how his parents and sister got him obsessed with music, his songwriting process, creating music that is both happy and sad, how retiring can be a good career move, shitty movies, baseball fandom, the pros and cons of social media and streaming, the future of music and so much more. Most importantly, Sean explains why he makes music. Featured tracks: Six Feet Below and I Just Want to Feel Something.

Thom: The Trash Palace Sultan of the Winner Gets Nothing Podcast joins our host John Pagliassotti on Bands, Beers & Buzzwords, a podcast that is anti-Satan but pro-troll. The album under discussion on this one is Animal Collective’s Strawberry Jam, released in 2007 on Domino Records. Familiar but foreign, modern and psychedelic, the sounds on this record will take you back to a time of childlike imagination. It’s a cohesive work of art with ebbs and flows, valleys and peaks, and it begs to be listened to from start to finish. Thom draws connections to The Beach Boys and The Beatles, John brings up Pink Floyd and Radiohead AGAIN. Grab a drink and play along, drink (responsibly) whenever Thom says a buzzword!

“I feel like music that you release is kind of like... a snapshot of what your life was like at that time.” Eliza Klatt of Australian indie pop-punk band Eliza & The Delusionals comes on the show and we talk about her musical origin story, how she accidentally started playing bass, the long reward process of making music, how she has evolved as a person since starting the band, learning from relationships that come and go while navigating the music industry, being proud of your songs, trusting your gut instincts, and so so much more. As always, and most importantly, Eliza explains why she makes music. Featured tracks: YOU and Sentimental.

Luke Knapp, guitarist and singer-songwriter of Big Softy, joins our host Mr. John Pagliassotti of Delta Dagger on the program to discuss De Stijl, the second album from legendary rock revivalist The White Stripes. There’s no fat on this album, it harkens back to a simpler time of old Detroit blues and punk inspired garage rock. There’s tasty lo-fi guitar riffs and distorted harmonica parts that are sick af, plus occasional mellow organic vibes and simplistic songwriting at its best. Luke and John break down the history of Jack White and his many musical ventures, his relationship with Meg, the band’s influences and the artists that they in turn influenced. Plus plenty of beer consumption and shooting the shit about music, TV, movies, and other random pop culture. Grab a drink and play along, drink (responsibly) whenever Luke says a buzzword!

Joey Ochoa of Cerebrus joins the show for a serious deeeeep dive on Def Leppard’s Pyromania. Released in 1983 by Vertigo and Mercury Records, this album represents the start of a stratospheric rise for Def Leppard and set the tone for the 80s heavy metal rock craze to come. Joey, who has a really fucked up pinky finger but still shreds on guitar, offers his expertise to help you discover or get reacquainted with the absolute bruisers, the lads from Sheffield who worked in factories with actual heavy metal before becoming a heavy metal band. Listen as host John Pagliassotti and our esteemed guest discuss the history of the band, break down and rank the tracks, talk about the production and so much more. We’re talking chance meetings, thunder gods, a producer with the midas touch, blistering guitar solos, riff masters and several shoutouts to our future sponsors Gibson and Jack Daniels. Want to know what a pedal riff is? Perhaps an augmented bridge? Grab a drink and play along, drink (responsibly) whenever Joey says a buzzword! Only on 95.5 KLOS.

16-year drumming virtuoso Aaron Stechauner of Interloper, who has also played and toured with bands like The Faceless, Born of Osiris, and Rings of Saturn, joins the show to discuss Back to Black by Amy Winehouse. Released in 2006 by Island Records, this massively influential album represents “a modern take on a classic dish.” In all seriousness, it’s an incredible display of unique style, serious singing chops, dirty/funky grooves, and good vibes. Aaron and John break down several songs on the album, talk about Amy’s ability to throw listeners for a loop, discuss how she balances power and vulnerability, and agree to disregard the notion of guilty pleasures when it comes to music. Grab a drink and play along, drink (responsibly) whenever Aaron says a buzzword!

“Just keep going, nobody runs out of ideas, there’s no harm in sharing new things.” Danny and Wil of Husbands, a pop-rock n’ roll band from OKC, join the show and bring a bunch of good stuff to the table. We chat about how they got into music, how they become a band, Taco Bell, mall aquariums, their favorite and least favorite original songs and so much more. Most importantly, the bandmates explain why they make music, and talk about each other's talents and creativity. Featured tracks: Mexico and Try Not to Worry.

Fellow musician, co-conspirator, and podcaster Jacob Acosta AKA Midnight Burrito joins our host John Pagliossotti of Delta Dagger on the program to talk about Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Released through Warner Bros. Records in 1991 and produced by Rick Rubin, the fifth studio album from RHCP is a landmark for the band and our guest. It features some of their biggest hits like “Under the Bridge,” “Give it Away,” and more. It’s a crazy-ass album, but it can also be a fun vibe. You should listen to it with a critical ear in terms of the hyper-masculine lyrics but appreciate the unmatched production value, rhythm tightness, and funky magic. John and Jacob dive pretty deep into the history and cultural clout surrounding the band and its members as well. Grab a drink and play along, drink (responsibly) whenever Jacob says a buzzword!

Mr. Robert Sanlis of Spurts and Anywhere Music Lessons joins the show and gets deep on David Bazan’s first full-length solo album Curse Your Branches released through Barsuk Records in 2009. It’s damn personal, really vulnerable, and represents a huge shifting point in his career. If you grew up in a religious household, you may connect with this record and the conversations in this episode. A lot of the songs are bitter but beautifully crafted. Bazan is a highly talented lyricist and has a knack for expressing things from different perspectives. He basically buries his soul for 10 songs on this one. John and Robert also talk shit on Gibson as a brand for like 15 minutes, get on board. Grab a drink and play along, drink whenever Robert says a buzzword!

Sophia Forino, the first (and definitely not last) female guest on Bands, Beers, & Buzzwords joins our host, John Pagliassotti on the show to discuss Sour Soul, the collaborative album from Canadian jazz futurists BADBADNOTGOOD and Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah. The album was released in 2015 through Lex Records with features from artists like Danny Brown, the late MF Doom, and more. It’s a mix of old and new, vintage and modern with notes of 70s soul, psychedelic, surf rock, jazz and 90s rap. This one’s got orgasmic transitions, best track title tracks, and lots of delicious reverbbb. Hear John give some mixing tips for dummies and Sophia talk about the connection between rap music and superhero fandom plus other cultural phenomena. Shoutout to unofficial sponsors Mikkeller Brewing San Diego, Little Beast Brewing in Portland, and Corona Hard Seltzer. Grab a brew or seltzer and play along, drink whenever Sophia says a buzzword!

The final track from Vaudeville Revival.

“Just be yourself and create something unique… If you’re creating something different and it’s coming from you… people are gonna see that and they’re gonna appreciate it a lot more.” Donna Borges of ALTANGELES and cool mom mgmt comes on the show and we talk about how she got into music, how she started Altangeles and cool mom mgmt, how to be original and unique, the necessity of building a brand and using social media to interact with your audience, the importance of creating a more inclusive and safe environment in the music scene, and much more. Most importantly, Donna explains the point of making and listening to music! Featured tracks: Joy II by Joynoise and On & Off by Modern Color.

Jack McCain, who just released his second EP called The Second, joins his old pal, our host John Pagliassotti on the show to discuss Catfish and the Bottlemen’s 2019 album The Balance released through Island Records and Capitol Records. This album and band represent a more traditional alternative rock, with straightforward pounding beats and hooks that are catchy but not annoying. Hear about the time Jack got onstage (and then quickly offstage) with Van McCann, lead singer, and guitarist for Catfish and the Bottlemen. Jack and John also reminisce the story of one cool fucking picture and a run-in with the cops, talk shop on guitars, and get fairly drunk discussing this great album. Jack sets a new bar for BBB guests by taking tequila shots for each buzzword. Grab a drink and play along, drink whenever Jack says a buzzword!

“It’s gonna be your boys, your favorite dudes in the world sending it just like only they know how to.” This 25th episode of Sound for Thought is a special one. Fellow podcast extraordinaire, John Pagliassotti of Bands, Beers & Buzzwords joins the show for a (very late) recap of 2020. He and host Andrew Shults each bring 5 noteworthy albums to the table to dissect. Future Generations, Chon, Star Parks, Mac DeMarco, HAIM, Khruangbin, Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift, Tame Impala and The Strokes are all discussed. We also give shoutouts to our Creative Cult members Delta Dagger, The Judd Zingle Project, Vaudeville Revival, Carny and Magic ~ Fingers. We give an elevator pitch for John’s new podcast and play a miniature version of his game on this show. There’s more good stuff in here than at an ampm. Featured track: Time Well Wasted.

Lord Bunny AKA Cris Sharma joins the show to discuss Milo Goes to College, the first full-length album by punk rock band Descendents released in 1982 through New Alliance Records. Our host, John Pagliassotti succeeds in baiting the former RabbitFoot member into saying all 20 buzzwords, the first guest to do so. Get a music news update that will probably piss you off, the perfect attitude to have during this pod. Fuck Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos. We love you Night Shift Brewing in Boston and Purple Mattresses. Grab a drink and play along, drink whenever Cris says a buzzword! Be prepared to take 20 drinks.

Will Jerome Hettel of Constructs joins his former bandmate, and our host John Pagliassotti on the show to discuss The Joy of Motion by Animals as Leaders, the progressive metal band’s third studio album released by Sumerian Records. Will, also known for his work as the live drummer for slenderbodies, and as the drummer for bands like House of Wolves and The Real Savage Henry gives us a lesson on polyrhythms, jazz fusion, and djent while swigging several servings of wine. Want to hear some classic drummer jokes? Or perhaps understand the musical meme that is “the lick”? This is the pod for you, friend. Grab a drink and play along, drink whenever Will says a buzzword!

Jordan Barclay of Venison Veteran comes on the show, gets way too drunk, then comes on the show again (sober) to re-record the episode you’re about to hear! Jordan and our host John (who was also too drunk the first time) get caffeinated and talk about the “greatest album ever made in existence,” Future’s 2014 album Honest through A1 Recordings and Freebandz, and Epic Records. A very forward-thinking but also kinda throwbacky collection of ignorant shit with dirty beats. Grab a drink and play along, drink whenever Jordan says a buzzword! Then get too drunk, forget everything you heard and listen again tomorrow with coffee.

Parker Wierling of the On That Note podcast joins the show to talk about Radiohead's seventh studio album, In Rainbows, independently self-released in 2007 as a pay-what-you-want download (and it made more money than all their previous releases combined!). Universally acclaimed by critics and fans alike, this album is enthusiastically dubbed as John and Parker’s favorite Radiohead record. If you love to geek out over the quintessential quintet from Oxfordshire, this is the pod for you my friend. Grab a drink and play along, drink whenever Parker says a buzzword!

“We can go through life together on the hunt to try and figure out, what is cinnamon? And why is it a stick?” New kid on the Spotify block, VHS King, joins the Sound for Thought family. Some of you might know him better as Andres Montiel, titan of the film industry. We had a wonderful discussion about cinnamon (and lots of other amazing things like the UCSB music scene, Hawaii, the frustrations of recording, overcoming self-sabotage and doubt, 80s music, strange times in Seattle, etc.) Most importantly, Andres explains why he makes music. He also turns things around and hits me with some tough questions of his own. Featured tracks: Tinder Girls and Prom Song.

Aidan Dansey of The Judd Zingle Project joins the show to talk about Modest Mouse's substantial record, The Lonesome Crowded West released in 1997 by Up Records. Referred to by many as one of the best albums of the 90s, John and The Judd (two global studies majors) discuss the intricacies of the album's delightfully dystopian vibes while crushing a few brews. Will every guest mention LCD Soundsystem? Two for two so far. Grab a drink and do the cockroach, drink whenever Aidan says a buzzword!

“The point now is really just havin’ a good time.” The prolific Doc Martian, otherwise known as Gerran Brown, joins the show and brings the good vibes! Our chat covers everything from his job hunt to his college football career, the true cliches of studying abroad, making fun music, creativity as a choice, collaborating and so much more. Most importantly, Gerran explains why he makes music. We also play another game of Soundtrack to Your Life! Featured tracks: Ran Into You and Moonlight.

Pilot episode! Andrew Shults of Redefining Records joins the show to talk about New Order's acclaimed second album Power, Corruption & Lies released in 1983 by Factory Records. John and Andrew test out the new format and try new segment ideas while enjoying a few brews and hard seltzers too. 10/10 would get intimate to this pod. Grab a drink and play along, drink whenever Andrew says a buzzword!

One part music podcast, one part drinking-game. Each episode features a new musically trustworthy guest who joins the show to discuss an album of their choice. Our host John Pagliassotti of Delta Dagger prepares a list of buzzwords related to the album. If and when a buzzword is spoken by the guest they must take a drink! Chaos ensues. There are also bonus segments on music news and trivia! Grab a drink and play along while you listen to maximize enjoyment. Produced by Redefining Records.

“I’m officially done trying to sound like I have anything smart to say.” Tyler Blue Broderick of Diners comes on the show and says literally a bunch of smart things! Our wonderful conversation ranges over topics like bread, coping without live music, making your own inspiration, the joys of making juice, having no taste in music, skateboarding, touring with pets, taking care of plants, skateboarding, and the World Series! We talk about how Tyler got into music from a young age and most importantly, he explains why he makes music! Featured tracks: Cup of Coffee and Good Zone.

“I just hit it really fast and hard.” The large majority of San Francisco based punk-rock band, Pork Belly joins the show to jibber-jabber about all the music things: how they got started individually and as a band, how they mesh their very different musical tastes together, which of them is the most talented and creative of the bunch, which of them is most likely to fall off the wagon, all that good stuff. Plus VHS collecting, skateboarding, pet geckos, and more. Most importantly, Nick, Nick, and Junior explain why they make music. Featured tracks: Jinx and Chew.

A Morby album will always come with questions surrounding the complexity of his songwriting and his penchant for repetition over innovation. But his undeniable tenderness and earnest intentions are worth far more than a snappy end rhyme.

WOULD YOU RATHER ATTEND THE CONCERT OF AN ARTIST YOU KNOW AND LOVE, OR THE CONCERT OF AN ARTIST YOU HAVE YET TO DISCOVER, ONE WHO COULD BLOW YOUR MIND AND BECOME YOUR NEXT OBSESSION?

Brauheist 2006 has proven that John Pagliassotti, the mastermind behind Delta Dagger, has discovered a new sonic pallet in which layers of technicality and authenticity have assembled to form one hell of a record. If I were describing this album to my grandma, I would say, “eclectic, yet very cohesive.” Eclectic in the sense that John seems to be drawing from a variety of different genres/styles of music and yet cohesive such that the smooth and silky guitar riffs cut into that classic Delta Dagger edge. Here’s my take on a few of my favorites off of Delta Dagger’s new album.

“Around the time I was 8 or 9, I saw School of Rock and I was like fuck piano! Let’s go play some fucking guitar.” Henry, Jacob, and Jordan of Wax Charmer stop by the show (virtually) to talk about all sorts of super spectacular stuff such as School of Rock, the formation of their band, and beginnings as Jubilo Drive, the music that made them, their hobbies, and so much more! Most importantly, these charming fellows explain why they make music. Featured tracks: Downstairs and Emblem.

Having not been to show in months, and with reports that live music may not return until 2022, it truly seems as though we have lost our favorite sounds. But, a glimmer of hope on the horizon: a notification about a new Judd Zingle Project EP! Forgetting All My Passwords is the follow up to Old School Tribe,

So Aidan and I did what any two naive, overly-optimistic fanboys would do… we said to ourselves, we should email James Murphy! I mean, what the hell right? The worst thing that could happen is he doesn’t reply.

Royce DeZorzi is a man of many influences; citing albums such as Miles Davis’s Bitches Brew and Jimmy Hedrix’s Are you Experienced as early inspirations, he certainly knows what he likes. You can hear the culmination of these influences and his love of tape machine recording on the New Freedom Movement’s latest three-track EP.

What it lacks in traditional structure, it makes up for in tone and feeling; spacey vocals hang above a thumping synthetic baseline, urging listeners to “lose yourself in sound” until the track slows almost to a halt and the beat jumps back in.

You’ll have a hard time finding many modern rock bands that sound quite like ROOKIE do in that they’ve almost created their own category of classic rock revivalism.

In this episode of VS., prepare to be astonished by a dramatic and spiteful showdown between two bandmates trying to distinguish themselves as the true musical genius of the immensely influential, not-so-indie indie legends, The Strokes.

“My life has been pretty uneventful compared to most people.” Mapache Lazer Disco, often referred to as ‘Kevin’ by human beings who know him, is our guest this time around. We talk about We The Beat, Kevin’s musical journey, our first concert-going experiences, Kim Gun Mo, the process of finding your own taste in music, the IV music scene, DIY shows, fishing, golfing, and so much more. Most importantly, Kevin explains the point of making music. Featured tracks: We (OUI) by Jeebonoff ft. sogumm and Wondering by Becky and the Birds.

“I learned piano as a kid because I’m Asian and that’s just what we do.” My dear friend Eugene Cheng, the infamous redseaturtle, stars in the latest episode of Sound for Thought. We are joined by another dear friend, Aidan Dansey of The Judd Zingle Project and we share stories of our old band Frisson, discuss finding songwriting inspiration during quarantine, the creation process of EDM, the great SoundCloud apocalypse, guilty listening pleasures, The Needle Drop vs. Pitchfork, Instagram ads, our latest Spotify saves, philosophy, hypothetical plagiarization and more! Most importantly, Eugene explains why he makes music. Featured tracks: jbly and fake gods plan.

“I’m in this unique position of being a perfectionist... but not that talented!” Episode #17 features the extremely talented and comical Andy Bianculli of Austin-based band Star Parks! Their latest album, The New Sounds of Late Capitalism is available now. Andy and I talk about the important things in life like cats, old movies, and 90’s NYC punk music. Andy rants about the pros and cons of living in Austin, listening to music that sounds really happy but is about sad things, pre-celebratory falls from grace, the architecture of songs, fucking up every bridge he’s ever written, photography, and sports! Also many more riveting topics you won’t wanna miss. We play a game of Soundtrack to Your Life and most importantly, Andy explains why he makes music! Featured tracks: Something More and Hobby Horse.

We couldn't be more excited to announce the first collaborative release from our Creative Cult members: Carny, Delta Dagger, The Judd Zingle Project, Magic ~ Fingers, and Vaudeville Revival. The EP, titled Cult Covers Vol. 1, features covers of original songs by fellow Cult members, and is available on Bandcamp for purchase with all proceeds going to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund! We figured the most helpful thing we could right now do is give people a cool way to give to those in need, and get some sweet tunes out of it as well! These songs will be released the following week on all streaming platforms for anyone who doesn't have money to be giving away right now! We hope you enjoy it. The wonderful cover art was done by the talented Sophie Degroote!

“Sorry, I’m like hungover as shit and covered in cat hair… let’s do this.” This very special episode features all three wonderfully talented and charming STUDS/dweebs/jabronis from The Haunts! Our conversation ranges over everything from how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their music and personal lives, to stories about having military personnel point guns at their minivan! We talk about how they came together as a band, their biggest influences, their pets, their opinions on the LA music scene and so much more. Most importantly, Aaron, Alanna, and Max explain why they make music! Featured tracks: New Mexico and Kids in the Street.

Please add ONE uplifting song that's been making you happy and giving you strength, then pass it on to anyone who could use some positive vibes. Together we will create a collaborative playlist to help us get through the hard times we're living in. #AddASongandPassItOn #StayHome #RedefiningRecords

Musicians and music nerds. This is an album worth listening to with your full attention and it begs to be appreciated. The production on this thing is frankly visionary, and I believe the band used every instrument known to mankind. But it’s also easy to get lost in… it doesn’t take any effort to understand what Andrew Bianculli and his SEVEN-piece symphony are going for (did I mention this used to be a solo project?!). The album maintains a genuine sense of accessibility for everyone. You will enjoy these songs if you’re the type of person who loves to feel what they’re listening to. Tracks like "Oh Bordeom (Smchmaltz City, USA)" will make you wanna dance until your toes blister.

“I never wanted to practice… I just wanted to be outside ballin’… ” The one and only Aaron Shadrow joins the show and we’re even lucky enough to hear his dog Cooper chime in with a few borks as well! We talk about social distancing, his sporadic creative process, spiritual epiphanies, tales of dire food poisoning and so much more. We play another game of Soundtrack to Your Life and most importantly, Aaron explains why he makes music! Featured tracks: Love Relapse and X-Acto.

“My first song was a love song about a koala”. You may know him as Jordie Saenz, or as Lakewalks. You may know him from his work with Love You Later. But if you don't know him or his music, you're missing out. Mr. Jordie and I talked about creative ruts, tour life, song debt, the indie romance film that is his marriage, Pokémon, BoJack Horseman, and many other lovely topics. We also play a game of Soundtrack to Your Life and most importantly, Jordie explains why he makes music! Featured tracks: Easy and Make Gold.

“To sum that all up, you gotta get drunk. At least a little bit, because then you can be vulnerable and heartfelt and also a macho dumbass.” John Pagliassotti of Delta Dagger (AKA the nicest guy ever) comes on the show and we have a chat for the ages. We talk about his home studio setup in SLO, the difference between Savage Henry and Delta Dagger, LEGOS, the IV music scene, Simpsonswave and so much more. Of course, most importantly, John explains why he makes music. We also play the most intense game of Soundtrack to Your Life so far. Featured tracks: Daft Drunk and Count to Four.

I think new fans and casual music listeners are the biggest winners here. Without the burden of high expectations, a listener will probably be really impressed with this album.

What you’re about to read is a dissection of film and music in its most concise form - the music video. Together, we will attempt to decode the secret meanings within a given music video and draw connections between the lyrics and imagery of a song.

“It’s just against everything that I believe in... but it’s so fun! I just wanna smash stuff all the time.” Episode 12 of Sound for Thought takes place on a scenic balcony in Los Angeles. McCall and I talk about all sorts of things like ordinal linguistic synesthesia, new year’s resolutions, My Favorite Murder, and more. We discuss the struggle of making art for other people, and what it feels like to create something from nothing. Most importantly, McCall explains why she makes music! Featured tracks: Lavender and Stone Cold.

“I’m all about yin and yang. I’m yin, Jessie’s yang. He’s the fucking piece of shit side of me and I’m the perfect angel baby boy.” This episode was recorded at Back Alley Studios and features the funny and talented Austin Montero and Jessie Murillo of Montero y Murillo. We talk about a whole bunch of stuff like the evolution of their friendship and musical interests, a $20 acoustic guitar from a local hardware store, Pikachu’s butthole, Dwayne The Rock Johnson T-shirts, recording farts to incorporate into Christmas songs, and so much more. We also play an original game called Soundtrack to Your Life for the first time on the show! Most importantly, Austin and Jessie explain why they make music. Featured tracks: Now That You're Gone and Fake Dreams.

“If I can perform and create that excitement over something that I am making on stage, there is nothing else in the world that is better than that.” This very special 10th episode features the wonderful Rae Cole, she’s a fantastic vocalist and musician with a cute pup named Indie. We talk about music as therapy, her band Calling Cadence, the screamo metal genre, collaborating with family, and a whole bunch more! Most importantly, Rae explains why she makes music. Featured tracks: Enough and Took A Chance On Me.

"I'd like to use this space to apologize for the things I said about Babybel Cheese, 'the cheese in the net bag'™ last night. I was in a bad headspace and it came from a place of negativity. I had also been drinking heavily and was under the influence of 400mg of edibles, and I was also bitten by a feral dog recently and decided not to get it checked out because I've had my rabies shots, but I think it might be infected now? I'm sorry, can you repeat the question."

“I literally go day by day, I don’t know what I’m doing in two hours.” My old pal Andrew Hammond AKA Harmonomy comes on the show and we talk about music education, opera music, golf, philosophy, and so much more. He gives his take on how to break out of a writer’s block and, most importantly, Andrew explains why he makes music. Featured tracks: Keep You Close and I Notice.

“I think half of growing up is learning what to offend people by.” D.C.R. Pollock is the man you’re listening to on this one. We talk about jank rigs, blind goldfish, SpongeBob, Tom Waits, the OC music scene, and so much more. We also run through each-other's Spotify Wrapped for 2019! Most importantly, David explains why he makes music! Featured tracks: Hank Williams and Cold Tub.

Carny is a power pop project based in Orange County, California. Brought up by the Beatles and Motown, Carny is happy to live his life trying WAY too hard to match the brilliance of his musical ancestors. More likely to be singing at a karaoke bar than to have actually made his way onto a show bill, Carny (the asshole's real name is Spencer by the way) will literally give you everything he has if you put him on a stage. That's not much, bear that in mind, but still he wanted me to tell you. You may have heard of Carny's former band the Jeffcoats. Just kidding, you absolutely have not heard of Carny's former band the Jeffcoats. Here's hoping that this project ends better than that one. Give him a follow and check out his latest release, "Caroline" on Spotify!

CULT MEMBER RELEASE: and shameless self promotion 🙂 check out the self titled debut album from Magic ~ Fingers

Hey look another one of our Cult Members who begs your attention: Magic ~ Fingers. This is definitely a real band. Their story goes way back, long enough back for the year to feel nostalgic to everyone. Things just kind of came together. Many called it fate, some called it destiny, but mostly... people called it a coincidence. Their fans are known as a bunch of badass MFers. You could definitely describe their music as such. They’re in this for money, power and fame. They are not one person.

“It’s cool cuz it’s like you type in Madonna and you see a bunch of Madonna, you type in Twanner and you see a bunch of Twanner.” The very funny Anthony Vezirian comes on the show and he’s basically on the same level of internet relevance as Madonna. We talk about his cat Willow, where creativity comes from and what it’s like to be in the perfect flow-state for making music, the challenges of performing electronic music live, a love story for the ages, obscure sci-fi books, and comedy writing, among other things! Most importantly Anthony describes why he makes music. Featured tracks: No Next Time and Not Again.

“I would love to sell out… to a degree...” The delightful Max Collier comes on the show and we talk about his instafamous cat ฅ/ᐠ｡ᆽ｡ᐟ , Isla Vista, sad boi music, fine wines, and LA history, among other things. Most importantly, Max explains why he makes music… or rather, why he can’t stop making music. Featured tracks: Trouble Sleeping In and Old Motif.

CULT MEMBER RELEASE: New new from the man, the myth, the legend, The Judd Zingle Project. Check it out on Spotify.

What do @grimes, Elon Musk, @realdonaldtrump, and @flotus have in common? This new article by @lukasgemeinhardt!

Introducing the Creative Cult. Together we crowdsource our collective influence on social media to help promote each-other’s art. We also help record, produce and perform each-other’s music because that shit is hard to do. Not only that but we’re all best friends too. We hope to utilize a mob mentality to capture the hearts of the masses… or just get a few more likes on Facebook or whatever.

They are an indie rock duo based out of LA. Influences span from 70’s rock and shoegaze to P-Funk and Motown. They are known for high-energy performances and having an eclectic sound. You can find them popping up at bars, clubs, and venues in the LA area. In October, they released their debut album Free Dirt. Follow them and find their music on Spotify!

“I guess the most difficult part is when I say the word acoustic and that translates to… electric…” Mike Donnelly of Twin Peaks Sessions comes on the show and we talk about crazy cajón incidents, Twin Shrieks Fest, DIY scenebeans, and baseball! ~among other things. Most importantly, Mike explains the point of making music. Featured tracks: Long Lungs by Kevin Nichols and Step Back by Rainville.

Primarily dominated by amateur garage recording/mixing techniques, Aidan strives to combine his influences of surf rock, disco, and high school jazz band into a colorful blend of sounds highly regarded by his niche fanbase consisting of about 6 people. With a refined discography best described as “post new-wave jazzy disco-punk,” Aidan is seeking collaboration with all musical creatures hoping to push this project into the 5th dimension. If you’re lucky, you can catch The Judd Zingle Project performing at no venues near you. Follow his socials and find his music on Spotify!

This is definitely for fans of the heavier @foals shit (think “My Number”, “What Went Down”). There’s a little bit of their infamous atmospheric production sounds but the emphasis is much more on the guitar parts. You don’t find anything remotely similar to “Spanish Sahara” here.

We live in a world of infinite choice, and yet finding new music to listen to can still be a challenge. Frankly, the sheer mass of options IS the challenge. Nobody has time to keep up with every new release. Discover Weekly playlists and other computer generated suggestions help solve this problem by giving us personalized recommendations based off what we listen to, but they lack a human touch. So we turn to publications like Pitchfork to hear opinions from real people who know music better than anyone... and yet sometimes reading a Pitchfork album review can feel like reading a novel. The information is great and insightful, but we just don’t have the time or energy to read them. With our new column, Need to Know, the Redefining Records team aims to give you exactly that. An extremely short, and concise review of a new release that only gives you the absolute bare-minimum you need to know in order to determine if it’s worth listening to.

“I’d rather be bad than boring.” Rock n’ roll dudes Luke Culhane and Jake Marino of Vaudeville Revival come on the show and we talk about their new album Free Dirt, I ask them which one of them is more talented, and they give a shoutout to their biggest fan (maybe it’s YOU?!), plus more more more. Most importantly, the boys explain why they make music! Featured tracks: All the While and World Falling Apart.

“We talk about music for about 15 minutes and then we just bum you out”. This one features a chat with Spencer Hayden of Carny and we talk about music education, childhood Green Day fandom, WHAT WE THINK HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE, the current state of the music industry, and the Los Angeles Lakers, among other things. Most importantly, Spencer explains why he makes music! Featured tracks: Caroline and 16 Girl.

The second installment of Sound for Thought features the unmistakable Robert Sanlis of Spurts. We talk about church music, harmonizing, craft beer, Weezer, band names, and a handful of other riveting topics. Most importantly, Robert explains why he makes music. Featured tracks: The Saddest Thing I've Ever Heard and Copenhagen 1916-2116.

He's terrible at basketball... but he's pretty damn good at everything else he does, especially when it comes to music. The inaugural episode of Sound for Thought features Redefining Records contributor Aidan Dansey who sits down with me to talk about his latest endeavor, The Judd Zingle Project. We talk about Jazz Band, James Murphy, college band parties and more. Most importantly, he explains why he makes music. Featured tracks: Downtown Swing and Old School Tribe.

For some musicians, making music is a way of life… yet for others, it’s just a hobby. Sound for Thought is an interview style podcast that uncovers the motivations behind these mentalities and everything in between. We reveal why musically creative people do what they do. Our goal is to help our listeners gain a deeper understanding of why a piece of music was created, so they can gain a greater appreciation for the music itself. Hosted by Andrew Shults and produced by Redefining Records.