For Episode 160 of Look At My Records!, Los Angeles based musician Kaz Mirblouk joins Tom for an extensive conversation about his brand new album, Carless By Contrast. Coming almost five years after his debut solo effort, the record represents a big coming of age moment for Mirblouk, both personally and musically. On the record, he explores several different genres, like psychedelia, shoegaze, and post-punk, while simultaneously confronting issues of identity and personal growth in the lyrics.
Brooklyn’s The Big Net joins Tom for Episode 159 of Look At My Records! Their brand new record, In The Service of Song, dropped earlier this month via Marbled Arm. The album’s title serves as a guiding principle for the writing and recording process behind the songs on the record, as the trio of Kevin Copeland, Andrew Emge, and Logan Miley, focused on “not adding any instruments or sounds that were unnecessary,” instead providing only what the songs absolutely needed. Recorded live to tape over the course of two days with minimal overdubs at Copeland’s childhood home, the deeply personal record resonates through its diaristic lyrics and hauntingly sparse instrumentation.
Episode 158 of Look At My Records features an interview with Philadelphia indie-rock quintet Goings. This emo and math rock-influenced group got their start in drummer Chris Kearney’s grandmother’s dance studio while it was vacant in the winter of 2017, and they emerged with a batch of rhythmic, toe-tapping tunes that make up their debut, “It’s For You.” Released this past November on Know Hope Records, the album mixes vibrant synths with quirky beats and flowing rhythms for a sound that recalls bands like Motion City Soundtrack and The Dismemberment Plan.
Episode 157 of Look At My Records! features an interview with Chris Rosi of the Los Angeles-based indie pop outfit Smokescreens. In 2020, the band released their third album, A Strange Dream, and it impressed many, including Tom, who named it his favorite record of the year. Like their first two full-lengths, the band continues to wear their Kiwi influences on their sleeve, but on A Strange Dream, they focused on sharpening their sound and expanding their dynamic guitar interplay. The band also recruited New Zealand music legend David Kilgour to produce the album, recording it over the course of a week just outside of Los Angeles in picturesque Topanga Canyon.
Episode 156 of Look At My Records! Features an interview with Los Angeles-based songwriter Ryan Pollie. Well known for the warm Laurel Canyon inspired folk music heard on his 2019 self-titled album and his two releases under the moniker Los Angeles Police Department, Pollie ended 2020 by dipping his toes into ambient music. In late December, he released an enchanting, meditative audiovisual album called Museum At The End Of Time via Perpetual Doom.
2020 is just about done! So, as is tradition on the Look At My Records! podcast, Zach Romano and Tom had an in-depth chat about their favorite records of the year. 2020 was a hellish year for musicians and non-musicians alike, but in spite of the challenging circumstances, artists from all over the world released some absolutely incredible records! In this episode, you’ll hear tunes from Laveda, Alex Nicol, Worthitpurchase, Hypoluxo, Nation of Language, Winter, Fleet Foxes, Smokescreens, Empty Country, Harry The Nightgown, Drew Citron, Destroyer, Adrianne Lenker, Protomartyr, Holy Wave, Fontaines D.C., En Attendant Ana, Phoebe Bridgers, and Habibi! Who landed where? Tune in to find out!
Episode 154 of Look At My Records features an interview with Brooklyn musician Drew Citron! For this episode, Deanna Dilandro joins Tom as co-host for an extensive chat with Drew on the heels of the release of her debut solo effort, Free Now. Over the last decade and change, Drew has remained a constant force in the New York City music scene, fronting the critically acclaimed Beverly, playing bass in the post-punk quartet Public Practice, and as a touring member of both The Pains of Being Pure At Heart and Frankie Rose & The Outs. On Free Now, Citron begins a new chapter in her musical story, as she turns the page on Beverly and plots a new course forward by experimenting with a more intimate, folk-pop inspired sound.
Episode 153 features an interview with Gray Tolhurst and Jérémie Rüest of the San Francisco post-punk trio, Topographies. Zach Romano joins Tom as co-host for this edition of the podcast, and the two chatted with Gray and Jérémie about the band’s powerful brand new record, Ideal Form, which dropped earlier this month on Funeral Party Records.
Episode 152 of Look At My Records! features an interview with Los Angeles based musician Kacey Johansing. Kacey just released her absolutely stunning fourth record, No Better Time, late last month. It’s a gorgeously lush collection of folk songs that explores learning to accept love in your life. Tune in to hear Kacey’s take on some of the record’s stand out tracks like “Even A Lot Feels Like Nothing” and “Let Me Walk Right In.”
Episode 151 of Look At My Records! features an interview with Will Marsh of the Richmond, Virginia-based indie rock outfit Gold Connections. Earlier this month, Marsh released Ammunition, his third EP as Gold Connections. The five-song collection channels a ton of classic indie rock influences such as Pavement and Yo La Tengo for a sound that Marsh describes as “arena rock for the underground.” Tune in to hear about Marsh’s college years at William & Mary, his early collaborations with Will Toledo of Car Seat Headrest, his thought process behind the sequencing of the EP, the EP’s coming of age themes, and much more.
Episode 150 of Look At My Records! features an interview with New Zealand indie rock legends The Bats. As the band nears their 40th anniversary, they show no signs of slowing down. They just released their tenth full length, Foothills, on Flying Nun Records. The album, which was recorded entirely in the Canterbury foothills of the Southern Alps of Aotearoa, continues the band’s trend of songs that are reflective and tranquil while still maintaining their signature jangly guitar-driven sound.
Episode 149 of Look At My Records! features an interview with Los Angeles-based songwriter Leila Sunier. Sunier has kept busy during this pandemic-stricken year, releasing two EPs, If Only to Bleed Out the White Noise and Where Everything Is Perfect, the latter of which dropped last month. Listen to the interview to hear all about how she settled out west, the overarching themes of each EP, how her work as a visual artist influences her songwriting, what it was like working with producer Alex Newport, and more!
Episode 148 of Look At My Records! features an interview with Lina and Richey of Songs For Sabotage. The goth-pop duo recently fled NYC for sunny Los Angeles AND they released their debut album, Night of Joy, last month. Tune in to hear how the duo met at the Williamsburg bar Night of Joy, the recording of their debut, how they approach songwriting, and more.
Episode 147 features an interview with Quebec songwriter Gus Englehorn and his partner/drummer Estée Preda. Earlier this year, Gus released his debut album, Death & Transfiguration, a captivating record that’s characterized by Englehorn’s surreal lyrical style and off-kilter vocal delivery. During our interview, we talked about some of the experiences that informed the songs on the record, how Gus transitioned from being a professional snowboarder to a musician, the process behind making the video for his song “Collbarbone,” and more.
Episode 146 of Look At My Records! features an interview with the Bay Area alt-country quintet Half Stack. The band just released their second full length, Wings of Love, late last month on Forged Artifacts. The record was primarily written by frontperson Peter Kegler on a sprawling ranch outside the Half Moon Bay and recorded down in Los Angeles with Greg Hartunian.
Episode 145 of Look At My Records! features a chat with Josh and Matt of New Jersey’s Where Is My Spaceship? The duo just dropped a brand new record called Can’t Lose, a thrashing and intense 14-song collection. Tune in to hear all about the origins of this project back in the late aughts, the recording process behind Can’t Lose, and much more.
Episode 144 features an interview with Omar and Nicole of Worthitpurchase. The Bay Area duo just released their debut album, Dizzy Age, last week, and if you’re a fan of warm, arresting analog pop, then you’ll love their expansive sound. During the interview, we talked about how the two met on SoundCloud back in 2015, recording Dizzy Age during the twilight hours at Tiny Telephone Studio in San Francisco, the lyrical inspiration behind some of the record’s stand out tracks, including the second single “Prospect Heights,” and much more!
Tom welcomed Shred Flintstone back to the program for Episode 143 of Look At My Records! A lot has changed for this trio since their first appearance in Episode 42. Since that time, they’ve released two albums, and just last month, they dropped their latest EP, Shred’s Dead. The new EP represents a step in a new, more psychedelic direction for the band, as it features a ton of face-melting riffs. Tune in to hear about how the band recorded the EP live in Joey’s basement, how the break from touring helped them focus on writing new songs, how their sound has evolved over the last few years, and more.
In Episode 142 of Look At My Records!, Tom chatted with Patrick and Chase of Austin power trio Chill Russell. The band just dropped a new EP late last month called Soak Up The Sound and it bottles up a ton of furious energy and mammoth riffs. Tune in to hear about their experience working with veteran producer Chris “Frenchie” Smith at his Austin studio The Bubble, the inspiration behind the title, their involvement with the NYC label Green Witch Recordings, and a whole lot more!
Tom chatted with Alex Nicol for Episode 141 of Look At My Records! The Montreal-based folk songwriter released his debut album, All For Nada, back in March and had plans to hit the road with The House of Love, but we all know how that story ended. Instead, Alex has been keeping busy writing new songs and spending time in the studio recording his next record. While you wait for his next batch of tunes, listen to our interview to hear all about the inspiration behind All For Nada, the story behind the recording process, his special creative relationship with his partner Nada, and a whole lot more.
