Author: willis

Deep Dive #135 Show Notes

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SongArtistYearPickGenre(s)
The Beat (2021 Remaster)Elvis Costello1978WillisPost-Punk / New Wave / Power Pop
Groove To GoLiquid Liquid2026 (1983)GreggPost Punk /Dance Punk /Dub
Love AgainBaxter1998WillisElectronica / Trip-Hop
Here Is SilenceLi Garattoni1982GreggAmbient /Synth Pop /Electro Jazz
Livin’ In The LightCaron Wheeler1990WillisNeo-Soul, UK Soul
They Ain’t YouErykah Badu (ft. Thundercat)2026GreggPsych Soul /Jazz Funk
Ride Like the Wind (2019 Remaster)Christopher Cross1979WillisYacht Rock / Disco
MargaritaMarc Jordan1980GreggYacht Rock /Jazz Pop /Night Music
WesternThe Church2026WillisPsychedelic Rock / Dream Pop
Bigger The Punch I’m FeelingChina Crisis1985GreggSophisti PopPost Punk /Jazz Funk
Lucky (Edit)Two Door Cinema Club2022WillisIndie Rock / Indie Pop
No Flowers PleaseNaked Eyes1984GreggNew Wave /Synth Pop

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Deep Dive #134 Show Notes

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SongArtistYearPickGenre(s)
UptownThe Albert Square2026WillisIndie Rock / Punk Rock
LunaSmashing Pumpkins1993GreggGrunge /Space Rock
Angel (Single Mix)Kirsty MacColl1993WillisAlt. Pop/ Folk-Hop
MarianneFontaines DC2026GreggIndie /Post Punk 
What We WannaMagic City Hippies2024WillisIndie Funk, Psychedelic Pop
Power FlowerStevie Wonder1979GreggPsych Soul /Ambient Pop
An Occasional DreamDavid Bowie1969WillisPsychedelic Rock
Heartbreak BeatPsychedelic Furs1987GreggPost Punk /New Wave 
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (7″ Single VersionSoft Cell1982WillisSynth Pop
Empire AntsGorillaz (ft. Little Dragon)2010GreggSynth Pop /Electro /Psych
The Dawn (Alex Di Ciò Remix – Radio Edit)Jody Watley2026WillisDance, Soul, Funk
Hangin’ On A StringLoose Ends1985GreggElectro /R&B / 808

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Deep Dive #133 Show Notes

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SongArtistYearPickGenre(s)Willis NotesGregg Notes
Poe PoeXiu Xiu2002WillisExperimental Rock, Avant GardeFounder Jamie Stewart started in the 00’s making music in San Jose, frequenting Streetlight Records and meeting other music-minded partners, blending dark, vulnerable lyrics with a mix of acoustic/synth, and sometimes harsh industrial sounds.  19 full length EP’s later now based in Berlin, they have re-interpreted/covered Bauhaus, Nina Simone, and music of Twin Peaks and  done collabs with the likes of  Mitski, Drab Majesty, Chelsea Wolfe, Puscifer.  
This is from one of their earliest albums – it’s a cacophonic blend of synth drums and minimalist post-punk instrumentation that swap in and out, and snippets of prose. The vocals feel like goth pain and tension, but the lyrics are more like social commentary: “Take your parents credit cards, buy a bunch of crap that you don’t need”.  
 I plan to play a later release from them in the future to contrast this..		My good friend Mike was a big cheerleader for Xiu Xiu. I was 50/50, until he took me to a show – it didn’t take long for me to ‘get it’. I never claimed them as my own, but hearing this reminds me how important they actually were. Not sure why i’ve not considered them for HFD, but I now will. This is a heady song. Very experimental and psychedelic. The lack of guitars in the early parts makes the impact of the guitar solo (2:44) that much heavier. So much dissonance. 
StatuesSan Francesca2012GreggExperimentalPsych /Trip HopThis is an epic song that starts from brooding that leads into despair, while being held up/supported by the steady drum rhythm and faint oscillating car horns. By the time that beautiful melodic guitar solo chimes in,  the mood builds into a more bittersweet optimism.  
I like this minimalist approach to raw emotion. Not loud, not busy, not too many things.  Masterful  timing, structure, and sincerity.  Great production that carries this song to full 
Sorry I missed them while they were around, but this is a great song.		This band was the best of the Bay local scene during S*ALT’s heyday in 2011-12. My partner Billy was working here, while I was in NJ, and he was developing the local scene in a way that the South Bay never saw before. We were working directly w/ every indie band, and putting them on the air on Sat & Sun nights, as well as doing Free Shows at San Pedro Sq (as part of our Daydream Nation series – monthly showcases). He came to me about this band, specifically saying “this is your new favorite group”. He was right. I fell in love, and in that time frame I did everything in my power to feature them on S*ALT. Unfortunately, as talented as they were, it was not to be. The lead singer had lots of mental issues and the rest of the band was tired & losing hope. Drugs played a part too. So when they released this album, the band was already broken. The album rotted away, with barely any notice. So I’m happy to bring them to the DD.I compare them to The Notwist (whom, as you know, I adore) and Radiohead. You’ll know why I chose this song pretty quickly. It has Gregg all over it. 
Autumn SweaterYo La Tengo1997WillisIndie RockNot quite “sweater-weather” yet, but I’m waiting for it with this song. There’s a balance of nervousness and comfort all at once with this band. One that I knew of, but didn’t follow, so for me this is making up for lost listening.

I like the combo of this clean rhythm and constant pipe organ chords building tension – with occasional reliefs from the bongoes and heavy bassline. You almost forgive the so-so vocal quality. 		I had “Stockholm Syndrome” lined up for this week (same album), until i saw this choice! Haha. A seminal album in my journey. I discovered them in college, as they were based in Hoboken, and were another “legends of the underground” band. Once you knew of them, you were a fan. But most people didn’t know them. They were a critic’s band. They were a music head’s band. There was a great headline in The Onion once, that read “37 Record Store clerks feared dead in Yo La Tengo concert disaster”. This was their best album IMO. This song had a groovy trip hop kinda vibe, so ofc it was one of my favorites. 
DaysTelevision1978GreggPost Punk /LoFi IndieI could easily have misinterpreted this as   90’s indie jangle pop with that melody.
I remember music reviewers referencing Tom Verlaine and the name Television popping up here and there, but I had no other exposure. 
I think this song is a good demonstration of clean, melodic guitar work, subtle harmonies (balancing his pretty high and nasal voice), and jazz-style drumming that I can see why they were such an influence, if not “hit” songs.
I remember being at a Yo La Tengo show in 94, and they did a cover of this song. Before beginning, they explained seeing Television as teens, and affirmed their desire to play music for a living. Embarrassingly, that was the first time I’d ever heard a Television song. I was 19. I ran to CD World the following day, and bought this album. I listened over and over. It doesn’t take much to realize how so many bands were inspired by TV, but listening to this song, at this stage of my life, it sounds as important as just about any Beatles song. It makes me wistful and somber at the same time.  
Hesitate (Reimagined)Meltt, Bayonne & New Constellations2026WillisIndie PopA remake of an earlier released song which adds a bunch of atmospheric effects (echo, reverb, spacey synths) plus female vocal accompaniment of Harlee Case from New Constellations. 
Slightly soulful groove, airy breathy vocals, subtle harmonies, jazzy synth. 
It’s hard not to make comparisons,so I feel like this combo is technically better than the formula of Cannons. I hope there is enough room in this space for both bands to thrive.
The spacey arpeggios towards the end really got me.
Time Will ComeThe Soundcarriers2009Gregg
Psychedelia/Vintage Soul  		Cue the TWA airline commercials – this puts me right there at cruising altitude, tray table down and an “airline stewardess” (as they used to call them) passing you a hot towel using tongs from a tray.  But they cooled off quickly.Good headphone production on the buildup. Bassline, multiple  pianos, two vocals, reverse snares, jazzy drums.
Speaking of airline flights, during moments of turbulence. I always find that fun, but many tend to freak out.		Seems to be plucked right out of a European 60’s movie soundtrack – and almost sounds mislabeled as a 2009 song. Years ago I went into a deep dive with this group, and found that most of their songs feature the same hazy, jazz influenced, cinematic sounds. I fell into a trance. This is endearing, retro pop. RIYL Stereolab & Broadcast. 
CruelTori Amos1998WillisAlternative Pop/RockTalking about vocalists whose voice changes over time – she had a unique voice and often used the high register to wail and people loved her passion. I’ll never forget her now iconic  live performances writhing and howling between the piano and keyboard.
Her latest album is decent and about what I would expect at age 63, aligns with the clips I’ve seen her recent tour show her vocal power and vibrant expression significantly less , with high vocals picked up by her backup singers.  As a longtime fan, this makes me more aware of the difference between appreciating “the artist” vs. “their work”, which are two different things that can change over time.
I never put much time into this, one of her darkest albums (literally the photo is a dark photocopy of herself), From the Choirgirl Hotel. It also was an expansion from just the girl+piano  to full band arrangements and recorded/self produced in her own studio.  This shows her songwriting and her unique vocal style/passion while exploring more than just rolling piano arpeggios.
StuckAlison’s Halo2026GreggShoegaze /Dreampop Vocals in the lower range have a warm rounded comfortable feel like Dolores O’Riordan.  I like the syncopated beat and guitar solo.
This is a great find that I can get in to.  Although not a strict requirement for me, I really appreciate when a band sounds like their name.   It makes adoption so much easier. 		An OG 90’s underground (and unusually, an american) Shoegaze duo. First single in 26+ years, and my oh my it’s good. This song turns out to be a cover of a song by a band that opened a few reunion shows they played. It sparkles and glides like it’s the late 90’s all over again. 
Cover of Panchiko song.
Time After TimeThe Beloved1990WillisSynth PopWe played them before, but I have been wanting to play this song for awhile now.  Expanding our song list gives me the room to add this. It feels like this could be ten years earlier, and maybe even a Depeche Mode B-side.
The chorus is so repetitive, yet I don’t tire of it.  It feels so sad and melancholic because it is in the key of b flat minor.  In my mind, that is the saddest, least fun note to play on the guitar.
The Great CommandmentCamouflage1988GreggSynthwave /Synth PopA total classic.  I taped it from the radio and didn’t know who they were for years.
I love how the synth programming is the forefront – the first thing you hear all by itself, because it is that good: Clean, elastic, precise, a dynamic hook that is dark and futuristic (even to this day).  It then just disappears into the mix, but the elastic sounds are always there.
The bridge makes this song epic and serious – more than just copying Depeche Mode.  Never mind the lyrics seem lost in translation:  “The world and their embarrassing pavement”, the alliteration is magnificent.		This song seems to belong in a set with the prior (The Beloved). Both of these bands have been together on many of my playlists, so it seems appropriate to pair them up. I remember thinking this was Depeche the first time I heard it on WLIR in Long Island. Took me several years to figure out more about Camouflage – but once I did, this song became irreplaceable. Still sounds fresh! 
Say What You Want (All Day Every Day)Texas [feat. Wu-Tang Clan & RFD (Prince Rakeem)2023WillisAlt Rock + Hip Hop RemixWhen we played Texas recently, I wanted to share 2 other songs from them that make me feel I have missed out on following them and because I mistook them as  “country”.  This remix is sweet
The Spiderbite SongThe Flaming Lips1999GreggPscyedelic /Indie I never thought about the vocal resemblance to Neil Young before, but this song reveals that to an extent.  High and vulnerable. This would be a good indie movie soundtrack song.  Trippy and awkward all at once.From one of the 90’s most adventurous, exploratory albums (The Soft Bulletin). There’s something so fragile about Wayne Coyne’s vocals – like you wonder if he’s gonna be able to get through the song before cracking. But that’s the charm; the music is super druggy and psychedelic – but the voice is innocent and relatable. It keeps the song from feeling too far out there, while also remaining very obtuse. I love how the TFL’s attempt to write pop songs and then flip them on their head to sound like an LSD trip. I could’ve chosen ANY song from this album, and it would’ve fit just the same. But this one hits just right. 

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Deep Dive #132 Show Notes

Posted on By willis No Comments on Deep Dive #132 Show Notes
SongArtistYearPickGenre(s)Willis NotesGregg Notes
French DiskoStereolab1993WillisIndie Rock, Avant-garde, Synth-popDespite the fact that this is considered one of their most recognizable singles, I didn’t know it, and at first assumed it was a Radiohead cover. Though further listening cleared that up.
From the driving drum beat to the repetitive  tinny rhythmic guitar chords and electronic/spacey flourishes, the anxiety (to borrow one of your descriptors) is quite palpable here.		Alright, I can see you aren’t f’ing around this week! I immediately perked up seeing this selection. This was the 2nd song I heard by them, and the primary reason I’ve been a die-hard fan since. The solo at 1:20 was the prototype for my guitar playing, because it was simple enough for me to pull off, but also gorgeously emotive. The voice, the organs, the chugging beat, the 60’s girl group melody – it all adds up to a cacophony of vintage psychedelia. Doesn’t get better than this. 
AheadWire1987GreggPost Punk /Avant Pop/Art PunkAt first I hear early new wave in the synths and drum machine – like right at that Joy Division/New Order transition.  I never would have guessed they were anything “punk”.
This band’s name barely scrapes the deep crevices of my memory, such that I don’t know if I am remembering the chorus “I Remember” or it is simply psychologically planting itself because it is so catchy and natural. 
Listening to some of their most played songs,  they do sound more instrumentally punk/rock in structure/vibe than this one, but I agree more lyrically sophisticated, vocally pleasant and more eclectic than rebellious and loud “punk”, that I could get into.		This song shares a similar ‘train-like’ momentum. It starts subtle, as if to warn you to jump on the platform before the train departs, never to stop again. Wire were always 2 steps ahead, never staying the same. In the Punk world, they were Gods, but they were only punk in attitude. The music was accessible but also weird. The vocals were clean and pleasant, but also dark. They always did just enough to avoid the mainstream. Their legacy is sealed, mostly because they never sold out. They were a true “indie” band, before it was a thing. This remains their most “radio friendly” song, but ofc it retains their raw melodic energy. The hook sticks with you, too. I find myself singing “I remember, I remember” for days after listening. 
Everybody Told MeThe Linda Lindas2026WillisPop-Punk, Indie RockBeing Asian-American, I occasionally follow this specific pop- culture.  In the 90’s “Giant Robot” was a very popular magazine that grew into a retail store. This punk band started as pre-teens (the drummer was 7), kickstarted from this culture in 2018. Touring north America this month. @the Greek 9/17
The dreamy quality of this track (vocals and keyboard accompaniment) and “lazy” drums(for a punk band) and catchy minor key chorus gives it a really strong post-punk vibe.  This track stands out either like a golden gem (for HFD listeners) or a sore thumb (for hardcore indie punk listeners) from the rest of this album, which has several driving LA-punk guitar power chords and hard hitting drums.		I’ve long read about them, but never properly listened til now. This song is excellent. Idk if their other stuff sounds like this, but if it’s anywhere close, I’ve made a giant mistake dismissing them for so long. There are 10-15 popular indie pop artists making music similar to this, but (based on this song only) I think this is better! Hooky, melodic at every turn, and a well-written structure for a modern pop song. Damn.  
Talking In Your SleepThe Romantics1983GreggAlt Pop /New Wave110% agree this song has always been a standout not just among their other music, but somehow above other pop songs of the same era that I always accepted as fact without listening why so I am glad you picked this before I did. 
The different phases and parts of this song are so obviously pop structured, but epic.
The way the bassline has an additional synthetic slap and does a dance with the guitars.  
The pre-chorus with the hard hitting synth drums “You TELLLLLme thatyouWANTMEE” 
The robotic vocal overlays in the chorus are kinda chilling. 		When I think of well-written pop songs, this is one of the first that comes to mind. There’s always been that ‘something’ here, a formula maybe, that plays on my heartstrings. The echo in the verses, the tension-building bridge, and then this massive chorus. In that chorus, a strummed 12 string guitar starts chiming in the background and it lifts the song to the stratosphere! That guitar (for me) is the hook! It creates a dreamy, sparkling atmosphere for the big hook of “I hear secrets that you keep…”. It also sounded dynamite on the radio. The production was so crisp and metallic, you could almost hear things in 3D when it played on the airwaves. 
GamesMolly Burch2021WillisIndie PopA random algorithm play for me which stood out immediately, and wasn’t sure why at first. 
Multiple listens reveal that her voice switches between breathy Kate Bush to the belting chime of early Madonna in the chorus when she sings “I’m lost” and “I’m caught”. As i learn more and more little bits here and there of the physics of singing, it sometimes helps me to understand a little of why I like a particular song like this.
I need to dive a little more.  She is compared to Angel Olsen or Cat Power, but don’t know them either.		Another first listen for me. The name is familiar, but there are many molly’s making music. First thing I thought was “Oh Kate Bush, man”. Then i thought, “the chorus sounds like St Vincent meets Madonna!”. Then I look at your notes, and burst out laughing LOL. I didn’t think I was gonna enjoy this as much as I am. I restarted it 3x. I wish it was 1min longer, even just riding out the ending with a lightweight jam. 
Something Sparkly (Little Smoky Mix)Tadpoles2026GreggNeo Psych /Space RockI get a total pysch vibe from the Beatles-esque sitar riffs and the Beta Band like vocals.   I would have guessed them as UK origin because of this.
The effects on the vocals really puts them up floating on some fluffy cloud (or slowly orbiting satellite) 
The whole song feels like it fits right at the end of a long festival set where they are just vibing and improvising off each other, keeping it going and everyone’s along for the ride. I bet you could loop this and would do well as background for work or a long flight where you don’t actually want to consciously think or take a nap.		These guys came from the NY area, and almost felt like some mythical druggy band that lives underground, only to emerge for some 2am set in a boarded up old church in Alphabet City for 45 people. They existed among us, but only select few truly SAW them.They lived in Hoboken in the mid 90’s, where I worked at the Go-Go Bar DJ’ing, so I eagerly awaited my opportunity to see them perform somehwere. I never saw them, but always drew inspiration from the air of mystery that surrounded them. All that said, I only knew a few songs from them, and loved their hazy psychedelic leanings. But their CD’s were hard to come by, so my knowledge remained limited. Last year, they released this single, and I must’ve missed it. FastFwd to 2 wks ago, and this “remixed” version shows up. I got so excited, thinking this was their first new music in decades, but then found out it was a remixed/re-released, one-off single from ‘25. It’s so damn good. I hear so many influences in here, and I think you will too (Mercury Rev, Pink Floyd, and Spaceman 3 being a few)
Moskow Diskow (Remastered)Telex1979WillisSynth-pop, Electro, New WaveWhile on my “cruise ship vinyl binge” in the port of Halifax, Nova Scotia,  I had about 10 minutes left before the last call to board, so literally ran to a hipster record/coffee shop called “Rooms” who curated their vinyl and had a legit listening station with SL-1200 and stools to sit upon.  I felt compelled to buy just for the experience and hastily got this,, and so glad I did. 
They’re like a less serious, Belgian  version of Kraftwerk.		Was very eager to hear what this band sounded like! It’s so Kraftwerky, obviously, but I also hear a ton of Jean-Luc Ponty and Cerrone. Very simple and minimalistic, which is something I admire about early technotronic music. It allows me to appreciate the oscillators and synths and drum machine! There is a cool little ‘hand clap’ snare towards the end that humanizes the whole track.
For the Season IIClinic2013GreggPsych Pop /Post PunkThe beginning has an interesting tinge of R&B and jazz (coming from the synth hi-hat/snare, hammond organ and sax fills). I picture my late friend Chris B. playing that sax fill with his eyes clamped shut and cheeks puffing out. This fits his cool/weird style to the T.
I’d compare this to Flaming Lips with the pace and vocal placement (alone in a big empty space)
Forgot that you played these guys before. After checking out some of their other work – very interesting, different, and weird.  I like it!  I can see the Radiohead comparisons in a song like “Come Into Our Room”		This is a strangely beautiful one. I hope not too challenging for some. The vibe is Radiohead-esque, as is Clinic in general, but they’ve been happening/creating simultaneously for decades and sometimes seem to borrow from one another w/o any1 noticing. I’ve had this theory that in another timeline of my life, Clinic are as wildly popular as Radiohead, and roles are reversed. It pains me that this is one of Indie music’s best kept secrets. They are weird, sure. But they are masterful musicians and creators. 
When I hear this song, it takes me to a very specific daydreamy headspace. The part where the song subtly shifts melody – he sings “but ohhh, I know you. Ohh, I have been you.” Those few measures take my breath away. The whole song seems to exist separately from reality. It makes me sad, happy, and reflective. 
You Don’t Love Me YetBongwater1990WillisAlternative Rock, ExperimentalAlthough I’m not familiar with ANY of their other work or even the original artist Roky Erickson, when this tribute album came out “Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye”, I was impressed by the lineup of artists (REM,Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream,John Wesley Harding, ZZ Top” yet the music meant nothing to me, except for this awkwardly sincere song.  I often played this at the end of my own “under cover”  show in college.
It is so grey and gloomy. Although basic acoustic guitar chords, the effects are compelling. the vocal layers create a sense of very empty space. The slide guitar is like a single-soul standing alone on a tiny patch of land in a motionless subterranean sea. 
Love how the ending picks up tempo and it kinda brings you back in to reality		What a wraparound to this one! I’m familiar with the original (I’m a fan of Roky and the 13th Floor Elevators, his OG band), and in fact – I remember this CD being out! I never purchased it, somehow, but I’d heard a few of the other songs by artists that I liked on the comp. Since I didn’t know this band’s name – I guess I avoided listening. So much about this I love. She almost sounds like it’s HER song, cus she sings with such comfort and conviction. At times, I almost hear a little Sinead (dare I say). The ending is captivating and epic. 
LukaSuzanne Vega1987GreggAvante Pop?This song came out alongside Madonna, MJ, U2, George Micheal, Los Lobos… top 40 was saturated with different styles (what a time to have a radio!) so there was something refreshing and grounding from its clean, folk-rock simplicity, with the point of view being a repressed, doe-eyed emo character sorta sharing/not sharing. (“don’t ask me anymore”).  I was instantly enamored.  I bought this album Solitude Standing on tape, but at 17, the rest of the soft/pensive works were above me, so I’d just rewind it over and over for Luka – however the very last song, Tom’s Diner was like a nice secret bonus you had to go past a long quiet space.This one might seem frivolous. I don’t ever remember a time when I didn’t love this song to the bone. When it was released, I was 11. At the time there was a national news story about a little girl who was beaten to death by her parents. Lisa Steinberg maybe? Anyway, I remember thinking this song was about her, so it made me emotional when I’d hear it (as a kid). Eventually, in later years, I became infatuated with the breezy, chimy quality of the music behind her. It could almost be REM or 10,000 maniacs playing. Funny enough, the last 30 sec or so are my favorite part, even though it’s instrumental w/ this Cure-like guitar solo ringing over the somber finality. Such an impactful piece of pop music. We’d never hear a song like this on the Top 40 in 2026. 

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