Author: willis
Deep Dive #118 Show Notes
| Song | Artist | Year | Pick | Genre(s) | Willis Notes | Gregg Notes |
| Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly) | The Icicle Works | 1984 | Willis | Alt. Rock | I often forget about this band, but loved this song I know from then whenever it came on the radio. I always loved how the jangle gives way to the hyper kinetic drums. | I’m with you on this one, and its been on my running list for over a year. Another song I tried to track down as a kid, but only found it on a Richard Blade New Wave comp in my later teens. The tribal drums and epic chorus were like crack for me. “We Are We Are We Are!”. Always wondered why they never had another sniff of a hit record – this is a top tier New Wave song. Drums sound great in headphones. |
| Still In Love Song | The Stills | 2003 | Gregg | Indie /Post Modern | I really think I’ve heard the chorus before. The vision I get when it starts is a ride on a motorcycle on the open road. Anything is possible. I like the bassline building back up after the chorus comes down. Also totally agree the 2 min mark guitar picking arpeggios is an outstanding, mood-inspiring interlude. Funny that before reading your notes, I thought the vocals were kinda similar to yours. So it was fitting you played the same night. | A 2000’s era song that feels like a distant cousin to Icicle Works. I was infatuated w/ this song – so when we got to play w/ them at The Stone Pony, it was quite cool (we both opened for Johnny Marr, one of the coolest nights of my life). Turns out they were fans of ours too, which made it surreal. This song should’ve been a worldwide hit, but it only found the indie underground audience sadly. “IYKYK” type song. Great pop structure, and that heavy 4 on the floor groove is thick. The 2 min mark is epic! |
| Violent Horizon | Jahrund | 2026 | Willis | Electronic | Yet another Insta-find. From Germany. In their own words: “warm, pulsating energy generated by love for the mysteries of our planet and the infinite space beyond. The lyrics combine astronomical plots on the one hand and deep psychological as well as global problems of society on the other.” Her merch looks super aesthetic. Translucent vinyl, transparent cassette tape, that I’d totally buy but need to pace my purchases! I like how this song develops into a gritty, back-alley synthetic feel with the electronic beat. | New to me. W/o seeing your words, I thought “cosmic”. Felt like lift-off into outerspace, while being under the influence of morphine. Gorgeous vox. This is insanely good. The swirling, inconsistent keyboard flourishes are messing with my senses. I’m a fan, and definitely want to dive deeper. |
| America’s Boy | Broadcast | 2005 | Gregg | Experimental/Psych pop | Nice follow up taking the electronic beat to wider exploratory sounds. I can hear that combo of overdriven synth up-down cycling with the angelic chimes being mimicked in other artists today. This creates a sustained level of noise that contrasts with her soft delicate voice. My first time hearing of her and sad to hear a loss to pneumonia, which I am acutely afraid of myself. | Took way too long to find a place for Broadcast on our show. Likely in the top 5 best experimental indie bands of the past 40 years, only rivaled by maybe Stereolab. Combining glitchy pop with jazz, brazilian, electro, and psychedelic – nobody sounded like them. More importantly, nobody sounded better either. Sadly Trish Keenan passed away from pneumonia at 42 yo in 2011. She was given her flowers posthumously, w/ so many artists citing her as an influence, tho I doubt she ever knew how worshipped she truly was while she was alive. Too many choices of music, but this one seemed perfectly paired with Jahrund. |
| Squares | The Beta Band | 2001 | Willis | Trip Hop | Chilling things out a bit. I heard “Daydream in Blue” by I Monster which samples “Daydream” by Gunter Kallmann Choir, just like this song. Both Trip-Hop. Interesting that this was to be released about the same time, but they chose not to clash and released a different song from this album first. This is more subtle and mellow than I Monster. | So proud that you chose Beta Band. They, along with the Notwist, were lowkey core influences on every bit of music I made back in those days. They were so experimental and weird, but always wrote beautiful melodies and songs, keeping the songs grounded. Squares is a classic, and along with “Dry the Rain”, are cult anthems in the indie rock world. They got a huge popularity lift from the movie “High Fidelity”, in one of the best scenes depicting music snobbery in cinema history. |
| Year of the Cat | Al Stewart | 1975 | Gregg | Progressive Rock / Pop | From the studio onto a piano bar stage, but actually back into a studio! Headphones were a bit frustrating in the beginning (being only left side I thought something was wrong). I never would have guessed this came from 1975 by the style. Impressive production too with the string ensemble, piano, sax, electric guitar taking turns with solos. Spacey synth really feels modern. I felt like I just had a week of the cat, trying to get them wrangled to take to the vet. | Before there was “alternative” or “indie” as we know it, there was Al Stewart. IMO, he invented the style and sound we now know as “Alt” rock. Bands like Beta Band and Destroyer would not exist w/o him. This song is a work of art, and might be one of the best “long form” pop songs in history. It’s like watching someone else’s dream on a drive-in movie screen. It’s so romantic, so nostalgic, so moving, and at times so sad. The sax solo is mindblowing, better than any guitarist could achieve… but then the acoustic takes over, eventually giving way to the electric guitar. Only to be swallowed by the sax again. All of this in a pop song that actually was played on FM unedited! Very uncommon at that time esp. |
| Television Love | Of Monsters and Men | 2025 | Willis | Indie Folk / Rock | More cool music from Iceland – I won’t try to pronounce their names. I’ve heard their 2011 hit pop song “LIttle Talks” before, but this has a fuller, more impactful, slightly more intense sound. This has a brooding feeling and staggered pace like The National, and I love how the female vocals come in like, kinda like the XX, and then it builds to a crescendo that again reminds me of The National. On world tour, though only as close as Oregon. | I’ve long blamed them for River City’s failure to succeed. There were so many of these indie folk bands dropping at the same time, and it was just so hard for RCE to get out of their shadow. Frankly, I didn’t like their music either, which made it worse lol. But if you didn’t tell me this was them – I’d never guess. This is actually GREAT, and not folky at all. It’s more indie pop. There’s something very earnest about the melody too. Subtly epic. |
| In A Rut | Loraine James | 2026 | Gregg | Electronic /Neo Soul | Her voice is so present, LIke right in your head. clear and crisp with minimal effects. Trippy overall production yet somehow accessible. I think because they space it out. It comes in and out, gives you breaks. Male vocals from Sydney Spann – both in a trippy haze. The headphones give good separation, but interestingly, the bass sounded different on every single speaker or headphone I own. | I’ve been so intrigued by this artist. Production is bonkers, esp in headphones. She’s got such a soulful voice, but sings effortlessly – so there’s no diva. Then as a male voice enters, it’s almost equally despondent, both allowing the restrained chaos of the electronics shine. But the softness and warmth of the beats and percussion are mixed brilliantly. So echoey and swirly. |
| When the World Turns Grey | Princess Chelsea | 2015 | Willis | Baroque Pop | Played “Cigarette Duet” from this NZ artist not long ago, which included Jonathan Bree, which had a tongue and cheek, yet mysterious vibe. She recently released a live studio album which has this song on it, which caught my attention with simple piano chords and just her singing in a chamber, no beat. A little bit of atmospheric synth, which builds to a guitar solo at the end. A breakup song. However, it’s got an extra 3 mins of guitar solo at the end that I think “you had to be there” to appreciate it more. | I remember them now. That voice is a stunner. Innocent and child-like, like she’s standing on a stage in the dark with a single spotlight. The piano and ‘strings’ create such drama. Things feel unstable, but in the most beautiful way. |
| Blood Bank | Bon Iver | 2009 | Gregg | Indie | I feel exactly what you’re saying. It is like a scene from an indie movie, but not just watching but actually as the guy singing. The light thump of the kick drum creates a tense anticipation, for something… but if you think about it, actually is the fast beating of your heart. Reminder to edit the OPI | Another song that is attached to my relationship with C. Its weird, I’m just now able to revisit some of these and not feel uneasy. Somehow they hit just as hard now. The lyrics to this song are genius. Tells the story of falling in love while giving blood. So descriptive and colorful that it puts you RIGHT there. You can picture the gloomy, snowy day.. And feel the same hopefulness he felt. God i love this song. “Then the snow started falling, we were stuck out in your car. You were rubbing both my hands, chewing on a candy bar.” |
Song playlists are also available on these platforms:
Deep Dive #117 Archive
Deep Dive #117 Show Notes
| Song | Artist | Year | Pick | Genre(s) | Willis Notes | Gregg Notes |
| The Hymn of Acxiom | Vienna Teng | 2013 | Willis | Chamber Folk / Choral | Since seeing her perform in a coffee shop over 24 years ago, supporting and following the musical journey of this singer/songwriter has been a treat. I dragged the family to her show last weekend at Montalvo Arts. While working an internship at a data-mining company, she wrote this from the point of view of the computers that store our personal information. She performed this song live using a harmonizer and it was powerful and informative as she explained her various equipment and usage in music. Kids’ 1-word reviews: Interpersonal, serene, lively | Serenity. I agree with the kids’ evaluation. Another word comes to mind: Precise. The harmonies are so technical and perfect, it almost comes across like Bon Iver (a compliment). I kept waiting for something to drop – but instead the layers appeared in additional voices. The male voice sounds like a keyboard tone at times. I’m a sucker for layers of melody and voices, if done right. This is done right. |
| Private Universe (Album Version) | Crowded House | 1993 | Gregg | Alternative /Tribal | First time with this song, and totally agree it garners attentive listening. I did so without any context (including the title) It is a sweet emotional chorus… (which I heard so wrong on two different lines. “Endless summer in Ithaca” and “In our Private juniper”), silly because I hear the S’s now at the ends. The tablas-sounding drums are masked in the studio reference headphones, yet stand out prominently on speakers, which add a huge dimension. The long chords fill a space that creates a room-filling tension – at times balanced by his firmly rooted vocals, except when he tightens up “It’s a tight squeeze by I won’t let go” Hard to believe this has so few plays compared to the other songs on this album or in their catalog. | One must listen deeply to this, not passively. Anyone who only thinks of CH as “Dont Dream Its Over” would be surprised to find out about their depth. Atmospheric pop music at its best, feat. one of the finest, most sincere voices in history. This was mine & Christiane’s song during our early relationship. It describes love in such a unique way – feeling as if the world can only truly exist in the presence of one another. Meanwhile the harmonies and percussion, omg. The guitars swirling like incense smoke. Passion is enveloping all the space within the music. And Neil’s voice. Good lord. |
| Song For Hal | U2 | 2026 | Willis | Alternative Rock | I got hooked on this song, and we have got to talk about this! If you haven’t read anything about this song yet, don’t! Listen first. But if you know, you know… and it’ll still be a great talking point on air. | My first time listening to this, w/ no backstory. Didn’t think I even cared to hear this record, which is quite sad. At first I thought Bono sounded a bit huskier in tone, and then realized it might be The Edge trying to sound like Bono. Holy crap I was right lol. Can’t believe how good he sounds, as this still sounds like classic U2. Most of their post 2010 stuff is too normal for my ears – but THIS could be a lost song from Zooropa or Pop. I really dig this, and should never be ashamed to admit how much I’ve always loved and appreciated U2. Great topic for us. |
| The Same Mistakes | The Cooper Temple Clause | 2003 | Gregg | Indie Rock /Psychedelic | An epic song from a band I never heard of. Hints of Radiohead-anxiety come to mind, Especially the swirl L-R in the headphones. but with more traditional rock instrumentation, more drum centric than experimental synths. The bottom end and beat in the beginning reminds me of Bauhaus Bela Legosi’s dead, Haunting harmonies, building to a head, yet he never goes above a conversational level. All instrumentation and drumming. | I will share a funny story about this song on air. I remember hearing this & thinking “new school U2” and then hearing things build & build for 4 mins until my whole head nearly exploded, and by the end dismissing U2 entirely. To this day, I’ve never heard a song build tension in such a poetic, beautiful way. It’s got a Bonnie & Clyde feel in theme. The guitars that wash into the song about midway seem to ride the beat like a horse race to the finish line. Things don’t seem to be going well for the characters in the song, but they’re trying to get away. It’s like a movie presented in music. Gives me chills. |
| Answers to Nothing | Midge Ure | 1988 | Willis | Synth Pop, Alt Rock | This song was on the same mix tape as “Glad I’m Not a Kennedy”, both recorded straight from the radio and impossible to find in a record store, despite the DJ calling the name out. (couldn’t work out the spelling and I had no idea he was from Ultravox despite having one of their albums). I always liked the flow of this song and how his voice evolves from a clean, intimate level to busting into high-helium-filled level. The synth pan-pipes and afro-tribal beat give an optimistic world-beat vibe to this cynical commentary. Still performing “Fade To Grey” live in the UK at 72 | Bless you for choosing Midge Ure! I love featuring an artist of this importance, even if just to praise their importance in “alternative” music’s lineage. Can’t say enough for Midge. This isn’t a song I’m overly familiar with, as I was selective with his catalog (only knew what I owned really). This almost reminds me of Peter Gabriel in a tribal, polyrhythmic way (musically), but also Robbie Williams (vocally). Never noticed before. Way more impassioned and flamboyant than I remember from him. So rad, I love it. |
| It Sends My Heart Into A Spin | Vanishing Twin | 2016 | Gregg | Pscyhedelic /Neo 60s /Italian Sdtk. | You are on a tablas kick this show and I love it. Trance-inducing and uplifting layers coming in and out are subtle shifts. The electric bassline is consistently there. Wet echoes and swirling flutes, keyboards melting and re-forming like a lava lamp or oil/sand frames they used to sell at gift shops. The background “Ah ah AHHH ahhh” so reminds me of a TV airline commercial, which is like a high altitude vision. | I can’t help but think of watching a beautifully filmed Euro movie from 1967 in that sepia, soft tone that you’d see at the time. There’s something so surreal about the music. It takes you somewhere familiar, but unexplainable. The vocal chanting turns from fantasy to surrealism in a hurry, but then back to fantasy. A perfect ‘interlude’ type song to soundtrack a Sunday morning in Spring. |
| Places, Everyone | Halou | 2026 | Willis | Dream Pop, Trip Hop | Started by a couple from SF and apparently have been around since 1997, gone through various lineups and band names (Anomie, anymore) and now a 5 piece group. If these guys are in rotation, how have we not talked about them yet?? I just stumbled across this. only 56k listeners, they definitely deserve more exposure. Dark and moody like goth but light and crisp like a gin and tonic with flourishes of indie rock. Playing Thee Stork Club 5/22 | Don’t know about this group, but Idk how? This is right in my pocket lol. They do sound familiar, so I wonder if I knew them by another of their names? Regardless – I love it x10. It’s classic trip hop (in the vein of Tricky and Massive Attack), but they modernize it to perfection. There are a few NIN style FX to it as well, which also adds some sizzle. |
| Eyes Without A Face | Billy Idol | 1983 | Gregg | New Wave /Rock /Pop Punk | Classic that deserves a Deep Dive listen. The bass and atmosphere are amazing for something that you wonder if it was meant to be so timeless or just a ballad on this album, cuz the interlude pulls it back into how you think Billy Idol should sound. Played a lot in my mind on the radio and movies. | Been thinking alot about this song. I’d have to consider it one of the most defining pop songs of my lifetime. Nothing sounds like this. It’s epic and subtle, slow and fast, New Wave and Hard Rock (and also mainstream pop). The atmosphere is palpable. The beat is nearly danceable. The lyrics are relatable and timeless. Is it one of the best songs of the 80’s? It might be close to the top for me. “Now all i can do is love what was once so alive in you. But its gone from your eyes, I better realize.” |
| Memories | Olive | 2026 | Willis | Electronic Dance / Soulful House | I was so excited thinking this was the same Olive 90’s Trip House project – because Amazon music can’t distinguish similar names. Even though I could tell the vocalists sound different I really wanted to believe the arc had come full circle. Nevertheless, this track is infectious and makes me grin from ear to ear. Whoever she is, her vocals and timing hit all the right spots. | Okay, OKAY! This beat immediately had me smiling. This has that certain thing, that tone I love so much. There’s a lot of bottom end tone filling up the lower part of my head, which is the only way to distinguish it’s not a mid 90’s Underground House jam. I love the voice, too. It’s seamlessly falls into place here. I’m all in on this one. |
| Alright (Club Mix) | Urban Soul (Ft. Roland Clark) | 1991 | Gregg | Ambient / Deep House | This is an eye opener to know this came out in 1991, as I wouldn’t have heard it until 5 years later in the club scene here in SJ. Initially, all night rave dance music for me was techno in large spaces, but the south bay vibe was this style in small clubs. | I used to record the Sat Night Dance Party on Hot 97 in NY when I was 14. They’d simulcast live from clubs in the city from 10-2a, and I’d be up all night listening. The DJ’s were all the legends (Junior Vasquez, Frankie Knuckles, Little Louie, etc). I was so lucky. This one streamed thru my stereo one night, & it set off the longest search for the 12” lol. Nobody carried it! So badly, I wanted to feature this in my HS Dance sets, or my latest mix tape series. I didn’t know if it was new or old – I just knew it was my language. A perfect compliment to Olive to take us out. When I think of classic deep house, this is what I think of. |
Song playlists are also available on these platforms:
Deep Dive #116 Archive
Deep Dive #116 Show Notes
| Song | Artist | Year | Pick | Genre(s) |
| (Glad I’m Not) A Kennedy | Shona Laing | 1987 | Willis | New Wave / Synth Pop |
| Sacred Heart | M.I.A. (ft KALA) | 2026 | Gregg | Indie /Trip Hop / Electro |
| You’re My Automatic Lover | Hyperreal | 2026 | Willis | Synth Pop / Electro-Pop |
| A Strange Education | The Cinematics | 2007 | Gregg | Indie /New Wave |
| Pictures | Gnarls Barkley | 2026 | Willis | Alternative Soul |
| Love’s Taken Over | Chante Moore | 1992 | Gregg | Neo Soul /Trip Hop |
| Opening Night | Arctic Monkeys & War Child Records | 2026 | Willis | Lounge-Pop, Psychedelic Rock |
| Where Are They Now? | Gene | 1997 | Gregg | Brit Pop |
| lemonlime | Purity Ring | 2026 | Willis | Synth Pop / Electronic Dance |
| Point Of View | DB Boulevard | 2002 | Gregg | Electronic /House |
Song playlists are also available on these platforms:
Deep Dive #115 Archive
Deep Dive #115 Show Notes
| Song | Artist | Year | Pick | Genre(s) |
| All Of The Places | Travis | 2016 | Willis | post-Britpop, soft pop rock |
| Fair | Remy Zero | 1998 | Gregg | Indie Rock |
| The 3rd Time We Opened the Capsule | Kitchens Of Distinction | 1989 | Willis | Post-Punk / Alternative Rock /Shoegaze |
| Lucky Girl | Fazerdaze | 2017 | Gregg | Indie /Fuzzy Pop |
| Afterglow | NINON | 2026 | Willis | Indie Pop |
| 100 Ways | Porno For Pyros | 1996 | Gregg | Alternative /Trippy Tribal |
| : D | Chanpan | 2025 | Willis | Alt pop, Dance, Acid Jazz |
| Fall For You | Kings of Tomorrow | 2013 | Gregg | House / Electronic |
| Electro Glide In Blue | Apollo 440 | 1997 | Willis | Trip-Hop, Electronic Rock, Dance |
| Higher Than The Sun | Primal Scream | 1991 | Gregg | Madchester /Acid House /Alternative |
Song playlists are also available on these platforms:
Deep Dive #114 Archive
Deep Dive #114 Show Notes
| Song | Artist | Year | Pick | Genre(s) |
| Back & Forth (Guitar Version) | Brothers Page | 2025 | Willis | Folk Rock / Electronic |
| This Could Be Love | The Cars | 1981 | Gregg | New Wave /Modern Rock |
| Say My Name | Landroid | 2026 | Willis | Synth Pop / Indie Dance |
| Battersea | Hooverphonic | 1998 | Gregg | Psychedelic /Ambient Pop |
| The Concept | Teenage Fanclub | 1991 | Willis | Alt Rock, Power-Pop |
| Tractor Beam | Snail Mail | 2026 | Gregg | Indie Pop |
| Smile | deary | 2026 | Willis | Indie Pop / Shoegaze |
| Autosleeper | Chapterhouse | 1991 | Gregg | Shoegaze |
| Breaking My Own Heart | Modiste | 2026 | Willis | Lynchian Synth Pop |
| I’m Alive | Seal | 1991 | Gregg | Prog Soul /Sophisti Pop |
Song playlists are also available on these platforms: