Records & Riffs

Episode 26: A great group hiding in plain sight: how the pandemic halted the rise of so many bands

I recently stumbled upon a band I knew nothing about — and immediately loved their sound. Isn’t it great when that happens? Their name: Maj Deeka. Their style: Steely Dan meets Umphrey’s McGee meets Galactic meets Dopapod meets Reign of Kindo meets Herbie Hancock … and a dash of a lot of other stuff. They sound great. But it seemed like they didn’t have a huge following. I was fascinated. Why? Turns out, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020 stymied this group’s ascent. Now what? This episode is a peek into the reality of how hard it can be to elevate from making that shift between ambitiously playing in a band for fun and a little cash vs. turning your art creation into a viable career option. The pandemic splintered a lot of bands forever. These guys have a sound that’s good enough to warrant landing a record deal and establish, at minimum, a regional following. Which way will it go?Listen to Maj Deeka on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC42GXMKpOoN0AMZ-kLXoRlASpotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2XDqlGJ1Ki5KkmDCGhLq09Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/maj_deeka/

Episode 25: DMB's Busted Stuff 20 years later

The previously untold story of just how rocky this album-making process was at a critical time in DMB's history. Producer Steve Harris reveals the highs and lows of DMB's fifth major studio LP, with never-before-told stories from the studio. He also goes track-by-track with each song, detailing some of his favorite cuts and best memories. The highlight is “You Never Know,” a tune that comfortably ranks among the band’s best. Twenty years on, here’s a lengthy look back at Busted Stuff, and how busted it could have been. Plus: a few extra DMB goodies unrelated to the record that will get fans all the more curious on other projects.

Episode 24: The Lillywhite Sessions, with Steve Lillywhite (Part 2)

Episode 23: The Lillywhite Sessions (Part 1)

In 2000, Dave Matthews Band was the biggest rock act in America. The group set out to record a fourth record, on the heels of its massive hit, 1998's Before These Crowded Streets. That turned out to be a doomed process. The album's sessions eventually leaked anyway—to widespread positive reviews. The band obviously and understandably rejected this act of defiance and piracy. The record-that-wasn't maintains a stellar reputation by fans all these years later, flaws and all. It's become one of the most well-known aborted albums in popular American music history, in part because it happened near the birth of the Napster era. Modest estimates at the time speculated that well north of 1 million people illegally downloaded the record.Twenty-two years on from when those recordings happened, the story (or at least parts of it) of the infamous sessions is recounted in this episode by DMB's lead studio engineer at the time, Steve Harris. (Lillywhite himself will be featured in part two.) Harris is an important figure in the band’s history; he would go on to produce 2002’s Busted Stuff, which was birthed after the Lillywhite Sessions debacle, in addition to working later on Matthews’ solo record, 2003’s Some Devil.In celebration of the 20-year anniversary of Busted Stuff, and everything tied to that album and those songs finally making it to a proper record, I’ve put together a multi-part podcast series tied to one of the most impactful moments in the band’s history. First will be a pair of episodes about the Lillywhite Sessions, and then one about how the band regrouped and decided to finish the Busted Stuff project with Harris nearly two years later. If you’re a veritable DMB fan and you’ve come to listen to this podcast, you’re gonna know the premise. You’re going to know some of the story. But not all of the story. That’s what these next few shows are for, to help fill in some gaps. It’s certainly an illuminating trip back to an era when DMB was comprised of its original five members, the band was getting bigger by the year, and the wait for the next big album became a sport for unto itself for fans.  

Episode 22: The end of the iPod also marks the end of an era we'll never get back

In May of 2022, Apple announced it was no longer manufacturing the iPod. RIP. Of course, this is the perfect opportunity to pause and reflect on the so-called "iPod era," a particular near-decade of music obsessiveness that paved the way for the streaming-service dominance we live in now. Matt Norlander is joined by Joe Ovies to reflect on what was better 15 years ago vs. now, but also what wasn't. Best of all: an incomplete list of iPod artists that you will not want to miss. Get ready for the flashbacks!

Episode 21: Bob Mould + Hüsker Dü + Sugar

I’m thrilled to have noted author, Chopped champion and robe enthusiast Drew Magary join the pod. His most recent novel, Point B, is available in electronic and print form now. If you’d like to purchase a copy — and I do recommend that! — there are multiple ways to do so, but print versions can be found at Barnes & Noble here and at Amazon here. Most importantly, it was a joy to do this podcast with Drew, considering the brain hemorrhage, and subsequent coma, he suffered in late 2018. He eventually wrote a gripping, vital recollection of that incident, and so much more, for Deadspin in 2019. I can’t recommend it enough; the piece was so good, Magary’s next book will be centered around the near-death experience. This episode begins with some writing and book chat, then soon enough delves into Magary’s favorite artist: Bob Mould. He of Hüsker Dü and Sugar. Why is Mould’s work worth a deep dive? The reasons are many, led by his steadfast consistency at putting out heartfelt records that seem incapable of ever letting his fortified fan base down. And as usual, if we’re talking about an artist, we’re ranking the best records. That comes at the end of the podcast. Magary’s got a couple of curveballs in there, for sure.

Episode 20: Bob Dylan

This episode was handled with care and with special attention for Chris’ family, most specifically his wife and daughter. It is a gift to be able to bring him back to life in this way. Rest in peace, Chris Chase, you are so missed.

Episode 19: Is the jam-band genre past its peak -- forever?

Relix co-editor-in-chief Dean Budnick joins R&R to look at the legacy of the Grateful Dead, discuss what's changed with the jam-band scene and offers up thoughts on how the genre has evolved -- and not.

Episode 18: The Rolling Stones (The Lost Episodes)

Records & Riffs returns from hiatus with a surprise: a batch of old episodes, recorded in 2016 and 2017, will be published in the coming weeks before new episodes go into the feed. This episode doesn’t just discuss the Rolling Stones and their discography, but also features a conversation and behind-the-scenes details about the band from writer/author Rich Cohen, who’s written a book on the Stones and previously documented the band in Rolling Stone magazine.

Episode 17: Steve Lillywhite on Before These Crowded Streets (Part 2)

Before These Crowded Streets was a game-changer for DMB. The band never made another record like it. In this episode, Lillywhite talks with host Matt Norlander not just about the intricate details of each song, but gets into the working and musicianship dynamic of every member of the band. He opens up about how he got the best out of Boyd Tinsley in the studio, his appreciation for Stefan Lessard’s approach to the bass, and what made LeRoi Moore a beautiful but complicated person. Norlander also wrote a piece for Relix Magazine about the album.