Reviews
“Life of the Record features interviews with formative US guitar bands such as Pixies, Melvins and Big Star, this fascinating series pieces together oral histories of how their most well-known albums were made. Expect ‘creative differences’.”
-Ammar Kalia, The Guardian
“No surprise that I’m a fan of “Life of the Record,” a podcast that does something like “Song Exploder,” but with whole albums — and great ones, at that. (”Classic albums, told by the people who made them” is the tagline.) The stellar new episode is a track-by-track exploration of Violent Femmes’ self-titled 1983 debut, with the band’s three original members — guitarist/vocalist Gordon Gano, bassist Brian Ritchie, and drummer Victor DeLorenzo — reminiscing about a record whose stripped-down sound (acoustic bass, no-frills drums, angsty guitar and vocals) was a revelation at the time and still sounds nervy and fresh. It’s especially interesting to hear Gano, the band’s songwriter, talk about the album’s tracks, a few of which he wrote when he was 15. The band jokes that while “Violent Femmes” didn’t yield any hits, it does have some classics — “Blister in the Sun,” “Kiss Off,” and “Add it Up” — and they’re right.”
-Mark Shanahan, The Boston Globe
“Music publications that have revenues and budgets should be at least a little embarrassed that their not doing work as good as Life of the Record.”
-Marc Masters, author of High Bias: The Distorted History of the Cassette Tape
“The work Dan is doing to preserve music history with these podcasts is invaluable. The Postal Service story has been told and retold, but this pod contained so many factoids I'd never heard before.”
-Chris Deville, Managing Editor, Stereogum
“This is a phenomenal interview. Too often, Minor Threat are treated like a manifesto rather than a band, but this puts the focus where it belongs: on how they actually put together these incredible songs. One fact that blew my mind: Ian wrote the “Look Back and Laugh” riff on piano!”
-Hank Shteamer, writer for New York Times, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone
“This is one of the best episodes of anything I've ever heard. I learned at least 100 things about how to think about making art. I can't wait to listen to every episode of this show. I've sent the link to this episode to 20 people.”
-Alex Steed, host of You Are Good
“The Life Of The Record podcast dives deep into legendary recordings, like Luna’s Penthouse or Elliott Smith’s self-titled second album. In honor of the deluxe edition release of 1987’s Pleased To Meet Me, the podcast’s latest episode turns to the making of what many believe to be the last great record The Replacements ever made. Interviews with biographer Bob Mehr (Trouble Boys: The True Story Of The Replacements) and North Mississippi Allstars’ Luther Dickinson, son of producer Jim Dickinson, fully flesh out the story, along with a 1987 interview with lead ’Mat himself, Paul Westerberg. The band had just kicked out original guitarist (and bassist Tommy’s brother) Bob Stinson, and had left their longtime label Twin/Tone for major label Sire. Looking for inspiration, Westerberg, Tommy Stinson, and drummer Chris Mars headed to Memphis to make the new record at the legendary Ardent Studios, which helps explain the strong Big Star vibe throughout. Track by track, the interviews craft the story of PTMM as the band mythologizes a hero most people didn’t know at the time with “Alex Chilton” and tries to make “Shooting Dirty Pool” sound like an actual bar fight. Dickinson reports that Tommy Stinson was so upset by the addition of the horn section on album closer “Can’t Hardly Wait,” he got on a plane and left. It’s a fascinating chronicle of a legendary release from the godfathers of alternative rock.”
-Gwen Ihnat, The AV Club
“A really wonderful oral history of an album I played over and over as a teenager, but never really knew much about. I even took notes!”
-Austin Kleon, author of Steal Like An Artist
“Contemplative interview with Icelandic keyboardist Kjartan Sveinsson, a former member of the post rock band Sigur Rós. Here, he talks about the creative process behind the group’s international breakthrough album Ágætis byrjun (in English, A Good Beginning) and how the music still speaks to him. The inspiration for the dreamlike, immersive sound was ideas about drowning and being underwater — Sveinsson explains how he connected amplifiers in chains to make instruments sound 'like submarines'. A beautifully mixed episode, with plenty of the music interspersed through the conversation."
“Oh my god I’m halfway through this. Thank you. MIC CITY SONS forever.”
“I giggled all day listening to this amazing documentary interview with Kyle. So extremely good.”
“This is probably the best music podcast going at the moment. No questions about how the tour’s going or endorsements from vitamin companies. Instead, every episode a love letter to the record and the artist - with wonderful insights taken from all the interviews. I’ve genuinely listened to the Elliott Smith self-titled one at least 5 times over the years, it’s just brilliant. And the Heatmeiser one was at times even more fascinating - I don’t love Mic City Sons but the podcast brought to life how interesting the personalities and stories that went into that record are. Basically, whether you love or are neutral on the album in question, this pod will open your eyes.”
"The podcast has some great insight into the how and the time the record was made. The episode has amazing guests including Larry Crane, JJ Gonson, Tony Lash, and Slim Moon but Leslie Uppinghouse has brought in a perspective of making the record that I personally hadn’t heard before. Really great! I highly recommend everyone checking this show out. It was one of the best insights in how the record was made and Elliott’s process. Hope they revisit another Elliott record down the road.”
“I hadn't listened to Mic City Sons in some time, but I was turned on to a recent episode of the Life of the Record Podcast, an in-depth interview with the three surviving players (which included Quasi frontman Sam Coomes, who filled in on bass for the record). It's one of the most fascinating programs I've heard in a while, even if you're not that familiar with the record. The insights into Smith, including his bouts of depression and frustration with being tethered to a band as his solo career was taking off, are more unvarnished than a lot of what I saw in the Smith documentary. Beyond Smith and his issues, though, you've got Gust struggling with the impending break-up of both his band and his friendship with Smith, as well as grappling with coming out of the closet in less gay-friendly times; drummer Tony Lash frustrated by his preference for the band's more hyperkinetic early sound amidst Smith's demand for quieter, more melodic sophistication; and Coomes just trying to avoid the shrapnel. Check it out.”
“Life of the Record is like cinéma vérité meets podcast: all first-person testimony, no commentary or bs. Really stellar breakdown of this classic @TheReplacements album.”
“This is absolute gold, and I really appreciate how it’s edited…no podcaster personality, just edited with the voices of the people involved, clearly done with care. Makes for a great listen.”
“Indispensible oral histories. You know how when an album’s great and you can’t pick your favorite song? You keep listening and you keep changing your mind. Same with Life of the Record. Is it the NEU! episode? Mission of Burma? Low? Elliott Smith or Heatmiser?”
"I really loved listening to this podcast on one of my most favourite Elliott Smith records."
-Nickolas Rossi, Director of Heaven Adores You
"Very cool and detailed podcast episode (90 mins!) on the making of Elliott Smith's self-titled record, featuring guests who were there and know how it all came to be."
-William Todd Schultz, Author of Torment Saint: The Life of Elliott Smith
"This is a lovely in depth look at making the self titled album. Well worth a listen."
-My Favourite Elliott Smith Song podcast
"The fabulous Life of The Record podcast is covering Luna’s masterpiece Penthouse in the latest edition."
“Hey, fellow Luna fans: This Life of theRecord podcast featuring Dean Wareham talking about the making of "Penthouse" is well worth your time.