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I'm Christine.
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And I'm Christina.
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In 2024, I moved to Texas from LA.
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And to keep in touch, Christine and I started a weekly game where we each pick a song that fits a chosen theme.
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This game deepened our understanding of each other and the songs that shape us, inspiring the podcast you're listening to now.
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Each week we share our pics, swap stories, and dig into tracks you might love.
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And a lot of the time have never heard of.
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Welcome to Stereothematica, your favorite atypical music podcast.
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Christine, how's your memory?
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Oh God, why do why do we have to talk about that?
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For some reason, I feel like you have a better memory than I do.
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You know, it's not so much that, and I know what you're getting at.
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I think that sometimes these episodes thinking about music will jog my memory.
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But I forget so much.
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Names of people, words, names of movies.
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I'm really bad with that.
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I get that.
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I think my struggle is like I can remember the lyrics, like every lyric to a song that I first, you know, heard when I was 13.
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And yet I can't remember like large chunks of my childhood and adult life.
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Yeah.
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Well, the lyrics thing makes sense, and I have that definitely where I'm like constantly amazed when I find a song that I haven't heard in a long time and I know the lyrics almost perfectly.
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But I think it's because like, especially when you're younger, it's your brain is just like absorbing all that.
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But then to your point, why aren't we absorbing all those memories?
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Then like we know these lyrics to these songs, that why not like a vivid image of what happened at the well, I was gonna say at the dentist.
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Hi, you're in Dentist.
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Oh, this podcast is gonna have a lot of dentist fans at some point, anyway.
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But but also I think the thing is with that, is that music makes things stick.
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Yeah, that's true.
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So yeah, I literally I was at an event once where they were using 45s as centerpieces, like they had put like the little 45 down and then put stuff on top of it.
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And I picked up the one at my table and it was Mr.
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S Sings.
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And this was a record that my me and my sister and my cousins would put on in the basement of my cousin's house.
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And I still, I was like, I know what this is, and I could remember the words before I even heard it.
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And I went home that night and put it on.
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It was that freaking it's from like the 70s or something.
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Yeah, like anyway, that's not what we're talking about today, but weird thing.
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I picked this theme last year a little after I had come back from my friend's birthday weekend, where I had heard a song, and it had been so many years, like over a decade, since I had heard that song.
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And oddly enough, or probably like appropriately enough, the people who I was spending the weekend with were the ones who introduced me to the song in the first place.
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And so we're listening to so much good music at this birthday weekend, and like that's one of the things I love is having friends like you, but like a lot of my friends who have excellent taste in music or like musicians, and they can not only play great music, but then introduce you to good music.
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And so my friends, Kelly and Travis, it was their, you know, Kelly's birthday weekend, and they are both musicians, and I hear this song, and like I'm bopping around to it.
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I'm just like, oh my gosh, I love that song, whatever.
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Before I have time to shazam it, the song is over.
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Like it's already changed to the next song.
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And I don't feel like it's my place to go back and like skip the phone or whatever's playing.
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So I go up to Travis and I'm like, hey, what's that song that's like me, me?
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And since I'm not very good at it, why don't we just listen to it together?
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Here's Magnet by NRBQ from their 1972 album, Scraps.
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I'm like a magnet.
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You're like a piece of wood.
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Take it together.
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Don't make me feel so good.
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Christine, did you know this song?
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I remember when you shared it, I'm like, oh my god, I've I don't think I've ever heard this.
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I love it though.
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Oh but oh good.
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But as no, and and as since you've shared it, I've been listening to it more and I'm like, I feel like I do know this, but I don't know how.
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Weird, right?
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Like it's kind of like one of those ones where you're just like, how do I know this song?
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Yeah.
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And this is where, you know, luckily, when I hummed my horrible rendition to my friend Travis, he knew exactly.
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Oh, thank you.
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I mean, that was kind of spot on, right?
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Listener, way in.
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Yep.
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But it I truly, I can't be sure, but I don't think I've ever heard this song outside of that friend circle.
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Wow.
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So when I discovered it again, I saved it, of course, and my Spotify likes.
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And I've I've been putting it on from time to time when I want a little dancing around.
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Yeah.
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But it seems like a little bit of a deep cut.
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So that's what I wanted to talk about, a rediscovery, especially because this was one I do not think it had probably been over a decade since I had heard the song and then heard it again.
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And I wanted to learn more about this band and what's up with the song because the lyrics are a little bit funny, right?
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Yeah, silly.
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Yeah.
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So anyway, NRBQ comes from New Rhythm and Blues Quintet, which they were originally called.
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Although I feel like they always had four members.
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So I don't know, maybe that was a joke.
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I could be wrong as well.
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And the band formed in 1965 in Louisville, Kentucky, where a lot of my family calls, oddly enough.
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And while this band appears to have a cult following, they never really made it big.
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They had one song that made it to number 70 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it's really bad, in my opinion.
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It's not Magnet, you'll be happy to know.
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It's a song called Get That Gasoline Blues.
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And it's basically a parody of Danny and the Juniors at the Hop in the wake of the OPEC oil embargo.
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Oh no.
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And I will link to it, but again, it's not very good.
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And I think the one thing that I've picked up on a little bit about this band is that they're kind of maybe a little bit cheesy, if you can imagine the get that gasoline blues.
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Yep.
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So that's where I was like, what is it about magnet that draws me in?
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Yeah.
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And why couldn't I remember it like enough to have it in my my music awareness, my catalog after you know, so many years?
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I do like the the humor and the lightheartedness of this tune.
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Very you, yeah.
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Oh, you think so?
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Oh, yeah.
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It's got that, you know, dancing around.
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Yeah, very jaunty.
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Yes, very jaunty.
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The lively piano rhythm, a little snappy drum beat.
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And then I think the thing that seals the deal for me is his funny singing style.
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Yeah.
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All of it together makes me just sway along to the music and just the way that you are you're intimating.
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And I think there's a special lyric for you, Christine, that you might like.
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Oh, yeah.
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I wonder if you caught it.
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I did.
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I'm like a robot.
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You're like the Queen Mary.
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I like how he breaks up Mary too.
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Sorry.
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No, it's perfect.
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Thomas' probably gonna cut that.
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No, he shouldn't.
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I'm like a robo.
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You're like the Queen Mary.
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I play the tango.
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You play the tangle.
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He also mentions the tango.
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Oh perfect.
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Is the song his favorite?
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Yes.
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I know.
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It is funny that you're because wait, have we mentioned you getting married on the Queen Mary?
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Um, or did you actually not get married there?
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Well, okay, we we got yeah, with the reception.
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We got married in in a church.
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Well, in Long Beach, yeah.
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Can I just ask?
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Yeah.
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Was the Queen Mary like a national thing back then?
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Like, what's not not like you were getting married in the 70s, sorry.
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Yeah, I'm not saying that, but like, okay, why do people know about it?
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Because it was like used in the war.
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Oh, is that right?
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Yeah, yeah.
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I think it's historical, I think it's it's a monument of some sort.
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I think you are right.
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Yeah.
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Listeners, sorry, because this is Thomas, sorry.
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Yeah, Thomas.
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Thomas knows about the Queen Mary.
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There is a big ass ship down in Long Beach called the Queen Mary, and just the fact that they mentioned it in this song is funny to me because it's I don't know.
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To me, it feels niche, but I guess it's like people should know about big boats.
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Yes.
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Well, it's a historic retired ocean liner functioning as a floating hotel, museum, and tourist attraction located on Long Beach.
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Queen's Highway.
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Yep.
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Yep.
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So well, I want to go.
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I've ridden my bike down there.
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Oh.
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Anyway, back to my song.
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I guess it's probably no surprise if our listeners aren't familiar with NRBQ, because like I said, Magnet's the only song I know, and I've only ever heard it from one source.
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But again, this band has a cult following.
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While the band's membership has changed many, many times since their formation, according to Wikipedia, there are 14 past members and four current members, of which only Terry Adams is a founding member.
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The band is known for their live shows, which they perform without a set list.
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Do we do we think that's impressive?
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I mean, don't you think they actually maybe it's not an actual paper, but that's they know what they're gonna play.
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They know what they're gonna play.
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It's kind of like, you know, if there's a house band.
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Yeah.
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They're not probably writing down a set list and being like, This is what we're doing tonight, bros.
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No.
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Anyway.
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How many songs do they really even have?
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A lot.
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They have a lot of songs.
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But you know, there's probably the faves that they perform live.
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I always like it when you yell out a song at a show and then the band plays it.
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Yeah, that's like right when, like, of course, they're gonna eventually play it, but at that moment when somebody calls it, that they do play it.
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Fun.
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Yeah.
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Have you ever been to a show where they play a song twice?
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No, I haven't either.
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I think that would be really funny.
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Okay.
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Wait.
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Did I ever tell you about the time that I went to a show?
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And this is so embarrassing.
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I probably have talked about on the podcast, but like it was a it's like a folky Canadian, like really low-fi band, which I loved, but I got fucked up and then yelled out for them to play a song that they had already played.
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It would have been funny if they played it again for you.
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I know, right?
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And they'll be like, let's do a reprise.
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It's gotta happen from time to time.
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I wish it would.
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And I wish everyone would forget that I just shared that.
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Anyway, I don't think you've shared that one before.
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That's good.
00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:40.000
Yeah.
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So some of the most famous followers of this band or celebr celebrators, celebrities who like the band are Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, the replacements, Yo La Tango, and more.
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While a tribute cover album of their work was released in 2004 with such heavy hitters as Jay Maskis, Bonnie Raitt, Steve Earl, Los Lobos, and more.
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Unbelievable.
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You're not gonna believe this part.
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On said cover album, there was a 17-minute Spongebob SquarePants audio cartoon.
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And okay, that part I actually believed.
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Well, that's what's so odd to me.
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So apparently, it was the Spongebob voice actors who did like a essentially uh a riff of four of NRBQ's songs.
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Again, an audio cartoon, which is insane to me.
00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:40.320
But this band was also like the Simpsons house band for several years.
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I don't even know what they did.
00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:42.559
How did you not know that?
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I mean, you I know because I'm the one who went to see The Simpsons like live from Springfield at the Hollywood Bowl.
00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:50.559
I wonder if they were there.
00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:51.759
I'm gonna have to look that up.
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Yeah, but I will link to the Spongebob song and then like a little bit of an explainer because I listened to it today and I'm not really a Spongebob fan, but it was surreal.
00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:04.159
I'll just say that.
00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:04.639
Okay.
00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:16.960
And speaking of Dylan, there's some internet lore, aka Reddit, that says NRBQ served as his backing band for some unreleased songs from under a red sky sessions.
00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:18.480
So I don't know.
00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:22.960
I pretty much everything after 1980, I was not that into.
00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:24.399
I don't even know that one.
00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:25.679
I've never heard of it.
00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:29.120
And it's it's whatever it's like later, it's like around 1990.
00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:30.240
And you know what?
00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:44.799
I think that the joy of this song, Magnet, is that it's one of those things where I heard it and I just was like, this is for me, because I listened to the rest of Scraps, the album that Magnet appears on, and for the most part, it's not for me.
00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:50.559
It's kind of goofy and not really my style, even though I know I'm a goofy goofy.
00:13:51.120 --> 00:14:06.960
But there were a couple of songs that I did like on there, one of which was only you, which is sweet, and kind of reminds me of The Beatles, and then Boys in the City, which reminds me of Paul Simon, and then maybe like almost a little on the nose, because like what city, New York?
00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:10.000
It reminds me of Only Living Boy in New York, which I love.
00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:14.159
Anyway, I wish I could have learned more about this band.
00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:26.799
They're, you know, a little bit mysterious, but I would have liked to know more about their heyday because it seems like they had a really big impact, but so much is either like behind a paywall or just simply not available online.
00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:29.759
So I did a little on-the-ground research.
00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:33.200
I texted my aunt and uncle who live in Louisville to ask about them.
00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:37.360
And my aunt said they were a big local band in her teens and twenties.
00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:41.600
But honestly, based on those fans, it seems like the reach was much further.
00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:42.320
Yeah.
00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:50.559
So that is my rediscovery song and a little bit of a discovery about a band I didn't know anything about.
00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:52.799
Can't wait to hear about yours, Christine.
00:14:53.039 --> 00:15:01.519
Well, first of all, I am curious, but even as much as I liked the song when you shared it, I wasn't that curious to learn more about them.
00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:04.159
Because I'm like, this is just a nice song.
00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:11.759
But I'm kind of glad with what you're telling me because I felt like, oh God, how did I have a like miss this gap in RBQ?
00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:14.799
Like, geez, this is like me not knowing Steely Dan.
00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:17.600
And for the record, I know Steely Dan.
00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:18.480
I just I'm not sure.
00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:19.519
That would be Steely Dan.
00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:21.759
Fine.
00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:25.919
But no, that I mean, sometimes you just want a great song.
00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:30.159
You don't need to have like the whole, like, I don't know, collection of officers.
00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.039
Totally agree.
00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:32.240
Yeah, totally agree.
00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:34.720
So yeah, it's a starred song for me.
00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:35.360
Thanks.
00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:36.399
Yeah, thank you.
00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:42.639
Okay, so before I get to my rediscovery, I'd like to go back in time to my discovery.
00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:44.000
Is that wordplay?
00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:45.279
Yeah, kind of.
00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:47.200
Disc C D.
00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:47.919
Okay.
00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:55.840
So um, way back in the year 2000, I became a member of the iconic LA radio station, KCRW.
00:15:56.399 --> 00:16:03.840
And I credit that first donation to KCRW for today's rediscovery and really so much more.
00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:04.639
Damn.
00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:08.559
So I was 27 and I had just moved back to LA.
00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:18.320
I was in the process of breaking up with my boyfriend, and KCRW was the soundtrack to my few months of being quasi-single.
00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:25.679
I say quasi-single because we were technically together, but I just had moved out from our place in Huntington Beach.
00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:26.000
Nice.
00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:32.799
Anyway, so today, of course, anyone anywhere can listen anytime to KCRW from their computer, phones, whatever.
00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:37.440
But back in the early 2000s, it was like an extra special experience.
00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:41.360
And you'd have to tune in at a specific time to hear your favorite DJ.
00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:48.000
We've talked about Garth Trinidad before, but just curious, do you have any other favorite DJs at KCRW?
00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:54.159
Remember when you were like traumatized by the Bookworm uh theme song?
00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:54.720
Yeah.
00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:58.240
I really loved that segment, and of course, I loved Bookworm.
00:16:58.399 --> 00:16:58.639
Yeah.
00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:02.159
The song by Sparks, in case anyone was wondering what I was talking about.
00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:07.440
I actually I would just listen to KCRW mostly on my commute, like home.
00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:12.240
Like on my way to work, I would listen to KXLU, and then on my way home, I would listen to KCRW.
00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:13.039
I don't know why.
00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:14.720
Did I ever tell you about the fight?
00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:18.640
It wasn't a real fight, but did I ever tell you about my thing with Steve Chiatecas?
00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:19.279
No.
00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:20.480
Wait, yes, yes.
00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:21.359
But tell tell me.
00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:25.920
Anyway, if you know who that is, you will know.
00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:30.480
He was a little bit snappy with his co-host, and the woman's name is escaping me.
00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:34.880
But I basically spoke truth to power and I called him out on it.
00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:37.279
But I was a little bit drunk.
00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:38.160
Oh man.
00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:42.480
I feel like you mentioned this in yes, you have mentioned this.
00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:44.960
Like, I I want to go back and find the episode.
00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:47.119
We'll have to we'll have to do a deep dive.
00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:47.359
Yeah.
00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:49.279
Maybe Steve will come on the show.
00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:50.079
I know.
00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:50.880
Maybe not.
00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:51.279
Okay.
00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:53.440
But no, that's my answer.
00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:54.079
Okay.
00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:54.960
Oh, okay.
00:17:55.039 --> 00:18:00.880
Well, yeah, I I uh over the years, I mean Chris Doritas, Tom Schnabel was another one.
00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:02.559
Oh, Cherry Glacer, obviously.
00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:03.119
Yeah.
00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:06.400
And then today, like, there's Novena Carmel is really good.
00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:07.039
That's right.
00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:08.319
Jeremy Sowell.
00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:10.720
But anyway, it's just they play a lot of good music.
00:18:10.880 --> 00:18:17.039
Interestingly, though, Morning Becomes Eclectic with Jason Bentley, who's like big DJ.
00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:19.599
I used to call it Morning Becomes Boring.
00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:22.079
Because it is boring.
00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:23.279
It's boring.
00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:24.720
Snooze Faz.
00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:25.519
Right?
00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:27.440
Reach out, Jason.
00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:28.640
Sorry.
00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:34.960
But anyway, but I I always loved their fun drives.
00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:44.559
Well, especially back in the day, not so much now, because you can get free CDs when you donate a few dollars, usually more than$30, I think it was.
00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:47.119
But yeah, you could like pick your premium.
00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:54.319
They had coffee mugs, they had t-shirts, tote bags, maybe, but I always went for the CDs.
00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:54.880
Nice.
00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:55.200
Yeah.
00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:58.799
And I still listen to a lot of the music from those days.
00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:00.559
Do you listen to them on CD?
00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:06.640
You know, I imported most of my music to iTunes, like it was 2004.
00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:10.079
So I I got rid of a lot of CDs.
00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:13.039
I kind of wish I did.
00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:13.759
In my car.
00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:16.720
Like I love listening to a CD in the car.
00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:19.200
There's so many that I would still listen to.
00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.640
No, I know.
00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:23.039
When we moved, I got rid of a bunch of stuff.
00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:31.599
But one of those early discoveries was the album Juan Manuel, and that's by the Mexican band Plastelina Mosh.
00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:36.480
And what I liked about the album was that it was all over the place.
00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:42.000
Like it was disco, electronic, kind of punk house, also very silly.
00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:44.079
I was listening to it a lot.
00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:53.759
So much so that in March of 2001, when I signed up on match.com, my username was Plastilina.
00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:56.720
Wait, what does that word mean?
00:19:57.039 --> 00:20:04.000
Well, okay, so they actually the band named themselves after the Spanish word for Plastocine.
00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:05.279
Kind of like Play Doh.
00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:05.920
Okay.
00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:06.720
Basically.
00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:10.160
And and of course the mosh mosh for mosh pits.
00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:12.079
So yeah, so that was my name.
00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:16.160
Match um yeah, at the time, like I think it was brand new.
00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:22.559
My longtime friend, Christina, she was like, hey, there's this new website.
00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:23.680
Maybe we should sign up.
00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:28.160
She was in a similar situation as I was in, trying to get away from a boyfriend.
00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:30.319
And we signed up on the same day.
00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:34.559
Obviously, at this time, online dating, uncharted territory.
00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:39.200
So naming myself after something that sounded like plastic felt appropriate.
00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:49.279
I also refused to put up a picture, partially because I didn't want to be subjected to the sadistic male gaze, but mostly because I didn't have a digital camera.
00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:49.920
Wow.
00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:50.319
Yeah.
00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:51.359
Dude, it's 2000.
00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:52.720
2000, yeah.
00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:53.359
Yeah.
00:20:53.599 --> 00:21:03.599
Now I know in other episodes I've talked about how I only went on one date and now I'm married to that person who is our editor, the infant Thomas Thomas.
00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:08.240
Shout out Match.com for bringing this podcast together.
00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:09.119
I know, right?
00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:10.799
I mean, it it is kind of.
00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:12.799
And reach out if you want to sponsor us.
00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.119
Yeah.
00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:14.240
And KCRW.
00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:18.960
So I will fast forward to last year when you proposed the theme.
00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:23.200
I immediately shared my pick with you because I had just rediscovered it.
00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:26.960
Not on KCRW, but through my Apple Music Station.
00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:31.279
And I was so happy when the song Boombox Baby came on.
00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:56.160
What did you say when I heard it?
00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:56.640
You remember?
00:21:57.279 --> 00:22:03.119
No, but I did when I Was listening to it again for this uh episode.
00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:07.599
I felt like it was so of an era.
00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:09.440
Yes, definitely.
00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:15.920
You said this song is death giving 1999-2005.
00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:19.119
Exclamation point three times.
00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:21.119
Can I admit something embarrassing too?
00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:21.759
Oh, please.
00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:23.279
I thought they were French.
00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:25.119
Oh no, that's not embarrassing.
00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:25.519
Okay.
00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:28.000
Because it felt like very French.
00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:33.200
Yeah, it felt French and also like the, you know, they could have been hanging out with like Daft Punk.
00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:36.000
And maybe they were contemporaries of them.
00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:37.119
No, I can see that.
00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:42.880
And and sometimes, honestly, I think they would sing English and Spanish, but also French, sometimes Italian.
00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:44.240
So you're you're not off.
00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:44.480
Okay.
00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:49.440
And they do have that sort of like Daft Punk, even like air.
00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:52.640
Like there's they're all in that same yeah, same boat.
00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:53.359
Same boat, tied.
00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.480
They're on the Queen Mary.
00:22:54.640 --> 00:22:54.799
Yeah.
00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:55.759
Exactly.
00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:59.119
So this is their second studio album.
00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:06.799
And even more than the song itself, I have just such fond memories of it because of everything surrounding it.
00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:26.079
And like between 1996 and 2000, I feel like I sort of had a musical reawakening starting with Ozomotli and then a lot of bands singing in Spanish, whether they were from LA like Ozomotle, or Mexico City, like Molotov, or Venezuela, like Los Amigos Invisibles.
00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:28.880
Are you familiar with any of these groups?
00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:30.720
I do know Ozomotli.
00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:41.440
I've heard of Molotov and Los Amigos Invisibles, but I don't know that I like them super like I don't know that I can name any of their songs.
00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:49.440
Yeah, no, they were, I think for me that they were like kind of rising in like the late 90s, and it was like, oh, this is so different.
00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:53.279
This is like so much better than the music they play on K rock.
00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:57.519
But okay, but yeah, and they were like all very fun to see in concert.
00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:59.119
I've I've actually seen all of them.
00:23:59.279 --> 00:23:59.599
Oh, cool.
00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:01.599
Ozomotli several times.
00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:06.160
Uh have you I I feel like that is very early 2000s, Ozomotli.
00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:11.119
Yeah, I think I was probably learning about them later in the 2000s.
00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:11.440
Yes.
00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:12.079
I think.
00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:15.200
I mean, you were only 12 around 2000.
00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:15.759
I know.
00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:20.880
And you know that like when I moved to Houston is when I started listening to music in Spanish, like independently.
00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:21.920
Yeah.
00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:22.880
No, it was.
00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:27.119
I remember like first hearing Osamatli and like, oh my god, this is so much fun.
00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:33.200
Like listen singing along in Spanish, and it was just like, I don't know, it they really opened the door for me.
00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.160
That's so cool.
00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:34.799
Yeah.
00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:46.000
Um, but so Placellina Mosh came out of Monterey, Mexico in the late 90s as part of what was called the Avanzada Regia movement or the Monterey Vanguard.
00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:48.720
It's a wave of bands from Monterey.
00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:51.279
Regia is a person from Monterey.
00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:54.640
I didn't know that until researching for the podcast.
00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:58.400
But they kind of helped redefine Mexican alternative music.
00:24:58.559 --> 00:25:01.759
And it seemed to have all started with this band, Zerdok.
00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:02.640
Have you heard of them?
00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:03.119
No.
00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:11.599
Okay, so they kicked it off in 1995 when they were the first non-Chilango band to win at a battle of the bands in Mexico City.
00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:16.559
And non-Chilango, Christina, do you like someone from Mexico City?
00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:20.559
Yeah, so they were the first person, first band not from Mexico City to win.
00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:22.960
So that was kind of a big deal, got some attention.
00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:23.519
Cool.
00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.640
There's a few other bands.
00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:27.839
Kinky was another one from Monterey that I really liked.
00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:30.079
And and I'll share some of these links.
00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:31.680
So it's good stuff.
00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:39.200
It's like it's weird because I'm not listening to it anymore, but it's it's again for the time, perfect.
00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:45.279
So Placina Moshe is the duo Jonas Gonzalez and Alejandro Rosso.
00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:47.359
And they formed in 1996.
00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:51.680
Supposedly they met at a Walmart playing video games.
00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:54.480
But then they say that's not necessarily true.
00:25:54.720 --> 00:26:01.440
Anyway, yeah, they kind of just played around with funk and hip-hop, disco, bossa nova, psychedelic music.
00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:06.160
And as I mentioned, they sang in a few different languages.
00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:09.519
Basically, they were bending genres and having fun with it.
00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:15.920
And their first album, Aquamos, came out in 1998 and is probably their most well-known with Mr.
00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:18.559
Pimosh being their signature track.
00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:23.759
It's even used in the FIFA 07 video game.
00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:24.799
Oh shoot.
00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:29.599
I do feel like I looked that one up after we saw this one.
00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:31.920
Or after you shared this song with me.
00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:33.680
And I was like Pimosh.
00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:37.680
Yeah, a few of their songs got into different video games.
00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:45.200
But that first album caught the attention of Coldplay producer Chris Allison, who then produced this album in 2000.
00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:51.920
And then Money Mark, unofficially the fourth Beastie Boy, has a co-writing credit on Boombox Baby.
00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:57.440
And then he produced a few other songs on the album, but this is the only one with co-writing credits.
00:26:57.680 --> 00:27:02.000
But I just love how Boombox is so lackadaisically disco and funk.
00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:05.440
It's like you said, very like 1999 to 2000.
00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:42.880
Now I do think you need to listen to it alongside the other 12 songs to fully appreciate the band.
00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:44.799
It's like the song is good.
00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:45.440
I like it.
00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:49.119
I like it a lot, but it it's it's not life-changing.
00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:50.079
That's okay.
00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:51.759
Your s your song wasn't life-changing.
00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:53.119
No, no, no, no, no.
00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.640
Just something to listen to.
00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:56.160
A nice song to listen to.
00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:56.559
Yeah.
00:27:56.799 --> 00:28:00.799
And now when I when I do listen to Boombox Baby, I don't just hear the song.
00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:09.039
I hear KCRW in like 2000, and I can see myself getting ready for my first and only internet date.
00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:09.599
Oh.
00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:10.079
Yeah.
00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.119
That's so beautiful.
00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:12.720
So yeah.
00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:19.119
Anyway, I've enjoyed this having this time to like think about the song, bringing back these old memories.
00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:24.240
And I do think music has that like power to help jog your memory in a way.
00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.359
Yeah, definitely.
00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:36.960
I know we've talked about like to another place and how music can transport us, but it's also kind of funny when you have a revived memory because of a song that you like here again.
00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:38.880
And then you're like, oh my gosh, this.
00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:39.440
Yeah.
00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:40.559
So I love it.
00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.920
Oh my god, I love yours.
00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:42.960
Yours is so good.
00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:46.319
And now I'm actually really excited to go listen to the rest of the album.
00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:46.640
Yeah.
00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:48.079
Because I think you like.
00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:49.920
I think I would probably like it too.
00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.799
It's fun.
00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:51.759
Sweet.
00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:54.799
Well, thanks for going on a little rediscovery journey with me, Christina.
00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:55.440
Thank you.
00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.319
Thank you for taking me.
00:28:56.559 --> 00:29:00.160
Can I just give you and everybody else some unsolicited advice real quick?
00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:00.799
I'd love it.
00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:01.759
I'd love it, please.
00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:04.240
Try painting a picture this summer.
00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:05.680
I know, scary.
00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:10.240
Because maybe you haven't done something like this since you mix colors in kindergarten.
00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:14.000
But don't you want to unlock the creative part of your brain?
00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:17.200
See if painting might be the thing that sparks joy for you.
00:29:17.599 --> 00:29:20.400
Dude, it's interesting how this idea is stressing me out.
00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:22.480
I might need a little more convincing, please.
00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:27.359
I know, because I bet some of our listeners are sitting there and thinking, this feels weird.
00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:31.039
And I actually agree with you and with you, Christine.
00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:35.920
I haven't picked up a paintbrush in years, but I'm challenging myself as well.
00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:38.160
So that I might feel what artists feel.
00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:43.599
Creativity, wonder, a sense of accomplishment, a sudden urge to cut off my ear.
00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.559
Is that too much?
00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:45.680
Oh wow.
00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:51.920
Um, no, but you know, I'm getting there.
00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:57.039
And I I do think the fact that I'm resistant to doing this makes me think I should probably give it a try.
00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:58.160
Yeah, you should.
00:29:58.319 --> 00:30:02.240
And if you do it and your painting sucks, that's all the better.
00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:07.200
I once took a beginner pottery class two times before I could even make a single mug.
00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:09.039
Failure is healthy.
00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:11.519
It's all about the journey to get there.
00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:17.200
And if you do it and your painting doesn't suck, or really, even if it does, send us a photo.
00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:19.279
We'd love to see the fruits of your labor.
00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.400
Advice over.
00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:26.480
Christine, do you have any hints for us for what we might be exploring next week?
00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:30.559
I think we're going to warm into our listeners' ears.
00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:31.200
Ew.
00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:35.440
Thanks for listening to Stereothematica.
00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:40.240
If you like what you're hearing, please consider a review, a rating, or share us with a friend.
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And follow us on Instagram where you can share a song you recently rediscovered.
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We also have our infinite Spotify playlist linked in our show notes.
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And visit stereothematica.com for more fun.