Unsung Podcast

by Unsung Podcast

The Music of James Bond (Side B) - 323

We knew this episode was gonna grow arms and legs when we realised that there are 27 Bond songs to talk about. So, now that we've dispensed with the history of Bond music, it's time to tackle every single one of these songs in chronological order. This doesn't include the original Bond theme from Dr. No (cause we discussed that at length in side A), but does include the two songs in On Her Majesty's Secret Service and the two non-Eon Bond films, Casino Royale (1967) and Never Say Never Again. It's a lot to cover. So we approached it a bit like our covermount episodes, only we decided to rank each song from 001 to 007 cause how could we really pass up that chance? We also give a little bit, the tiniest smidge, of detail about each film its place in the canon and the critical and audience receptions for each film. And song, where appropriate. Ready? Shake your Martinis and let's get stuck in.

The Music of James Bond (Side A) - 322

What if we told you that the musical history of James Bond is actually so much more interesting than the history of the films? And that's not knocking the history of the films - they're plenty fascinating too. The music though? Super interesting. From the theory and the cultural cache of the Bond song, to the near misses and the rejected tracks, we cover a lot in Side A of our look at the music of James Bond.

In Session 9 - Eugene S. Robinson from Oxbow

This week’s episode is a very special interview with the legendary Eugene S. Robinson. Perhaps best known as the vocalist of the experimental rock band Oxbow, Eugene has not only played in various projects over the years, but has worn various different hats outside of music too. A renowned writer and journalist, he’s just about to release his memoir A Walk Across Dirty Water and Straight into Murderer’s Row on October 10th 2023. And when he’s not busy writing or performing, he’s also getting involved in MMA and bodybuilding. So we think it’s fair to say he’s a true polymath. In this extensive interview we talk a lot about his career, digging into just about every single musical project he’s been involved in. Along the way, he regaled us with stories about his life, his unique perspectives and philosophies about the world, and we also covered some real life body horror too. So, eh, if you’re squeamish, here’s your warning. We touch upon a few things from his upcoming memoir in this interview, and to be honest, it’s a great primer for that book. It was a true pleasure to chat with the man, and we really hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we did recording it.

Mata Leão by Biohazard w/ Scott Walker from Shit You May Not Have Seen Podcast - 321

If it feels like the length of our episode are getting longer on average then you’d be correct. This is likely because we have lost all pretence of restraint around how comprehensive we are. This week, we’re joined by Scott Walker for the Shit You May Not Have Seen Podcast to do a fairly definitive overview of the band Biohazard. A band who are also quite unrestrained... Many would believe that there’s not a whole lot to say about Biohazard because pretty much all of their albums plough the same furrow. Turns out, there actually is a lot to say. Over 2 hours worth of things to say. The band are actually somewhat interesting in how they tried to change their sound over the years. Attempts that were so unsuccessful that the albums aren’t actually available on streaming platforms. There’s good reason for that - it’s cause they’re nu metal albums. Anyway, on this episode we dive deep into their catalogue and also chat about the NYC hardcore scene they came up in, and touch a little on how it evolved over the years. Big thanks to Scott for joining us and picking this album. You can find his excellent podcast here.

The Steve Albini Retrospective (Side B) - 320

Here it is. Another whopper of an episode. But this one has lots and LOTS of contributors. From one time and former hosts and a bunch of your suggestions too, we tried to be as comprehensive as possible within our little sphere of listeners. Thanks for your contributions to this episode. It really made it feel like a communal affair, and that's an awesome feeling.

The Steve Albini Retrospective (Side A) - 319

Steve Albini's impact on alternative music is undeniable. From the sheer number of artists he collaborated with to his unwavering defense of fair treatment for musicians, his presence continues to be felt. His anti-capitalist views on the music industry may not have always aligned with everyone's, but his convictions were never in doubt. This influence extended to his unique approach to music. Whether working on his own projects or lending his talents to others, he imbued every recording with a distinct character. So recognizable and sought-after was his style that countless engineers and artists have attempted to emulate it, yet none have truly captured its essence. The deceptively simple brilliance behind his approach will be explored in more depth next week. This week's episode dives deep into Albini's life, career, ethics, musical philosophy, and of course, the controversies that continue to surround his legacy.

Common Existence by Thursday (Side B) w/ Sean Patrick Campbell (Damn Teeth, Thin Privilege) - 318

If you thought we'd prattled on about the history of Thursday a little too much in episode one well we've got some news for you - part two is a BEAST. It's 2 hours and 15 minutes long. Why? Because that's the unsung way. We give their discography a thorough analysis whilst continuing to chart the band's history. We also hear about how Geoff Rickly once slept on Sean's couch, and even take a wee detour in No Devotion, too. An episode for the true Thursday freaks, and also one which contains some Bischoff-esque Attitude error booking (iykyk - wait til the end).

Common Existence by Thursday (Side A) w/ Sean Patrick Campbell (Damn Teeth, Thin Privilege) - 317

As a die-hard Thursday fan, this week's guest comes right out the gates in explaining why Thursday he'll always love. And as it turns out, they're quite an easy band to love due to their ethics and overall affability as a band. Geoff Rickly himself often comes across earnestly and well in interviews, which is something Chris is keen to point out and dive into in the first part of this three parter. In Side A we chat about the band's history, their place in both the New Brunswick, New Jersey music scene, as well as their place in the early-00s emo scene as a whole. At the time, they were touted by some as being the next Nirvana but it was a label that never fit the band. We talk about all that, and their journey to becoming a major label act, in this episode.

Episode 278 - PATREON BONUS EPISODE UNLOCKED: Unsong Episode 7 - Papa Was a Rolling Stone by The Temptations

At the mercy of poor train WiFi so keeping this brief. Still on holiday. Back this week, when normal service will be resumed. This is a Patreon bonus episode. To hear more like it join us at www.patreon.com/unsungpod

Covermount Mixtape: Radio Kerrang! Vol. 6 (Side B) w/ Grant Donaldson (Moni Jitchell) - 316

With the exception of Soul Asylum and the Presidents of the USA, unless you were seriously tuned into Kerrang! and/or alternative music in the 90s there are very few bands you'll remember, let alone recognise, in the back half of this CD. Bullyrag, Janus Stark, Pulkas, Cecil, Pissing Razors and Genitorturers have all vanished more or less into oblivion since the 90s. Genitorturers perhaps being a bit of an exception in that they're still going to this day. Grant, and the rest of the crew, are positively bewildered by the rest of this compilation. And very occasionally surprised.

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