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Guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and film director Ben Hozie of the Brooklyn-based indie rock band Bodega visits YMAAA to talk about Milk Dick’s 2014 album It Grows on You. Ben explains how he got acquainted with Milk Dick’s music and why It Grows on You has been his musical companion for more than a decade. He discusses how the band’s theatrical and sometimes serious side co-exists with the humor and silliness inherent to their musical style and band name. Ben also breaks down several of his favorite tracks from the album. He talks about the musical influences that informed Bodega’s new album All Inside Aquarium as well as discussing his ATM: At This Moment podcast and upcoming film Jack London Calling.

To learn more about Bodega or to check out their music, please visit their website and Bandcamp page, respectively at bodega-band.com and bodegabk.bandcamp.com.

You can also follow the band on Instagram and TikTok at @bodegabk and check out their videos at @bodegaNYC on YouTube.

To hear Ben’s interview with Milk Dick’s Mike Delaney on his ATM: At This Moment podcast, go to https://podcasts.apple.com/bw/podcast/s1-ep17-mike-delaney-cry-when-yr-young/id1759971591?i=1000678578548.

For information on Ben’s latest film project, Jack London Calling, and Pretorius Pictures generally, go to https://pretoriuspictures.tumblr.com/.

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:28 Ben’s introduction

2:06 Ben explains why he chose It Grows on You for this episode

3:40 Ben and Al address the band’s name

4:43 Ben talks about first getting acquainted with Milk Dick through their live shows

5:20 Ben notes how Milk Dick combines their playful and serious sides

9:44 Ben talks about the theatrical nature of Milk Dick’s music, particularly on “Bathroom Door”

15:22 Ben provides some history on Milk Dick

18:03 Ben highlights “Grey Shapes” as one of his favorite songs on the album

19:50 Ben ponders the meaning of “My BF, Socrates”

21:34 Ben and Al talk about their reactions to “Rhythm Rock”

23:55 Is “Beach Needles (Coney)” in poor taste or ironic?

28:03 Ben reveals which track from It Grows on You is his favorite

30:40 Ben and Al discuss the brevity of the album’s songs

32:27 Ben talks about Delaney’s ability to confront his dark side

34:24 Ben addresses how It Grows on You has continued to be an important part of his life

35:37 Ben explains why he is a musical obsessive (or “cultural consumer”)

40:53 Ben shares which album he has listened to dozens of times this year

42:55 Al and Ben grapple with the definition of post-punk and how it applies to All Inside Aquarium

50:44 Ben talks about Bodega’s ‘60s and ‘90s inspirations

57:16 Ben elaborates on why All Inside Aquarium is so riffy

58:37 Ben explains why he started the ATM: At This Moment podcast

1:02:36 Ben talks about his upcoming film Jack London Calling

Outro music is from “Pick up the Check” by Bodega.

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Los Angeles-based Americana singer-songwriter Paula Fong joins Al to introduce him to Gillian Welch’s 1996 album Revival. Paula explores what made Revival instantly appealing to her, and she explains why it continues to be one of her favorite albums and an important influence on her own music. Paula also discusses her new album A Bird on the Wing and her collaboration with Nickel Creek guitarist Sean Watkins on her cover of “Turn! Turn! Turn!”.

For information on Paula’s music, upcoming live dates and more, visit her website paulafong.com. You can also follow her on Instagram and YouTube at @paulafongmusic.

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:11 Paula’s introduction

2:19 Paula recalls how she first got acquainted with Revival

4:49 Paula explains why she was drawn to the sound of Revival right away

7:40 Paula and Al talk about the authenticity of Welch’s music

9:48 Al had to warm up to the album

10:47 Paula talks about a formative experience she had with Celtic folk music

13:32 Paula and Al talk about the importance of formative experiences in shaping musical tastes

15:18 Paula talks about what she finds particularly striking about the songs on Revival

19:52 Paula and Al have very different reactions to “Paper Wings”

22:42 Paula explains what separates Revival from the rest of Welch’s discography

24:22 Paula notes how influential David Rawlings’ guitar playing has been

25:44 Paula cites the ways in which Welch and Rawlings have influenced her music

30:01 Paula and Al get more clues that they have very different tastes

31:56 Paula and Al talk about the value of repeated listening

33:14 Paula explains how she wound up collaborating with Watkins on her cover of “Turn! Turn! Turn!”

37:46 Paula goes into how her version of “Turn! Turn! Turn!” got arranged

40:30 Paula explains the story behind “What Are We Running From”

44:49 Paula talks about her upcoming live dates

Outro music is from “Up and Out” by Paula Fong.

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For this episode, virtuoso drummer Cindy Blackman Santana chose her 2020 album Give the Drummer Some as the focus for this discussion, but she and Al branch out into a wide-ranging conversation about several of her albums. Cindy talks about why she decided to write and sing lyrics for Give the Drummer Some, and she highlights some of the album’s notable tracks. Cindy also discusses her 2010 Tony Williams tribute album Another Lifetime, her recently-released album Coherence and the upcoming self-titled release for the supergroup Power of 3 (with Orianthi and Rhonda Smith).

As Cindy mentions on the episode, she has several live dates with her band over the next few months. Here are the dates for her shows in Baltimore and New York. For more information, go to cindyblackmansantana.com.

Oct. 24-25, Keystone Corner, Baltimore, MD

Dec. 4-6, Blue Note NYC, New York, NY

For more information on Cindy’s recordings and shows, give her a follow on these platforms…

Instagram, TikTok: @cindyblackmansantana

Facebook: @cindyblackmandrummer

The Power of 3 is also on Instagram at @thepowerof3official

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:24 Cindy’s introduction

2:23 Cindy explains why she wanted to talk about Give the Drummer Some

3:45 Cindy talks about the song that led to her making Give the Drummer Some with Narada Michael Walden

6:46 Cindy recalls how she took on the challenge of becoming a vocalist

9:14 Cindy discusses the songwriting process for Give the Drummer Some

15:44 Cindy highlights some of her favorite things about Give the Drummer Some

18:28 Cindy talks about the recording process for Give the Drummer Some

20:05 Cindy revisits her Tony Williams tribute album Another Lifetime

21:48 Cindy explains how her “suite” for “Coherence” came together

28:11 Cindy talks about the formation of the new supergroup The Power of 3

32:04 Cindy discusses the vinyl version of Coherence and her upcoming live dates

Outro music is from “Guitar Love” by Cindy Blackman Santana (feat. John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana).

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Jorina Stamm of the Swiss indie pop band Soft Loft joins Al for this week’s album deep dive, and she chose Phoebe Bridgers’ Lost Weekend (released on August 14) to discuss. Jorina explains why she wanted to talk about Lost Weekend and shares her early reactions to this highly-anticipated release. She also discusses how listening to Lost Weekend got her thinking more about concept albums. Jorina explains how Soft Loft unintentionally made a concept album with their recent release Throw the Dice, and she talks about the band’s upcoming tour dates and other plans.

Want to know more about Jorina and Soft Loft? You can find them in these places online…

softloftmusic.com (includes newsletter signup)

Instagram: @softloftsoftloft

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:21 Jorina’s introduction

2:04 Jorina explains why she picked Lost Weekend for this episode

4:04 Jorina talks about her initial experience with listening to the album

5:35 Jorina explains how doing research enhanced her listening experience

6:54 Jorina and Al react to the album opening with “The Outside”

10:09 Jorina notes the songs that have stood out to her so far

11:51 Jorina explains what she likes about Bridgers’ songwriting

13:11 Jorina and Al talk about the speculation over how much Bridgers’ lyrics are about her personal relationships

17:30 Jorina highlights the musical aspects of the album she likes

18:47 Jorina explains why her experience with listening to Lost Weekend was not a typical one for her

21:20 Jorina and Al identify their go-to tracks for one-offs

26:49 Jorina talks about why she has recently revisited some of Bridgers’ earlier work

29:36 Jorina and Al discuss Cameron Winter’s involvement with the album

33:57 Al had a failed attempt at listening to Lost Weekend right when it came out

34:57 Jorina explains how the theme of Throw the Dice came together

41:26 Jorina talks about the reaction to “Wednesdays”

44:15 Jorina reveals Soft Loft’s upcoming plans

Outro music is from “What Are The Odds” by Soft Loft.

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Albuquerque-based Americana singer-songwriter Michael Rudd joins Al for a deep-dive analysis of Townes Van Zandt’s 1969 self-titled album. Michael explains why he admires Van Zandt’s songwriting, notes what makes this album a special one in Van Zandt’s discography and breaks down the album’s highlights. He also discusses how he became inspired to create a five-album cycle over the last few years and goes into detail on some of the tracks off his latest release, Midnight at Dawn.

You can find Michael’s music and keep up with him through the following places.

https://www.michaelrudd.com/

https://michaelrudd.bandcamp.com/

@michaelruddmusic on YouTube

@michael.rudd.music on Instagram and Facebook

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:16 Michael’s introduction

2:32 Michael talks about his relatively recent introduction to Townes Van Zandt’s music

4:18 Michael explains why Townes Van Zandt is a perfect album

5:15 Michael and Al discuss the emotional nature of “Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel”

7:08 Michael explains why Van Zandt stands out to him among other great songwriters

12:21 Michael hears something about the Southwestern landscape in Van Zandt’s voice

13:25 Al and Michael discuss the spiritual nature of the lyrics in “Just For the Sake of the Song”

19:39 Michael picks out some of the other highlights from the album

25:37 How much does Michael listen to Townes Van Zandt?

26:39 Michael thinks the self-titled album distinguishes itself in Van Zandt’s discography

27:54 Michael explains how he wound up creating a five-album cycle

34:48 Michael talks about the perils of trying to interpret lyrics

37:11 Michael cites the biggest influence that Van Zandt has had on his own work

39:16 Michael discusses the meaning of “Made It Out of Jersey”

47:50 Michael provides an update on Palace of Flames

Outro music is from “Made It Out of Jersey” by Michael Rudd.

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For his album deep dive, singer, songwriter, author and educator Wesley Stace chose Robert Wyatt’s 1974 album Rock Bottom. Wesley recounts the adolescent friendship that led to his discovery of Rock Bottom, and he explains why it has been one of his favorite albums in the ensuing decades. He delves into the non-sensical nature of Wyatt’s lyrics and why they carry deep meaning for him. Wesley also talks about his latest album One Last Heist, his recent movement towards jazzier music and his upcoming shows.

There’s a lot to keep up with when it comes to Wesley’s music and shows, and you can do so at the following places online.

wesleystace.com

Instagram and Threads: @wesleystace

Facebook: @wesley.stace.9

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:02 Wesley’s introduction

2:00 Wesley recalls how he first got introduced to Robert Wyatt’s music

12:03 Wesley explains why he was drawn to Rock Bottom and how the album made him a lifelong Wyatt fan

18:05 Wesley makes a connection between Rock Bottom and the film Don’t Look Now

23:53 Wesley lauds Nick Mason’s production work and musical vision

27:00 It doesn’t take long for Rock Bottom to get non-sensical

32:14 Wesley sees the album as having broad appeal despite its bizarre quality

33:14 Wesley compares the non-sensical lyrics of Rock Bottom with those of Yes

36:23 A couple of childhood friends were instrumental to shaping Wesley’s musical explorations

39:47 Wesley sees a link between Robert Wyatt and Bob Dylan

44:37 Wesley and Al were impacted by Wyatt’s lyrics, even when they didn’t make sense

46:11 Wesley addresses why he didn’t pick a jazz album to discuss

48:51 Wesley was disappointed with one aspect of the Rock Bottom reissue

50:03 Wesley talks about the thread tying “One Last Heist” and “Hello Dead Horse”—the opening and closing tracks from One Last Heist

53:27 Wesley explains how he started making jazzier music

58:26 Wesley talks about upcoming Smithereens and Cabinet of Wonders shows

Outro music is from “Not My Speed” by Wesley Stace.

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Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, YouTuber, poet and satirist Bossi joins Al for a rare double album deep dive, as she talks about Bruce Springsteen’s 1980 release The River. Bossi discusses her Springsteen fandom, which dates back to her childhood, and she explains why The River has been one of her favorite albums for decades. She explores the prominent themes of The River and illustrates how many of those themes are present in her own work, particularly on her latest album Tell All the Other Girls. Bossi also talks about her Finishing School for Difficult Women video series and how it developed from its beginnings as a part of the rollout for Tell All the Other Girls.

You can explore the many facets of Bossi’s work in the following places:

www.iambossi.com

iambossi.bandcamp.com

www.houseofbossi.com

Instagram and TikTok: @iambossiofficial

Substack and YouTube: @iambossi

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:19 Bossi’s introduction

2:09 Bossi is a big believer in the album format

4:21 Bossi’s father was instrumental to her Springsteen fandom

6:45 Bossi explains how a Springsteen concert changed her life

11:05 Bossi talks about why “The Price You Pay” is a special song for her

16:22 “Two Hearts” is another track where Springsteen explores the theme of “keeping the spark alive”

17:43 Bossi explains how The River is a hopeful album, despite its many bleak moments

21:35 Bossi notes the parallels between the themes on The River and in her own music

25:25 Al and Bossi talk about the masculinity of Springsteen’s songs and image

31:09 Al thinks The River should be a single album

33:23 Bossi talks about an ongoing emotional connection she has with one of Springsteen’s songs

35:52 Bossi highlights some of her favorite tracks from the second half of the album

40:23 Bossi talks about the role of memory in Springsteen’s songs as well as in hers

45:53 Bossi and Al contrast the feel of the two discs of the album

48:10 Bossi and Al note the similarities in the sequencing between The River and Tell All the Other Girls

52:37 Bossi explains why she didn’t end Tell All the Other Girls with “Hold On”

55:43 Bossi admires how Springsteen sometimes sets heavy lyrics to upbeat music

58:25 Bossi explains how her Finishing School videos grew out of her process of rolling out Tell All the Other Girls

1:06:13 Bossi’s Finishing School character had its roots in some of her earlier performances

1:07:50 Bossi talks about her intent in creating the Finishing School videos and Substack

1:13:11 Bossi discusses the House of Bossi

1:16:39 Bossi explains why she chose “Bossi” as her artist name

Outro music is from “Run Baby Run” by Bossi.

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For this week’s album deep dive, Brazilian-born, Brooklyn-based musician, songwriter and video game designer Rafael Melo (who records and performs as Late Again) chose Arthur Verocai’s 1972 self-titled album. Rafael talks about how he first came across Verocai’s music and why he connected with this album instantly. He also delves into why he takes inspiration from Verocai’s music and career and how he came to collaborate with the Brazilian maestro on the song “People Pleasers.” Rafael discusses his soon-to-be-released EP I Dreamt I Was Awake (out September 4) and the upcoming debut Late Again album.

There are lots of places online where you can check out Late Again and follow Rafael…

Website: www.imlateagain.com

Bandcamp: imlateagain.bandcamp.com/

Instagram: @lateagainsta

YouTube: @reallylateagain

Spotify: Late Again

TikTok: @reallylateagain

Soundcloud: @reallylateagain

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io.

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!

Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:15 Rafael’s introduction

2:56 Al explains why his reaction to the album left him feeling a little stupid

4:20 Rafael talks about how he first got exposed to Arthur Verocai

8:51 Rafael hears Verocai’s voice through his arrangements

10:41 Rafael considers why Verocai’s music wasn’t discovered by many until decades after being released

14:13 Al and Rafael note the album’s eclecticism

17:56 Discovering Verocai was part of a larger exploration of Brazilian music for Rafael

21:33 Rafael explains how his collaboration with Verocai happened

27:04 Al found a surprise in the album’s credits

29:49 Rafael and Al appreciate Verocai’s vocals

31:26 Rafael picks his favorite tracks from the album

35:42 Al and Rafael discuss how “Na Boca do Sol” was sampled by several artists

37:42 Rafael and Al sort out their mixed feelings about sampling

39:49 Rafael finds inspiration in Verocai’s story

42:41 Rafael talks about the various musical elements in I Dreamt I Was Awake

46:28 Rafael discusses some songwriting challenges he gave himself

47:55 Rafael explains why he has not released a full album yet

51:25 Rafael provides an update on the upcoming Late Again album

52:49 Rafael talks about the many facets of his professional life

55:40 Rafael discusses his upcoming tour

Outro music is from “Crazy or Stupid” by Late Again.

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