Episode 90: Angel Olsen

“Shut Up Kiss Me”

songexploder90-angelolsen

Angel Olsen released her third album, My Woman, in September 2016. It’s been critically acclaimed, including getting named Best New Music on Pitchfork and Best Albums of the Year on NME. In this episode, Angel Olsen takes apart the song “Shut Up Kiss Me.” She breaks down how she recorded it live in the studio with her band, and how she tried things with her voice that she’d never done before.

You can buy “Shut Up Kiss Me” on iTunes or on Bandcamp.

Special thanks to Sonos, who let me conduct my side of the interview from their store in New York while I was on the road.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

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Episode 89: Arrival

Jóhann Jóhannsson – “Heptapod B” from ‘Arrival’ (Original Score)

Johann Johannsson

This episode is part of a series I’m doing over the next few months, highlighting film music that I think could and should be considered for an Oscar. These awards episodes are presented in partnership with New York Magazine’s site Vulture. For more, go to vulture.com/awards.

In the film Arrival, Amy Adams plays a linguist trying to decode an alien language. The score was composed by Jóhann Jóhannsson, his third film collaborating with director Denis Villeneuve. In this episode, Johann breaks down a piece from the score called “Heptapod B,” and how, like the film, it revolves around the concept of language.

You can buy “Heptabod B”, or the entire official soundtrack on iTunes.

Arrival trailer

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

footnotes
Joan La Barbara – “Erin”
György Ligeti – “Requiem” (as used in 2001: A Space Odyssey)

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Episode 88: Flatbush Zombies

“Bounce”

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Flatbush Zombies are a hip hop trio from Brooklyn that formed in 2010. Their album 3001: A Laced Odyssey came out in 2016, and debuted in the top ten on the Billboard charts. Erick the Architect is one of the three MCs in the band, and he’s also the group’s producer. In this episode, Erick breaks down how their song “Bounce” was made.

You can buy “Bounce”on iTunes.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

footnotes
Bibio – “The Palm of Your Wave (Bibio Remix)”

“Bounce” music video

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