Riffology: Iconic Rock Albums Podcast

Episodios disponibles

5 de 136

RIFF068 - Hole - Live Through This
Hole — Live Through This (1994) Noise made human: sharp guitars, cracked-glass vocals, and songs that refuse to sand down the splinters. In this episode we unpack how Live Through This became both a blistering rock record and a time capsule of messy, real-life urgency. The big picture Why this album still feels dangerous: melody with teeth, beauty with bite. Olympia-to-LA-to-Marietta roots and attitudes — riot grrrl tension meets major-label machinery. Courtney Love’s performance as intent, not accident: keep the cracks in. What we cover Recording sprint: tracked in 23 days at Triclops Sound Studios (Marietta, GA), with a live-to-tape energy. Vocals with scars: a dozen-plus passes per song, but the imperfections stay — including the famous voice break in “Doll Parts.” Cobain’s cameo: backing vocals on “Asking for It” and “Softer, Softest,” and why that detail got louder after his death. Cover art, on purpose: Ellen von Unwerth’s prom-queen shot (model Leilani Bishop) — conceived and driven by Love. DGC vs Geffen: what the indie-adjacent major imprint meant in the 90s (think Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Weezer, Beck, Counting Crows). “Rock Star” vs “Olympia”: the notorious DAT swap that left the track list and the audio mismatched — and how the band treated the actual “Rock Star” live. Kristen Pfaff: her locked-in bass feel on the record, the tragedy that followed its release, and the pause before the band returned. Why it still matters Precision without polish: performances that breathe and bruise. Hooks under pressure: pop instincts framed by claustrophobic mix choices that reward volume. Cultural afterlife: songs that kept turning up in film and TV, proof the edges cut through. Timestamps 00:00 — Cold open & why this album still stings 02:54 — “Rock Star” vs “Olympia” — the title/track mix-up 05:20 — DGC vs Geffen — who was on the roster and why it mattered 48:58 — 23 days at Triclops Sound — capturing the fast, live feel 49:33 — Dozen-take vocals & keeping the cracks 49:53 — Geffen wanted the “Doll Parts” voice break smoothed — it stayed 50:05 — Cobain drops by: “Asking for It” & “Softer, Softest” 50:36 — Ellen von Unwerth’s prom-queen cover (Leilani Bishop) 53:41 — “Rock Star” listed, “Olympia” on disc — the DAT snafu 54:33 — Kristen Pfaff — playing, loss, and the band’s pause Turn it up — this one rewards volume.You can find us here: Blog: https://riffology.co All Episodes: https://riffology.co/podcast iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-riffology-iconic-rock-alb-176865775 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/riffology-iconic-rock-albums-podcast/id1691556696 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1LIU9mein7QMw346q20nyy X: https://x.com/RiffologyPod Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/riffology.co Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riffology Email: [email protected]
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1:20:28
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1:20:28
RIFF068 - Hole - Live Through This
Hole — Live Through This (1994) Noise made human: sharp guitars, cracked-glass vocals, and songs that refuse to sand down the splinters. In this episode we unpack how Live Through This became both a blistering rock record and a time capsule of messy, real-life urgency. The big picture Why this album still feels dangerous: melody with teeth, beauty with bite. Olympia-to-LA-to-Marietta roots and attitudes — riot grrrl tension meets major-label machinery. Courtney Love’s performance as intent, not accident: keep the cracks in. What we cover Recording sprint: tracked in 23 days at Triclops Sound Studios (Marietta, GA), with a live-to-tape energy. Vocals with scars: a dozen-plus passes per song, but the imperfections stay — including the famous voice break in “Doll Parts.” Cobain’s cameo: backing vocals on “Asking for It” and “Softer, Softest,” and why that detail got louder after his death. Cover art, on purpose: Ellen von Unwerth’s prom-queen shot (model Leilani Bishop) — conceived and driven by Love. DGC vs Geffen: what the indie-adjacent major imprint meant in the 90s (think Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Weezer, Beck, Counting Crows). “Rock Star” vs “Olympia”: the notorious DAT swap that left the track list and the audio mismatched — and how the band treated the actual “Rock Star” live. Kristen Pfaff: her locked-in bass feel on the record, the tragedy that followed its release, and the pause before the band returned. Why it still matters Precision without polish: performances that breathe and bruise. Hooks under pressure: pop instincts framed by claustrophobic mix choices that reward volume. Cultural afterlife: songs that kept turning up in film and TV, proof the edges cut through. Timestamps 00:00 — Cold open & why this album still stings 02:54 — “Rock Star” vs “Olympia” — the title/track mix-up 05:20 — DGC vs Geffen — who was on the roster and why it mattered 48:58 — 23 days at Triclops Sound — capturing the fast, live feel 49:33 — Dozen-take vocals & keeping the cracks 49:53 — Geffen wanted the “Doll Parts” voice break smoothed — it stayed 50:05 — Cobain drops by: “Asking for It” & “Softer, Softest” 50:36 — Ellen von Unwerth’s prom-queen cover (Leilani Bishop) 53:41 — “Rock Star” listed, “Olympia” on disc — the DAT snafu 54:33 — Kristen Pfaff — playing, loss, and the band’s pause Turn it up — this one rewards volume.You can find us here: Blog: https://riffology.co All Episodes: https://riffology.co/podcast iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-riffology-iconic-rock-alb-176865775 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/riffology-iconic-rock-albums-podcast/id1691556696 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1LIU9mein7QMw346q20nyy X: https://x.com/RiffologyPod Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/riffology.co Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riffology Email: [email protected]
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1:20:28
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1:20:28
RIFF067 - Tool - Undertow
Two nerds, a laminator, and an extremely long “warm worm” somehow lead to a deep dive into one of the darkest, driest, and most hypnotic debut albums of the ‘90s. Undertow wasn’t just Tool’s arrival — it was a statement: no gloss, no funk, no flannel. Just tight, menacing precision and the kind of sonic control that made everything else in ’93 sound like it was recorded in a gym hall. Neil and...
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RIFF067 - Tool - Undertow
Two nerds, a laminator, and an extremely long “warm worm” somehow lead to a deep dive into one of the darkest, driest, and most hypnotic debut albums of the ‘90s. Undertow wasn’t just Tool’s arrival — it was a statement: no gloss, no funk, no flannel. Just tight, menacing precision and the kind of sonic control that made everything else in ’93 sound like it was recorded in a gym hall. Neil and Chris get into Sylvia Massy’s production magic, the infamous piano-and-shotgun session that birthed “Disgustipated,” and why Undertow still feels so unsettlingly alive today. They unpack the censored artwork, the Lollapalooza breakthrough, and what makes this record sound dangerous even three decades later. If you like your riffs dry, your rhythm sections ritualistic, and your frontmen just a little terrifying — this one’s for you. 00:00 — Warm-up chaos: “warm worm,” laminator drama. 00:04 — Why Undertow and not Lateralus (yet). 00:07 — Setting the scene: 1993’s heavy landscape. 00:10 — Comparing Undertow’s live-band energy to A Perfect Circle’s layered polish. 00:14 — The dry, claustrophobic mix and why it works. 00:15 — Who is Sylvia Massy and why her production mattered. 00:19 — The piano + shotgun recording session and how it became “Disgustipated.” 01:05 — CD quirks, hidden tracks, and Flood’s strange indexing. 01:08 — “Turn it up”: why the album rewards volume. 01:11 — The censored cover art and mail-in reveal. 01:14 — Lollapalooza ’93: the moment Tool broke through. You can find us here: Blog: https://riffology.co All Episodes: https://riffology.co/podcast iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-riffology-iconic-rock-alb-176865775 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/riffology-iconic-rock-albums-podcast/id1691556696 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1LIU9mein7QMw346q20nyy X: https://x.com/RiffologyPod Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/riffology.co Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riffology Email: [email protected]
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1:33:12
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1:33:12
RIFF066 - A Perfect Circle - Mer De Noms
Riffology — A Perfect Circle: Mer de Noms Maynard James Keenan takes a detour from Tool, rents a room to guitar wizard Billy Howerdel, and they accidentally build the most elegant “super-group” debut of the millennium. Neil and Chris dig into the Mer de Noms mythos: how a guitar tech’s home demos became a platinum record the secret names and symbols hidden in the artwork Josh Freese’s drums that...
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