Here comes that Santa Ana wind again, blowing us right into the slightly skewed world of Steely Dan. It was never a question whether Strong Songs would do a Steely Dan episode, it was more a question of which song to focus on. In the end, Kirk chose "Babylon Sisters," a culmination of the band's incredible 1970s run that exemplifies Fagen and Becker's brand of pristine, laser-focused groove. It's also arguably the definitive recording of Bernard Purdie's signature Purdie Shuffle. Written by: Wal...
Feb 10, 2021•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 3
Where are we? What the hell is going on? Oh right, we're here with our podcast device, listening to an episode of Strong Songs. On this episode, Kirk dives into Imogen Heap's one-woman choral masterwork "Hide and Seek," taking a closer look at the technologies and processes Heap used to get that bewitching sound, her striking use of breath and dynamic contrast, and the many subtle ways she took the oh-so familiar "four chords" and made them sound unique. Written by: Imogen Heap Album: Speak for ...
Jan 27, 2021•58 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Let the children lose it, let the children use it, and let all the children join in for Strong Songs year three! Kirk kicks off the new year with a pair of classics by the great David Bowie: 1969's melancholy "Space Oddity" and 1972's triumphant "Starman." What goes up, as they say, must come down. Written by: David Bowie Albums: David Bowie (1969), The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) Listen/Buy Bowie via Album.Link Listen/Buy Ziggy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED...
Jan 13, 2021•54 min•Season 3Ep. 1
As Year Two of Strong Songs draws to a close, it's time to take a look back. SCHEDULING NOTE: Strong Songs will be off for the month of December, and will be back for Year Three at the start of January, 2021. But before that! Let's go back, back, back in time one hundred years, to the start of 2020. REFERENCED/DISCUSSED: "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin from Led Zeppelin IV , 1971 "Lovefool" by The Cardigans from First Band on the Moon , 1996 "Tom Sawyer" by Rush from Moving Pictures , 1981 ...
Nov 25, 2020•58 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Wake up, fall out of bed, and drag a comb across your head, cause Strong Songs is finally doing an episode about The Beatles. It's time for Kirk to tackle the fab four, and what better Beatles song to analyze than Lennon and McCartney's two-tune casserole of a closer, "A Day in the Life." Get ready for some lilting Lennon dreamscapes, some meticulous McCartney melodies, a really big glissando, and an even bigger E chord. Written by: John Lennon and Paul McCartney Album: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hear...
Nov 11, 2020•58 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Mailbag episode! Kirk answers your burning musical questions about songs from Parks & Rec , Black Sails , Lovecraft Country , and What We Do in the Shadows , as well as microtones, minimalist songwriting, the bebop scale, practicing habits, and more. REFERENCED/DISCUSSED: “Parks & Recreation” by Gaby Moreno and Vincent Jones, 2009 “Black Sails” by Bear McCreary, 2014 “You’re Dead” by Norma Tanega from Walking My Cat Named Dog , 1966 “Lonely World” by Moses Sumney from Aromanticism , 2017 A 2018 ...
Oct 28, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 24
The Wildlings are south of the wall, the robots are rising up, Seventh Kavalry's on the move, and two percent of the world's population has vanished. Time for another edition of Strong TV Songs! This time around the focus is on HBO, a network that has defined much of the broader TV landscape over the past couple of decades. So let's dig into a bunch of great music from a bunch of good shows, with themes for Dothraki raiders, Alethiometers, robot farmgirls, nuns with guns, monstrous moguls, and l...
Oct 14, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 23
It's early in the morning; no one is awake. From the top of the mountain, the soft light of dawn comes into view. You take a deep breath, and prepare for a journey with the great genius of musical travel. On this episode, Kirk dives into Björk's 1995 electro-pop masterpiece "Hyperballad," paying special attention to how carefully she weaves together music and lyrics to create a sense of space, and thus a feeling of travel. Written and produced by: Björk Co-produced by: Nellee Hooper Album: Post ...
Sep 30, 2020•48 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Mailbag episode! Kirk tackles your questions on subjects ranging from a Warren Zevon piano part, to the unfortunate prevalence of bad acoustics at live shows, to why Moana is such a good movie. It's been a rough week; thanks everyone who wrote in. REFERENCED/DISCUSSED: “Flaming” by Pink Floyd from The Piper at the Gates of Dawn , 1967 “Golden Brown” by the Stranglers, 1981 “Woke Up Today” and “In My Room” by Jacob Collier from In My Room , 2016 “Reckless” by Nate Wood/Four from X.it , 2019 “Stra...
Sep 16, 2020•54 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Thunder only happens when it's raining, and Strong Songs only crams two songs into an episode when it's super warranted. This episode warrants just such a pairing, with a focus on two tunes by the great Fleetwood Mac. First there's the collaboratively written group-sing stomper "The Chain," and then comes Stevie Nicks' heartbeat anthem "Dreams." Both were featured on the band's classic 1977 album Rumors , and both have more than stood the test of time. "The Chain" was written by Lindsey Buckingh...
Sep 02, 2020•58 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Who's gonna lay the wedding table? Who's gonna make the wedding bed? And what about the rings? Funny you should ask. On this episode, Kirk takes a deep dive into "Wedding Song," one of the signature numbers from Anaïs Mitchell's 2019 musical Hadestown . It's time for some conversational song form, a bunch of key changes, a touch of Jeff Buckley falsetto, and just a biiiiiit of trombone. Turn off your snares, and let's do this. Written by: Anaïs Mitchell, w/ arranging by Michael Chorney Directed ...
Aug 19, 2020•59 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Mailbag! Episode! We've got questions about Tuvan throat singing (how does it work??), the Unsolved Mysteries theme (why is it so creepy??), the intro to Don McLean's "American "Pie" (how do they count it??), Steely Dan (why do some people hate them??), Andrew Bird's whistling solo from 2011's The Muppets (how did he do that??), Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" (what key is it in??), and more. REFERENCED/DISCUSSED: “Unsolved Mysteries Theme” composed by Gary Malkin and Michael Boyd “Hallowe...
Aug 05, 2020•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 18
It's time for a journey of the mind, as Kirk picks apart one of the best hard rock tunes of the early 2000s. Queens of the Stone Age's "Songs for the Deaf" includes enough bangers that it was tough to pick a single song to focus on, but in the end, "No One Knows" won the day with its combination of grit, groove, and focus. On this episode, Kirk dives deep into the tune's tightly wound, surprisingly swinging arrangement, with special focus on Dave Grohl's meticulous drumming. Artist: Queens of th...
Jul 22, 2020•55 min•Season 2Ep. 17
It seemed pretty unlikely that Strong Songs would ever cover John Cage's infamous "silent" composition "4'33", so we figured, on this off-week, it'd be fun to run an episode of the fabulous podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz on the subject instead. (Also, Kirk and 20KHz host Dallas Taylor like one another's shows and decided to do a little cross promotion.) This episode originally ran on January 22, 2020, and the full show notes and credits are below. You can find out more about Twenty Thousand Hertz...
Jul 15, 2020•32 min
Classic video game consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System didn't just play games; they also played music. Their onboard synthesizers put strict limits on what kinds of music game composers could write, but from those limits came a cornucopia of musical themes that remain iconic even today. On this episode, Kirk peels back the layers of Koji Kondo's "World 1-1" music from the first Super Mario Bros. , revealing a perfectly polished musical gem. Level: World 1-1 Game: Super Mario Bros. (1...
Jul 08, 2020•59 min•Season 2Ep. 16
A toast to the groom! To the bride! To knowing you'll always regret the sacrifice you made for your sister! In this updated 2019 episode, Kirk takes a dive into Lin-Manuel Miranda's epic Broadway musical Hamilton , focusing on Renée Elise Goldsberry's first act showstopper, "Satisfied." Regret tinges an otherwise joyous day as Angelica Schuyler remembers the night she met Alexander Hamilton, fell in love with him, and quickly realized they could never be together. It's a heady mix of complex rhy...
Jul 01, 2020•50 min
You don't have to be beautiful, rich, OR cool to appreciate Prince - you just need a little extra time, a pair of ears, and a pulse. It's finally time to talk about the Purple One on Strong Songs, specifically his 1986 chart-topper "Kiss." How did a song that was originally written for a standard band become so stripped-down and distinct? Why do those vocal and guitar parts work so well? And who was responsible for some of the sounds and styles Prince was channeling when he recorded it? All that...
Jun 24, 2020•57 min•Season 2Ep. 15
On this Strong Songs mailbag episode, Kirk answers your most pressing questions on subjects ranging from horn transposition, to why audiences have a hard time clapping on 2 and 4, to what the heck that sound is on the bridge to "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic." REFERENCED/DISCUSSED: “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC from The Razors Edge , 1990 “Roll” by Fatai from Undone - EP, 2015 “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin from Count Three & Pray , 1986 “We Will Rock You” by Queen from News Of The World , 19...
Jun 10, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 14
D, A, C, G. Four chords, placed end to end, repeated over and over again. On this episode, Kirk takes a deep dive into Sufjan Stevens's "Chicago," the centerpiece of his brilliant 2005 album Illinois . It's a towering construction supported by four chords, with building blocks of vibraphones, wurlitzers, strings, and choral harmonies. D, A, C, G. Eyes on the road; all things go. Artist: Sufjan Stevens Album: Illinois (2005) Written by: Sufjan Stevens Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DIS...
May 27, 2020•57 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Kirk is joined by Dallas Taylor, sound designer and host of the fabulous sound-focused podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz . The two of them talk about what makes a great recording, the ineffable energy of live music, the history of the Roland TR-808 drum machine, album mastering and the "Loudness Wars" of the 1980s and 90s, how music can take you back to certain times in your life, and the merits of listening to albums on vinyl. They also nerd out pretty hard about Hamilton. FEATURED/DISCUSSED: Episo...
May 20, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Are you living in an empty room, with all the windows smashed? Then this is the podcast episode for you. It's time for a deep dive into Annie Lennox's 1992 pop banger "Walking on Broken Glass," with all its syncopated pianos, string section interludes, ever-changing backup vocals, and tasty guitar cameos. Won't you pick the pieces up? Artist: Annie Lennox Album: Diva (1992) Written by: Annie Lennox Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" by The Miami ...
May 13, 2020•59 min•Season 2Ep. 11
The bells in the church tower chime, so it's time to grab our Telecasters and talk about Jeff Buckley. Specifically, it's time for a deep dive into Buckley's "Last Goodbye," one of the centerpiece songs on his sole studio album, Grace. There'll be spacious drums, grand basslines, spiraling string parts, alternative guitar tunings, and of course, loads of beautiful singing. Artist: Jeff Buckley Album: Grace (1994) Written by: Jeff Buckley Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED: “Mojo...
Apr 29, 2020•59 min•Season 2Ep. 10
It's time for another Strong Songs listener Q&A, as Kirk goes into the mailbag to answer your most burning musical questions. How does Devo make 11/8 time sound so smooth? What makes one song sound like a train, while another one sounds like a pack of horses? Why does the turnaround of Janelle Monáe's "Make Me Feel" sound so odd? What kinds of effects did Michael Brecker use on his saxophone? How does AC/DC's Angus Young rock the intro to "Thunderstruck" so hard? Those questions and many more......
Apr 15, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 9
On this episode, Kirk dives in to one of the most influential jazz recordings of all time. As the lead track on Miles Davis's landmark album Kind of Blue , "So What" signaled a new era in jazz harmony, composition, and improvisation. This episode will get into what that actually means, how the tune works, and why the seven musicians who played on Kind of Blue were each such a crucial part of the album's magic. Artist: Miles Davis Album: Kind of Blue (1959) Written by: Miles Davis Listen/Buy via ...
Apr 01, 2020•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 8
On this episode... a prank. April Fools’ Day has run its course, which means it’s time to update this episode description to accurately reflect what’s in the episode. Hopefully this joke made some listeners laugh, and didn't ruffle too many feathers. The actual full episode on Miles Davis’s “So What” should be live as of this update, and next in your feed. To give credit where it's due: Song: "Never Gonna Give You Up" Artist: Rick Astley Album: Whenever You Need Somebody (1987) Written by: Stock...
Apr 01, 2020•11 min
As sure as there are stars above you, Strong Songs will be here to deliver musical deep-dives straight into your eardrums. This week is no different, as Kirk picks apart Brian Wilson's chamber-pop masterpiece "God Only Knows." The sleigh bells ring, the french horn solos, and The Wrecking Crew lays down the foundation for an immaculate collection of chords and melodies, all placed over a bass line that's as Bach as it is Beach-y. Turns out there's a reason so many people call this the greatest s...
Mar 18, 2020•56 min•Season 2Ep. 7
It's a pretty stressful time, and I (Kirk) had a feeling some of you might be cooped up, staring at your phones and anxiously checking the news. I'm right there with you. I've found a lot of comfort in music over the last few days, and occasionally, some much-needed distraction. I wanted to try to share that with all of you, so I made a new playlist featuring songs from artists I've talked about on Strong Songs. You can find it here: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3OYYGNNXWw6lNvYU2OY...
Mar 13, 2020•11 min
Oh, sinner man, where you gonna run to? To the rock? To the river? To the sea? Well, wherever you run, you'll still be starring in a Strong Songs analysis of one of Nina Simone's greatest recordings. Yes, it's time for Strong Songs' first-ever analysis of a live recording, as Kirk digs in to legendary pianist/vocalist Nina Simone's 1965 interpretation of the traditional spiritual song "Sinnerman." It's time for some syncopated piano, popless grooves, band crash-landings, hand-clap breakdowns, hi...
Mar 04, 2020•55 min•Season 2Ep. 6
It's time for the first Strong Songs listener Q&A of 2020, so let's get into it! Kirk answers listener questions on topics like Zeppelin and Cake counting, the decline (and rise) of the saxophone, Muse's approach to vocal processing, whether piano is an "easy" instrument, Bruno Mars's musical magpieism, and in a first, a listener's request that Strong Songs help him solve a mystery. Update 2/25/20: Mystery solved! Fabian's mystery song is "Me, Myself, I" by Joan Armatrading. Thanks to everyone w...
Feb 19, 2020•57 min•Season 2Ep. 5
What's that you say? You'd like a bonus mini-episode all about the cheeseball fantasy earworm "Toss A Coin To Your Witcher"? Well, Kirk is happy to oblige. This mini-sode started as a segment in next week's mailbag episode, but it became involved enough that Kirk decided to spin it out into its own little thing. Hopefully it gives all you Witcher fans out there a better appreciation for why you can't get this song out of your head, and if it gets the song BACK in your head in the process... well...
Feb 10, 2020•16 min
