Andy Doe joins us to discuss the present and future of vinyl records. The tea ceremony of listening to an LP... This week's guest: Andy Doe Proper Discord Show notes : Episode #51 – Ask Andy: Is Vinyl Better than CD? Kings of the Road (Im Lauf der Zeit) , note the records in the second photo; the record player is to their right. Vinyl record sales over time 48% of people who buy vinyl don't listen to the records Record Store Day Are there negative effects of Record Store Day? Now that you asked…...
May 18, 2018•35 min
Doug and Kirk discuss the future of iTunes. What effect will streaming and Apple's forthcoming video service have on iTunes? Will it split into several apps? Will it still be called iTunes? Show notes : The Great Disappointment (Wikipedia) Less or fewer One space between each sentence, they said. Science just proved them wrong. Focal Sony's "high-resolution capable" Bluetooth speaker The big music labels are selling big chunks of their Spotify stakes Will Music Streaming Ever Be Profitable? Our ...
May 11, 2018•32 min
We welcome Dean Asker, a Eurovision Song Contest fan and expert, to discuss the past and present of this unique annual event. Curious how the voting works? We find out. This week's guest: Dean Asker Show notes : The Eurovision Song Contest Eurovision Song Contest (Wikipedia) Lordi: Hard Rock Hallelujah (YouTube) European Broadcasting Union Logo TV Our next tracks : Crispy Ambulance: The Plateau Phase Pete Townshend: Empty Glass If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite po...
May 03, 2018•39 min
Doug and Kirk discuss silence: how it is important in music, between pieces of music, around music, and on its own. Show notes : Listen Different: Add Silence to your iTunes and iPod Playlists High-Resolution Silence A Space Between AppleScript Robert J. Lertsema (Wikipedia) Bis Records John Cage: 4'33" (Wikipedia) John Cage: 4'33" score Episode #80 – John Cage John Cage and the Anechoic Chamber Einojuhani Rautavaara: Cantus Arcticus (Apple Music) Jackson Browne: Solo Acoustic Vol. 1 & 2 Bru...
Apr 27, 2018•34 min
Bill Goldsmith of Radio Paradise joins us to talk about programming a free-form, internet radio station, listener support, and the future of radio. This week's guest: Bill Goldsmith Show notes : Radio Paradise Radio Paradise's playlist (updated live) Performance Royalty Rates Increase for Online Radio (2015) Our next tracks : Harold Budd: Avalon Sutra Julianna Hatfield: Julianna Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and p...
Apr 20, 2018•34 min
For the 100th episode, Doug and Kirk discuss how they listen to music today, and how their music listening has changed in the two years they've been producing this podcast. Show notes : Episode #90 – Liz Pelly on Streaming Muzak and Playlists Episode #85 – How Much Music Is Too Much? Episode #89 – Too Much Music; James Jackson Toth’s Failed Experiment Record Labels Splitting Long Tracks into Multiple Tracks to Maximize Streaming Income Episode #69 – Brian Brandt of Mode Records on John Cage, Mor...
Apr 13, 2018•33 min
Radio has long been the first way that people have discovered and listened to music. It is still very powerful, in spite of the ubiquity of music streaming services. We discuss how radio works, how it's changed over the years, and where it may be going. Show notes : Radio 3 Concert Sound (broadcasts in FLAC) QuickTime Broadcaster iHeart Prepares for Bankruptcy as Soon as This Weekend Our next tracks : Jacob Bro: Returnings Eric Clapton: Journeyman If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes...
Apr 06, 2018•40 min
1981 was a pivotal year for popular music. We take a deep dive into the tunes of that year and discuss the most memorable music of the year. Show notes : We're not going to link to all the records we mention, but here is an Apple Music playlist with most of the songs we discuss. The Clash: Sandinista! Rolling Stones: Tattoo You Honky Tonk Woman: Tina Turner opening for the Rolling Stones in 1981 Sony Walkman WM-2 Home Taping Is Killing Music (Wikipedia) The Cure: Faith and Carnage Visors Crispy ...
Mar 30, 2018•35 min
Jerry Ewing, editor of the UK's Prog magazine, discusses the history of progressive rock, and presents his new book Wondrous Stories. This week's guest: Jerry Ewing Sponsor: Audible.com. Get a free audiobook and a 30-day free trial at www.audibletrial.com/NextTrack Show notes : Wondrous Stories: A Journey through the Landscape of Progressive Rock Prog magazine Episode #58 – David Weigel on the History of Progressive Rock How the Brits Rocked America Episode #93 – Simon Vance on Narrating Audiobo...
Mar 24, 2018•38 min
We welcome Kiku Day, ethnomusicologist and shakuhachi player, to discuss this Japanese Flute. This week's guest: Kiku Day Show notes : Shakuhachi (Wikipedia) Okuda Atsuya Okuda Atsuya's CDs Gagaku (Wikipedia) Honkyoku (Wikipedia) Fuke Zen (Wikipedia) Shakuhachi music notation European Shakuhachi Society World Shakuhachi Festival 2018 in London A few shakuhachi recordings on Apple Music: Teruhish Fukuda: Japan: Musical Offering of a Shakuhachi Master Kohachiro Miyata: Shakuhachi - Japanase Flute ...
Mar 16, 2018•38 min
We finish our look at movies about music by discussing concert movies. What makes a good concert movie? Why are concert movies no longer interesting? Show notes : Ladies & Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones Woodstock: Three Days of Peace & Music The Last Waltz The Complete Monterey Pop Festival The Criterion Collection The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter Concert for Bangladesh Joe Cocker: Mad Dogs & Englishmen Last Days of the Fillmore The Beatles: Let it Be (disc; the film is no longer for...
Mar 09, 2018•34 min
People often wonder if classical record labels make money. We asked Andy Doe, who has a lot of experience in the classical record business, and he explains how the business works. This week’s guest : Andy Doe Proper Discord Show notes : Naxos Records Colin Currie Group harmonia mundi Artists and repertoire (A&R) – Wikipedia The Philharmonia Orchestra Berlioz: Les Troyens Many of the Karajan albums with “interesting” covers can be seen on this page on Amazon UK. ♫ Episode #46 – Percussionist ...
Mar 02, 2018•42 min
If you’re an audiobook listener, you will probably recognize this voice. We welcome Simon Vance, one of the most widely appreciated narrator of audiobooks. He discusses what it involves to record audiobooks, and how the audiobook industry works. This week’s guest : Simon Vance Show notes : Audiofile Magazine Simon Vance’s award winning audiobooks (Audiofile) Audies Audible.com (Try Audible and get two free audiobooks) Audible UK (Free trial) Anthony Powell: A Dance to the Music of Time (first of...
Feb 23, 2018•45 min
Podcaster Chuck Joiner talks to us about how he listens to music: which sources he uses, how he chooses what to listen to, and what equipment he uses. This week’s guest : Chuck Joiner, the MacVoices podcast Show notes : Audion Sonos speakers Apple AirPods JBL Flip 4 waterproof speaker Brian Eno: Nerve Net Episode #89 – Too Much Music; James Jackson Toth’s Failed Experiment View Cached Music AppleScript Apple HomePod https://www.kirkville.com/how-to-use-apple-musics-personal-dj-feature-to-create-...
Feb 16, 2018•33 min
Kirk got his HomePod. He spent a couple of hours listening to music to judge the sound quality. In short, it sounds great at times, but at others it doesn’t. Sponsor : ChronoSync, by Econ Technologies. Whatever your backup or sync scenario, ChronoSync has got you covered! Download a free 15-day trial version, and get 25% off ChronoSync on the Econ Technologies website . Show notes : Wrapping it right: In praise of Apple’s packaging Sonos PLAY:5 Cambridge Audio Minx Air 100 Coldplay: The Scientis...
Feb 09, 2018•33 min
Journalist Liz Pelly talks about streaming muzak, Spotify, playlists, and the future of streaming. This week’s guest : Liz Pelly Liz Pelly’s newsletter Show notes : The Problem with Muzak The Secret Lives of Playlists Future of Music Coalition Episode #89 – Too Much Music; James Jackson Toth’s Failed Experiment U.S. Copyright Authorities to Make Subscription Music Services Increase Payout Rate to Publishers and Musicians Topsify Filtr Digster Hands On: iTunes 10’s Ping feature Merlin Music fans ...
Feb 02, 2018•44 min
Musician and journalist James Jackson Toth launched an experiment in dedicated listening; sitting and listening attentively to just one album a week. He failed. He tells us why, and how we may have too much music to listen to. You stop hearing music at a certain point and you start hearing decisions. This week’s guest : James Jackson Toth, Wooden Wand Show notes : Too Much Music: A Failed Experiment In Dedicated Listening Episode #85 – How Much Music Is Too Much? Brian Eno: Nerve Net (Expanded E...
Jan 26, 2018•37 min
Buying and selling hi-fi equipment can be fraught with problems. Chris Connaker joins us to talk about the situation, and to present his new venture, Superphonica, a platform for buying and selling audio goods. Sponsor : ChronoSync, by Econ Technologies. Whatever your backup or sync scenario, ChronoSync has got you covered! Download a free 15-day trial version, and get 25% off ChronoSync on the Econ Technologies website . This week’s guest : Chris Connaker, of the Computer Audiophile website Sup...
Jan 19, 2018•36 min
What is pitch? How do instruments play in tune with each other? How do instruments tune, and what is temperament? Andy Doe explains all this. Show notes : Pitch (Wikipedia) Bach: 6 Suites for Cello Solo, Peter Wispelwey Music tuning (Wikipedia) Musical temperament (Wikipedia) Pythagoras (Wikipedia) Pythagorean tuning (Wikipedia) Meantone temperament (Wikipedia) Online recordings with unequal temperaments Britten: Saint Nicolas, King’s College Choir 1615, Gabrieli in Venice, King’s College Choir ...
Jan 12, 2018•35 min
As the new year rings in, we take a look at our music listening habits and think about how we may want to change them. Show notes : Swinsian Roon Plex Tidal Qobuz Essential Bollywood playlist The A-List: K-Pop Our next tracks : Kirk: Daniel Lanois: For the Beauty of Wynona Doug: The Bryan Ferry Orchestra: The Jazz Age If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. Support The Next Track...
Jan 05, 2018•33 min
As we amass music in our physical or digital libraries, it can reach a point where it doesn’t make sense to keep adding more music. How much really is too much? Sponsor : ChronoSync, by Econ Technologies. Whatever your backup or sync scenario, ChronoSync has got you covered! Download a free 15-day trial version, and get 25% off ChronoSync on the Econ Technologies website . Show notes : Play Random Albums AppleScript Collecting Music in an Analog Age High Fidelity The Deadhead’s Taping Compendium...
Dec 29, 2017•38 min
We answer a few listener questions about Apple’s AirPods, how to rip optical discs (other than CDs), and moving and merging iTunes libraries. Sponsor : ChronoSync, by Econ Technologies. Whatever your backup or sync scenario, ChronoSync has got you covered! Download a free 15-day trial version, and get 25% off ChronoSync on the Econ Technologies website . Show notes : Apple AirPods Sennheiser PX 100-II i headphones Episode #57 – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Optical Discs iTunes Now Hi...
Dec 22, 2017•35 min
We welcome Daniel Spreadbury to discuss the software that composers use to put their notes onto virtual paper. This week’s guest : Daniel Spreadbury, Dorico Dorico Show notes : Sibelius ARM processor An original score of a fugue by Johann Sebastian Bach A score by William Byrd German organ tablature French-style lute tablature Bach’s unfinished fugue Real book Newzik A shakuhachi score Our next tracks : Kirk: Stan Richardson: Shakuhachi Meditation Music Doug: 10cc: Sheet Music If you like the sh...
Dec 15, 2017•36 min
As winter closes in, and the holiday season approaches, we discuss the strange ritual of listening to Christmas music for just one month a year. There’s got to be a German word for this. It’s that feeling, that first second, when you heard Jingle Bells in the middle of summer. Show notes : Episode #58 – David Weigel on the History of Progressive Rock Trio Mediaeval: Folk Songs Bruce Springsteen: Santa Claus is Coming to Town Do They Know It’s Christmas We Are the World Bob Dylan: Christmas in th...
Dec 08, 2017•33 min
We bring back our regular guest Andy Doe to discuss some of the technical terms we read about with audio equipment: Ω and dB, also known as ohms and decibels. This week’s guest : Andy Doe Proper Discord Show notes : Ohm (Wikipedia) Resistor color code chart Episode #73 – Kirk Wants to Buy an Amplifier Decibel (Wikipedia) Comparative Examples Of Noise Levels dB SPL dBFS (Wikipedia) Episode #35 – Musician and Developer Peter Chilvers on Brian Eno’s Album and App Reflection Our next tracks : Kirk: ...
Dec 01, 2017•30 min
We welcome Laura Kuhn, executive director of the John Cage Trust, to discuss the life and legacy of composer John Cage. “I am most interested in music that doesn’t say anything.” John Cage, 1991 This week’s guest : Laura Kuhn, executive director of the John Cage Trust Show notes : The Selected Letters of John Cage John Cage Unbound: A Living Archive (New York Public Library) Episode #69 – Brian Brandt of Mode Records on John Cage, Morton Feldman, and the Music Business Diary: How To Improve The ...
Nov 24, 2017•46 min
Doug and Kirk look at how 1977 was a watershed year for popular music. Show notes : ECM Records Now Available on Apple Music Eagles: Hotel California Billy Joel: The Stranger Sex Pistols: Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols The Clash: The Clash (UK version) The Clash: Give ’em Enough Rope The Clash: The Clash (US version) Four Manchester bands we owe to the Sex Pistols’ Lesser Free Trade Hall gig 40 years ago Elvis Costello: My Aim is True Elvis Costello: Less Than Zero > Radio, R...
Nov 17, 2017•31 min
Conductor Alexander Joel talks about the profession of conductor for operas and orchestras. This week’s guest : Alexander Joel Repertoire Show notes : Alexander Joel’s Wagner Ring cycle, Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden Alexander Joel on Operabase ARTE TV story about Alexander Joel (in German) Video of Alexander Joel conducting Verdi’s La Traviata Conductor killed by conducting staff: The ironic death of Jean-Baptiste Lully Our next tracks : Kirk: Tuxedomoon: Desire Doug: Mountain: Climbing If...
Nov 10, 2017•36 min
Doug and Kirk discuss Apple Music, how it’s changed the way they listen to music, and how to get the most out of the service. Show notes : Chris Breen Bach: French Suites, by Murray Perahia Our next tracks : Kirk: Cage / Lutoslawski: String Quartets, Lasalle Quartet Doug: Greta Van Fleet: Black Smoke Rising If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. Support The Next Track...
Nov 03, 2017•31 min
Doug and Kirk were teenagers when disco hit. They didn’t care for it then, but has their opinion change after 40 years? Is it time to reevaluate disco music? Show notes : Chic: Good Times (12″ version) The Joy of Disco – BBC Documentary Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On Saturday Night Fever New York City blackout, July 13, 1977 Son of Sam Jumping the shark Why ‘Disco sucks!’ sucked Disco Demolition Night Saturday Night Fever soundtrack Readers’ Poll: The Best Disco Songs of All Time Apple Music: Esse...
Oct 27, 2017•32 min
