God is a woman and she plays the guitar loud … y’all come catch some Holy Ghost in your hips. Hear our hallelujah for the love story of the queen of rock ‘n roll and the mad daddy holy rollin’ on a river—upstream all the way—and boot scootin’ through a fun and freaky heaven and earth of their own design. The Cramps were Dionysian, devilish, dangerous, and damn good, and they remind us that life can be, too. If you can’t dig this, you can’t dig nothin’. Follow us on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, ...
May 17, 2025•2 hr 11 min•Ep. 64
Life’s a bit heavy to chew on these days, so we reached into the pocket of our mid-2000s jeans and found an old piece of Dandelion Gum to chew on instead. As soon as its neon syrup hits your tongue, you’ll wonder why you hadn't let this "future pop for now people, today" melt you, melt you, melt you yet. Follow us on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, or Mastodon (@tunedig) for daily listening recommendations, and check out more episodes at tunedig.com.
Apr 08, 2025•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 63
This life we're livin' is oh so beautiful. Take it from Patrick Houston, who has spread the gospel of the real for three decades, followed by a discipleship that has shaped 21st century culture in his image. For those still alive in 2025 by the grace of God, let us give flowers to the man from the North North. Follow us on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, or Mastodon (@tunedig) for daily listening recommendations, and check out more episodes at tunedig.com.
Mar 06, 2025•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 62
Not a woman. Not a man. A revolution. Music’s long history is littered with larger-than-life characters whose mythology shapes reality for the masses — and few loom larger than the mighty Grace Jones. “Nightclubbing” without context is a tremendous body of songs worth anyone’s time, but after a deep dive into Grace’s time at Compass Point, you’ll agree that it’s a vital work. Follow us on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, or Mastodon (@tunedig) for daily listening recommendations, and check out more...
Feb 22, 2025•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 61
The menace and melancholy of modern life have sentenced scores of young people to the gilded prison of nostalgia — but much to our surprise, a band of recovering Southern pop-punks have an antidote. For anyone willing to “sit still long enough to listen to yourself,” their new music’s sharp rhythmic angles and sharper lyrical reflections frame a doorway through which to free our big feelings and forge ahead. Follow us on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, or Mastodon (@tunedig) for daily listening re...
Jan 31, 2025•2 hr 13 min•Ep. 60
You know that five-note coyote howl. You may even know the classic film it helps power. But what do you know about the man behind those iconic moments? For our final exploration from our 2024 calendar, reflect with us on the genius of a maestro who could make magic with a mere fistful of notes, who poured forth from his soul a foundation upon which much of 20th century popular culture was built. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for daily listening recommendations, and check out more...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 59
Vision. Bravery. Originality. The 30th anniversary of the ATL-exported opus — by the highest-selling girl group of all time — offered us a chance to reflect on all the ways our hometown heroes ran so some of the 21st century’s most iconic artists could fly. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for daily listening recommendations, and check out more episodes at tunedig.com.
Nov 15, 2024•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 58
Before the Super Bowl, the super beef, the Pulitzer, or PGLang, one good kid and king-to-be sojourned from South Central to the height of the American promise and rained down lightning that united one nation under a groove. You’ll feel the energy of this episode from two planets away — hop in the van real quick and let’s roll out. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for daily listening recommendations, and check out more episodes at tunedig.com.
Oct 22, 2024•1 hr 48 min•Ep. 57
Dream of ethereal waves of sound swirling around you—and words you can’t make out saying more than you could imagine—as you float back upstream with us toward the warmth of Cocteau Twins’ decade-defining masterpiece, which still ripples across a vast pool of influences 25 years on. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for daily listening recommendations, and check out more episodes at tunedig.com.
Sep 17, 2024•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 56
Once upon a time, “your favorite artist’s favorite artist” wasn’t a Midwest princess, but a “mystery white boy” beloved by Bob Dylan and Adele alike. Jeff Buckley’s signature Grace is on the shortlist of transcendent albums every living being should experience, because, as one industry vet put it: “it’s all in there, isn’t it? It’s just all in there.” Marvel and ache with us at the warm glow of a remnant left behind by a fallen star whose light shone briefly but brilliantly. Follow us on Instagr...
Aug 23, 2024•1 hr 58 min•Ep. 55
If you like heavy music in 2024 (or want to try), all roads lead back to We Are the Romans . Botch is the Eno-on-Velvet trope of hardcore, the band that launched a thousand imitators simply by being themselves. We Are the Romans is a visceral, vital document guaranteed to make you feel something from its first notes — and there’s never been a better time to stop and smell the roses from a group just now getting its long-overdue flowers. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for daily lis...
Jul 24, 2024•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 54
Ravi Shankar lived one of the twentieth century’s most extraordinary lives, bearing witness to—and making—history all around the world. To many (especially in the West), he personified an extraordinarily complex style of music and the cultures from which it was borne, and he worked hard to make it look easy. That work opened doors for scores of artists—John Coltrane, Phillip Glass, George Harrison among them—to explore and express their worlds in newer and deeper ways. This episode could never t...
Jun 18, 2024•1 hr 53 min•Ep. 53
Gather ’round, sommeliers of the strange and crate-digging boogie children, for something “Strange! Frightening! Fascinating!” awaits. The soundtrack to Cannes 1973’s Jury Prize-winning film is a dazzling, surreal, avant-garde hymn to cosmic knowledge and compassion and a secret handshake among real heads. If you’re after a trip to a new dimension, here’s your one small step for man. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for daily listening recommendations, and check out more episodes at...
May 11, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 52
Marvin Gaye’s well of soul power ran mighty deep, and deep into his career, he pulled up a bucket of ice-cold, silky smooth champagne called “I Want You.” Come for the lush instrumentation, vocal harmonies, and Leon Ware clinic; stay for the stories. For our return from hiatus, we observe a titan in his element, reflect on the pain that built him into one, and consider how to reconcile our feelings when complicated messengers deliver beauty to our door. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tuned...
Apr 25, 2024•2 hr 5 min•Ep. 51
Before uniting one nation under a groove, the lysergic lords of chaos in Funkadelic harnessed wild lightning into an amulet called "Maggot Brain", bestowing the bearer with raw, dark power stronger than any force known to man. Between reaching our 50th episode and coping with the “maggots in the mind” of today’s universe, it felt like the right time to free our minds. We hope y’all’s asses will follow. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make t...
Jul 01, 2022•1 hr 15 min
The story of Alice Coltrane — an accomplished bebop pianist from Detroit who transcended into something far greater before walking away from public life altogether — is a glimpse into what it means to be truly free. Alice’s masterpiece Journey in Satchidananda is a cosmic dance that sparked creation from destruction. And in a time when we’re all desperately searching for a spark of meaning and hope, Journey abides abundantly. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the ...
Jun 17, 2022•1 hr 20 min
Take a moment to appreciate Ann and Nancy Wilson, who kicked down the doors of rock ‘n’ roll’s boys’ club with their peerless guitar work, soaring soul vocals, and tight songcraft. 1977’s Little Queen — an oft-overlooked gem in the classic rock canon — offers a snapshot of those elements at their most urgent and pure, powered by the Wilsons’ simple motivation (as described by their producer): “It was a war.” Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't ...
Jun 03, 2022•1 hr 7 min
When you think of “electronic music,” what comes to mind may not be a genre you deeply love — hip-hop, house, new wave, or even dub reggae — but all of it owes some debt, scientifically or otherwise, to Tangerine Dream. Dig in with us as we study a prime example of the band’s brand of effortful innovation, where they patiently and persistently labored at the cutting edge of electronic technology to open a portal to new worlds in our minds. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more i...
May 20, 2022•1 hr 6 min
Did you catch one of 2021’s biggest albums, or like us, did you almost overlook it? If you have any expectations of pop music, "SOUR" will likely subvert them. Teenage dream this is not; it’s an exquisitely universal portrait of a weird time to be alive. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com .
May 06, 2022•1 hr 4 min
The story of Fela Kuti — one of the most famous people on an *entire continent* passionately struggling to liberate power to more people — is absolutely one worth deeply knowing, regardless of whether you find yourself drawn to Afrobeat or (cringe) “world music.” But once you know it, it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with Fela and Afrika 70 as their revolutionary grooves rewire your brain in magical and meaningful ways. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about ...
Apr 22, 2022•1 hr 10 min
Meshuggah’s "ObZen"—an artifact of human creativity pushing the limits of what’s possible—will quite literally make you hear music differently. If you’re looking for a new musical adventure, and especially if you don’t think you like “heavy” or “weird” music, consider this your sign to push past your comfort zone. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com ....
Apr 08, 2022•1 hr 9 min
A misunderstood wise man once said “Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds.” In our most personal and vulnerable episode yet, we do some seeking through the lens of songs that fill us with the bravery and sincerity to love ourselves and others fully. Dig deep with us as we fish for words about our tiny place in the universe and dance with gratitude for our ability to do so. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check ...
Mar 25, 2022•1 hr 24 min
Y’all tryna raise your vibrations? Erykah Badu is here to help. Season 6 kicks off with a meditation on realness and what being on “your own wavelength” really means. (Spoiler: it ain’t a single frequency — it’s a whole spectrum.) Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com .
Mar 11, 2022•1 hr 12 min
Season 6—featuring our most eclectic selection of albums yet—kicks off Friday, March 11, with new episodes every other Friday through July. This trailer gives you a little taste of the lineup, which includes: “Mama’s Gun” – Erykah Badu “Catch for Us the Foxes” – mewithoutYou “ObZen” – Meshuggah “Expensive Shit” – Fela Kuti “SOUR” – Olivia Rodrigo “Phaedra” – Tangerine Dream “Little Queen” – Heart “Journey In Satchidananda” — Alice Coltrane “Maggot Brain” – Funkadelic (We also share news about a ...
Feb 25, 2022•10 min
Let’s be clear: "Bitches Brew" is a challenging record, even to some of the best musicians in the world — but all of them say it’s worth the investment. It’s the kind of trip that, even if we *could* draw a map, it wouldn’t take you there. Let go of the need for meaning and enjoy the ride with us. We can promise you’ll be pleasantly surprised where you end up. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at http...
Jun 18, 2021•1 hr 32 min
On the heels of one of 2020's most acclaimed albums — Fiona Apple’s Fetch the Bolt Cutters — we revisited Apple’s debut Tidal and wound up working to extract ourselves from the mostly male gazes that made its reception … much different. We arrive at a question much like writer Jenn Pelly had: “People would constantly prod Fiona on how an 18-year-old could write songs as mature as these ... Why did they not ask instead how she became a genius?” Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for mo...
Jun 04, 2021•1 hr 15 min
The modern world is accelerating beyond our control, shaping our reality in ways we can’t yet perceive or understand. Enter Death Grips, an art project capturing the chaotic energy and illustrating the absurdity of our hubris in trying to harmonize the surreal and extremely real — never more perfectly than on 2012’s prescient "The Money Store". Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com ...
May 21, 2021•1 hr 18 min
Reggae music is easy to take for granted, but its impact is underappreciated and massive — in the case of dub in particular, everyone from Radiohead to Johnny Rotten to Run-DMC owes it a debt. Augustus Pablo and King Tubby together created what’s regarded as “one of the finest examples of dub ever recorded.” Join us as we dive into the culture, history, and unique engineering experiments that made it possible. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn'...
May 07, 2021•56 min
By every measure — sales, awards, chart-toppers, global name recognition — Rihanna is objectively as big as the Beatles ever were. In fact, ANTI is so big it’s still on the charts, a record five full years later. Take a closer look with us at “the record you make when you don’t need to sell records”, and get a taste of the true freedom that comes from focusing on your inner voice when faced with insurmountable expectations. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the so...
Apr 23, 2021•1 hr 18 min
All American music traces back to the blues, and deep at the root sits Son House. That the recordings on "Father of Folk Blues" even exist is something of a gray area that cuts to the heart of the great American myth, but wherever you land after hearing these stories, you’ll find that what matters most is what the great Muddy Waters once said of House: “That man was the king.” Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more...
Apr 09, 2021•54 min
