You, Me and An Album

Send us Fan MailOn this episode, upstate New York-based Americana singer-songwriter Sara Milonovich introduces Al to James McMurtry’s 2021 album The Horses and the Hounds. Sara talks about why this is one of her favorite albums, and she and Al focus on McMurtry’s songcraft—particularly discussing lyrics from several tracks. Sara also talks about her recently-released album (with Daisycutter) Last Resort Motor Inn, and she goes into detail about her cover of King Crimson’s “Starless.”Learn more about Sara and her music (and sign up for her newsletter) at https://saramilonovich.com/.More places to follow Sara and her work:Bandcamp: https://saramilonovich.bandcamp.com/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SaraMilonovichInstagram: @daisycutterYouTube: @saramilonovichBe sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.1:36 Sara’s introduction3:09 Sara talks about the progression of her James McMurtry fandomDiscussion of specific tracks:5:41 Canola Fields13:53 Decent Man20:58 Jackie22:44 Ft. Walton Wake Up Call29:29 If It Don’t Bleed31:06 Blackberry Winter32:52 Sara gives props to several of the contributors on The Horses and the Hounds36:17 Did Sara make a reference to “Jackie” in “Last Resort Motor Inn”?38:41 Sara talks about the inspirations for “Tale of Two Cities”43:51 Sara discusses her cover of King Crimson’s “Starless”49:42 Sara found sequencing Last Resort Motor Inn surprisingly easy53:02 Sara talks about her upcoming tour plansOutro music is from “What We Did With the Place” by Sara Milonovich & Daisycutter.Support the show

Send us Fan MailFor this episode, author, editor and podcaster Keith Jopling talks about Björk’s 2001 album Vespertine. Keith explains why Vespertine has been one of his favorite albums since its release and why it’s been top-of-mind for him lately. He and Al discuss the themes of domestic bliss and surrender that are prevalent in the album’s lyrics. Keith explains how Vespertine was both a response to and a reaction against the changes in music listening that resulted from streaming. He also talks about his recently-published book Body of Work as well as his podcast The Art of Longevity.Keith made a couple of references to the My9Albums website and the social media trend it has catalyzed. Al hopped on the trend and posted the nine most impactful albums in his life here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DfC1LipHBSh/. He also wrote about those choices in the You, Me and An Album newsletter here: https://youmealbum.ghost.io/hopping-on-the-my9albums-trend.If you want to share your nine most important albums, you can start at www.my9albums.com.You can follow Keith on Instagram at @songsommelier. You can also learn more about his work and explore The Art of Longevity podcast, playlists, articles and artwork on his website www.songsommelier.com.Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.1:19 Keith’s introduction2:02 Keith explains why this interview took place at the Berklee College of Music3:39 Keith shares why he decided to talk about Vespertine6:03 Keith recalls why he listened to Vespertine frequently when it came out8:52 Keith clusters the album’s tracks into three groups13:08 Al and Keith talk about the opener “Hidden Place”17:42 Keith explains how Björk foresaw and responded to the shift to streaming music19:45 Björk bucked many of the emerging trends by making a cohesive album22:50 Keith focuses on the album’s middle section24:46 Al talks about Vespertine’s “wholesomeness”26:58 Keith discusses the theme of surrender in Björk’s songs30:52 Keith talks about how Björk’s subsequent albums got weirder34:26 Al makes note of the Björk-Toumani Diabaté connection36:30 Keith had a chance to see Björk on her Vespertine tour38:44 Keith explains how albums survived the threats posed by streaming49:20 Keith and Al talk about listening parties and the social aspect of album listening51:56 Keith reveals his upcoming plans for The Art of LongevitySupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis episode was originally published on the You, Me and An Album Patreon on Dec. 8, 2025.For this episode, Lee Jennings—frontman of the Atlanta-based emo-hardcore band The Funeral Portrait—continues the My Chemical Romance discussion he began with Al on Ep 194 of You, Me and An Album. Progressing through the MCR discography, they move on from Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge to the 2006 follow-up album, The Black Parade. Lee discusses why he wanted to talk about The Black Parade, and he delves into the album’s importance to MCR and to the emo genre more generally. He also revisits his initial experiences with listening to the album and explains how it enhanced his MCR fandom.Keep up with Lee on Instagram at @leejennings!Also, you can learn more about The Funeral Portrait at thefuneralportrait.com and follow them in the following places…TikTok: @tfp_devotionInstagram and Facebook: @thefuneralportraitBe sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.You can listen to excerpts of YMAAA episodes on YouTube. Please consider subscribing to the YMAAA channel there at @youmeandanalbum.0:00 Lee’s introduction1:31 Lee explains why he wanted to come back to the show and discuss The Black Parade6:05 Lee and Al talk about their experiences with listening to albums that followed up albums they fell in love with8:14 Lee details how My Chemical Romance matured along with their audience11:41 Lee thinks fans could connect more easily to the themes on The Black Parade14:55 Lee discusses the background behind Danger Days16:59 Lee explains why The Black Parade became a sensation20:16 Lee doesn’t think The Black Parade would have made the same impact without Bullets and Three Cheers coming before it22:37 Lee talks about The Black Parade’s timeless sound28:42 Lee lauds the depth of quality songs recorded during the sessions for The Black Parade30:00 Lee and Al have questions about the album’s sequencing35:45 Al was surprised by a couple of things he learned in preparation for this episode36:51 Is the fourth album “the artist’s album” (h/t Jessica Dobson)?Outro music is from “Stay Weird” by The Funeral Portrait.Support the show

Send us Fan MailWriter, podcaster, guitarist and voiceover artist Joey Held joins Al to introduce him to The Gaslight Anthem’s 2008 album The ’59 Sound. Joey talks about the experience that led him to become a fan of The Gaslight Album and of The ’59 Sound in particular. He explains what it is about The ’59 Sound that makes it one of his favorite albums, and he and Al explore the many musical references that are captured in the album’s lyrics and sounds. Joey also talks about his recent work, including what’s new for his band Burning Years and why he began his Sports R Dumb podcast.You can follow Joey on Instagram at @phat_phoodies and check out his work on his websites joeyheld.com and wackytravel.com.As Joey mentioned, there are many places where you can buy or stream Burning Years’ music. Bandcamp is one of those places, and the band has a page there: burningyearstexas.bandcamp.com.Listen to Sports R Dumb! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-r-dumb/id1614525956You can also follow the show on Instagram at @sportsrdumb.Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.1:17 Joey’s introduction2:36 Joey shares why he chose The ‘59 Sound for this episode5:06 Joey has a vivid memory of how he first got introduced to The Gaslight Anthem7:37 Joey and Al talk about The Gaslight Anthem’s connections to Bruce Springsteen9:39 The Gaslight Anthem evoked other artists and eras for both Joey and Al13:49 Joey cites a couple of settings where it was especially fun to listen to The ’59 Sound18:44 Joey speaks to the album’s flow and sequencing22:46 Joey highlights a couple of his favorite tracks24:55 Al and Joey react to the many musical references in the lyrics28:32 Joey explains why he thinks The ’59 Sound is The Gaslight Anthem’s best album33:39 Joey singles out one thing that could have been improved on The Gaslight Anthem’s albums35:22 Joey talks about how he started the Sports R Dumb podcast40:44 Joey updates us on his band Burning Years44:15 Joey discusses the many places online where he’s postingOutro music is from “Under Pressure” by Burning Years.Support the show

Send us Fan MailGuitarist, vocalist, songwriter and film director Ben Hozie of the Brooklyn-based indie rock band Bodega visits YMAAA to talk about Milk Dick’s 2014 album It Grows on You. Ben explains how he got acquainted with Milk Dick’s music and why It Grows on You has been his musical companion for more than a decade. He discusses how the band’s theatrical and sometimes serious side co-exists with the humor and silliness inherent to their musical style and band name. Ben also breaks down several of his favorite tracks from the album. He talks about the musical influences that informed Bodega’s new album All Inside Aquarium as well as discussing his ATM: At This Moment podcast and upcoming film Jack London Calling.To learn more about Bodega or to check out their music, please visit their website and Bandcamp page, respectively at bodega-band.com and bodegabk.bandcamp.com.You can also follow the band on Instagram and TikTok at @bodegabk and check out their videos at @bodegaNYC on YouTube.To hear Ben’s interview with Milk Dick’s Mike Delaney on his ATM: At This Moment podcast, go to https://podcasts.apple.com/bw/podcast/s1-ep17-mike-delaney-cry-when-yr-young/id1759971591?i=1000678578548.For information on Ben’s latest film project, Jack London Calling, and Pretorius Pictures generally, go to https://pretoriuspictures.tumblr.com/.Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.1:28 Ben’s introduction2:06 Ben explains why he chose It Grows on You for this episode3:40 Ben and Al address the band’s name4:43 Ben talks about first getting acquainted with Milk Dick through their live shows5:20 Ben notes how Milk Dick combines their playful and serious sides9:44 Ben talks about the theatrical nature of Milk Dick’s music, particularly on “Bathroom Door”15:22 Ben provides some history on Milk Dick18:03 Ben highlights “Grey Shapes” as one of his favorite songs on the album19:50 Ben ponders the meaning of “My BF, Socrates”21:34 Ben and Al talk about their reactions to “Rhythm Rock”23:55 Is “Beach Needles (Coney)” in poor taste or ironic?28:03 Ben reveals which track from It Grows on You is his favorite30:40 Ben and Al discuss the brevity of the album’s songs32:27 Ben talks about Delaney’s ability to confront his dark side34:24 Ben addresses how It Grows on You has continued to be an important part of his life35:37 Ben explains why he is a musical obsessive (or “cultural consumer”)40:53 Ben shares which album he has listened to dozens of times this year42:55 Al and Ben grapple with the definition of post-punk and how it applies to All Inside Aquarium50:44 Ben talks about Bodega’s ‘60s and ‘90s inspirations57:16 Ben elaborates on why All Inside Aquarium is so riffy58:37 Ben explains why he started the ATM: At This Moment podcast1:02:36 Ben talks about his upcoming film Jack London CallingOutro music is from “Pick up the Check” by Bodega.Support the show

Send us Fan MailLos Angeles-based Americana singer-songwriter Paula Fong joins Al to introduce him to Gillian Welch’s 1996 album Revival. Paula explores what made Revival instantly appealing to her, and she explains why it continues to be one of her favorite albums and an important influence on her own music. Paula also discusses her new album A Bird on the Wing and her collaboration with Nickel Creek guitarist Sean Watkins on her cover of “Turn! Turn! Turn!”.For information on Paula’s music, upcoming live dates and more, visit her website paulafong.com. You can also follow her on Instagram and YouTube at @paulafongmusic.Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.1:11 Paula’s introduction2:19 Paula recalls how she first got acquainted with Revival4:49 Paula explains why she was drawn to the sound of Revival right away7:40 Paula and Al talk about the authenticity of Welch’s music9:48 Al had to warm up to the album10:47 Paula talks about a formative experience she had with Celtic folk music13:32 Paula and Al talk about the importance of formative experiences in shaping musical tastes15:18 Paula talks about what she finds particularly striking about the songs on Revival19:52 Paula and Al have very different reactions to “Paper Wings”22:42 Paula explains what separates Revival from the rest of Welch’s discography24:22 Paula notes how influential David Rawlings’ guitar playing has been25:44 Paula cites the ways in which Welch and Rawlings have influenced her music30:01 Paula and Al get more clues that they have very different tastes31:56 Paula and Al talk about the value of repeated listening33:14 Paula explains how she wound up collaborating with Watkins on her cover of “Turn! Turn! Turn!”37:46 Paula goes into how her version of “Turn! Turn! Turn!” got arranged40:30 Paula explains the story behind “What Are We Running From”44:49 Paula talks about her upcoming live datesOutro music is from “Up and Out” by Paula Fong.Support the show

Send us Fan MailFor this episode, virtuoso drummer Cindy Blackman Santana chose her 2020 album Give the Drummer Some as the focus for this discussion, but she and Al branch out into a wide-ranging conversation about several of her albums. Cindy talks about why she decided to write and sing lyrics for Give the Drummer Some, and she highlights some of the album’s notable tracks. Cindy also discusses her 2010 Tony Williams tribute album Another Lifetime, her recently-released album Coherence and the upcoming self-titled release for the supergroup Power of 3 (with Orianthi and Rhonda Smith).As Cindy mentions on the episode, she has several live dates with her band over the next few months. Here are the dates for her shows in Baltimore and New York. For more information, go to cindyblackmansantana.com.Oct. 24-25, Keystone Corner, Baltimore, MDDec. 4-6, Blue Note NYC, New York, NYFor more information on Cindy’s recordings and shows, give her a follow on these platforms…Instagram, TikTok: @cindyblackmansantanaFacebook: @cindyblackmandrummerThe Power of 3 is also on Instagram at @thepowerof3officialBe sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.1:24 Cindy’s introduction2:23 Cindy explains why she wanted to talk about Give the Drummer Some3:45 Cindy talks about the song that led to her making Give the Drummer Some with Narada Michael Walden6:46 Cindy recalls how she took on the challenge of becoming a vocalist9:14 Cindy discusses the songwriting process for Give the Drummer Some15:44 Cindy highlights some of her favorite things about Give the Drummer Some18:28 Cindy talks about the recording process for Give the Drummer Some20:05 Cindy revisits her Tony Williams tribute album Another Lifetime21:48 Cindy explains how her “suite” for “Coherence” came together28:11 Cindy talks about the formation of the new supergroup The Power of 332:04 Cindy discusses the vinyl version of Coherence and her upcoming live datesOutro music is from “Guitar Love” by Cindy Blackman Santana (feat. John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana).Support the show

Send us Fan MailJorina Stamm of the Swiss indie pop band Soft Loft joins Al for this week’s album deep dive, and she chose Phoebe Bridgers’ Lost Weekend (released on August 14) to discuss. Jorina explains why she wanted to talk about Lost Weekend and shares her early reactions to this highly-anticipated release. She also discusses how listening to Lost Weekend got her thinking more about concept albums. Jorina explains how Soft Loft unintentionally made a concept album with their recent release Throw the Dice, and she talks about the band’s upcoming tour dates and other plans.Want to know more about Jorina and Soft Loft? You can find them in these places online…softloftmusic.com (includes newsletter signup)Instagram: @softloftsoftloftBe sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.1:21 Jorina’s introduction2:04 Jorina explains why she picked Lost Weekend for this episode4:04 Jorina talks about her initial experience with listening to the album5:35 Jorina explains how doing research enhanced her listening experience6:54 Jorina and Al react to the album opening with “The Outside”10:09 Jorina notes the songs that have stood out to her so far11:51 Jorina explains what she likes about Bridgers’ songwriting13:11 Jorina and Al talk about the speculation over how much Bridgers’ lyrics are about her personal relationships17:30 Jorina highlights the musical aspects of the album she likes18:47 Jorina explains why her experience with listening to Lost Weekend was not a typical one for her21:20 Jorina and Al identify their go-to tracks for one-offs26:49 Jorina talks about why she has recently revisited some of Bridgers’ earlier work29:36 Jorina and Al discuss Cameron Winter’s involvement with the album33:57 Al had a failed attempt at listening to Lost Weekend right when it came out34:57 Jorina explains how the theme of Throw the Dice came together41:26 Jorina talks about the reaction to “Wednesdays”44:15 Jorina reveals Soft Loft’s upcoming plansOutro music is from “What Are The Odds” by Soft Loft.Support the show

Send us Fan MailAlbuquerque-based Americana singer-songwriter Michael Rudd joins Al for a deep-dive analysis of Townes Van Zandt’s 1969 self-titled album. Michael explains why he admires Van Zandt’s songwriting, notes what makes this album a special one in Van Zandt’s discography and breaks down the album’s highlights. He also discusses how he became inspired to create a five-album cycle over the last few years and goes into detail on some of the tracks off his latest release, Midnight at Dawn.You can find Michael’s music and keep up with him through the following places.https://www.michaelrudd.com/https://michaelrudd.bandcamp.com/@michaelruddmusic on [email protected] on Instagram and FacebookBe sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.1:16 Michael’s introduction2:32 Michael talks about his relatively recent introduction to Townes Van Zandt’s music4:18 Michael explains why Townes Van Zandt is a perfect album5:15 Michael and Al discuss the emotional nature of “Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel”7:08 Michael explains why Van Zandt stands out to him among other great songwriters12:21 Michael hears something about the Southwestern landscape in Van Zandt’s voice13:25 Al and Michael discuss the spiritual nature of the lyrics in “Just For the Sake of the Song”19:39 Michael picks out some of the other highlights from the album25:37 How much does Michael listen to Townes Van Zandt?26:39 Michael thinks the self-titled album distinguishes itself in Van Zandt’s discography27:54 Michael explains how he wound up creating a five-album cycle34:48 Michael talks about the perils of trying to interpret lyrics37:11 Michael cites the biggest influence that Van Zandt has had on his own work39:16 Michael discusses the meaning of “Made It Out of Jersey”47:50 Michael provides an update on Palace of FlamesOutro music is from “Made It Out of Jersey” by Michael Rudd.Support the show

Send us Fan MailFor his album deep dive, singer, songwriter, author and educator Wesley Stace chose Robert Wyatt’s 1974 album Rock Bottom. Wesley recounts the adolescent friendship that led to his discovery of Rock Bottom, and he explains why it has been one of his favorite albums in the ensuing decades. He delves into the non-sensical nature of Wyatt’s lyrics and why they carry deep meaning for him. Wesley also talks about his latest album One Last Heist, his recent movement towards jazzier music and his upcoming shows.There’s a lot to keep up with when it comes to Wesley’s music and shows, and you can do so at the following places online.wesleystace.comInstagram and Threads: @wesleystaceFacebook: @wesley.stace.9Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.Excerpts from episodes are now available on YouTube at @YouMeAndAnAlbum. Please consider subscribing and liking!Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to www.patreon.com/youmealbum.1:02 Wesley’s introduction2:00 Wesley recalls how he first got introduced to Robert Wyatt’s music12:03 Wesley explains why he was drawn to Rock Bottom and how the album made him a lifelong Wyatt fan18:05 Wesley makes a connection between Rock Bottom and the film Don’t Look Now23:53 Wesley lauds Nick Mason’s production work and musical vision27:00 It doesn’t take long for Rock Bottom to get non-sensical32:14 Wesley sees the album as having broad appeal despite its bizarre quality33:14 Wesley compares the non-sensical lyrics of Rock Bottom with those of Yes36:23 A couple of childhood friends were instrumental to shaping Wesley’s musical explorations39:47 Wesley sees a link between Robert Wyatt and Bob Dylan44:37 Wesley and Al were impacted by Wyatt’s lyrics, even when they didn’t make sense46:11 Wesley addresses why he didn’t pick a jazz album to discuss48:51 Wesley was disappointed with one aspect of the Rock Bottom reissue50:03 Wesley talks about the thread tying “One Last Heist” and “Hello Dead Horse”—the opening and closing tracks from One Last Heist53:27 Wesley explains how he started making jazzier music58:26 Wesley talks about upcoming Smithereens and Cabinet of Wonders showsOutro music is from “Not My Speed” by Wesley Stace.Support the show