Excellent - Propaganda

In our final episode, we explore deep space as we venture into the concept of the album as a fictional storytelling device, guided by Leonard, the Lonely Astronaut! We explore concepts of liminality in art, processing grief through time, and more as we wrap up our podcast with this 2012 album from Andrew Osenga! Album: https://open.spotify.com/album/3i585YfnnHthiCukzpTaG2?si=hsdawO4cT_Kk6yzvYBfCZg Source: https://rabbitroom.com/2012/04/leonard-the-lonely-astronaut-blasts-off/

In this week's episode we venture into the world of hip-hop and rap as we investigate Propaganda's 2012 album "Excellent." We discuss moral decay, artistic excellence, and "art for art's sake." Album: https://open.spotify.com/album/10pO5OwuUCPSl755Itk2YX?si=x2a4tbiuTUaS8IPT4UxzXQ Source: https://genius.com/2527494?  

In this week's episode, we dive into the beautiful album She Waits by husband and wife duo, Dave and Licia Radford (The Gray Havens). We Investigate what it means for the album to be used as a conduit of hope! Album: https://open.spotify.com/album/1k2TfoQgjRJcpQNSDj3y4I?si=fj40MTY6RlWktI0yIHyGzQ  

This week we dive into one of the most well timed releases of an album as we cap off our investigation of the album as a form of activism with 2020's Suite No. 2 from The Brilliance. We discuss themes of cultural hubris and internet toxicity! Listen to see how this New-York-based duo takes on Big Tech and advocates for an epistemology of humility and love! Album: https://open.spotify.com/album/1WIu8C4I4thtDIbEVM6kLK?si=yc5eJSRiTVO8FbDNDFoBRw

In this episode we go back in time to see "what's going on" in 1971 (Pun intended)! We touch on the beginning of albums as activism and reflect on the legacy of Marvin Gaye's timeless album What's Going On! Album: https://open.spotify.com/album/2v6ANhWhZBUKkg6pJJBs3B?si=mcm1tXS2R56XYApVE0s0BA Source: https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/03/01/marvin-gaye-whats-going-on

Today we dive further into albums as forms of activism through Jordy Searcy's 2018 debut album! We highlight the differing ways empathy is employed by songwriters to serve different purposes!   Album Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/0L9K2iqQGwfEhY96aHDiUB?si=66QLndpxTMCd6wsWBqpEOw  

What does it mean for the album to be a form of activism? That's what we explore in this episode highlighting this beautiful 2018 album from The Brilliance! Album: https://open.spotify.com/album/2pH4edQP8K4fqbt3Fce09W?si=WgkaCFJKSwWcqJpPchkn4A&dl_branch=1 Source: https://thebrilliancemusic.bandcamp.com/album/suite-no-1-oh-dreamer

In this episode, we dive into this couple-duo's latest album! In addition to unpacking what it looks like to press on towards hope in the midst of doubt, we take a step back to discuss some of the themes we have seen recurring throughout the first few episodes!   Album link: https://open.spotify.com/album/6wwZeWMr2CpE1oUAitLs4G?si=lDKBg680RQCQQqEM3Bs1ZA&dl_branch=1

We dive into Judah and the Lion's "Pep Talks" Album: https://open.spotify.com/album/5CuJb813nzBM4FMfTNByH9?si=h_JvUFxuSqG-PVfO9YksyQ&dl_branch=1 Source: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1qmIzp1pwWs6VLIysQyuyd?si=cYwPujZFShiEp_G9oJsIFQ&dl_branch=1