NEM#220: Jah Wobble’s Bass Worship

Amy started out as an NYC punk fan, was in the "cow punk" band Last Roundup with her brother, and then in a vocal trio called The Shams that released an album and an EP around 1993. She finally emerged as a full front-person as a solo artist in 1997; she's since released nine solo albums plus three more with her husband Wreckless Eric, who now serves as her producer. We discuss "Bricks" from Hang In There With Me (2024), "Genovese Bag" by Amy Rigby and Wreckless Eric from A Working Museum (2012), and "Beer and Kisses" from Diary of a Mod Housewife (1997). End song: "Dancing with Joey Ramone" from Little Fugitive (2005). Intro: "Dark Angel" by The Shams from Quilt (1993). More at amyrigby.com. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Support us on Patreon. Sponsor: Get 10% off your first month of online therapy at betterhelp.com/nakedly.

The New York-based singer/keyboardist/guitarist had several releases with Nova Social from '98-'14 while also serving as music director for Wesley Stace's Cabinet of Wonders variety show. After four solo releases, he's formed a new project setting his droll lyrics in a '60s Brazilian setting called As For the Future. We discuss "Koan for the Music Business" (and listen at the end to "Encyclopedia of Songs") from this project's 2024 self-titled album, "See the Devil" from Songs of Advice and Adversity (2020 EP), and "Drunk at the Prom" by Nova Social from For Any Inconvenience (2011). Intro: "Theme in Yellow" (feat. Jeff Tweedy) from Carl Sandburg's Chicago Poems (2016). More at davidnagler.com. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Support us on Patreon. Sponsors: Get 10% off your first month of online therapy at betterhelp.com/nakedly. Check out the Let Me Ask My Dad podcast w/ Bon Jovi co-founder David Bryan.

John Wardle (named Jah Wobble by Sid Vicious) started playing bass in John Lydon's post Sex Pistols band Public Image Ltd. in 1978, left after two albums, and has since recorded 50+ solo and collaborative albums, largely led by the bass, but spanning many genres including some particularly famous work in the world-music area. We discuss "Last Exit" from A Brief History of Now (2023), "21 Towards Lewisham Shopping Centre" from The Bus Routes of South London (2023), "Fly Away" from Jah Wobble & Invaders of the Heart from Ocean Blue Waves (2019), and "Blowout" (a 1985 single). End song: "Visions of You" by Jah Wobble’s Invaders of the Heart (feat Sinéad O'Connor) from Rising Above Bedlam (1991). Intro: "Public Image" by PiL from First Issue (1978). Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Support us on Patreon.

Oliver, son of Rick, has played on around 50 albums, including maybe 10 solo albums plus collaborations with Clive Nolan, Steve Howe, Gordon Giltrap, Yes, Starcastle, Light Freedom Revival, and more. We discuss "Golden Sun in Grey" from Anam Cara (2024), "Is This the Last Song I Write?" from Ravens and Lullabies (2013), and "Mind Over Matter" from The 3 Ages of Magick (2001). End song: "To the Moment" by Yes from From a Page (recorded 2010, released 2019). Intro: "Diving" from Heaven’s Isle (1997). More at oliverwakeman.co.uk. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Support us on Patreon. Sponsor: Give online therapy a try at BetterHelp.com/nakedly.

Pat has been a session drummer since the mid '70s, was a founding member of Mr. Mister in the '80s, and played in all line-ups of King Crimson since '94. He's also a producer and no stranger to electronics. We discuss "31" by Tu-Ner from T-1 Contact Information  (2023), "Flinch" by TUNER from Totem (2005), "Life Goes On" by Mr. Mister from I Wear the Face (1984), and we conclude by listening to "Prog Noir" by Stick Men (2016). Intro: "Vroom Vroom" by King Crimson from Thrak (1995). Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Support us on Patreon.

Richard started as guitarist in the folk-rock staple Fairport Convention in 1967 but left in 1970 after five albums. He then recorded his debut solo album, six as Richard and Linda Thompson, and has since recorded 20 more solo albums of lyrically inventive, stylistically varied tunes that nearly always feature very skilled guitar work. We discuss "Freeze," the first single from his new album Ship to Shore, "The Ghost of You Walks" from You? Me? Us? (1996), and "Don't Take It Lying Down" from Still/Variations EP (2015). End song: "When I Get to the Border" by Richard and Linda Thompson from I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (1974). Intro: "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" from Rumor and Sigh (1991). More at richardthompson-music.com. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Support us on Patreon.

Kim has recorded about ten meticulously recorded country-evolving-to Americana albums out of Nashville since 1995. We discuss "Joy Rider" (and listen at the end to "Floating on the Surface") from Every New Beginning (2024), "A Place Called Home" from Rise (2002), and "I’m Alright" from Bitter Sweet (1997), which is also the home of the intro, "Every River." More at kimrichey.com. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Support us on Patreon.

Singer-songwriter Lynn has released 10 albums since 2001. We discuss the title track (and listen at the end to "I Waited Too Long") from High Tide (2024), "11:11" from Rise of the Fall (2017), and "Drugstore" from Crossing Frequencies (2001). Intro: "City Life" from Sugar on the Floor (2011). Hear more at lynndrury.com. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Support us on Patreon.

It's a new, discussion-only format, just for this episode (and perhaps some rare ones in the future)! When we write, how much is planned vs. improvised? How much is inspirational vs. double-or-triple checked? How does this factor weigh into how much music we release, how eclectic our sound is, and how well we improvise with others? This discussion features three returning guests: Roger Joseph Manning Jr. was the keyboardist/singer for Jellyfish and Imperial Drag, and more recently as a solo artist and with the Likerish Quartet. Hear his solo episode. The end song on this episode "I'm Startin' a Band" from his Radio Daze EP (2023). David Christian is the singer/guitarist for Britain's Comet Gain. Hear his solo episode. The intro music to this discussion is "Love and Hate on the Radio" from Radio Sessions 1996-2011. Portland-based Rachel Taylor Brown has released 10 solo albums. Hear her solo episode. Her song choice relevant to this discussion was "Stagg Field." Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us on Patreon.

Illinois singer/bassist Paul had his first release in 1985 and joined with drummer Ric Menck to form a band eventually called Velvet Crush, which released six albums from 1991-2004. He has since played in Matthew Sweet's band and has released two albums under the name The Small Square. We discuss "Can't Let Go (Oh, Tommy)" by The Small Square from Ours & Others (2023), "California Incline" by Velvet Crush from Stereo Blues (2004), and "Flower Field" by Choo Choo Train from Briar Rose EP (1988). Intro: "Hold Me Up" by Velvet Crush from Teenage Symphonies to God (1994). End song: "SML" from The Small Square (2015, remastered 2023). More at smallsquaremusic.com and actionmusik.bandcamp.com. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us on Patreon.