New Music from Brooklyn, Missed Opportunities in WW2 and AI Evolution

Sort of a grab bag as I highlight the music of Simon Hanes and his orchestra Tredici Bacci. I also give a rant about WW2 (for some reason), and some early thoughts on changing our relationships with AI.

Tredici Bacci – BUY ALL THIS MUSIC NOW: https://tredicibacci.bandcamp.com/


Read about WW2 in the Pacific:

Shattered Sword by Jonathan Parshall and Anthony Tully: http://www.shatteredswordbook.com/

Neptune’s Inferno by James Hornfischer: https://www.c-span.org/video/?305566-3/neptunes-inferno-us-navy-guadalcanal

Pacific Crucible by Ian Toll: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Crucible


Thanks, as always for listening to the MPOMY Escape Pod Podcast!

John Lee Hooker – Burnin’ Hell (1971)

John Lee Hooker managed to be broadly popular but also enigmatic and inimitable. On this episode of the Escape Pod I look at a tremendous track from 1971’s Hooker ‘n’ Heat to understand what made John Lee so special and why his influence will never leave us.

As always, I’m talking all over the music and only playing snippets. That’s not how you experience music! So, after you listen to the podcast (or maybe even before), here is the playlist for music featured in the episode:

Boom Boom Boom – John Lee Hooker (1961): https://youtu.be/2SxSa6a6am4

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer – George Thorogood (1977): https://youtu.be/sDf0IwXoOmY

Wild About You Baby – Hound Dog Taylor (1973): https://youtu.be/DdXdsyDJC5Y

Boom, Boom, Boom (Blues Brothers movie) – John Lee Hooker (1980): https://youtu.be/nUUyFrHERpU

Bad Like Jessie James – John Lee Hooker (1966): https://youtu.be/zsd_jwLWrDc

Burnin Hell – John Lee Hooker (1971): https://youtu.be/mZD2eQE2yp4

Dark Companion Records

On this episode we connect the dots between Cardiacs, Robert Wyatt and Greg Lake. All paths lead through Annie Barbazza and her label Dark Companion Records. The commitment to audiophile recording values and the true open-mindedness of progressive music makes this artist and this record label, very much worth your time.

Tim Smith receives Doctorate from Royal Conservatory of Scotland: https://youtu.be/Zr9SZVHjFT0

Folly Bololey performed live: https://youtu.be/Tt18LIAGNys

U2 – POP (1997)

U2 is a band of almost unequaled popularity, but their best record is also their most reviled. Emily Beck makes her first appearance in the Escape Pod to help break down this forgotten masterpiece from 1997. It’s a record with strong personal significance for us, but it’s also just an amazing rock record. It’s a long listen, but so worth it with snippets of all the pertinent cuts.

Thanks so much for listening and don’t forget to tell your friends to check out the Mpomy Escape Pod podcast.

A Guitar God and a Soft Rock Favorite

Here is a short meditation on the genius of Lowell George, and in particular his influential slide playing. Songs excerpted in the pod for the purpose of commentary and discussion include the following (in order of appearance):

  • Allman Brothers – “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin'” (Live at Fillmore, 1971)
  • Little Feet – “Crack in Your Door” (Little Feet, 1971)
  • Bonnie Raitt – “Spit of Love” (Fundamental, 1998)
  • Frank Zappa – “No Waiting for the Peanuts to Dissolve” (You Can’t Do That Onstage Anymore, Volume 5, 1969)
  • The Meters – “Just Kissed My Baby” (Rejuvenation, 1974)
  • Little Feet – “All That You Dream” (Live in Holland, 1976)
  • LIttle Feet – “All That You Dream” (The Last Record Album, 1975)

Thanks so much for listening and be sure to tell you r friends about the Mpomy Escape Pod podcast.

The Road Warrior (1981) – Pt. 1: Jesus the Warrior

For this episode of the MPOMY Escape Pod podcast, I am so excited to be joined by my dear friend David Cardegna to get deep into the weeds of Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. It’s a wide ranging and extended discussion that is split into a couple parts. We cover a host of issues, from religion to automotive realism, but always focusing on a ten minute sequence in the middle of the film that really encapsulates the whole thing.

We hope you enjoy and thanks so much for listening!

Video Game Roundup

Apple reduces (some) developer fees, Roblox announces IPO, Google Stadia may never be good, but cloud gaming is coming regardless. Plus some techno breaks courtesy the Launchpad app from Amplify.

For more video game business news, check out NYU professor Joost van Druenen on the Prof G podcast and follow @Joosterizer on Twitter.

Thanks so much for taking a ride in the Escape Pod!

Preview of Neil Young Archives II: 1972-1976

Neil Young is a BIG part of why I love music. Listening to and collecting his work, and seeing his remarkable performances, became a template for how I would approach musical genius. Now, with the impending release of his second Archive set that will cover his most vibrant, creative and turbulent period, I give a preview of what will be on the ten-disc release, and also reflect what makes “Shaky” Neil so vital and why this brief period of his massive catalog is so extraordinary.

As always, thanks you so much for joining me in the MPOMY Escape Pod!