Poetic Wax: Music History Hidden in the Grooves
Poetic Wax is a short weekly podcast where host Andy Fenstermaker digs deep into his vast record collection to uncover and share the history of bands, albums, songs, and more. Poetic Wax explores music history in all its forms, from new angles on things widely covered to the little known moments that create monumental change.
Episodes
By the time The Decemberists released "Picaresque" in 2005, frontman Colin Meloy had been honing his narrative, storytelling style of songwriting for more than half a decade. Despite having dabbled in the theatrical side of indie rock with both Castaways & Cutouts and Her Majesty, Picaresque brought it to a whole new level. This is the story of that album, and how The Decemberists made history cool.
Watch the episode on YouTube...
Ever wonder why David Bowie’s eyes looked like they belonged to an alien? If you’ve ever wondered why Bowie’s gaze felt like it could pierce through dimensions, you’re about to find out why. This is the weird truth of David Bowie and his strange eyes...
Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.
✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter
🎧 DAVID BOWIE ON VINYL:
- Station to Station on Vinyl 👉 https://...
In 1985, New Order released 'Low Life.' It's time to dive into the wild story behind "The Perfect Kiss" and discover how a naked manager, Rob Gretton, sparked a synth-pop classic with a desktop rant, and how Jonathan Demme’s iconic video sealed its legacy. From studio chaos to dance floor glory, this is Low-Life’s craziest tale! 🎵🔔
Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. The YouTube episode includes r...
EVERYONE is talking about Severance Season 2. Today we look at the WILD history behind the Apple TV series finale's "The Windmills of Your Mind" and its journey from 1968 to 2025. This one includes it all -- a high flying playboy (Steve McQueen), an olympic skier, an Oscar, and about 5000 covers from the likes of Mel Torme, the Muppets, Dusty Springfield, Sting, Jose Feliciano, and countless others. This is the story of "The Windmi...
"‘God is empty, just like me’—this single line fueled the iconic track "ZERO" off The Smashing Pumpkins' monumental 1995 album 'Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.' How did Billy Corgan channel his self-loathing into a track that redefined The Smashing Pumpkins, and what made it resonate with a ‘messed-up generation’? Was it the nihilism? The desire for controversy? Corgan's negation? Join me as I explore the history and heart ...
One of the first songs Morrissey wrote for The Smiths was "Suffer Little Children" and it was also one of his darkest. This is the story behind the song, its relation to the Moors Murders, the controversy it caused locally in Manchester, and its legacy. You DON'T want to miss this one!
Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. The YouTube episode includes reference links to audio/video clips featured in t...
Released the same day in 1967 as The Beatles’ infamous Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Baroques’ lone release is rumored to have outsold the much more wildly popular release in the local Wisconsin market. This is the story of a band that should have garnered more clout, and the struggles they had along the way during their short-lived tenure as a band. It’s the story of a song that was banned for being too pro-drug despi...
"Interstate Love Song" by Stone Temple Pilots is a story of deception, of heartache, and of addiction. This is the history of the song off the band's 1994 album Purple, and how it reflected the inner struggles of frontman Scott Weiland.
Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.
✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter
🎧 STONE TEMPLE PILOTS ON VINYL & MORE:
In March of 2000, Broadcast (helmed by Trish Keenan and James Cargill) released their debut album "The Noise Made By People." Blending a dreamy psychedelia with both futuristic and vintage inspired pop sensibilities, their sound was one that has built quite the cult following over the years. This is the story of that album and how the ghosts within linger, long after Keenan's passing.
Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with...
Before they became the patron saints of noise rock, before the major labels and festival headlining slots, Sonic Youth were a band lurking in the dark corners of the New York underground. And in 1985, they released Bad Moon Rising, an album that captured both the decay of America and the restless experimentation of a band on the verge of something bigger. This is the story of that album and how it still resonates more than 40 years...
In the mid 1970s, David Bowie released "Station to Station" as he transformed into the Thin White Duke. His mental and physical state was in major decline due to addiction. Becoming obsessed with the occult, he felt Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin was casting dark spells on him. And then there was his haunted Los Angeles swimming pool. This is the story of David Bowie around that time, how he spiraled into madness, and how he hired a wh...
Twice censored, this is the story of Sonic Youth's pivotal release "Sister" from 1987, how and why the album's unique cover art got those black boxes, and the story of the photographer that sparked the change.
Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.
✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter
🎧 SONIC YOUTH ON VINYL:
- Sonic Youth Sister on Vinyl: https://amzn.to/3VTb04q
- Sonic Youth Daydream Nation ...
After the success of "Creep," Radiohead was at a crossroads. They struggled to cope with the potential of being a 'one-hit-wonder.' While their label EMI sought another big hit, they went a different direction. The result was The Bends, an album that saw them redefining their sound, and thus, the trajectory of alternative rock for the next decade. This is the story of Radiohead and The Bends, and how it set the stage for Radiohead ...
Are The Kinks a MOD band? When you look at The Kinks' early work from the mid 1960s, they seem to fit the part. Sharp suits, R&B influences. But it's not as simple as that. Today, we break it down, defining what a MOD band is, and sharing the arguments for and against the claim.
▶️ Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more Poetic Wax video episodes.
✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter
As David Bowie transitioned out of his glam phase, he set his sights on Philadelphia and Philly Soul. What came from this was the upbeat "Young Americans" and the album of the same name. This is the story of how that coincided with an incredibly dark period if Bowie's life as he transitioned from glam to plastic soul to the thin white duke. This is the dark history behind Bowie's "Young Americans."
Watch the episode on YouTube and ...
Released in March 1965 as a US and Canada only compilation, is "Kinks-Size" The Kinks' forgotten album, or was it just a label cash grab? This is the story of that album, why it was released, and how it sizes up today.
Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.
✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter
🎧 THE KINKS ON VINYL:
- Kinks-Size on Vinyl 👉 https://amzn.to/4kmYZ2h
- More Vinyl by The Kinks 👉 h...
In January 2005, Bright Eyes released two albums, among them the widely acclaimed "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning." This is the complete history of that album, a look at where frontman Conor Oberst was in his career at that time, and some of the events that led up to the stunning double release and the standout singles "The First Day of My Life," and "Lua," as well as other highlights on the album like "Road to Joy" and "Land Locked ...
"Fake Plastic Trees" is one of Radiohead's most heartbreaking songs. But what does it mean? And how did Thom Yorke come up with those lyrics? This is the REAL history and meaning behind the classic song off Radiohead's sophomore album The Bends, how they recorded it, and how it became one of their most endearing tracks.
Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.
✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter
...
In February 1985, The Smiths released Meat is Murder, an album that connects the dots between various forms of violence that perpetuate our society. This is the story of that album and why it still matters today.
Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. The YouTube episode includes reference links to audio/video clips featured in the episode.
✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter.
🎧 THE SMITHS ON VI...
Did Marianne Faithfull really inspire Mick Jagger to pen "Wild Horses" off The Rolling Stones' 1971 album 'Sticky Fingers?' In this video, we look at the lore and the legend of one of the hottest It Couples of the Swinging Sixties, and how the song may (or may not) have been about the late muse.
Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. The YouTube episode includes reference links to audio/video clips fea...
Popular Podcasts
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Join me on this podcast as I navigate the murky waters of human behavior, current events, and personal anecdotes through in-depth interviews with incredible people—all served with a generous helping of sarcasm and satire. After years as a forensic and clinical psychologist, I offer a unique interview style and a low tolerance for bullshit, quickly steering conversations toward depth and darkness. I honor the seriousness while also appreciating wit. I’m your guide through the twisted labyrinth of the human psyche, armed with dark humor and biting wit.
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.