Album Club with the Ziggies

Australian politics, environmentalism, and pure righteous passion: these are the things that make Zak's pick this week, Earth And Sun And Moon by Midnight Oil, a Zak household classic. Zak was raised on Midnight Oil from the womb and loves these tunes that make you want to freedom dance. I do too! Tune in and enjoy.

The wombo combo! This week I picked Room 25 by Noname, one of my favourite artists, and a beautiful album that hits you in the feels and makes you think. This album reflects Noname's growth and the changes in her life, and reflects strongly on the present, conscious living, and acceptance of yourself and the world, past and present. Which Noname album is your favourite?

A memento mori album that some people think are LoFi. Chosen by Iisha, Telefone by Noname.

Scott dug ditches to this album, and Zak is racist against it. It's Can't Say I Ain't Country by Florida Georgia Line, a pop country album about some guys making excuses about buying Teslas and singing noncommittal lyrics. Tune in, y'all.

Shakira is a psyop.

For Daft Punk's 10th retirement anniversary, Zak helped the Ziggies commemorate with his pick, Random Access Memories by Daft Punk. A departure from their usual style of repetitive, synth and sample heavy music, this album features many human and personal touches that brought something new and special to Daft Punk for their final album, as well as some very special songs for Zak. Tune in and Get Lucky.

Welcome to my pick, NEE by NEE, the unanimously called "ADHD album" and similarly all over the place episode which- as Iisha put it- you'll either love or hate with no in-betweens. NEE features grungy, penis music Japanese alt-rock that was too alt for alt, and this album is full of layered rhythms and instruments that overwhelm some and help others (ADHD'rs) relax and focus. Get medicated folks.

This week on Album Club, Scott picked The Playground by Paper Idol as a means to explore genres we Ziggies may not usually listen to! Tune in to discuss the purpose of pop music, its pros and cons, and notions of Californianism.

Classic. One tight record and a personal fave, probably my favourite MF DOOM album over Madvillainy, at least musically. Thank you Iisha for making this pick.

Continuing Jamil's Kendrick arc, we listened to Section.80 by Kendrick Lamar, Kendrick's first studio album that's ambitious in its scope and style, and holds all the inklings of what's to come and has. I thought it was pretty cool, but Jamil disagreed, so much so that he didn't attend his own pick session! PAKIMEL!

This isn't Album Club- it's EP club! Zak picked The Stranger and the HIghtide by Moron Police, a short and energetic, four song EP with music that can be described as cowboy power rock, or something like that. A favourite of Zak's, tune in and enjoy!

If you want me to stay, all you've gotta do is put on Fresh by Sly and the Family Stone, my pick this week for Album Club. This pop funk album's got plenty of groovey tunes, emotion, and even elements of darkness that're perfect for active listening, chilling to, or having a great time.

Back from his journey, Jamil has chosen THE BOOK by YOASOBI to share a piece of his experiences abroad. A laid back episode, the Ziggies got together to enjoy and discuss this J-Pop album whose simple, repeated structure and lack of soul was compared to Harry Styles. Tune in!

WAKE ME UP!! WAKE ME UP INSIDE!! CAN'T WAKE UP!! WAKE ME UP INSIDE!! SAAAAAVE MEEEEE! CALL MY NAME AND SAVE ME FROM THE DARK.

Scott chose Palaces by Flume, a drugged up EDM album meant to widen our horizons. Come get a little bit more cultured with us this week as we explore a genre unfamiliar! Jamil is also in Japan.

Sorta ska and nostalgia, clown beatles and The Troubles- join us for another fun Zak pick, Keep Moving by Madness!

Black Messiah by D'Angelo is one of my- and very likely THE- favourite albums of all time. Black Messiah is a masterful fusion and reinvention of genres- not only neo-soul but rock, funk, psychedelia and on- that takes familiar influences and turns them into beautiful, inventive sounds never heard before. An album that makes me feel all walks of life through old and new days; tune in and tell me how you feel.

Gumbo is a delicious stew type meal that is famous in New Orleans, just like this album by PJ Morton. Check out both the album and live versions, as both are great and full of cheer, tenderness, and love, just like Iisha.

Bilal May Cry this week with Dropped by Brick + Mortar! A fun and epic punk rock pick full of indiecyberpunkwoodkidimaginedragonspilled vibes. Shoutout this Jersey band, shoutout Jersey, and shoutout TikTok and Xi "My Guy" Jingping.