Rally in the Alley

Always a bridesmaid but never a bride.  It seems the old saying rings true for some of our favorite musicians and actors who have never received any awards, be it Grammy’s, Oscars, or hall of fame inductions.  In this episode we dive head first into some prime examples of massive talents who never took home a trophy, and also pay tribute to Val Kilmer and the godfather of heavy metal, Mr. John Michael Osbourne.

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Happy Saint Valentine's Day.  Yep that’s right, we spend this episode getting a little sappy and play some of our favorite love-themed songs and discuss some movies as well. Don't worry, there are still some jokes and weird ones thrown in.  Chuck and Cary might have a soft spot, but we never get too serious. Heck we may even ring that Beatle bell a time or two.

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/episode-77/pl.u-PDb44zEtMK...

Ever heard a song and thought, wait it's that other song? Well since hip hop came on the scene in the late 70's the chance that a portion of another song is being lifted are pretty darn good. In fact some song hooks are so catchy they have been used in thousands of other pop, rock and hip hop material. In this episode we visit some of the most heavily sampled songs in history as well as visit a few of our favorites.
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With the opening of the Sphere in Las Vegas, music acts have certainly raised the bar for showmanship on the stage, but is this really a new phenomenon or just a return to vaudeville roots? Join Cary and Chuck for their diamond jubilee  episode in which they discuss early innovations in light, sound, and live performance, and what the future may hold for the ultimate concert experience. 

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Join Cary and Chuck for our bi-annual tradition of reviewing the best new music we’ve discovered, this time for mid-year 2024.  Lots of new punk, shoegaze, rap, pop, metal, alt-country, and even classic 60's lounge.  It's a real musical potpourri scene, man!

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/episode-74/pl.u-PDb44ZpTMKxLZ

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Remember when you were a kid and you could go out and buy a soundtrack to remember your favorite movie? In the days before home video and streaming that was our way to relive the movie experience, and those soundtracks did not disappoint.  They were some of the best ways to get compilations for your parties without having to create a mix tape.  What happened?  Those multiplatinum soundtracks seem to have been replaced with prosaic ...

Why is “crossover” a dirty word in the music world? Texas girl Beyoncé grew up in Houston, performed at the Rodeo, and loved horses, but some people got royally torqued when she recently released a country record. Why are people annoyed by genre switching, and are there more insidious issues at work? Join us as we explore this conundrum and also play some of our favorite "crossover" examples.

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Okay I know we’ve all played the game where we ask ourselves “You're trapped on a desert island and you can only bring X". In this case we pick and justify our ten albums that we would listen to for the rest of our lives...or at least until we get off this damn island. We might even throw in a few songs we think should be thrown in the ocean and never heard from again. So sit right back and hear a tale, a tale of a fatefu...

Does it take a large catalog of work to be famous and revered? We don't think so, and in this episode we sing the praises of the small catalog. Whether in music, film, television, or literature, these artists, authors, and short-lived series prove that size doesn't matter.

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/episode-70/pl.u-ZmblVLoCKY40l

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Sometimes the room where you go to see the band is even more iconic than the band itself. On this new episode, Chuck and Cary travel the country and cross the seas to visit some of the most famous concert venues throughout history. From the piss-stained floors of CBGB to the judo temple Budokan and the historic Apollo Theater, we hit some famous examples and discuss their relevance today.

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Reunited and it feels so good...yeah but how does it sound?  You ever notice how some bands just can't keep it together, only years later to reunite—some for money and some for...oh hell, it's mostly for the money.  In this episode we break down some of the most famous reunions in rock history, starting with the most recent news from Rage Against the Machine.  Join us for some of our favorite examples and odds on reunions...

In this second part of our year-end review of the best new music in 2023 we hit some of the bands that maybe didn’t score as high on the critics’ lists but who made a big impression on us and some of you guys out there as well. We also tackle new releases from some of the most established bands on the planet and discuss whether they’re still  worth a listen this late in the game.

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Join Cary and Chuck for the first of our two-part, year-end review of the best new music in 2023 according to us and the NME, Pitchfork, Consequence of Sound, and Rolling Stone lists.  As usual, we play a bit, critique, and  compare and contrast with similar hidden gems of the past.  No Tay Tay this time, she's too busy wrecking the Chiefs, but Olivia Rodrigo gets some play.

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You ever notice how some bands might be on the scene for years before ever hitting it big? What was the catalyst for success?  In many cases it was the addition of a key member. In this episode we explore our favorite examples of how some new blood sent these bands into the stratosphere. Spoiler alert, Chuck and Cary may have a soft spot for Genesis.

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/episode-65/pl.u-BNA6rKJtGvM16

The most common Thanksgiving theme for Hollywood is the dysfunctional family.  Living up to family expectations can be a stressful time, and we will spend this episode reflecting on both the good and  the bad vibes of Thanksgiving songs, movies, and tv episodes.  Come on over and let us stuff your Rally bird.

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/episode-64/pl.u-leyl1BeU52ejd

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Did you ever notice how albums by your favorite band have their own unique sound?  That may be because they were recorded in different studios.  From microphones and positioning, to the angles of the walls, to the equipment within, each studio has its own fingerprint.  In this episode we explore how the studio can be used as an instrument, and give examples of some of the most iconic.

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So we all know that a band manager finds mandolin strings in Austin at 4 in the morning.  But what the hell does a music producer do? Find out as we explore the history and the role of a music producer.  Join us as we play examples of some of our favorites and some of the most successful producers, from Pepperland to the City of Compton.

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Ever watch a movie from the 80's and think "man they could not make that today"? From panty raids to voyeurism and racial and gender stereotypes, some movies of the 80's did have a hyper-sexualized, raunchy touch.  In this episode we focus on some of our favorites and some of the biggest money making comedies of the 80’s, and ask the tough question, are they still funny today?

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You know that one band that everyone says you should listen to because they are a “huge influence", but you just can't get into?  From fusion jazz to psychedelic and progressive rock, from Miles Davis to Zappa to  Captain Beefheart, everyone has experienced that one musician that we just don't get.  Join Chuck and Cary as they give some of their personal musical challenges a hard listen, from the "Okays" to...