Blown Wide Open: Recent Episodes
Blown Wide Open
Ian and Adrian discuss the concepts of analog and digital, the pro’s and con’s of each, and what place each occupies in the world of artistic expression. The debate as to whether digital or synthetic music is somehow better than its analog grandfather is a debate that will rage on with every succeeding generation, and as technology leads us like rats out of The Uncanny Valley to a digital world indistinguishable from reality, our musical endeavors will likely follow suit, leaving in its wake an angry, pitchfork wielding mob of analog purists.
The BWO starts at the very roots of music itself (that being medieval chanting and plainsong), moves its way through the Renaissance, Baroque and Romantic eras and ends with the turn of the century. Above all else, your hosts attempt to expose the beauty and power of classical music that seems to elude the music listener at large. Our hope is that upon completion of this podcast, you will have a better understanding not only of why we listen to classical music, but how as well.
Here at the Blown Wide Open Podcast, our goal is to explore music in all of its complexities, and one of the most in-depth ways to examine art is to create it. In this episode, Adrian and Ian break down the concept of songwriting, sharing with you, dear listener, their own embryonic ideas of juvenile youth-gone-wild musings, continuing with their more modern, well traveled and well schooled techniques of songcraft, and finishing with a discussing examples of the best songwriting that has ever been put forth by humankind(and their choices may surprise you)
John Williams has done it again with Episode 8, incorporating themes from nearly all the previous films as well as creating new works of art to enhance the story that Disney and Lucasfilm has crafted. Adrian (and to a lesser extent, Ian) break down the new themes, showing how the immeasurable Mr. Williams has interwoven his unparalleled brilliance into the very fabric of our love of Star Wars and film as a whole.
Your hosts Adrian and Ian attempt to explore but a fraction of Joni Mitchell's artistic output, from early writing and recording to later, more jazz tinged offerings, with special focus on just how many artists have covered her songs(with varying degrees of success).
Ian and Adrian discuss the evolution of the electric guitar and how advances in technology, from pickups to strings to tremolos, shaped popular music into the juggernaut it has become today
Our hosts heap praise upon John Williams(the guitarist, not the subject of Episode 2) and his flawless interpretation of classical guitar music, and from there they highlight some of the greatest guitarists throughout the generation and how their influence criss crossed the planet. Marvel at the terrible humour and even worse playing from Ian, seethe with envy at Adrian’s exhaustive knowledge of theory. Above all, enjoy, like, share and subscribe!
Our hosts break down the tracks, from the high energy of “Monkey Wrench” to the balladry of “Walking After You”, all the while fawning over the genius that is Dave Grohl. With special focus on arguably the album’s two strongest tracks, “My Hero” and “Everlong”, this episode features in depth analysis of one of the seminal albums of the 90’s.
Pink Floyd's magnum opus Dark Side of the Moon is the topic of episode three. Adrian brings back the guitar and Ian proves his musical abilities.