the completist: Recent Episodes
the completist
The completist is a user-friendly discussion of the music that has shaped pop culture – new and old (though mostly old-ish). Most episodes focus on an album or artist, examining the themes, sounds and styles filtered through M.D. and Kyle’s unique backgrounds – from history and theology to film and guitar pedals. Intended more as a celebration than a strict analysis, the completist seeks to deepen our connection to music – encouraging active listening over passive music consumption. // completistpodcast.com //
ep. 015 -- an analysis of The Colour and the Shape (1997) by Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters may be one of the biggest acts in rock music in the 21st century, but when they first arrived on the scene they had a lot to prove and Nirvana-sized shoes to fill. In this episode, M.D. and Kyle discuss Dave Grohl's strengths as a songwriter, singer and bandleader and the impact hits like "My Hero", "Everlong" and "Monkey Wrench" had on rock radio and the emerging emo movement.
The album production was not without its controversies, as Dave recut much of William Goldsmith's drums with his own pronounced and recognizable flair. Right or wrong, Dave helped color and shape one of the finest rock records of the 90s and brought Foo Fighters up from interesting post-Nirvana project to a world renowned alternative rock band.
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ep. 014 -- an analysis of Master of Puppets (1986) by Metallica
In 1986, Metallica brings heavy metal into the mainstream with their release of Master of Puppets. M.D. and Kyle discuss how the album sits in relation to other 80s metal bands (Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer) and the ways in which the album best encapsulates the band's themes and musicality. James Hetfield's voice, Kirk Hammett's guitar techniques, Lars Ulrich's business-saavy and Cliff Burton's classical influence (and unfortunate death) color the conversation around many of Metallica's classic songs "Master of Puppets", "Battery" and "The Thing That Should Not Be". They would go on to become one of the biggest bands in the world.
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ep. 013 -- Is Rumours one of the greatest albums of the 1970s?
M.D. and Kyle analyze the 70s pop classic by Fleetwood Mac. The setting for the album is well-trod: the band recently reorganized from its English blues days into an ensemble led by songwriters Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. The inter-personal relationships are in shambles and all the drama and angst of the group finds its way into the songs and onto the tracks as the group records their masterpiece. But there's a lot more to the album -- and the themes -- than meets the eye.
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ep. 012 -- Analyzing Tom Petty's solo album Full Moon Fever (1989)
Tom Petty is best known alongside his backing band The Heartbreakers. But in 1989 in between tours, Petty struck out and crafted what turned into a solo record. Featuring the hits "I Won't Back Down," "Freefallin'" and "Runnin' Down a Dream," Full Moon Fever exemplifies everything someone might want from a Tom Petty album: crisp songwriting, catchy riffs, 12-string flourishes and enough Americana to go around. Surprisingly, the studio nearly didn't release it!
What makes Full Moon Fever an album worth discussing? M.D. and Kyle dig into the dynamics of the guitar sounds to 60s pop to Jeff Lynne's influence (ELO) to relational themes and even notes of a potential mid-life crisis. Mike Campbell's involvement helps further blur the lines between band effort and solo effort but there's no denying the power of Petty. This is what great American rock music sounds like.
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A special episode. M.D. and Kyle take a moment to pay their respects to Chris Cornell (1964-2017) – remembering their first exposure to Soundgarden and the things that stand out most from his prolific musical career. Cornell was lead singer and rhythm guitarist in Soundgarden from the 80s through 1997; he followed that with Audioslave in the 2000s and had a number of solo outings between 1999 and 2015. He will be deeply missed by his family and his myriad of fans.
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