Minutemen

Certain Songs #1147: Minutemen – “The Price of Paradise”

March 5, 2018 by Jim Connelly

Album: Three-Way Tie (For Last)
Year: 1985

After letting the two-album sprawl of Double Nickles on the Dime break their music apart, the Minutemen decided to go commercial. Well, not exactly, but in 1985, they could be almost be accused of writing pop songs. Almost.

Naturally, they made fun of this, entitling the EP follow-up Project: Mersh, both signalling and taking the piss out of what was easily their most polished set of songs to date. Not only did “Take Our Test” have R.E.M.-style overlapping vocals, “Tour-Speil” had harmonies!

Certain Songs #1146: Minutemen – “History Lesson (Part II)”

March 4, 2018 by Jim Connelly

Album: Double Nickels on The Dime
Year: 1984

Like their power trio contemporaries, labelmates and friendly rivals, Hüsker Dü, the Minutemen were both incredibly prolific and getting better by leaps and bounds. And yet it was still a massive shock when both bands released their twin landmark double-albums, Zen Arcade and Double Nickles on The Dime, during the long hot summer of 1984.

The irony, of course, is while the straightforward pop-punk of the Hüskers was always far more my jam than the jazz econo of the Minutemen, the Hüskers never wrote a song that resonated to me as personally on a lyrical level than the opening verse of “History Lesson Part II.”

Medialoper Bebop Episode 23: Zen Arcane

November 18, 2011 by Jim Connelly

This week, Tim, & Jim and a very yelly Kirk tackle the following subjects:

First, in a brand-new segment entitled “Explain it to Kirk,” Tim & Jim explain the Twilight phenomenon to Kirk. (3:35 – 8:50)

Then, it’s reported death of the Compact Disc, which — according to some reports — is going to be abandoned by the major labels as soon as the end of this year. (08:53 – 18:00)

Here’s the chart we’re talking about in the podcast:

Also, iTunes Match has been launched, and we debate whether or not it’s worth shelling out $25.00 a year for. The answer may surprise you, though probably not if you’ve ever listened to our podcast. (18:13 – 26:10)

Once again, Medialoper Bebop Commissioner Gordon Loper harasses us with a phone message. And to spite him, you should probably follow us on Facebook. (26:11 – 28:07)

Finally, it’s a very deep look at a very deep album, Hüsker Dü’s landmark Zen Arcade, as it is inducted into the Medialoper Bebop Great Albums Hall of Fame. (27:22 – 47:58)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:47 — 75.3MB)

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