Strong Songs

Dive into a deep analysis of The Mars Volta's dense masterpiece, 'Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of),' where complex time signatures and intricate guitar riffs reign. Explore how the band’s cultural roots and personal journeys shape their sound. Discussion includes the evolution of vocals, dynamic guitar solos, and the emotional landscapes crafted in their music. Delve into the transformative listening experience and the powerful bonds formed through live performance, showcasing the rich tapestry of creativity that defines this iconic album.

Fiona Apple, a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter known for her emotionally resonant lyrics, dives deep into her iconic single "Fast As You Can." She shares insights about her artistic evolution and the powerful collaborations with Jon Brion and drummer Matt Chamberlain that defined her sound. The conversation explores themes of authenticity and individuality, while also analyzing the song's intricate musical elements and emotional depth. Listeners are encouraged to appreciate the duality of agency and regret woven through Apple's evocative lyrics.

Strong Songs Season Seven kicks off with two of the most famous songs ever recorded, from one of the biggest bands in the world. U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name" and "With or Without You" make up two-thirds of the three-song "suite" of hit singles that kicked off their 1987 album The Joshua Tree. As it turns out, the two songs have a lot to say to one another! They also have a lot to say about how U2 wrote music, and about the beautiful, messy human process of collaborative creativity.Written by: U2Produced by: Brian Eno and Daniel LanoisAlbum: The Joshua Tree, 1987Listen/Buy via Album.LinkALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:Classic Albums: The Joshua Tree, 1999, dir. Philip King, Nuala O'ConnorStrong Songs episodes "Rhythm + Harmony = Music," "The Four Electric Guitars," "'In Your Eyes' by Peter Gabriel," and "Wichita Lineman' by Jimmy Webb and Glen Campbell--------------------FEBRUARY 2025 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSElizabeth Culver – Meryl Allison – Cesar – Corpus Frisky – Ben Barron – Catherine Warner – Damon White – Jay Swartz – Rush – Daniel Hannon-Barry – Christopher Miller – Jamie White – Christopher McConnell – David Mascetti – Joe Laska – Ken Hirsh – Melanie Andrich – Jenness Gardner – Nathaniel Bauernfeind – Paul Delaney – Sami Samhuri – Jeremy Dawson – AccessViolation – Dave FloreyFEBRUARY 2025 HALF-NOTE PATRONSWiggy Hash – Whit Sidener – Julie Kellman – Simon Hellman – Bea – Claudia Carty – Dani – Glenn Jackson – Christopher Selby Spink – Philip Kelly – Daniel Nervo – Kevin Stafford – Lawrence – Sy Jacobs – Irritable – Ian Pidd – Andrew Hofer – Jordan Gatenby – Melissa Kuhns – Ashley – Seattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral Ensemble – Kevin Marcelo – Samantha Coates – James – Mark Nadasdi – Jeff – Dan Cutter – Joseph Romero – Ol Parker – John Berry – Danielle Kriz – Clint McElroy – Mordok’s Vape Pen – Inmar Givoni – Michael Singer – Merv Adrian – Joe Gallo – Lauren Knotts – Dave Kolas – Henry Mindlin – Monica St. Angelo – Stephen Wolkwitz – Rand LeShay – Maxeric Sp – Matthew Jones – Thomas – Anthony Mentz – James McMurry – Ethan Laser – Brian John Peter – Chris Remo – Matt Schoenthal – Aaron Wilson – Dent Earl – Carlos Lerner – Misty Haisfield – Abraham Benrubi – Lee R. – Callum Webb – Lynda MacNeil – Dick Morgan – Ben Stein – Grettir Asmundarson – Sean Murphy – Randal Vegter – Kaya Woodall – Robert Granat – Dave Malloy – Alan Maass – Nick Galloway – John Halpin – Peter Harding – David – John Bauman – Martín Salías – Stu Baker – Steve Martino – Dr. Arthur A. Gray – Carolina – Gary Pierce – Matt Baxter – Luigi Boccia – E. Margaret Warton – Charles McGee – Catherine Clause – Ethan Bauman – KenIsWearingAHat – Jordan Block – Aaron Wade – Jeff Ulm – David Futter – Jamie – Deebs – Portland Eye Care – Richard Sneddon – Janice Berry – Doreen Carlson – David McDarby – Wendy Gilchrist – Lisa Turner – Paul Wayper – Miles Forman – Bruno Gaeta – Kenneth Jung – Zak Remer – Rishi Sahay – Jeffrey Bean – Jason Reitman – Ailie Fraser – Rob Tsuk – Natalie Mistilis – Josh Singer – Amy Lynn Thornsen – Adam W. – Kelli Brockington – Victoria Yu – Mino Capossela – Steve Paquin – David Joske – Bernard Khoo – Robert Heuer – David Noah – Geraldine Butler – Madeleine Mader – Jason Pratt – Abbie Berg – Doug Belew – Dermot Crowley – Achint Srivastava – Ryan Rairigh – Michael Berman – Linda Duffy – Eoin de Burca – Kevin Potter – M. Shane Borders – Dallas Hockley – Jason Gerry – Nell Morse – Nathan Gouwens – Lauren Reay – Eric Prestemon – Cbalmain – Angela Livingstone – Diane Hughes – Michael Casner – Lowell Meyer – Stephen Tsoneff – Joshua Hill – Geoff Golden – Pascal Rueger – Randy Souza – Clare Holberton – Diane Turner – Tom Coleman – Dhu Wik – Melmaniac – Eric Helm – Jonathan Daniels – Caro Field – Dave Sharpe – Naomi Watson – David Alexander – Adam Georgandis – Chris K. – Gavin Doig – Sam Fenn – Tanner Morton – AJ Schuster – Jennifer Bush – David Stroud – Brad Callahan – Amanda Furlotti – Andrew Baker – Andrew Fair – L. B. Morse – Bill Thornton – Brian Amoebas – Brett Douville – Jeffrey Olson – Matt Betzel – Nate from Kalamazoo – Melanie Stivers – Richard Toller – Alexander Polson – Justin McElroy – Arjun Sharma – James Johnson – Kevin Morrell – Colin Hodo --------------------💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺July 11, 2026 | Portland, ORBuy Tickets Here----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | One-Time Donation🏠 HOMEPAGE👚 MERCH💬 DISCORD SERVER📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎨 SHOW ART:Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

In between seasons, Kirk re-ran a bunch of old episodes and prefaced each one with a new music recommendation. He's taking those down recasts in preparation for season seven, but it seemed like a good idea to put all the music recommendations in one place. So that's what this episode is!DISCUSSED AND RECOMMENDED:"The Meadow" by Nickel Creek from Celebrants, 2023"Chip Monkey" by Kick the Cat from Weirdo, 2002"Fade to Black" by Howard Levy and Chris Siebold from Art + Adrenaline, 2018"Disco Snails" and "Hit the Target" by Vulfmon and Theo Katz from Dot, 2024Various tracks from Delicious in Dungeon, composed by Yasunori Mitsuda and Shunsuke Tsuchiya"Party" by Ryokushoku Shakai from Party! EP, 2024Sumika - "Unmei" from Unmei EP, 2024"Duck Ankles" by David Sanborn from Taking Off, 1975"Young Americans' by David Bowie (feat. Sanborn) from Young Americans, 1975"The Night Owl" by Anat Cohen from Quartetinho: Bloom, 2024"Stranded" by Sierra Hull from Weighted Mind, 2016"Samba Party" and "Drop D" by Matteo Mancuso from The Journey, 2023"Nite Crawler" by Larry Carlton from Larry Carlton, 1978----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! Patreon | Paypal 🏠 HOMEPAGEstrongsongspodcast.com 👚 MERCHstrongsongspodcast.com/store 📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTERnewsletter.kirkhamilton.com📷 SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: @Kirk_HamiltonBluesky: @kirkhamilton.com💬 STRONG SONGS DISCORD SERVER strongsongspodcast.com/discord🎧 STRONG SONGS PLAYLISTS Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS kirkhamilton.com/gear🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC kirkhamilton.com/music🎨 SHOW ART Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics--------------------JANUARY 2025 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSElizabeth CulverMeryl AllisonRobyn MetcalfeCesarCorpus FriskyBen BarronCatherine WarnerDamon WhiteJay SwartzRushDaniel Hannon-BarryChristopher MillerJamie WhiteChristopher McConnellDavid MascettiJoe LaskaKen HirshMelanie AndrichJenness GardnerNathaniel BauernfeindPaul DelaneyDave SharpeSami SamhuriJeremy DawsonAccessViolationDave FloreyJANUARY 2025 HALF-NOTE PATRONSWiggy HashWhit SidenerJulie KellmanSimon HellmanClaudia CartyDaniGlenn JacksonChristopher Selby SpinkPhilip KellyDaniel NervoKevin StaffordLawrenceSy JacobsirritableIan PiddAndrew HoferJordan GatenbyMelissa KuhnsAshleySeattleTransAndNonbinary ChoralEnsembleKevin MarceloSamantha CoatesJamesMark NadasdiJeffDan CutterJoseph RomeroOl ParkerJohn BerryDanielle KrizClint McElroyMordok’s Vape PenInmar GivoniMichael SingerMerv AdrianJoe GalloLauren KnottsDave KolasHenry MindlinMonica St. AngeloStephen WolkwitzRand LeShayMaxeric spMatthew JonesAnthony MentzJames McMurryEthan LaserBrian John PeterChris RemoMatt SchoenthalAaron WilsonDent EarlCarlos LernerMisty HaisfieldAbraham BenrubiLee R.Chris KotarbaCallum WebbLynda MacNeilDick MorganBen SteinGrettir AsmundarsonSean MurphyRandal VegterKaya WoodallRobert Granatdave malloyTim RosenwongAlan MaassNick GallowayHeather Jjohn halpinPeter HardingDavidJohn BaumanMartín SalíasStu BakerSteve MartinoDr Arthur A GrayCarolinaGary PierceMatt BaxterLuigi BocciaE Margaret WartonCharles McGeeCatherine ClauseEthan BaumanKenIsWearingAHatJordan BlockAaron WadeJeff UlmDavid FutterJamieDeebsPortland Eye CareRichard SneddonJanice BerryDoreen CarlsonDavid McDarbyWendy GilchristLisa TurnerPaul WayperMiles FormanBruno GaetaKenneth JungZak RemerRishi SahayJeffrey BeanJason ReitmanAilie FraserRob TsukNATALIE MISTILISJosh SingerAmy Lynn ThornsenAdam WKelli BrockingtonVictoria Yumino caposselaSteve PaquinDavid JoskeBernard KhooRobert HeuerDavid NoahGeraldine ButlerMadeleine MaderJason PrattAbbie BergDoug BelewDermot CrowleyAchint SrivastavaRyan RairighMichael BermanLinda DuffyLiz SegerEoin de BurcaKevin PotterM Shane BordersDallas HockleyJason GerryNell MorseNathan GouwensLauren ReayEric PrestemoncbalmainAngela LivingstoneDiane HughesMichael CasnerLowell MeyerStephen TsoneffJoshua HillGeoff GoldenPascal RuegerRandy SouzaClare HolbertonDiane TurnerTom ColemanDhu WikMelmaniacEric HelmJonathan DanielsCaro FieldNaomi WatsonDavidAlexanderChris KGavin DoigSam FennTanner MortonAJ SchusterJennifer BushDavid StroudBrad CallahanAmanda FurlottiAndrew BakerAndrew FairL.B. MorseBill ThorntonBrian AmoebasBrett DouvilleJeffrey OlsonMatt BetzelNate from KalamazooMelanie StiversRichard TollerAlexander PolsonJustin McElroyArjun SharmaJames JohnsonKevin MorrellColin Hodo --------------------💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺July 11, 2026 | Portland, ORBuy Tickets Here----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | One-Time Donation🏠 HOMEPAGE👚 MERCH💬 DISCORD SERVER📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎨 SHOW ART:Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

Janis Stockhouse, a celebrated former band director at Bloomington High School North, transformed a fledgling music program into an award-winning powerhouse. In this engaging discussion, she shares insights on building student confidence, the importance of healthy competition, and choosing the right composers for budding musicians. Janis also dives into her passion for jazz education and the challenges of funding in public school bands, emphasizing how music can inspire lifelong love and connection at any age.

Wesley Morris, a celebrated culture critic, and Josh Gwynn, a dynamic producer and podcaster, dive deep into the legacy of Stevie Wonder. They discuss the emotional connections tied to Wonder's timeless hits like 'I Wish' and 'Sir Duke,' reflecting on their cultural significance across generations. The conversation highlights the transformative power of music in shaping identities and nostalgia, as well as the innovative techniques that define Wonder's artistry. They also explore the importance of experiencing music in its original form, celebrating the joy it brings.

Discover Stevie Wonder's incredible transformation from child prodigy to groundbreaking artist in his album 'Music of My Mind.' Delve into the challenges faced by Black artists during the Motown era and how Wonder broke barriers with hits like 'Uptight.' Uncover the soulful roots of Motown, blending sacred and secular sounds, and explore Stevie's quest for artistic independence and innovation. His use of synthesizers marks a pivotal moment in his career, showcasing his unique approach to music and creativity.

Dave Hamilton, host of the music podcast Gig Gab, shares his insights on the transformative power of music and podcasting. He discusses the nuances of songwriting, vocal mastery, and the challenges of content creation in the AI age. Dave reflects on his journey from saxophonist to podcaster, highlighting the cultural significance of iconic songs and the interconnectedness of musical influences. The conversation also touches on the intricacies of drumming and the ongoing evolution in the music industry, making it a rich and engaging dialogue for music lovers.

The podcast post-season update includes book and music recommendations. Music recs range from Steve Pardo's album to Ruth Moody's 'Wanderer'. Patreon info provided for exclusive content. Exciting plans ahead for the upcoming season.

Delving into Bruce Springsteen's 'Born to Run,' the podcast explores the iconic sax solo, tremolo guitar riffs, and deep emotional themes. Analyzing the impact of guitar tone, mix perspectives, and the enduring power of an iconic song. Also, a heartfelt dedication to the speaker's father and a break before the next season.