Paisley Underground, The Shangri-Las’ Leader of the Pack & Opinions on Tacocat

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In early ‘80s  California, a new kind of music was brewing that blended the psychedelic sounds of the '60s with the modern day post-punk ethos. This week, Jim and Greg reflect on the Paisley Underground movement. They'll discuss the prominent bands like The Bangles, explore what made the scene so special and explain its impact on indie rock. Jim and Greg will also look back at the 1964 hit by The Shangri-Las, "Leader of the Pack," for its 55th anniversary. Plus, they'll review the new record from the colorful Seattle  punk band Tacocat.

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Paisley Underground

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Led by the four crucial bands The Bangles, The Dream Syndicate, The Three O’Clock and Rain Parade, the Paisley Underground was all about re-interpreting the bright, psychedelic music of '60s acts like The Beatles and The Byrds and blending it with the attitude of the '80s. They used droning guitars, grounded drumming and far out, but sometimes dark, lyrics to make an impact on indie rock forever. Even the inimitable Prince was smitten, naming his own estate and record label "Paisley Park," working with the Bangles and signing The Three O'Clock! Jim and Greg discuss the rise and fall of the Paisley Underground and share where its influence is seen today in music. They also talk about the 2019 collaborative album, 3x4, on which the bands cover each others' songs decades later.

The Shangri-Las - "Leader of the Pack"

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2019 marks the 55th anniversary of the song "Leader of the Pack" by The Shangri-Las. For one week in 1964, The Shangri-Las sat atop the Billboard Hot 100, in front of legendary groups like The Supremes, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and The Beach Boys. While it only stayed on the Hot 100 for 12 weeks, the track's impact has extended far beyond 1964. Sound Opinions producer Alex Claiborne talks with writer Ada Wolin about her book Golden Hits of the Shangri-Las and about the group's lasting impact on music and pop culture, as well as their influence over notable punk acts like Blondie and The New York Dolls.

This Mess Is A Place Tacocat

Tacocat

Seattle  pop punk quartet Tacocat's fourth album, This Mess Is A Place, is their first release for stalwart record label Sub Pop. Jim first got into the band when a listener suggested their 2016 album Lost Time as one of the best of that year. He was instantly hooked on the catchy melodies and feminist themes. He finds more to love on This Mess Is A Place, flitting between slices of slacker life and weightier themes like the death of democracy and climate change. He enjoys the increased emphasis on the backing vocals and harmonies. He cites "What a time to be barely alive?" in "Crystal Ball" as the line of the year. Greg enjoys it as well, especially the "deceptively smart" lyrics, which he reads as mocking the jaded attitude of some of their peers. However, he feels it's a little too clean for his taste. He preferred the garage rock vibe and biting guitars of the two previous albums, Lost Time and NVM.

Dear Listeners,

For more than 15 years, Sound Opinions was a production of WBEZ, Chicago's public radio station. Now that the show is independent, we're inviting you to join the band and lend a hand! We need your support more than ever because now we have to do all the behind-the-scenes work that WBEZ handled before (like buying insurance and paying for podcast hosting, ugh). Plus, we have some exciting ideas we'd like to try now that there's no one to tell us no!