On part one of our two-part year end extravaganza, we’re discussing some of our favorite new music from the Milwaukee and DC scenes, the state of the music industry, honorable mentions for our favorite albums of the year, and more.

Skylar Gudasz continues her signature style of storytelling through song on her latest album, 'Country'. While songs like "Truck" and "Mothers Daughter" maintain a familiar feel for fans of her previous work, tracks like "Fire Country" and "Atoll" showcase Gudasz (once dubbed "the Joni Mitchell the South never had") delving into our relationship with the world around us and how we shape it.

In 2016, Skylar Gudasz released Oleander, a collection of songs that garnered deserved comparisons to the works of songwriting giants Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and more. Now she’s back with Cinema, a forward-looking, empowered exploration of the feelings that we often hide away to make it through the theatre of our day-to-day lives.

Tune in as we chat with Gudasz about great songwriting, releasing an album into an isolated world, and more on an all-new episode of Discologist.

MC Taylor's Hiss Golden Messenger may just be the Southern soul we deserve. On their ninth album proper (and fourth for Merge Records) the modern day skiffle-kings are delivering one of their strongest sets yet, and a salve for the troubles that ails ya in 2017. Kevin, Eduardo, and Andre are digging into this laid back, Saturday night groove of an album to let you know if it's worth all the hype.

PLUS! Deer Tick is BACK, and they've got not ONE, but TWO albums to announce their return. We've got a raucous track from Deer Tick Vol. 2 to help you get reacquainted with this American classic of a band.  

In 2010 Memphis's legendary Big Star, one of the most influential bands in rock n roll history, was set to finally get their due, but it was not to be. Just days before a planned showcase at SXSW in Austin, TX, frontman/chief songwriter Alex Chilton passed away, and what was meant to be a celebration and validation of their remarkable career instead became joyous wake featuring some of the biggest names in music. Fast forward to 2017, and the magic of the touring version of that celebration, a band that features original Big Star drummer Jody Stephens, dB's mastermind Chris Stamey, Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Kronos Quartet, Robyn Hitchcock, Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Dan Wilson (Semisonic), and newcomers Skylar Gudasz and Brett Harris, has been captured on film in the new documentary Thank You Friends: Big Star's Third LIve...and more. 

Kevin and neighbor Michael are digging deep into the film's soundtrack to to to find out why Big Star was such an important band, ponder the power of tribute, and speculate where this collection of master musicians should go from here. 

PLUS! Skylar Gudasz's Oleandar was one of the best albums of 2016. We've got a track to help remind of of that very important fact. 

Singer/songwriter Skylar Gudasz's debut LP, Oleander, is a sublime exploration of modern romance that wears its influences on its sleeve and is bursting at the seams with humor, heart, and class. It's also one of the best albums of 2016.

When she's not busy making great albums, Gudasz can be found palling around on stage with members of Big Star, Wilco, R.E.M., and more.

She's KINDA a big deal.

Lucky for you, Skylar had time to hang out with us in the basement to talk about her unique approach to songwriting, the making of Oleander, performing with music legends and much more.

Guys...we're gonna need you to get hip to this, OK?

Last week it was 311 day. If you don't know what that is you're lying. To yourself.*

Damien Jurado is back with an expansive, mind-bending, psycho-trip of a  new album, Visions of Us on the Land. We buy the ticket and take the ride.

Skylar Gudasz's exceptional debut album Oleander is out NOW. We've got a track to help convince you of said exceptionality.

*Now would be a good time to reiterate that we are not a facts based podcast.