TuneDig

The modern world is accelerating beyond our control, shaping our reality in ways we can’t yet perceive or understand. Enter Death Grips, an art project capturing the chaotic energy and illustrating the absurdity of our hubris in trying to harmonize the surreal and extremely real — never more perfectly than on 2012’s prescient "The Money Store".

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Reggae music is easy to take for granted, but its impact is underappreciated and massive — in the case of dub in particular, everyone from Radiohead to Johnny Rotten to Run-DMC owes it a debt.

Augustus Pablo and King Tubby together created what’s regarded as “one of the finest examples of dub ever recorded.” Join us as we dive into the culture, history, and unique engineering experiments that made it possible.

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By every measure — sales, awards, chart-toppers, global name recognition — Rihanna is objectively as big as the Beatles ever were. In fact, ANTI is so big it’s still on the charts, a record five full years later.

Take a closer look with us at “the record you make when you don’t need to sell records”, and get a taste of the true freedom that comes from focusing on your inner voice when faced with insurmountable expectations.

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All American music traces back to the blues, and deep at the root sits Son House. That the recordings on "Father of Folk Blues" even exist is something of a gray area that cuts to the heart of the great American myth, but wherever you land after hearing these stories, you’ll find that what matters most is what the great Muddy Waters once said of House: “That man was the king.”

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The futility of describing the Melvins has stretched critics in the direction of absurd words like “Dadaist” for nearly 40 years now. They’ve belligerently flogged any attempt to pinpoint their essence simply by being themselves, but "Stoner Witch" remains a reliable mall directory for the Melvins’ vast and wild discography. Grab yourself some pretzel bites.

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We should talk about Dolly the way we talk about Prince. Her extraordinary kindness and unique kitsch both make her universally loved, but what gets left out of the conversation is the very thing that made her famous: the music. Join in as we focus attention on the sonics and songwriting of the low-key masterpiece "Jolene".

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Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Six enlightened rogues out of Macon, Georgia birthed an entire genre simply by being their soul-powered selves. We have not come to testify, but we’re still hung up on the dream The Allman Brothers Band helped us see. By the end of this episode, you will be, too.

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Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

After stepping away from talking about albums in 2020, we took time to regroup and reground in why we started this thing in the first place. Join us as we briefly share our renewed perspective on music coming out of Hell Year and tee up the special group of albums we’ll be diving into over the next few months. There’s a little something for everyone.

First episode of season 5 drops Friday, February 26 — with new ones every other Friday through June.

“The Allman Brothers Band” - The Allman Brothers Band
“Jolene” - Dolly Parton
“Stoner Witch” - Melvins
“Father of Folk Blues” - Son House
“ANTI” - Rihanna
“King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown” - Augustus Pablo
“The Money Store” - Death Grips
“Tidal” - Fiona Apple
“Bitches Brew” - Miles Davis

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the album that didn't make the episode.

Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Part two of exploring our very specific favorite ways to discover and enjoy new music contrasts sharply with sampling’s vastness. Instead, Cliff laser-focuses in on a world inside four small knobs all dialed to 10.

The Boss HM-2 has spawned a prolific and diverse subculture, tied together by metal and hardcore artists’ quest for tones that differentiate and reflect the intensity of their material. If you love heavy music, you’ll love this playlist. If you don’t, we’re confident you’ll appreciate this headspace and its nuances.

Combine the podcast with the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6vrvfaLql87Lnq4yaDcdXr

Listen with full songs on the YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCTnCqMM9gSc8FVccQzMddWwMZNStj5Ip

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.

Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

For this one, we prompted each other to build a playlist around a very specific favorite way to discover and enjoy new music.

For Kyle, it’s sampling in hip-hop, a Rosetta Stone that endlessly unlocks interesting and obscure musical touchstones. The playlist lays out his journey of discovery through key samples that changed his life, and the episode dives into the mind of the crate digger and the value of that worldview in general.

Combine the podcast with the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3wqazjQ0kNV5FphNvKcILz?si=wGjdr5FzSZWGYFPf2NvPjA

Listen with full songs on the YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCTnCqMM9gSf35ltZDiGS7uOFGlQHx3B8

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.

Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

In this second of a pair of episodes responding to the recent uprisings, we translated what we’d learned from our introspection into a critical follow-up: direct action to make a difference. Join us as we walk through a soundtrack to help us plot, plan, strategize, organize, and mobilize.

We dedicate this episode to the memory of John Lewis, who showed us again and again what’s possible when you take action and stand up for what’s right.

Combine the podcast with the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6Sph7UdfvMkgNNKos5uUlu

Listen with full songs on the YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCTnCqMM9gSf3GhCXfeR-kUeNjBS7Ivrv

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.

Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

The protests and unrest have had us wondering how to make meaning from this wild, inexplicable time in history — so like usual, we turned to songs. Out came two new TuneDig Radio playlists.

The world already has plenty of protest playlists, so instead we tried to think more deeply about how best to process and live in the moment. This episode (part of a pair) is all about searching deep within and challenging yourself to grow.

Combine the podcast with the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/22OvQfebbIGI3jeollYycy

Listen with full songs on the YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCTnCqMM9gSfCcpPsfj0DbEVymoC6Uls6

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.

Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Being stuck at home without our studio setup got us thinking about the value of staying connected to people you enjoy being around by sharing music you love. With that in mind, we present the first episode of TuneDig Radio — where we dive deep into a specific music-related topic, then curate and share a playlist about it, pirate radio-style.

For our first two episodes, we took turns exchanging our favorite instrumentals, discovering some key overlaps and major differences along the way.

Combine the podcast with the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/270ljCJHi5AAP6i5Akkb66

Listen with full songs on the YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLCTnCqMM9gScFCR2V0mxNWQcjsoBZYc2f&v=aJbcR2kfe7o

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.

Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Being stuck at home without our studio setup got us thinking about the value of staying connected to people you enjoy being around by sharing music you love. With that in mind, we present the first episode of TuneDig Radio — where we dive deep into a specific music-related topic, then curate and share a playlist about it, pirate radio-style.

For our first two episodes, we took turns exchanging our favorite instrumentals, discovering some key overlaps and major differences along the way.

Combine the podcast with the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7kfj9Q15V4IyeRv1M6ONOW

Listen with full songs on the YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLCTnCqMM9gSdix0yrTKyABdsYs3YiiIg9&v=eQLC95i_8b8

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.

Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

To create something timeless, an artist must push beyond the boundaries of time. With "Voodoo", D’Angelo gathered a council of like-minded shamans for a years-long ritual to study and absorb music’s most mystical moments, conjuring an otherworldly result.

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.

Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

"Hiss Spun" is a massive cosmic ballad that journeys through the worlds within the psyche, guided by a goddess of the soul in her own right. Think of this episode as a gateway drug to a land beyond your comfort zone toward the beauty of all things heavy. Let "Hiss Spun" get in your blood.

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.

Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

A single 24-hour period in 1965 yielded one of the finest and most important musical documents in American history — and its author became one of our most influential voices. Join us in marveling at the difference a day can make.

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Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

”Dark is the light, and everything is black.”

For Black Friday, we thought it fitting to reach for the darkest and most transcendent piece of music we know. Sunn O)))’s thundering vibrations are meditation through force for anyone willing to listen deeply, and "Black One" is a door into a void that turns out to be a higher plane.

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.

Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Is it possible to be both overrated and underrated? With "Kid A", Radiohead cemented their mythos simply by artfully engaging a very specific cultural crossroads. We reexamined both the music and the moment, and gained more new perspective than we expected about the meaning of both.

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.

Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Dance and swallow the night with us as we go down, down, down, downtown. This one finds us following a beatnik as he washes away the scent of his past and goes feral in search of wild new sounds. (We've always been out of our minds.)

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Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Most artists would’ve crumbled under the pressure of following up an instant classic like The "Low End Theory", but Tip, Phife, and Shaheed dug even deeper, delivering an even more “precise, bass-heavy, and just right” work in sound and in spirit. Midnight remains a watershed moment for hip-hop, so we must bear witness.

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode.

Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

We launch Season 4 by blasting off toward Inner Space, exploring the wild dimension that one German-based collective occupied all on its own. Enjoy the mind-bending magic of pure cosmic inspiration with us.

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Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

We got a bunch of interesting listener feedback in our off-season, and it encouraged us to shed some light on why we do things the way we do ‘em. Also, we reflect on our first writeup, which was ... interesting.

This one’s simple: we run down the next batch of albums we’re covering. Check out the song clips and get psyched!

First episode of season 4 drops Friday, October 4—new ones every other Friday after that.

"Tago Mago" - Can
"Midnight Marauders" - A Tribe Called Quest
"Rain Dogs" - Tom Waits
"Kid A" - Radiohead
"Black One" - Sunn O)))
"Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul" - Otis Redding
"Hiss Spun" - Chelsea Wolfe
"Voodoo" - D'Angelo

Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate a precious moment. This moment in history "Purple Rain" made is an electric thing — it’s music at the height of music’s power, creating a space in time for everyone to be in together.

There will never be another. Y’all better live now.

Y’all lookin’ for freedom? Boy, do we ever have the pill for you. Slip on your boogie shoes, put this episode on your tongue, and slither out into the darkness with us as we howl at the neon moon.

We tune into an Oceanic innervision of crystal-clear Criterion Collection F E E L I N G, frequency after frequency for 55 minutes. Like us, you won’t be able to change the channel.

One cowboy’s journey to clean out the darkest corners of his mind led him through a wormhole and into the light. The result is "Metamodern Sounds in Country Music", a cosmic country hitchhiker’s guide to the myth we all call space and time.

"Axe to Fall" finds one of heavy music’s most consistent, celebrated bands transcending into the legends they’re known as today, calling on friends to provide fresh perspective on their sound and push them to peerless new heights.

What happens when, after years grinding underground solo, two hip-hop heavyweights discover they make a perfect team? They strike G-O-L-D, finally stepping into the pop culture spotlight and using it to speak the language of the unheard.

Picasso said that “art is a lie that makes us realize truth.“ Grand artistic statements like "The ArchAndroid" reveal intimate ideas beneath layers of disguise, drawing in the audience to connect to the story’s feelings rather than its facts. This one’s about the fight for freedom and love … and who doesn’t want more of that?

For an artist as creative as Björk, finding the essence of her sound meant pushing farther out than ever before. Ideas, sounds, and approaches that seemed at odds added up to something greater on "Homogenic". The result was vast, nuanced “emotional landscapes” unlike anything we’ve ever experienced … do yourself a favor and walk around them with us. We dare you.

There’s little doubt at this point that "Miseducation" is a great album, but after really spending time with it, we came away with a deep belief that it’s one of the best ever, full stop. It’s a perfect record — albeit from an imperfect vessel — delivered at the perfect moment for maximum impact, and we only manage to scratch its surface here. We hope it hits you like it has us.

"Frances the Mute" is a sonic séance, conjuring spirits buried beneath stories left behind by lost souls. The album finds restless living spirits walking a hallucinatory hall of mirrors of space and time, trying to find light beyond the darkness of a friend gone too soon. Don’t be afraid to get your mind bent—we’re here to guide you.

If you’re worried about kids these days and/or the pitfalls of technology, we’d like to point to an antidote to all those fears. Meet BADBADNOTGOOD, the jazz quartet you can crowdsurf to, and IV, the album where they found their own voice. What a time to be alive.

Clapton. Bruce. Baker. This supergroup was a strange brew that was simply too potent for the world (not to mention the band themselves), and we see that on display in "Wheels of Fire". The double album finds the trio at—ahem—a crossroads, the contrast between their inspirations creating tension to mixed—but often magical—effect.

File "You Are There" under evidence for Huxley’s thesis that, “after silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.“ We gave our best effort trying to capture Mono’s magic, who don’t utter a single world but manage to say everything about life, death, and all that’s between.

On the eve of an opportunity for Americans to lift their voices in demand of a more perfect union, we seek wisdom for this moment from the uncompromising, incendiary vision of our generation’s most effective revolutionaries. Troubling as it may be that so much still rings so true in Rage’s quarter-century-old debut, there is strength to be drawn from its message: We, the People, have a world to win.

The Kanyepalooza™ of the past few months made us question if Ye ever actually made anything that made him worth all this fuss. (SPOILER: He did.) This investigation wasn’t as simple as missing the old Kanye — because every Ye fan seems to have a different favorite album — but we wound up looking back with admiration on the first time Donda’s son held the zeitgeist in his hands and turned it upside-down.

Local scenes are forces of nature, catching fire and burning out as people come and go. We kick off season 2 close to home, looking back at a scene stoked by an abrasive, electric mess of a thing from little ol’ Douglasville, Georgia, setting our unsuspecting Southern hometown all ablaze. Guess you had to be there.

All paths led to this. Season 1 closes on a sublime note, exploring the profound power of one of the most important albums in American history, full stop. We give thanks to Coltrane's cosmically attuned hymn of gratitude for the holy spirit he saw flowing through everything. Yeah, we dare say this one got downright profound.

The antagonistically long, spastically eclectic Zen Arcade is about growing out of where you’re from and into a form you don’t yet fit. For better or worse, it’s as punk as punk gets.

Join the fun as two grown-up punks reckon with the good, the bad, and the WTF of a hardcore staple they’d missed until long after their best pitting years.

Consider this our RT of FX’s John Landgraf, who warned the world to “underestimate Donald Glover at your own peril.” This episode finds us talking a little about Gambino’s afro-futurist awakening on “Awaken” as a vehicle to talk a lot about Glover’s many punk rock masterstrokes.

The spirit of Superunknown perhaps is best captured by an offhand press quote from Kim Thayil: “Human beings are a wild composite of temporal events and insights and motivations and restrained behaviors ... and memories both delusional and accurate.” In this episode, we reflect on a masterpiece that captured the contradictions and complexity of raw emotion, and we explore the black hole-sized void torn open by the loss of a musical titan.

It’s easy to make a punchline out of this “album” (read: single 63-minute song) and the circumstances surrounding it, but as we explore the music that wound up becoming a heavy music landmark, we found something profound. On Sleep's "Dopesmoker", the journey really is the destination after all.

Portishead’s dark, timeless mystique is hard to capture, so instead we mostly meditate on “the air around the thing.” Venture into the fog with Bristol’s anti-heroes and the cinematic landscape of what the BBC called “quite simply one of the greatest debut albums of the 1990s.”

Led Zeppelin's follow-up to "IV" arrived as they were becoming the biggest rock band in the world—but they didn't choose to play it safe. We discuss all the twists and turns amassed on this behemoth of an album and give you some new ways to hear these nearly 50-year-old songs that still feel fresh.

We kick off the podcast with one of our all-time favorite records, embedded deeply in our hometown. It turns out the south did have something to say, and it's influenced decades of music just as much as it borrowed from the funkiness of the past.