Best Lori Reese Podcasts (2025)

1
A Bob Dylan Beginner's Guide, with Matt Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell 1:54:17

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5d ago1:54:17

1:54:17

With so many dozens of albums over so many wildly disparate eras, it can take a lifetime to truly get your arms around Bob Dylan. On this episode, Kirk is joined by two guests who have spent their lifetimes doing exactly that. Matt Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell, in addition to co-hosting the terrific political history podcast Know Your Enemy, are both …

1
Singing and Songwriting, with The Wailin' Jennys 1:11:03

19d ago1:11:03

1:11:03

The Wailin' Jennys have been singing together for more than two decades - recording albums, touring the world, and filling venues large and small. After all these years, the trio—Ruth Moody, Heather Masse, and Nicky Mehta—have reached both a plateau and an inflection point. What's it like for a musical group that's been together for that long; for …

1
Talkin' Tower of Power, with Adam Maness and Peter Martin [You'll Hear It] 1:12:30

1M ago1:12:30

1:12:30

Back in May, Kirk joined pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin of the You'll Hear It podcast to talk about what makes Tower of Power great. It was a very fun conversation, so he asked if he could run their episode in the Strong Songs feed. And here we are! Listen to You'll Hear It anywhere you find podcasts, and find both Adam and Peter (and many o…

1
A Song For My Father 39:33

2M ago39:33

39:33

THE APOCALYPSE WERE: Tony Capuano - Guitar, Lead Vocals John Shorb - Alto Sax Gene Meros - Tenor Sax Greg Novik - Bass, Backing Vocals (guitar on Stormy Monday) Oggie Hamilton - Drums, Backing Vocals Featuring The Apocalypse playing: “Good Good Lovin’” and “Try Me” by James Brown “Hi-Heel Sneakers" by Tommy Tucker “The Shadow of Your Smile” by Mand…

1
"Lean On Me" by Bill Withers 58:45

3M ago58:45

58:45

For the Season Seven finale, Kirk takes a look at Bill Withers' enduring hit "Lean On Me." In the process, he takes a broader look at a bunch of Withers' other most famous songs to better understand how this plainspoken, seemingly ordinary guy managed to write so many extraordinary songs. Written by: Bill Withers Album: Still Bill, 1972 Listen/Buy …

1
Bluegrass, Blue Prince, and the Blues 59:33

3M ago59:33

59:33

Kirk answers a bunch of listener questions on topics like bluegrass guitar, the music of Blue Prince, good apps for training theory skills, Robert Fripp's "Frippertronics," a mysterious sound on a Gene Clark song, different types of music notation, and the legacy of the blues. All that, and a trio of terrific singer/songwriters stops by the studio …

1
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" by The Police 1:00:16

3M ago1:00:16

1:00:16

In 1981, Sting brought a demo of a song he'd been working on down to AIR Studios in Montserrat to see what his bandmates thought of it... and they wound up keeping the demo and just recording their parts on top. The result was "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," an unusual Police song, but an enduring hit. On this episode, Kirk goes deep on eve…

1
"All The Things You Are" by Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II 59:47

4M ago59:47

59:47

The jazz standard "All The Things You Are" has been performed countless times by master jazz vocalists, 30s big bands, bebop small groups, hard-bop combos, modern deconstructionists, and even soon-to-be Kings of Pop. On this episode, Kirk takes listeners through the history of the now-famous tune, from its humble Broadway origins all the way to his…

1
"Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Jim Steinman and Bonnie Tyler 1:00:19

4M ago1:00:19

1:00:19

Turn around... every now and then I get a little lonely and the snare is sounding small Turn around... every now and then I get a little bit tired of listening to the sound of sleigh bells Turn around... every now and then I get a little bit nervous that the cannons will not fire Turn around... ...every now and then Kirk decides to take on a classi…

1
Bluey, Background Jazz, and the 'Best' Metal Guitar Solo 1:08:00

5M ago1:08:00

1:08:00

How should you count The Police's "Bed's Too Big Without You?" Why do so many people revere Marty Friedman's solo on Megadeth's "Tornado of Souls"? What's going on with those pauses during the Bluey theme? And what the heck is that sound on Sly and the Family Stone's "Sex Machine"? Those questions and many more on the first mailbag episode of Seaso…

1
The Music of the Muppets 1:03:43

5M ago1:03:43

1:03:43

Kirk pays a visit the musical world of The Muppets, from their Sesame Street origins in the 60s to the globe-hopping, cinematic heights of the 70s and 80s, with plenty of detours along the way. FEATURING: "Sesame Street Theme" by Joe Raposo, Jon Stone, and Bruce Hart "Mah Na Mah Na" by Piero Umilliani from Sweden: Heaven and Hell "Pinball Number Co…

1
"Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)" by The Mars Volta 59:07

6M ago59:07

59:07

Kirk digs into one of the most dense and challenging records in his collection, with an analysis of "Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)" from The Mars Volta's 2003 progressive rock opus De-Loused in the Comatorium. Written by: Omar Rodríguez-López, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, and Jeremy Ward Produced by: Omar Rodríguez-López & Rick Rubin Album: De-Loused in t…

1
"Fast As You Can" by Fiona Apple 52:41

6M ago52:41

52:41

Kirk digs into Fiona Apple's breakneck 1999 single "Fast As You Can," a cornerstone in her late 90s collaborations with Jon Brion, as well as her work with drummer Matt Chamberlain. Written by: Fiona Apple Produced by: Jon Brion Album: When The Pawn..., 1999 Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED: Jon Brion in Performing Songwriter Mag…

1
"Where The Streets Have No Name" and "With Or Without You" by U2 59:24

7M ago59:24

59:24

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 sa…

1
A Bunch of Great Music Recommendations 36:07

8M ago36:07

36:07

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 …

1
Remembering Janis Stockhouse, The Great Band Director 56:39

9M ago56:39

56:39

In light of Janis Stockhouse's unexpected death at the tail end of 2024, we're re-posting Kirk's 2019 interview with her for anyone who might want to listen to it. Janis started teaching at North high school in Bloomington, Indiana, in the early 1980s. It was a time when "jazz education" as a concept was still a relatively new thing. She retired 38…

1
Rediscovering Stevie Wonder, with Wesley Morris and Josh Gwynn 1:19:12

12M ago1:19:12

1:19:12

Kirk talks with Wesley Morris and Josh Gwynn about the endless world of Stevie Wonder. Morris and Gwynn are host and producer, respectively, of the brilliant new six-part podcast series The Wonder of Stevie. Check out Josh Gwynn's terrific pop culture podcast Back Issue, Wesley Morris's culture podcast Still Processing, and Morris' essential writin…

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Stevie Wonder: Music of My Mind [The Wonder of Stevie] 1:02:02

12M ago1:02:02

1:02:02

A cross-post of the first episode of "The Wonder of Stevie," a new six-part podcast series from Higher Ground and Pineapple Street Studios. It's a great show - find it on Apple, Amazon, Spotify... it's a podcast, you know the deal. Next week, we'll run a conversation between Kirk, host Wesley Morris, and producer Josh Gwynn all about what they lear…

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Behind the Scenes of Strong Songs [Gig Gab] 1:08:33

1y ago1:08:33

1:08:33

Back in August, Kirk went on Dave Hamilton's music podcast "Gig Gab" to talk about music, Strong Songs, podcasting, and life. It was a fun conversation, and seemed worth republishing here. You can find the full show notes here, watch a video version here, and can check out Gig Gab at giggabpodcast.com or anywhere you get podcasts.…

1
Post-Season Update, Summer Plans, & Some Music Recs 30:48

1y ago30:48

30:48

An update on what's next now that Season Six is complete, along with some book and music recommendations! BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS The History of Jazz by Ted Gioia, 3rd edition - 1997, revised 2021 Guitar Zero: The New Musician and the Science of Learning by Gary Marcus, 2012 MUSIC RECOMMENDATION LINKS Steve Pardo - DOS - (also in Video Game form on St…

1
"Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen 1:00:17

1y ago1:00:17

1:00:17

In the season six finale, Kirk takes a deep dive into Bruce Springsteen's signature song, 1975's "Born to Run." It's all here: tremolo guitar riffs, glockenspiel arpeggios, endless sus chords, and a sax solo for the ages. Baby, we were born for it. Written by: Bruce Springsteen Produced by: Springsteen, John Landau, and Mike Appel Album: Born to Ru…

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Summer Synths, Fluteception, and "The Diablo Chord" 1:04:55

1+ y ago1:04:55

1:04:55

As Season Six draws to a close, Kirk opens up the Strong Songs mailbag to answer a bunch of listener questions on topics ranging from Diablo's use of lydian to what he means when he talks about "transcribing." REFERENCED/DISCUSSED: "Tristram" by Matt Uelman from Diablo, 1997 "Blast Inc. (feat. Jorgen Munkeby)" by Haunted Shores from Viscera, 2015 "…

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"Easter Theatre" by XTC 57:00

1+ y ago57:00

57:00

Stage left! It's time for Strong Songs to talk about XTC. Stage right! Now the song is picked, analysis can begin. Stand up! If we listen close, we'll hear some lovely notes... On this episode, Kirk takes the stage alongside "Easter Theatre," the first single off of XTC's 1999 experimental symphono-pop album Apple Venus: Vol. 1. Bring on the bassoo…

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"Limb by Limb" by Phish 59:10

1+ y ago59:10

59:10

Phish may be known for their 30-minute live jams, but turns out you can distill their best qualities into a song one-tenth that length. To that end, Kirk picks apart and reassembles their 1998 studio recording of "Limb By Limb" in all its polyrhythmic, guitarpeggiated glory. Music by: Trey Anastasio, with Page McConnell, Mike Gordon & Jon Fishman L…

1
"Heart of Glass" by Blondie 56:02

1+ y ago56:02

56:02

You came, you saw, you voted, and you picked Blondie as Strong Songs' first listener-selected artist! After weighing a number of possible songs to focus on, Kirk decided to go with the 1978 hit that took them from the punk clubs of New York to dance floors around the world. Wanna pick an artist for Season Seven? Go join the Patreon! Written by: Deb…

1
"The Way" by Meshell Ndegeocello 57:34

1+ y ago57:34

57:34

Meshell Ndegeocello is: a fearless songwriter, an outrageously funky bassist, and a groundbreaking producer who knows just how to get the most out of each musician she hires. On this episode, Kirk takes a deep dive into "The Way," the second track off of her 1996 record Peace Beyond Passion, and shines a light on some of the things that make her on…

1
Strong Covers, Vol. 3 57:18

1+ y ago57:18

57:18

For the third edition of Strong Covers, Kirk takes on two famous covers of two equally famous songs: Jimi Hendrix's 1968 cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," and The White Stripes' early 2000s cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene." Written by: Bob Dylan & Dolly Parton Albums: Bob Dylan: John Wesley Harding, 1967 — Jimi Hendrix: Electric Lady…

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"Águas de Março (The Waters of March)" by Antônio Carlos Jobim & Elis Regina 56:22

1+ y ago56:22

56:22

Kirk digs into the work of master composer Antônio Carlos Jobim via his timeless 1974 duet with Elis Regina on his song "Águas de Marçco," known Stateside as "The Waters of March." He's joined by special guest Frederico Barros, Professor of Musicology at Federal University of Rio De Janeiro. Written by: Antônio Carlos Jobim Performed by: Jobim and …

1
"Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden 56:37

1+ y ago56:37

56:37

Turns out some songs stand on their own, however memorable-slash-horrifying their music video might have been. Written by: Chris Cornell Produced by: Michael Beinhorn Album: Superunknown (1994) Listen/Buy via Songwhip ALSO DISCUSSED: "Spoonman" and "The Day I Tried to Live" by Chris Cornell and Soundgarden from Superunknown, 1994 Kim Thayil intervi…

1
"In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel 53:54

1+ y ago53:54

53:54

Strong Songs Season Six kicks off with a widely requested classic: Peter Gabriel's 1986 yearner "In Your Eyes." Because why hire one rhythm section when you can hire two for twice the price? Written by: Peter Gabriel Produced by: Daniel Lanois Album: So (1986) Listen/Buy via Songwhip ALSO DISCUSSED: Rick Beato's Interview with So producer Daniel La…

1
Some Bonus Beatles Covers 27:49

1+ y ago27:49

27:49

On this bonus episode from May 2022, Kirk goes through a handful of other covers of the three Beatles songs he recently discussed on the show. "Gotta Get You Into My Life" by Paul McCartney/Lennon-McCartney as covered by Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers (1966) and Blood, Sweat & Tears (1975) "Eleanor Rigby" by Paul McCartney/Lennon-McCartney as …

1
The Genius of Sonny Rollins (and Max Roach) 22:53

1+ y ago22:53

22:53

(Originally recorded in May 2022) There's always more to say about Sonny Rollins, so Kirk shares a few of his other favorite Sonny moments, along with some additional love for Max Roach's drumming on Saxophone Colossus. REFERENCED: "St. Thomas" and "Blue 7" by Sonny Rollins from Saxophone Colossus, 1956 "St. Thomas" as performed by Joshua Redman on…

1
Weird Al For Nothin' And Your Jokes For Free 19:34

1+ y ago19:34

19:34

Weird Al has been writing songs and recording parodies for four decades, and his musical footprint is unfathomably wide. In this minisode, originally released in October 2022, Kirk gets into a few things he didn't have room for in the main feed episode about "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota." FEATURED/DISCUSSED: "Money for Nothing/Beverly Hi…

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How Clyde Stubblefield Evolved Funk Drumming 22:09

1+ y ago22:09

22:09

Recorded in August 2022 as an addendum to the main feed episode "Strong Grooves, Volume 1," special guest Russ Kleiner takes Kirk through the evolution of James Brown drummer Clyde Stubblefield's playing from 1967 to 1970. FEATURED/DISCUSSED: "Cold Sweat" (1967), "I Got The Feelin'" (1968), "Mother Popcorn" (1969), "Funky Drummer" (1970), all feat.…

1
The Band: The Last Waltz 1:05:39

2y ago1:05:39

1:05:39

For the Season Five finale, Kirk takes a look at The Band and Martin Scorsese's beloved 1978 concert film The Last Waltz - "The beginning of the beginning of the end of the beginning." Featuring music by The Band: Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson Directed by: Martin Scorsese Album: The Last Waltz (1978) Lis…

1
Phish, Evanescence, and a Taylor Swift Dispute 59:03

2y ago59:03

59:03

It's time for another mailbag episode, as Kirk takes on questions about Evanescence piano, Kelis bells, and counting in songs by Phish, Vessels, Ten Years After, and Kishi Bashi. All that, and a friendly dispute about a Taylor Swift song. "Milkshake" by Neptunes/Kelis from Tasty, 2003 "Going Under" by Evanescence from Fallen, 2003 Joe Lovono plays …

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Strong Solos, Vol. 2: Electric Guitar-aloo 1:04:03

2y ago1:04:03

1:04:03

The electric guitar is a beautiful, maddening instrument, and man does it sound good in the right hands. On this episode, Kirk takes a deep dive into solos by guitar legends Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, Jimi Hendrix, and Larry Carlton. FEATURED/DISCUSSED: "Seven Come Eleven" by Charlie Christian and Benny Goodman, recorded by the Benny Goodma…

1
The Music of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom 1:03:16

2y ago1:03:16

1:03:16

Kirk wasn't expecting to make a full-length episode about the music of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, but then he played the game. And here we are. Picking up on 2022's deep-dive in the music of the Zelda series, this episode takes a deep dive into the score of the new game, covering the many ways it builds on the past and charts a new …

1
A Little Extra Zelda 24:44

2y ago24:44

24:44

On this bonus episode, originally recorded as a Patreon bonus in 2022, Kirk goes through a few great Legend of Zelda pieces that he didn't manage to get into on last year's Zelda-focused Strong Songs episode. If you want to hear next week's new episode on Tears of the Kingdom early, go become a patron now! FEATURED: "Tears of the Kingdom Theme" fro…

1
Belle & Sebastian's Very Good Chord Progression 21:45

2y ago21:45

21:45

Kirk takes a tour through the cycling, modulating chord sequence in Belle & Sebastian's buoyant 2017 song "The Girl Doesn't Get It." Variation 1: | C | Dm7 | Bb | Gm F Variation 2: | C | D | Bm | Esus E Variation 3: | A | Bm | A/C# | Esus E FEATURED/DISCUSSED: "The Girl Doesn't Get It" by Belle & Sebastian from How To Solve Our Human Problems, Vol.…

1
The Four Electric Guitars 34:45

2y ago34:45

34:45

There are so many electric guitars. Truly, there is a guitar for every mood, every season, and every feeling. But there are four types of electric guitar that are a bit more widely used than other ones. On this formely-bonus-now-main-feed episode, Kirk discusses those four guitars—the Fender Stratocaster, the Telecaster, the Gibson Les Paul, and th…

1
John Williams' Star Wars Legacy, with Dan Golding 2:26:27

2y ago2:26:27

2:26:27

Composer John Williams is the defining sound of Hollywood and, arguably, the most widely listened to composer in the world. Kirk decided he needed some help tackling Williams' towering musical legacy, so he enlisted Australian author and musician Dan Golding as his tour guide through Williams' musical world, with a special focus on his groundbreaki…

1
Counterpoint, Chaka Kahn, & Peter Gabriel 54:42

2y ago54:42

54:42

Kirk answers your questions on 60s pop counterpoint, Chaka Kahn syncopation, Taylor Swift's re-recording project, good practice habits, Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer," and more. FEATURED/DISCUSSED: "You've Got Your Troubles" by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cool, recorded by The Fortunes Contrapunctus 1 by J.S. Bach recorded by the Emerson String Quart…

1
"Soul Vaccination" by Tower of Power 49:44

2y ago49:44

49:44

Kirk climbs inside the machine-gun rhythms and unstoppable grooves of the legendary Oakland funk outfit Tower of Power. Written by: Doc Kupka and Emilio Castillo Album: Tower of Power (1973) Listen/Buy via Songwhip ALSO DISCUSSED: "What is Hip?" "Squib Cakes" "Only So Much Oil in the Ground" "Don't Change Horses (In the Middle of a Stream)," "So Ve…

1
"Killing Me Softly With His Song," as sung by Lauryn Hill, Roberta Flack, & Lori Lieberman 59:57

2y ago59:57

59:57

It's not uncommon for a song to be written for one artist, only to become widely known after being recorded by another. It's less common for a song to have yet another rebirth decades later. That's just what happened with "Killing Me Softly with His Song." Originally inspired by Lori Lieberman's profound experience at a 1971 Don McLean concert, Nor…

1
"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears For Fears 47:26

2y ago47:26

47:26

Kirk kicks off Strong Songs Season 5 with Tears For Fears' 1985 hit "Everybody Wants to Rule The World." From classic synths and drum machines to surprisingly avante-garde guitar solos, this song's got a lot more going on than you might remember. Written by: Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, and Chris Hughes Produced by: Chris Hughes Album: Songs from t…

1
An Operatic Odyssey, with Luigi Boccia 3:38:37

2y ago3:38:37

3:38:37

Special guest Luigi Boccia takes Kirk on a magical journey through the world of the opera tenor, from Caruso and Lauri Volpi to Di Stefano and Pavarotti. Featuring performances by Luciano Pavarotti, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Enrico Caruso, Franco Corelli, Giacomo Lauri Volpi, Jussi Björling, Sergei Lemeshev, and Jon Vickers. Find a Spotify playlist of L…

1
"You're The Voice" by John Farnham, Live in Sydney 46:14

2y ago46:14

46:14

John Farnham's "You're The Voice" was a worldwide hit, and nowhere was it more popular than in the Aussie singer's homeland. A couple weeks ago, Kirk went onstage with the hosts of the Chat 10 Looks 3 podcast, Leigh Sales and Annabel Crabb, to talk about the song, the singer, and so much more. This episode is excerpted from Chat 10 Looks 3 episode …

1
The Light and Dark of Music, with Lily E. Hirsch 1:04:45

2+ y ago1:04:45

1:04:45

Author and musicologist Lily E. Hirsch joins Kirk to talk about the many different aspects of music she's explored in her books. REFERENCED ON THIS EPISODE: Lily Hirsch's many books, including A Jewish Orchestra in Nazi Germany: Musical Politics and the Berlin Jewish Culture League, Weird Al: Seriously, and Can't Stop the Grrrls: Confronting Sexist…

1
From Bach to Miles Davis, with Emily Reese 1:18:17

2+ y ago1:18:17

1:18:17

Kirk sits down with musician and podcaster Emily Reese to talk about the beauty of Bach's "Goldberg Variations," the distinct sound of Davis/Evans/Mulligan's "Birth of the Cool," the joys of the Knight Rider theme, and her podcast Level with Emily Reese, which focuses on the wide world of video game music. FEATURED/DISCUSSED: Emily's music podcast …