Bits & Pieces

We listen to a piano speak, check out Kim Dotcom's new music streaming service Baboom, and try our luck at keeping perfect time. Also: CHVRCHES tells us they'd sell more records if they presented themselves as a solo project. POTWs: Adebisi Shank and The Districts!

Will.He.Is (will.i.am) participates in a ridiculous Lexus ad involving night driving, lasers and musical roads, Spotify actually does a good job recommending new songs, and a slew of novelty metal bands fatigue us. Our song picks of the week are sure to delight you, though!

Prince's next album will be exclusively on Tidal, Beach House unveils a setlist creator for fans and for FXPlain, Matt talks about how Delay works. As always, stick around for our Picks of the Week each episode.

David Byrne wants to open up the black box of record label contracts, One Direction strikes oil with their new single on Spotify, and for FXplain we do a deep dive into Dynamic Range Compression! Learn how compression works and when to use it!

A $340 ethernet audio cable is our latest example of snake oil, Pandora isn't scared of Apple Music, and we launch a brand new segment called FXplain where we discuss the how and why of audio effects. This week's FXplain: Chorus, Flanger and Phaser. Finally, as always, stick around for our Picks of the Week.

Neil Young thinks streaming music sounds worse than 8-tracks and radio. A new kind of optical audio cable promises quality and maybe a little snake oil too. Finland refunds generally agreed upon horrible concerts, and maybe the end of capitalism would be good for music?

David Lyons joins Matt who describes faking a RATATAT song that apparently fooled their label and people still can't hear the difference between lossy and lossless. Homage is paid to a person who brought millions joy and fun over the last decades.

Special guest co-host Michael Raven joins Matt while Michael Edwards is on vacation. Prince shows his face to say wrong things about the internet. Home stereos are interesting, and how does one go from listener to creator in music?

Taylor Swift joins Apple Music, Tidal loses its CEO, Sony targets smug jerks with their advertising, and a startup proposes to let you EQ real life.

Mariana Trench tells us how to write pop songs, Gene Simmons blames music fans for ruining the universe, and we find out which musical genres sell the best.

NPR explained their signature sound, Spotify dabbles in premium-only songs, and Apple Music is poised to shake up the music industry. Which suggests the question: Is the whole music industry now just a feature of technology platforms?

Matt reports back on seeing Denver band The Still Tide, reducing our degrees of separation! Smoke & Honey play a cd release show, too. NPR throws their hat in the audiophile snake oil ring, YouTube launches 360 degree videos and we discuss passive and active music videogames.

Smoke & Honey prepares their debut and Mike has a Montropo gig report. Also: Inappropriate band names, doing things just for exposure, and why the Mario theme song is so catchy!

A leaked Spotify contract with Sony Music provides juicy details on how artists are being screwed by labels. Forgotify helps you find lonely, unplayed songs that need some love. Weav.io promises to change music production forever and a tech site's Tidal review spouts the same audiophile snake oil we're getting really tired of.

A band pulls a PR stunt and gets called out by the internet mob. Typedrummer is a really cool drum machine web app, American Idol calls it a day and nobody cares. Also: Learn why you should never leave Facebook even if you hate it.

Grooveshark is back! Apple might be out to kill free music streaming, the Z-Tar is a strange midi guitar and much laughter is had about drugs at festivals and a curious lazy music generator.

A new study suggests you will stop discovering new music around age 33, another company wants in on the premium cable snake oil game, we fly flags at half mast for the passing of Grooveshark, and how have orchestras been used to enhance songwriting in the past and today?

A sad rite of passage for many bands is having their gear stolen. Mike reports back from seeing Sufjan Stevens live as he nearly loses his voice talking into his brand new mic. What are your guilty pleasures, and is indie really a genre?

A new wearable promises to keep your band in time without destroying your ears, Jukely promises you unlimited live shows and Google takes us inside Abbey Road studios. Also: Mumford & Sons weigh in on Tidal with their banjos and suspenders.

How do artists employ unique visual aesthetics to complement their music? Why doesn't Tidal co-owner Rihanna bolster the new streaming service with an exclusive for her newest single? Also: Modulince, a fascinating new DAW, and a discussion of the good and bad of live albums.