Playing By Ear
Every episode of this podcast breaks an album down, track by track, to cover why it's not only worth playing, but replaying.
Displaying 4 items of Playing By Ear with the tag "songwriters".
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Big Red Letter Day (Buffalo Tom)
August 11th, 2026 | 2 hrs 7 mins
college rock, grunge, indie, indie music, indie rock, music, my so-called life, rock, rock and roll, songwriters, songwriting
Buffalo Tom's "Big Red Letter Day" may not have commercially been the big red letter day the band was looking for, but it exemplifies the feelings and soundscapes of grunge-era college rock. We're joined by musician and comedian Dylan Ris (www.lostmoonradio.com and www.themoonunits.com) to throw on some flannel and think about our so-called lives in the early 90s.
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Sounds Like This (Eric Hutchinson)
July 28th, 2026 | 1 hr 37 mins
music, rock, rock and roll, songwriters, songwriting
Heartfelt and full of swinging, bright melodies "Sounds Like This" sounds like Eric Hutchinson finding his musical footing. The album exhibits a confidence of an artist taking command of his style and audience, as darker subjects are slipped into catchy upbeat melodies. If Eric Hutchinson wants to rock, he rocks, and if he wants to roll, he rolls. We're right there rolling along with him.
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Parallel Lines (Blondie)
April 14th, 2026 | 1 hr 43 mins
classic rock, debbie harry, music, punk, rock, rock and roll, songwriter, songwriters, songwriting
One way or another, "Parallel Lines" from Blondie is gonna get you. This 1978 album is innovative, and a convergence of genres on the rise, from punk rock, to new wave, and everything in between, anchored by Debbie Harry's limitless cool and swagger. Highly influential, this album is a gas that doesn't turn out to be a pain in the ass.
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The Innocents (Erasure)
March 31st, 2026 | 1 hr 39 mins
1980s, 80s, erasure, music, new wave, pop, pop music, songwriters, songwriting, synth, vince clark
We give a little respect to Erasure's "The Innocents". The album features classic 80s new wave synth sounds that perfectly suit Vince Clarke's smooth voice. Vivacious, danceable, and sometimes moving, "The Innocents" perfectly encapsulates everything that makes Erasure what it is, a pop confection with more depth than you might expect at first glance.