No Filler Music Podcast

No Filler is a music podcast dedicated to sharing the often overlooked hidden gems that fill the space between the singles on our favorite records. In each episode we’ll dive into a little history of the artist and the album of choice, with snippets from interviews & concerts, as well as music from the album itself. Proud part of Pantheon - the podcast network for music lovers.

Music Commentary
Music History
Music
126
Best of 2021 - Part Two
The countdown continues with our next 10 top tracks from 2021. This batch of tunes ranges from Turkish-folk infused psychedelic rock to an indie video game score composed by one of this decade's greatest indie artists. Tune in each week of December as we countdown our Top 40 Tracks of 2021. Tracklist: Magdalena Bay - Hysterical Us Magdalena Bay - Secrets (Your Fire) Mini Trees - Doomsday Dauwd - La Nota Little Simz - Protect My Energy Little Simz - Miss Understood Ovlov - Cheer up, Chihiro! Working Men's Club - X Japanese Breakfast - The Ewer (Day) Altın Gün - Maçka Yolları Jordana & TV Girl - Lo on the Hi-Way Empath - Born 100 Times --- Visit tiestatea.com and use promo code NOFILLER15 for 15% off at checkout. A bold tea for a bold you. This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
72 min
127
Best of 2021 - Part One
We kick off our countdown of favorite tracks from the year with 10 tracks ranging from deep jungle techno to psychedelic pop. Tune in each week of December as we countdown our Top 40 Tracks of 2021. Tracklist: Yot Club - Hole Bloodslide - Trap Door GHENGIS TRON - Pyrocene Forrest Drive West - Dualism Peggy Gou - I Go Hush Forte - FRUSTRATION (feat. Saint Lyor) Psymon Spine - Modmed Kings of Convenience - Love Is A Lonely Thing (feat. Feist) Cass McCombs - I Followed The River South To What Sweet Trip - Chapters AJ Lambert - I Summon You (Spoon cover) --- Visit tiestatea.com and use promo code NOFILLER15 for 15% off at checkout. A bold tea for a bold you. This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
73 min
128
Rewind: Washed Out And The Chillwave Movement
​On this week's rewind episode, we take a look at the emergence of chillwave and the role of those dime-a-dozen music blogs of the early 2000s in helping launch this short-lived & blissed-out, shoe-gaze dance genre. Our main dig is on the DIY home recordings of Ernest Greene Hemingway Jr., aka Washed Out, who, along with Toro Y Moi and Neon Indian, were the three main influencers of the chillwave sound. We give a listen to songs from his first three releases spanning from 2009 to 2011. --- Visit tiestatea.com and use promo code NOFILLER15 for 15% off at checkout. A bold tea for a bold you. This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
44 min
129
Human In The Machine: Animal Collective's Merri...
After the success of Person Pitch, Noah Lennox took those lessons learned with him back into the studio with the rest of Animal Collective to create another touchstone record of the 2000s. This time, the melodic electronica that felt more man than machine was refined and amplified to an infectious, hypnotic, and deeply human electronic record. The record improves even more on their trademark harmonies with Noah and Avey Tare sounding better together than ever, and the lyrical themes very much a continuation of Noah's lean toward introspection in Person Pitch. One of the greatest records from the 2010s that could only have spawned from the hive mind of Animal Collective, join us as we fawn and gush over the many reasons we love this record. Tracklist: Summertime Clothes Also Frightened Daily Routine Guys Eyes No More Runnin' Brother Sport Visit tiestatea.com and use promo code NOFILLER15 for 15% off at checkout. A bold tea for a bold you. This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
62 min
130
Panda Bear - Person Pitch (with guest Josh Stew...
With our buddy Josh joining us once again, we gush over Panda Bear's 2007 touchstone indie record Person Pitch. Trading in the usual guitar for a Roland sampler, Noah Lennox created a record made up almost entirely of samples ranging from Cat Stevens to a hooting owl. His reverb-drenched vocals, often densely layered to create harmonies on par with Beach Boys, paired perfectly with his introspective lyrical themes focused on his marriage, his newfound fatherhood, and even deeply personal stories like his reliance on anti-depressants. Person Pitch laid the foundation for countless indie bedroom poppers in the decade to come, and a sound that became the stepping stone for the chillwave movement. Tracklist: Comfy In Nautica Take Pills Bros I'm Not Gothic Voices - Rose, Liz, Printemps, Verdure Ponytail Visit tiestatea.com and use promo code NOFILLER15 for 15% off at checkout. A bold tea for a bold you. This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
61 min
131
200th Episode: Chillwave and Dream Pop in the M...
For our 200th episode, we chat with our old pal Josh Stewart about our short-lived indie music blog, Newdust. We reminisce about the glory days of the 2010s blog era, putting on house shows in Denton TX, and the rise of chillwave and modern dream pop. Tracklist: Balkans - Edita V Toro Y Moi - You Hid Small Black - Camouflage Beach Fossils - Youth Tennis - Marathon Long Walks On The Beach - metaPhysical This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
68 min
132
Whatcha Heard? The Could You Repeat That Edition
On this month's Whatcha Heard, Travis breaks our lengthy metal dry spell with some Norwegian thrash metal, Quentin gets reacquainted with one half of Air, and Adriano Celentano leaves us scratching our heads with his classic 70s hit full of English gibberish. We also dive into some dark and moody synth-pop from the 70s and 80s, and a sprinkling of post-punk and emo for good measure. Tracklist: Animal Collective - Prester John Calm - Demons Reloading Such A Beautiful Disease Trigger Pull This Trigger Thomas Leer - Looks That Kill Parquet Courts - Plant Life Pixx - Small Mercies Alien Weaponry - Hatupatu Nicolas Godin - Turn Right, Turn Left Nicolas Godin - What Makes Me Think of You The Breeders - Doe Krisma - Black Silk Stocking Supersport! - Uppi Sofa Adriano Celentano - Prisencolinensinainciusol Dijon - Many Times This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
77 min
133
A Hard Day's Nightmare: The Music of Uncle Acid...
We get it: if you have to hear Monster Mash one more time, your boombox will be the only thing getting graveyard smashed. If you're in need for some new tunes for your costume party tonight, we've got you covered. Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats takes psychedelic rock and doom metal and mashes it with The Manson Family, Universal Monsters, and all the other horror film essentials on your October watch list. And of course, singer K.R. Starrs is an absolute vocal doppelgänger for John Lennon. What more could you ask for? Turn the lights down low, light some candles, and tune in for our bonus Halloween episode. Tracklist Witches Garden Withered Hand of Evil Murder Nights I See Through You Vampire Circus This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
28 min
134
No Filler Rewind: Spoon - A Series Of Sneaks
In this early No Filler episode, we kicked off our deep dive into indie rock gods Spoon. We started with A Series of Sneaks, where Spoon still had their feet firmly planted in the alt rock post punk that came before them (think Pixies and Sonic Youth). We chat about how the label's lackluster support for the record jaded the band and how it ultimately helped set the tone for the album that followed, and the band we now know and love. Tracklist Car Radio Don't You Eva Don't Buy The Realistic The Minor Tough 30 Gallon Tank Quincy Punk Episode This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
62 min
135
This Is A Lonesome Crowded Antarctica: Modest M...
We chat about Modest Mouse before Float On put them on the map. From the very first track on their debut album, Isaac Brock and his bandmates blended any and every genre with their alt rock roots to create a sound all their own. And Brock carried on the loud-quiet-loud dynamic that the Pixies created just a few years prior to weave in sporadic outbursts into each track. By the time we get to Float On, Modest Mouse had laid a solid foundation for indie rock that so many bands would build on in the years to come. Tracklist: Gravity Rides Everything Dramamine Lounge Talking Heads - Making Flippy Floppy Doin' The Cockroach Cowboy Dan Perfect Disguise Tiny Cities Made of Ashes This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
63 min
136
Loud-Quiet-Loud: How Pixies Ushered In A New Dy...
Piggy-backing off our Talking Heads and Sonic Youth episodes, we explore another trailblazer of the alt-rock post-punk variety. When Pixies released Doolittle in 1989, they carried a confidence into the studio that was missing from their first record. With melodic, simple song structures and Black Francis' sporadic, neurotic outbursts sprinkled throughout the record, they created a new dynamic known as "loud-quiet-loud" that helped paved the way for grunge, and countless other indie alt rock bands that followed in their footsteps. Tracklist Pixies - Debaser Pixies - I Bleed Pixies - No 13 Baby Pixies - There Goes My Gun Pixies - Gouge Away This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
50 min
137
Whatcha Heard? The Duos and Dreampop Edition
With every Whatcha Heard episode there's always a few left turns, and at least a 180 that takes us from, for example, vaporwave to doom metal. On this episode however, we managed to bring 10 tracks that work so perfectly together, you'd think we must have planned it. Maybe it's the changing season, or maybe our twin connection was especially deep these past few weeks. Either way, tune in for a collection of 10 dreamy, laid back, lo-key jams that fall mostly under the dreampop umbrella. No left turns here, just a solid playlist suitable for weekend drive. Tracklist: Radiohead - If You Say The Word Insides - Darling Effect Men I Trust - 5am Waltz Fellini Félin, Camel Power Club - Kiss Me Dismemberment Plan - The Face Of The Earth Beauty Queen - This Time Around Bachelor - Back Of My Hand Death And Vanilla - A Flaw In The Iris Bad Math - Walls Sensations Fix - Cold Nose Story Sweet Trip - Surviving A Smile St Germain - Sure Thing This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
74 min
138
How Sonic Youth Made Rock Real Again: A Convers...
Join us as we chat with Rolling Stone Senior Writer David Browne, author of the definitive Sonic Youth biography, Goodbye 20th Century. We talk about how the band's "cool kids" persona carried them from the no-wave movement of the 70s and 80s into the 90s where they finally signed to a major label. We play tracks from Goo, Dirty, and Experimental Jet Set (the Geffen Years), and dissect their evolving sound between the 3 records as the band came as close as they ever would to mainstream success. And although they never quite reached the heights of label mates Nirvana (or any of the countless grunge bands that rode Cobain's coattails), we chat about the band's real legacy: bringing the art and culture of New York into the mainstream, and writing a playbook for so many indie bands to follow in the decades ahead. Tracklist: Kotton Krown Tunic (Song For Karen) Theresa's Sound-world Screaming Skull Dave Van Ronk - Sunday Street This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
96 min
139
The Planet-Powering Energy of Talking Head's Re...
Describing Talking Heads groundbreaking 1980 record Remain In Light after hearing it for the first time can be challenging. Or after hearing it for the 2nd, 5th, or 20th time for that matter. The group almost called it quits after the success of Fear Of Music, but quickly found themselves experimenting with African polyrhythms, funk, and electronics in the idyllic Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas. They began utilizing jam sessions as the jumping off point for songs as opposed to David Byrne's lyrics, and took a more collaborative effort to the songwriting process. The result is the astounding, other-worldly, genre-defying record that solidified the Talking Heads as one of the most remarkable rock bands of the 20th century. Join us as we try to find more ways to describe this incredible record, when we aren't speechless that is. Tracklist: Once In A Lifetime I Zimbra Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) Fela Kuti - Eko Ile The Great Curve + Live In Rome 1980 Seen And Not Seen This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
58 min
140
No Filler Rewind: Television - Marquee Moon
We're kick-starting our dive into post-punk & new wave with a look back at our episode on Television's debut record Marquee Moon from 1977. Alongside Blondie, The Ramones, and other bands that shared the stage at the birthplace of punk in New York City, CBGB, Television was lumped into the punk rock category, and for good reason. But their jazz-improv guitar stylings and sporadic vocals was a pivotal moment in post-punk that would change the game forever. Tracklist: Marquee Moon See No Evil Friction Elevation The Ventures - Cruel Sea (The Cruel Surf) live in Japan '65 This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
35 min
141
Properly Chilled: The Downtempo Mixtape
We wrap up our batch of episodes devoted to all things downtempo with 10 more tracks from 10 different artists under the downtempo umbrella and it's many adjacent styles. From the classics like Portishead and Massive Attack to video game scores and underground DJs, this is our final attempt to convince our listeners that downtempo is a genre worth paying attention to. Kick back and chill out with us as in this music-heavy mixtape episode. Tommy Guerrero - Spider And The Monkey Mikael Delta - Swimming Portishead - Pedestal Aim - Interview Irresistible Force - Nepalese Bliss DJ Unknown Face - Dat's Cool Kodomo - Concept 16 Leon Vynehall - Saxony Massive Attack - Mezzanine Tosca - Sala Ed Harrison - Stopgap Big Muff - Poppy's Song This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
81 min
142
Whatcha Heard? The Good Vibes Bart Edition
Our monthly mixtape is back with 13 tracks ranging from 70's funk to a couple of brand new shoegaze tunes, new wave to no wave, and even a dreampop track from a Tokyo horror film tossed in for good measure. Tracklist: Courtney Barnett - Before You Gotta Go Stove - Graduate and Congratulate Strawberry Switchblade - Who Knows What Love Is? Strawberry Switchblade - Michael Who Walks By Night Lucid Express - Prime of Pride The Cleaners From Venus - A Girl With Cars In Her Eyes Southern Energy Ensemble - The Best Part of Me Konk - Cool Out Gar Guerilla Toss - Betty Dreams of Green Men Psymon Spine - Jumprope Modern Color - Dread The Holydrug Couple - Aurora Little Annie - I Think of You This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
73 min
143
When Techno Meets Downtempo: Underworld's A Hun...
After a decade of success in the vibrant British electronica and techno scene, Underworld reinvented themselves in 2002 when Rick Smith and Karl Hyde released the dark and beautiful A Hundred Days Off. The record remained true to the duo's dance floor roots with a house and techno backbone, but introduced ambient and downtempo elements to the mix. Add Hyde's dreamy and drone-like vocal delivery, the result is a truly exceptional record that's as energetic as it is hypnotic. Tracklist: Two Months Off Freur - Doot Doot Dark And Long Mo Move Sola Sistim Little Speaker Ballet Lane Akotcha - Img.00.37 (courtesy of Soma FM's Groove Salad) This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
68 min
144
Hypnotic, Elegant, Sublime: Thievery Corporatio...
If the name Thievery Corporation sounds familiar, you might remember "Lebanese Blonde", the track featured on the 2004 indie film Garden State. On this episode, we dive into the album that came before Zach Braff introduced the D.C. duo to hipsters everywhere: The Mirror Conspiracy. The album effortlessly blends elements of reggae, dub, bossa-nova, middle-eastern psychedelia, and even some Spanish guitar for good measure, with a level of precision and mastery that make for a truly hypnotic and sublime listening experience. Tune in as we nerd out over what makes this record so incredible. Tracklist: Lebanese Blonde Indra Illumination Barrio Alto A Guide for I and I Só com você Dubtribe Sound System - Sunshine's Theme (courtesy of Soma FM's Groove Salad) This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
60 min
145
Quantic: The 5th Exotic - Jazzy, Soulful, Funk-...
On this episode we explore the album that solidified Quentin's love for downtempo music: Quantic's The 5th Exotic. From start to finish, Will Holland (aka Quantic) skillfully fuses elements of jazz, soul, funk, dub, and hip-hop all into one seamless trip-hop journey. And the record came out just as the producer turned 21, signaling the start of a very prolific career for one of the busiest artists in the industry. We also explore two of his side projects, The Quantic Soul Orchestra and Quantic and his Combo Bárbaro, where he ditches the computer and sequencer for a live band, making music that sounds just like the records he himself samples. Grab a good pair of headphones for this one! Tracklist: Introduction + The Fifth Exotic Life In The Rain Time Is The Enemy The Quantic Soul Orchestra - West Pier Getdown Quantic and his Combo Bárbaro - Más Pan Slim - Water (courtesy of Soma FM's Groove Salad) This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
66 min
146
Röyksopp: Melody A.M. - Dreamy Downtempo For th...
Something was in the water in Norway in the early 2000s. Two of our favorite duos dropped their first records: Kings of Convenience and Röyksopp. We chat about the latter's debut record, Melody A.M., it's impact on pop culture, and how it's blend of ambient, dreamy downtempo with a dance-floor drive made it a truly stand out record in the downtempo landscape at that time. Tracklist: So Easy Remind Me In Space A Higher Place The Tyrrel Corporation - Freedom She's So Poor Leno Go With The Flow (Queens of the Stone Age cover) This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
53 min
147
Whatcha Heard? The Doozy Edition
It's that time again: grab your favorite pair of headphones and carve out an hour to jam out to our monthly mixtape. As is the goal, we bring a pretty decent mix of genres from dronegaze to vaporwave. But we don't often decade-hop quite like we did on this tracklist, from 80s post-punk to the latest disco-leaning track from Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Join us for our favorite monthly tradition on this week's Whatcha Heard. Tracklist Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Weekend Run Gary Numan - The Chosen Minutemen - The Glory of Man The Tragically Hip - Escape Is At Hand For The Travellin' Man Kate NV - Lu Na Moodoid - Only One Man (with Melody's Echo Chamber) Drowse - Rain Leak Alice Phoebe Lou - Dirty Mouth The Damned - Life Goes On Def Sound - Hope Garoad - Base of the Titans Vulfpeck - Smile Meditation This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
74 min
148
Bloc Party: Silent Alarm
By the time 2005 rolled around, the garage rock heavy hitters had already made their mark. The Strokes and Interpol were both working on their 3rd records at this point, and bands that started with "The" were a dime a dozen. Bloc Party put their own stamp on the genre with elements of dance and Brit-rock infused into their sound, and a passion and energy in their delivery that made their debut record Silent Alarm stand out among the crowd. Tracklist: Positive Tension Like Eating Glass She's Hearing Voices The Price of Gas Luno Helicopter Schneider TM and KPT.michi.gan - The Light 3000 (The Smiths cover) This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
45 min
149
Blink And You'll Miss It: Our 182nd Episode!
In the early 2000s Mark, Tom and Travis were the kings of pop punk. And we knew them all too well: three goofballs who ran naked through the streets of California and sang about masturbation and diarrhea. But the boys of Blink-182 were ready to break out of that box and finally be taken seriously. So when they went into the studio to record what would become the untitled 5th record they only had one rule: there were no rules. And the result was their most ambitious and personal album yet, with songs that pushed the trio into new styles, experimental effects and recording techniques, and even a guest appearance by the one and only Robert Smith. With the untitled record, Blink proved they were destined for more than the mold we had put them in. Tracklist: Feeling This Obvious Violence Stockholm Syndrome (w/ Interlude) Easy Target All Of This (feat. Robert Smith) The Cure - The Lovecats Fallen Interlude This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
64 min
150
So We Meet Again: The Triumphant Return of King...
Our relationship with Kings of Convenience goes back nearly 20 years, and we've been waiting more than half that time for new music from them. Their new album "Peace Or Love" feels like catching up with a dear old friend, or a home cooked meal after months of travel. No matter how much time passes, the reunion is always worth the wait. Tracklist: Rumours Angel Washing Machine Killers Catholic Country Gold for the Price of Silver This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Pantheon is a proud partner of AKG by Harman.
56 min