Rabbit Holes, Rock 'n' Roll, & Ruin

I have to seriously commend Jake Brennan for his work of art – his podcast titled Disgraceland.

For those who have the seemingly innate love for rock ‘n’ roll and its roster of artists’ own categorical forms of badassery, Disgraceland provides a unique stage that houses brilliantly curated content, diving into some of the most renowned artists’ anecdotes of death, be it homicide or suicide.

One feature in particular found throughout the podcast, consistently buried within the introduction of each episode, has a witty take on the industry that also immediately brings the listener into the time period of the artist and their tale in focus. It typically goes as:

“But despite all of this, his band, The Sex Pistols, made great music. The music you heard at the top of the show - that wasn’t great music. That was a preset loop from my Mellotron called Jazz Fox Piano, MK2. I played you that loop because I can’t afford the license for Le Freak by Chic. And why would I play you that specific slice of velvet rope disco cheese could I afford it? Because that was the #1 song in America, on February 1st, 1979. And that was the day that Sid Vicous’ mom bailed him out of Rikers Island Prison, kicking into motion what would become the last day of the young rock star’s life."

Cue theme song - a soon-to-become addicting concoction of haunt and story - a piece you'd think to be written by a meld of The Beatles, Paul Simon, Donovan, and Peter Frampton... A subtle backdrop to ease the listener into a rabbit hole of... 'true music crime' (?)

Few things going on here:

1.    The witty take on the candid mention of an indie artist not being able to afford music licensing rights, understandably.

2.    His badass soundtrack is good enough.

3.    What better way to provide a frame of reference for the time period that is about to be discussed for the next half hour?