TuneDig

Marvin Gaye’s well of soul power ran mighty deep, and deep into his career, he pulled up a bucket of ice-cold, silky smooth champagne called “I Want You.” Come for the lush instrumentation, vocal harmonies, and Leon Ware clinic; stay for the stories. For our return from hiatus, we observe a titan in his element, reflect on the pain that built him into one, and consider how to reconcile our feelings when complicated messengers deliver beauty to our door. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at tunedig.com.

Before uniting one nation under a groove, the lysergic lords of chaos in Funkadelic harnessed wild lightning into an amulet called "Maggot Brain", bestowing the bearer with raw, dark power stronger than any force known to man. Between reaching our 50th episode and coping with the “maggots in the mind” of today’s universe, it felt like the right time to free our minds. We hope y’all’s asses will follow. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

The story of Alice Coltrane — an accomplished bebop pianist from Detroit who transcended into something far greater before walking away from public life altogether — is a glimpse into what it means to be truly free. Alice’s masterpiece Journey in Satchidananda is a cosmic dance that sparked creation from destruction. And in a time when we’re all desperately searching for a spark of meaning and hope, Journey abides abundantly. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Take a moment to appreciate Ann and Nancy Wilson, who kicked down the doors of rock ‘n’ roll’s boys’ club with their peerless guitar work, soaring soul vocals, and tight songcraft. 1977’s Little Queen — an oft-overlooked gem in the classic rock canon — offers a snapshot of those elements at their most urgent and pure, powered by the Wilsons’ simple motivation (as described by their producer): “It was a war.” Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

When you think of “electronic music,” what comes to mind may not be a genre you deeply love — hip-hop, house, new wave, or even dub reggae — but all of it owes some debt, scientifically or otherwise, to Tangerine Dream. Dig in with us as we study a prime example of the band’s brand of effortful innovation, where they patiently and persistently labored at the cutting edge of electronic technology to open a portal to new worlds in our minds. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Did you catch one of 2021’s biggest albums, or like us, did you almost overlook it? If you have any expectations of pop music, "SOUR" will likely subvert them. Teenage dream this is not; it’s an exquisitely universal portrait of a weird time to be alive. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

The story of Fela Kuti — one of the most famous people on an *entire continent* passionately struggling to liberate power to more people — is absolutely one worth deeply knowing, regardless of whether you find yourself drawn to Afrobeat or (cringe) “world music.” But once you know it, it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with Fela and Afrika 70 as their revolutionary grooves rewire your brain in magical and meaningful ways. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Meshuggah’s "ObZen"—an artifact of human creativity pushing the limits of what’s possible—will quite literally make you hear music differently. If you’re looking for a new musical adventure, and especially if you don’t think you like “heavy” or “weird” music, consider this your sign to push past your comfort zone. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

A misunderstood wise man once said “Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds.” In our most personal and vulnerable episode yet, we do some seeking through the lens of songs that fill us with the bravery and sincerity to love ourselves and others fully. Dig deep with us as we fish for words about our tiny place in the universe and dance with gratitude for our ability to do so. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Y’all tryna raise your vibrations? Erykah Badu is here to help. Season 6 kicks off with a meditation on realness and what being on “your own wavelength” really means. (Spoiler: it ain’t a single frequency — it’s a whole spectrum.) Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Season 6—featuring our most eclectic selection of albums yet—kicks off Friday, March 11, with new episodes every other Friday through July. This trailer gives you a little taste of the lineup, which includes: “Mama’s Gun” – Erykah Badu “Catch for Us the Foxes” – mewithoutYou “ObZen” – Meshuggah “Expensive Shit” – Fela Kuti “SOUR” – Olivia Rodrigo “Phaedra” – Tangerine Dream “Little Queen” – Heart “Journey In Satchidananda” — Alice Coltrane “Maggot Brain” – Funkadelic (We also share news about a very special new series we’re launching!) Visit https://tunedig.com to subscribe on the podcast platform of your choice so you don’t miss a new release ... ... And follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for vinyl giveaways and info about the albums beyond what makes the episode.

Let’s be clear: "Bitches Brew" is a challenging record, even to some of the best musicians in the world — but all of them say it’s worth the investment. It’s the kind of trip that, even if we *could* draw a map, it wouldn’t take you there. Let go of the need for meaning and enjoy the ride with us. We can promise you’ll be pleasantly surprised where you end up. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

On the heels of one of 2020's most acclaimed albums — Fiona Apple’s Fetch the Bolt Cutters — we revisited Apple’s debut Tidal and wound up working to extract ourselves from the mostly male gazes that made its reception … much different. We arrive at a question much like writer Jenn Pelly had: “People would constantly prod Fiona on how an 18-year-old could write songs as mature as these ... Why did they not ask instead how she became a genius?” Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

The modern world is accelerating beyond our control, shaping our reality in ways we can’t yet perceive or understand. Enter Death Grips, an art project capturing the chaotic energy and illustrating the absurdity of our hubris in trying to harmonize the surreal and extremely real — never more perfectly than on 2012’s prescient "The Money Store". Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Reggae music is easy to take for granted, but its impact is underappreciated and massive — in the case of dub in particular, everyone from Radiohead to Johnny Rotten to Run-DMC owes it a debt. Augustus Pablo and King Tubby together created what’s regarded as “one of the finest examples of dub ever recorded.” Join us as we dive into the culture, history, and unique engineering experiments that made it possible. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

By every measure — sales, awards, chart-toppers, global name recognition — Rihanna is objectively as big as the Beatles ever were. In fact, ANTI is so big it’s still on the charts, a record five full years later. Take a closer look with us at “the record you make when you don’t need to sell records”, and get a taste of the true freedom that comes from focusing on your inner voice when faced with insurmountable expectations. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

All American music traces back to the blues, and deep at the root sits Son House. That the recordings on "Father of Folk Blues" even exist is something of a gray area that cuts to the heart of the great American myth, but wherever you land after hearing these stories, you’ll find that what matters most is what the great Muddy Waters once said of House: “That man was the king.” Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

The futility of describing the Melvins has stretched critics in the direction of absurd words like “Dadaist” for nearly 40 years now. They’ve belligerently flogged any attempt to pinpoint their essence simply by being themselves, but "Stoner Witch" remains a reliable mall directory for the Melvins’ vast and wild discography. Grab yourself some pretzel bites. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

We should talk about Dolly the way we talk about Prince. Her extraordinary kindness and unique kitsch both make her universally loved, but what gets left out of the conversation is the very thing that made her famous: the music. Join in as we focus attention on the sonics and songwriting of the low-key masterpiece "Jolene". Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.

Six enlightened rogues out of Macon, Georgia birthed an entire genre simply by being their soul-powered selves. We have not come to testify, but we’re still hung up on the dream The Allman Brothers Band helped us see. By the end of this episode, you will be, too. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@tunedig) for more info about the songs that didn't make the episode. Check out more episodes at https://tunedig.com.