Frozen North Dinnercast: Episode 8. Literally.

I know, you've been craving more Frozen North shenanigans, and here in the (now melting) frozen north of Alaska, our little crew has heard your plea. Thus begins Episode 8, where we eat Chinese food. Nelson and Courtney perfect their high-five (a shockingly complex manuever) and the discussion eventually turns to how people pronounce the word "literally" incorrectly. Get it right, folks!

Want FND on iTunes? Subscribe to the iTunes Crosstawk feed, yo. Email us at crosstawk@gmail.com, or leave a comment on this blog post (or, better yet, review us on iTunes!). Next time, it may well be the Scorching North Dinnercast, as Anchorage is warming to a balmy 65 degrees. T-shirt weather!

Direct download link!

http://traffic.libsyn.com/crosstawk/FND8_Final.mp3

Discover Music Project: Episode 44

It's time for another redux episode, and this time Jonny goes back to the well for more awesome music by Robert Randolph. This superlative pedal steel guitarist has even more depth and variety than we could present back on DMP 12, so here's another hour of uplifting songs that span rock, funk, R&B, gospel, and even a bit of country stomping.

1. I Need More Love (Unclassified)
2. Nobody (Unclassified)
3. Ain't Nothing Wrong With That (Colorblind)
4. Angels (Colorblind)
5. I Still Belong to Jesus (We Walk This Road)
6. Walk Don't Walk (We Walk This Road)
7. Tears of Joy (Live at the Wetlands)
8. Electric Church (Live in Concert)
9. Squeeze > Don't Worry Be Happy > Squeeze (Bonnaroo 2004)

Let us know what you thought of this show or want to hear on future episodes -- you can find us on Twitter (@crosstawk and @jonnymetts) or via email: crosstawk@gmail.com. And please rate and review the show on iTunes!

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Frozen North Dinnercast: Episode 007

It's episode Lucky Number Sleven of the Frozen North Dinnercast, minus the awesome casting (and stunningly obvious twist). Special Guest Luke Nielson joins us on this episode--you may remember Luke as the latecomer from Episode 2. Many things are discussed, among them M.I.A., prostate cancer, and "baby meltdowns." All this is done in an overarching discussion of Man Rules, which are actually rules for women about men. Although there's one rule in there for women...it's probably a typo. At any rate, sit back and enjoy this episode, then leave a nice comment on the post at www.crosstawk.com or rate us highly on the podcast feed on iTunes.

Direct download link:

http://traffic.libsyn.com/crosstawk/Episode007_Complete.mp3

Box Office Poison: Episode 29

We're still playing catch-up with BOP, but you should find this episode enjoyable despite being about a month old. In the first segment, we get into a huge assortment of movie reviews including multiple Edgar Wright films, The Hunger Games, 21 Jump Street, The Sitter, Goon, Super Troopers, Hot Tub Time Machine, and Being Elmo. The back stretch features Trailer Trash, where we look ahead to several movies that thankfully still haven't launched, so going long paid off! The trailers for this edition include Safety Not Guaranteed, Snow White and the Huntsman, God Bless America, and Tim Burton's Dark Shadows: A Tim Burton Film by Tim Burton.

Check back very soon for the next BOP, in which we visit our old friend Michael Caine in the Movie of the Month: Get Carter! And if you're one of those special listeners who likes to prepare for this feature, the next pick (Jon's) is Brazil, the cult classic by Terry Gilliam.

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DISCOVER MUSIC PROJECT: EPISODE 43

This episode has been about a year and a half in the making. Jonny and Kennda break through DMP's all-male agenda with a young lady truly worthy of being the first female artist we've showcased on the podcast. Regina Spektor's acrobatic voice and ingenious lyrics propel short, infectious pop songs that are often intentionally irritating and yet undeniably beautiful. While Kennda immediately draws comparisons to Tori Amos, your smitten host is content to bask in the weird glory of Regina's creativity and humor. This is one musician who will draw a strong reaction --good or bad-- from every listener. Here are the songs:

1. Hotel Song (Begin To Hope)

2. Field Below (Begin To Hope)

3. Statue of Baby Jesus (Bonnaroo 2007)

4. That Time (Bonnaroo 2007)

5. Folding Chair (Far)

6. Wallet (Far)

7. Carbon Monoxide (Soviet Kitsch)

8. Us (Soviet Kitsch)

9. Apres Moi (Begin To Hope)

10. Another Town (Begin to Hope - Bonus Track)

11. Silly Eye-Color Generalizations (Live in London)

12. Real Love (Instant Karma)

Encore:

St. Vincent - Surgeon (Strange Mercy)

Let us know what you thought of this show, and what you'd like to hear on future episodes, by emailing crosstawk@gmail.com

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Box Office Poison: Episode 28

What's this? A new episode of Box Office Poison? No, it can't be...

IT IS!

So I'm sure the first question on your mind is, "What the fuck happened?" Well, I (and when I say "I," I mean me, Karl Castaneda) went through the final stages of development and the launch of my very first video game. And as a result, basically everything in my life that wasn't that was pushed to the side, including Crosstawk. So I'm the bad guy. Direct your assorted vegetables in my direction, if you would, please.

But the rest of the dudes on this show are fucking rockstars. So don't blame them.

In any case, this is the last episode I recorded before my "hiatus," but there are two other episodes in the can, and they'll be seeing a release over the next week. Our recording schedule went on, and even though I won't be on Episodes 29 or 30, the boys held up and delivered the same amazing content you're used to.

So let's get to this actual episode. We go over some recent releases (including John Carter) in the first segment, and then we move on to our Movie of the Month: Hannah and Her Sisters. Next month (or, rather, next week) will be Get Carter.

See you soon for more BOP!

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Discover Music Project: Episode 42

This trilogy of DMP shows concludes with Jonny choosing a selection for Kevin, and it's a doozy: the wonderful master of jazz saxophone, John Coltrane. Get ready for a musical revelation as we dive deep into fast bebop and soothing modal improvisation with the man so brilliant, there is literally a cult who worshipped him as their god. Here's the playlist of songs you will want to track down as soon as the episode is over:

1. Giant Steps (Giant Steps)
2. Central Park West (Coltrane's Sound)
3. Trane's Blues (Trane's Blues)
4. Alabama (Live at Birdland)
5. Blue in Green (Kind of Blue)
6. Acknowledgement (A Love Supreme)
7. My Favorite Things (My Favorite Things)
Encore:
Charlie Parker - A Night in Tunisia (Live at the Royal Roost)

Here's the animated sheet music for "Giant Steps" that we mention in the episode:

As always, we'd love to hear from you: crosstawk@gmail.com or follow Jonny on Twitter as @jonnymetts.

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The Frozen North Dinnercast: Episode 6

After an unexpected hiatus, Frozen North Dinnercast is once again all up in yo' grill. This time around, the gang of four discuss such things as food, what we're hungry for, stuff we haven't eaten in a long time, and restaurants where you can get really good things to eat. I guess everybody was hungry this week. We also try to formalize our outro this week, to hilarious results.

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Discover Music Project: Episode 41

For the first time since DMP's episodes numbered in single-digits, we present a genre show because sometimes music is too weird and wonderful to be confined to just one artist. Kevin is back to guide Jonny and you, our dear listener, through the mesmerizing world of Minimalism. This modern off-shoot of classical music is beautiful, controversial, hypnotic, annoying... depends who you ask. We think it's pretty cool and definitely worth exploring on a show called Discover Music Project! You'll even hear a funny little composition by your host. Here's the setlist:

1. John Adams - Loops and Verses (Shaker Loops)

2. John Adams - News Has a Kind of Mystery (Nixon in China)

3. John Adams - The Chairman Dances (I Am Love - Soundtrack)

4. Steve Reich - Come Out (Early Works)

5. Jonathan Metts - Aria of Sorrow Voice Jam

6. Philip Glass - Definitions (Naqoyqatsi - Soundtrack)

7. Philip Glass - Company: Second Movement (Company)

8. Philip Glass - Dr. Van Helsing and Dracula (Dracula - Soundtrack)

9. Philip Glass - Spaceship (Einstein on the Beach)

Encore:

Aphex Twin - Bucephalus Bouncing Ball (Come to Daddy)

An episode like this is sure to leave an impression, so be sure to let us know what you thought in the blog comments or at our email address: crosstawk@gmail.com

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Discover Music Project: Episode 40

It's time to celebrate the 40th episode of DMP with a new guest co-host, Kevin Sylves, and a featured musician sure to be a revelation to many of our listeners. This episode is all about Edgar Meyer, recognized as one of the most talented double bassists in the world. Meyer's musical interests are quite diverse, and these selections give equal measure to both classical and bluegrass, with touches of country and jazz to spice things up. Edgar Meyer is also big on collaborations (a good quality in any bass player, as Kevin points out), so you'll also hear from luminaries such as Bela Fleck, Yo-Yo Ma, Jerry Douglass, and Chris Thile. Here's the setlist:

1. Why Don't You Go Back to the Woods (Skip, Hop and Wobble)
2. Pickles (Appalachia Waltz)
3. Zigeunerweisen (Uncommon Ritual)
4. Duet for Cello and Bass (Appalachian Journey)
5. Cello Suite 1, Gigue (Bach: Unaccompanied Cello Suites Performed on Double Bass)
6. Concerto in D, Mvt 3 (Meyer and Bottesini Concertos)
7. Solar (Music for Two)
8. Prelude No 2, BWV 847 (Music for Two)
9. Eccles Sonata, Largo (Music for Two)
10. Eccles Sonata, Allegro Vivace (Music for Two)
11. Please Don't Feed the Bear (Edgar Meyer)
12. G-22 (Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile)
13. Quarter Chicken Dark (The Goat Rodeo Sessions)
Encore:
Yo-Yo Ma & Bobby McFerrin - "Flight Of The Bumblebee" (Hush)

Please let us know what you thought of this show and what you'd like to hear on future episodes by emailing crosstawk@gmail.com. You can also follow us on Twitter: @crosstawk and @jonnymetts. Thanks for listening!

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