Best Tom Connell Podcasts (2025)

1
The Connells - One Simple Word | 90s Album Review 48:08

5h ago48:08

48:08

One Simple Word, the fourth studio album by The Connells, showcases the band’s melodic southern jangle pop sound with a more polished and introspective tone. While not a commercial blockbuster, the album scored with critics and college radio listeners thanks to catchy but not overly sugary melodies that sound like attempts at a mainstream radio hit…

1
Ben Kweller 45:56

7d ago45:56

45:56

On February 27th 2023 Ben Kweller received the worst phone call imaginable. His 16 year old son Dorian had died in a car accident. An oncoming truck had veered into Dorian’s lane and a downed tree had gone through his windscreen as he swerved over. Dorian himself was a budding musician, releasing music under the name Zev, and had been due to tour w…

1
Underworld - Second Toughest in the Infants | 90s Album Review 49:38

7d ago49:38

49:38

Blending progressive house, techno, and ambient, the 1996 album Second Toughest in the Infants is Underworld’s ambitious follow-up to their breakout album Dubnobasswithmyheadman. Crafted with expansive, hypnotic soundscapes, tracks like “Pearl’s Girl” and the multipart suite “Juanita/Kiteless/To Dream of Love” highlight their exploration of rhythm …

1
Foreigner - Surviving the 90s 1:51:57

14d ago1:51:57

1:51:57

In our third installment of Surviving the 90s, we’re revisiting one of the arena rock powerhouses of the late '70s and early '80s — Foreigner. Known for a string of massive hits like "Cold as Ice," "Hot Blooded," "Urgent," "Juke Box Hero," and the chart-topping ballad "I Want to Know What Love Is," Foreigner dominated radio and MTV in their prime. …

1
Ground Components - An Eye for a Brow, a Tooth for a Pick | 00s Album Review 53:27

21d ago53:27

53:27

An Eye For A Brow, A Tooth For A Pick, the 2006 debut album by Australian band Ground Components, blends elements of garage, punk, and soul that fits in nicely with the garage rock revival of the early '00s. Featuring a mix of aggressive punk-ish guitar riffs, driving and boogie rhythms, and horn arrangements give the album a unique sound compared …

1
Photographer Tom Sheehan on Oasis, Weller, Springsteen and more. 44:22

27d ago44:22

44:22

Tom Sheehan was born in Camberwell, South London. He was an in-house photographer for CBS Records in the 70s, and went on to be the chief photographer for Melody Maker. He enjoyed long-term working relationships with the likes of REM, The Cure, Manic Street Preachers, and Oasis, the subject of a new book of Tom’s work entitled “Roll With It: Oasis …

1
Buffalo Tom - Birdbrain | 90s Album Review 51:05

28d ago51:05

51:05

While their debut album tagged them as Dinosaur Jr Jr thanks to loud guitars and J. Mascis behind the board, Buffalo Tom's second album, Birdbrain, builds on the raw, guitar-driven sound of their debut but with more mature songwriting and production. Produced again by J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. with Sean Slade, the album emphasizes emotional intensit…

1
Non-Intentional Lifeform - Uisce | 90s Album Review 1:06:56

1M ago1:06:56

1:06:56

Uisce (pronounced "ish-ka," the Irish word for "water") is the sole full-length album by Australian band Non-Intentional Lifeform (N.I.L.), released in 1997 by Roadrunner Records. Formed in Perth in 1995, N.I.L. was known for their eclectic fusion of hard rock, thrash metal, post-punk, rap, and funk. Energetic and unpredictable, the album is an inv…

1
Season 2-Episode 12 Lea Blackwell Favor EHS Class of 1984 35:30

1M ago35:30

35:30

In this episode, we catch up with 1984 grad Lea Blackwell Favor. Lea won eight letters in soccer, tennis and basketball while at Edina High School and led the Hornets to a state Class AA runner-up finish in basketball her junior year. After Katie shares her fangirl moment, we talk to Lea about her experiences growing up in Edina, her college years …

1
The Lee Harvey Oswald Band - Blastronaut | 90s Album Review 58:58

1M ago58:58

58:58

A fusion of punk, garage, and noise rock, the 1996 album Blastronaut by The Lee Harvey Oswald Band is a bombastic, high energy record drawing upon 70s David Bowie, classic rock, and the Stooges. Confrontational and darkly humorous, the band leans into a satirical, sometimes absurdist tone, reflecting a punk ethos while incorporating elements of Sou…

1
Social Distortion - Social Distortion | 90s Album Review 53:13

2M ago53:13

53:13

The 1990 self-titled album by Social Distortion marked a significant turning point for the band, showcasing a more refined and mature sound compared to their hardcore roots. Frontman Mike Ness emerged from a turbulent period in the 1980s, including a stint in rehab that deeply influenced the album’s themes of struggle, redemption, and personal refl…

1
Season 2-Episode 11 Troy Stein Assistant Principal/Activities Director at Edina High School 37:52

2M ago37:52

37:52

Troy Stein is the Assistant Principal in charge of Activities and Athletics at Edina High School. Troy has led the EHS athletic department for 12 years overseeing 34 varsity sports and numerous other independent and intramural opportunities for students. He started his career in education as a math teacher and coach in Edina and, after a brief deto…

1
Nels Cline (Wilco) 53:58

2M ago53:58

53:58

Nels Cline was born in California in January 1956. He started played guitar at the age of 12 and his early career is fairly jazz-based, before stretching into other directions. He has played guitar for Wilco, one of my favourite bands in the world, since 2004. He has a new solo album out on Blue Note Records entitled “Consentrik Quartet”, featuring…

1
Front Line Assembly - Hard Wired | 90s Album Review 1:13:32

2M ago1:13:32

1:13:32

Canadian electro-industrial band Front Line Assembly, led by Bill Leeb with longtime collaborator Rhys Fulber, released their eighth album Hard Wired in 1995. The album blends harsh electronic beats, cinematic synth textures, distorted vocals, and heavy guitar riffs, all characteristics of the industrial and cyberpunk aesthetics of the mid-'90s (th…

1
Kill Holiday - Somewhere Between the Wrong Is Right | 90s Album Review 37:55

2M ago37:55

37:55

Kill Holiday, formed by members of San Diego hardcore band Unbroken, made a surprising shift from aggressive post-hardcore to dreamy shoegaze with their 1999 album Somewhere Between the Wrong and the Right. Released on Revelation Records, the album channels British influences like Ride and The Stone Roses, with shimmering guitars and laid-back, mel…

1
Season 2-Episode 10 Katie Aafedt EHS Class of 1996 40:05

2M ago40:05

40:05

A 1996 graduate of Edina High School, Katie (Ryerse) Aafedt excelled in soccer in both high school and college at Gustavus Adolphus. As Edina High School Girls' Soccer Coach for 11 years, Katie led the Hornets to a state championship in 2023. In this episode, recorded as part of the Hornet Buzz podcast in June of 2024, Katie shares her experience g…

1
Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted | 90s Album Review 55:23

2M ago55:23

55:23

Pavement's 1992 debut album Slanted and Enchanted is a landmark in 1990s alternative music. Featuring cryptic lyrics, jagged guitar riffs, and a laid-back, DIY aesthetic that defined the band's early sound and the emergent lo-fi movement. The low budget recording contributes to its raw and unpolished sound, blending noise rock, pop hooks, and exper…

1
Squarepusher - Hard Normal Daddy | 90s Album Review 1:05:47

3M ago1:05:47

1:05:47

A groundbreaking fusion of drum and bass, jazz, and experimental electronic music, the 1997 album Hard Normal Daddy by Squarepusher showcases Tom Jenkinson’s virtuosic bass playing and intricate programming. Blending frenetic breakbeats with lush, jazz-inspired melodies, tracks like “Coopers World” and “Beep Street” highlight his unique ability to …

1
Season 2 Episode 9-Dorothy Stotts EHS Class of 2022 21:57

3M ago21:57

21:57

A 2022 Edina High School graduate, where she was a team captain in basketball and soccer, Dorothy (Dottie) went on to play basketball at the Coast Guard Academy. Dorothy is experiencing quite a bit of success in basketball at the academy. In January, she became only the 12th player in Bears women’s basketball history to break the 1,000 point scorin…

1
Chevelle - Point #1 | 90s Album Review 47:57

3M ago47:57

47:57

"Point #1," Chevelle's 1999 debut album, showcases the Chicago-based Loeffler brothers' fusion of alternative metal and indie rock. Produced by Steve Albini, known for his work with Nirvana and PJ Harvey, the album delivers a raw, unrefined sound that captures the band's early energy. Coming in at the end of the decades, it's not surprising to hea…

1
Wolfgang Flür (Kraftwerk) 43:58

3M ago43:58

43:58

Wolfgang Flür was born in Frankfurt in 1947 but moved to Düsseldorf in the early ‘50s, which has been home ever since. As a young man he played in the band The Sprits Of Sound, and studied to be an architect, hoping to get into interior design. Wolfgang joined Kraftwerk in 1973 and plays on one of the most remarkable album runs in pop music history…

1
Thelonious Monster - Beautiful Mess | 90s Album Review 1:10:02

3M ago1:10:02

1:10:02

Upon its release in 1992, Beautiful Mess by Thelonious Monster received plenty of critical acclaim yet not the sales or media exposure to launch the band into the new alternative explosion. Lead singer Bob Forrest’s deeply personal lyrics explored themes of addiction, relationships, and self-destruction, not all that different from other bands at t…

1
Season 2 Episode 8-Luke Glenna EHS Class of 2018 24:26

3M ago24:26

24:26

A 2018 Edina High School graduate who played both football and basketball for the Hornets, Luke Glenna went on to the University of St. Thomas where he became the first ever Tommie Division I All-American football player in 2022. Luke is entering his 3rd season in the European League of Football and has signed a contract with the Nordic Storm based…

1
Interview with Tom Beaujour, Co-author of Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock's Wildest Festival 1:19:34

3M ago1:19:34

1:19:34

With 2024's 3-part documentary LOLLA: The Story of Lollapalooza, and our own Lollapalooza episode many years ago, you might wonder what's left to learn about the famed traveling music festival of the 1990s. Turns out, a lot. Thanks to the hundreds of interviews and thousands of hours of work by authors Tom Beaujour and Richard Bienstock completed f…

1
Wendy James (Transvision Vamp) 37:42

4M ago37:42

37:42

Wendy James is tied up with some of my earlier memories of music. She fronted the band Transvision Vamp, who were hard to ignore in the late 80s. Songs like “I Want Your Love” and “Baby I Don’t Care” were pretty big hits over here. Transvision Vamp split in the early 90s and since then Wendy has persuaded various solo projects. Interestingly her fi…

1
Billy Squier - Surviving The 90s 1:27:36

4M ago1:27:36

1:27:36

In our second installment of Surviving the 90s, we're revisiting one of the hitmakers from the first half of the 80s - Billy Squier. Responsible for such hits as The Stroke, Lonely Is The Night, Everybody Wants You, My Kinda Lover, and Rock Me Tonite, to name a few, Squier was all over radio and early MTV. Albums like Don't Say No, Emotions in Moti…

1
Season 2 Episode 7-Hilary Lunke EHS Class of 1997 32:44

4M ago32:44

32:44

This week we talk to Hilary Lunke about her youth sports experience and how she got into golf and made a career out of it. The Star Tribune 1997 Metro Scholar Athlete of the Year, Hilary shares her experiences at both EHS and being recruited to Stanford University. She also talks us through, in great detail, her experience winning the LPGA Women's …

1
Idlewild - Hope Is Important | 90s Album Review 47:40

4M ago47:40

47:40

Previously we revisited Idlewild's 2000 breakthrough sophomore album 100 Broken Windows, but for this episode we're going backward to their 1998 debut. The punkier, more aggressive Hope Is Important leans into noisy, almost unpolished intensity, while moments of introspection hint at the more refined songwriting the band would develop on following …

1
P.P. Arnold 39:11

4M ago39:11

39:11

Pat Arnold has had quite a life. Born in 1946 she grew up in LA, and was in an abusive marriage with two kids while still a teenager. In 1965 she got a chance to audition for Ike and Tina Turner’s band as an “Ikette”. She got the gig and left her children in the care of her parents. This eventually took her to London where she fell into the orbit o…

1
Guided By Voices - Alien Lanes | 90s Album Review 58:03

4M ago58:03

58:03

Alien Lanes by Guided By Voices, their first for Matador Records, expanded upon the lo-fi, hook-driven bursts of songs from previous release Bee Thousand. Its chaotic, collage-like structure packs 28 tracks into just over 40 minutes, thanks to the raw, four-track production gives the album an intimate, unpolished feel. Songs end abruptly, vocals ar…

1
Season 2 Episode 6-Paul Nitz EHS Class of 1987 26:33

4M ago26:33

26:33

Paul Nitz is one of the most decorated athletes in the history of Edina High School. A five time Paralympian, Paul won 5 medals (4-gold, 1-bronze) in track. Paul shares with us his experience as a student and athlete in Edina and how his athletic experience evolved from basketball to track and ultimately to his competing in the Paralympics. Paul al…

1
Cock Sparrer - Two Monkeys | 90s Album Review 51:19

4M ago51:19

51:19

Two Monkeys, the 1997 album by veteran punk band Cock Sparrer, blends old school British pub rock and Oi! with surprising melodic elements. Despite being released twenty-five years into their career, the album retains the raw energy of their early work, featuring socially conscious lyrics while tackling themes like working-class struggles and perso…

1
Nadia Reid 37:10

4M ago37:10

37:10

Nadia Reid is a singer-songwriter born and raised in New Zealand, before recently relocating to Manchester. She’s just released her fourth album “Enter Now Brightness”. We take a deep dive into the album, and our conversation ends up encompassing motherhood, relocation, generational trauma, faith; it goes to some deep places. I really hope you enjo…

1
Los Lobos - The Neighborhood | 90s Album Review 58:27

4M ago58:27

58:27

Los Lobos' 1990 album The Neighborhood showcases their signature blend of rock, blues, and Latin influences through the lense and ears of East Los Angeles. While it didn’t achieve the commercial success of La Bamba, the album captures Los Lobos’ musical versatility and deep-rooted cultural influences. The band shifts from Texas blues and roots rock…

1
Season 2 Episode 5-Jeannette Cluskey Vickman EHS Class of 2000 20:48

4M ago20:48

20:48

This week we were fortunate to talk with Jeannette Cluskey Vickman, EHS Class of '00 and back to back State Class AA Singles Tennis Champion in 1998 and 1999. Jeannette went on to play college tennis at the University of Richmond and the University of Minnesota. She shares with us her experiences developing her tennis game and how they continue to …

1
Fiona Apple - Tidal | 90s Album Review 1:10:56

5M ago1:10:56

1:10:56

Fiona Apple's 1996 debut album Tidal remains a landmark in alternative music, blending jazz-infused piano melodies with deeply introspective lyrics. The album's breakout single, "Criminal," propelled Apple into the mainstream, earning her a Grammy and solidifying her as a unique voice in the industry. With raw emotion and poetic lyricism, songs lik…

1
Swimmer - Surreal | 90s Album Review 57:20

5M ago57:20

57:20

We'll forgive you if you missed Swimmer's one and only album, 1999's Surreal, because we did as well. Though released on Madonna's Maverick label, the band came and went rather quickly, leaving without making a blip on Billboard, radio, MTV, and the internet in general. What they did leave behind was a forty-three minute long compact disc full of d…

1
Season 2 Episode 4-Dave Dickey 26:35

5M ago26:35

26:35

As we expand our reach to persons who have become fixtures in the community but are not EHS alums, a great person to start with is Dave Dickey, the "Voice of Edina." Dave has been a public address announcer for EHS sports teams for 25 years. While his main focus lately has been football and basketball, Dave has called numerous other EHS sporting ev…

1
Tamara Lindeman (The Weather Station) 1:05:15

5M ago1:05:15

1:05:15

You know how every now and then, an album comes along that just gets into your bones, and it’s hard to describe just how grateful you are it exists? (If you don’t know that feeling, I’m sorry, but keep searching for it). Tamara Lindeman working as The Weather Station has make two such records I feel that way about; 2019’s “Ignorance” and 2025’s “Hu…

1
...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - Source Tags & Codes | 00s Album Review 49:33

5M ago49:33

49:33

Back in the day (i.e. the 90s), the idea of an indie band jumping to a major label was usually followed by the words "sell out." But without the restrictions of a smaller budget and less time, many artists put their increased resources to good use. Source Tags and Codes, released in 2002 by ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, might be one…

1
Singles of 1995 | Roundtable 1:15:53

5M ago1:15:53

1:15:53

Here at Dig Me Out we spent the last ten years starting each new season by looking back at the albums from each year that stood the test of time, disappeared without a trace, and everything in between. We kicked off with a roundtable in 2015 and revisited the albums of 1995, so it made sense to start a new series of roundtables in 1995 as well. Thi…

1
Season 2 Episode 3-Anders Nelson EHS Class of 2018 29:10

5M ago29:10

29:10

From Athens, Greece, where he is playing basketball professionally, Anders Nelson EHS '18 shares his favorite memories of youth sports, especially basketball in Edina. One of the top scorers in the history of Edina HS basketball, Anders went on to Unversity of St. Thomas where he participated in the transition from a Division III basketball program…

1
Papa Vegas - Hello Vertigo | 90s Album Review 1:01:41

6M ago1:01:41

1:01:41

Papa Vegas' 1999 album Hello Vertigo offers a radio friendly mix of alternative rock with polished production. It showcases the band's bi hit potential, but the songwriting occasionally feels formulaic, relying on the familiar soft/loud trope from the mid to late '90s rock scene. Tracks like "Bombshell" stand out with catchy hooks and a radio-frien…

1
Arcwelder - Pull | 90s Album Review 41:58

6M ago41:58

41:58

Despite being a three piece, the Midwestern trio Arcwelder put each instrument to optimum use on their 1993 album Pull. A big, post-hardcore sound without layer upon layer of overdubs thanks to off-kilter chord and melody choices that recall heavier 90s acts like Helmet and the next in the vein of noisier drone of Swervedriver. Arcwelder find a con…

1
Season 2 Episode 2-Izzy Engle EHS Class of 2024 21:22

6M ago21:22

21:22

Coming off a remarkable first year of soccer at the University of Notre Dame, where she was named ACC Freshman of the Year, Izzy Engle, EHS '24, talks to us about her experience as a young athlete growing up in Edina and the challenges of playing soccer at the collegiate level. Izzy also shares with us the pressures of growing up around the corner …

1
Season Fourteen Review 31:54

6M ago31:54

31:54

So much to to talk about when we look back on 2024. Like with our previous year-in-review episodes, we look back at our favorite new album discoveries, most brought to us by our Patreon community, as well as our most enjoyable round table experiences, and our favorite 80s Metal episodes, before previewing what's in store for next year. Here's to se…

1
Scott Devendorf (The National) 47:39

6M ago47:39

47:39

I first heard The National 17 years ago this month I think, and I fell in love instantly. They’ve continued to be one of my favourite bands, and it’s been great to see them ascend to new heights of popularity and pursue interesting creative directions in the band and outside. Guitarist Aaron Dessner is now a key producer and co-writer for the likes…

1
Styx - Surviving The 90s 1:26:52

6M ago1:26:52

1:26:52

We're always looking at new ways to approach the 90s, and in the past we've revisited the output from bands and artists that got that start in the 1970s and 80s, like Tom Petty, KISS, Van Halen, and others. At the suggestion of our friend and 80s Metal co-host Chip, we've revamped the format for a fresh start. We kick it off with progressive arena …

1
Season 2 Episode 1-Drew Johnson EHS Class of 2010 16:49

6M ago16:49

16:49

Join us for our conversation with Drew Johnson EHS '10 as we talk to him about his incredible swimming career both at Edina High School and The University of Minnesota. Drew shares his perspective on the EHS swim program under the leadership of the legendary Art Downey and and an appreciation for some of the people who made his experience in Edina …

1
David & Peter Brewis (Field Music) / Walter Schreifels (Rival Schools) 1:19:07

6M ago1:19:07

1:19:07

It’s a busy one. My guests this episode are Sunderland’s David and Peter Brewis, known collectively as Field Music, and Walter Schreifels of New York post-hardcore rockers Rival Schools. You may remember David Brewis from Field Music has been on the podcast before. I’ve been a fan of the band since 2007’s magnificent “Tones Of Town” album. Dependin…

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