The Richard Wooten Podcast

Ep29: CJ Musicology pt1 (nu metal, metal, christian hardcore, and metalcore)

“Zao was so ridiculous that I needed to show people, and I did that so many times that I started to love it”
 
Joined by our long time friend CJ Menard to dig into the songs that formed his musical tastes.
Preamble
01:20 Black Dahlia’s Nocturnal and the codification of metal, and Trevor tribute
36:14 The spilling of the Mr. Hinkus tea
 
1:00:10 How the christian music environment affected music discovery, religious trauma/guilt, the power grabbing nature of churches, and the relationship between youth groups and hardcore
1:51:23 Mortal Kombat soundtrack, napalm death, nu metal, and fuck as i lay dying, 
2:19:50 Slayer, deftones, snapcase, strife, hardcore etc…
2:39:38 Zao and initially impenetrable art
3:03:43 Overcome, Strongarm, ideas about hardcore vocals, and Living Sacrifice
3:16:26 Neurosis, Korn, and summary
Recorded 6/10/2022
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4gPPEv6nrBZILs5hir5mym?si=892ccab2698b4b31

Ep28: Machine Head pt1: Burn My Eyes and The More Things Change

“Burn My Eyes gave hope to the rest of us”
“It will never be my favorite, but it might objectively be their best”
We LOVE Machine Head! The first of five epic parts analyzing all of their albums, adding context to the time periods of their release, and lots of speculation on what was going on behind the scenes. 
00:00 Intro
1:25 DAW talk, memorizing vs looking things up in physics and programming
25:37 Experts make it look like magic, the gig economy,  
the importance of a shared language in music/programming.
57:09 Contextual knowledge, the difference between tricks and fundamentals in math education, acknowledging  some current events
 
1:15:37 Topic Intro, comparison of the records
1:36:19 The monolithic legacy of Burn My Eyes, the everyman’s modern metal production bible
1:47:05 early/mid 90s context
2:08:39 Track by track
2:25:20 Mature social commentary, Robb has always been anti-racist, 
2:41:00 BME summary
2:49:32 TMTC
3:03:06 The record always ended with Violate for me
3:09:45 Summary
 
Recorded 5/19/2022

Ep 27: Chick Corea, Kettel, and Meshuggah

A breakdown of some of our current faves
00:00 intro
1:36  lessons learned from trying to start a record label, copyright law and anarchists, 
21:52  Physics digression on the nature of symbols and some light professor blackmail
37:53 Pantera digression
48:31 Roe V Wade
 
1:07:48 Topic start, Kettel's Wingtip
1:42:57 Chick Corea’s Leprechaun album 
2:14:19 Steve Gadd digression
2:28:15 Meshuggah’s I 
 
Recorded 5/7/2022
 
Kettel: Wingtip
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lCmDd_T7bSBpEdHElhHUA3Uxu6wqoB88I&feature=share
 
Chick Corea: Leprechaun
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nLRy2BFKeruhTGzGZXea3NtzLm7VF4WFo&feature=share
 
Meshuggah: I 
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kGb7YD3oXI9Pcat1FvIW1k0WcelcItGws&feature=share

Ep 26: Pink Floyd Pt2. Shae faves from the Early and Final era [Playlist included]

Shae commits violence against Richard and Robert stands by
 
Guests: Shae Cottar and Robert Rabel
 
Recorded 4/20/2022
00:00 Intro
2:13 Preamble: Addictions, the role of language in recovery, 
24:00 my frustration with the bjj community and celebrity practitioners, and my how my motivation changed over time
33:00 Don’t let assholes take jurisdiction over the things you love
 
44:06 Topic: First impressions, apologies, and what does the term “psychedelic music” even mean
1:09:02 Early period: Piper through Obscured
1:34:46 The transition to dark side of the moon
1:42:55 Final Cut, Roger Leaving, speculation on band dynamics in general, and Momentary Lapse of Reason
2:13:15 Roger and David’s differing lyric styles, Division Bell, and Endless River
2:35:36 Rich’s hot takes
2:45:15 Summary
 
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/73Jin6i4Fwce3afgjkEXwE?si=65e3d63140d549f5

Ep 25: Pink Floyd Pt1. Rob’s faves from the “Middle Period” [Playlist included]

Rob and Shae initiate Rich into the “middle” era of Pink Floyd
Guests: Shae Cottar and Robert Rabel
 
I have traditionally not been a big fan of Pink Floyd, I didn’t actively dislike their music but it just wasn’t for me for whatever reason. But two of my best friends and collaborators are HUGE Pink Floyd fans…. So we figured the only sensible thing to do would be to force feed me floyd until I love it… results pending. 
 
Recorded 4/14/2022
 
00:00 Intro
1:00 Preamble: Little bit of rambling and riffing on Joe Campbell
14:54 Into the Floyd: Early exposures and generational differences
58:58 Rob’s Playlist, Roger vs David, David’s influence on Rob & Shae, 
1:32:51 The Lyrics of Floyd, The Wall, their clear influence on Marilyn Manson, some digressions about U2 and Beck
1:56:26 Speculation about why Rich didn’t get into PF, the dynamic of songwriting teams, 
2:12:45 F**& Stryper and a Motorhead digression
2:16:13 Wrap up

Ep 24: Pantera Pt4. New Found Side Projects and Final Thoughts

“Down is the only super supergroup” 
A look at Down, New Found Power, Hellyeah and the Pantera side projects; Dimebag and Vinnie's death; and some final thoughts on all things Pantera
 
Recorded 4/02/2022
 
00:00 Intro
1:45: Preamble: RIP Taylor Hawkins, and Foo Fighters put on maybe the best concert I’ve ever seen
12:44 Phil’s prolific output and the risk he puts in all his projects
27:49 NOLA: Robert and I gush about what a pristine gift from the gods this record is. Perfect songs, perfect production, perfect vibe, perfect performances. 
1:11:26 New Found Power: This has always had a charm to me, not so much for Rob
1:31:13 Dimebag's death: I talk about how devastating this was. I also give a rundown of going to the memorial in Arlington (Zakk Wylde getting impatient with EVH and Vinnie’s one request)
1:48:45 Hellyeah: Music is hit or miss with us but we respect em
2:02:59 Some shit talking about Hellyeah
2:16:49 Vinnie’s death
2:22:17 an ol Jeff “Death” Stockstill bit
2:25:11 Final thoughts about Pantera
2:32:29 FINAL RANKING of all the records 
A side of Philhttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDy9MGihz1egWJnJZhmiMjO5teg64Fhk9
 
Hell… Meh
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDy9MGihz1ejLBAyXO0ibnr8peiGynzbJ

Ep 23: Pantera Pt3 101 Proof and Reinventing the Steel w/Harrison

“On the redbeard, SONOFABITCH Dimebag!”Harrison joins as Rob and I wax nostalgically about the Pantera live experience and the best live metal record ever made. There are a few essential elements to a Pantera show and if you’ve seen one then 101 proof reminds you of all of them: the subtle ways the songs are performed differently, phil’s inspired improv vocals, the surprise outros and breaks, and Phil shrinking the room with how he spoke to the crowd (for better or worse). It all contributed to this feeling of absolutely not knowing what was going to happen and it was unlike any other concert I’ve ever seen. 
 
We also debate Reinventing the Steel. In my opinion, the great tragedy of this album is that we didn’t get the next one. I think it was a transition record to the next stage of Pantera that we never got. Rob and I feel very differently than Harrison about this record and it’s interesting to consider the possible reasons why. 00:00 Intro
1:14 Preamble: general riffage on Korn, Slipknot, Metallica, and my four quadrants of metal 
31:05 Harrison’s background: picking up the guitar, starting bands with friends, and finding extreme metal
57:46 As Eden Burns and touring life
 
1:12:29 101 Proof: The Pantera live experience, alternative vs metal, why this is the best live metal album ever made, and Phil as proxy for the audience
2:16:57 Reinventing the Steel: We debate whether this album is lazy phoned in trash or an underrated gem. 
 
Recorded 3/18/2022

Ep 22: Pantera pt2 Far Beyond Driven and Great Southern Trendkill

The only solution is MORE PANTERA!
 
00:00 Intro
2:06 Preamble: Offspring, my first show, coal chamber, our first demos, and Jeremy hated singing
 
14:57 Pantera: revisit cbfh & vulgar, more essential and trash tracks, and Vulgar’s profound influence
33:38 Far Beyond Driven overview: essential and trash tracks, Phil’s prolific output and different lyric perspective, good friends and a bottle of masculinity 
1:11:14 Love for Vinnie and Dime
1:25:01 Track by Track: I’m Broken, Strength beyond strength, Becoming
1:43:25 5 Min alone, Hard Lines and Sunken Cheeks, Slaughtered, 25 Years
2:05:43 Shedding Skin, Use My Third Arm, Throes of Rejection, and Planet Caravan
2:21:35 Harrison essential and trash fbd tracks
 
2:22:15 Trendkill Overview
2:40:42 Track by Track: Great Southern Trendkill, War Nerve, Drag the Waters
3:01:23 13 steps, Suicide Notes, Living through me
3:19:57 Floods, Underground in America, Sandblasted Skin
3:37:42 Summary 
 
recorded 3/4/2022
 
These two albums are so damn important to us. GST has traditionally been both of our favorite Pantera record because of it’s insane vibe but FBD might objectively be their best record. I think the grime and vulnerability of FBD influenced the nu metal movement. Here we see Phil’s lyrical perspective shift from detached aggro bro word salad to intense, sincere, vulnerable, and outright uncomfortable honesty. By using different vocal styles and harsher screams Phil paves the way for the next 10-15 years of mainstream metal music. Vinnie permanently etches his name into the history of metal drumming by expanding the vocabulary to places that people still haven’t really caught up to. Dime gets weird af and establishes himself as a legit legend. And the unsung hero, Rex, holds in all together. Above all both of these records are creative and artistic statements. Anyway, I'm gonna stop typing because I have too much to say, so take a listen.

Ep21: Pantera’s Cowboys From Hell and Vulgar Display of Power

The first of FOUR Pantera episodes! Robert and I picked up our instruments during the height of Pantera's relevance and they are maybe our biggest influence. So we have VERY strong and detailed opinions about almost every song in their catalog. 
 
00:00 Intro
01:14 Anti-trans bills in texas, russian invasion of Ukraine, and assortment of people we want to F*&! off
46:54 Cowboys From Hell
2:05:26 Vulgar Display of Power
2:31:54 Phil’s racist lyrics and speeches
3:02:30 back to what we love about Vulgar
recorded 2/25/2022
 
This episode was recorded as Putin was beginning his invasion of Ukraine and Abbott was laying out his latest trans bill. We discuss this and more of our left wing politics in a particularly inspired preamble. If you want to know what our politics are then this is a good place to hear it. 
 
To get things started with each album we did "three essential tracks and one to trash" 
 
We also unpack the racist things that Phil has said on stage. I have so much love for Phil and his body of work, it was and still is a profound influence on me as an artist, lyricist, vocalist, and as a frontman back in the day, so please know that I did not want to talk about the racist speech he puts out there. But we are discussing his legacy and when he decided time and time again to stop a Pantera show to rant about racial issues and when he sieg heiled and screamed "white power" from the stage at dimebash I have to talk about it. I didn’t make this a part of his legacy, he did. 
The book I referenced in the preamble
The Road to Unfreedom by Timothy Snyder
https://www.timothysnyder.org/books/the-road-to-unfreedom-tr/the-road-to-unfreedom-hc
 
The video I referenced when talking about RoganFor Harriet - Joe Rogan is Uncancellable
https://youtu.be/N_3ftvxceO8

Update!

 What to expect, why the chaotic upload schedule, and wtf is All Severed?
 
recorded July 14th 2022
 
What to expect moving forward?
-we just finished recording episode 32. We've got a four part series on Pantera, two parts on pink Floyd, four parts on machine head, and a few rando episodes.
-initially I was going to try and release things every week but that doesn't work for me. They will go up as soon as I get them edited. Probably 2-4 a week until I'm caught up then 1-2 every two weeks. 
-We are also going to have more guests 
 
Notes on format 
-after 30 episodes Robert and I have settled into a rough general format. 
45-60 min preamble 
-then the topic, which seems to last anywhere from 2-3 hours. Yes they're long; we do alot of prep and have alot to say sometimes. It is what it is. 
 
What is all severed
-it's a band that Robert and I were in a long time ago with jeremy barnes. We are still really proud of it and it's a big shared experience of ours so we refer to it constantly. 
-I'll be releasing more stuff from it officially soon so people can check it out if they're interested 
 
Why is there such a backlog of episodes? 
Two answers
1) lots of life stuff and a big learning curve
2) I have issues and creative blocks about releasing stuff I make. I'm getting over it and I'm not going to sit on things for so damn long anymore
All Severed live at Houston Metalfest 2005
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKTIBa9Nslc&t=849s