Consider this the end of Season 1. Thanks and stay tuned!

A Quick Announcement

The final installment of our deep dive into the second Silver Jews album.

David Berman recorded on Drag City records.

17. The Natural Bridge (Part 3)

The second part of our deep dive into the 1996 Silver Jews album The Natural Bridge.

Silver Jews recorded on Drag City records.

16. The Natural Bridge (Part 2)

Part one of our deep dive into the 1996 Silver Jews album The Natural Bridge.

Silver Jews recorded on Drag City records.

15. The Natural Bridge (Part 1)

We discuss Christian Petzold’s 2014 film, Phoenix, in all of its preposterously implausible and emotionally poignant glory. We also explore the film’s explicit connections to Alfred Hitchcock’s legendary 1958 film, Vertigo.

Intro and outro music: Candy Jail, by Silver Jews

14. Phoenix (and Vertigo)

This episode marks our first deep dive into Silver Jews’ first studio album, Starlite Walker. 

Note: Due to technical issues (and apparently the fact that it’s no one’s favorite SJ song) there is no audio snippet for Tide to the Oceans.

Silver Jews recorded on Drag City records.

13. Silver Jews Exegesis Part I: Starlite Walker

Ahead of our first Silver Jews album breakdown, we turn our attention to the most un-Berman of bands.

We discuss Phil Joanou’s 1988 documentary Rattle and Hum, and ponder superstardom, super fandom, and the role our favorite bands play in shaping identity.

Come for the love, stay for the hate.

Also mentioned: David Berman (holy shit didn't see that coming), Naomi Klein, Phil Elverum, Drive-By Truckers, The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Bernardine Dohrn, Jesse Helms, Karl Marx (whoa, slow down with the surprises there, Candy Jail!).

Intro music: Silver Jews, Candy Jail

Outro speechifying: Bono, McNichols Arena, Denver, CO, 11/8/87

12. Rattle & Hum

What happens when a French philosopher writes about photography while grieving for his mother? Did you think that was the setup to a Freudian joke? What’s wrong with you? You people make us sick.

The wonderful Helen Miller joins us to discuss Roland Barthes’ seminal photography text Camera Lucida.

Also mentioned: John Berger, Giorgio Agamben, Aristotle, Georges Perec, Geoffrey Batchen, La Jetée, Walter Benjamin, Arnold Toynbee.

Intro music: Candy Jail by Silver Jews

Outro music: Broken Front Teeth by Scotland Yard Gospel Choir

Contact us at candyjailpod@gmail.com

11. Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography (with Helen Miller)

After much procrastinating and shoegazing we peel ourselves away from the punch bowl to ask if you’d like to hear us talk about a man named David Berman.

Also mentioned: U2, Guns n Roses, Tori Amos, Father John Misty, Lana Del Rey, Doseone, The Microphones, Dan Bejar

David Berman recorded on Drag City Records.

10. What's the Deal with David Berman?

Mr. Hallorann, what’s in Room 237?

We watch Rodney Ascher’s 2012 documentary and ponder whether there really is such a thing as a harmless conspiracy theory.

Also mentioned: The X-Files, NXIVM, When Prophecy Fails, Kurt Vonnegut, Inglourious Basterds, Vic Chesnutt.

The pastor Brendan mentioned is Dan Barker. The cult expert is Stephen Hassan.

Opening and closing theme: Silver Jews, Candy Jail

9. Room 237

Brendan McKinney (@bgmckinney) · Zencastr

Brendan McKinney (@bgmckinney)

A podcast about the agonizing questions of existence and the shit we watch, read, and listen to to try to make sense of it. 

Currently handcuffed to a bank vault. Send cheap wine, expensive cigarettes, or unpublished biographies of David Berman.

Updated bi-weekly. 

Contact Us: candyjailpod@gmail.com