Thursday, June 26, 2025

Episode 206 - BOX SETS!

In this episode, I talk about one of my favorite musical formats--the CD Box Set! That's right! It's a theme episode!!! Enjoy!

Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com
email: db@derekbrink.com

Time Index:

...there's just one topic. If you want to be a jerk and skip the intro, the "show" starts at 6:57. But...really? You don't have just short of 7 minutes to hear about my day? Wow...

The music in this episode is all from my Departure album:

Deeper Than Oceans
Lectio Divina

Photos:

Here's the cover photo for your weird collection of them that I should probably be concerned about, but instead I take it as a compliment.


The photos are all of box sets...here's a bunch of mine that are of more-or-less vinyl record size.

Here's the start of the box sets that sit atop my shelves for the rest of my CD collection. One the far left is the Tony Bennett set I mention in the show--look at ALL THOSE CDs that I got for like $70! (Also, that's one of the microphones I use to record the show, atop the David Bowie boxes.)

Continuing along the stuff on top of my CD collection...also pictured are a lamp I made in Jr High from a Coke bottle (which doesn't have a socket on it, presently) and Boba Fett...

More of the sets... Also pictured are a Drive By Truckers puzzle that I bought for some reason but never opened. And off to the right is a piece of glass from Le Studio in Canada, where Rush recorded a bunch of albums...so it's next to the Rush box sets.
...and more...



Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Episode 205 - Love & Mercy to Brian Wilson

I had a different episode ready to go, but given the day's news I needed to talk about Brian Wilson. This isn't a typical episode. It's very emotional, my thoughts are somewhat random and cloudy, and it's a little raw. But I needed to do something to pay tribute to one of my all-time heroes. I hope you enjoy it.

email: db@derekbrink.com

Photos:

Here's the cover photo. Do you happen to notice that the font I have always used for this show happens to match the typeface and color scheme of Brian's book, not to mention the cover for "Pet Sounds?" Do you wonder if that's a coincidence?
Here's an alternate angle of the pile of Brian stuff that I posted on my Facebook/Insta. I pretty much just grabbed all the stuff I could immediately get my hands on, threw it into a pile on my table, and took photos.

I also shared this on my Facebook. This is my original, first pressing copy of Smiley Smile. One of the prizes of my collection.

This one was shared on my Facebook, too... This is my autographed flat from Brian's last solo album, "No Pier Pressure." Also in the frame is my ticket-stub from seeing Brian play all of "Pet Sounds" back in 2016, which looking back on it now is one of my favorite concert memories and definitely should've been in my Fab 15... 

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Episode 204 - And We All Hate Ourselves

It has been a MONTH! But we're back!

In this episode, I talk about a bunch of music I saw on Everybody's Live with John Mulaney, then I talk about the Karate Kid/Cobra Kai and Doctor Who. (I GO OFF when I'm talking about Doctor Who!) I had fun making it. Now it's your turn to have fun listening to it. Enjoy!

Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com
email: db@derekbrink.com

Time Index:

  • 0:00 - Intro
  • 6:23 - Music Break - "S*** About Shakespeare"
  • 6:54 - Music from Everybody's Live
    • 9:14 - Kim Deal (and Kim Gordon)
    • 11:51 - Daniel Hope/Spring 1/Max Richter
    • 15:34 - John Cage and Maggie Rogers
    • 19:21 - Alanis Morissette
    • 21:41 - Sleater-Kinney (and the Muffs)
  • 23:50 - Music Break - "Napalm"
  • 24:20 - Stuff I Watched
    • 24:20 - Karate Kid/Cobra Kai
    • 31:42 - Doctor Who
  • 54:05 - Music Break - "What Matters Most (South of Savannah)"
  • 54:35 - Outro
Photos:
Here's your cover photo. Etc. It should be "Episode 204," but I noticed it too late to fix it. Oh well.

Here's the Karate Kid. Etc. ...at what point do I buy the Cobra Kai DVDs? Stay tuned, I guess...

Here's where I last had hope for Doctor Who...then the last couple years--and especially THIS year--happened...and...well...it's in the show.

Here's all the music I talked about. I didn't want to go into more detail here for roughly 2-4 minute segments.

Here's my autographed Kim Deal record! I think it's neat! I'm going to keep the plastic on, where she tore it, and stick it in a frame!


Sunday, May 4, 2025

Episode 203 - I Put on Khakis to Buy a Car

In this episode, I talk about my new (used) car for a long time and then also about seeing Paul Simon for a while, too! That's it! Enjoy!

Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com
Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com
email: db@derekbrink.com

Time Index: (As a side note, all songs are from my album "Grounds" which is celebrating it's 20th birthday!)

  • 0:00 - Intro
  • 5:32 - Music Break - One Man
  • 6:03 - Talking about my Mini Cooper Countryman
  • 28:19 - Music Break - Stranger
  • 28:51 - Paul Simon: A Quiet Celebration
  • 46:33 - Music Break - AMB 4
  • 47:05 - Outro
Photos: (Only a few this week!)
Here's the cover photo. I photoshopped a picture of my car onto the stage with Paul Simon. Do you see? DO YOU SEE???

This is my car! On the day I bought it, parked in my brother's driveway. I like it a lot.

This is Paul Simon! I like him a lot, too!

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Episode 202 - Sometimes You've Gotta Hear an Album in the Sunshine

In this episode, I talk about music from Matt Berry, Mumford & Sons, Elton John & Brandi Carlile, and Coheed & Cambria. (Lots of "&" bands!) I also touch on the movie Empire Records (super hot topical!) and the latest episode of Doctor Who. It's a little shorter than a typical episode, but no less fun! Enjoy!

Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com
Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com
email: db@derekbrink.com

Time Index:

  • 0:00 - Intro
  • 8:24 - Music Break - Remember Me
  • 8:53 - Recent Listening
    • 9:10 - Matt Berry - Heard Noises
    • 14:59 - Mumford & Sons - Rushmere
    • 21:29 - Elton John & Brandi Carlile - Who Believes in Angels?
    • 25:20 - Coheed & Cambria - The Father of Make Believe
  • 29:59 - Music Break - Out from the Light
  • 30:30 - Recent Viewing
    • 30:50 - Empire Records
    • 36:55 - Doctor Who
  • 40:06 - Music Break - Born in this Town
  • 40:37 - Outro, including me being mad at Liquid Death
Pictures, which you'd probably figure out even if I didn't have this label here for them, since you'd just be seeing pictures. You're so smart!:

Here's you cover photo with all the things. I don't really have a good representation of the current Doctor Who since they haven't released a fucking BluRay of the last season...so there's Tom Baker. He's going to guide you through the rest of the photos! What a guy!

Here's Tom Baker showing you my copy of Empire Records.

Here's Tom Baker showing you the new Mumford & Sons record.

Here's Tom Baker showing you the new Elton John & Brandi Carlile record.

Here's Tom Baker showing you the new Matt Berry album.

Here's Tom Baker showing you the new Coheed & Cambria album. What a helpful man!

Monday, April 7, 2025

Episode 201 - Just Shou of a Yeyer

IT HAS BEEN WAY TOO LONG!!! It's nice to be doing episodes again!

In this one, I'm talking about a bunch of music that I haven't talked about yet, from Post Malone (surprise!), Patterson Hood, Jason Isbell, Rufus Wainwright, Bob Mould, Japanese Breakfast, and My Morning Jacket. It's a fun return to form, and I hope you dig it! So dig it!

Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com
Email: db@derekbrink.com
Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com

Time Index:

  • 0:00 - Intro
  • 12:23 - Music Break - I Hope You're Happy
  • 12:53 - Recent Listening
    • 12:53 - Post Malone - F-1 Trillion
    • 14:48 - Patterson Hood - Exploding Trees and Airplane Screams
    • 23:05 - Jason Isbell - Foxes in the Snow
    • 31:47 - Rufus Wainwright - Dream Requiem
    • 36:21 - Bob Mould - Here We Go Crazy
    • 37:30 - Japanese Breakfast - For Melancholy Brunettes (and Sad Women)
    • 43:25 - My Morning Jacket - Is (Plus an interlude talking about my cat McGuire!)
  • 48:17 - Music Break - Denouement
  • 48:47 - Outro
Photos:
Here's your cover photo. Is anyone even looking at these pictures? Or...?
Jason Isbell's new album. If you look closely, you'll notice I bought it on vinyl AND CD. Because I have all of his stuff in both formats.

Post Malone's country album. It's better than it has any right to be, but is not above criticism. Listen to the show to find out in what ways!

Patterson Hood's newest solo album. If you're looking at this cover and your first thought is, "Huh...that's what he went with?" then you might have some sense of my feelings on the album in general.

New My Morning Jacket! I like it! But how much?

The new Rufus Wainwright album is an opera. You definitely have a leg-up if you go in knowing that.

New Bob Mould! Yay!

New Japanese Breakfast! Also yay!




Friday, February 28, 2025

Episode #200(!!) - The FAB 15 Songs with Numbers in Their Titles

Can you believe we're at episode #200?!? Very appropriate that it should be a Fab 15, and that the list should be "Songs with Numbers in Their Titles!" Sometimes things just line up. As always, your Papa Dave and Uncle Derek are bringing you the goods! This is a fun and somewhat concise talk, and I think you'll love it. Check it out!

Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com
Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com / http://fromthebrink.bandcamp.com 
email: db@derekbrink.com
MonDaves with Dave: http://davidbrink.home.blog 
Spotify playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/317eypfciiajkyay2kxloz3kreoa?si=f046115ad0514079 

Time Index:

  • 0:00 - Intro
  • 5:21 - Explanation and rules for the list
    • 11:24 - #15 - Seven Nation Army - White Stripes / Take Five - Dave Brubeck
    • 15:34 - #14 - Two Princes - Spin Doctors / I'm the One - Descendents
    • 22:10 - #13 - Just the Two of Us - Grover Washington Jr / One - U2
    • 27:09 - #12 - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - Proclaimers / 2112 - Rush
    • 31:58 - #11 - One - Three Dog Night / Thirteen - Big Star
    • 37:22 - #10 - Still the One - Orleans / 5:15 - The Who
    • 42:27 - #9 - 1999 - Prince / 25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago
    • 48:02 - #8 - It Takes Two - Marvin Gaye / Five Years - David Bowie
    • 53:04 - #7 - 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton / Two Princes
    • 55:11 - #6 - Eight Days a Week - Beatles / Two of Us - Beatles
    • 1:02:26 - #5 - 25 or 6 to 4 / I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
    • 1:02:42 - #4 - Two Tickets to Paradise - Eddie Money / 9 to 5
    • 1:07:54 - #3 - 5:15 / Nothing Compares 2U - Sinead O'Connor/Prince
    • 1:11:46 - #2 - 99 Luftballons - Nena (EXACT MATCH)
    • 1:15:49 - #1 - 867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone (EXACT MATCH)
  • 1:20:05 - Honorable Menions
  • 1:32:10 - Music Break - Intervention (Blue Tattoo)
  • 1:32:40 - Final List
Photo of the cover: