BOWIE VS. DYLAN

Ep16: 1986 - Labyrinth vs. Knocked Out Loaded or The 86’d 1986 of 1986

All aboard the Too-Little-Too-Later-Nadir-O-Rater! The year in question is 1986, and the only question seems to be just how low the boys can sink.  But also just how long the official tour name ends up.  Because presenting one podcast, tonight only, it's live in concert, banging those gated machine gun drums, as well as various shiny synths, it's: Charlie and Jake and David Bowie and Bob Dylan and Tom Petty and Dave Stewart and Iggy Pop and Tina Turner and Some Muppets and Los Lobos and Michael Mann and Annie Lennox and Mick Jagger and The Heartbreakers AND the Queens of Rhythm!  Or CJDBBDTPDSIPTTSMLLMMALMJTHQR for short, boy that really rolls off the tongue, iconic tour name.  There are a full THREE Years in Hair to comb through (get it?), but it's hell time, man, and if I keep on going this way, it'll just sound like Blah, Blah, Blah.

After you're done 86'ing your boredom with this podcast, assault your poor ears with our 1986 Spotify playlist at bit.ly/BvD-EP16!

EP15: 2002 - Heathen vs. The Rolling Thunder Revue (First Leg) or The Retracting Acting of 2002

And..the Grammy Award for...Original Duo Podcast Male Brothers Almost Non-Singing Pun-Filled Segmented Lightly Argumentative Enthusiastic Portrayal of Specific Year (2002) Amateur Until Someone Sponsors It Performance goes to...oh, I can't believe this finally happened for them, this is a real treat...BOWIE VS DYLAN EPISODE 15!!!

Chaz: (panting) First of all, I'd like to thank David Bowie, for making a decent record in 2002 with a sort-of iconic album cover, and for providing a classy Year In Hair, and for losing to Lenny Kravitz all those years so that his unquenchable inferno of desire for victory could be passed on to me, Chaz.  This one's for you, Davey Jones!!

Jake: (with pursed lips) Are you sure you don't want to thank anyone else?  

Chaz: (thinking face) ...Nope, that covers it. Oh wait, right, Mick Ronno Ronson?

Jake: (crying) Sometimes the thing you're looking for was right in front of you all along.

Chaz: (getting played off the stage by sudden orchestral music) Mom? Mike? My wife? My kids? Charlie Sexton? Iman? Bowie again? I'm not sure what you're getting at.

 

Hang backstage at the Grammys with Bowie and Dylan tunes blaring in the background at bit.ly/BvD-EP15

EP14: 1978 - Stage vs. Street Legal or Peter and The Clara of 1978

Chaz and Jake embark on an alimony tour while discussing the norm-core Bowie and the vaguely Elvis-esque Dylan in 1978, brought on by their acrimonious divorce over irreconcilable differences caused by their perception of how long the podcast is running.  While they certainly agree that Mick Ronson is a saint who deserves a Mick Renaissance, and that Bowie's ambient live show opener sounds like a good idea, they absolutely cannot reconcile with the scoring of the Nadir-O-Rater, or what media mediums should get points or not, or who or when someone should get "JUDAS!!!" shouted at them for no reason, and let's be honest, Jake's job performance suffers a little as a result.  These situations have a tendency to nibble at your edges, even when you don't intend them to, you know?  Especially when this is your first time hearing his voice since the split, even though the split occurred during this very podcast.  It's one part live concert performance, one part social commentary, and 9 parts semi-fictional dramatic vignettes on this edition of Bowie vs. Dylan.

And when you're done disco dancing, dry clean your schmaltzy white leisure suit and check out an extra 70's Spotify playlist at bit.ly/BvD-EP14!

EP13: 2010 - SSSS (Surround Sound Station to Station) vs The Mono Recordings or the Deluxe Bouillabaissing of 2010

The renowned, multiple Obie-award winning off-off-off-off-off-off-Broadway show returns for a very special one-podcast episode devoted to the year 2010, but also 1959-1963, and 1962-1968, but also 1976 and 2003, and there's some talk about 1983 and 2013 for some reason.  Elastic-voiced and androgynous hosts Chaz and Jake present to you in 3 surround-sound versions the epic goings-on of Bowie and Dylan as they do almost nothing at all in 2010, except maybe be stay at home Dads and get straight burnt by Joni Mitchell.  Jake compensates by introducing a new, wildly pun-filled segment you'll just have to listen to for the final name of.  And Chaz over-compensates by releasing a super-deluxe edition of his portion with no new material, but hey, ogle this, it's some swag. Put down your Greek newspaper, settle in, and order your Jeeves to push play on this edition of Bowie vs. Dylan.

When he's done hand-washing your sock garters, also have Jeeves key up our customized 2010 Spotify playlist, available at bit.ly/BvD-EP13.

EP12: 1964 - Jones vs. Zimmerman vs. Bowie vs. Dylan, or the Secret Smackdown of 1964 and Before

It's a "Secret Origins" Episode of Jones vs. Zimmerman, so don't tell anyone, it's a secret...unless...you want to recommend it to literally everyone you know across all social and media platforms so we can pump our SEO to the MAX ahead of our IPO.  But maybe only share the part that's not a secret, which are the travails in 1964 for David Jones (still not Bowie) and Bob Dylan (continuing to be Dylan).  Dylan releases ONLY two stone-cold classic albums and plays the New York Philharmonic, while Jones sifts through his 10-12 active bands for the magic hit-making ingredients that would ultimately yield his first released single, a monumental, towering, explosive, earth-shattering run of the mill English-by-way-of-American R&B tune.  We here at Bowie vs. Dylan don't typically share the results of the hotly debated points breakdown, but, I mean, I think it's pretty obvious in this case who won...it's Jones in a landslide.

And of course, if you're into this kind of thing, give a listen to our custom 1964 playlist at bit.ly/BvD-EP12.

EP11: 1994 - Jump vs. Forrest Gump, or How I Learned to Rhyme in 1994

It's the first (and last?) edition of Bowie vs. Gump as Charlie and Jake explore the early teenage wasteland that is 1994.  Jake buys his first CD player (and subsequent CDs), which quickly leads him down the long, strange, mystical trip that some of us call "ROCK N' ROLL" and others of us call "slightly edgier but ultimately mostly just his parents' music collection". Still, some of the "32 American Classics on 2 CDs" that comprise the seminal Forrest Gump Soundtrack happen to involve Bob Dylan, which if you think about it, pretty much means that sweet Forrest is responsible for this podcast, along with all the other major events of recent American history, I'm just saying is all.  Meanwhile, Chaz wanders down some virtual hallways, looking for what he doesn't know yet, but wait what's behind this door, a pixelated music video by David Bowie?!  YEEEEESSS, that's what he's talking about!  Was "BOOYAH" a thing in 1994?  You, dear listener, can "JUMP" at the chance to discover the historic ending to this edition of Bowie vs. Dylan, right after you insert CD-ROM disc 5, and wait patiently for it to load!

RUN, LISTENER, RUN!!!  On over to Spotify to check out this week's playlist at bit.ly/BvD-EP11

EP10: Top 10 Collaborators, or How Many Beatles vs. How Many Micks?

Charlie collaborates with Jake, and Jake collaborates with Charlie to share the various luminary celebrity and/or musician collaborators that Bowie collaborated with AND the ones that Dylan collaborated with on this very special collaboratory "Collaborations" 10th episode of Bowie vs. Dylan.  Unusually, no points are assessed, but just as unusually, much is revealed, such as the names and backstories of said collaborators in an alternating, list-style format that would have surely built anticipation for the #1 spot, if the brothers hadn't over-shared the bottom half of the list and rushed through the top half.  Guess who raps!  Guess who launched the career of every single important rock artist of the 20th century besides Bob Dylan!  Guess who smooched who, and wonder what a "plumcrusher" is!  Tune in for all of this and way, way more on Bowie vs. Dylan's longest podcast ever.

In honor of an extra long podcast, take in an extra long Spotify playlist when you're all done, available at bit.ly/BvD-EP10.

EP09: 2013 - The Next Day vs. Another Self-Portrait, or the Mysterious Iron Sculpturing of 2013

Jake and Charlie return from a 10-year absence to discuss Bowie and Dylan in the year 2013.  Chaz is so enveloped in mystery, in fact, that he doesn't give one interview or one concert for the entirety of the podcast, while Jake paints yet Another Self-Portrait.  Bowie has so many videos and singles for Chaz to discuss that Jake heads out on a never-ending tour and comes back The Next Day to find out the score.  Dear listener, you too can self-mythologize and act like you're listening on this mostly gate-filled edition of Bowie Vs. Dylan!

And when you're done, give yourself a 2013-filled listening experience with this episode's custom Spotify playlist at bit.ly/BvD-EP09.

EP08: 1971 - Hunky Dory vs. Greatest Hits Vol. II, or the Liberating Androgyning of 1971

Picture yourself in the the year of magic and wonder that was 1971: Dylan has enough greatest hits to warrant a Vol. II, while Bowie furthers the process of one day warranting his own Vol. I with the release of Hunky Dory.  Chaz, Jake, Mick, Woody, AJ, Leon, George, Alan, and the rest of the androgynous cast and crew pull on their pantsuits and shout to the heavens the anthemic battle cry that defines the times: "FREE BOB DYLAN!!!"  And when asked to clarify, some of them shout as loudly, and others mumble a little, and some are finally embarrassed and don't say anything, but still it rings out: "FROM HIMSELF?!" Questionable accents and multiple multiple choice questions abound; Dylan has won the last couple of episodes on points, will Bowie and 1971 bring Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes?

You know the drill. After the podcast, check out the music playlist. On Spotify. Right here: bit.ly/BvD-EP08.

EP07: 1989 - Tin Machine vs. Oh Mercy, or the Crack Deadening of 1989

Jake and Charlie try very hard not to be a-holes with b-holes for brains in this hard PG/soft PG-13 episode of Bowie vs. Dylan, but can't make any promises as they take a ride on the Nadir-O-Rater in the year 1989.  Bowie heads back to high school to start a socially-conscious rock band with his mates, while Dylan lets Daniel Lanois turn his late 80's song output into something actually listenable.  Dylan and the Dead somehow further tarnishes Bob in his worst decade; and nothing compares to the grand tradition of scintillating creativity quite like the song Tin Machine on the album Tin Machine by the band Tin Machine, written by all 4 equal members of...Tin Machine.  Will Bowie's communal contraption pump out points, or will Dylan have him saying, "Oh Mercy"?

Don't forget to take a little taste of the year's songs with our 1989 Spotify playlist at bit.ly/BvD-EP07.

EP06: 2004 - Shrek 2 vs. The Songs of Warran Zevon, or A 10th Bootleg Reality Check of 2004

It's a podcast of contrasting moods, as Charlie and Jake's conversation surrounding Bowie and Dylan in 2004 alternates between somber/bittersweet and zesty/nugget-filled.  Dylan releases his "autobiography" Chronicles Vol. 1, which is met with great fanfare by other writers whose own work they recognize. Look for Volumes 2 and 3 coming to a store near you, never!  Bowie continues his biggest tour ever, replete with Bon Jovi Comeback Hair (patent pending), healthy, well-nurtured skin, rippling abs, heaping helpings of cool dad confidence, and maybe a tasteful mash-up along the way.  Will Dylan succumb to the Plagiarist Police?  Will Bowie have a scary health scare that inadvertently restores his mystery?  WHO WINS THE POINTS?  Only the Chief Commander knows on this edition of Bowie Vs. Dylan.

And as always, don't forget this episode's custom Spotify playlist at bit.ly/BvD-EP06.

EP05: 1983 - Let's Dance vs. Infidels, or The Great Dance-Off for the Soul of 1983

Charlie and Jake are still standing in the wind, but they never wave bye-bye as they examine Bowie and Dylan in 1983.  Chaz makes absolutely sure to enunciate Bowie's massively successful year by doing all the cocaine that Bowie apparently gave up in '83, and drives his verbal yacht at impressive and dangerous speeds for the duration of the podcast.  While DANCING.  Jake has trouble scoring Dylan's "non-religious" record Infidels, but asks Bowie, Elvis Costello, Frank Zappa, Ric Ocasek, and finally Mark Knopfler to produce the podcast, and the results are slick, desperate, critically acclaimed, and woefully dated. Chaz ultimately thinks the whole thing would have been much better if Jake had decided to keep the very best 5 minute section of the podcast instead of inexpicably jettisoning it in direct conflict with literally everyone who heard it.  PLUS: TWO years in Bowie's hair, and WE HAVE A MICK!!!  Say, what's a sweet podcast audience like yoooooouuu, doing in a dump like this?

But wait! There's also a custom Spotify playlist for when you're done savoring 1983 and hungry for more. Listen at bit.ly/BvD-EP05.