The Album Files

Abigail Mickey

A listening experience focusing on whole albums in an increasingly single-driven world. Pushing for a more considered listening approach. With Abby Mickey, Matt de Neef, and Iain Treloar. read less
MusicMusic

Episodes

Matt//Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Apr 18 2024
Matt//Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
"Neutral Milk Hotel’s second and final album, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998), is an indie rock cult classic, a weird and wonderful journey through the mind of a reclusive genius, and an album that’s as provocative as it is intriguing. Sonically it’s rough and unpolished; lyrically it’s largely impenetrable and often unsettling. Ultimately, this is a fascinating and important piece of art and one that’s deserving of all the attention it’s received in the past quarter century." - Matthew Thank you so much for listening to this episode of the Album Files! We will be back in two weeks to discuss Abby's pick: Prelude to Ecstasy by The Last Dinner Party. Next week we will have a special episode about Lizzy McAlpine's Older We'd love to hear your thoughts, if you want to send us a voice memo to include in the show you can find our social media links below. What we've been listening to lately... Matt: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob Collier - Little Blue (Mahogany Sessions), Lizzy McAlpine - Older (Jimmy Fallon) Iain: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sadness - Lana, Sylvaine - Dagsens Auga Sloknar Ut Abby: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyoncé - Blackbiird ⁠⁠⁠⁠You can find a ⁠⁠playlist of the music we discussed in episode 26 of The Album Files ⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠ You can find us on social media ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@abimickey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@iaintreloar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@climbingcyclist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Iain//Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago
Mar 9 2024
Iain//Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago
"Before the Taylor Swift and Kanye West collabs, Bon Iver's debut album is an insular, inward-looking reflection on its frontman Justin Vernon, originally intended as a demo before going on to sell in its hundreds of thousands and birthing a new generation of singer-songwriter. It's a fascinating record not just because of what it says but what it doesn't - and the considerable mythology behind it." -Iain Thank you so much for listening to this episode of the Album Files! We will be back in two weeks to discuss Matt's pick: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel. We'd love to hear your thoughts, if you want to send us a voice memo to include in the show you can find our social media links below. What we've been listening to lately... Matt: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob Collier - Bridge Over Troubled Water breakdown of how he made the song, Jacob Collier - Bridge Over Troubled Water Iain: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alcest - L'Envol Abby: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nothing this week :) ⁠⁠⁠You can find a ⁠⁠playlist of the music we discussed in episode 25 of The Album Files ⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠ You can find us on social media ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@abimickey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@iaintreloar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@climbingcyclist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Alt-J, Camp Cope, and Japanese Breakfast
Feb 24 2024
Alt-J, Camp Cope, and Japanese Breakfast
For this episode, we asked our listeners for their suggestions of albums that are worth listening to. The three that we landed on were Japanese Breakfast's Jubilee (suggested by Escape Collective member jlb1705), Alt-J's An Awesome Wave (suggested by Brooke Lendvay), and Camp Cope's How to Socialise and Make Friends (suggested by Andy Gerrie). We had a blast listening to all three and as always are super grateful you all listen to this podcast, it means the world to us. We will be back in two weeks to discuss Iain's pick: For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver. We'd love to hear your thoughts, if you want to send us a voice memo to include in the show you can find our social media links below. What we've been listening to lately... Matt: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Older - Lizzy McAlpine, Little Simz - SOS, Lil Dicky - HAHAHA Iain: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ratatat - Wildcat, Wild Beasts - Wanderlust Abby: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sofiane Pamart - Seoul, Beyoncé - Texas Hold 'Em ⁠⁠⁠You can find a ⁠⁠playlist of the music we discussed in episode 24 of The Album Files ⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠ You can find us on social media ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@abimickey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@iaintreloar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@climbingcyclist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Abby//Green Day, American Idiot
Feb 9 2024
Abby//Green Day, American Idiot
"Apart from that I love it, and in a lot of ways it was the first album that I fell in love with without influence from my family, it also feels weirdly “too close” in the current political climate. John Colapinto of Rolling Stone wrote about the album that it "gives voice to the disenfranchised suburban underclass of Americans who feel wholly unrepresented by the current leadership of oilmen and Ivy Leaguers, and who are too smart to accept the "reality" presented by news media who sell the government's line of fear and warmongering." And If that’s not the world we are living in now…It was an album that changed me as a person, a freshman in high school in a lot of ways discovering who I was for the first time, this album became my anthem for a time and was the soundtrack behind a new version of myself and my departure from youth." -Abby Thank you so much for listening to this episode of the Album Files! We will be back in two weeks to discuss the latest round of listener picks: Japanese Breakfast's Jubilee (suggested by jlb1705), Alt-J's An Awesome Wave (suggested by Brooke Lendvay), and Camp Cope's How to Socialise and Make Friends (suggested by Andy Gerrie). We'd love to hear your thoughts, if you want to send us a voice memo to include in the show you can find our social media links below. What we've been listening to lately... Matt: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Green Day - Bobby Sox, Green Day - Saviors (full album), Green Day in the NYC subway Iain: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Olhava, Violet Cold, Mono Abby: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠René Rapp - SNL Snow Angel, Boygenius - Not Strong Enough, The Last Dinner Party - Caesar on the TV Screen ⁠⁠You can find a ⁠⁠playlist of the music we discussed in episode 23 of The Album Files ⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠ You can find us on social media ⁠⁠⁠⁠@abimickey⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠@iaintreloar⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠@climbingcyclist⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Iain//There Will Be Fireworks, Summer Moon
Dec 15 2023
Iain//There Will Be Fireworks, Summer Moon
"The Scottish group There Will Be Fireworks is one of the less well-known artists we've covered on the podcast, working without a label and juggling the demands of day-jobs and lives outside of music. Summer Moon, the band's third album – and first in a decade –  made an enormous impression on me when it was released in November and I've spent the last few weeks with the band's skilful blend of indie rock, post-rock, emo and folk. At its core, I think it's a hugely emotionally resonant listen, grappling with nostalgia for the past and hope for the future." - Iain Thank you so much for listening to this episode of the Album Files! We will be back next week for a year end wrap up episode. We'd love to hear your thoughts, if you want to send us a voice memo to include in the show you can find our social media links below. What we've been listening to lately... Matt: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - The / The Silver Cord, Griff - Vertigo Vol 1, (also mentioned) Ceres - Happy In Your Head Iain: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mesarthim - Matter and Energy, Kangding Ray - Unsterblich, (also mentioned) There Will Be Fireworks - In Excelsis Deo (live) Abby: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Noah Kahan - Stick Season (live on SNL), Orange Juice You can find a ⁠⁠playlist of the music we discussed in episode 20 of The Album Files ⁠here⁠⁠.⁠ You can find us on social media ⁠⁠@abimickey⁠⁠, ⁠⁠@iaintreloar⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@climbingcyclist⁠⁠.
Abby//Lana Del Rey, Born To Die
Nov 29 2023
Abby//Lana Del Rey, Born To Die
"Lana Del Rey, in my opinion, changed female-led pop in the music industry with her release of Born To Die in 2012. Listening to it now, you can hear how she influenced a handful of today's biggest pop stars and even though the album has some...flaws....I still enjoy listening to it today. Personally, I discovered Del Rey when the rest of the world did- via YouTube. Her whole aesthetic captivated a 21-year-old Abby and became part of my personality. I was really excited to put this album before Matt and Iain to see what they thought of an artist that continues to break the mould." -Abby Thank you so much for listening to this episode of the Album Files! We will be back in two weeks to talk about Iain's pick Summer Moon by There Will Be Fireworks, please listen along! We'd love to hear your thoughts, if you want to send us a voice memo to include in the show you can find our social media links below. What we've been listening to lately... Matt: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Luca Brasi - The World Don't Owe You Anything, Dua Lipa - Houdini Iain: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Søndag Søndag - Søndag, (also mentioned) Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton - Our Hell, Hayley Mary covers Lana Del Rey 'Chemtrails Over The Country Club'  Abby: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob Collier - Witness Me (feat. Shawn Mendes, Stormzy & Kirk Franklin), ⁠Heavy Diamond Ring - All Out Of Angels, Mama Magnolia - Dear Irvington, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas, The Last Dinner Party - My Lady of Mercy You can find a ⁠playlist of the music we discussed in episode 20 of The Album Files ⁠here⁠⁠. You can find us on social media ⁠@abimickey⁠, ⁠@iaintreloar⁠ and ⁠@climbingcyclist⁠.
Iain // Alcest, Souvenirs D'un Autre Monde
Oct 28 2023
Iain // Alcest, Souvenirs D'un Autre Monde
"In 2007, the little-known French band Alcest released an album that would go on to be one of the founding texts of an entire genre, blackgaze. A melding of black metal and shoegaze, this album - Souvenirs d'un autre monde - is, 15 years later, still surprising in its delicacy and beauty, filled with childhood visions of fairy kingdoms. It was a gateway into a whole new musical world for me, so I was excited to take The Album Files on this journey." -Iain In this episode, we also discuss Bad Winds Blow, the album Matt and his brother Ash recently released. Together they are called Brineheart and you can find the album on all streaming platforms. Thank you so much for listening to this episode of the Album Files! We will be back in two weeks to talk about Matt's pick good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar, please listen along! We'd love to hear your thoughts, if you want to send us a voice memo to include in the show you can find our social media links below. What we've been listening to lately... Matt: Jacob Collier - Live in Lisbon, Meinl Cymbals - The Adrian Belew Power Trio - "E", Silverchair - Emotion Sickness Iain: Erland Cooper - Cold, Luke Howard - A Faint Qualm for the Future, Sufjan Stevens - "So You Are Tired" Abby: Slayers: A Buffyverse Story You can find a playlist of the music we discussed in episode 18 of The Album Files here. You can find us on social media @abimickey, @iaintreloar and @climbingcyclist.
Abby // Griff, One Foot In Front Of The Other
Oct 13 2023
Abby // Griff, One Foot In Front Of The Other
Don't miss Matt's new music! Matt and his brother Ash recently released their album Bad Winds Blow. Together they are called Brineheart and you can find the album on all streaming platforms. The story behind it is pretty cool, Matt talks a little about it at the top of this episode but we will definitely be diving into it more in the next one. "Griff is one of those new artists on the scene that you can't get enough of. When I first saw her perform at the Brit awards in 2021 I was blown away by her presence and immediately went in search of more. After I learned she writes, performs, and produces her own music I started to follow her closely, so I am excited to hopefully convert more people into fans of Griff. As a bonus! She just announced two new songs coming Octber 20th, with hopefully even more on the way." Abby Thank you so much for listening to this episode of the Album Files! We will be back in two weeks to talk about Iain's pick Souvenirs D'un Autre Monde by Alcest, please listen along! We'd love to hear your thoughts, if you want to send us a voice memo to include in the show you can find out social media links below. What we've been listening to lately... Matt: King Crimson - Level Five, King Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid Man, Iain: Amesoeurs - Faux Semblants, Max Richter - On The Nature Of Delight Abby: Ed Sheeran - Plastic Bag, Hozier - Damage Gets Done, Wicked Tiny Desk You can find a playlist of the music we discussed in episode 17 of The Album Files here. You can find us on social media @abimickey, @iaintreloar and @climbingcyclist.