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The Ultimate playlist podcast full of Choice Trackz. Side A is the weekly theme of the episode and Side B is a full album review.
Taj Williams (00:25.499)
Thank
Taj Williams (00:40.771)
Welcome back to the Ultimate Playlist Podcast full of choice tracks. I'm Taj.
Damon (00:47.243)
I'm Damon.
DW (00:49.013)
And I'm Dietrich, what's going on, yo?
Taj Williams (00:51.358)
Not that much. We're back for our next theme. And, you know, I was kind of thinking, you know, why don't we do like a theme about old scratch? You know, Prince of the Night. No scratch, you know, Prince of Darkness. Huh? The devil.
Damon (01:04.301)
like scratch yourself old scratch.
Damon (01:14.425)
okay. I was going to say, is it Taj on a bad day or? Okay.
DW (01:15.753)
Whoa, whoa, whoa, dude.
Taj Williams (01:22.075)
Right. Well, I know it's September, but, know, I figured, you know, we could get an early start on Halloween, you know, since there are putting out Christmas decorations and.
Damon (01:23.19)
All right, well, what about?
Damon (01:34.605)
Yeah, I've seen Halloween shit like everywhere. Christmas? Damn. Alright.
Taj Williams (01:37.951)
Yeah, no, I've gone into stores and I've seen Halloween and Christmas in the same store. You're like, what's going on here? So. Right. So I thought for this theme, we would do songs about the devil. So shout out. I almost did, you know, devil with the blue dress on. That's a good classic 70s song, you know, about.
Damon (01:45.751)
like the Krampus display or something. Jesus. All right.
Taj Williams (02:06.215)
a girl that's a devil in a blue dress. But I kind of decided to go new school on these ones. So the first one I went with is the lab rats devil's train.
DW (02:09.973)
Yeah.
Taj Williams (02:29.375)
So that was the lab rats or the laboratory rats. They not to be confused, I think there is a regular lab rats without the the at the beginning. So anyways, this was a duo band from Columbus, Ohio. They only released one album, which was half full astrays, half empty glasses. And it was released in 2006. I believe they're disbanded now. They've
It looks like they may play like one show a year. But when they first started out, they kind of started out with traveling with bands like Vampire Weekend. And so it was a combination of one guy that did hip hop and one guy that did, you know, music. And so they kind of collaborated together. But I like this song a lot. Like it stands out, especially the vocal change with the train at the beginning. It's a story.
It kind of reminds me of that album, Dietrich, that you had discovered that the guy that did all story hip hop spec in the French guy, French, he was French, moved to America.
DW (03:42.425)
that did. Yeah. No clue, buddy. Sorry. I can't remember what I had for breakfast.
Taj Williams (03:43.699)
That dude, you know who I'm talking about, No, no, it was the album that you picked is the. The early hip hop artist guy that did storytelling hip hop.
Yeah, Slickrig. Yeah, it very much reminded me of Slickrig. Yeah. So, but yeah. But yeah, I liked it a lot. And so what did you guys think of the Devil's Dream?
Damon (04:13.145)
Devil's train. Go good old slick Rick. Yeah, I forgot about that guy. Why did you remind me? No, just kidding. Yeah, I think they kind of sound like like a I guess like they're a product of their time, like the 2006 era. And so that's like there were other fans that this band sounds like. And it doesn't surprise me that they didn't last very long.
Taj Williams (04:17.526)
Right?
Taj Williams (04:32.649)
Yeah.
Damon (04:41.965)
But I liked that they were touring with Vampire Weekend and stuff like that. definitely one of my favorite bands and for them to get pulled onto that, you know, they must have some credibility. I, I thought it was an interesting song. They actually was kind of fun sounding. I didn't see the music video. I didn't watch it, but I'm sure it's good. I'm sure they have something out there. they, it seems like something that you would hear on like planes. it was not planes, automobiles, the,
Taj Williams (05:03.689)
Right.
Damon (05:11.203)
Train... Spotting? I forgot what the name of that movie was.
Taj Williams (05:16.507)
Maybe. Yeah, I can kind of see. Yeah. What was weird was a lot of like Google searches were linking this to that. I'm going to say it wrong, but the has Bistic Hotel, the animated series about the devil's daughter that's running a hotel in in hell. But yeah, I don't know. It kind of is also kind of like reminiscent of like the like Cuphead, the video game. And that came out like that kind of
Damon (05:34.703)
okay.
DW (05:45.212)
yeah.
Taj Williams (05:46.399)
It, you know, that kind of like revamped 20 sound, but from modern era. And that's kind of what I felt it was. So, but yeah.
Damon (05:56.516)
Yeah, definitely fun. I wish I could think of all the bands that it reminds me of or they remind me of. They do definitely have a familiar sound and I don't know really who they are. until you pick this song.
Taj Williams (06:11.838)
Right?
DW (06:12.841)
This is not the devil's music. You know, but kind of is though, because, you know, the devil was going by by if you look up by religious platforms, depending on which one you want to look up by, he was the controller of music and rejoice. So.
Taj Williams (06:15.181)
Yeah.
Damon (06:17.846)
Yeah, right.
DW (06:34.973)
this is kind of that happy -go -lucky feel it's like there's nothing wrong with this song everything is all good and if you get off into the lyrics it's like make you kind of second guess some things and then it's like i wonder if i played this for like you know like a kids party or some birthday party or something like that and see what comes out of it like if somebody started listening to it it's like
Taj Williams (06:43.731)
you
Taj Williams (06:55.455)
you
Taj Williams (07:02.974)
Right?
DW (07:03.733)
It's like, okay, I get it. I'm not mad at it. I can see where it flowed from. It's funny that you said he disbanded because he probably had some horrible accidents that happened to him along the way. know, receiving things that only the person himself could do. I'm not gonna say the person, but yeah, the entity himself could do. So yeah, it's funny.
Taj Williams (07:27.602)
Right.
Taj Williams (07:31.711)
Yeah, I do like how that is one of interesting things in the song is like because he kind of walks up on him. He's like, hey, mind if I walk with you? He's like, you know, do what you want. And then he starts talking. He's like, you know, I could scare you more than you've just been scared. Or I can be your bee in your bonnet. Right. Like he talks about all these nice things he can do for you. You're like, man, that is that's, know.
Really, the devil will try and sell you on stuff, for sure. I think that was a nice touch that they have that repartee back and forth. Yeah, for sure. OK. Well, that was my first pick. What did you have first, David?
DW (08:08.565)
was clean, definitely clean.
Damon (08:22.662)
I went with a couple songs I thought were a good pick for this. The first pick I went with was probably more of like a nostalgia thing. Like I think my picks versus your all's picks. Like I think you guys picked some new stuff that I haven't heard of, which is kind of cool or new stuff like from artists that I know, but they're newer artists. I think I was digging out of like, you know, like my old record collection that my dad had given me.
But I definitely, yeah, I went with something old school from Van Halen, Running with the Devil.
Damon (09:10.199)
Yeah, so Van Halen, like I guess like if people are like listening to the news, I know a little bit about the band. Like there is two different Van Halen's. There's the David Lee Roth when he was the lead singer. And that's where this is coming from. Then you have Sammy Hagar that came after that. And so like I might have talked about before on the podcast, but that's you know, I still don't know like
Who my favorite is, I think, is probably sometimes it's David Lee Roth, sometimes the same Hager. And unfortunately, we had lost Eddie Van Halen a couple of years back and his son Wolfgang Van Halen kind of took his place with some of that stuff. Like he had played a lot of shows, so he became part of the band, which is pretty cool. But yeah, like Running the Devil, I think, is always one of my favorite.
Damon (10:08.877)
favorite songs from that band for sure. And, you know, I guess you can you can you can pick some stuff from their older albums or the newer albums. Like I had the stuff on vinyl. I actually have it on record. And so, yeah, this is this was released in the year I was born. Seventy eight. I believe it's a.
Van Halen is the actual album. It's titled Van Halen. So earlier on, they were like really full of themselves. Not that they probably still are, but yeah. So that's like the vibe that they had in every video. know, David Lee Roth's got tight pants. He's like jumping up in the air, doing splits, like ridiculous shit. So but in this song, they're running from the devil.
So what did guys think of that?
Taj Williams (11:09.639)
I liked it. I know the song really well. so, yeah, I was, you know, I think it was a good pick for this. You know, it has a classic guitar riff for sure at the beginning. So was like, OK. I had to look it up for some strange reason, only because I haven't seen the movie in ages. I thought maybe this was the song that plays when Forrest Gump.
He gets off his porch and decides to go running across country like three times. But this is not that song. But for some reason, I it was.
Damon (11:43.499)
I think so. I think you're thinking like Bob Seeger is some shit, right? Right against the wind. Bob Seeger.
Taj Williams (11:48.396)
It's running against the wind. I looked it up here. Yeah. I thought it was running with the devil because that makes more sense because like he's the troubled man, you know, so, you know.
Damon (11:59.853)
Well, it's like, think it's like it has to do with Yeah. It has to do with like their, their individual, like, you know, strife, you know, you know, like probably drugs and alcohol, sex, whatever, you know, or whatever society says was bad. Like, but like at the time, you know, I guess in the eighties, you know, or the seventies going into the eighties, this is, it seems like it was more popular in the eighties. Cause it's, you know,
Taj Williams (12:08.99)
Yeah.
Damon (12:25.271)
came out in seventies, then everybody was listening to Van Halen throughout the eighties. That's where they'd be developed. Like I think their main style. But like they were almost looked at as satanic, but they had nothing to do with they had never said anything about being satanic. But everybody was satanic. If you had anything to do, your lyrics had anything to do with the devil. Then, you you must be trying to make somebody's kids go to hell or do bad shit. I don't know. So they probably got blamed for a lot of stuff.
Taj Williams (12:29.19)
Right.
Taj Williams (12:55.155)
wear open t -shirts, wear open shirts showing lots of hair and tight pants.
Damon (12:55.169)
in another session.
Damon (13:00.161)
Yeah, short jean cut off shorts and shit. That's devil's work there.
DW (13:10.739)
Okay, like how it's taken on it. So, where to start? First and foremost, I'm always gonna be a daily graphing.
Taj Williams (13:11.257)
You
Damon (13:13.347)
you
DW (13:27.453)
I'm gonna put that out there. Yes, I know a couple of times ago, Four Score and two episodes, I picked Sammy Hagar's song, we were all good into the fight and everything was all gravy, yeah, I'm Danny LeRoy all the way. for me, this was one of those quintessential Van Halen songs that...
you really can't go wrong with and I did not want to run with the devil I didn't I think as a you know kid slash teenager growing up listening to different music and watching MTV coming to his infancy and showing all the all the music videos and everything like that this is one of the songs a lot of like
Taj Williams (14:03.615)
you
DW (14:22.249)
I didn't get to see that version because my parents were very religious at the time so anything having to do with the devil they didn't want to play it in the house. So I was kind one of those deprived kids you would say of anything that was malicious. Now not saying that they were just all saints but when this song did come on at a friend's house he did have the album there at the bottom and he would play that as loud as he possibly could to misrecursion.
his mama didn't love rock music so they just kinda let him play it out and was just like this is the best shit ever.
Taj Williams (14:56.071)
Yeah.
DW (14:58.613)
But listen to it now in 2024. I still got the same nostalgic feeling about it. So I feel like if this we made this particular episode and the song was not on the list, kind of would have a problem with it. So thanks then for picking it.
Damon (15:20.358)
You bet and that's probably one of their best albums to very good sound coming out of this album if you're Trying to go back to listen to some Van Halen Yeah, you hear a lot of the stuff in bars which it kind of fits
DW (15:25.927)
Yes, pure sound coming out out.
Taj Williams (15:37.663)
So, okay. So what, Dietrich, what did you pick for your first pick?
DW (15:43.199)
So mine was kind of a toss up.
DW (15:50.133)
So I actually came up with an artist that I heard a couple of songs from. way I came across this particular song was on, like was the first episode of a TV show. Didn't last very long, but it was called The Outer Range. And this was on the first episode. And it was kind of like, okay, let me go back in and see if I can pull that up. So I pulled it up. It actually came out in 2015.
Taj Williams (16:07.965)
Okay.
DW (16:19.443)
by a country singer or slash bluegrass guitarist so to speak. His name is Coulter Wall and the name of the song is Devil Wears a Suit and Top.
DW (16:46.271)
So this was on his album Imaginary Appalachia and he's definitely got a good feel for playing the kind of blues type situation. Best thing about this one is he's actually in the song he's referring to a blues artist by the name of Robert Johnson.
Robert Johnson was known for the song Crossroads where he actually came across the Crossroads and sold his soul for the devil. And this song is reflecting it from Robert Johnson's point of view in dealing with the devil. Where there's a suit and tie, he's got a cigar on his neck, he's driving in an old Cadillac and everything is pristine and it's like, hey, what can I do for you?
Damon (18:06.769)
Yeah. So, I, I never heard of this artist. I think that it's kind of like the artists that your, your cousin picked Taj sort of like a country Western, you know, style, but like, I thought it was like a unique sound and this, cult, cult or is that his name? Yeah. He's like a, he's a younger, younger artist.
Taj Williams (18:19.433)
Mm.
Yeah.
DW (18:30.601)
Yeah, cultural.
Damon (18:35.501)
And yeah, I'm pleasantly surprised with this sound for sure. This sounds a really cool kind of like old Western sound thrown, you know, thrown it into like the song about the devil. You know, that's kind of like that's interesting. I liked it. For that.
Taj Williams (18:54.121)
Yeah. So what were you going to? Yeah. And yeah, I like your story that you were linking to the Daniel Johnson, because that story is classic, iconic. So.
DW (19:10.953)
Yeah, so apparently talking about the devil mates, you know, my house about to burn down and type stuff. So it's getting kind of hot in here, literally pun intended. Yeah, but everything's calmed down now. So yeah, that's pretty much the of my turn right here. Who's next?
Taj Williams (19:20.733)
All right.
Taj Williams (19:30.459)
OK, well, I just can say I did like it. He has a video that is interesting. It's kind of like a I guess there's a distillery that does concerts with like a wall of beers behind them. And so like it's him just with the guitar singing it. And it's interesting. Like it's I like his style. It's.
A really kind of powerful song with just him and the guitar singing it for sure. And his vocals are really unique. So, but yeah, for sure.
DW (20:05.973)
Definitely has that rugged feel to them.
Taj Williams (20:08.095)
Yeah, 100 % for sure. OK.
Damon (20:13.783)
I can see the pitchfork rising behind you, Dietrich.
Taj Williams (20:15.827)
you
DW (20:18.793)
You see the horns coming out of my head? Yeah. Am I turning red? Yeah. I kind of feel that right now. Yeah, definitely.
Damon (20:20.87)
Flames flames coming out all over the place. Holy shit
Taj Williams (20:28.511)
So, all right. So I guess I'll move on to my pick. So I picked a song that was released in 2021. So the name of the song is Devil's Calling by Dex.
Taj Williams (21:09.097)
So I listened to this and it caught my attention right away. Even though it seems kind of like church pastor trying to rap a song to put you on the train narrow, it is slick. You can't argue that it's a bit of an earworm and I feel like all the rhymes are slick. The messaging is really good and I understand.
it's it, that's interesting that way. so this, let me back up, I guess. So this came off of Dax's only album so far, which is pain paints and paintings. It's the name of the album. so he, as a child of immigrant, Norwegian parents, I guess he was born in Canada, but he moved to Wichita, Kansas and then, played college ball. And so he's mainly a basketball player that
got interested in rap, like, but it's not like he was super into rap. He just kind of got interested in rap and wanted to do it. One of the rabbit holes, like I went down with Dax was I found out that there's a English or UK rapper known as KSI. Supposedly Dax talked some shit about him and KSI is like
You think you can beat me in an actual boxing match? And so like he kept calling Dax out like, Hey, I'll buy your plane ticket. I'll pay for your hotel. You fly out here. We fight. And like Dax kept pointed off because he had a turning obligations with tech nine. So, but then you've got fast forward then like a couple months to a year later, KSI actually ended up fighting gloke and Paul.
He won according to the judges card, which is interesting. then Logan Paul, like it's all upset about it and tried to get disputed. But then password again to like another year or several months. And then Logan Paul actually fights Mayweather Floyd Mayweather. And so that one ended up as being not decided as who won because there was no judges. So they both were up and standing by the end of the fight. But nobody.
Taj Williams (23:30.555)
has declared who won that fight, whether it was Logan Paul or Mayweather. So it's just kind of a weird thing that's like a rabbit hole that dragged me down. And it all started with Dax talking shit to KSI. So but yeah. So. But yeah, so that was the devil's calling. So but yeah, what did you think?
Damon (23:56.726)
Yeah, Dax. That just having it's a cool name like Dax for a rapper, Dax the rapper. It was yeah, it was unexpected for you to pick something like this, too, because I normally I think you're going a little bit outside your wheelhouse a little bit like you're trying to comfort zone, you know, which is cool. I like it. You know, I like the change ups that you're doing for us. Yeah, and.
Taj Williams (24:01.819)
Right. Exactly.
Taj Williams (24:12.351)
Right.
DW (24:20.883)
Yeah, definitely.
Damon (24:24.631)
Yeah, I like his his background like, you know, of course, I like everybody that's coming from Canada, because that's mainly where I gravitate to musicians. And then, you know, the connection with like the rappers and then the boxers, it kind of feels like it fits in a lot of ways, you know, like the same kind of crowds for like, like concerts and boxing matches. I don't know. But
Taj Williams (24:32.275)
You
DW (24:33.555)
You don't say,
Taj Williams (24:52.552)
Right?
Damon (24:55.127)
Yeah, no, that was good.
DW (24:58.057)
So definitely I feel Dex has been around for a very long time. I've definitely been around his music, even from his first like...
actual poetry that he did back in 2016, you know, before he started releasing music. He came in like the SoundCloud era and he was definitely one of those that knew how to spit. So the fact that he got on with Tech N9ne, who's, you know, one of those rappers that spit, Tim and Hopston, Hopston and a whole bunch of others, like it works, right? He's definitely eclectic. He's know how to change up his style a whole bunch.
he's he's released a whole bunch of singles not a whole bunch of albums but bunch of bps and and mixtapes and hold on still trying to find his leg in it as far as getting on but he's starting to get into his groove now. when you start bringing up like the fights and the feuds and that's like celebrity boxing was kind of like taking off right? but especially with reality or not really but like youtube stars it kind of pretty much what what ksi was right?
Taj Williams (25:53.969)
You
Taj Williams (26:00.126)
Yeah.
DW (26:03.849)
Him and local Paul and Jake Paul all of them were youtubers and then while flipping their money into other things and then got into the celebrity box and then kind of like took it off from there, right? So the fact that he was involved in that mixture of stuff, it was kind of funny. the fact that, you know, he's still around kicking out videos and kicking out music today is like a testament to each drive. So I'm definitely not mad at that. This is like.
One of those situations where you're talking about the devil trying to attack you and from all angles and you're not gonna falter to his his will or his whim so to speak and you're gonna push through it and all the trials and tribulations that you've seen Coming up with everybody that you got around you. This is just one of those real stories like you know, some people deal with the internal thoughts of Just saying fuck it and doing some other stuff some people Yeah, not so much, but he tells it from both sides of the story and
I like the fact that he is lyrical. I like the fact that he does deliver a message and let's be honest, the beat was fire. So I'm not tripping on that. that's kind of like that whole like middle, you know, delivery Chicago delivery right down the phone phone phone. You know, love that little pop. So, you know, it was a good pick. I'm not mad at you, Todd. It was a good one.
Taj Williams (27:09.801)
right?
Taj Williams (27:23.678)
Yeah.
Taj Williams (27:29.183)
So, all right?
Damon (27:31.157)
I mean, I do feel like it's a very good ratio. Like he's like racially like describing like what's going on in his life and how people have been affected like Malcolm X. Like I guess like tyranny or like different things coming at people that like like the devil would be like, I don't know who the devil would be in this instance.
DW (27:53.343)
Devil can beat anybody and everybody and that's the problem. It's trials and tribulations and dealing with an everyday struggle and dealing with fighting. Fighting for your right to survive, let alone trying to come up in the world. So it was a good little message. My bad, I didn't mean to cut you out there.
Damon (27:56.642)
Right.
Damon (28:11.371)
No, no, I like I like when you interject. I'm like talking and then then I realize maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. Then you always bring me back, Dietrich. So thank you.
Taj Williams (28:11.444)
No, no,
DW (28:20.723)
Nah, I got you bro. We're back in. Nah, we straight. You good. You good.
Taj Williams (28:24.308)
Yeah.
Damon (28:24.343)
Nice. Yeah. Well, also, you compare to Tupac, which I thought was interesting. I don't know much about Tupac's whole story, but I know there's shows and there's documentaries. I mean, it's a pretty big deal. So I thought that was interesting, too. And I didn't know who this was.
Taj Williams (28:46.857)
What? What? But that was the thing. Like, I I respect him. I kind of felt like that's where it's like it kind of felt like name drop in in the song. But then it worked like the song worked even with the name drop in. And I think the name drop in was more for metaphor than clout. But maybe I'm wrong. I don't know.
Damon (29:08.055)
Yeah. Yeah. I don't think it was like, well, being too back or the same, like, I don't think he was kind of says it, but not really. I think it's just like similar situations, you know? there's a lot going on in this guy's head and he literally shows you that his head is open with like. What's stuff coming up? Like he's got another little version of himself coming out of his head. So.
Taj Williams (29:14.601)
Yeah.
Taj Williams (29:20.329)
Yeah.
Taj Williams (29:34.031)
yeah. Yeah, that drawing is cool.
Damon (29:37.079)
Yeah, I thought it was pretty cool. It's yeah, it's like a graffiti kind of style, which album covers I think are half of it. If you could pull people in that don't know your stuff, they might listen to one or two of your songs because he had good artwork, you know. So maybe he got that. He probably has a lot of listeners, I'm sure. Yeah, thanks for sharing this. It was unexpected for sure.
Taj Williams (29:48.393)
Right.
Damon (30:06.051)
for Utah, but a good unexpected one.
Taj Williams (30:09.8)
Okay.
DW (30:10.739)
I just got a little gangster.
Taj Williams (30:12.404)
All right.
Damon (30:14.807)
I can see that, baby.
DW (30:15.849)
He just let it out in between the Kesha and the Katy Perry. Not mad at it.
Taj Williams (30:23.359)
Exactly.
Damon (30:24.781)
That would be a weird thing.
Taj Williams (30:28.521)
So, all right. So what, Damon, what did you have for your second one?
Damon (30:33.721)
Okay. So, so I, I, I liked the band in excess and Michael Hutchins, you know, unfortunately he died so young. and I, I want to say that I might've, gone over like, I know I reviewed one of their albums and, they're like a, like a pop rock band, but like very influential, just like really good music.
the 80s and the 90s coming from NXS. And yeah, so I went with a song that everybody knows probably again. So my two picks, I think were more popular. You all had like stuff that wasn't as popular, but yeah, I went with Devil Inside by NXS.
Taj Williams (31:18.987)
gotcha.
Damon (31:38.201)
Yeah, so I think you might even hear some of their stuff on like TV shows, some of the more recent stuff that might be on Netflix and like older stuff, too. I mean, because they've been around for a while. They put out a lot of stuff like before Michael Hutchins passed away. And this was off of I think I might have reviewed the album, oops, but kick is the album from 88.
Taj Williams (31:48.553)
Mm
Taj Williams (32:02.814)
Okay.
Damon (32:06.027)
So like you're on the edge of the 80s, you're going into the 90s, just like the, you know, the other album I was talking about 70s, the 80s that, know, if it's at the tail end of a century or I mean a decade, you're gonna, you're gonna definitely see a lot of that move into the next decade. So yeah, this is definitely in the clubs. This is like 90s music all around, but,
Taj Williams (32:25.929)
Gotcha.
Damon (32:32.945)
I, know, whatever they're actually talking about, like, I think most people saw this as like a fun dance song. And it's probably, you know, I'm sure it's about like, like, questioning yourself and what you what you should and shouldn't do. And, you know, I don't know if the band or the, you know, Michael Hutchins, I you wrote this, you know, what exactly they were going for with it.
That's what I got out of it, but it has the word devil in it and a fun song. So there you go. What'd you guys think?
Taj Williams (33:03.529)
Gather.
DW (33:05.855)
Sure.
Taj Williams (33:07.109)
Right?
Taj Williams (33:11.145)
But yeah, I can see what you're talking about. It's kind of like your biases. It what's interesting is I'm not sure if the motif still exists, but, you know, coming out of the 80s, I know it was still there was, you know, that motif of having one devil on your corner and an angel on the other, you know, like that that kind of went away. I mean, it's still occasionally pops up in pop culture, but, know, that kind of
motif kind of way away with that concept of having one on one on one shoulder, one on the other, you know. And so it's kind of interesting that this kind of like blended dance like, no, it's all internal. Like it's not something seen on your shoulder. It's in you like. Yeah, so.
Damon (33:49.005)
Yeah.
DW (33:58.246)
Exactly.
Damon (34:00.665)
It seems like that's where a lot of music is at time. like, well, now too, but music musicians always try to make their song about like an internal strife. So everybody can relate to it. However they got have to relate to it. So it probably helps sell, but like, makes sense. mean, it's everything I like is kind of like that. But, yeah, interesting too. They, they were on the billboard hot 100 chart.
Taj Williams (34:15.444)
Heh.
Damon (34:27.641)
So I think I don't know if the hot 100 chart is still around, but it must've been pretty hot. Maybe it's because the devil was inside of it.
Taj Williams (34:35.231)
He went there, huh? I thought I was the pun joke guy. I know.
DW (34:36.06)
But don't shh.
Damon (34:39.672)
You
Damon (34:44.395)
I mean, if I didn't take that one.
DW (34:47.685)
It was been out there too long. had to take it.
Damon (34:50.413)
Do you get canceled for that? No, it'll get canceled for bad jokes,
DW (34:54.318)
No, just get considered old.
Damon (35:02.157)
Dammit. All right. Fair enough.
DW (35:03.027)
We're in our dad joke era, so this is perfect. Yeah, it works. Not moving at it. So, NXS, definitely love the band, definitely love the song. I do understand the internal struggle. For where they're coming from, Taji hit the nail on the head.
Taj Williams (35:05.929)
you
DW (35:22.077)
Where it's like, yeah, you don't want to have the devil on the shoulder, the angel on the shoulder, the Jiminy Cricket, you know, telling you what's right and wrong and then, you know, what, you have to go through in order to try to try to live right. It's literally your choice. It's literally inside your body. Like there's an internal struggle going on every day for you to do right shit. Or if you just, it's that old saying, either be good or good at it.
That's where this comes into me. It's one of those situations where you're kind of enticing the bad side to come out because that's the way the music feels when it hits right. But it's supposed to make you feel good too. So it's kind of like that crossroads within itself as well, dealing with the music itself. So I NXS a lot. I wish that they had a longer run.
Than what they did but you know considering and everything that was going on and and and how you know wrapped up That whole situation was like I get it but yeah music like this I definitely wish it would have lasted longer than it did because like Just think of how many other devil's songs that would have came out from like that would have been that would have been Jazzy it would have been like
I don't know how to explain it like they had their own tone like like You two had their tone and you understood their tone and they could take it left But they really didn't do so as much where it's an excess They were right there in that in that left space and they loved it and it's like yeah This is this is 80s. This is this is what we need to hear this is cocaine up the nose party in all night long and shit and just
Taj Williams (37:07.067)
you
DW (37:09.745)
Vibing out in your damn, you know metallic suit while you're running around and yeah This this was that time you're riding around in a Porsche with a blonde Sticking out the window Like this this was that bad era. So man Good pick not mad at it
Damon (37:32.215)
Thanks.
Taj Williams (37:34.761)
So Dietrich, what did you have for your last pick?
DW (37:39.009)
I had nothing. This whole talk about the devil kind of got me scared. I just let it go and not talk about nothing. My left pick was from artists that's gained a lot of popularity, especially within the last, I say like four years. He's definitely one of those artists that you don't expect to come out of like nowhere.
Taj Williams (37:41.191)
Yeah, nothing.
Taj Williams (37:45.409)
DW (38:04.639)
But he definitely did that. the reason I say that is because he started in music late because he was in and out of the prison system. So much so to the point where it almost looked like he wasn't going to survive the way that he was making his choices and the thing that he was doing. So the fact that he actually came out and not only come out to be a good musician, but also come out to be a country star, so to speak.
know, Cunlough country, little rap, little, little, everything mixed in between, but you know, his voice and his story is just everything that's kind of captivating everybody about him. And he's honest, which is very hard to find in the music industry. If somebody does what they said and says what they do and sticks by it. so who I'm talking about is Jelly Roll and the name of the song was Dancing with the Devil.
DW (39:13.449)
So this was his self proclamation of what he was going through dealing with when you're talking about dealing with substance abuse, dealing with negative impacts on your life and how you use those vices in order to try to cope with your situation, but you don't really cope all the way through and how, you know, a couple of bad choices can make a lifetime of choices be harder. And especially when you're like dancing with the devil and on the edge of not.
coming back from it. A couple of overdoses, all it takes is one. But just being right there on the edge, just giving up on life itself. And he's definitely one of those individuals that tell you, 40 years old, did you think you were gonna be a rising pop star or country star? No, he didn't. Yet, here he is. And he's popping up on everybody's songs, he's popping up on everybody's feeds.
He's got a wife and bunny that he loves to death and it's basically put him to be the man that he is today And he'll be the first one to tell you that he was an addict He'll be the first one to tell you that he was in and out of prison He'll be the first one to tell you that he has not lived the straight and narrow life and does not know what that looks like but with God with Whatever you choose is your higher power and however you choose to turn your life around you could do so
with the right people in your corner and the right motivation. And this all just pretty much kicked off in the song right here. And I think that was a good way in order to end off the episode with something that's got negative connotations, but it's positivity that comes out of it because it shows you that anybody can do something if they put their mind and their heart to it.
Taj Williams (41:03.613)
Yeah, yeah, I liked it a lot. It's really powerful. But I also I think what's also interesting thinking on it, hearing you talk about is like it's, you know, it's not running off to try the new thing to cause more problems. It's about sitting and dealing with the current problem and that, you know, dancing with the devil, know, because you have to sit and dance with it because you have to.
DW (41:21.213)
No.
Taj Williams (41:32.243)
fight it off and deal with it. You can't just be like, well, you know, maybe heroin is the solution to cocaine. It's not switching it up. It's like, I'll find something more healthy for me. It's like, no, you got to sit and deal with the current problem rather than. Yeah, yeah. Rather than thinking, yeah, rather than thinking something else will fix it, you know, you just have to fix that one, the current problem. So, yeah.
DW (41:49.203)
You gotta hit that rock bottom. And yeah, a lot of people don't make it out that rock bottom.
DW (41:58.098)
Exactly.
Damon (42:03.645)
I mean, I was really pleasantly surprised when I heard more of Jelly Roll's music. When I first saw like, I don't know when I first saw Jelly Roll on TV or whatever, like on the internet, like it just seemed kind of odd, but I could see where he was trying to make a statement for people to like, I think his name, you know, says it all Jelly Roll. Like he's he had an issue with like
DW (42:27.657)
Mm -hmm.
Damon (42:29.709)
Like a lot of stuff with his health, really. Like he said he was in and out of prison. Like, but like, seems like a really good guy. It's so crazy. He's really religious. He talks a lot about, you know, in different songs. And I guess like dancing, the devil's a pretty religious song too, but it's more about him talking about his issues with drinking when he's feeling like shit or like he uses like drugs and alcohol as a vice.
DW (42:31.268)
Mm -hmm.
DW (42:38.505)
Mm -hmm.
Damon (42:59.619)
But I think he speaks to a lot of people that are desperate. Like this, there's so much disparity out there. It sucks. You know, it's kind of crazy when you look at it, when you see it. So he, yeah, he's pretty good. Like I think he has a really good sound and I had never heard this song before because I never like, could easily look up Jelly Rolls albums and be like, yeah, I want to check this out, but I haven't done it yet. So now I'm going to do it. Now I'm going to sit down. It's like, okay, when I listen.
through when I'm at work, whatever, some jelly roll. And I'll try not to eat any jelly rolls.
DW (43:33.308)
together.
Taj Williams (43:35.261)
Yeah. It has a really good.
DW (43:38.879)
back to back with it. We need that sound effect by the way. We can put that on the board so we can just hit it anytime it comes to between you two guys. Good lord.
Taj Williams (43:41.289)
All right.
Taj Williams (43:47.314)
Right?
Taj Williams (43:52.867)
He's trying to find it. So, but yeah, no, I think he's good. He has a really good growl. It's a term I've been picking up. but yeah. Not now. Yeah. So, all right. We have to take Damon away from the soundboard.
DW (44:07.409)
No, you're not. No, no, no. You're not going to give yourself the applause on that one, everybody. Sorry.
DW (44:17.341)
Exactly.
Taj Williams (44:24.383)
Alright. Yeah, 10 paces.
DW (44:24.575)
That's right before you get shot. yeah.
DW (44:32.773)
Fire and why give you that last cigarette before we start being blowing you up? Yeah, man, he even spoke against Congress to Talking about the Browns fend off fentanyl act and the first thing he says is I don't know nothing about Anything which I do up here. I just know about jokes and I know what they can do to the body I know what they have done to people that you love I know what they you know what they're all about and
Damon (44:33.088)
no.
Taj Williams (44:35.103)
Right.
Damon (44:51.427)
Yeah.
DW (45:00.339)
We need to do something and if I can sit up here and say this then anybody can sit up here and say this and we just need to listen to each other. And I was like, man, that's what got me on him because he's speaking from the heart. And that's when I say when I say he's honest, he's one of those people that you come across. may not be your ordinary cup of tea, but damn it, you're you're you're going to be good for being around him and just get that good vibe. So.
Taj Williams (45:25.693)
Right. That's it.
Damon (45:26.585)
It's so crazy too, you know, like coming from somebody that was in prison and do all that, like he, he probably never thought he'd be hanging out with like the biggest celebrities living the life. You know, he's baller now and I guess he's getting healthier, which is cool. I don't know much about jelly roll, but he's kind of been shoved down my throat with all the radio play and everybody talking about him and you know, he's all over the place. So, but I, and that's what kind of turned me off.
DW (45:35.483)
ever, ever, ever. Yep. Yep.
DW (45:50.483)
you
Damon (45:53.485)
You know to his stuff like is he just like a it's a gimmick maybe but you know seems like he's actually a you know true to true to heart guy so. Good friend.
DW (45:57.64)
Right.
DW (46:02.505)
Yeah, like an industry plant, but he's not easy. He's just a good hard guy that's taking advantage of the situation he's given and they can go out a whole life for him. So.
Damon (46:11.319)
He really deserves what he's like, like the good shit that's coming to him. I mean, I like what he's saying out there, so that's Go jelly roll. Go, go, go.
DW (46:14.654)
you
DW (46:18.581)
Cool, Yeah, good way to end on a good note and get rid of the devil. Yeah.
Taj Williams (46:22.983)
Right? That's for sure.
Damon (46:24.755)
He just cleansed us of the devil. Or something like that.
DW (46:26.644)
Ha
DW (46:30.164)
Right.
Taj Williams (46:30.867)
Something like that. So, all right. Well, Dietrich, do you want to tell us what our next episode will be about? Or do you want some surprises?
DW (46:43.273)
So I'm just gonna go ahead and throw it out there. Our next episode is gonna be about Afrobeats.
Damon (46:47.829)
goody.
Taj Williams (46:51.227)
OK, is that with an S or without S? OK, I've been doing my homework and I learned there's a difference between the.
Damon (46:51.895)
Alright.
DW (46:54.355)
That's with an S. And we're gonna have you groovin' and movin' the whole damn way. There is. There is. We're going with the one with the S, because that's the more upbeat situation that everybody can groove to. That's a different time, a different channel. Yep.
Taj Williams (47:07.308)
Gotcha. Gotcha. Okay. So, all right. Well, let's go and wrap things up. This has been Troye's Tracks. You can find this on our website of TroyeStrax .com or emails at TroyeStrax .gmail .com. Both of those end with a Z. And we ask that you please subscribe and listen to all past and future episodes. Let's sign out. I've been Taj.
Damon (47:11.393)
Well, we're going to have to talk about that one. All right.
Damon (47:36.984)
Daymond.
DW (47:38.929)
And I'm not a devil in the blue dress, but if I see one, I'm gonna run the opposite way. I'm D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D -D
Taj Williams (47:49.249)
you
Damon (47:55.23)
shit, that's another story. We gotta hear. Okay. Okay. Enough!