You, Me and An Album
On each episode, a guest introduces the host, Al Melchior, to an album they love but that he doesn't know. In the process of their album deep dives, Al and his guests discuss their process of music discovery, lyrics analysis, songwriting, musical arrangements, music production and much more.
Episodes
251 episodes
Jorina Stamm Discusses Phoebe Bridgers, Lost Weekend
Jorina Stamm of the Swiss indie pop band Soft Loft joins Al for this week’s album deep dive, and she chose Phoebe Bridgers’ Lost Weekend (released on August 14) to discuss. Jorina explains why she wanted to talk about Lost Weekend<...
Michael Rudd Discusses Townes Van Zandt, self-titled
Albuquerque-based Americana singer-songwriter Michael Rudd joins Al for a deep-dive analysis of Townes Van Zandt’s 1969 self-titled album. Michael explains why he admires Van Zandt’s songwriting, notes what makes this album a special one in Van...
Wesley Stace Discusses Robert Wyatt, Rock Bottom
For his album deep dive, singer, songwriter, author and educator Wesley Stace chose Robert Wyatt’s 1974 album Rock Bottom. Wesley recounts the adolescent friendship that led to his discovery of Rock Bottom, and he explains why...
Bossi Discusses Bruce Springsteen, The River
Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, YouTuber, poet and satirist Bossi joins Al for a rare double album deep dive, as she talks about Bruce Springsteen’s 1980 release The River. Bossi discusses her Springsteen fandom, which dates back...
Rafael Melo (Late Again) Discusses Arthur Verocai, self-titled
For this week’s album deep dive, Brazilian-born, Brooklyn-based musician, songwriter and video game designer Rafael Melo (who records and performs as Late Again) chose Arthur Verocai’s 1972 self-titled album. Rafael talks about how he first cam...
Laura Veirs Discusses Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra, Promises
This week’s guest is Portland-based singer, songwriter, author, podcaster, educator and visual artist Laura Veirs, and she chose the 2021 release Promises by Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra for her al...
Kelley Dugan and Mina Walker of Daisy the Great Discuss Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine
On this episode, Kelley Dugan and Mina Walker of Daisy the Great drop by YMAAA. For their chosen album deep dive, they selected Fiona Apple’s 2005 release Extraordinary Machine. Kelley and Mina talk about their respective musical journ...
Candace Hastings Discusses Adam Carroll, Lookin' Out the Screen Door
Texas-based singer-songwriter Candace Hastings takes us on this week’s album deep dive, as she introduces Al to Adam Carroll’s 2000 album Lookin’ Out the Screen Door. Candace talks about first getting to know Carroll when he was a stud...
Johanna Samuels Discusses Sparklehorse, It's a Wonderful Life
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Johanna Samuels joins Al to introduce him to Sparklehorse’s 2001 album It’s a Wonderful Life. Johanna shares the unique circumstance under which she first learned about Sparklehorse, and she explains...
Tomas Rodriguez Discusses Toumani Diabaté, Kaira
On this episode, Brooklyn-based classical guitarist and music educator Tomas Rodriguez introduces Al to Toumani Diabaté’s 1988 album Kaira. Tomas talks about discovering Kaira during a visit to a New York record store a...
Anne Richmond Boston Discusses The Glands (self-titled)
Georgia-based vocalist, songwriter, graphic designer and illustrator Anne Richmond Boston (The Swimming Pool Q’s, solo) visits YMAAA to introduce Al to The Glands’ self-titled album, released in 2000. Anne talks about getting to know The Glands...
Bob Bert Discusses No New York (no wave compilation)
Drummer and percussionist Bob Bert (Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore, Jon Spencer and the HITmakers, solo) visits YMAAA to introduce Al to the 1978 no wave compilation No New York. Bob talks about the music he listened to growing up in New Je...
Kira Roessler Discusses Bright Eyes, Digital Ash in a Digital Urn
Bassist, songwriter, music producer and film dialogue editor Kira Roessler (Black Flag, dos, solo) introduces Al to Bright Eyes’ 2005 album Digital Ash in a Digital Urn. Kira talks about why this album has been one of her favorites for...
Caro Kelley Discusses Selected Albums from Her 1000 Albums Project - originally published on Bonus Tracks Patreon
This episode was originally published on the YMAAA Patreon in October 2025.Munich-based soul-pop artist Caro Kelley visits Bonus Tracks to talk about her 1000 Albums project, in which she listened to three albums a day for an entire year...
Peter Case Discusses Fred Neil, Sessions
Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Peter Case (solo, The Plimsouls, The Nerves) returns to YMAAA to introduce Al to Fred Neil’s 1968 album Sessions. (Peter was previously on Ep 114 to discuss Bob Dylan’s self-titled...
Robert Margouleff Discusses David Sanborn, As We Speak, and Revisits His Work with Stevie Wonder
Grammy Award-winning producer, engineer, synthesizer programmer, studio owner, film producer and author Robert Margouleff stops by YMAAA to introduce Al to David Sanborn’s 1982 album As We Speak—an album that he produced. Robert talks ...
Robert Deeble Discusses Florist, self-titled
Seattle-based singer, songwriter and guitarist Robert Deeble joins Al to get him acquainted with Florist’s 2022 self-titled album. Robert talks about how he got introduced to the album and why he connected with it almost immediately. He also di...
Grace Bennett and Jade Alcantara of Sub*T Discuss Plumtree, Predicts the Future
Grace Bennett and Jade Alcantara of the Brooklyn-based band Sub*T introduce Al to Plumtree’s 1997 album Predicts the Future (or, as it is alternatively known, Plumtree Predicts the Future). Grace and Jade talk about why the al...
Joe Adragna and Mary Beth Melchior Discuss The Monkees, Head (film and soundtrack) - originally published on Bonus Tracks Patreon
This episode was first published in February 2026 on the You, Me and An Album Bonus Tracks Patreon.Joe Adragna (The Junior League) and Mary Beth Melchior join me for this episode to discuss the Monkees’ film Head, as we...
Jesca Hoop Discusses Joni Mitchell, For the Roses
Manchester-based singer, songwriter and guitarist Jesca Hoop joins Al to introduce him to Joni Mitchell’s 1972 album For the Roses. Jesca talks about how she first discovered For the Roses as well as the earlier albums in Mitc...
Ryan Sollee Discusses No Knife, Fire in the City of Automatons
On this episode, The Builders and The Butchers frontman Ryan Sollee joins Al to introduce him to No Knife’s 1999 album Fire in the City of Automatons. Ryan shares why he chose to talk about this No Knife album for this episode, and he ...
James Petralli (White Denim) Discusses Stevie Wonder, Music of My Mind
L.A.-based singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer James Petralli of White Denim joins Al for this episode to introduce him to Stevie Wonder’s 1972 album Music of My Mind. James talks about the album’s “value system,” and why it app...
Amelia Fletcher Discusses Girls at Our Best!, Pleasure
On this episode, singer/songwriter/guitarist/economist Amelia Fletcher (Heavenly, Swansea Sound, Catenary Wires, Talulah Gosh) introduces Al to Girls at Our Best’s 1981 album Pleasure. Amelia revisits her teenage fandom of Girls at Our...
Matt Smith Discusses Songwriting in Politically Charged Times, Writing about Grief and More
Austin-based producer, engineer, singer-songwriter and educator Matt Smith joins Al for the second part of their conversation. (You can hear the first part, in which they discuss Robert Plant’s Mighty ReArranger, on the previous episod...