Nakedly Examined Music #15 w/ Craig Wedren (PEL Crossover Special)
Summary: Hey, PEL Listeners, go subscribe to Nakedly Examined Music at <a href="http://nakedlyexaminedmusic.com" target="_blank">nakedlyexaminedmusic.com</a> or <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nakedly-examined-music/id1076953601?mt=2" target="_blank">on iTunes</a>!<br> Craig is into Buddhism and surrealism, and led <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shudder_to_Think" target="_blank">Shudder to Think</a> from 1986 to 1998, and has since had a solo career and done soundtrack work, often for members of the comedy team <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_State_(TV_series)" target="_blank">The State</a> like childhood friend <a href="http://davidwain.com/" target="_blank">David Wain</a>.<br> Shudder to Think was a band that started as part of Washington DC's "hardcore" scene, but challenged musical conventions to try to achieve U2-level success with Captain-Beefheart-level weirdness (they failed). We discuss their song "Pebbles" from Get Your Goat (1992), then go post-Shudder to "Show Down" by Craig's short-lived attempt at a pop-dance band, since released as Craig Wedren & Baby. Then we talk about working on assignment and his experience with "I Am the Wolf, You Are the Moon" (co-written by Isaac Carpenter), which appeared on 2015's Netflix (David Wain/Michael Showalter) series Wet, Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp. We conclude by listening to "Heaven Sent" from the Craig Wedren album Wand (2011).<br> The opening music is Shudder to Think's "X-French Tee Shirt" from Pony Express Record (1994) and the closing music is the theme from the MTV show The State featuring samples of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nation_of_Ulysses" target="_blank">The Nation of Ulysses</a>.<br> Learn more about Craig at <a href="http://www.craigwedren.com/" target="_blank">craigwedren.com</a>.<br> And here's a progress update on this here spin-off podcast about songs and songwriting: I've interviewed a bunch of smart people, exploring their philosophies of creativity and life: Do you work meticulously like <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2016/02/14/nem4-gareth-mitchell/" target="_blank">Gareth Mitchell</a> or seize the moment like <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2016/05/25/nem16-narada-michael-walden/" target="_blank">Narada Michael Walden</a>? Do you retreat from the world like <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2016/05/01/nem14-jonathan-donahue-mercury-rev-mountain-man-of-subtlety/" target="_blank">Jonathan Donahue</a> or get out everywhere like <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2016/03/04/nem7-gary-lucas/" target="_blank">Gary Lucas</a>? Do you (reflectively) play the fame game like <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2016/03/25/nem-10-nick-eede/" target="_blank">Nick Eede</a> or eschew it like <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2016/02/27/nem6-steve-petrinko/" target="_blank">Steve Petrinko</a>? Do you focus on inspiring others like <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2016/04/22/nem13-beth-kille/" target="_blank">Beth Kille</a> or working with those that inspire you like <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2016/04/12/nem12-john-philip-shenale/" target="_blank">John Philip Shenale</a>? Do you take sole ownership of your career like <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2016/02/21/nem5-jeff-heiskell/" target="_blank">Jeff Heiskell</a> or become director of a creative commune like <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2016/03/19/nem9-roderick-romero/" target="_blank">Roderick Romero</a>? Do you redirect when things get boring like <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2016/02/04/nem3-kevin-godley/" target="_blank">Kevin Godley</a> or keep your needs simple and consistent like <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2016/01/28/nem2-fritz-beer/" target="_blank">Fritz Beer</a>? Do you allow yourself to <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2016/04/11/ep37-1-bourdieu/" target="_blank">get suckered into meeting the rest of the PEL gu...</a>
