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Imagine a world...a world without New Order. Or Mariah Carey. Or Wu-Tang Clan. Or Iron Maiden. Or P!nk. or (big gasp!) INXS. THE HORROR. Well, all of these phenomenal artists, AND MORE, are either finally or once again nominated for music's highest career honor...the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And, as is the Sherman and Ski custom, we've got some capital O-pinions. When the nominations dropped this week, quite literally so did our jaws as this grouping is one of the most diverse and PACKED set of artists they've ever thrown together. Neither of us think there's any complete shoo-ins, and neither of us had ever realized that Angry Man legend PHIL COLLINS wasn't already inducted as a solo artist. (Billy, they Lost His Number?). So sit back, pour yourself a tall one and a short one, and listen as Sherman and Ski debate the new nominees. Also, hear Sherman enter the all time INXS rant, out of the sheer joy of his favorite band finally receiving industry recognition. It's What You Need. Also, people said we'd never get over our Phil Collins obsession, but take a look at us now. ENJOY and remember, the two of us are usually right about things, so it's past time for Billy Idol to make it in...Staaaaaart agaaaaaain! Ow.

Welcome back to Sherman and Ski: Talk You Into It. One of the most iconic pop acts from the mid 90's through the mid aughts - The Cardigans flew into our collective lives on a sugary magic carpet of melodies with the one-in-a-million superhit Lovefool. But, as customary here at this pod, we are diving WAAAAY deeper, and so should you! These Nordic pop magicians weaved an incredible sound through all of their albums, Life, First Band on the Moon, Gran Turismo, Super Extra Gravity...and all with a mysterious, dark, death metal underpinnings - almost predictable coming from Sweden. Blending influences from the Beach Boys, Burt Bacharach, and yes, Black Sabbath - The Cardigans were a true group of musicians with a deceptive malleability of their sound. They are true masters of the earworm, with a signature vocalist in the form of Nina Persson - it's stunning that they don't have a greater presence in the American music culture. Also, do NOT ever underestimate their covers of both Ozzy Osbourne AND the Talking Heads...you KNOW Sherman and Ski are talking about it here. ..this pod is a must listen for 90's fans and alt-rock historians, we went deep into the catalog on this one! Rise & shine, folks.

Happy Memorial Day weekend folks…Sherman and Ski are BACK baby.  We’ve got a batch of fresh new episodes locked and loaded and ready to go…so what better way to kick off summer than to listen to our truly HOT and at least half incorrect takes on this year’s inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Now, as our loyal listeners know, this is a frequent topic, so back in the dead of winter when the nominees were released, Ski and I huddled up and took a stab at the impossible – guessing what this clandestine body of voters might decide.  So three weeks ago, the white puff of smoke happened and the world got 7 new members ushered in, plus a new pope.  Take a listen to see just how wrong we both were in Feburary, even though, as always, we had the right takes REGARDLESS of the actual outcome.  Ski went 2 for 6 on his picks, and Sherman did slightly better at 3 for 6, and of course neither of us knew they would back door admit Salt n Pepa (LONG OVERDUE).   Look for new episodes weekly-ish as well, so resubscribe if you’ve missed us!! (Recorded Feb 2025). WE MISSED YOU ALL!!

Tomorrow, October 27th 2023, marks a momentous occasion in pop music history. Sort of. 25 years ago on that date, the initial American compilation record of Now! That’s What I Call Music made its way onto retail shelves. Some 87 volumes later (and with a 25th anniversary tracklist reveal tomorrow to boot)… Now! That’s What I Call Country, Christmas, Motown, Dance, fill-in-the-blank Genre releases as well…it’s snapshot of modern American music history. Sherman and Ski simply cannot, nay, WILL NOT, let this phenomenon go unnoticed. Ergo, this episode is dedicated to a track by track review of the original compact disc, the one that started it all. It peaked at #10 on the album Billboard charts, and went platinum (as did the 28 volumes that came afterwards). But to paraphrase Stefan from SNL, this collection really DID have everything…Janet Jackson, Marcy Playground, Fastball, Aqua, Lenny Kravitz, Tonic, Backstreet Boys, Radiohead, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Hanson, All Saints…it was so NOW, then. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Now_That%27s_What_I_Call_Music!_(original_U.S._album) As regular listeners know, a chatfest about this type of sonic overload could stretch on for hours and hours. Therefore - Sherman and Ski have timed each other’s commentary on this episode, limiting ourselves to a 90 second review of each track, and then pick our two tracks that we felt represented this unique moment in time (and our favorites). We hope you enjoy this trip down 90’s Nostalgia Lane as much as we did recording it – take a listen to see our hot takes, and who we both picked as our essential tracks from this seminal compilation that has changed music distribution for the last 25 years!

In the Better Late Than Never Dept - Sherman & Ski do a post festival recap of the final two days at the Pitchfork Festival…which, due to weather and some lousy communication from the organizers winds up being a helluva lot more about the awesome city of Chicago. Shout outs for Lagunitas Brewing, Gibson’s Steakhouse, The Barrel…a couple of good sets and a lot of laments that some shows DIDN’T go on. Still a good listen for some rants!!

A nearly-live, quick and dirty update from Day 1 of the 2023 Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago IL. An awesome city to explore for any reason , Sherman and Ski do some deep dishing on some tremendous acts like Alvvays, Nation of Language , Grace Ives and Chicago funk act Ric Wilson. Also, Ski is available as a local drummer for all your local drumming needs…listen to find out why this inside joke exists!

Have you been to the land Down Under? Us either, but that doesn't mean we are scared to flip hemispheres. This episode of Sherman and Ski lauds the songwriting and pop sensibility of lead singer Colin Hay, and the whole Aussie gang. Men At Work were clearly a new wave phenomenon, but incorporate a wide variety of instruments, EXTREMELY high melodic notes, and tons of ska/reggae influence which tends to get overlooked. In terms of albums, Business As Usual went supernova of course (Best New Artist Grammy), but both Sherman and Ski agree that Cargo is the underappreciated gem. They streaked like a comet across the outback, then the States, and of course, Ski digs deep into the catalog for his picks. Sherman throws in a fun personal interaction with Mr. Hay (who is hilarious, btw) backstage at Bonnaroo one year, and we all climb back into the cassette tape time capsule. It's beyond time to reassess Men At Work. Crikey!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...nope, the other one, when Sherman and Ski do their annual plunge into the abyss that is the Rock and Roll HOF voting system. For the third straight year, we attempt to predict the less-than-predictable and not only guess what the Hall is 'thinking', but what WE would do with 5 to 7 votes. As we anxiously await the white puffs of smoke to emanate from Cleveland to determine the fate of the artists' HOF status, Sherman casts his 7, Ski casts his 7, and both of them take credit for previous visionary predictions such as Duran Duran (ep #1), the Go-Go's (ep #19), Lionel (ep #17)...man, we are actually right QUITE a bit. It doesn't take a seer to guess that both Sherman & Ski are STOKED about the Joy Division/New Order nomination (ep #13 if you haven't listened) but take a listen to see who else we think will get in this year!

Just when you think that we wouldn’t dare do it, we invite you to KEEP IT COMIN’ LOVE - Sherman and Ski are vouching for disco (and Latin FUNK) superstars and underrated heroes, KC and THE SUNSHINE BAND. Literally, there are nothing but hits from Miami native Harry Wayne Casey. In fact, a person can drive from Washington DC to Carlisle PA, and you are NOT out of hits, not by a longshot. Sherman and Ski DO get to a couple of extremely deep cuts from the catalog, specifically from their earlier funk records which has some serious bass and horn action. Ski reminds us that there’s not too much of the string section of traditional disco.  However, Sherman informs us that there is plenty of Booty and Boogie references that remain. Sherman can’t get enough of their fourth album, the oddly titled KC & The Sunshine Band Part III, which is jam-packed with earworms and rump-shakers. Ski pulls from the stellar 1974 debut album Do It Good, and boy is Ski ready to party and Sound Your Funky Horn. Sherman is floored that Please Don’t Go was originally penned by KC as he only knows the KWS 90’s club cover, but of course Ski knew it. We both DO agree that the premium KC material leans towards the earliest work, and one should probably avoid the 2000’s album Yummy, with a bizarre Peter Gabriel cover…yeah, let’s stick with the Latin funk and disco stuff. We also reconnect briefly on the Rock & Roll HOF class of 2022, and see how we did…have a listen!

Happy New Year!! Sherman and Ski are BACK from a small hiatus to bring you some fresh NINETIES era content - we are talking you into another listen of the legendary Luscious Jackson. Founded by Jill Cunniff, Gabby Glaser, Vivian Trimble and joined by ex-Beastie Boys original drummer Kate Schellenbach, this incredible foursome produced some of the most unique sounds of the early to mid 90's. Best known for their 1996 chart hit, the mega-catchy track "Naked Eye", it's hard to overstate how overlooked their catalog has wound up, as they were true alt-rock pioneers with a true blend of hip hop rhythms, speak singing, harmonies, synth flavors...just damn fine work, really. As usual, Ski discovered this record during his year in Bologna, and reminds us of their later catalogue which is a kids record, while Sherman stumps about the In Search of Manny EP and the debut record Natural Ingredients, and realizes that he may enjoy their…jazz influences? But let’s just say the deep dive we go into is absolutely worth the plunge…as Luscious Jackson’s entire oeuvre has been criminally overlooked. Thanks for jumping back on board with Sherman & Ski!

Sherman and Ski always have a take on who is fortunate enough to earn a nomination to the Rock & Roll HOF…and this year is no different! Take a listen to their predictions…who they’d vote for. It won’t be long to find out how right or wrong they were!

When David Lee Roth left (or was fired from?) Van Halen following their massive album “1984” the Van Halen brothers considered several possible replacements, from Patty Smythe from Scandal (“I am the WARRIOR!!) to, yes, Phil Collins and, are you sitting down, Daryl Hall from Hall and Oates. Ultimately, they wanted to stay true to the concept of a four-piece band and followed the lead of AC/DC who went from Bon Scott to Brian Johnson. They landed on Sammy Hagar, who first gained notoriety as lead singer of the criminally underrated and overlooked Montrose and then as a solo artist (“I can’t drive……55!!”). Unburdened by trying to land a record deal or establish a name for themselves, Van Hagar could simply focus on being arena rock heroes. And who can argue with the results? Four US Number 1 multi-platinum albums, MTV video staples (“Right Now” and “Top of the World”), and sold-out tours. So confident that their fans would come along for the ride, Van Halen barely touched on those Roth-era albums during their tours, incorporating a bit of Sammy solo but nothing besides “Jump” from their formative years. The turn to synths and pop on “1984” paved the way for Van Hagar power-pop gems like “Why Can’t This Be Love” “When It’s Love” “Dreams” and “Love Walks In.” But fear not fans of rock and roll, they could still knock you over the head with the first power-drill hit (“Poundcake”) and “Best of Both Worlds” and tap into the blues with “Finish What Ya Started.” Sammy was a more traditional hard rock lead singer with a top-heavy range only surpassed by Anthony’s background vocals that seamlessly transitioned from Roth to Hagar.  Despite Van Hagar’s success, the Van Halen brothers had yet another falling out with a lead singer and Sammy was out by 1996. After trying to catch lightning in a bottle a third time with Gary Cherone from Extreme on “Van Halen III” (note to listeners: there will NOT be a podcast on Van Cherone), and a brief reunion with Sammy for a tour in the mid-2000s, Van Halen went back to Roth in 2007 as you always kind of knew they would. When Eddie died, we lost a chance to hear those Van Hagar songs just one more time. But the music lives on. Just get your best pair of board shorts and Hawaiian shirt, head down to the beach on a sunny summer day, pour yourself a margarita and crank up “5150.” Long live Van Hagar.

Van Halen is one of the most influential bands in rock-n-roll history. Period. And their story simply cannot be told in one chapter (or podcast). Chapter 1: DIAMOND DAVE, BABY.  The first four Van Halen albums – Van Halen, Van Halen II, Women and Children First, Fair Warning – are iconic, unparalleled in the annals of hard rock and heavy metal. Lead singer: David Lee Roth: master showman and the ultimate frontman. What he might lack in vocal chops, he more than makes up with charisma, hoots and howls, leg-kicks and “I WILL ENTERTAIN YOU UNTIL YOU ARE ENTERTAINED” determination. And, yes, he probably invented LSD: Lead Singer Disease. On guitar: Edward Van Halen. EVH. I mean, c’mon. It’s Hendrix, Clapton, Page, and Eddie Van Halen. Bruce Springsteen once said “If you sound like them, you play like them.” And how many guitarists in the 80s and 90s tried to sound like Eddie Van Halen? Every single one of them. And not just the usual suspects from the Sunset Strip, but Billy Corgan and Mike McCready from Sherman and Ski’s sweet spot of 90s alternative too. Everything was held down by the ultimate rhythm section of Michael Anthony on bass and Alex Van Halen on drums. Unlike Eddie, you might not find them on any top ten lists of their craft, but they laid the foundation and powered the band forward, especially live. And not to be overlooked, Anthony’s backing vocals reached incredible heights and are almost foundational to the sound of the band, unlike anything you might here this side of Mike Mills from R.E.M. They became arena rock heroes when rock bands were still able to break through relentless touring and FM radio. And then there was the birth of MTV and music videos. The album “1984” was their swan song with Roth and their most commercial album to date, layered with synths and pop gems like their first number 1 hit, “Jump” and videos that defined the time like “Hot for Teacher.” Much to the chagrin of their longtime fans and rock guitar absolutists, Van Halen was suddenly climbing the pop charts and rubbing shoulders with Madonna and Michael Jackson (Eddie of course added his signature sound to “Beat It”). Yet at the height of their success, Roth left to pursue a solo career and it seemed Van Halen had reached the end of the line. How many bands in rock history get a second act when they replace the lead singer? Well, Sherman and Ski have a story to tell you about the birth and success of Van Hagar. But we’ll leave that to the next installment!

Well, one week into the new year, but we can't let the music from last year go JUST yet. Sherman & Ski give their take on their top five records of the past year, somewhat surprisingly without any overlaps!  These picks run the gamut this year - Sherman wound up digging some alt-jazz, an unbelievable soul singer, some spoken-word UK post-punk and a 90's throwback...Ski went with a shoegaze vibe, an heir to a musical throne, something nutso out of France and some dirty southern rock, to name a few.  Who are these randos???  Take a listen to find out!  Also check out our Spotify playlist with Sherman's Heavy Rotation from 2021 to see what else he was into.  Happy new music discovery day everyone!!

The podcast at least eighteen years in the making is finally here.  As the 20th episode of Sherman & Ski: Talk You Into It draws nigh, at the close of the year 2021, we bestow upon our dear listeners the ELECTRIC SIX, the ultimate disco/funk/punk/rock/metal demigods of Detroit (Rock City!).  Do you like dancing?  Do you like irreverent lyrical content?  Do you prefer over the top theatrics?  Do you like Jack White, Kiss' Dynasty album, Spinal Tap, and bizarro covers of the Alan Parsons Project, Roxette, and Stevie Nicks?  Do you enjoy a band with a rotating lineup of ridiculous fake names?  And most importantly, have you ever declared nuclear war on the dance floor?  Look, if you're stuck in the house this New Year's Eve, fire up our Electric Six companion playlist (after hearing this pod) and boogie down all night.  Kiss off both 2021 and snooty rock critics alike, and join us worshipping at the throne of lead crooner Dick Valentine and his merry band of mayhem-raisers, the Electric Six.  Irrepressibly fun, catchy hooks and hip-shaking rhythms, insane lyrics and shout-out along choruses, the Six are the only band to announce that they are not her to play 18 songs, but NINETEEN.  And then, they'll play the hits.  ENJOY! - Sherman & Ski