Episode 38: Dave Wyndorf Talks New Monster Magnet Album ‘A Better Dystopia’-SLIS Podcast: Monster Magnet frontman discusses band new album of obscure cover songs and how it relates to our pandemic present.
When Monster Magnet frontman/songwriter Dave Wyndorf was stuck in pandemic lockdown, he decided the best thing to do was keep busy, and he and his bandmates holed up in the studio and got to work on a new album.
Monster Magnet have always stuck out like a sore thumb in the musical landscape in the most beautiful way, from their 1991 debut ‘Spine of God’, to seismic releases like 1995’s ‘Dopes to Infinity’ and 1998’s ‘Powertrip,’ which contained their hit single ‘Spacelord.’
For their latest, the group decided to revisit their psychedelic and proto-metal roots, by crafting their first full length album of covers. The resulting album, ‘A Better Dystopia,’ (click here for my review) eschews well-known anthems in exchange for underrated, forgotten tracks from the late 60’s and early 70’s, including covers of tunes by bands including Dust, Hawkwind, Poo-bah, The Pretty Things, Pentagram and more.
In today’s podcast episode, Dave Wyndorf discusses the inspirations behind the new album, how he was able to tie it thematically to the COVID-19 pandemic, how the group embrace their outsider status, the state of the music industry and our current political landscape, what the band has in store as society slowly creeps back to some sense of normalcy, and much more.
This is the 3rd interview I’ve done with Wyndorf (you can click here to read my first one, and click here to listen tp my 2018 podcast interview with him), and he continues to be one of the sharpest and shrewdest minds in the business, and it’s always fascinating to hear his take on things.
So check out the interview and stick around afterwards when I’ll be playing ‘Learning to Die’, a song off the new album. Click here to listen to the interview via Apple Podcasts and click here to listen via Spotify, or listen via the Anchor embed or other podcast platforms at the bottom of this post. You can also purchase ‘A Better Dystopia’ via the Amazon link below.
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Awesome interview with Dave Wyndorf! What a refreshing, thoughtful, and intelligent take he has on things.
Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed! That was my takeaway too. This is the third time I’ve interviewed him, and he is just about the sharpest rocker out there.
I just recently found your blog and podcast via Facebook. I happen to know Dave, from his early days in Red Bank, NJ, when he had his band Shrapnel. He and his bandmates used to hang around Jack’s Music Shop, where I worked at the time…very nice guy, and yes, sharp. Thanks again!