Gardens: May 24, 2011

With spring in full effect, Variations on a Theme continues its run of spring themes with a theme of Gardens. Get out there and plant something!

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We start with an old-fashioned murder ballad from a new band.

Zeus - "The River by the Garden" - Say Us (2010)

The Minus 5 - "The Family Gardener" - Down with Wilco (2003)

Gardens are often used as political metaphors as well, addressing issues like climate change and war.

Hayley Sales - "Not in His Garden (feat. Donavon Frankenreiter)" - When the Bird Became a Book (2010)

Neil Young - "After the Garden" - Living with War (2006)

The Dresden Dolls - "The Gardener" - No, Virginia... (2008)

We continue in the vein of gardens being dark, ominous places where trouble is taking place.

PJ Harvey - "The Garden" - Is This Desire? (1998)

Pearl Jam - "Garden" - Ten (1991)

We keep on rocking but take it in a punk direction.

SNFU - "Better Homes and Gardens" - If You Swear, You'll Catch No Fish (1986)

Bad Religion - "Atomic Garden" - Generator (1992)

We travel back in time to the late '60s to discover that gardens can also be happy, fun, carefree places—even if they're underwater.

The Beatles - "Octopus's Garden" - Abbey Road (1969)

The Byrds - "Mind Gardens" - Younger Than Yesterday (1967)

The Guess Who - "A Wednesday in Your Garden" - Wheatfield Soul (1968)

We conclude with a Southern rock epic from an up-and-coming indie group.

The Bright Light Social Hour - "Garden of the Gods" - The Bright Light Social Hour (2010)

Radio (Kootenay Co-op Radio Membership Drive): May 17, 2011

This week is Kootenay Co-op Radio's membership drive, so Variations on a Theme went with a Radio theme, while also interviewing a few special guests about the importance of co-op radio: yoga teacher Karuna Erickson, musician Lyndon Schiewe and singer/songwriter Frazey Ford.

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NOFX - "Radio" - BYO Split Series Volume III (2002)

Karuna Erickson interview, discussing the benefits of being a KCR member and why co-op radio is worthy of your support.

Operation Ivy - "Sound System" - Energy (1989)

Michael Franti & Spearhead - "Listener Supported" - Stay Human (2001)

Lyndon Schiewe interview, on his experience in campus radio and why community radio matters, plus a song from his band Random Device.

Random Device - "Rebuild" - Digital Attack (2009)

Sweatshop Union - "Radio Edit" - Natural Progression (2004)

Frazey Ford interview, in which she discusses community building and why co-op radio is much more nutritious and better for you than mainstream schlock.

Frazey Ford - "I Like You Better" - Obadiah (2010)

The Velvet Underground - "Rock & Roll" - Loaded (1970)

In all, $430 in member contributions came in over the course of the hour. Thank you everyone!

Flower Varieties: May 10, 2011

We conclude our two-part flower series on Variations on a Theme with a show focusing on the many different varieties of flowers.

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Let's start with a song that runs through a number of flowers before settling on...

Falcatross - "Tulips" - Sprung (2009)

The Seedy Seeds - "Dandelion" - Count the Days (2008)

Ron Sexsmith - "Dandelion Wine" - Retriever (2004)

We transition into flowers as metaphors for love.

The Wailin' Jennys - "Cherry Blossom Love" - Bright Morning Stars (2011)

The Honeycutters - "Lilies" - Irene (2009)

From one L flower to another.

Radiohead - "Lotus Flower" - The King of Limbs (2011)

Nina Simone - "Poppies" - Emergency Ward (1972)

Now we feature a couple of tracks from singer-songwriter Dan Bejar.

Destroyer - "Blue Flower/Blue Flame" - Trouble in Dreams (2008)

Hello, Blue Roses - "Hello Blue Roses" - The Portrait Is Finished and I Have Failed to Capture Your Beauty... (2008)

Let's continue with a rose of a different color.

Abigail Lapell - "Yellow Rose" - Great Survivor (2011)

Lucinda Williams - "Like a Rose" - Lucinda Williams (1988)

And we conclude our show with one more run for the roses.

Ween - "Roses Are Free" - Chocolate and Cheese (1994)

Flowers: May 3, 2011

Following last week's Bees episode, Variations on a Theme chose to focus on the object of bees' affections: Flowers. Herein is the first part of a two-part series on flowers. This week's episode deals with flowers in general.

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Camper Van Beethoven - "Flowers" - Key Lime Pie (1989)

Shotgun Jimmie - "Too Many Flowers" - Transistor Sister (2011)

Wilco - "Forget the Flowers" - Being There (1996)

What role do flowers play in a relationship?

Kathleen Edwards - "Asking for Flowers" - Asking for Flowers (2008)

Jim Bryson - "Flowers" - Where the Bungalows Roam (2007)

Cross Canadian Ragweed - "Flowers" - Soul Gravy (2004)

We continue to examine how flowers play into love and life.

Mazzy Star - "Flowers in December" - Among My Swan (1996)

Animal Collective - "In the Flowers" - Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)

Now we get a little more esoteric on the subject of flowers.

Frog Eyes - "A Flower in a Glove" - Paul's Tomb: A Triumph (2010)

Radiohead - "Last Flowers" - In Rainbows (2007)

Last Flowers transitions us to the subject of flowers and mortality.

Simon & Garfunkel - "Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall" - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966)

Attack in Black - "Leaving Your Death in a Flowerbed" - Years (By One Thousand Fingertips) (2009)

We end with a vision of what the world will be like post-civilization—covered in flowers.

Talking Heads - "(Nothing But) Flowers" - Naked (1988)