In the Wilderness: Harry Nilsson, 1966-1971
In the Wilderness is a feature in which a group of Strange Currencies contributors examine an overlooked or under-appreciated period of an artisRead More…
Author: Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan founded Strange Currencies Music in January 2020, and remains the site's editor-in-chief. The creator of the "A Century of Song" project and co-host of the "Strange Currencies Podcast," Matt enjoys a wide variety of genres, but has a particular affinity for 60s pop, 90s indie rock, and post-bop jazz. He is an avid collector of vinyl, and a multi-instrumentalist who has played/recorded with several different bands and projects.
On Rejuvenation, Community, and Album Ratings
I registered the domain for Strange Currencies in the final minutes of December 31, 2019. It was on that same date that officials in Wuhan first Read More…
Welcome to Soundtrack Month
Summer is the season of blockbusters. For those of us at Strange Currencies, that makes it the perfect time for “Soundtrack Month.” All throuRead More…
An Introduction to Space Age Pop
It’s the mid-twentieth century, and America is locked in an existential Cold War with the Soviet Union. At the center of this conflict of superpoRead More…
In the Wilderness: Weezer, 2001-2010
In the Wilderness is a feature in which a group of Strange Currencies contributors examine an overlooked or under-appreciated period of an artisRead More…
Animal Collective – Feels
Animal Collective Feels FatCat – 2005 Rating: 9.3 Animal Collective’s sixth record found the Baltimore-based group striking a perfeRead More…
Joe Meek – I Hear a New World
Joe Meek & The Blue Men I Hear a New World: An Outer Space Music Fantasy Triumph – 1960 / RPM – 1991 Rating: 8.6 Though it wasnRead More…
Martin Denny – Hypnotique
Martin Denny Hypnotique Liberty – 1958 Rating: 8.8 Martin Denny’s fifth LP synthesizes the novel stylistic elements of his 1957 lanRead More…
Episode 12 – Defining “Kitsch”
In this episode of the Strange Currencies Podcast, Matt and Glenn discuss the concept of musical “kitsch.” Join them as they talk about exotica, Read More…
An Introduction to Exotica
In terms of “kitsch-factor,” few – if any – genres in the history of popular music can compare to exotica. Arriving at the peak of post-war affluRead More…