Episodes

While other punk/hardcore bands of their time seemed to be in a race to be the heaviest AND fastest, San Francisco's Flipper slowed things down to a crawl, and imbued their brand of existential nihilism with a healthy dose of detached irony. Hoboken New Jersey musician Dan Cuddy (Hypnolovewheel, The Special Pillow) brings us their landmark debut, 1982's ' Album - Generic Flipper ', in all its ragged glory. Strap in! Songs discussed in this episode: Problem Child (AC/DC cover) - Flipper; Secret S...

It might be easier to mention the bands this week's guest Dan Bonebrake HASN'T played with - his bass playing has graced the likes of Lightworkers, The Honest Liars, Manta Wray, Dashboard Confessional, Grey & Orange, John Ralston, War Generation, Vacant Andys, Enablers, Seville, Quit, Fay Wray, Pivot, Anchorman, Where Fear and Weapons Meet, Cori Elba, The Stiff and on and on... This week, Dan, brings us Washington D.C. post-hardcore iconoclasts Shudder To Think and their 1992 release ' Get Your ...

For this special BONUS episode we asked our Patrons to send in some of their favorite songs by a band featuring someone OTHER THAN the usual front person. Let's show the sidemen (or side-women) some love! Songs featured in this episode: I'm Sticking With You - The Velvet Underground; Sleeping On The Sidewalk - Queen; Coffee & TV - Blur; Where's The Money? - French, Frith, Kaiser & Thompson; Broken Chair - Luna; Years Long Ago - The Long Ryders; Rats - The Kinks; I Never Glid Before - Gong; OOh L...

Soundly maligned upon its release in 1971, Paul (and Linda) McCartney 's whimsically pastoral ' RAM ' has only grown in stature over the years, with some insisting that this joyfully strange collection of songs basically invented indie-pop. This week's guest, musician Nick Estes (The Parts. Wonderful Smith) , joins known Beatles agnostic Rob to unpack this post-fab-four classic. Ram on! Songs discussed in this episode: Too Many People - Tim Christensen, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham with The Damn Cry...

When Chicago blues pianist, singer and songwriter Johnny Iguana (The Claudettes) discovered bands like Minutemen and Husker Du as a teen in Philadelphia, it opened up a world of musical possibilities he's STILL unpacking. He eventually came into possession of The Roxy London WC2 - a live album of recordings taken from various punk bands that played at The Roxy club in Covent Garden, London between January and April 1977 - and the raw, unfettered performances of bands like Wire, Buzzcocks and X-R...

Author Chris Connelly (C argo Recording Studios 1977-1985 ) joins us to unpack criminally underrated UK band The Chameleons and their 1983 debut album ' Script Of The Bridge '. Cargo Studios , though only active from 1977 to 1985 in Rochdale, quickly became the epicentre for post-punk and independent recording bands across the UK, including The Fall, Joy Division, OMD, Gang Of Four, Felt and many many more. Chris was THERE for some of the ' Script Of The Bridge ' sessions, and offers keen insigh...

This week, Marina and Mick Muhlfriedel of the late 70s/early 80s techno-pop band Vivabeat , join us to discuss the endlessly innovative Brian Eno and his 1977 solo album, ' Before and After Science '. "Here he comes The boy who tried to vanish To the future or past, is no longer here..." King's Lead Hat (Brian Eno cover) - Ultravox; Man From China (Live, 1983), Wild World (Live, 1979) - Vivabeat; Virginia Plain - Roxy Music; The House Is Burning (But No One Is Home) - Vivabeat; Heroes - David Bo...

This week's guest, songwriter, vocalist and guitarist for the Portland, Oregon-based band The Builders and The Butchers ' Ryan Sollee , brings us Fugazi and their third full-length record, 1993's ' In On The Kill Taker '. Raw, visceral and at times raggedly beautiful, it's the sound of a band that - true to their DIY ethos - refused to compromise. Songs discussed in this episode: Facet Squared (Live, Los Angeles CA 03-08-99) - Fugazi; Cold Fire Hymn, Blood/Death, Bringin' Home The Rain - The Bui...

For this special episode, Rob asked artist, musician and flight attendant Cori Elba - who ALSO happens to be his daughter - to curate a playlist of songs by female artists/female-fronted bands that had an effect on her life. As you'll hear, these aren't just 'favorite songs', but songs she's listened to literally hundreds of times and that ultimately played a huge role in her development as an independent, badass female human. Songs discussed in this episode: Real Wild Child - Joan Jett & The Bl...

Musician, songwriter, film and TV composer and record producer Ben Vaughn ( Straight From The Hat with Ben Vaughn ) brings us Alan Vega and his 1980 self-titled debut solo album. On this release, Vega - one-half of groundbreaking New York synth-punk duo Suicide - delivers stripped-down, minimalist songs that manage to feel both ancient AND avant-garde! Songs discussed in this episode: Bye Bye Bayou (Alan Vega cover) - LCD Soundsystem; Ghost Rider - Suicide; R ock This Town - Stray Cats; Rocket U...

This week's guest, singer Anne Richmond Boston (longtime member of Atlanta band The Swimming Pool Q’s ), brings us World Party and their wonderfully effortless pop-rock gem, ' Goodbye Jumbo '. Essentially the solo project of songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Karl Wallinger , this 1990 release - which according to Q magazine and dozens of critics was one of the best albums of that year - definitely warrants a deep-dive. Songs discussed in this episode: Put The Message In The Box (Wor...

Blur 's third album, 1994's ' Parklife ', was released the same year as Oasis' debut 'Definitely Maybe'. And while many saw this as Britpop's answer to a Beatles/Stones rivalry, none other than Ray Davies himself considered Blur - and especially Parklife - as the heir apparent to ANOTHER classic British band, The Kinks . This week's returning guest Corey duBrowa once again brings the goods as he and Rob attempt to unpack this UK Classic. Songs discussed in this episode: Girls & Boys (Blur cover)...

Derisively referred to as "Nobody's favorite Neil Young album", Young's 1986 release ' Landing On Water ' was conceived at a time when his own record label, Geffen, sued him for creating albums unrepresentative of his familiar style. This week's guest, Musician/Filmmaker Rossellini , contends that this confoundingly claustrophobic release - filled with icy-loud drums, synclavier and synthesizers - deserves a second look. Songs discussed in this episode: Hippie Dream (Neil Young cover) - The Slag...

For this special BONUS Patron-curated episode, we asked Patrons of the show to send in a song where the bass playing really caught their ear...and GOT THEM HIGH! Songs discussed in this episode: Big Bottom - Spinal Tap; Good Times Bad Times - Led Zeppelin; Don't Look Any Further - Dennis Edwards; Iron Fist - Motorhead; Slow Hand - Three Mile Pilot; Psycho Killer - Talking Heads; Effort To Waste - Saccharine Trust; Rope Ladder To The Moon - Jack Bruce; Ageispolis - Aphex Twin; Bless The Weather -...

This week's guest, writer, director, producer, journalist and musician Gabriel Rotello , brings us the stunning debut studio album by Patti Smith , ' Horses '. Gabriel's latest book, ' The CBGB Conspiracy ', is a gritty mystery novel set during the sweltering NYC summer of 1977, with Son of Sam on the prowl and the city rocked by the blackout. As both a musician who lived that scene and a longtime LGBTQ journalist, Gabriel's insight into this foundational punk landmark of a record is not to be ...

Returning guest and long-time friend of the show Tom Lawery brings us Sub Pop band (by way of the Carolinas) Band Of Horses and their second album, 2007s ' Cease To Begin '. Both evocative AND rocking, it's a record that delivers big riffs in a beautiful, indie-guitar pop package. Songs discussed in this episode: Luther (Kendrick Lamar and SZA cover) - Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell; Trinidad - Geese; The Funeral - Band Of Horses; One Big Holiday - My Morning Jacket; They'll Only Miss You When You...

Technically Jeff Beck 's seventh solo album - but only the second to bear only his name on the front cover - 1975s ' Blow By Blow ' became a million-selling top-5 album, and proved once and for all there was truly nothing Jeff Beck could not do with a plank of wood and six strings. This week's guest, Filmmaker/Musician Peter Spirer (Rugged Entertainment) , joins Rob as they attempt to unpack this instrumental classic. Songs discussed in this episode: Freeway Jam (Live, 1976) - Jeff Beck With The...

His songs have been covered by HUNDREDS of bands over the years, and he's rightly been nicknamed the "Father of Rock and Roll". John Lennon may have said it best, "If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ' Chuck Berry '." This week's guest, New Orleans musician Smitti Supab ( Captain Buckles ), brings us 'The Great Twenty-Eight' by the late, great Chuck Berry . "Hail, hail rock and roll!" Songs discussed in this episode: School Days - The Beach Boys (Live, Knebworth 19...

For this special BONUS episode, Audio Engineer, Producer, Teacher and lead singer of Indiana's Zero Boys , Paul Mahern , brings us some of his favorite Teenage Tragedy Songs . Also known as Splatter Platters, Death Discs...etc, this style of songs lamenting teenage death scenarios - often in melodramatic fashion - peaked in popularity in the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s but still pack a twisted punch today. Let the teardrops fall! Songs discussed in this episode: Last Kiss - W...

We FINALLY dipped our toes into the George Clinton/P-Funk universe, as this week's guest Adrian Herrera - aka DJ Blacksmith - brings us 1976s ' Hardcore Jollies ' by Funkadelic . "If you got funk, you got style You're funkin' and you're styling all the while When you got funk, you got class You're out on the floor movin' your ass" Songs discussed in this episode: Comin' Round The Mountain (Live, 1976) - Funkadelic; Pais Tropical - Jorge Ben Jor; Hell Before Sunrise - Oscar Herrera; Fuck Wit Dre ...

In 1984, Michael Mann's crime drama Miami Vice hit the airwaves. Unlike the traditional police procedurals that came before it, Miami Vice drew upon 1980s pop culture and used contemporary rock and pop music as the background for its dark, often nihilistic storylines. Returning guest, poet and essayist Sarah Nichols , joins us as we unpack some of the songs - and musical guests - that made this iconic neo-noir television series pop. Songs discussed in this episode: Miami Vice Theme - Jan Hammer;...

For our FIRST Patron-curated episode of 2026, we asked Patrons of the show to send in a song from their parents record collection that stayed with them...and got them high! Thanks mom and/or dad!! Songs discussed in this episode: At The Balalaika - Nelson Eddy; I Can See For Miles - The Who; Before The Next Teardrop Falls - Freddy Fender; Flowers On The Wall - The Statler Brothers; The Only Living Boy In New York - Simon & Garfunkel; Buzzin' Fly - Tim Buckley; Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In - The...

Longtime Patron and returning guest Rory Cox Zoomed-in all the way from Slovenia to discuss Athens, Georgia band Drive-By Truckers and their incendiary 2016 album, ' American Band '. Overtly political - and as timely today as the day it was released - this is protest music with the guitars turned to eleven! Songs discussed in this episode: The KKK Took My Baby Away (Ramones cover) - Drive-By Truckers; Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynyrd; Ronnie and Neil - Drive-By Truckers; Green Grass & High Tides - Th...

Seattle singer/songwriter Robert Deeble brings us British band Mojave 3 and their 2003 release ' Spoon and Rafter '. Borne from the ashes of their previous band Slowdive , its core members Neil Halstead , Rachel Goswell and Ian McCutcheon dialed-in the dream pop/folk with stunning arrangements and a feather-light touch. Songs discussed in this episode: Love From Room 109 at the Islander (Tim Buckley cover) - Mojave 3; Hi-Lo and In Between - Neil Halstead; My Life In Art - Mojave 3; Orphan Song -...