Indiecast
Indiecast is a weekly show from Amazon Music hosted by music critics Steven Hyden and Ian Cohen. Every week, Hyden and Cohen discuss the biggest news and names in modern indie, as well as look back to moments that established the indie rock canon.
Episodes
Our Favorite Albums Of 2026 So Far
The guys begin with a quick Sportscast about the NBA Finals (2:02) before diving into the "no phone" discourse about Phoebe Bridgers' upcoming tour (9:22). Then they talk about Ian's interview with Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie that's now up on Amazon Music (19:43) and the week's big new releases (24:28). Finally, they discuss their favorite albums of the year so far (33:43). See Pri
Has 2026 Been A Good Year For Music? Plus: New Albums by Death Cab For Cutie, Modest Mouse, and Deer Tick
This week's conversation begins with Steven telling a story about a very mean email he got from a publicist this week (2:00), followed by Ian talking about his trip to an historic studio down south (9:30). After that, they do an update of the fantasy albums draft (17:56) before assessing the state of music in 2026 so far, ahead of revealing their mid-year lists next week (23:09). The
New Albums By Kurt Vile and Guided By Voices, the Return of Wild Pink, and "Indie Rock" Electronic Albums
The guys open with a Sportscast about the NBA playoffs, including talk about SGA flopping and the New York Knicks dominating (1:56). They then talk about a new album announcement by one of the show's "mascot" bands, Wild Pink (13:57). They also discuss the new Guided By Voices album, and Steven's recent ranking of all the band's many members (21:20). Then they delve deeper into the week's
Car Seat Headrest Re-Records "Teens Of Denial," Ed O'Brien Goes Solo (Again), and We Assess a "Greatest Punk Albums" List
The guys start by talking about the newly announced anniversary tour for "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness," with Steven quizzing Ian on how many times "We Only Come Out At Night" has been played live (2:43). They then talk about Car Seat Headrest re-recording their 2016 indie classic "Teens Of Denial," for dubious reasons (10:50). Then they review the week's new releases, including
Phoebe Bridgers Returns! Tame Impala Has A Real Pop Hit! This Is Lorelei Signs Big!
This week's conversation begins with some recent discourse about whether rock is dead and whether it was killed by the CIA or liberal poptimists (2:34). The guys also briefly discuss the backlash against a "New York Times" video where the pop critics defended their recent greatest living American songwriters list (17:27). Then they look at a relatively light week for new releases, includi
Broken Social Scene Returns, Greta Van Fleet Breaks Up (Almost), Ween vs. Tenacious D, and The Greatest Guitar Solos Of All Time
The guys open with Greta Van Fleet, who is not an indie band, possibly teasing their own breakup or possible new music this week (1:20). Then they offer an update on the Fantasy Albums Draft, discussing recent albums by Aldous Harding and Kneecap (8:15). This leads to a wider conversation about the week's new releases, including Broken Social Scene, Basement, Cola, Social Distortion, The
The Thrill Of American Football and The Agony Of "Michael"
Steven and Ian start with a Moviecast about the new Michael Jackson biopic, a huge blockbuster that Steven saw and Ian probably won't (3:16). From there they talk about the pros and cons of concert tourism (17:55) and Ian's recent experience seeing the cult emo band Everyone Asked About You (23:26). Then they talk about some of the week's new releases, including albums by Hiss Golden Mess
A Rom-Com About An Indie Music Critic? Plus: New Albums By Nine Inch Noize and Friko
This week's episode opens with the first-ever Sportscast of the Amazon era (01:38) followed by a conversation about the week's new releases, touching on Foo Fighters, Failure, Metric, Noah Kahan and more (05:51). After that, the guys check in on the Fantasy Albums Draft (16:47), and then discuss new albums by the Chicago band Friko (21:38) and the Trent Reznor/Boys Noize collaboration Nin
A Geese Scandal? Plus: Live Nation Monopoly, Coachella, Angine De Poitrine, and My New Band Believe
A hashing-heavy episode opens with news of a big recent court ruling against Live Nation (1:15) and whether it might lead to cheaper concert tickets. The guys then talk about a digital marketing company linked to Geese and many other indie acts that pumps up social-media chatter (8:32). After that, they discuss their favorite highlights of the ongoing Coachella festival (28:00), do a "yay
New Music From The Strokes and WU LYF, plus: The 2026 Q2 Fantasy Albums Draft
Our first episode since December of 2025 opens with a quick conversation about "Mad Men" star Christina Hendricks' viral indie-music DJ set in San Diego (1:09). The guys then talk about the return of the show (5:00) and muse on topics they missed while they were away (12:13). After that, they discuss the announcement of the first new Strokes album in six years (24:31) and review the first
Indiecast Is Back! Starting Friday April 10!
Hello and welcome back to Indiecast! We are pleased to announce that the podcast we started back in 2020 and co-hosted through December of 2025 — when we were temporarily put on hold by our former producing partner — will return on Friday April 10. Same show, same day of the week, and even the same podcast feed. What’s different is our logo, which is a slightly different color.
The 2025 Indiecasties + A Note About The Show's Future
Steven and Ian begin with a quick Sportscast about the disastrous turn for Steven's beloved Green Bay Packers (0:34). They also do some clarifications on last week's year-end albums lists (5:59). After that, they discuss the future of the show and reveal that there won't be any new episodes for the foreseeable future (9:44). Finally, they commence with the annual awarding of the Indiecast
Indiecast's Favorite Albums Of 2025
Steven and Ian begin this special episode with a quick rundown of the new Charli XCX mockumentary and whether it potentially represents the end of millennial cultural dominance (0:56). They also do a quick Sportscast after the recent Packers win and Eagles loss (11:11). After that, they discuss the latest album from This Is Lorelei, a kind of greatest hits release for the promising singer
What Do Year-End Lists Say About The Music Trends Of 2025?
Steven and Ian begin with a quick tangent about the intersection of conservative newspaper columnists and music podcasts, and whether it will ever happen on Indiecast (1:52). They also do a Sportscast on the failing Philadelphia Eagles and Steven's revived hatred of the Chicago Bears (7:53). Then they pivot to a conversation about year-end albums lists, and what they say about the prevail
We (Finally) Answer Some Listener Emails
Steven and Ian open this week with an extended dialogue about an ongoing war at concerts, especially ones featuring aging artists -- the "sit down!" people vs. the "I'm not gonna sit down!" people (0:55). Who is right, and how can this be resolved? This also do a "yay or nay" on The Lemonheads, whose frontman Evan Dando has a new memoir out (11:44). Then they answer listener emails a
Which Albums Are Critics Going To Put On Their Year-End Lists?
Steven and Ian begin with a quick rundown of Thanksgiving fixins, and ultimately disagree on the utility of turkey (0:55). After that, they briefly assess the fantasy albums draft, which already seems like a wrap (10:51). Then they talk about gearing up to make their year-end albums lists (13:14), after which they make some educated guesses about what they think critics are going to rate
What Does Radiohead Mean In 2025?
Steven and Ian kick off with an announcement about an old favorite/punchline. They also discuss the recent Indiecast Bowl between the Packers and Eagles, the least watchable football game ever (3:41). From there, they have an extended conversation about Radiohead's current European tour, and what the band's standing currently is in the culture (9:59). Then they check in on the recent Gram
A New Waxahatchee/MJ Lenderman Supergroup + The Return Of The 1975 Discourse
Steven and Ian open with a review of Ian's recent run of concerts, including Geese's Halloween show in San Diego (0:45). They also do a Sportscast on the upcoming Packers vs. Eagles game, aka The Indeicast Bowl (6:56), and a Newscast on the recent Zohran Mamdani victory in New York City and the surprising reaction from (of all people) Ryan Adams (11:57). Then they check in on the Fantasy
Lily Allen's Gossipy New Album + The Best Halloween Songs
Steven and Ian open with a conversation about a memorable Halloween from 10 years ago (0:56). Then they do a Sportscast on the World Series (5:59), and Steven's belief that he's spiritually Canadian. From there, they pivot to the gossipy reception to Lily Allen's new album, and her legacy as a blog-friendly indie-pop phenom from the 2000s (12:25).They also talk about a list of notable Hal
Geese's Amazing Live Show + Tame Impala's Weak New Album
Steven and Ian open with a quick conversation about online comment sections and how websites are trying to monetize the opinions of online lunatics (1:00). Then they pivot to a Cinema-cast about the new Springsteen biopic, Deliver Me From Nowhere (6:30), and the recent documentary Mr. Scorsese (14:11). They also check in on the Fantasy Albums Draft, where Steven finally does a re-draft (1
RIP D'Angelo, Plus: A Tame Impala LP Preview + Sky-High Ticket Prices For Geese
Steven and Ian open with a conversation about Ian's weekend at the Best Friends Forever festival in Las Vegas (1:10) and the return of the '90s band Sugar (7:09). They also talk about Geese's current tour, which is causing prices on the secondary market to skyrocket (11:40).Then they talk about the life and legacy of the great singer, songwriter, and musician D'Angelo, who passed away thi
A Taylor Swift Backlash! Plus: New Albums By Antlers and Jay Som
Steven and Ian begin by discussing Ian's weekend plans to attend an emo festival in Las Vegas, and the awkwardness of talking about music with friends and family in real life (1:35). Then they discuss the reaction to the new Taylor Swift album, The Life Of A Showgirl, which has sparked a critical backlash and millions more record sales (6:05).After that, they touch base on the Fantasy Alb
A Big Change To The Fantasy Albums Draft, Plus: An Extended Cinema-cast On "One Battle After Another" and "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere"
Steven and Ian begin with an extended Cinema-cast about one of the biggest movies of the year, One Battle After Another (1:23), as well as an anticipated release coming later this month, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (10:56). Then they do their fantasy draft for the year's Q4, and propose a rule change to the draft (29:07). Also, did Steven make a huge mistake? We'll see!After that
New Albums by Geese and Cate Le Bon, Plus: Will Frank Ocean Ever Put Out A New Record?
Steven and Ian begin with a quick Cinema-cast about the new Paul Thomas Anderson film, One Battle After Another, and how PTA is more like a great band than a great director (1:05). From there, they talk about the new Cate Le Bon record, Michaelangelo Dying, which is doing big numbers for Ian's fantasy team (12:08). Then they pay tribute to Foxing, the great indie-emo band who announced th
We Review The New Wednesday Album and The Coachella 2026 Lineup
Steven and Ian begin by touching on the recent Jimmy Kimmel news, and whether the indie-rock podcast space is also in danger from federal interference (2:04). They then pivot to a quick Sportscast about the early dominance of Steven and Ian's favorite teams, the Packers and the Eagles (4:13).After that, they usher in the first-ever Feudcast to cover the hilarious almost-fight between two
WTF is Sombr? Plus: Yay or Nay on Freak Folk
Steven and Ian begin with a quick conversation about living in a time of political violence and horrific videos popping up freely on social media feeds (0:00). From there, they do a hard pivot to a conversation about the recent MTV Video Music Awards (which continue to exist for some reason) and the rapid ascent of the pop-rock singer Sombr, whose recent LP I Barely Know Her dropped last
Is The New Big Thief Album A Letdown? Also: Radiohead Returns To The Road For The First Time In Seven Years
Steven and Ian begin with a cute story about Michael Stipe logging into Bluesky and clarifying commonly misstated lyrics for R.E.M.'s "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)," the latest stop on the band's world-class old-guy retirement (1:43). They also talk about news that Radiohead is going back on the road for the first time in seven years (8:13).Steven also does a
The Legacy Of Deftones, Plus: Are Music Critics Too Nice Now?
Steven and Ian begin with a quick Swift-cast about the pop singer's recent engagement (1:06), and then segue to a Sportscast segment about the potential dominance of the Philadelphia Eagles and the weird ineptitude of the Dallas Cowboys (5:07). After that, they discuss the recent album by Deftones, private music, and the group's current "critic's darling" status (12:38). Speaking of criti
Mac DeMarco Returns and The 10 Best (Actually Worst) Rock Songs Of The Last 25 Years
Steven and Ian open with a quick Sportscast about the new Dallas Cowboys documentary on Netflix, which Steven loves (1:05). They also discuss a viral tweet about the supposed best rock songs of the last 25 years, which includes a lot of "not best" songs (8:09). Then they check in on the Fantasy Album Draft, discussing new releases by Water From Your Eyes, Nourished By Time, and Wolf Alice
The Arrival Of Ethel Cain And The Disappearance Of Chance The Rapper, Plus: It's Our 5th Anniversary!
Steven and Ian open with an acknowledgement of the show's fifth anniversary, which actually occurred a few weeks ago (0:30). From there, they note the announcement of yet another new Taylor Swift album and liken her to the MCU (3:43). They also talk about Steven's son recently getting into Eminem, and the scarcity of "danger-coded" music now (11:45). After that, they talk about the new Et
Is 2005 The Best Year For Indie Rock This Century? Plus: A Weird Viral Moment For Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeroes
We open this week in a very unexpected place: "Home," the 2010 hit by Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros, which had a viral moment this week that went on for days. What is it about this song that people hate so much, and what are some of the actual worst songs of all time? (0:58)The guys also talk about the recent Billy Joel documentary, which Ian recently watched, and pick the modern-d
Steven Saw The Oasis Reunion Tour In London, Plus: Is The New Tame Impala Single Bad?
Steven and Ian open this week's episode with Steven reflecting on his experience seeing Oasis in London (5:38). Ian counters with his own big concert experience -- Waka Flocka at San Diego SeaWorld (9:35). From there, they touch on some news that they missed when Steven was overseas, including the death of Ozzy Osbourne (15:22), the new Tame Impala single (24:42), and the trend of in
Viewer Mail! More AI Music, The Best Musician Biopics, Our Biggest "Jaw Dropper" Musical Moments, and People Using Phones Less At Concerts
Hey, with Steven out of town this week, the guys planned a banked episode featuring emails from you, the Indiecast listener. Topics include the growing instances of AI songs showing up under the names of real bands (including Uncle Tupelo) (11:13), the biggest "jaw dropper" moments when listening to albums for the first time (25:05), the best musician biopics (34:34), and the surprisingly
New Music From Alex G And Deftones, Plus: The 10th Anniversary Of Tame Impala's 'Currents'
Steven and Ian open with a conversation about Steven's upcoming trip to London and whether he'll actually get to see Oasis (1:27). Then they talk about the Fantasy Album Draft and how Clipse did slightly worse than Steven hoped, perhaps because there's "dad rap" fatigue with critics (6:07). They also talk about the new album by Alex G, and how he was able to make his most accessible music
The Return Of Oasis, New Music From Geese and Wet Leg, and The Sneaky Indie Dominance Of Lord Huron
Steven and Ian open with a conversation about the precarious state of drummers in 2025, with a rash of retirements and firings (1:28). Then they pivot to a conversation about the return of Oasis, and how Steven hopes to see them in London in a few weeks (9:10). They move on to the new album announcement from Geese, the jammy psych-rock band poised to have a big year (16:26). They also tou
Faulty Lorde CDs, Popular AI Rock Bands, And Why Glastonbury Looked Amazing This Year, Plus: The Q3 Fantasy Albums Draft
Steven and Ian open with a quick conversation about fireworks and fireworks-adjacent emo music. Then they dive into the outcry from Lorde fans about the faulty "transparent" CD edition of her latest album, Virgin (3:36). Steven is excited to see CD discourse go mainstream, though he worries that this bad publicity might turn people off to the format.After that, they discuss the AI band Th
Our Favorite Albums Of 2025 So Far, Plus: New Music From Lorde And Mac DeMarco
Steven and Ian begin with a conversation about Virgin, the new album by Lorde out today (2:20). Judging by the singles, it's not clear if this is going to be the comeback she needs. They also talked about Guitar, the new album just announced by Mac DeMarco, his first "proper" record of songs in years (15:15).Then they pivoted to a conversation about the weird state of music in 2025 (24:14
New Music From Haim And Hotline TNT
Steven and Ian open this week's episode by hashing out the new trailer for Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, the upcoming film about the making of Nebraska starring Jeremy Allen White from The Bear. Does the movie look any good? Does Jeremy have the proper level of rasp? (1:19) The guys also talk about a (terrible) new song featuring three sons of The Beatles. (10:13) Then, after Stev
R.I.P. Brian Wilson And Sly Stone
This week's Indiecast opens with a tribute to two fallen icons, Brian Wilson and Sly Stone, who both passed away at the age of 82 within a few days of one another (0:00). The guys discuss their respective legacies and the influence they have on modern music. They also discuss a recent article on dad rock and how the term now is used to describe any form of rock music (13:07). Then they ch
New Music From Big Thief, Turnstile, And Pulp
Steven and Ian open with a conversation about Miley Cyrus stans lobbying Metacritic to disregard negative reviews of her new album (0:00:. What could this mean for the future of the Fantasy Albums Draft? Speaking of the draft, it's coming down to the wire with reviews of new albums by Alan Sparhawk and Little Simz (8:10). From there, the guys talk about a new album announcement from Big T
The Returns Of Alex G, Grizzly Bear, And Fiery Furnaces, Plus: More Sleep Token Talk?
Steven and Ian begin this week's episode by noting the returns of two indie-rock favorites from the 2000s — Grizzly Bear and Fiery Furnaces are both returning to the road later this year (0:42). (Given that Grizzly Bear's Shields was recently inducted in the Indiecast Hall Of Fame, could this be evidence of the vaunted Indiecast bump?)The guys also talk about an upcoming fall tour fr
A New Wednesday Song + A New Pavement Movie, Plus: Maybe We Don't Hate Sleep Token?
Steven and Ian begin with a short Sportscast about the tush push surviving a potential ban in the NFL (0:00). Then they talk about about the terrible commercial performance for Arcade Fire's latest album and where the band goes from here (6:43). They also listen to Sleep Token for the first time... and don't hate it (16:09)? After that, they discuss a disastrous turn for Steven's Fantasy
Arcade Fire's Failed Comeback + Andre 3000 vs. The Jazz Guys
Steven and Ian begin with a Sportscast segment on recent NBA news, including conspiracy talk about the draft lottery and whether it's wrong to send an "lol" after a devastating sports injury (1:27). From there, they touch briefly on the Fantasy Albums Draft, which is looking very close (12:01), and recent mainstream rock releases by Sleep Token and Counting Crows (16:35). Then there's a d
A State Of Music Criticism Address + New Music By Billy Woods And Alien Boy
Steven and Ian open today with a quick TV-cast on the latest episode of The Rehearsal, which is some of the finest Evanescence-related content you will ever see. (0:13) (They also pivot briefly to a Movie-cast about Sinners.) (10:20) From there, they update the Fantasy Album Draft to talk about the great new album by Billy Woods, Golliwog, which is wowing critics. (14:00) They also briefl
A New Rock Opera By Car Seat Headrest + The Best 'CD Album' Albums
Steven and Ian open this week with a conversation about financial woes at the LP subscription service Vinyl Me Please, and what this says about the "Big Vinyl" industry (1:16). They also talk about Steven's recent column on the most "CD album" albums, and why certain records work better on compact disc (9:38).In the Fantasy Album Draft update, they talk about new records by Model/Actriz a
Let's Induct Six More Albums Into The Indiecast Hall Of Fame
Steven and Ian start off by looking at the recently announced lineup for the annual Chicago punk festival Riot Fest, which includes a surprising addition: The Beach Boys [0:00]. Then they talk about deeply divided opinions in the mailbag about the semi-regular Sportscast segment — some of you hate it, some of you love it. Either way, Sportscast will continue. [11:34]For the Fantasy A
A Charl XCX vs. Green Day Feud At Coachella, Plus: New Music From Lana Del Rey
Steven and Ian begin this week's episode with a correction about Ian's claim about a "last" Bon Iver concert (0:00), and a conversation about the current state of the Indiecast mailbag. There's also a quick Sportscast on the NBA playoffs, and whether the NBA is the most indie-rock league (7:15). In the Fantasy Album Draft update, we look at recent reviews for Bon Iver and Tunde Adebimpe (
We Review The New Bon Iver Album + A Slew Of Singles From Big Upcoming Albums
Steven and Ian begin this week's episode with some exciting news: Ian is writing a book (0:00)! Incredibly, it's an in-depth look at Childish Gambino's Camp. (Actually, it's about emo in the '90s.) Steven also presses Ian for his opinion on the new Black Country, New Road album, which he didn't bring up last week (4:30). From there, they do an extended lightning round on new singles from
Let's Look Ahead To Upcoming Albums In 2025 Q2
Steven and Ian open this week's episode with a question: Was the first quarter of 2025 a little disappointing, in terms of album releases? Seems like it was (1:51). So why not look ahead to the second quarter? The guys go over new-release teases for music this week from a bevy of stars, including Wet Leg, Turnstile, and WU LYF (3:24). Then they do the Fantasy Albums Draft for the second q
New Albums From Lucy Dacus, Destroyer, Perfume Genius, And Deafheaven
Steven and Ian kill some time at the start chatting about the return of Tobias Jesso Jr. (0:00) and Steven's recent list of the best 21st century indie-rock albums, which generated some buzz online (6:23). But they devote most of the episode discussing a full slate of new releases this week. First up is Lucy Dacus, who is back with a big new release on a major label. But is the album a ma
New Albums From Japanese Breakfast And My Morning Jacket
Steven and Ian open this week's episode by noting the arrival of a new Kanye West album, and the difference between saying stupid things and doing criminal things (0:00). Then they transition to talking about the new album from Japanese Breakfast and whether it lives up to her previous work (14:27). They also talk about My Morning Jacket's career, and how their latest record fits with the
New Music From Haim + Our Ultimate All-Star Indie Rock Bands
Steven and Ian open this week's episode by addressing the confusing new slang about "reheating one's nachos" as a metaphor for revisiting a signature style, used this week in reference to the new Lady Gaga album [1:12]. They also talk about the new single from Haim, and what it portends for (presumably) their upcoming LP [15:01].In the mailbag, they weigh possibilities of Indiecast merch
New Music From Car Seat Headrest And Jason Isbell, Plus: The Guy From Yuck Won An Oscar!
Steven and Ian begin today's episode by celebrating the recent Oscar win for Daniel Blumberg, who picked up a trophy for scoring the The Brutalist, and his apparently disavowed past as the frontman for underrated early 2010s indie-rock band Yuck (1:24). The guys stay on the "Remember Some Guys" tip by noting this week's reunion news for The Beta Band, who will also be reissuing their belo
New Albums By Sam Fender And Cheekface
Steven and Ian begin with a quick Sportscast on the Green Bay Packers proposing a ban on the Philadelphia Eagles' signature play, the tush push, some truly tattletale behavior (1:16). They also check in on the Fantasy Albums Draft, which appears to be breaking Steven's way (6:28). From there, they discuss the new album from Sam Fender, People Talking (15:20), and whether The War On Drugs
Let's Talk About Some Good New Music Documentaries And Some Bad New Music Festivals
Steven and Ian kick off with a brief conversation about the recent SNL50 celebration (0:00) and whether Sportscast will ever transition to NBA regular season talk (7:13). Then they transition to an update on the Fantasy Albums Draft, including a new album from The Murder Capital (11:42). After that, they discuss recent festival announcements like Summer Of 99 And Beyond, which features a
Terrible Music Discourse Feat. The Super Bowl Halftime Show and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Plus: New Music From Big Thief, Barteees Strange, and Horsegirl
Steven and Ian begin this week by discussing their Valentine's Day plans and plotting a potential Love Is Blind-cast (0:00). Then Steven formally congratulates Ian on the Philadelphia Eagles' beatdown of the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, and sort of makes amends for all of his Nick Sirianni slander (6:01). From there they break down the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and discuss the po
A (Cynical) Grammys Recap, New Albums By Squid And Sharon Van Etten, And Questlove's 'SNL' Music Doc
Steven and Ian open with a quick recap of the Grammys, including takes on Cowboy Carter winning Album Of The Year, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles still getting awarded trophies in 2025 [3:14], and the potential star power and cringe factor of Doechii [7:34]. Then they look back at the history of Super Bowl halftime shows ahead of the big game this week [15:28]. They also look at two a
Let's Talk About FKA Twigs, The Weeknd + Brand New
Steven and Ian open with a discussion of a recent article about the shutdown of the Pitchfork Music Festival that gives new behind-the-scenes details on the situation and sheds light on the festival industry overall (0:35). Then they pivot to a quick Sportscast about Ian's team the Philadelphia Eagles making the Super Bowl and Steven's heel turn as a Kansas City Chiefs supporter (12:20).
Let's Revisit The Music Of 2015
Steven and Ian open this week's episode by discussing recent controversies over Snoop Dogg and Nelly performing at Trump inauguration events [0:00]. Does anyone actually have the energy to care about this? They also do a quick Sportscast on Ian's team the Eagles being in the NFC Championship game [9:20], and check in on new albums by FKA Twigs and Benjamin Booker that are also on Ian's fa
New Music From Lucy Dacus + The Rilo Kiley Reunion
Steven and Ian open with a discussion of the recent Robbie Williams' biopic Better Man, in which the British singer is portrayed by a CGI monkey (2:09). Shockingly, the movie didn't catch on at the box office. They also do a quick Sportscast on the Eagles beating the Packers (9:24), and an even quicker Politics-cast on the upcoming inauguration (17:03). Then, finally, they get down to tal
New Music From Ethel Cain + Japanese Breakfast, Plus: Is Bonnaroo Cooked?
Steven and Ian begin with a quick Sportscast about their respective favorite NFL teams — the Packers and the Eagles — facing off in the playoffs in the weekend (3:23). They also review the (unlikeable) programs left in the College Football Playoffs (7:56). From there, they discuss the recent album announcement by Japanese Breakfast and whether they like her new single (14:29). T
Our Predictions For 2025
The boys are back! Steven and Ian catch up after the holiday break with a quick Sportscast about college football and the NFL [2:58]. Then they do their Fantasy Albums Draft for Q1 of 2025 and discussing upcoming records from FKA Twigs, The Weather Station, Ethel Cain, and more [18:45]. (Also, is it possible that Steven didn't win the Q4 2024 draft after all [15:18]?)From there, they revi
The 2024 Indiecasties
It's the most wonderful time of the year! We're giving out our annual Indiecasties awards for 2024. Steven and Ian start with a brief conversation about the modern state of Spin magazine (0:00) and some big-picture thoughts on 2024, and then get about the business of giving out their trophies for the best and worst things of this year (9:40). Categories include: Most Valuable Annoying Mus
Our Favorite Albums Of 2024
Steven and Ian begin this week's episode by recapping the new Yacht Rock documentary and Ian's Toto-related takeaways on the film that Steven worked on (0:00). Then they reflect on the week's deluge of year-end albums lists and they hash out the emerging trends, i.e. Brat is hot and Taylor Swift is not, and hip-hop is very chaotic (9:55). Finally, the guys dig into their own favorite albu
Burning Questions: Is The New Kendrick Lamar Album Is Great? Is Coachella Cooked?
Steven and Ian open this week's episode with a quick (actually kind of long!) "yay or nay" segment on Thanksgiving food. Does anyone actually like turkey? Let's find out (3:30)! After a quick Plug-cast on the yacht rock doc that Steven worked on (14:32), the guys confirm that Steven finally won an Fantasy Albums Draft thanks to the latest Father John Misty record (16:30).From there, they
Assessing Potential AOTY Candidates + The New Album By Father John Misty
Steven and Ian begin this week's episode with some shocking news: It looks like Steven is going to win the Fantasy Albums Draft this quarter (1:57)! Big help comes courtesy of new albums out today from Michael Kiwanuka and Kim Deal of the Breeders, which have been very well reviewed. Then the guys talk about candidates for "Album Of The Year" according to critical consensus, including Cha
The End Of Pitchfork Fest + The Rise Of Mk.gee
This week, the guys recorded Indiecast a few days early, so they apologize in advance for missing any potential indie news. Steven was off to NYC for the film festival premiere of Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary — which he worked on as story producer — ahead of streaming on HBO/Max on November 29 (2:24). After a brief conversation about yacht rock, the guys talk about the exodus on s
It's A Full-On Cure-Cast!
Steven and Ian begin this week's episode by reflecting on this week's election (0:57). Steven just woke up from a week-long coma and he asked Ian to tell him who won. After they, delve into a less depressing topic: The music of The Cure! They talk about their strong new album, Songs Of A Lost World, and where it fits in the band's career. Then they talk about the best Cure albums, and als
Indiecast Pre-Election Special + Pop Stans Overreact To Critical Reviews (Again)
Steven and Ian open today's episode with a quick Sportscast about the World Series and the Yankees fan who almost ripped Mookie Betts' arm off. Bad fans is actually an overarching theme of the show — the guys start with the upcoming election, and whether we're headed for a wave of anti-PC entertainment if Trump wins. Then they address this week's music-critic controversy involving a
New Albums By Bon Iver, Soccer Mommy, and Laura Marling + Is It Better To Put Out Music on Tuesday or Friday?
Steven and Ian open this week's episode with some Halloween discourse, which unexpectedly dips into some Kindergarten Cop discourse (1:43). Then they turn to the Fantasy Albums Draft (11:23), which includes two new releases on Steven's team, Soccer Mommy's Evergreen (15:45) and Laura Marling's Patterns In Repeat. They also talk about the careers of both artists, and the state of 2010s era
RIP Japandroids + The State Of "Critically Acclaimed" Metal with Chat Pile and Blood Incantation
This week's episode begins with a quick Sportscast on some of the biggest buffoons in sports, who happen to work in Philadelphia and New York (1:34). From there, Steven and Ian talk about the final album from Japandroids, Fate And Alcohol, and how it gives their career closure (9:30). Then they discuss two recent critically acclaimed metal albums from Blood Incantation and Chat Pile, and
Jet-Lagged Ian Is Back From England + Listener Questions
Steven welcomes Ian back to America after his trip to London. Ian regales us with tales of fish and chips-eating and musicals-watching (3:38), and then Steven lurches into a quick Sportscast about annoying NFL teams from New York City (5:33). (Sorry, New Jersey!) The guys also discuss their plans to see Foxing (Ian) and MJ Lenderman (Steven) this weekend (13:35), and the latest status of
A Big Day For New Releases + Pitchfork's Best Albums Of The 2020s So Far List
Steven and Ian begin this week's episode by discussing Ian's upcoming trip to London, which is quickly interrupted by a quick rant by Steven about the (improving!) state of tour T-shirts (4:06). Then the guys commence a conversation about Pitchfork's recent list of the best albums of the 2020s, and what some notable exclusions and slights say about the changing critical narrative for the
Big Questions: Are Music Festivals Cooked? Was 2014 A Good Music Year? Will Steven Ever Win A Fantasy Albums Draft?
Steven and Ian begin this week's episode with the first ever "Furnace-cast" about the current state of Steven's heating and cooling units at his house. Both were being installed during this episode, which might have resulted in some post-punk-style background noise. What's more indie rock than that? After a quick Sportscast about the latest from Steven's Green Bay Packers and Ian's Philad
New Music From Father John Misty + Bright Eyes, Plus: Jane's Addiction And The Smiths Melt Down
Steven and Ian begin today's episode by reacting to the recent Sean "Diddy" Combs news (1:22), and speculate on whether Get Him To The Greek is the most cancelable movie of all time. From there, they talk about the Father John Misty album announcement, and muse about the Pure Comedy album cycle (8:22). Steven then brings up Ian's great recent profile of Japandroids, which digs deep into t
Linkin Park's New Singer Controversy + The Latest Album By The Dare
Steven and Ian open today's episode with some jokes (and some empathy!) directed at Dave Grohl. The president of rock is down this week, but the guys are not going to kick him. Steven then laments the state of the Green Bay Packers in a quick Sportscast, and the guys marvel at the unintentional comedy of Donald Trump in Politicscast. Steven gets really depressed during the Fantasy Albums
MJ Lenderman's "Manning Fireworks" + A King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Scene Report
Steven begins today's episode by apologizing to Ian and the Sum 41 fan community for his recent disrespectful comments on the pod -- new information has come to light that made him rethink his snarkiness (0:58). Then there is a short Sportscast about the new NFL season (4:25), and more despair from Steven about the state of his fantasy albums draft team (12:08).The guys then pivot to
The Return Of Oasis, TV On The Radio + Nick Cave
Steven and Ian begin this week's episode by talking about a big potential reunion in the rock world. Of course we're referring to... TV On The Radio! The band appears to be teasing something right now, which the guys assume is probably their first concert dates in five years (1:38). After that, they of course talk about the return of Oasis. Steven is very pumped, but will he actually pay
Fontaines DC + The Defining Indie Artists Of "Obamacore"
Steven and Ian open this week's episode by talking about pontoon boats -- Steven was on one this week, and he listened to Steve Winwood's "Back In The High Life Again" on a loop. Ian shares his own pontoon story about someone named Uncle Zippy (2:05). After a brief look at the Fantasy Albums Draft (5:05) -- Steven has records from Sabrina Carpenter, The Spirit Of The Beehive, and Illumina
The End Of Black Midi, The Rise Of Wishy + "Yay Or Nay?" On Ween
Steven and Ian begin today's episode with a review of Phoenix's performance at the Olympics last weekend, and the maddening idea that every band from the aughts is now being lumped into the made-up phenomenon known as "indie sleaze" (1:09). From there, they move on to the news that the proggy British post-punk band Black Midi has apparently broken up. The guys discuss their brief career a
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