1001 Album Complaints
Classic albums' full backstories told by musicians who love to nitpick the details, now with over 1 million downloads. The podcast does all the research to help listeners better understand why they love the things they love, while introducing new music and musical ideas. It aims to make listeners sound informed, intelligent, and funny when talking about music, even the records they don't like. The show combines humor with education about music production and history in a weekly format.
Episodes
The Story Behind: Neil Young - Harvest, Ep. 264
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Neil Young was fresh off the success of Deja Vu but still trying to define himself as a solo artist when a back injury and a new love affair combined to help him create an acoustic classic. Rob, Tom, and Marty get together to discuss melodic harmonica, piercingly intimate songwriter, a
The Story Behind: John Mayer - Continuum, Ep. 263
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. John Mayer is tall, handsome, and white. What else is there to say? Adam, Tom, Rob, and a special guest get together to discuss blues guitar prowess, spouting off in the press, and the mom demographic.Join the comment thread NOW available on our free Patreon to continue the conversatio
The Story Behind: George Michael - Faith, Ep. 262
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. George Michael used sheer force of will to make himself a pop star, then tore it all down to re-make himself anew as he kicked off his solo career. Tom, Allan, Marty, and Rob get together to discuss sexy songs with religious overtones, the power of the MTV music video, amd (what else?)
The Story Behind: Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One, Ep. 261
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Yo La Tengo are the indie band that just keeps going. With a married couple at its core, a deep love of 60s pop, and an abiding interest in fuzzy guitar, YLT is an electric live act that hit a commercial and critical peak with their 8th full length album. Rob, Adam, and Allan get toget
The Story Behind: Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Music from the Penguin Cafe, Ep. 260
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Penguin Cafe was born of a fever dream - a place where strangely familiar music wafts down a dusty road. Simon Jeffes dreamed it and then made it a reality. Allan, Tom, Rob and a special guest get together to discuss Nintendo music, avant-pop, and using a garage door as an instrume
The Story Behind: Marty Robbins - Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, Ep. 259
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Marty Robbins lived a frontier life with an outlaw father before discovering his love for making music and specifically writing about the old west. Adam, Rob, and a special guest get together to discuss 1930s slang, the ultra specificity of the storytelling song form, and #1 hits about
The Story Behind: Primal Scream - Screamadelica, Ep. 258
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Primal Scream started as a jangle pop 60s band, then morphed into a 70s garage rock band, then decided to embrace rave culture and DJ remixes. Rob, Tom, Marty, and a very special guest get together to discuss gospel singing, self-sabotage, and how to smuggle drugs back from Spain.Join
The Story Behind: Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out, Ep. 257
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Dave Brubeck was raised as a cattle rancher in Califronia's Central Valley before becoming an Army band leader and a symbol of the American collegiate jazz movement. Tom, Rob, and Adam get together to discuss soulless soloing, bland time signatures, and the power of the rhythm section.Join the c
The Story Behind: Green Day - Dookie, Ep. 256
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Green Day had built a steady following on the Berkeley punk scene when they (gasp) signed with a major label and spent lots more time and money to make Dookie. Rob, Tom, and Adam welcome a special guest to talk about selling out, exercising preternatural restraint, and of course, lead bass.Join
The Story Behind: Queen - A Night at the Opera, Ep. 255
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Queen was given the keys to the studio and knew they had one more shot at the big time, so with A Night at the Opera their ambition hit new heights. Tom, Rob., and Allan welcome a special guest complainer and discuss Wayne's World, homemade guitars, and amplifiers pulled from the trash.Join us o
The Story Behind: The Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream, Ep. 254
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Smashing Pumpkins spent months in the studio tinkering with novel guitar tones to make Siamese Dream a reality. Tom, Rob, Adam, and a special guest get together to discuss unshielded pickups, jazzy bombastic drumming, and Butch Vig's "other" masterpiece.Join us on Patreon to continue the con
The Story Behind: The Replacements - Let It Be, Ep. 253
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Replacements cultivated a reckless rock and roll loser attitude and the Minneapolis music scene was never quite the same. Rob, Tom and Marty are joined by a special guest to discuss the punk to sincerity songwriting pipeline, self sabotage on an epic scale, and recruiting middle schoolers to
The Story Behind: Eminem - The Slim Shady LP, Ep. 252
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Eminem leaned into his own failings to win the crowds at local rap battles and eventually make his way to the ears of Dr Dre. Tom, Marty, and Allan get together to discuss ultraviolent lyrics, clever wordplay, and terrible singing. Join us on Patreon to continue the conversation and get early ac
The Story Behind: Conan Neutron and the Secret Friends - The Way of the Neutron
Conan Neutron is the beating heart of American DIY music - buy his record, support his podcast Protonic Reversal , and see him live on tour RIGHT NOW https://www.neutronfriends.com/https://neutronfriends.bandcamp.com/album/the-way-of-the-neutronJoin us on Patreon to continue the conversation and get early access to the weekly show 100% ad free, plus 60+ bonus shows like Song Battle and Gu
The Story Behind: Pink Floyd - The Wall (part 2), Ep. 251
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Pink Floyd decamp to France to record a make or break high-concept double album as tensions within the band continue to mount. After the classic lineup breakup, they stay together as friends (just kidding) and only one person gets paid (this part's true). The boys continue their milestone celebr
Our 250th Episode! The Story Behind: Pink Floyd - The Wall, Part 1
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Pink Floyd were the biggest band in the world, but they hated themselves, their massive arena shows, and of course, their fans. The boys celebrate a major milestone and discuss sinister atmosphere, patience, and musical punches in the face. Join us on Patreon to continue the conversation and acc
BONUS - Song Battle: 2025 #1 Hits - Episode 1 of 5
The first episode of our brand new 2025 #1 Hits Song Battles. Tweets for every song. Back stories and factoids!Listen to all 5 at: https://www.patreon.com/c/1001AlbumComplaintsOur full 16 song bracket playlist:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4stDg4hEb3tBfH2N0m9OYr?si=7dd74933633549e5Episode companion (all the songs we randomly mentioned across all 5 episodes:https://open.spotify.com/pla
The Story Behind: Rocket from the Crypt - Scream, Dracula, Scream, Ep. 249
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Rocket from the Crypt was touted by some as "the next Nirvana", but John Reis (aka Speedo) just wanted to put on the highest energy, best rock and roll show the world had ever seen. The fellas welcome an expert in the field (of John Reis) and discuss pompadours, spinning carnival wheels, and the
The Story Behind: Can - Tago Mago, Ep. 248
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Can emerged as the baby boomer generation of post-war Germany, horrified by the recent past and wanting to boil rock and roll down to its essence. The guys welcome a special guest and discuss castle parties, avant garde film soundtracks, and stone age drummingJoin us on Patreon to continue the co
The Story Behind: Billy Joel - The Stranger, Ep. 247
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Billy Joel was an underground success playing to small theaters around America when he decided to take his road band into the studio to create his breakout success The Stranger. The team get together to discuss clarinet solos, working class singalongs, and the concept within a concept album that
The Story Behind: Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet, Ep. 246
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Public Enemy set out to scare complacent suburban America with a deep knowledge of history, culture, and systemic racism. The guys welcome a special listener guest to discuss a landmark hip-hop album and discuss the wall of noise, oversized shower clocks, and the cadence of sportscaster Marv Alb
The Story Behind: Moby - Play, Ep. 245
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Moby started as a New York City crate diver before taking some hard left turns in his career and isolating his small fanbase, then rising like the phoenix again on a wave of commercial licensing. The guys get together to talk about selling out, additive sampling practices, and going up against E
The Story Behind: Chic - Risque, Ep. 244
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Chic set out to make sophisticated and elegant dance music and took the disco world by storm before waning in popularity alongside the genre they helped create. The fellas get together to discuss muted strings, studio perfectionism, and 3 on E.Join us on Patreon to continue the conversation and
The Story Behind: Nick Drake - Pink Moon, Ep. 243
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Nick Drake released 3 relatively unheralded albums in his short lifetime and only decades later became a household name thanks to one savvy music supervisor at an ad agency. The guys get together and discuss retuning your guitar constantly, never changing your strings, and the bridge on the rive
The Story Behind: The Stranglers - Rattus Norvegicus, Ep 242
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Stranglers started with a jazz drummer and an ice cream van, and somehow made it work such that they continued to tour for 50 years. The boys get together to discuss punk rock, pub rock, and leaving hotel rooms spic and span.Join us on Patreon to continue the conversation and access 55+ bonu
The Story Behind: Bad Brains - I Against I, Ep. 241
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Bad Brains revolutionized the DC punk scene by being consistently adversarial and unpredictable. The fellows get together to discuss hair metal, prog noise solos, and Rastafarian-ism. Join us on Patreon to continue the conversation and access 50+ bonus shows!https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComp
The Story Behind: The Chop - Stay Puft
Special bonus: we made an album - hear us, the musicians and producers tell the backstory - first of The Ghostbusters film that was our inspiration, and then of how we made Stay Puft together. And - we announce the winners of our listener contest!Join us on Patreon to continue the conversation and access 50+ bonus shows!https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaintsJoin our Mailing List here
The Best Mean Tweets of 2025
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected stories behind the making of your favorite albums. Happy (almost) New Year! In order to take a little break for the holidays we've painstakingly compiled our funniest mean tweets from the entire year, then we got together at our annual holiday party and listened to them together as a team. We hope you enjoy it (we certainly did, as you will hea
The Story Behind: Taylor Swift - 1989, Ep. 240
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Taylor grew up on a Christmas tree farm and moved to Nashville to become a country star before ditching it all to become the pop princess marketing maven the world knows today. The boys get together to talk about Taylor hooky lines, and Max Martin's production stamp, the Swiftie commun
The Story Behind: The Jesus and Mary Chain - Darklands, Ep 239
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Jesus and Mary Chain started as warring brothers with a port-a-studio and ended up on Top of the Pops while helping kick off the Glasgow music scene of the 1980s. The boys welcome a special guest to help make sense of this band and discuss hypnosis, vintage fuzz pedals, and fighting your aud
The Story Behind: Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell, Ep. 238
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Meat Loaf met his soulmate Jim Steinman on stage in New York and the two set about crafting the most over-the-top theatrical rock opera of an album ever produced. The only problem? No one wanted it....until everyone did. The boys get together to discuss piano prodigies, excessively long songs, a
The Story Behind: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Ep. 237
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Tom Petty came up in the swamps of Florida playing tiny clubs and sock hops before heading to LA and making his fortune. The boys talk about perfect background vocals, questionable key choices, and the scrappy rock band era of a generational artist.Join us on Patreon to continue the conversation
The Story Behind: Queens of the Stone Age - Queens of the Stone Age, Ep 236
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Queens of the Stone Age were birthed from a desert party culture deep in the southern California dunes and rose to success on a wave of heavy, fuzzed out rock and roll. The guys welcome a special guest to discuss building suspense, playing outside and big chorus payoffs.Join us on Patreon to con
The Story Behind: Dolly Parton - Coat of Many Colors, Ep 235
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Dolly Parton worked her way up through the country music landscape by being a genuinely kind person while distinguishing herself with the craft of songwriting. The guys get together to discuss goat vibrato, wild bass antics, and millions upon millions from one single songwriting credit
The Story Behind: Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band - Bongo Rock, Ep 234
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Michael Viner was an idea man floating around LA for years before he landed on his most lasting idea: a band of studio killers doing instrumental rock covers with a lots of percussion. The guys get together to discuss mimes, Sean Connery, and fooling the CBC.Join us on Patreon to continue th
The Story Behind: k.d. lang - Shadowland, Ep 233
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. k.d. lang came from the prairies of Canada with a mission to be the next Patsy Cline, and with some savvy marketing and good luck, she ended up in Nashville with a storied backing band to make her solo debut Shadowland. The boys welcome a special guest to discuss this retro country alb
The Story Behind: The Police - Reggatta de Blanc, Ep 232
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Police started as a punk band but quickly pivoted to something completely new and started releasing a parade of hit songs that lasted into the next decade. The team get together and talk about syncopation, reviving songs from old bands, and the inherent aggressiveness of the high hat. Join u
The Story Behind: Tom Waits - Nighthawks at the Diner, Ep 231
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Tom Waits struggled to find his audience on his first two albums but had the confidence and backing of a young David Geffen when he decided to turn a recording studio into a nightclub for his third effort. The guys discuss the dive bars of LA, the curse and blessing of a live studio au
The Story Behind: The Cars - The Cars, Ep 230
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Cars had years to learn and perfect their pop rock craft before locking in a becoming just what America needed (I know), The team get together to discuss metronomic timing, Berklee shredders, and J Geils Band's Magic DickJoin us on Patreon to continue the conversation and access 45+ bonus sh
The Story Behind: Merle Haggard and The Strangers - I'm a Lonesome Fugitive
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Merle Haggard was in and out of prison several times before being discovered by Lefty Frizzell and launching a musical career based on the latest and greatest country music movement: the Bakersfield sound. The guys get together to discuss rumdums, second-story men, and bone orchards. Join us on
The Story Behind: Blur - Parklife, Ep 228
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Blur were London's answer to the Madchester movement up north but grew into Brit-Pop force to be reckoned with (or competed against) in the charts after Parklife became a hit. The fellows welcome a very special first time guest and discuss bellends, geezers, and being knackered in the village gr
The Story Behind: Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run, Ep 227
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Paul McCartney was feeling left behind by his ex-bandmates' solo careers and dealing with an ever-shifting roster of players in his new band when he decided to head for the tropics of Lagos, Nigeria to record his next album. Things only got wilder from there. The gang get together to talk about
The Story Behind: Sonic Youth - Evol, Ep 226
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Sonic Youth set out to reinvent rock music by merging avant garde art world ideas with noisy guitars. By doing so they set a template for indie bands that came after them. The guys welcome a special guest and talk about prepared instruments, car crashes, and Ferris Bueller.Join our Mailing List
The Story Behind: Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power, Ep. 225
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Pantera transitioned from a glam metal band into the sludgy groove pioneers we know them to be today and tried to scrub the record of their previous KISS-like excess. The guys get together to discuss Dimebag's precision, Phil Anselmo's growling, and how Rob Halford figures into the Pan
The Story Behind: The Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs, Ep 224
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Stephin Merritt set out to write a songbook's worth of material and record it in his bedroom in Manhattan with the help The Magnetic Fields. He never expected it would become an indie darling. The guys meet to discuss the final listener pick of the summer and touch on universal truth v
The Story Behind: Television - Marquee Moon, Ep. 223
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Television helped kick off the New York music scene of the 1970s by building the stage bands played on - literally. The guys get together live in Wilmington Delaware to discuss a complete lack of choruses, Jimi Hendrix's only guitar student, and Tom Verlaine's connection to the complai
The Story Behind: The Pogues - Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash, Ep. 222
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Pogues were born out of the Irish diaspora in London and out of Shane McGowan's love of the downtrodden. The guys welcome a special (and very relevant) guest to discuss gritty vocals, the ulian pipes, and punk energy filtered through traditional music.Check out Stephen's record club here and
BONUS: Song Battle: 90s 1 Hit Wonders - Ep. #1
On our Patreon-only bonus show Song Battle - we pick 16 songs to enter a bracket competition, write tweets about each one while telling a short backstory about how they were made, then vote on who should advance. This is episode 1 of 5 in total in the series. If you like this episode - listen to the entire series right now over on Patreon - it's free to join and it means a heck of a lot t
The Story Behind: Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul, Ep. 221
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Isaac Hayes was a back-of-house songwriter who got thrust to the front of a struggling record label called Stax Records. The guys are live together in the room and talk about 70s funk innovations, massive amounts of confidence, and Phil's spoken word album coming in 2026.Join the comme
The Story Behind: Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum, Ep 220
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Blue Cheer were innovators of the noise and loudness approach to rock music in the San Francisco 1960s. The team get together to discuss cover songs getting a modern makeover, bass cabinets rattling in the studio, and terrible mixing decisions.Join the comment thread NOW available on o
The Story Behind: Brian Eno - Before and After Science, Ep 219
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Brian Eno broke away from Roxy Music and began a prolific solo career both as a solo artist and a highly sought after producer. The boys welcome a special guest and discuss hyper visual audio, anagrams, and 80s British stop motion kids programming.Join the comment thread NOW available
The Story Behind: Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention - We're Only in it for the Money
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Frank Zappa assembled the Mothers to make anti-authoritarian, anti-hippie, anti-commercial music. This record is unlike anything else you will hear. The boys discuss the avant garde, skewering 60s culture while it's at its peak, and of course, pretentiousness in music.Join the comment
The Story Behind: Slayer - Reign in Blood, Ep. 217
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Slayer was birthed from the bowels of hell (Orange Country, CA) and burst onto the scene with harder, louder, faster music than ever heard before. The fellas tell Slayer's backstory while discussing chaotic guitar solos, wild drum antics, and underbaked lyrics.Join the comment thread N
The Story Behind: Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - Rattlesnakes, Ep. 216
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Lloyd Cole started the Commotions as a soul band in Glasgow but after some home demos landed himself a recording contract and took the UK airwaves by storm. The crew welcome a very special guest and touch on golf handicaps, Miami Vice, and Johnny Marr.Join the comment thread NOW availa
The Story Behind: The Offspring - Smash, Ep. 215
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Offspring gigged for 10 years before their huge breakthrough success came in 1994. The boys come together to discuss Dexter's signature vocal timbre, phrygian dominant scales, and heavy metal rhythm guitar patterns.Join the comment thread NOW available on our free Patreon to contin
The Story Behind: The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses, Ep. 214
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Stones Roses were the "it" band for a brief period, but bad contracts and struggling to follow up their hit debut tanked their chances at lasting stardom. The boys welcome a very special guest and discuss long & suspenseful intros, slacker vocal tone, and the Spike Island chemi
The Story Behind: Limp Bizkit - Chocolate Starfish and the Hotdog Flavored Water, Ep 213
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Limp Bizkit went out of their way to make the world dislike them - as a strategy! Then with a multiplatinum album already under their belts, they upped the ante with their next release. The guys get together to discuss a true classic of nu-metal and they touch on Fred's vocal stylings,
The Story Behind: Digital Underground - Sex Packets, Ep 212
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Digital Underground was the brainchild of Shock G, a multi-instrumentalist based in Oakland trying to find his hip-hop niche. The guys get together to discuss fake nose accessorizing, water-based rap crews, and Burger King bathrooms.Join the comment thread NOW available on our free Pat
The Story Behind: Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over the Country Club, Ep 211
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Lana Del Rey is a prolific songwriter and dream pop goddess of the modern era who shuffled through some different personas before finding her niche. The team welcome a very special guest and discuss sad girl indie, unexpected melodic changes, and an acrobatic vocal style.Get More our o
The Story Behind: Yes - Close to the Edge, Ep 210
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Yes went through multiple lineups changes and their biggest hits before heading into the studio for their most ambitious project by far. The boys welcome Marty as a first time host and discuss gnome villages, terrible alternate band names, and the music of insects.Join the comment thre
The Story Behind: De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising, Ep 209
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. De La Soul were still kids when they got a record deal and access to a full studio's worth of gear to record their debut LP. The boys get together and talk about a complete lack of self-editing, early adventures in creative sampling, and the importance of being charming,Join the commen
The Story Behind: Abba - The Visitors, Ep 208
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Abba had an impressive run of pop hits while touring the world non-stop in the 1970s, but as the 1980s came around, they were close to a breaking point, both personally and professionally. The team get together to talk about being in a band with your wife, the Swedish wrecking crew, and wher
The Story Behind: Santana - Abraxas, Ep 207
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Santana formed as a collective in the swinging San Francisco 60s, and hit the big time during their breakout set at Woodstock. The boys get together to discuss mood music, minor pentatonics, and snake-fighting on stage in front of 400K people.Join the comment thread NOW available on our free
The Story Behind: Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand, Ep 206
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Franz Ferdinand formed in Glasgow with the express purpose of making music that would make women want to dance. And - they did. The boys discuss the full backstory of the band and in the process touch on stacked guitar-monies, sing-talking, and the art rock-modded disco beats of the ea
The Story Behind: Christina Aguilera - Stripped, Ep 205
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Christina Aguilera went from pre-teen singing phenom to Disney channel star and then decided she wanted to make a different kind of music. The team get together to discuss genre-hopping, excessive vamps, and the challenges of pop stardom.Join the comment thread NOW available on our free Patr
The Story Behind: Janis Joplin - Pearl, Ep 204
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Janis Joplin dreamed of being a famous blues singer and moved from Texas to San Francisco to make it happen. The guys discuss psych rock's delta blues origins, 70s keyboard aesthetics, and the importance of repertoire.Join the comment thread NOW available on our free Patreon to continu
The Story Behind: Fugees - The Score, Ep 203
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Fugees took a big label advance and built a studio in their New Jersey basement so they could relax and take their time making The Score. The fellows get together to discuss low harmonies, creative sample repurposing, and yodeling in hip hop.Join the comment thread NOW available on our
The Story Behind: Sex Pistols - Nevermind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, Ep 202
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Sex Pistols arose from a clothing store in London and rode a wave of controversy straight to the top on their debut album. The team discuss partial bass playing, political jabbering in punk, and rolling your R's as a frontman.Join the comment thread NOW available on our free Patreon to
The Story Behind: The Beverly Crushers - Enterprise
The Beverly Crushers themselves (Rob and Tom from 1001 Album Complaints) recount how a modern indie band makes and releases a record. Plus we answer listener submitted questions about the process - from songwriting to arrangment to track order and mixing decisions. Buy a copy of The Beverly Crushers "Enterprise" (Rob and Tom's new album) and have a chance to pick what album we cover next
The Story Behind: David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars SIDE 2, Ep 201
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. David Bowie finally locked in on a way to connect with the record buying public - by transforming himself into an alien savior / fame monster. The guys continue their 200th episode celebration and talk about unintelligible but cool lyrics, the melodic bass of Trevor Bolder, and those p
Our 200th Episode! The Story Behind: David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: SIDE 1
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. David Bowie wanted to be a star. It took a few tries but after changing his name and shaving his eyebrows off, he finally made it. The boys celebrate a big milestone episode and discuss methods for learning vocal harmony, ancient Egyptian religions, and vocal cord rupturing single take
The Story Behind: Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral, Ep 199
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Nine Inch Nails was born from the late night studio experiments of Trent Reznor, who rocketed to stardom in the early nineties with this sonically experimental and lyrically provocative album. The boys discuss Trent's rural Pennsylvania beginnings, early ProTools workflows, and the imp
BONUS: Song Battle: The Best #1 Hit of 2024 - Episode 1 (of 5)
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Song Battle is our Patreon-only bonus show where contestants select songs to compete in a bracket system and over the course of 5 episodes we pit them against each other to determine the one true winner in Episode #5. The theme for this Song Battle is 2024 #1 HitsAnd if you enjoyed this - you ca
The Story Behind: Harry Nilsson -Nilsson Schmilsson, Ep 198
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Harry Nilsson ping-ponged through the songwriter-for-hire business and got some very famous admirers in the process before finding critical success with his breakthrough hit Nilsson Schmilsson. The fellas welcome an old friend and discuss half-baked song structures, detuned bass parts, and what s
The Story Behind: Van Halen - 1984, Ep 197
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Van Halen got their start on the Pasadena house party scene then became one of the top selling bands of all time, but by 1984 they were tired of the road and ready for a change of scenery. The team welcome a special guest to discuss stage presence, bass players who sing, and an instrument-definin
The Story Behind: Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92, Ep 196
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Aphex Twin was tinkering with sound and household electronics from an early age then joined and expanded upon the acid house movement of the late 1980s. The team welcome an old friend and synth expert to help sort through the tall tales of Richard D James' life and times.Join the comment thread N
The Story Behind: Muddy Waters - At Newport 1960, Ep 195
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Muddy Waters was a sharecropper who became a blues superstar. The boys discuss harmonica playing, field recordings, and the lasting influence of a true innovator.Join the comment thread NOW available on our free Patreon to continue the conversation about this episode and get early access to the w
The Story Behind: Def Leppard - Hysteria, Ep 194
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Def Leppard had tasted arena rock success with their breakthrough hit Pyromania but they still wanted more, so teaming up with Mutt Lange they headed into the studio to create a hair metal version of Thriller. The guys get together to discuss terrible lyrics, cringey 80s vocal effects, and the s
The Story Behind: Little Richard - Here's Little Richard, Ep 193
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Little Richard was a born performer from a young age, and by leaning into a larger than life persona ended up inventing rock and roll (and possibly all other modern musical genres). The team get together to discuss mic clipping, rhyming dictionaries, and the importance of self-promotion.Join the
The Story Behind: Teenage Fanclub - Bandwagonesque, Ep 192
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Teenage Fanclub came roaring out of the Glasgow C86 scene and were poised to take over the world with jangle pop and harmony - so what happened? The boys discuss mixtapes, Jack Daniels, and throwing your mattress into the touring van.Join the comment thread NOW available on our free Patreon to co
