Mark And Sarah Talk About Songs

It's Part 2 of our ranking of Madonna's studio albums! When did Madonna stop dictating the culture and start chasing it? When should listeners write to their Congressional reps over our heatmaps, and when are heatmap "yellows" actually "reds" but they're too boring to skip? We're not sure we can answer these questions...but we're pretty sure we know when it's time for the endeavor of rapping to cease. Get psyched or eff off: it's an all-new MASTAS episode. Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli. Visit us on Patreon for more! SHOW NOTES Madonna's Studio Album's Ranked, Episode 01 Madonna A to Z The rumored 2026 Madonna project Episode 107: Bond-Movie Songs, Ranked Episode 3: Madonna, "Get Together" Episode 211: Madonna, "Everybody" and "Medellín" Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to Part 1 of our ranking of all 15 of Madonna's studio albums! The Material Girl's woeful underrepresentation on our podcast continues, as we start with the eponymous Madonna and continue through Bedtime Stories. Along the way, we explain the ranking and heatmapping processes we used, and discuss MTV imprinting, the "dust bunnies" of otherwise-solid albums, how The Immaculate Collection shifted our perceptions of Madonna's '80s output, and that time the Good Lord Himself gave Mark permission to buy a record at WalMart. Limber up those skip-button fingers and join us! Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne. Visit us on Patreon for more! SHOW NOTES Madonna A to Z MB's review of The Man Nobody Killed at Best Evidence Episode 36: Madonna's Immaculate Collection, Ranked Lost Madonna Hits Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dan Rogge is back (-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack) to help us discuss and rank William's 1979 breakthrough release, "The Stranger" -- complete with derogatory Lost In Translation references, mediocre parental reviews of jukebox musicals, coherent statements on alienation, Mrs. Dash sponcon, the sound of the Fortunoff elevator, and why Mark needed a looseleaf notebook at the gym. Grab some stale boardwalk popcorn, Virginia, because it's on! Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli. Visit us on Patreon for more! SHOW NOTES Billy Joel's "Glass Houses," Ranked (with Dan Rogge!) Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 2: 1975-1990 America's Damp 40, Episode 05: 25 For Fighting Extra Hot Great 571: Bringing Honesty To Billy Joel: And So It Goes "Every Billy Joel Song, Ranked" at Vulture The Middle Aged Dad Band covers "Vienna" Weird Al vs. Everybody Episode 1: "Amish Paradise" Episode 109: Def Leppard, "Pour Some Sugar On Me" "Only The Good Die Young (Alternate Version)" Nathan Rabin explains the failure/fiasco spectrum Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Don't ask us why* we decided to hurl a rock at William Joel's 1980 release, "Glass Houses" -- but we're ranking that album with the help of Ambassador To Long Island Pop Culture Dan Rogge. Along the way, we met a shark named Leyna, contemplated essential Billy-ness and Blondie cosplay, added to the list of songs Mark can't retain, and went behind the scenes of an ill-advised French mash note. Grab a "Monsieur Massapequa" tee and get your karaoke picks in; it's time for another MASTAS ranker! *it was not the terrible news about the tour cancellation; we'd recorded well before that -- and we hope he's better soon! Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli. Visit us on Patreon for more! SHOW NOTES Episode 111: Bruce Willis And Don Johnson (with special guests Dan and Tracie!) MASTAS Presents: Money Can't Buy You Podcast 01, "Money Can't Buy You Class" America's Damp 40, Episode 00: An Introduction Episode 51: Billy Joel, "Sleeping With The Television On" Billy Joel live in Uniondale Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We end the Best New Artist season where it all began for the podcast: the Grammys. We're talking today about the 67th Grammy Awards' "big 4" categories, plus a couple of wildcards -- and along the way, the American need for underdogs, nominations of encouragement, Mark's "Folkmore" playlist, Uncanny George Valley nightmares, couples skate, and a purse dog named Aristotle. Grab an electric clarinet and join us! (Throw the clarinet in the garbage first. THEN join us.) Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne; for more information, visit patreon.com/mastas. SHOW NOTES Nominations list at Grammys.com Episode 1: Heavy D and the Boyz, "Now That We've Found Love" Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 1: 1959-1974 The "Now and Then" video Episode 224: Dua Lipa, "Levitating" (allegedly) shirts are on sale at Exhibit B. rn "Chappell Roan Confronts The Sickness Of Modern Fandom" Episode 166: Taylor Swift ft. The Dixie Chicks, "Soon You'll Get Better" Best New Artist Breakdown 07: 2009-2016 The "Die With A Smile" video Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 4: 2007-2022 Doechii's Tiny Desk concert The "Tailor Swif" video Emma Pittman and Brody Grant sing "Hopeless War" Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's the Best New Artist Breakdown season finale, featuring a MASTAS greatest-hits line-up, the return of sprung rhythm, grand unifying complaints about breakthrough categories, Elt Zeppelin, and how to evolve past Wolfman Jack in pop-music discovery. Do we agree with the Grammys' most recent BNA choices? Have we decided how to tackle the 2025 nominees? Should jerks win awards? Come spook the Recording Academy herd with us! Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli; for more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. SHOW NOTES Ms. Warwick "roasts" Chance The Rapper Episode 68: "Stay" Title Bout Episode 247: Julia Michaels, "All Your Exes" MB's Top 10 Songs of 2024 at The Lost Songs Project Episode 224: Dua Lipa, "Levitating" Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 4: 2007-2022 Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 3: The NEXT Next 15 Episode 189: Yola, "Faraway Look" NPR's Stephen Thompson on Ingrid Andress's upsetting anthem Phoebe Bridgers in The New Yorker Single 19: Favorite Discoveries on NPR's Women+ Song List Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Our penultimate Best New Artist Breakdown moves into the teens; we're talking about Amy Clonehouses, lost anthems of lady rage, gold-watch nominations, the Overton window of band-name ludicrosity, and much more. Grab those Kendrick Lamar seminar syllabi and have a listen! Intro and outro by Andrew Byrne; for more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. SHOW NOTES Episode 107: Bond-Movie Songs, Ranked Duffy's return to social media after her ordeal Episode 166: Taylor Swift ft. The Dixie Chicks, "Soon You'll Get Better" Episode 182: The Stills, "Changes Are No Good" Episode 74: Four By Pink Pop Goes The Actor 4: '80s Movie Gents Episode 68: "Stay" Title Bout Episode 14: Bastille, "Pompeii" Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As the Best New Artist Breakdown season rounds the millennium turn, we're talking about which band is playing when Jennifer Love Hewitt flees a serial killer, artists we should like on paper but fall asleep to in practice, the music of shampoo ads, and the basic room in each of our hearts. If Kanye West will make room, join us on the line between genius and madness for our latest episode! Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne; for more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. SHOW NOTES The list of Best New Artist recipients, and nominees The Best New Artist Breakdown season premiere Episode 186: Nelly Furtado, "I'm Like A Bird" Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 3: 1991-2006 Episode 116: Maroon 5, "Moves Like Jagger" Episode 71: Kanye West, "Jesus Walks" Amy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We're closing out the twentieth century in our fifth episode, and there are fewer howling embarrassments among our Best New Artist winners this time...but just as much anal-retentive insanity in our prep, plus diversity of sound, nothingburger arrangements saved by a Braxton, convincing Patsy Cline drag, effortful album titles, and the memory-holing of a multi-platinum act. Your dinner-party table in hell is ready, so pull up a chair and listen! Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne; for more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. SHOW NOTES The list of Best New Artist recipients, and nominees The Best New Artist Breakdown season premiere "Frosty The Snowman...Is Melted" Beats Around The Bush, Episode 01: Hippie Hop Hooray Episode 41: Another Bad Creation, "Iesha" (with guest Nick Rheinwald-Jones!) Extra Extra Hot Great 327: Focusing In On Interior Chinatown The Lilith Fair 40, Episode 02: The Next 5 Weird Al vs. Everybody, Episode 08: Crash Test Dummies Episode 8: Jewel-erdome! "You Were Meant For Me" vs. "Hands" Episode 100: Surprise Party Episode 85: Why Aren't These Songs Super-Famous, With Pam Ribon Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 3: 1991-2006 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Confusing band names, the MTV aura, and what happens if the comedy/tragedy masks and a keyboard mate: it's the 4th episode of our Best New Artist season, which brings us great winners, indefensible losers, and tracks that are more branding exercise than song. Does Mariah tie a whole Reagan-era room together? Listen now and find out! Intro and outro by Andrew Byrne; for more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. SHOW NOTES The list of Best New Artist recipients, and nominees The Best New Artist Breakdown season premiere Best New Artist Breakdown 03: 1977-1984 Episode 242: Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" SDB's review of Monsters Beats Around The Bush, Episode 05: The Mystery Of Tone Loc Episode 50: The Indigo Girls' "Indigo Girls," Ranked Beats Around The Bush, Episode 01: Hippie Hop Hooray Episode 164: Milli Vanilli, "Blame It On The Rain" Lisa Stansfield live at The Apollo Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Disco, NuRo, and not knowing where to look during "Afternoon Delight" -- it's all part of our third episode, when we're also talking about Starman's dinner party, the mayonnaise filter, the Michael McDonald industrial complex, and Mark's request to dump all the geography-named bands into one planetary supergroup. There's only one way to lift the Best New Artist curse, and that's to listen now. Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. SHOW NOTES The list of Best New Artist recipients, and nominees The Best New Artist Breakdown season premiere Only Chicken Michael and Maeby sing "Afternoon Delight" Dig the styling on the Brothers Johnson "Hey Deanie" at The Lost Songs Project Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 2: 1975-1990 In My Life's Wikipedia page Pop Goes The Actor 3: Comedians Episode 107: Bond-Movie Songs, Ranked Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We're wading into the '70s in our second ep, which includes ruminations on inessential classic rock; how Karen Carpenter and Judy Garland can take you whenever they are; holding your nose and throwing your vote at the nomination dartboard; and more. We've only just beguuuuuun / to taaaaaaalk -- and to hear your comments! -- so listen now. Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. SHOW NOTES The list of Best New Artist recipients, and nominees The Best New Artist Breakdown season premiere Episode 62: "Ode To Billie Joe" And "Harper Valley PTA" '90s Soundtrack Flashback, Episode 03: Forrest Gump Episode 18: Led Zeppelin/Dread Zeppelin/Dolly Parton, "Stairway To Heaven" Episode 69: Bryan Adams, "Summer Of '69" (with guest Danny MacEachern!) "Lost Grammy Nominee: Chase" at The Lost Songs Project "Woman Of The Hour: There are no winners here" at Best Evidence Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Best New Artist Breakdown season has begun! Instead of pitting the 64 winners of the Grammys' Best New Artist category against each other, we're talking about each year's nominees and winner in the context of their time...and in today's sixties-spanning ep, we're trying to make sense of the 20th century's monocultures, how far in the past most votes had gotten stuck, the weird dominance of the ukelele in the Kennedy years, and the weird ambitions of Mr. Swingle. Ready to go Bach to the future? Listen now! Intro and outro by Andrew Byrne. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. SHOW NOTES The list of Best New Artist recipients, and nominees The Record Of The Year Showdown season premiere Episode 145: Bobby Darin, "Mack The Knife" The Beat Generation box-set playlist on Spotify The Lost Songs Project on Timi Yuro Episode 62: "Ode To Billie Joe" And "Harper Valley PTA" The Lost Songs Project on Harpers Bizarre Life Magazine's cover story on the non-golden era of hijacking Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Our finale finds us talking about actor/musicians with lasting pop careers: Oscar-winners (Jamie Foxx), Grammy-winners (Childish Gambino), former child stars (Hailee Steinfeld), and Jokers (Jared Leto). After discussing contemporary stank, the competent/memorable axis, music for coffee shops, and the R&B version of that Top Chef challenge where they have to elevate gas-station snacks, we talk about what we've learned about the drive to create art. Grab Ludacris and have a listen. Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne; special thanks to Amanda. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. SHOW NOTES Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 4: 2007-2022 Episode 68: "Stay" Title Bout SDB's review of House of Gucci at Best Evidence Episode 73: Jamie Foxx feat. Guru & Common, "Any Given Sunday" MB on "Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)" at The Lost Songs Project Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week's crop of actor-musician hyphenates got their thespian starts in films of the 1980s: Corey Feldman, Keanu Reeves (Dogstar), Kevin Bacon (the Bacon Brothers), and Kiefer Sutherland. Copyright-compliant Gin Blossoms tracks and workout-cooldown music prompted thoughts about perfectly good outdoor-restaurant entertainment, the artistic practice that capitalism tries to stifle, and whether pretty boys want to be told they're smart (and vice versa). Strange things are afoot at the Circle MASTAS, so grab one of Kiefer's hats and have a listen. Intro and outro by Andrew Byrne; special thanks to Amanda. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. SHOW NOTES Harsh but fair, Discogs commenter TwoOneFive "Comeback King" by Corey Feldman '90s Soundtrack Flashback, Episode 04: Romeo + Juliet River's Edge Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Do you love to laugh? Then fall down the ha-ha hole that is Pop Goes The Actor's third episode! This week, we're looking at comedians who tested the pop waters, including a Blues Brother, Eddie Murphy, Tracey Ullman, and Jack Black. Acting range, the cult of mid-'70s SNL, finding unexpected IQ points in a song you've heard a dozen times, and which instrument is the creme fraiche of blues tracks -- and much more. Someone here is from Jersey, so order your minimum two drinks and listen! Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli; special thanks to Amanda, and to Terri. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. SHOW NOTES The "limberjack dolls" SDB was trying to think of the name for Daphne Merkin goes deep for the Times on "jolie-laide" (gift link) The Dragnet rap, a staple of morning drive-time radio at that time This Had Oscar Buzz on Bernie Our Weird Al vs. Everybody season "Whatzupwitu"'s Wikipedia page Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oh yes it's ladies' night on the second episode of Pop Goes The Actor...but IS the feeling right? Sometimes! We wend our way through copyright-compliant bugle boys of Company Wonder Woman, the adorkable Zooey Deschanel, Shelley Fabares's evident terror, Marla Gibbs's appealing blood-thinner ad, and a track from Cybill Shepherd that puts the "no" back in "bossa nova." Throw that sax in a dumpster and join us for legitimate fun vs. snarky fun, the sexual politics of Camelot-era pop, and the timeline where Rosemary Clooney is good. Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne, and special thanks to Amanda. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. SHOW NOTES Pop Goes The Actor 1: '70s Sitcoms Extra Extra Hot Great on Fallout More on the Relatives Colleen Stan, aka "the girl in the box" Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pop Goes The Actor: a mini-season about thespians who tried (and sometimes succeeded at!) being pop musicians. In our premiere episode, we're talking about Jeff Conaway (Taxi), Donny Most (Happy Days), Esther Rolle (Good Times), Ted Knight (The Mary Tyler Moore Show), and Lawrence Hilton Jacobs (Welcome Back, Kotter) -- as well as smorgasbords of grunting, when a stew has all the right ingredients and yet no taste, how long vaudeville literacy persisted, perceptions of the primetime monoculture, and all the places pop songs think we should be boinking. Grab a Tab and rotary-dial into our latest ep! Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne, and special thanks to Amanda. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. SHOW NOTES Episode 27: Patrick Swayze feat. Wendy Fraser, "She's Like The Wind" Episode 111: Bruce Willis And Don Johnson (with special guests Dan and Tracie!) Beats Around The Bush Single: The Hip-Hop-to-Acting Pipeline Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 7: Footnotes and Odd Lots Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1996's Romeo + Juliet seemed like a slam-dunk ending to our soundtrack mini-season...but we have regrets! Epcot industrial music, lazy versions of Shakespeare, the psychotic hormonal jangling of youth, Scandinavian cultural crimes, and the returns of Teddy Ruxpin AND No Middle Ground with Paul Quinn accompany our struggling to remember the Wallflowers, and to decide whether it's possible for a song to be disgusting. Sidle up to an aquarium and have a listen! Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas! SHOW NOTES Where to watch Romeo + Juliet (though we don't advise it) The short, sad life of Quindon Tarver Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is, we suppose, like a box of chocolates, because technically you don't know what you're going to get, but we can tell you we're talking about the ubiquitous Forrest Gump soundtrack. Remembering top-loader VCRs, #justiceforJenn, powering through overplay, how long sixties soul acts gave themselves to get drawers on the floor, and songs Muppets sing at you. What does it sound like when the Beach Boys sing a New Yorker article about pirates? Find out with our latest episode! Intro and outro by Andrew Byrne; interstitial music by Classics IV. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas! SHOW NOTES Where to watch Forrest Gump Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 1: 1959-1974 John Fogerty not about certain pols' use of "Fortunate Son" Episode 45: Gladys Knight And The Pips, "Midnight Train To Georgia" Episode 195: Dolly Parton's Underrated Hits Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.