Anything But Toto

Join Bianca and Julian as they turn their attention to the other half of the Lennon–McCartney songwriting team - a deep dive into 10 of their favourite Beatle-era John Lennon songs. They start by unpacking their fascination with John: his undeniable coolness, razor-sharp humour, and the way his martyrdom reshaped how the world remembers him. They also explore the pain and curiosity at the heart of his music, from the childhood trauma that followed him throughout his life to the ways he channelled it into some of the most haunting, vulnerable, and startlingly honest pop music ever recorded. Then comes the main event: a guided tour through their chosen tracks, digging into the writing, performances, arrangements, and production choices that made John such a singular songwriter. Along the way, they break down the qualities they love most about his music - his bluesiness, colourful wordplay, horizontal melodies, and instinct for breaking the rules of song structure, key, and tempo. So grab your Rickenbacker, put on your round glasses, and get ready to rattle your jewellery. Email us at [email protected] Theme music by Daniel Konikoff

Movie classics, Beatles discourse, and three of pop’s biggest new releases - Bianca and Julian are back with another sprawling music roundup. They kick things off with two recent watches: Sidney Lumet’s timeless "Dog Day Afternoon" and Matt Johnson’s new Anthony Bourdain biopic, "Tony", before weighing in on the internet’s latest obsession: the flood of set photos from Sam Mendes’ four Beatles biopics. Then it’s time for the music. First up is Phoebe Bridgers’ "Lost Weekend", a haunting meditation on grief, memory, and the strange ways we revisit the past. Bianca and Julian unpack how Bridgers transforms the death of her father and a broken engagement into one of her most cinematic records yet, exploring Jack Antonoff’s fragmented production, the album’s shifting sense of time, and - because they can’t help themselves - a deep dive into the Phoebe Bridgers and Bo Burnham lore. Next comes Ariana Grande’s "petal," an album that feels furious without ever raising its voice. They explore its restrained emotional palette, the tension between vulnerability and anger, and how the recent discourse surrounding Ariana’s public image has shaped the conversation around the music itself. A quick detour brings them to Slayyyter’s “brand new chanel$”, the explosive lead single from her upcoming album "WOR$T MAN IN AMERICA" - and they make the case that it’s already one of the strongest pop songs of the past decade. Finally, they close with Role Model’s "Chuck Timely & The Hourglass", a concept album steeped in early ’70s Americana. Bianca and Julian wrestle with what the album’s concept is really trying to say, and where the line lies between homage and innovation. Email us: [email protected] Theme music by: Daniel Konikoff

Summer is in full swing, pop music is in overdrive, and Bianca and Julian are back with one of their biggest episodes yet. Before anything else, they kick things off with an exciting announcement about the future direction of Anything But Toto—and what listeners can expect from the show going forward. First, they catch up on life lately: Bianca reports back from seeing Tame Impala twice in Toronto (with Djo opening), and the duo shares their thoughts on recent films, including The Invite and The Odyssey. Then it's onto the main event: a deep dive into the state of pop music in the spring and summer of 2026. Bianca and Julian begin with Gracie Abrams' third album, Daughter From Hell, unpacking its lyrical perspective, sonic evolution (or stagnation?), and the ongoing conversation surrounding her creative partnership with Audrey Hobert. From there, they tackle Charli XCX's Music, Fashion, Film - a record preceded by two years of expectation management and one that raises bigger questions about artistic reinvention, the 2000s pop rock revival, and whether form can outweigh substance. Next up is The Strokes' Reality Awaits, perhaps the most divisive release of the season. Is it a bold, high concept experiment or simply autotuned slop? Bianca and Julian weigh both sides before giving their verdict. Finally, they close things out on the dance floor with reviews of Madonna's Confessions II and a quick discussion of Slayyyter's upcoming Worst Man in America. Whether you're looking for album reviews, pop culture analysis, or an unreasonably long conversation about the biggest music releases of the spring and summer, this episode has you covered. Email us: [email protected] Theme music by: Daniel Konikoff

This month, Bianca and Julian return to the first artist they ever reviewed - singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo, and her third album "you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love". But first, they catch up on some current events, including Paul McCartney's Wings-inspired new album, "The Boys of Dungeon Lane", and Taylor Swift's #1 hit contribution to the Toy Story 5 soundtrack - "I Knew It, I Knew You". Then it's all in on Olivia Rodrigo and her new record. Bianca and Julian discuss her lyrical perspective, vocal abilities, and musical nods to other artists (*ahem* The Cure...). They also delve into her falling out with Taylor Swift, her upcoming festival Daisy Chain Fields, and her position as The Voice of Gen Z Angst.   Is this album Cure cosplay? Is the talk singing overdone? Is Brandi Carlile trying to sneak into various celebrity wills? Listen to find out! Email us at [email protected] Theme song by Daniel Konikoff

Dusty roads stretch west, the speaker crackles, and Bianca and Julian saddle up for an unexpected detour - Anything But Toto goes country. In this episode, they put their long-held assumptions about the genre to the test with a blind review of the five biggest country songs currently dominating the charts. For two self-professed skeptics of Nashville’s clichés, political baggage, and bro-country stereotypes, it’s an experiment in open-minded listening. Will they strike gold... or just more rhinestones in the rough? Before riding west, they catch up on some current events: the release of The Lemon Twigs’ new album Look For Your Mind! and their bizarre Toronto concert experience, which sparks a broader conversation about concert etiquette and social awareness. They also discuss the backlash surrounding Harry Styles’ Together Together tour controversy, and celebrate the ongoing Canadiana cinema renaissance, with love for films like Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, Mile End Kicks, and Blue Heron. Then it’s onto country. Bianca and Julian unpack their history with the genre, from observing the suburban millennial migration away from hip-hop and toward country, to the political and cultural forces that may have shaped that shift. Along the way, they revisit some of their favourite country-adjacent songs and trace the genre’s many stylistic branches - from California country to polished pop-country crossovers, with stops at everyone from Glen Campbell and Eagles to Shaboozey and Taylor Swift. And then comes the main event: the Billboard Top 5. What begins as a broad review quickly becomes an unofficial review of Ella Langley’s singles, with appearances from Stella Lefty, Luke Combs, and Kacey Musgraves along the way. Do they find the needle in the haystack? The diamond in the dust? You’ll have to listen to find out. Share your favourite country songs at [email protected] Theme music by: Daniel Konikoff