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© 2025 Crack The Record
Description
Do albums still matter in the playlist era? Ben and Nick think so.
On Crack The Record, they break apart classic and not-so-classic albums and build them into unique playlists by discussing what works and what doesn’t work with each tracklist. There’s song analysis, background context, petty disagreements, and mostly great music.
Hosts Ben and Nick have decades of experience in the music and entertainment industries. They’ve also been friends since middle school and spent thousands of hours discussing music. Most importantly for Crack The Record, they still care about albums and think that you should too.
15 Episodes
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In the year 2000, Queens of the Stone Age released their second album Rated R. Now Ben and Nick are going to crack the record with Kenny, their first guest, good friend, and huge QOTSA fan. What is the album about? Can Nick decipher the complex metaphors? Will Nick’s new tracklist even be possible? Is this a Nick episode? Check out our playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/31vn5rxrwinadnzasqcpasmhea6m?si=KpNYuMSfTpGHDllWAGbJhg Find us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cracktherecord
The 1995 celebration continues with Ben and Nick cracking Smashing Pumpkins’ double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Did Ben start working on the episode 30 years ago? Why does it sound like this? What overlooked songs stand out on a single CD length album? Is the world a vampire? Check out our playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/31vn5rxrwinadnzasqcpasmhea6m?si=KpNYuMSfTpGHDllWAGbJhg Find us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cracktherecord
To reflect on the greatness of 1995 and the 30 years since, Nick and Ben crack (What's the Story) Morning Glory? by Oasis. Where does it rank in their favorite albums of the year? Does Nick know how long CDs are? Can great be even greater? What is the deal with Oasis and helicopter sounds? Check out our playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/31vn5rxrwinadnzasqcpasmhea6m?si=KpNYuMSfTpGHDllWAGbJhg Find us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cracktherecord
With Cage the Elephant opening on the US leg of the massive Oasis Live '25 reunion tour, Ben and Nick take the opportunity to crack the band's 2024 album Neon Pill. When did Nick know that he wanted to crack this record? Had Ben even listened to the album before? How does a live performance set expectations for a new album? Does listening on streaming compare to how on album would be listened to on CD? Check out our playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/31vn5rxrwinadnzasqcpasmhea6m?si=KpNY...
With the biopic A Complete Unknown in movie theaters, Ben and Nick are taking the opportunity to discuss Bob Dylan and crack his classic double album Blonde on Blonde. Are they really dropping songs from one of the greatest albums of all time? How did Ben start working on his track list more than twenty years ago? What are some of the innovations that Bob Dylan has not been getting credit for? Must anybody get stoned? Check out our playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/31vn5rxrwinad...
Nick and Ben are recognizing one of 2019's best selling albums by cracking Harry Styles' Fine Line. Does Harry get the artistic credit he deserves? What holds together the album's diverse styles and influences? How much California history and geography will Nick cover? What is the final tally for the fruit tracker? Check out our playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/31vn5rxrwinadnzasqcpasmhea6m?si=KpNYuMSfTpGHDllWAGbJhg Find us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cracktherecord
Just days before the huge Oasis reunion tour was announced, Ben and Nick got together to crack Be Here Now on the 27th anniversary of the album's release. Why shouldn't you write rock and roll records in shorts? Are they siding with Liam or Noel? How flawed is the album actually? Is anyone pro-whistling? Check out our playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/31vn5rxrwinadnzasqcpasmhea6m?si=KpNYuMSfTpGHDllWAGbJhg Find us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cracktherecord
What do you get the pop star that has everything to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her biggest album? Ben and Nick are going to crack that record - Taylor Swift's 1989. How does the album fit into her career arc? Are there any Swifties on the podcast? What songwriting touches make these songs special? Will Nick fess up to a past criticism? Check out our playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/31vn5rxrwinadnzasqcpasmhea6m?si=KpNYuMSfTpGHDllWAGbJhg Find us on social media: https://linktr....
Ben and Nick crack The Fragile by Nine Inch Nails to celebrate the album's 25th anniversary. Is this a concept album? Is Nick a Trent Reznor rap apologist? How was the elaborate recording process of this double album tied to the era? Will Ben sell Nick on the importance of "La Mer"? Check out our playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/31vn5rxrwinadnzasqcpasmhea6m?si=KpNYuMSfTpGHDllWAGbJhg Find us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cracktherecord
A double album is getting cut in half as Ben and Nick crack In Your Honor by Foo Fighters. Everyone knows Dave Grohl, but who is Dave G. Rohl? Does the split of electric and acoustic songs work for this album? What wild accusations will Nick make based on Ben's tracklist? Do Ben and Nick even agree on the premise of their own podcast? Check out our playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/31vn5rxrwinadnzasqcpasmhea6m?si=KpNYuMSfTpGHDllWAGbJhg Find us on social media: https://linktr.ee/crack...
Celebrating the rock music of the 70s and 80s, Ben and Nick crack the 2003 album Permission to Land by the Darkness. Does Nick bum Ben out with a story about the recording of "I Believe in a Thing Called Love"? Are there other bands as unique to their era as the Darkness? What dumb thing does Ben say about the lyrics? Do they somehow forget to mention Queen as a major influence on the band? Check out our playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/31vn5rxrwinadnzasqcpasmhea6m?si=KpNYuMSfTpGHDllW...
Ben and Nick head back to 1994 to crack Bush's hit debut album Sixteen Stone. Is the album grunge or post-grunge? Did the band really have any influences other than Nirvana? Would a record label even release Nick's version? Will Ben vote for his own tracklist? Check out our playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/31vn5rxrwinadnzasqcpasmhea6m?si=KpNYuMSfTpGHDllWAGbJhg Find us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cracktherecord
Looking at another 20th anniversary release, Ben and Nick crack Modest Mouse's commercial breakthrough Good News For People Who Love Bad News. Where does the band rank amongst their peers? Why does Nick think this is a perfect album? Do they discuss the glockenspiel? Does Ben hate babies? Check out our playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/31vn5rxrwinadnzasqcpasmhea6m?si=KpNYuMSfTpGHDllWAGbJhg Find us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cracktherecord
Ben and Nick are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Hot Fuss by the Killers. It's a great debut, but is the album too front loaded? Why does Nick think that it's not front loaded enough? What are the odds they agree on any part of the track order? Who has soul but is not a soldier? Check out our playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/31vn5rxrwinadnzasqcpasmhea6m?si=KpNYuMSfTpGHDllWAGbJhg Find us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cracktherecord
For the first episode, Ben and Nick look back 30 years to crack Ill Communication by the Beastie Boys. How important is the Sabotage video to human history? Does Ben really think this is the worst Beastie Boys album? Will Nick ruin the first episode? Who is Futterman and why does he have a rule? Check out our playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/31vn5rxrwinadnzasqcpasmhea6m?si=KpNYuMSfTpGHDllWAGbJhg Find us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cracktherecord
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