Mr. Jones & Me

Greg and Daniel discuss Billy Joel's breakthrough album, The Stranger, which plays almost like a greatest hits album with huge pop hits that made Billy Joel a household name. The lengthy discussion touches on comparisons between Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen, the power of greatest hits albums, and the complicated characters in these songs.Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, and mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.comTheme music: https://bensound.com

Neutral Milk Hotel released their second album in 1998 before going on indefinite hiatus. In the years since, it has had a massive impact on the music that would follow it. It is also one of the most divisive albums of the last thirty years. Hear Greg's reaction after Daniel introduces him to the most challenging piece of music he's played yet on the show. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, and mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.com.Theme music: https://bensound.com

Daniel's wife Coley makes another guest appearance to talk about her favorite musical artist, John Mayer. She's connected with his music in every phase of her life, and this was her fourth time seeing him perform live. It was Daniel's first. In this special live report, Coley explains why she loves his music and Daniel describes his experience as a first timer. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.com.Theme music: https://bensound.com

In 2011, a teenage Will Toledo - under the name Car Seat Headrest - released Twin Fantasy, a self-produced, lo-fidelity, homemade album that slowly built up a cult following on Bandcamp. Last year, he re-recorded the album with support from his record label, Matador, and his full backing band. Now, they're touring behind that record and Daniel and his wife Coley were able to see the band perform at College Street Music Hall in New Haven, CT. In this special live report, Daniel explains what made him fall in love with this band over the last couple of years and Coley gives her opinion on the concert from an unbiased, fresh, perspective. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.com. Theme music: https://bensound.com

Dmitri Shostakovich wrote his stunning Symphony Number 4 while he was under great scrutiny and his life was in danger in communist Russia. After keeping it hidden for decades, he finally performed it in 1961 after Stalin's reign had ended. It's around that time that Greg heard it for the first time, and for this episode, he and Daniel discuss the symphony's intriguing history at length. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.com.

For this special episode, Daniel brings on a guest, his wife Coley to discuss some of her favorite songs. They cover songs from a wide range of artists including Bon Iver, Dixie Chicks, Mandy Moore, The Avett Brothers, The Cure, and Coley's personal favorite, John Mayer. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.com.

Daniel and Greg listen to an album many critics consider one of the greatest albums - if not the greatest album - ever made, Radiohead's complex, prophetic masterpiece, Ok Computer. Greg's reaction upon his first listen to the record surprised Daniel, and might even surprise you. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.com. Theme music: https://bensound.com. 

On this episode, Greg and Daniel discuss the duo's consensus pick for the best Beatles album, 1996's Revolver, an album that saw the fab four taking risks and giant leaps with their songwriting. Find us Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.com. 

Arcade Fire's debut LP, Funeral is one of the most influential indie records of the 2000's and one of Daniel's favorite albums of all time. Greg listened to it for the first time and the duo discuss it in this episode. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.com.

Greg and Daniel listen to a Jones family favorite - the classic fourth Led Zeppelin that was on constant rotation for Greg and all his kids for many years. Even outside of the Jones household, the album has proven to have a lasting appeal even today. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.com.

On this special Christmas episode of Mr. Jones & Me, Greg and Daniel (and sometimes Linda and Quinn) discuss their favorite Christmas music, from David Bowie and Bing Crosby, to Luciano Pavarotti, to the controversy surrounding Baby, It's Cold Outside. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.com. Theme music: https://bensound.com.

Going into this episode, Greg had never heard much of Nirvana's music and didn't understand the legendary band's appeal until he heard the final recording of the band prior to Kurt Cobain's death in 1994 - the understated and emotionally driven acoustic concert, MTV Unplugged in New York. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.com. Theme music: https://bensound.com.

Greg and Daniel discuss Igor Stravinsky's symphony The Rite of Spring, a piece of music so radical for its time that it caused a literal riot when it debuted in 1913 in Paris, France. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.com. Theme music: https://bensound.com.

Somehow, Greg had never heard Taylor Swift before, including her biggest hit, Shake It Off. So Daniel had him sit and listen to all of T Swift's most successful album, 1989. Did he like it or did the pop sugar content make him cringe? Find out on the episode! Find us on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.com. Theme music: https://bensound.com.

Greg discusses Gordon Lightfoot's Summertime Dream and reminisces on his days growing up in the great lakes region of Michigan through the album's imagery of shipwrecks and lost souls.

I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning is Conor Oberst/Bright Eyes' most celebrated and well-known album, mainly thanks to Daniel's wedding song, First Day of My Life. Greg found much of the album too dour, but after hearing his son's passion for the music's themes, he seemed to come around by the end of the show. Warning: this episode features some salty language. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.com. Theme music: https://bensound.com.

Anyone who has seen a blockbuster movie will recognize the influence of Gustav Holst's The Planets on popular film soundtracks. But to limit its legacy to just that would be paying a disservice to the music's descriptive beauty. Come along for this cosmic journey with Greg and Daniel on Mr. Jones & Me. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Google Play, mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.com and NOW on Spotify! Theme music: https://bensound.com

Daniel introduces Greg to the purple one's most famous album; Purple Rain. It turned out to be a revelation for Greg as he discovers the genius of Prince seemingly in front of our eyes (and ears). Find us on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Google Play, and mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.com. Music: https://bensound.com.

Rubber Soul brought The Beatles to another level, and a young music snob finally took notice of the Fab Four from Liverpool. When Greg first listened to this album, he was blown away and it's had a profound impact on his life ever since. Enjoy this conversation with Daniel and Greg about what makes the record so great. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Google Play and mrjonesandme.buzzsprout.com. Music: https://bensound.com.

Father John Misty's ode to his wife, I Love You, Honeybear, happens to also be a deeply personal album for Daniel. After listening to the record for the first time, Greg learns why it has left such an impact on his youngest son. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, and Google Play. Music: https://bensound.com