Rock Of Ages

Originally recorded August 10, 2024 Apologies for the very late upload, college has been kicking my heinie as of later and I haven't got time to edit episodes. But I should have some more free time coming up. Until then, have episode on the seminal 80s speed metal rock & roll classic, Ace of Spades by Motorhead!

One of the best and most overlooked debuts of the 1990s, this album is pure bliss. Not much left to say about why it's so special. But there's plenty to hear. It's The Sundays' "Reading, Writing & Arithmetic"!

For my 4th birthday episode, we discuss a barely known debut album from one of the world's most well-known performers. Before he became Mayor of Margaritaville, he was a socially conscious folkie who wrote down-to-earth stories about down-to-earth people. How he went to his cover of "Once in a Lifetime" still remains a mystery. So let's talk about Jimmy Buffett and his debut album, fittingly called "Down to Earth"!

Disclaimer: If I sound weird a bit in the episode it's not because I was drunk or anything, like the song says "I'm tense and nervous and can't relax" One of the most remarkable debut albums by the most remarkable band of the late 1970s and early 80s. They did much better albums after this, but the fact this still holds up is a testament to their staying power. This is Talking Heads' "Talking Heads: 77"!

In this episode, we cover the Elton John/Tim Rice musical that wasn't made to be a movie! Based on the Verdi opera of the same name, it garnered an adult contemporary hit for Elton with "Written in the Stars", but the critical response was widely negative after the previews. Was it worth the hate? Let's find out with 'Aida'!

//Trigger Warning, conversations involving s**cide In this 1975 concept album, Elton John & Bernie Taupin reminisce about the time they met each other in the 1960s. Their personal lives were a mess and both men fell into deep depressions about the impossible-to-escape states they were in. But through it all, they persevered together and became the biggest names in music. And this might be their best album yet. This is "Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy".

One of the single-most important albums of all time, it deserves to be mentioned in the same breath more as albums like its better sibling 'Highway 61 Revisited', and even 'Sgt. Pepper's' and 'Nevermind'. But remembering the last time we covered Dylan, what will the theater kids think of it? This is Bob Dylan, bringin' it all back home with 'Bringing it All Back Home'!

This 1980 new wave debut is a true diamond in the rough. Jangling post-punk guitars and Chrissie Hynde's beautiful voice mesh greatly with her lyrics, which are much more than meets the eye and invite further examination. And the theater kids are here for it. It's the self-titled debut by (the) Pretenders!

Alright, vacation time's over, time to release a new batch of episodes! Theres three more coming after this and we'll be caught up after an extended break of not editing and relaxing for a change. First up we got one of the defining funk albums of the 1970s, one that is surely great to introduce to a theater kid if you don't start them with the title track! It's Funkadelic, "Maggot Brain"!

This probably could be the most obscure thing we've discussed on the podcast, but that's okay. Never be afraid to dive into things you haven't heard of before. Be afraid if you'll like it or not. Will the theater kids like this? I guess we'll find out when we cover Big Head Todd & The Monsters' "Sister Sweetly"!

Apologies for the late upload, I was on vacation. More on why at the end of the episode. Anyway, what do you get when you combine one of the greatest American comedians, an underrated jangle pop singer-songwriter, and a banjo? You get Steve Martin & Edie Brickell's hugely successful...bluegrass albums!! Oh, they made a musical too. This is Bright Star!

You wouldn't think an album with a 23-minute song would be a theater kids' favorite. But lo it is. This fourth album by one of the great prog bands exemplifies what's so great about the genre! Let's talk about Genesis, "Foxtrot"! And here's the awesome visualization of "Supper's Ready" we bring up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4HfFwVy-h0&pp=ygUNc3VwcGVycyByZWFkeQ%3D%3D

In honor of the recently deceased producer legend Steve Albini, we decided to check out one of the albums he produced. This one was with the acclaimed alt-rock singer/songwriter PJ Harvey. The album is highly acclaimed for its confrontational sound and lyrics. So does it make for music that theater kids would like? Let's find out with "Rid of Me"!

Canada's biggest band enters the 1980s on one of their strongest albums yet. And whilst they add some newer influences to expand their sound, they never abandon their prog roots. But are catchy singles and killer guitar hooks enough to hook in the theater kids? It's Rush, "Permanent Waves"!

One of the band's greatest albums, one of the genre of metal's greatest albums, one of the greatest albums of all time. Do the theater kids share that same sentiment with Black Sabbath's "Paranoid"? Let's find out!

Cyndi Lauper? Really? Not that she did anything bad but...it's still perplexing. Based on the 2005 film based on the true story, this musical won six Tonys in 2013, including Best Musical. It's Kinky Boots!

A critical success upon release yet a commercial disaster, this album has since been vindicated by history and is now seen as one of the greatest albums of all time. And spoilers, this episode on The Kinks is *considerably* nicer than our previous episode on The Kinks. So let's talk "The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society"!

Critically praised yet publicly reviled at its release, the self-titled debut of Weezer has since seen a resurgence of appreciation thanks to its presence in internet meme culture. That and the fact it's just a damn good album. Join the theater kids as they traverse the Blue Album!

One of the most important debuts in new wave and pop rock, this album delivers with all the killer hooks and tightness you'd hope from an album like this! And the theater kids are here for it! Let's drive with The Cars!

April Fools description: Welcome to Hyperpop of Ages! Where we discuss a hyperpop album on each episode! And on this special first episode we take a look at the two albums by arguably the most famous hyperpop project making music right now, 100 gecs! With a few cross-tangents about Beyonce and Fox News getting in the way, of course. Regular description: When 100 gecs made their presence known in 2019, many were outraged by what they saw as horrible music. But their kids are gonna love it. In the five years since, the average reaction to the gecs has softened a little, mostly due to their second album which included more rock influences. And we're looking at both those albums, 1000 gecs and 10,000 gecs, right here!