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What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About R.E.M.
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What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About R.E.M.

Author: Adam Scott Glasspool, Steve Murphy, Lucas Way

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A podcast about discographies. A different artist every season. Currently in Season 6! Join Adam, Steve, and Lucas, as they go album by album, track by track, to find out if context can change your experience of music, how people become obsessed with artists, and to ultimately answer the question 'what is music?' Expect in-depth analysis, tedious tangents, controversial music opinions, and an exhaustive attitude to context. Also expect to find out more about the artists (and the hosts) than anyone could ever want to know! Previous seasons have covered Manic Street Preachers, Muse, Billie Eilish, and Radiohead!

258 Episodes
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R.(w)E. M. Christmas This?

R.(w)E. M. Christmas This?

2024-12-1601:28:25

The Big Mates get festive once again.Join us for another Christmas of mostly the same stuff as the previous ones. Are you ready for Christmas? Are you feeling Christmassy? What are your favourite Christmas songs? Plus, we explore some of the festive offerings from R.E.M. from across their whole career!It's all here, and it's all the same! Some games, some memories, and some mentions of the holiday season!We'll be having a little break over the holiday period - but from next week you can hear ...
Adam and Steve are joined by April Richardson for a far-reaching, fun chat about teenage obsession, problematic artists, magazine wallpaper, stadium bands, reformations, the American south, Brighton, performing comedy, cultural webs, and R.E.M.Our next episode is out on Monday December 16th!Find more of April here: https://www.patreon.com/aprilrichardsonJoin the conversation on:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatismusicpod.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.net/@whatismusicpodInstagra...
Perfect Square Commentary

Perfect Square Commentary

2024-12-0201:59:09

The Big Mates provide sparkling and artistic audio commentary for Perfect Square, the live video release by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the film as originally presented on DVD and also dig into how it was made, how R.E.M. have progressed as a live band, and explore the whole 2003 World Tour.Dig out those official DVDs to watch along...Or don't - the episode works fine either way!Our next episode comes out Monday December 9th!Join the conversation on:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/...
Reveal (Pt. 2)

Reveal (Pt. 2)

2024-11-2501:51:15

The Big Mates discuss writing home, adolescence, compilations and Reveal by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by concluding their analysis of the band's twelfth studio album, released in 2001. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art o...
Reveal (Pt. 1)

Reveal (Pt. 1)

2024-11-1801:52:56

The Big Mates discuss blood collection, hot weather, Frutiger Aero, and Reveal by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their analysis of the band's twelfth studio album, released in 2001. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for a...
The Big Mates provide large and damp audio commentary for R.E.M. at Glastonbury Festival 1999.Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the band's first headline performance at the legendary festival, as broadcast on the BBC. They also dive into 1999 World Tour.Head here to watch along:https://youtu.be/DurDZkK58VE?si=uo6cKiROHH1kBJVyOr don't - the episode works fine either way!Our next episode comes out Monday November 18th!Join the conversation on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpodInstag...
Adam chats with Peter Ames Carlin to discuss music biographies, legendary musicians, and his new book, The Name Of This Band Is R.E.M..Peter is an acclaimed author and biographer, known for his deep dives into the lives of music legends like Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, and Brian Wilson. His books are celebrated for their meticulous research, insightful storytelling, and the way they capture the complex journeys of these iconic artists.Peter has new book out, called The Name Of This Ban...
Up (Pt. 3)

Up (Pt. 3)

2024-10-2801:33:46

The Big Mates discuss night shifts, Batman, the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and Up by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by concluding their analysis of the band's televenth studio album, released in 1998. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not ...
Up (Pt. 2)

Up (Pt. 2)

2024-10-2101:35:55

The Big Mates discuss retrofuturism, The Amazing Spider-man, rude dealers, and Up by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by continuing their analysis of the band's eleventh studio album, released in 1998. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring...
Up (Pt. 1)

Up (Pt. 1)

2024-10-1401:41:04

The Big Mates discuss TikTok podcasts, Clip art, automatic writing, and Up by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their analysis of the band's eleventh studio album, released in 1998. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for...
Join us as we introduce our new show, The WIM Album Club, available exclusively on our Patreon.Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and subscribe now at the £5 "Bigger Mates" Tier or higher to get access to this brand new monthly podcast! Every month we're going to explore a new album, randomly selected from a pool of classics, popular albums, albums the hosts have submitted, and albums submitted by you, our subscribers! We'll go into each album, explore its context, and go track-by-track in a ...
INTIMISM

INTIMISM

2024-10-0701:13:19

The Big Mates discuss microbiomes, Bandcamp, quick looks, and INTIMISM by Nicky Wire.Adam, Steve, and Lucas return to the subject of their first season in order to catch up on the extra-curricular activities of Nicky Wire, the bassist and chief lyric writer of Manic Street Preachers.They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the albums, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and ...
R.E.M. 1988 - 1996

R.E.M. 1988 - 1996

2024-09-3002:33:00

The Big Mates take a brief pause to discuss ratings, rankings, audience demands, and the career of R.E.M. from 1988 - 1996.Adam, Steve, and Lucas talk about their feelings so far on the band, having now covered the five records that encompass the first half of their career at Warner Bros. They place each album previously covered into the context of this era, they return to each album with more experienced ears, and they talk about how they feel about them now. They chat context, albums, preco...
Adam and Steve chat with Ethan Kaplan to discuss the founding of Murmurs.com, collaborating with the band, and the nature of online fandom.They talk to Ethan about his musical journey to R.E.M., the nascent days of internet fandom, and how a chance meeting with Michael Stipe led to the creation of the primary R.E.M. fansite.Ethan talks about how that fansite led to him becoming a collaborator and friend of the band, and the difficulty of maintaining a fan community in those circumstances.We a...
The Big Mates combat audio issues to provide serene and chaotic audio commentary for New Adventures in Hi-Fi - Stereophonic on Film by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the electronic press kit, as produced in 1996 and also answer questions sent in by the listeners!Head to this link to watch along:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD3Br2GZnpY&abOr don't - the episode works fine either way!Our next episode comes out Monday September 23rd!Join the conversation on:Twitter: https://twitter.c...
The Big Mates discuss heart, fatigue, goodbyes, and New Adventures in Hi-Fi by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by concluding their analysis of the band's tenth studio album, released in 1996. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for...
The Big Mates discuss bank holiday weekends, live albums, Danny Boyle, and New Adventures in Hi-Fi by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by continuing their analysis of the band's tenth studio album, released in 1996. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and m...
The Big Mates discuss rodents, ticket prices, religious imagery, and New Adventures in Hi-Fi by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their analysis of the band's tenth studio album, released in 1996. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to...
Road Movie Commentary

Road Movie Commentary

2024-08-1901:41:53

The Big Mates provide breezy and subcutaneous audio commentary for Road Movie by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the live concert film that documented the band's final shows of their 1995 world tour. They also dive into the tumultuous circumstances of the tour, the difficulties they faced, and how it affected the band. Dig out those DVDs to watch along!Or don't - the episode works fine either way!Our next episode comes out Monday August 26th!Join the conversation on:Twitter: https://twit...
Monster (Pt. 2)

Monster (Pt. 2)

2024-08-1201:45:49

The Big Mates discuss Little Britain, Kurt Cobain, You, and Monster by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by continuing and concluding their analysis of the band's ninth studio album, released in 1994. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring f...
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Comments (2)

Seth Burke

The Big Mates kick @$$

Aug 8th
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Becky Evans

This is great. I laughed so much my mascara ran and I now have Richey-style panda eyes. I've been a fan of the Manics since GT but don't have all the albums so this is a useful guide. Looking forward to the next episode.

Jan 29th
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