This episode of "The Setlist of Life" features the bandmates of Dolly for Sue along with special guest Bryn. The evening's "song" is Pat Benatar's "Love is a Battlefield," chosen in response to a listener request for another musical bracket game.

The episode kicks off with some lighthearted personal updates. Christine shares that her son is finishing his last day of public school and amusingly answered an AP test question he didn't know with a smiley face to "make them happy." Leslie recounts a painful incident of grabbing a hot pan out of the oven with her bare hand, leading to a discussion about burns, with Aaron sharing a past story of severely burning his hand on a grill. They briefly touch upon a previous "dark and depressing" episode where they discussed cremating their dogs, much to Christine's dismay.

• The main segment of the show is an "album versus album" bracket. Leslie, who set the rules, admits to some initial confusion and starts by working through some internal artist album matchups to narrow down her own choices before diving into the group bracket.

A discussion arises about whether "Greatest Hits" albums are allowed, with the consensus being no, as it would be "too easy," despite Christine's fondness for The Eagles' greatest hits album (a band Bryn and others admit to not particularly liking).

The hosts reveal their distinctly different methods for preparing for the bracket, from Kirsten's "mind map" to Christine's neat list and Leslie's verbose notes, prompting Leslie to joke, "All these little brain tests we take, all we have to do is look at our lectures. How did you approach this assignment?" They also humorously note their underused Instagram account.

The official bracket game then commences, with matchups and winners decided by group vote, with Brynn often serving as the crucial tie-breaker:

Throughout the game, the hosts discuss the songs on the albums, their personal connections to the music, and the impact the albums had. Bryn, while sometimes unfamiliar with the older albums, participates gamely and is appreciated as the "coin" for tie-breaking votes. The episode ends with Leslie suggesting they create a Spotify playlist from the albums discussed.

Quotes

1. Christine (quoting her son): "Well, I want to make them happy. If I don't know the answer, I'm not going to put something stupid. I'll just make them happy." (Highlighting a humorous and surprisingly wholesome approach to a tough situation).
2. Kirsten: "These are the albums that I could pick up today and still not be tired of listening to." (Defining her personal criteria for album selection, emphasizing lasting enjoyment over critical acclaim).
3. Leslie: "All these little brain tests we take, all we have to do is look at our lectures. How did you approach this assignment?" (A humorous observation on how their different personalities are reflected in their preparation styles for the game).
4. Christine: "If it's gonna win against your album, it's gotta be an album you like." (Advice to Leslie, emphasizing personal connection in the album choices for the bracket).
5. Leslie: "We might have to make a TSOL playlist. We should. Spot a [Spotify playlist] out of this album." (A proactive idea to extend the enjoyment of the episode's theme for themselves and potentially their audience).

5 Key Takeaways

1. Nostalgia and Personal Connection Drive Music Choices: The selections and discussions repeatedly emphasized albums that held personal significance and were tied to specific memories or periods in the hosts' lives, often outweighing an album's critical acclaim or technical merit.
2. Subjectivity of Musical Taste: The episode clearly demonstrated that musical preference is highly individual. Even among friends, there were differing opinions, leading to lively debates and the necessity of a tie-breaker (Brynn).
3. The Evolution of Artists is Debatable: Discussions around artists like Prince and U2 showed how fans can have strong preferences for different eras or albums in an artist's discography, highlighting their evolution and the varying impact of their work.
4. Shared Experiences Build Camaraderie: The podcast thrives on the friendly banter and shared history of the hosts. Personal anecdotes, inside jokes (like "Dumbass time with Aaron"), and discussions of past events create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
5. Interactive Elements Engage Both Hosts and Audience: The album bracket format, prompted by a listener request, served as an engaging central activity for the episode, encouraging participation and discussion among the hosts and providing relatable content for listeners who share similar musical interests.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Band and Guest

03:13 Personal Updates and Anecdotes

06:07 Game Introduction: Album Bracket Challenge

09:08 Album Matchups: Adele vs. Prince

12:13 Exploring U2 and Michael Jackson

14:54 The Beastie Boys and Taylor Swift Showdown

17:56 Nostalgic Album Discussions

21:06 Final Album Matchups and Conclusions

36:55 Musical Showdown: Iconic Album Face-offs

39:00 Classic Rock Rivalries: The Beatles vs. Pink Floyd

41:25 Pop Legends: George Michael vs. Depeche Mode

42:49 Fleetwood Mac vs. Queen: A Battle of Classics

44:52 Styx vs. Foreigner: Rock Legends Clash

46:53 Taylor Swift vs. Sarah McLachlan: Emotional Showdown

48:27 Journey vs. Rush: A Rock Dilemma

49:41 Michael Jackson vs. Prince: The King of Pop Showdown

51:36 Foo Fighters vs. Pearl Jam: Grunge Titans

53:20 ABBA vs. Bee Gees: Disco vs. Pop

55:57 Tears for Fears vs. Duran Duran: 80s Icons Battle

58:41 Natalie Merchant vs. Diana Ross: A Vocal Showdown

01:00:12 Living Color vs. Terrence Trent Darby: Rock vs. Soul

01:03:34 Michael Jackson vs. Journey: A Legendary Clash

01:04:34 AC/DC vs. Pink Floyd: Rock Giants Face Off

01:05:59 LL Cool J vs. Run DMC: Hip-Hop Legends Clash

01:06:12 Metallica vs. Guns N' Roses: Heavy Metal Showdown