Album Nerds

1984 had tons of iconic cultural moments – Gremlins and Ghostbusters hit theaters, the summer Olympics were in Los Angeles, and the Cosby Show and Miami Vice debuted on TV. Join us as we revisit two of the top selling albums from this year.

Culture Club – Colour By Numbers (1984)
Van Halen – 1984 (1984)

Ours – New Age Heroine (2024)
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown  – Self Titled (1968)
Midland – Barely Blue (2024)
Keane – Hopes and Fears (2004)

What do you think of these records? What’s your favorite album from ’84? Let us know on our website, albumnerds.com or email us, [email protected].

Listen to more episodes and suggest topics for the Wheel of Musical Discovery on albumnerds.com. Follow us on Instagram & Facebook.

Thanks for listening!!!

Feel the power… of words! Great lyrics have a way of cutting to the heart of our emotions, beliefs, and cultural values. Join us as we discuss a pair of records that smacked us in the face with their powerful lyrical punch.

Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology (2024)
John Lennon – Imagine (1971)

Mac Leaphart – Motel Breakfast (2024)
Stone Temple Pilots – Purple (1994)
Nancy Grandits Sabatini – Song Therapeutics & Playlists to Empower Your Life (2022, book)
Haircut One Hundred – The Unloving Plum (2024, single)

What do you think of these records? What’s your favorite record that packs a lyrical punch? Let us know on our website, albumnerds.com or email us, [email protected].

Listen to more episodes and suggest topics for the Wheel of Musical Discovery on albumnerds.com. Follow us on Instagram & Facebook.

Thanks for listening!!!

Final albums are often last grasps at fame and money, but on occasion they serve as a fitting capstone to a band’s career. On today’s show we explore two final albums that we think send these legendary artists off on a good note.

Sam Cooke – Ain’t That Good News (1964)
The Police – Synchronicity (1983)

Crypt Sermon – The Stygian Rose (2024)
Meco – Music Inspired by Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk (1977)
Can’t Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police (2012)
Post Malone – F-1 Trillion (2024)

What do you think of these records? What’s your favorite final record? Let us know on our website, albumnerds.com or email us, [email protected].

Listen to more episodes and suggest topics for the Wheel of Musical Discovery on albumnerds.com. Follow us on Instagram & Facebook.

Thanks for listening!!!

Drums have been a part of music for thousands of years, which is probably why it’s so hard to imagine modern day music without them. On today’s show we discuss what it takes to be a legendary drummer and some of our favorite drummer-focused records.

Rush – Moving Pictures (1981)
Slipknot – Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses) (2004)

Fontaines D.C. – Romance (2024)
R.E.M. – Automatic for the People (1992)
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God (2024)
Hundred Watt Heart – New Unknown (2022)

What do you think of these records? Who’s your favorite legendary drummer? Let us know on our website, albumnerds.com or email us, [email protected].

Listen to more episodes and suggest topics for the Wheel of Musical Discovery on albumnerds.com. Follow us on Instagram & Facebook.

Thanks for listening!!!

Many worthy records never receive the recognition they deserve. Promotion, timing and accessibility often get in the way of great art finding its way to the people that might appreciate it the most. On today’s show we talk over two album gems from bands that never broke through. Despite being truly outrageous.

Talk Talk – Spirit of Eden (Don)
Brad – Shame (Dude)

Dennis Wilson – Pacific Ocean Blue (1977)
Kate Pierson – Radios and Rainbows (Sept 20)
Lainey Wilson – Whirlwind (2024)
Various – Electric Breakdance

What do you think of these records? What hidden gem albums do you love? Let us know on our website, albumnerds.com or email us, [email protected].

Listen to more episodes and suggest topics for the Wheel of Musical Discovery on albumnerds.com. Follow us on Instagram & Facebook.

Thanks for listening!

Some albums are love at first listen, but other’s take a bit more time to reveal their true value. Whether it’s a bad first listen, miss-placed expectations or just being the wrong age – some albums take time to love. Join us as we discuss some of our favorites.

Death Grips – The Money Store (Andy)
The The – Mind Bomb (Don)
Green Day – Dookie (Dude)

The Smashing Pumpkins – Aghori Mhori Mei
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Flight b741
Duran Duran – Red Carpet Massacre (2007)
Heavy MakeUp – Here it Comes
Charley Crockett – Visions of Dallas
Kiss – Destroyer (1976)

What do you think of these records? What albums did you grow to love? Let us know on our website, albumnerds.com or email us, [email protected].

Listen to more episodes and suggest topics for the Wheel of Musical Discovery on albumnerds.com. Follow us on Instagram & Facebook.

Thanks for listening!

What better way to put a bow on the Summer of Don then to talk about one of his favorite records – The Beach Boy’s landmark album Pet Sounds. Join us as we try to decipher Brian Wilson’s genius and discuss the record’s significance today.

The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds

Jpegmafia – I Lay Down My Life For You
Meshell Ndegeocello – No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin
Action Bronson – Johann Sebastian Bachlava The Doctor
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – South of Here
The Heavy Heavy – One of a Kind (Sept 6)
Love – Forever Changes (1967)
Jack White – No Name
The Sheepdogs – Darlin’ Baby (Single)
Aerosmith – Permanent Vacation

What do you think of Pet Sounds? Do you think it’s an all-time classic album? Let us know on our website, albumnerds.com or email us, [email protected].

Listen to more episodes and suggest topics for the Wheel of Musical Discovery on albumnerds.com. Follow us on Instagram & Facebook.

Thanks for listening!

The Who helped define the formula for the prototypical classic rock band. Their 1971 album Who’s Next is a large part of what earned them that status. Join us as the Summer of Don shines it’s rays down on this seminal classic rock album.

The Who – Who’s Next

Lava La Rue – Starface
Hakushi Hasegawa – Mah​ō​gakkō
Denzel Curry – King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings  – Woodland (Aug 23)
Empire of the Sun – Ask That God
Carl Perkins  – Dance Album of Carl Perkins (1957)
American Aquarium – The Fear of Standing Still
Return To Dust – Return to Dust
Stray Cats – Built for Speed (1982)

What do you think of Who’s Next? Do you think it’s The Who’s best album? Let us know on our website, albumnerds.com or email us, [email protected].

Listen to more episodes and suggest topics for the Wheel of Musical Discovery on albumnerds.com. Follow us on Instagram & Facebook.

Thanks for listening!

With a title like Blood Sugar Sex Magik, you might expect the music to be graphic, loud and a little weird – and you wouldn’t be wrong. The Chili Peppers 1991 effort with producer Rick Rubin is stuffed with lots of big ideas, sounds and personalities. Join for a discussion on the landmark record as we rejoin our regularly scheduled Summer of Don, already in progress.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik

Madeleine Peyroux – Let’s Walk
Soft Play – Heavy Jelly
Akhlys – House of the Black Geminus
Cigarettes After Sex – X’s
Beachwood Sparks  – Across the River of Stars
The Incredible String Band – The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion (1967)
Mac Leaphart – Rock & Roll, Hey (single)
Incubus – Morning View XXIII
Eddie Rabbit – Horizon (1980)

What do you think of Blood Sugar Sex Magik? Do you think it’s the Chili Peppers best release? Let us know on our website, albumnerds.com or email us, [email protected].

Listen to more episodes and suggest topics for the Wheel of Musical Discovery on albumnerds.com. Follow us on Instagram & Facebook.

Thanks for listening!

Happy mid-new-year-ish! We’re taking a short break from the Summer of Don to look back on the first half of 2024. Join us as we highlight some of our favorite new releases.

Shabaka – Perceive It’s Beauty, Acknowledge It’s Grace
Les Amazones d’Afrique – Musow Danse
The Decemberists  – As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
The Brother Brothers – The January Album
Pearl Jam – Dark Matter
The Lunar Effect – Sounds of Green and Blue

Adrianne Lenker – Bright Future
Pet Shop Boys – Nonetheless
The Black Crowes – Happiness Bastards

Jesse Welles – Hells Welles
Ken Carson – A Great Chaos (Deluxe)
Mick Ronson  – Slaughter on 10th Avenue
Phish – Evolve
Common & Pete Rock – The Auditorium Vol. 1
David Bowie – Let’s Dance

What do you think of these new releases? What new releases are you most excited about? Let us know on our website, albumnerds.com or email us, [email protected].

Listen to more episodes and suggest topics for the Wheel of Musical Discovery on albumnerds.com. Follow us on Instagram & Facebook.

Thanks for listening!