Barber Cuts: Beats and Bars

This week we head out into wide open spaces with The Joshua Tree by U2. An album that feels as big as the desert itself, blending soaring anthems with reflective, searching moments that defined the band at their peak. From spiritual longing to American landscapes, this record captures a sense of journey, hope, and tension that still resonates decades later.

We talk through the iconic hits, the atmospheric deep cuts, and the themes that run throughout the album. Which tracks still stand tall? Which ones don’t hit the same? And where do the best beat and best bar land on a record this expansive? Plus, our Songs of the Week are there, so be sure to listen for those too.

Playlist of our favorites - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2RXBXfKew9A9vj6pEy4hGA?si=a406cf1b7d5a42ce

Episode art by Riley inspired by the album.

Leave a comment at Spotify or any of the socials below to tell us what you think about the albums and about your favorites and skips!

Barber Cuts YouTube Channel

Barber Cuts on Instagram

Barber Cuts on Facebook

Barber Cuts on X

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
01:30 Least Favorite Songs
04:31 Favorite Songs
21:40 Why is this album on our list?
29:04 Best Beats and Bars
40:10 Our Ratings
43:32 Songs of the Week
50:25 Next album...

This week we take a trip back to the mid 90s with Oasis and their massive album What’s the Story (Morning Glory). Packed with anthems, attitude, and more than a little swagger, this record helped define a generation and put Britpop on the map. We talk through the huge hits, the singalong moments, and the tracks that still hit just as hard today. Which songs live forever? Which ones don’t quite shine the same? And on an album this big, how do the best beat and best bar shake out? Rise and Shine! It's time for Barber Cuts!

Playlist of our favorites - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2RXBXfKew9A9vj6pEy4hGA?si=a406cf1b7d5a42ce

Episode art by Riley inspired by the album.

Leave a comment at Spotify or any of the socials below to tell us what you think about the albums and about your favorites and skips!

Barber Cuts YouTube Channel

Barber Cuts on Instagram

Barber Cuts on Facebook

Barber Cuts on X

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
00:56 Least Favorite Songs
07:50 Favorite Songs
18:30 Why is this album on our list?
27:10 Best Beats and Bars
35:29 Our Ratings
38:26 Songs of the Week
47:32 Next album...

This week we’re back to our normal format as we dive into Beyoncé’s self-titled album, Beyoncé. The surprise drop that changed how albums are released and reminded everyone exactly who runs the world. We talk about the mix of confidence, vulnerability, and sharp production that defines this record, along with the visuals that helped make it such a moment. Which tracks stand out the most? Which ones don’t quite hit the same? And how do the best beat and best bar shake out on an album this bold? Plus, our Songs of the Week are back, so be sure to listen for those too.

Playlist of our favorites - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2RXBXfKew9A9vj6pEy4hGA?si=a406cf1b7d5a42ce

Episode art by Riley inspired by the album.

Leave a comment at Spotify or any of the socials below to tell us what you think about the albums and about your favorites and skips!

Barber Cuts YouTube Channel

Barber Cuts on Instagram

Barber Cuts on Facebook

Barber Cuts on X

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
01:07 Least Favorite Songs
03:00 Favorite Songs
9:30 Why is this album on our list?
22:42 Best Beats and Bars
27:54 Our Ratings
32:36 Songs of the Week
43:45 Next album...

This week we’re back to our normal format as we dive into Beyoncé’s self-titled album, Beyoncé. The surprise drop that changed how albums are released and reminded everyone exactly who runs the world. We talk about the mix of confidence, vulnerability, and sharp production that defines this record, along with the visuals that helped make it such a moment. Which tracks stand out the most? Which ones don’t quite hit the same? And how do the best beat and best bar shake out on an album this bold? Plus, our Songs of the Week are back, so be sure to listen for those too.

Playlist of our favorites - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2RXBXfKew9A9vj6pEy4hGA?si=a406cf1b7d5a42ce

Episode art by Riley inspired by the album.

Leave a comment at Spotify or any of the socials below to tell us what you think about the albums and about your favorites and skips!

Barber Cuts YouTube Channel

Barber Cuts on Instagram

Barber Cuts on Facebook

Barber Cuts on X

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
01:07 Least Favorite Songs
03:00 Favorite Songs
9:30 Why is this album on our list?
22:42 Best Beats and Bars
27:54 Our Ratings
32:36 Songs of the Week
43:45 Next album...

This week we do something a little different. We teamed up again with the guys from the Assorted Crackers podcast for a crossover episode that mixes music talk with a little bourbon tasting on the side. Together we dive into Synchronicity by The Police, the band’s final studio album and the one that gave the world "Mother" as well as this other song called "Every Breath You Take."

With five voices around the table, we break down our most and least favorite tracks from the album and each give our final ratings. Add in a few pours of bourbon and plenty of good conversation, and you get an episode where the music, the stories, and the tastings all seem to line up just right. Call it… synchronicity.

Playlist of our favorites - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2RXBXfKew9A9vj6pEy4hGA?si=a406cf1b7d5a42ce

Episode art by Riley inspired by the album.

Leave a comment at Spotify or any of the socials below to tell us what you think about the albums and about your favorites and skips!

Barber Cuts YouTube Channel

Barber Cuts on Instagram

Barber Cuts on Facebook

Barber Cuts on X

We join forces in this episode with our friends at Assorted Crackers for an episode in their format: a Cocktail Quickie. So listen in to get a cocktail recipe and some more stories about Barber Cuts and like in the Barber household.

More information about the Assorted Crackers.

Playlist of our favorites - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2RXBXfKew9A9vj6pEy4hGA?si=a406cf1b7d5a42ce

Leave a comment at Spotify or any of the socials below to tell us what you think about the albums and about your favorites and skips!

Barber Cuts YouTube Channel

Barber Cuts on Instagram

Barber Cuts on Facebook

Barber Cuts on X

This week we step into the shadows with Thriller by Michael Jackson. The best-selling album of all time, and somehow it still feels larger than life. From creeping bass lines to spine-tingling harmonies, this record doesn’t just play… it prowls and howls.

We talk about the monster hits, the deep cuts that lurk just beneath the surface, and the cultural phenomenon that changed pop music forever. Which tracks still give us chills? Which ones make us want to dance in the dark? And on an album this stacked, how do you even choose a best beat and best bar? Not sure, but we do it anyway! Also we provide some on point Songs of the Week, so be sure to listen for those as well!

Lock the doors. Turn it up. And whatever you do… don’t stop listening. {Insert spooky laugh here!}

Playlist of our favorites - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2RXBXfKew9A9vj6pEy4hGA?si=a406cf1b7d5a42ce

Episode art by Riley inspired by the album.

Leave a comment at Spotify or any of the socials below to tell us what you think about the albums and about your favorites and skips!

Barber Cuts YouTube Channel

Barber Cuts on Instagram

Barber Cuts on Facebook

Barber Cuts on X

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

01:04 Least Favorite Songs

04:56 Favorite Songs

12:29 Why is this album on our list?

23:43 Best Beats and Bars

29:44 Our Ratings

34:43 Songs of the Week

43:05 Next album...

We’re back! To kick off Season 2, we press pause on the albums and rewind to where Barber Cuts first began. We finally discuss the poster! And if you go to our You Tube channel, you can even see it! So, how did a dad-and-daughter idea turn into a full season of beats, bars, debates, and best-of picks?

So there is no album this week - but we each bring a “Song of the Week” to keep in that habit. We also share our first album of the new season, and let’s just say… next week’s album might be a real thrill. Don’t stop listening now.

We wrap up Season 1 with Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange, a modern classic that blends R&B, pop, hip-hop, and deeply personal storytelling into one unforgettable album. Joining us for this finale is Friend of the Show and Riley’s roommate, Kate, bringing a fresh voice to the conversation. Together we unpack the album’s themes of love, identity, nostalgia, and heartbreak, debate our standout tracks, and talk about why Channel Orange still feels so vital more than a decade later. It’s a thoughtful, emotional way to close out our first season of Barber Cuts. Plus, our picks for best beat, best bar, and “Songs of the Week.”

Playlist of our favorites - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2RXBXfKew9A9vj6pEy4hGA?si=a406cf1b7d5a42ce

Episode art by Riley inspired by the album.

Leave a comment at Spotify or any of the socials below to tell us what you think about the albums and about your favorites and skips!

Barber Cuts YouTube Channel

Barber Cuts on Instagram

Barber Cuts on Facebook

Barber Cuts on X

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

01:43 Least Favorite Songs

04:59 Favorite Songs

10:41 Why is this album on our list?

28:53 Best Beats and Bars

37:11 Our Ratings

42:32 Songs of the Week

50:32 Next album...

This week, we step into the jangly, swaggering world of The Stone Roses’ iconic self-titled debut, the album that helped ignite the Madchester scene and still feels impossibly cool. Todd taps into the psychedelic grooves and big-sky guitars that defined a generation, while Riley hears it with fresh ears and maybe questions whether this is what all the fuss was about. We talk baggy rhythms, sneaky-sharp lyrics, and how a band could sound both laid-back and laser-precise at the same time. From “I Wanna Be Adored” to the epic swirl of “I Am the Resurrection,” we break down why this album continues to echo through modern indie rock.

Playlist of our favorites - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2RXBXfKew9A9vj6pEy4hGA?si=a406cf1b7d5a42ce

Episode art by Riley inspired by the album.

Leave a comment at Spotify or any of the socials below to tell us what you think about the albums and about your favorites and skips!

Barber Cuts YouTube Channel

Barber Cuts on Instagram

Barber Cuts on Facebook

Barber Cuts on X

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

01:45 Least Favorite Songs

10:42 Favorite Songs

27:26 Why is this album on our list?

44:.09 Best Beats and Bars

50:51 Our Ratings

56:02 Songs of the Week

1:00:16 Next album...