Bits & Pieces

We listen to a piano speak, check out Kim Dotcom's new music streaming service Baboom, and try our luck at keeping perfect time. Also: CHVRCHES tells us they'd sell more records if they presented themselves as a solo project. POTWs: Adebisi Shank and The Districts!

Will.He.Is (will.i.am) participates in a ridiculous Lexus ad involving night driving, lasers and musical roads, Spotify actually does a good job recommending new songs, and a slew of novelty metal bands fatigue us. Our song picks of the week are sure to delight you, though!

Prince's next album will be exclusively on Tidal, Beach House unveils a setlist creator for fans and for FXPlain, Matt talks about how Delay works. As always, stick around for our Picks of the Week each episode.

David Byrne wants to open up the black box of record label contracts, One Direction strikes oil with their new single on Spotify, and for FXplain we do a deep dive into Dynamic Range Compression! Learn how compression works and when to use it!

A $340 ethernet audio cable is our latest example of snake oil, Pandora isn't scared of Apple Music, and we launch a brand new segment called FXplain where we discuss the how and why of audio effects. This week's FXplain: Chorus, Flanger and Phaser. Finally, as always, stick around for our Picks of the Week.

Neil Young thinks streaming music sounds worse than 8-tracks and radio. A new kind of optical audio cable promises quality and maybe a little snake oil too. Finland refunds generally agreed upon horrible concerts, and maybe the end of capitalism would be good for music?

David Lyons joins Matt who describes faking a RATATAT song that apparently fooled their label and people still can't hear the difference between lossy and lossless. Homage is paid to a person who brought millions joy and fun over the last decades.

Special guest co-host Michael Raven joins Matt while Michael Edwards is on vacation. Prince shows his face to say wrong things about the internet. Home stereos are interesting, and how does one go from listener to creator in music?

Taylor Swift joins Apple Music, Tidal loses its CEO, Sony targets smug jerks with their advertising, and a startup proposes to let you EQ real life.

Mariana Trench tells us how to write pop songs, Gene Simmons blames music fans for ruining the universe, and we find out which musical genres sell the best.