Know Your Writes!

It is the season of the spirit; the message if we hear it is...it's time for Know Your Writes! It's another special Christmas episode filled joy, giving, and hot takes on Chuck Berry. First, Robb and Colton go head-to-head in their second annual Christmas Song Draft. For their main discussion, our hosts discuss Robb's most treasured piece of holiday media: 1992's The Muppet Christmas Carol. Other topics include:

- Colton's Shawn Mendes dilemma 
- Robb's favorite muppet of all time
- Should "When Love is Gone" been included in the theatrical release?  

Bands mentioned in this episode:
A lot of them. Merry Christmas! 

Vote for who had the better song draft at [email protected]. 

Show me the banana! And show me Know Your Writes! This week, Robb and Colton take a look at the operatic, avant pop-stylings of Caroline Polachek! They'll discuss her two LPs to find out what makes this artist's island such a rider. Other topics include:

- an elegy for the cassette tape and eight-track
- predictions for the Grammys Best Album category 
- a visit from a very special guest to introduce our next episode! 

Bands mentioned in this episode:
- Taylor Swift
- Dido
- Grimes
- Dua Lipa
- Erykah Badu

Roll down the window, put down the top, and crank up Know Your Writes, baby! On a very special episode, Robb and Colton take a slight detour from their regular programming to discuss the Dodger's 2024 World Series win. After that, they'll talk about the lyrical mastery and emotional resonance in Kevin Devine's opus, "Brother's Blood". Other topics include:

- to be honest, there's like 45 minutes of sports talk. Please just know that going in. 
- a deep dive into DeFault American's new album! 
- why Robb was upset at Mudvayne during the 2001 VMAs
- Colton's breakdown of Kevin Devine's alliteration masterclass

Bands mentioned in this episode:
- Mudvayne 
- DeFault American  
- Billy Joel

It's close to midnight, something evil's lurking in the dark...that's right, it's Know Your Writes! For this (slightly delayed) Halloween special, Robb and Colton brave the hounds of hell and dive into Michael Jackson's legendary Thriller. Along the way, they'll figure out the mysteries of human nature, Toto, and the moonwalk. 

Other topics include:
- an October baseball special edition of Sports Talk!  
- is "Thriller" a Halloween song? 
- Colton "fixes" the Thriller tracklist 

Bands mentioned in this episode:
- Whitney Houston
- Toto
- The Weeknd 
- Paul McCartney 
- Chat Pile 

It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down, Robb and Colton were talkin'--it must be time for Know Your Writes! This week, our hosts free fall into three solo albums by the legendary Tom Petty. Other topics include:

- the magical predictions of ColtraRobbus
- a mini-review of the new Bright Eyes album Five Dice, All Threes
- Tom Petty's influence on alt-country

Bands mentioned in this episode:
- Bright Eyes
- Bob Dylan 
- MJ Lenderman 

Kick off your flip-flops and grab a cup of matcha, because it's time for Know Your Writes! This week, Robb and Colton welcome Antelope Valley great Peter McGuire (Thrift Store Troubadours) to the show.  Together, the trio will dive into Passage du Desir, the latest opus from songwriter Sturgill Simpson (billed as Johnny Blue Skies). Other topics include:
- a Thrift Store Troubadour world premiere! 
- the invention of the term "squeeze-box" 
- Peter, Robb, and Colton's favorite karaoke tunes. 

Learn more about Peter's band here: https://thriftstoretroubadours.com/
https://thriftstoretroubadours1.bandcamp.com/

Rhetoric can't raise the dead, but you know what might? Another episode of Know Your Writes!  This week, Robb and Colton peer over the edge and dive in to the first four LPs from Irvine, CA's Thrice. Other topics include:
- feedback on "The Dear Hunter" episode from a very special source
- a mini-Sport Talk! riff on the new NFL kick-off rule
- how to define the term "experimental"

Bands mentioned in this episode:
- Avenged Sevenfold
- Tool 
- Thursday 
- Radiohead
- Coldplay
- My Friend Sam

There's been an accident! Calm down, it's still time for Know Your Writes! This week, Robb and Colton brave black eyes and blackouts (literally) as they wade through the first four albums from Taking Back Sunday. Other topics include: 
- Who was the best TBS back-up vocalist? 
- Robb making a lot of salad and Kobe references 
- Does music from high school still hit the same? 

Bands mentioned in this episode:
- Facing New York 
- Coheed and Cambria 
- Brand New 
- Bright Eyes 
- Keane (We call them Keating for some reason) 

Places, people, the stage is set for Know Your Writes! This week, Robb and Colton fulfill another listener request to explore the mystery and sometimes misleading wonder that is The Dear Hunter. Our hosts will discuss the band's five (and counting) act epic following the titular character's coming-of-age. Other topics include:

- narrative vs concept albums 
- Colton's tango with the 'vid. 
- a nostalgic look back at Usher and the Backstreet Boys 
- and more! 

Bands mentioned in this episode:
- Coheed and Cambria
- The Decemberists 
- Backstreet Boys
- Usher 
- Thrice 
- Panic At the Disco! (Colton is weirdly insistent about this) 

Ski mask? Check! Sawn off? Check! New episode of Know Your Writes? Check, check, check! In a very contentious episode, Robb and Colton fulfill a fan request to discuss ska-stalwarts Streetlight Manifesto. Our hosts will verbally spar over the band's LPs, from Everything Goes Numb to The Hands That Thieve. 

Other topics include:
- Robb and Colton's relationship to ska 
- How long is too long for a song? 
- A long overdue Limp Bizkit discussion
- And more! 

Bands mentioned in this episode:
- The Mighty Mighty Bosstones 
- Catch-22
- Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution 
- Less Than Jake 
- Goldfinger 
- Limp Bizkit 
- Unwritten Law