Live From Mars

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Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl is finally here, and it’s already breaking every record in sight. But does it actually live up to the hype?

In this week’s episode of Live From Mars, Alex is joined by a friend of the pod and resident Swiftie, Seth (@dramakingbooks), to unpack Taylor’s twelfth studio album in full. Together, they break down how Showgirl stacks up against past eras, if the reunion with Max Martin and Shellback delivers, and why fans are so divided over the album.

We cover everything:

• Track-by-track reactions and one-word reviews
• Whether the “Showgirl” concept was successful
• Taylor’s record-shattering first-week sales and beating Adele's decade-long record
• The most controversial lyrics and production choices
• Why “Eldest Daughter” might be her weakest Track 5 yet
• Best, Worst, and Fav songs from The Life of a Showgirl

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

04:00 - First impressions and expectations

09:30 - Marketing vs. album reality

17:00 - Track-by-track: “The Fate of Ophelia,” “Elizabeth Taylor,” “Opalite,” “Father Figure,” “Eldest Daughter,” and more

55:00 - Final rankings and where Taylor goes next

Follow Alex:

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I’m now live on Substack! Every week, I’m sharing two pop music newsletters, exclusive album reactions and written reviews, early access to all YouTube reactions, and so much more. Check it out at https://vinylbymars.substack.com/.

Taylor Swift’s twelfth album The Life of a Showgirl is days away. In this episode of Live From Mars, Alex is joined by Swiftie creator Steven Sullivan to map out Taylor’s road to this era, what the Max Martin and Shellback reunion could mean, and why this release feels pivotal after The Tortured Poets Department.

We cover everything:

• Why Showgirl feels like a true reset after the Eras Tour and TTPD

• What to expect from the Max Martin and Shellback partnership

• Our hopes, fears, and bold predictions for the album

• Vinyl variants, rollout choices, and how fans are reacting

• First-week sales projections and awards outlook

• What success looks like for the lead single and the album overall

If you’re a Taylor Swift fan, you don’t want to miss this conversation.

Chapters:

00:00 — Intro + why this era feels pivotal

02:41 — Meet the guest: Steven Sullivan

05:40 — Post-Eras context and how TTPD shaped expectations

11:30 — Max Martin & Shellback: what the reunion signals

18:30 — Rollout talk: variants, promo, and strategy

34:20 — Fanbase sentiment and expectations

35:50 — Hopes, fears, bold predictions

43:50 — First-week sales projections

46:20 — Final thoughts + what comes next

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Substack: https://vinylbymars.substack.com/

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I'm now live on Substack! Every week, I'm sharing two pop music newsletters, exclusive album reactions and written reviews, early access to all YouTube reactions, and so much more. Check it out at https://vinylbymars.substack.com/.

Sabrina Carpenter’s seventh album Man’s Best Friend is here — just one year after Short n’ Sweet. In this episode of Live From Mars, Alex is joined by Sabrina superfan and resident expert Nick Palmai to break down the album track-by-track.

We cover everything:

• How Man’s Best Friend compares to Short n’ Sweet

• Our first reactions and favorite tracks (“Tears,” “House Tour,” “When Did You Get Hot?”)

• The hits, misses, and standout lyrics

• Whether this album came too soon after Sabrina’s breakout era

• Predictions for first-week numbers, surprise singles, and what comes next

If you’re a Sabrina Carpenter fan, you don’t want to miss this deep dive.

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Substack: https://vinylbymars.substack.com/

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Taylor Swift has officially announced her 12th studio album The Life of a Showgirl and I’m breaking down everything we know so far. From her surprise New Heights podcast appearance to the visuals and tracklist to the long-awaited reunion with Max Martin and Shellback, this episode dives into why TS12 feels like a turning point in her career.

I’ll also cover the Sabrina Carpenter feature, whether this is a return to 1989-style pop or a brand-new reinvention, and answer your fan-submitted questions about the sound, singles, deluxe editions, and if Taylor will tour again.

Plus, I’m officially launching my Substack. Free subscribers get my Now Spinning newsletter every Friday with New Music Friday highlights, while paid subscribers unlock full album reviews, uncut reaction videos, Twitch archives, exclusive interviews, and access to the Life on Mars Discord. Join at vinylbymars.substack.com.

Chapters:

0:00 -- Intro and Europe trip recap

1:35 -- My Substack announcement

7:36 -- Taylor’s "The Life of A Showgirl"

21:21 -- Answering Your Taylor Questions

Substack

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Apple Podcasts

TikTok

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YouTube

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We’re heading into August, which means the Grammy eligibility deadline is just around the corner. On this episode of Live From Mars, I’m breaking down the state of the 2026 Grammy race across the Big Four categories: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.

From frontrunners like Kendrick Lamar’s GNX and Lady Gaga’s Mayhem to under-the-radar picks like Miley Cyrus and Ravyn Lenae, I walk through who’s favored to win, who deserves to be in the conversation, and who might get snubbed. I also explain the confusing eligibility rules, talk about late entries like Sabrina Carpenter’s upcoming Man’s Best Friend, and yes — I address the Alex Warren situation.

Topics covered:

• Grammy eligibility window explained
• Album of the Year: Kendrick vs Gaga vs the field
• Record of the Year: Why “Luther” might sweep
• Song of the Year: Could Billie Eilish’s “Wildflower” surprise?
• Best New Artist: Is it Rosé’s year — or will someone else break through?
• My personal picks, hot takes, and what to watch for next

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro + Grammy eligibility timing

04:20 - Album of the Year: frontrunners, dark horses, and my pick

14:44 - Record of the Year: Kendrick, Gaga, Billie, and "APT"

19:35 - The Alex Warren beef explained

21:06 - Song of the Year: “Wildflower,” “Abracadabra,” and what’s eligible

24:47 - Best New Artist: Rosé, Addison Rae, Ravyn Lenae, and more

If you're into pop music, artist narratives, or just want to sound smart come Grammy night, this one’s for you.

Follow Mars:

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This week on Live From Mars, Alex is joined by returning guest Nick Palmai to unpack Justin Bieber’s surprise new album SWAG. From the rollout and first impressions to the features, lyrical content (or lack of it), and how this record fits into Bieber’s larger discography, they dive into everything. The album is cohesive, moody, and full of bold choices... some of which work, and some that definitely don’t.

Alex and Nick debate whether SWAG is a Journals spiritual sequel, a SZA-inspired vibe album, or just a chaotic mixtape in disguise. They also get into THAT Sexyy Red feature, the confusing interludes, the Michael Jackson and Usher comparisons, and why this era of Bieber might be his most interesting yet -- even if it's not his best.

Topics covered:

• The surprise SWAG rollout and how it caught fans off guard
• Is this Bieber’s Journals 2.0? Or something else entirely?
• The influence of SZA, Daniel Caesar, Dijon, and Carter Lang
• Strong tracks (“Daisies,” “Walking Away,” “Devotion”) vs. weak ones
• Sexyy Red’s feature on “Sweet Spot”
• Album structure: interludes, voice memos, and the overstuffed tracklist
• Lyrical repetition and why Bieber still feels emotionally guarded
• The Michael Jackson/The Weeknd comparisons
• Where this album fits in Bieber’s career and male pop in 2025

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

01:28 – Welcoming Back Nick

08:50 – First Impressions of SWAG

16:50 – The Songwriting of SWAG

21:16 – Interludes, voice notes & filler tracks

28:59 – Today's Male Pop Stars

34:47 – Our Favorite Tracks

40:32 – SWAG's Lasting Impact

Follow me:

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• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vinylbymars
• New Music Friday playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7fbLRhODukVyre2zTFMQG0?si=e9fcd379355647ae

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This week on Live From Mars, Alex unpacks a massive week in pop music—from Lorde’s industrial new album Virgin, to wild moments at Glastonbury, Olivia Rodrigo album rumors, Beyoncé's floating car scare, and more. This episode combines a full review of Virgin with New Music Friday highlights and a breakdown of the week’s biggest music news.

Topics covered:

• New Music Friday picks: Lorde’s Virgin, Jessie Murph’s “Heroin,” and RAYE & Mark Ronson’s “Grandma Calls The Boys Bad News”
• Full review of Lorde’s Virgin album: top tracks, themes, standout lyrics, and how it compares to Solar Power
• Glastonbury moments: Charli XCX sets the Brat curtain on fire, Matty Healy takes jabs at Taylor Swift, and Lewis Capaldi returns to the stage
• Olivia Rodrigo’s next album: what we know (and don’t) about OR3 so far
• Taylor Swift’s surprise “Shake It Off” performance in Nashville
• Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour scare in Houston
• Sabrina Carpenter’s album cover controversy and why she’s a marketing genius

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

01:31 – Lorde's Virgin Review

14:21 – New Music Friday Highlights

18:37 – Glastonbury 2025 Recap

25:41 – Olivia Rodrigo's 3rd Album

29:21 - Taylor Swift's Surprise Performance

31:14 – Beyoncé's "16 Carriages" Car Accident

32:15 – Sabrina Carpenter's New Album Cover

Follow me:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vinylbymars

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinylbymars

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vinylbymars

New Music Friday playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7fbLRhODukVyre2zTFMQG0?si=e9fcd379355647ae

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This week on Live From Mars, Alex shares his picks for the best songs of 2025 (so far)—including bangers from Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, SZA, Ariana Grande, and more. Plus, a quick New Music Friday recap and the chaotic rollout of Sabrina Carpenter’s surprise new album Man's Best Friend.

Topics covered:

• Quick hits from a quiet New Music Friday: Kehlani, Mark Ronson & RAYE, Hannah Jadagu
• Sabrina Carpenter's surprise album announcement + the internet’s meltdown over the cover art
• Alex’s full list of the 10 best songs of 2025 (plus a bonus!)
• Why Abracadabra and Something Beautiful are tied for song of the year
• The comeback of fun Drake? (Yes, I'm shocked too)
• A case for Addison Rae and a deep cut from Djo
• Taylor Swift similarities, Ariana, SZA, The Weeknd, HAIM, Selena Gomez, and more

Timestamps:

00:00 — Intro + Catch Up

01:31 — New Music Friday Highlights

06:59 — Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend Controversy

13:15 — The Best Pop Songs of 2025 (So Far)

Follow & support the show:

Life on Mars (New Music Friday Playlist): https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7fbLRhODukVyre2zTFMQG0?si=f39baf34c7754f2f

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0V8opmfEyH3U7MJSTrsHH6

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-from-mars/id1717556594

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vinylbymars

Follow Alex on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vinylbymars

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This week on Live From Mars, Alex shares one of the wildest weeks in his pop music life: going record shopping with Joe Jonas, meeting Miley Cyrus, and seeing The Weeknd’s After Hours 'Til Dawn tour. Plus, a full breakdown of Addison Rae’s surprisingly strong debut album Addison, Sabrina Carpenter’s new single “Manchild,” and an in-depth conversation with Sony Music Publishing’s SVP of A&R and Survivor 48 castaway Thomas Krottinger. From Olivia Rodrigo’s publishing journey to how artists actually get paid, this episode covers it all.

Topics covered:

• Addison Rae’s debut album Addison — standout tracks and whether it lives up to the hype

• Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild” — is this another hit or just a viral detour?

• Behind the scenes of Alex’s interview and record store hang with Joe Jonas

• Meeting Miley Cyrus and the story behind “Pretend You’re God”

• Full concert recap of The Weeknd’s After Hours 'Til Dawn stadium tour

• Interview with Thomas Krottinger: Olivia Rodrigo’s early songwriting talent, how music publishing works, why the song is the most important part of the industry, how artist deals are structured, the importance of finding a good publishing partner, and how the business has shifted post-TikTok

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & Wildest Week Ever

01:29 - Addison Rae Album Reaction

02:16 - Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild”

04:00 - Record Shopping w/ Joe Jonas

06:23 - Meeting Miley Cyrus

07:43 - The Weeknd Stadium Tour Recap

10:23 - Introducing Thomas Krottinger

14:36 - Music Publishing 101

20:14 - Signing Olivia Rodrigo

26:21 - The Future of the Music Industry

37:50 - Thomas' Survivor Experience

Follow & support the show:

• Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0V8opmfEyH3U7MJSTrsHH6

• Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-from-mars/id1721474129

• Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vinylbymars

• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinylbymars

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This was one of the biggest music weeks in a long time. Taylor Swift now officially owns her masters—her first six albums are finally hers—and Miley Cyrus just dropped what I truly believe is the best album of her career. I break it all down in this week’s episode.

We get into the full Taylor masters timeline, the $360M deal, what this means for the re-records, and whether Reputation (TV) is actually off the table. Plus: my review of Something Beautiful, Lorde’s raw return, and Addison Rae proving she’s more than a TikTok star.

In this episode:

• Taylor Swift’s masters: full backstory + what happens next
• Miley Cyrus Something Beautiful review + top 3 tracks
• Lorde’s “Man of the Year” breakdown
• Addison Rae’s comeback with “Fame is a Gun”

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Welcome to Live From Mars
• 02:01 - Miley Cyrus' Something Beautiful
• 12:44 - Addison Rae's "Fame is a Gun"
• 17:51 - Lorde's "Man of the Year"
• 20:00 - Taylor Swift Buys Back Her Masters
• 33:39 - Next Week's Sneak Peek

Find me on:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0V8opmfEyH3U7MJSTrsHH6
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-from-mars/id1720430294
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vinylbymars
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vinylbymars
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinylbymars
• X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/vinylbymars

To provide feedback, please fill out this survey: http://bit.ly/livefrommars-survey

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