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FEATURED SONG

REC – “If It Feels All Right”

(from PARTS AND LABOUR)

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This week I give you a long overdue lovefest on Fountains of Wayne, possibly the greatest power pop band ever.

Melding driving rock with hooky pop, Fountains of Wayne set the standard laid out by bands like The Beatles, Squeeze, and Big Star. Every album is full of gems that go far beyond “Stacy’s Mom”. 

I go over their history, every album, Adam Schlesinger’s untimely death, and argue that they were one of the most important unsung bands in history.

Do you know Fountains of Wayne beyond “Stacy’s Mom”? Are you a power pop fan? Are you aware of how prolific Adam Schlesinger was? Do you think Fountains of Wayne deserve more recognition? Discuss dammit!

BONUS MxTRA: Where does Fountains of Wayne rank in the POWER POP TOP TEN?

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*intro music credit: REC - "Wake Up High"

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FEATURED SONG

REC – “Let It Wreck Your Mind”

(from SYNCOPY FOR THE WEIRD)

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Part 3 of my Great Producers series is on the 1970s, the decade when music recording realized its full sonic potential. This was due to massive expansion in both technology and creativity. 

Those developments influenced each other in ways that propelled music forward like never before. This episode will discuss that, as well as the producers who made the greatest impact on the music of this decade.

Do you agree that 1970s production values were head over heels above those of previous decades? What are some of your favorites from the decade – genres, producers, artists, albums, songs? How do you think music production from this decade influenced subsequent decades? Discuss dammit!

BONUS MxTRA: Sylvia Robinson – a LEGENDARY music force YOU SHOULD KNOW

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*intro music credit: REC - "Wake Up High"

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Here's yet another BONUS MxTRA for Season 8! It's a PATREON EXCLUSIVE that I'm sharing for THREE reasons: 1. It's just after the holidays & I need an extra week to get new content ready for you; 2. This podcast needs your support, and I want you to know what kind of exclusive content you get when you join me on Patreon; and 3. It's a vital topic that might benefit some listeners out there, especially anyone creating new art.

In this BONUS MxTRA, I talk to MUSIC CREATORS about how NOSTALGIA might be killing both their career prospects AND their creation process, and offer tips for how to use nostalgia in ways that will reverse that.

If you like these BONUS MxTRAs, you can see the videos, all 60+ MxTRAs, and every future episode if you join me on Patreon. You can get in for as little as ONE DOLLAR A MONTH.

Enjoy!

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FEATURED SONG

REC feat. The Drop – “You Know You’re Right (No Fun Pushy Mix)”

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To close out 2025, I’m doing a slightly premature catchup episode – your comments, my corrections & thoughts, etc. 

After I flesh out everything y’all have said in the final third of this year, I’m going to talk about what kind of music podcast you really need to be listening to, by comparing other formats with whatever it is I do.

Did I mention you? Did I miss something? How do you think Season 8 has been going so far? What do you really want from a music podcast? And what would you like me to talk about in 2026? Discuss dammit! 

BONUS MxTRA: What I really think of other music podcasts

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*intro music credit: REC - "Wake Up High"

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FEATURED SONG

NICK – “My Xmas Wish” (from the upcoming album, VALLEY OF THE UNRELEASED)

In the sixth installment of Quick Takes from the Continuum, I wrap up my 2025 playlist, and the year itself.

I’ll sum up where my playlist was midyear, then fill it out with everything I’ve added since then. I’ll also weigh in on my favorites for the year, and the overall quality of music in 2025.

And since it’s the holiday season, I’ll also catch up on my Christmas playlist, and assess the overall quality of 2025’s Christmas additions. 

2025alive PLAYLIST

Christmas PLAYLIST

What’s your take on the music from this year? Any favorites? Any old music you discovered for the first time? What about holiday music? And how do you feel next year’s music will be? Discuss dammit!

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*intro music credit: REC - "You Make Me Wanna" (from RECcollection: The Best of REC 2007-2020)

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FEATURED SONG 

REC – “Fall” (from PARTS AND LABOUR)

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Life is long – if we’re lucky. The longer it is, the more we look back. If that looking back is with fondness – and maybe even a desire to return to the “good old days”, it’s called nostalgia.

As music lovers, we ALL experience nostalgia. Those songs & bands we grew up with tend to mean more to us than anything that came after, so we assume they were qualitatively better. They give us warm feelings. They’re comforting.

In this 38th MUSIC is EVERYTHING, I’m going to explain why nostalgia is detrimental the more we indulge it, how it closes our minds & hearts to experiencing and maybe even loving new things – music and otherwise, and how it prevents us from fully enjoying the life we’re living right now. 

Are you generally a nostalgic person? Do you indulge in nostalgia from time to time? Or do you mostly live in the past? How does nostalgia make you feel about the present? Discuss dammit!

BONUS MxTRA: How nostalgia can kill your music career

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*intro music: REC - "In Your Dreams Tonight"

*mid roll music credit: The Drop - "Outerloper

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Here's yet another BONUS MxTRA for Season 8! It's a PATREON EXCLUSIVE that I'm sharing for THREE reasons: 1. It's a microtopic on producers, something I'm really passionate about; 2. It's the holiday season & I need an extra week to get new content ready for you; 3. This podcast needs your support, and I want you to know what kind of exclusive content you get when you join me on Patreon.

In this BONUS MxTRA, I delineate the FIVE PRODUCER ARCHETYPES, name some examples, and discuss which is MY main archetype.

If you like these BONUS MxTRAs, you can see the videos, all 50+ MxTRAs, and every future episode if you join me on Patreon. Until the end of the year, you can get in for as little as ONE DOLLAR A MONTH.

Enjoy!

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I spend an hour with Shaka Mitchell - father, education advocate, and creator of the Come Together Music Project

Come Together Music Project Website

Connect even more with Shaka:

YouTube

iTunes

Spotify

Instagram

Shaka's Substack

BONUS MxTRA: Shaka & Nick Come Together Through Music

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*intro/outro music credit: REC - "Sing Owwt"

*mid roll music credit: The Drop - "Outerloper"

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FEATURED SONG

Nicky DeMatteo – “I’ll Be There”

The first PODFAST of Season 8 is all about Northern Soul. 

It was a movement of music fans, shops & labels starting in the North of England in the late 1960s, that centered around old American soul records with a beat you could dance to, and especially the more obscure tracks.

I go through the prehistory, history, songs & artists, legacy, and why Northern Soul still matters.

Have you ever heard of Northern Soul? Are you a fan of ‘60s & ‘70s soul music with a strong backbeat? Do you think it’s important that less successful songs and artists get recognized and appreciated? Discuss dammit! 

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*intro music credit: REC - "You Make Me Wanna" (from RECcollection: The Best of REC 2007-2020)

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I spend an hour with Doug Gouger of NovA and the Black Holes. He's a musician, songwriter, producer, magician, video director, balloon twister, face painter, and standup comic. We get into all things music and beyond, including his run-ins with Jerry Garcia & the Hell's Angels.

Hear all of Doug's music here:
www.novaandtheblackholes.com

And stay to the end to hear the FEATURED SONG: 
NovA and the Black Holes - "All Fall Down"

BONUS MxTRA: Doug Gouger and Standup Comedy

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*intro music credit: REC - "Sing Owwt"

*mid roll music credit: The Drop - "Outerloper"

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