No regular NO ENCORE this week but we're back in the 'music x movies' groove as NO POPCORN revs up accordingly.

Having recently turned 10 years young, Drive felt like the perfect candidate for our next cinematic overview.

Long silences. Super-slick aesthetic. Shocking bursts of ultra-violence. Questionable fashionable choices. Terrific casting choices. And, of course, a killer soundtrack for the ages. All up for debate on this brand new episode.

ACT ONE: What We've Been Watching featuring a scary movie round-up and a bunch of recent motion pictures including Dune, The French Dispatch, Old, The Last Duel, Reminiscence and the Kid Cudi documentary.

ACT TWO (34:45): Drive.

Get every single episode of NO POPCORN to date right here: https://spoti.fi/3Dv90EN

We are on Patreon if you deeply love what we do – https://www.patreon.com/noencore if you want to get involved.

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Knowing me, knowing you... AHA!

One of us is off this week (it’s Dave), so Craig takes a chance on our wonderful super sub (and super trouper) Zara Hedderman. In case you haven’t guessed, we talk ABBA. 

ACT ONE (7:14): We try to make some sense of the horrific tragedy that unfolded in Houston with some Astroworld discussion, before moving on to some altogether lighter fare: Will Chris Gaines make a Croker appearance? Is ‘Peaches’ a Marxist anthem? Would you watch an Alanis Morissette sitcom?

ACT TWO (39:21): Voyage is the name of the game as we talk about ABBA’s long-awaited studio return. Features far less punnery than this write-up, you’ll be glad to hear.

ACT THREE (1:01:30): Wholesome love stories for the ages rub shoulders with more toxic tales – but the bangers stay consistent, natch. It’s our ‘Couples’ Top 5.

Patreon.com/noencore if you'd like to help Craig bribe Dave into returning for the next episode. And get bonus content and all our love in return!

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The boys are back in sound. Craig returns from Barcelona to the loving digital arms of Dave. Podding ensues.

This week, we're looking at the most misunderstood songs in the musical canon. We're also trying our best to understand, not for the first time, the appeal of Ed Sheeran. Luckily, we have Alice Kiernan on board to help us do just that.

Do check out Alice's new song 'Blue' on all your music platforms, by the by.

ACT ONE (0:26): Craig regales us with his Catalan experience before we move into...

ACT TWO (6:31): The famous news section! Shakira's bizarre boar brush, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame report, Aaron Lewis' Bruce-shaped beef, Madonna's latest lament and Ed Sheeran Corner – it's all happening.

ACT THREE (24:13): A chat with Alice Kieran about her return to songwriting before this week's album review - it's time to level out with the Equalizer himself; Ed Sheeran.

ACT FOUR (57:59): Top 5 Misunderstood Songs.

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Having successfully reached the 300-episode milestone, Craig has flounced off to sunnier climes, leaving Dave to recruit the one, the only, Zara Hedderman.

On the agenda; a terrifying Top 5, a debate on Self Esteem and a round-up of the most eyebrow-raising happenings in music this week...

ACT ONE (4:47): IDLES lament, Adele expense and Maroon 5 clarity – it's the news.

ACT TWO (24:27): Outspoken UK artist Self Esteem has been showered with praise across the past week for new album Prioritise Pleasure. Is the hype justified?

ACT THREE (42:00): Time to send a chill down the spine with our Top 5 Horror Movie Scores. 

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The last Monday of the month means a new Before The ENCORE, taking you deeper into the behind-the-scenes world of the music industry with Sonic Architect Adam guiding you along the way.

This episode sees Adam speak with Niall McMonagle; sound engineer and studio manager for the famous Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin city, which has played host to artists such as U2, R.E.M., The Cranberries, Phil Lynott and many many more over the years.

This episode launches in conjunction with Windmill Lane's first ever vinyl release, which is a compilation of all of the aforementioned artists and many more. You can find out more and pre-order the vinyl, which is due for release on Friday October 29th, here.

If you enjoy NO ENCORE and all of its many iterations, you can also find us on Patreon here to support us as an independent podcast in what we do.

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Madness? This is #300, baby!

That's how that quote goes, right? 

On a suitably Spartan episode; Dave Hanratty and Craig Fitzpatrick celebrate a NO ENCORE milestone by welcoming OG co-host Colm O'Regan back into the fold.

We laughed. We cried. We spoke about wings. You just flew. Thanks for your company across this ocean of time. On this particular edition... 

ACT ONE (1:28): Reunited and it feels so good. 

News-wise; Craig on Ye, Drake x Adele, Tom Morello's rights, Satanic Panic and the reason why Coldplay never wrote a Bond theme finally revealed.

ACT TWO (26:22): Speaking of Coldplay, it's time to surround ourselves with Music of the Spheres. Best of luck to all involved.

ACT THREE (46:39): The best of music. The worst of music. The best and the worst songs about music. Time to get meta with our latest Top 5.

Here's to 300 more episodes. Patreon.com/noencore if you'd like to help us keep this wild ride going. Bonus content and our love in return! 

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It's episode #299 and we're feelin' fine. 

NO ENCORE returns as Dave Hanratty and Craig Fitzpatrick elevate the humble B-side to A-tier status. Does that make sense? Does anything? Are you even reading these words or are they reading you? Think about it.

And please do think about supporting the show if you like or even love what we do – patreon.com/noencore for bonus episodes, playlists and previews.

ACT ONE: Dave watched a film that scared him.

ACT TWO (6:47): A very Radio Nova-esque news section takes in hot young whippersnappers like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton. We have time for at least two of those acts, anyway. 

Plus – Demi Lovato says to cool it on the extraterrestrial remarks and Madonna's biopic sounds like it's going to challenge us all, in its way.

ACT THREE (26:34): The airing of grievances. The appreciation of understatement. The adventure of a perhaps bygone era. 

Oh, and Craig frantically digging through his physical music collection in real-time – it's our Top 5 B-Sides!

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Don't hate, appreciate. 

Unless we're talking about this week's Top 5 – though hopefully you'll appreciate that, too. 

A new album from James Blake prompts Dave Hanratty and Craig Fitzpatrick to bash their heads together and consider some of the more spiky songs out there. Ire works, as a great band once said, but how will James fare in his own review?

NO ENCORE is on Patreon and your support means everything to an independent show like ours. 

Patreon.com/noencore if you'd like to pitch in – Craig's excellent Kid Cudi playlist and accompanying personal essay are waiting for you right now!

As for this episode...

ACT ONE (7:05): A familiar clanging omen makes way for the real main event of this week's news section – hipster music critics giving out about other music critics. Seriously, what is Pitchfork playing at this week?

ACT TWO (32:00): James Blake has plenty to say about Friends That Break Your Heart. And so do we.

ACT THREE (49:48): Top 5 Songs About Haters.

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NO ENCORE's 'movies x music' spin-off returns as Hanratty, Howard and Higgins combine to take on the Sparks-driven rock opera Annette.

An avant-garde arthouse film if ever there was an avant-garde arthouse film; Annette tells the story of celebrity couple Henry McHenry (Adam Driver) and Ann Defrasnoux (Marion Cotillard) and their subsequent strange travails.

Is it too weird for its own good? How are the songs? And the performances? Is there depth here or is it all a bit one-dimensional, despite the strange fantasy? 

All of this and more discussed on a brand new NO POPCORN.

ACT ONE: A bumper What We've Been Watching including some 2021 highlights – and lowlights.

ACT TWO (33:05): Annette.

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Do you expect me to talk?

No, Mr Bond, I expect you to...

Listen to this suitably suspenseful episode, as Dave and Craig re-enter the Broccoli Cinematic Universe to celebrate No Time To Die and create our own alternative musical universe in the process.

But before the Top 5, you’ll find Dave’s Big Film Review and Craig’s Big Ramble About Electroclash And Being Crushed To Death By A Pair Of Thighs. No album this week, we’ve already a blockbuster on our hands...

NO ENCORE is on Patreon if you like what we do every week. Hit up patreon.com/noencore for bonus episodes, previews, playlists and love.

ACT ONE (2:53): R Kelly brought to justice, MJ-loving despots, rare eels on MDMA, Grimes and Elon Musk no longer colonising the galaxy together and Lil Stevie, well, revealing too much. All the news that’s fit to pod.

ACT TWO (26:43): We spent far too long on both these lists. But boy does it deliver. Left turns, prospective scripts, lots of brass and drama. Our Top 5 Alternative Bond Themes.

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