Rock Of Ages

Originally recorded August 10, 2024

Apologies for the very late upload, college has been kicking my heinie as of later and I haven't got time to edit episodes. But I should have some more free time coming up. Until then, have episode on the seminal 80s speed metal rock & roll classic, Ace of Spades by Motorhead!

One of the best and most overlooked debuts of the 1990s, this album is pure bliss. Not much left to say about why it's so special. But there's plenty to hear. It's The Sundays' "Reading, Writing & Arithmetic"!

For my 4th birthday episode, we discuss a barely known debut album from one of the world's most well-known performers. Before he became Mayor of Margaritaville, he was a socially conscious folkie who wrote down-to-earth stories about down-to-earth people. How he went to his cover of "Once in a Lifetime" still remains a mystery. So let's talk about Jimmy Buffett and his debut album, fittingly called "Down to Earth"!

Disclaimer: If I sound weird a bit in the episode it's not because I was drunk or anything, like the song says "I'm tense and nervous and can't relax"

One of the most remarkable debut albums by the most remarkable band of the late 1970s and early 80s. They did much better albums after this, but the fact this still holds up is a testament to their staying power. This is Talking Heads' "Talking Heads: 77"!

In this episode, we cover the Elton John/Tim Rice musical that wasn't made to be a movie! Based on the Verdi opera of the same name, it garnered an adult contemporary hit for Elton with "Written in the Stars", but the critical response was widely negative after the previews. Was it worth the hate? Let's find out with 'Aida'!

//Trigger Warning, conversations involving s**cide

In this 1975 concept album, Elton John & Bernie Taupin reminisce about the time they met each other in the 1960s. Their personal lives were a mess and both men fell into deep depressions about the impossible-to-escape states they were in. But through it all, they persevered together and became the biggest names in music. And this might be their best album yet. This is "Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy".

One of the single-most important albums of all time, it deserves to be mentioned in the same breath more as albums like its better sibling 'Highway 61 Revisited', and even 'Sgt. Pepper's' and 'Nevermind'. But remembering the last time we covered Dylan, what will the theater kids think of it? This is Bob Dylan, bringin' it all back home with 'Bringing it All Back Home'!

This 1980 new wave debut is a true diamond in the rough. Jangling post-punk guitars and Chrissie Hynde's beautiful voice mesh greatly with her lyrics, which are much more than meets the eye and invite further examination. And the theater kids are here for it. It's the self-titled debut by (the) Pretenders!

Alright, vacation time's over, time to release a new batch of episodes! Theres three more coming after this and we'll be caught up after an extended break of not editing and relaxing for a change. First up we got one of the defining funk albums of the 1970s, one that is surely great to introduce to a theater kid if you don't start them with the title track! It's Funkadelic, "Maggot Brain"!

This probably could be the most obscure thing we've discussed on the podcast, but that's okay. Never be afraid to dive into things you haven't heard of before. Be afraid if you'll like it or not. Will the theater kids like this? I guess we'll find out when we cover Big Head Todd & The Monsters' "Sister Sweetly"!