summary

In this episode, Craig and Andrew explore the evolution of alternative and hardcore music, discuss upcoming album releases, and analyze the dynamics of music festivals. They share insights on bands like Third Eye Blind, The Toadies, Angel Dust, and the Foo Fighters, offering a deep dive into genre blending, industry trends, and live performances.

Chapters

00:00 Nostalgic Musical Journeys 02:43 The Evolution of Third Eye Blind 05:52 The Toadies: A Band's Journey 08:29 Festival Economics and Band Lineups 11:23 Foo Fighters: Consistency in Music 14:01 The Legacy of the Foo Fighters 27:50 February Blues and Music Reflections 29:54 Tori Amos and the Evolution of Music 31:11 Converge's New Album: A Fan's Perspective 35:42 The Origins of Angel Dust and Hardcore Scene 40:25 Angel Dust's Musical Journey and New Album 52:54 Final Thoughts on Angel Dust's New Album

On this episode, we do get a little bit political, because it invaded music for a week. The Epstein Files and their music industry fallout with the Wasserman talent agency are a topic of conversation as well as the Superbowl halftime show. We also discussed Craig seeing Agriculture live and how a black metal band can be so joyous.

Chapters

00:00 Celebrating Two Years of Podcasting 02:57 The Joy of Daylight and Seasonal Changes 05:40 Exploring the Ecstatic Black Metal Scene 08:37 Super Bowl Halftime Show: A Clash of Perspectives 11:20 Cultural Commentary on Music and Politics 19:53 The Impact of Jeffrey Epstein's Influence on Music Management 23:50 The Influence of the Elite Class 26:44 Artists and the Burden of Association 27:39 Local Connections to Global Issues 30:41 The Weight of Wealth and Power 33:47 Musical Tidbits and New Releases 38:50 Exploring New Sounds and Recommendations

In this episode of the Album of Record podcast, hosts Craig Lyndall and Andrew Schnitkey dive into the latest in indie, punk, and metal, headlined by a review of Joyce Manor's seventh studio album. They also provide extensive coverage of the 2026 Grammy Awards, celebrating a historic night for the Baltimore hardcore band Turnstile.

The conversation transitions from modern punk to a surprising exploration of classical music, as Andrew shares his newfound appreciation for Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, drawing parallels between orchestral "breakdowns" and hardcore music. The episode concludes with a Recommendation Corner featuring a mix of doom shoegaze and southern indie rock.

Chapters

00:01 – Introduction and Hoodie Season The hosts catch up on the cold February weather and Andrew's recurring Deftones sweatshirt.

01:09 – Review: Joyce Manor's New Album A deep dive into the band's latest release, discussing its signature short runtime, infectious hooks, and themes of wistful depression.

09:33 – Pitchfork Ratings & Final Scores Craig and Andrew compare their personal scores of 7.0 and 7.6 to the Pitchfork critic and reader ratings.

12:14 – 2026 Grammys: Turnstile's Historic Night Reaction to Turnstile winning Best Metal Performance and Best Rock Album, including a debate on their status in the hardcore scene.

24:58 – The Cure and Grammy Eligibility Debates A discussion on The Cure's first Grammy win for Songs of a Lost World and Craig's defense of the Grammy cutoff for album eligibility.

32:24 – Classical Music for Hardcore Fans Andrew explains how The West Wing and ChatGPT led him to discover the frenzied similarities between Beethoven and punk.

38:24 – Recommendation Corner Craig recommends the all-female doom shoegaze band Blackwater Holy Light, and Andrew previews the new Rat Boys record.

49:06 – Looking Ahead: Agriculture & Angel Dust Anticipation for seeing the band Agriculture live in Cleveland and next week's highly anticipated Angel Dust release.

Summary

In this episode, Craig and Andrew discuss a variety of topics ranging from personal experiences with eye care and LASIK to their thoughts on the Super Bowl and team loyalties. They delve into the intersection of music and sports, sharing insights on the soundtrack of games and their favorite bands. The conversation shifts to the Tea Party and their musical impact, as well as the recent performance of Geese on Saturday Night Live. They explore the significance of biopics in understanding music legends, particularly focusing on Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. The episode concludes with a discussion on Kanye West's recent apology and the complexities of redemption in the public eye, alongside reflections on the evolving nature of music and culture.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates 02:50 Sports Talk: Super Bowl and Team Rivalries 05:28 Music and Cultural Commentary 08:08 The Tea Party and Musical Discoveries 11:00 Geese on Saturday Night Live 13:40 Music Biopics and Their Impact 22:53 The Evolution of Music Genres 25:39 Bob Dylan's Impact and Controversies 27:16 Springsteen's Creative Struggles 31:00 The Changing Landscape of Indie Music 39:18 Kanye West's Controversial Apology and Redemption 50:23 Closing Thoughts and Future Music Releases

Summary

In this episode, Craig and Andrew discuss their experiences with winter weather, the loss of their favorite podcast IndieCast, and their current podcast listening habits. They dive deep into Zach Bryan's new album, exploring its songwriting, sound, and artistic choices. The conversation shifts to the state of music criticism, particularly focusing on Pitchfork's new subscription model and its implications for music consumption. They also discuss the challenges of navigating the current landscape of music reviews and recommendations, concluding with thoughts on upcoming releases and their personal music recommendations.

Chapters

00:00 Winter Weather and Weekend Plans 02:44 Nostalgia for IndieCast 05:32 Podcast Listening Habits 08:26 Zach Bryan's New Album Review 16:41 Zach Bryan's Unique Style and Appeal 22:22 The Death of the Web and Subscription Models 33:16 The Value of Subscription Services 35:33 Community Engagement in Music Reviews 38:18 Understanding Pitchfork's Rating System 51:53 Defining Musical Masterpieces 56:34 Recommendations and Anticipations for New Music

Summary

In this episode, Craig and Andrew reflect on the transition into 2026, discussing personal growth, resolutions, and the significance of live music. They delve into the musical landscape of 1996, exploring the shift from grunge to alternative rock, the impact of hip hop, and the Billboard Top 100 of that year. The conversation also touches on the MTV Video Music Awards and anticipates exciting album releases for 2026.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to 2026: New Beginnings 02:47 Reflections on 2025: Personal Growth and Resolutions 05:31 Musical Resolutions: Exploring Live Music 08:31 1996: A Year in Music 11:18 The Shift from Grunge to Alternative 14:03 Heavy Music of 1996: A Diverse Landscape 16:51 Hip Hop and R&B in 1996: Cultural Impact 19:43 Billboard Top 100 of 1996: A Nostalgic Journey 22:18 MTV Video Music Awards 1996: Winners and Highlights 25:09 Looking Ahead: Anticipated Albums of 2026

In this special bonus episode closing out 2025, Craig and Andrew discuss one of their favorite bands, Foxing, and the band's recent decision to go on indefinite hiatus to mend their personal relationships and relationship with the music.

Andrew interviews Craig about the two farewell shows he attended in Chicago and just how different they were.

Summary

In this episode of the Album of Record podcast, hosts Craig Lyndall and Andrew Schnitkey dive into their top 10 music albums of 2025. They discuss the challenges of ranking their favorite albums, share insights on various artists, and reflect on the emotional impact of the music. The conversation also touches on the current state of the emo genre and the significance of certain albums in defining the year in music.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Top 10 Music of 2025 01:18 Unveiling the Top 10 Lists 03:26 Exploring Numbers 10 to 6 10:41 Diving into the Top 5 11:13 The Battle of the Top 3 20:47 Reflections on the Year in Music 23:27 Exploring Emo Punk Records 24:24 The Armed: A Deep Dive into Their Latest Album 29:05 Perfect Saviors vs. The Armed: A Personal Preference 31:21 Craig's Number One: Greet Death 34:02 Late Discoveries and the Emo Revival 37:48 Reflections on the Year in Music 40:57 Women in Music: Representation in 2025 42:38 Defining the Year: Personal Favorites and Impact

Summary

In this episode, Craig and Andrew reflect on their favorite music from the past year, discussing various albums and ranking them using a tier list. They explore the criteria for what makes an album stand out, share personal favorites, and engage in lively debates about different artists and their latest releases. The conversation highlights the diversity of music and the subjective nature of musical appreciation, making for an engaging and insightful discussion. In this episode, Andrew Schnitkey and Craig Lyndall dive deep into their thoughts on various album releases from the year, exploring genres like pop punk, hardcore, and singer-songwriter vibes. They discuss the evolution of artists like Danny Brown and the maturity of bands like Deftones, while also celebrating the sense of community found in hardcore music. The conversation touches on the challenges of ranking albums, the impact of anticipation, and the resurgence of emo music. With a mix of personal favorites and new discoveries, the hosts provide a comprehensive overview of the music landscape for the year.

Chapters

00:00 Year in Music Overview 05:41 Exploring Emo and Indie Albums 11:53 Emerging Artists and Surprises 17:23 Rap and Hip-Hop Insights 25:19 Final Thoughts and Recommendations 29:54 Disappointments and Surprises in Music 33:53 Exploring New Sounds: Fust and Beyond 39:03 Greet Death: A Career-Defining Album 43:03 Cloakroom: A Mixed Bag 43:49 Blood Brothers and Combust: Hardcore Highlights 45:55 Danny Brown: A Party Album 48:42 Deftones: Maturity in Music 49:39 Drain: The Most Reliable Hardcore Band 51:01 Fleshwater: A Divisive Album 51:59 Froglord: A Solid Listen 52:43 Geese: Glad We Heard It 53:47 Runner: An Album of Record 54:59 Glitterer: A Recent Discovery 55:32 Higher Power: Solid Hooks 56:37 Home is Where: Good but Not Great 56:54 Hotline TNT: A Forgotten Gem 59:03 Exploring MS Paint and Noctambulist 01:00:18 Deafheaven and Restraining Order: A Deep Dive 01:01:38 Taylor Swift and The Armed: Ranking the Albums 01:03:08 Shoegaze and Emo: The Sounds of 2023 01:05:33 New Discoveries: Ben Quad and Turnstile 01:07:32 Anticipated Releases: Sam Fender and Dyspitz 01:09:29 Emo Files: Kerosene Heights and The Low Blow

Summary

In this episode of the Album of Record podcast, hosts Craig and Andrew discuss their personal experiences over the Thanksgiving holiday, including health updates and family highlights. They delve into the end-of-year music lists, focusing on Pitchfork and Stereogum's top albums of the year, sharing their thoughts on the selections and their own Spotify Wrapped results. The conversation highlights the evolving landscape of music appreciation and the subjective nature of year-end lists, culminating in a reflection on their favorite albums and artists of the year.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates 02:11 Thanksgiving Highlights and Health Issues 02:38 End of Year Music Lists: Spotify Wrapped and Pitchfork 10:39 Discussion on Pitchfork's Top Albums 11:23 Stereogum's Year-End List 23:43 Spotify Wrapped Insights 29:15 Top Albums and Artists of the Year