The CHAIN⛓️‍💥 Podcast

On episode 21, Ben is joined for the fourth time by Evan to walk through the history and lore of Damon Albern’s groups Blur & Gorillaz before diving into the eighth album from the latter, The Mountain.

On The Mountain, both Damon and Jamie Hewlett recruit a series of collaborators to confront the deaths of their fathers. The heavily South-Asian influenced album deals with grief, loss, eastern religion and immediately joins the ranks of Gorillaz’s best records.

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thechainplaylist on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find links to the other episodes and playlist volumes, listenable on either Spotify or Apple Music. ⛓️‍💥 #gorillaz #electronic #britpop #hiphop #musicpodcast #newmusic

On episode 20, Ben is joined for the third time by Lindsay to break down Mumford & Sons’ six album Prizefighter.

Less than a year after the release of RUSHMERE, the boys are back with new music and are joined by collaborators including producer Aaron Desner and grapple with relationships, addiction, and the stillness of life.

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The CHAIN ⛓️‍💥 on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find links to the other episodes and playlist volumes, listenable on either Spotify or Apple Music. ⛓️‍💥 #banjos #mumfordandsons #musicpodcast #newmusic

On episode 19, Ben, Jen, Evan and Aaron turn 2025 into a Chain Reaction — our game-show-style showdown where everyone’s year-end lists collide, points are earned, and chaos reigns. Think music draft meets group therapy meets spirited debate over which Spanish language album is best.

My own ballot runs the full spectrum: from LUX glow to MAYHEM, from quiet devastation to maximalist nonsense, from pop reinvention to left-field risk. Bad Bunny sat next to FKA twigs. Bon Iver stared down Chris Lake. Little Simz bloomed like a Lotus while HAIM shrugged and said I quit. There were no safe picks, only strong opinions and louder reactions.

We babble. We laugh. We overthink. Evan talked about windmills.

This is the episode where the year gets stress-tested — not just what we loved, but why we loved it, what stuck, what aged instantly, and what might quietly define the decade looking forward.

✨The Chain Playlist goes full Swiftie edition!✨ Episode 18 is a Taylor-made game show special called Chain Reaction ⛓️ with Katherine, Erin and Lindsay joining me to celebrate 15 of Taylor Swift’s greatest songs. I even ranked all 89 tracks (!!) to get us hyped for tomorrow’s release of Life of a Showgirl. 🎤💃 playlist on Apple and Spotify. Dive in for laughs, hot takes, and plenty of Easter eggs before the new era begins. 🌟🎶 #TheChainPodcast

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#TaylorSwift #Swiftie #SwiftTok #LifeOfAShowgirl #TheChainPodcast #PodcastLife #TaylorSwiftSongs #TaylorSwiftAlbum #TaylorSwiftFans #SwiftiePodcast #TaylorSwiftEras #TaylorSwiftMusic #TaylorSwiftUniverse #TaylorSwiftCommunity #TaylorSwiftNews #TaylorSwiftUpdates #TaylorSwiftEra #TaylorSwiftForever #TaylorSwift13 #SwiftieNation #SwiftiesUnite #TaylorSwiftLove #TaylorSwiftEdits #TaylorSwifties #TaylorSwiftFamily #TaylorSwiftFan #PodcastRecommendations #ApplePodcasts #spotifypodcasts

On episode 17, Ben is joined for the first time by Siobhan to share some tracks from the playlists and sing our praises for The Beaches’ third album No Hard Feelings.

The girls are no longer blaming Brett alone but have dug deep, realizing it takes one one to know one, all, while still airing out the dirty laundry. The vocals, beats and poetry come through every track and this album is Certified Ice 💎

In the first half of this episode Ben and Siobhan discuss a few of her chain playlist submissions including Elvis, Billy Joel, Mon Rovia, and Rachel Chinuoriri and go track-by-track

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The CHAIN ⛓️‍💥 on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find links to the other episodes and playlist volumes, listenable on either Spotify or Apple Music. ⛓️‍💥 #canadianmusic #rock #musicpodcast #newmusic

On episode 16, Ben is joined for the second time by Ryan to chat about the History of PUP and their 2025 release Who Will Look After the Dogs?

Who Will Look After the Dogs? is the 5th studio album from the Toronto punk kings and brings with it a little bit of everything that they’ve delivered over their careers so far. While not reaching the heights of The Dream Is Over or Morbid Stuff, this record still delivers a mix of rage, catharsis and humour and is Certified Ice 💎

In the first half of this episode Ben and Ryan walk through the history of the band before going track by track through their latest release on the second half.

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The CHAIN ⛓️‍💥 on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find links to the other episodes and playlist volumes, listenable on either Spotify or Apple Music. ⛓️‍💥 #canadianmusic #punk #musicpodcast #newmusic

On episode 15, Ben is joined by his mom Beth to chat about the History of the Doobie Brothers and their 2025 release Walk This Road.

Walk This Road (★★★★½) is the 16th studio album from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and newly minted Songwriters Hall of Fame group The Doobie Brothers - a band that didn’t chart with their first album, had another #1 for 5 weeks and has long had two faces - perfectly blends all 4 on their most recent release and first new music in more than 30 years with Michael McDonald.

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The CHAIN ⛓️‍💥 on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find links to the playlist volumes, listenable on either Spotify or Apple Music.

In the first half of this episode Ben and Beth walk through their history as a band before going track by track through their latest release on the second half.

Notes: This is Beth’s first appearance on the podcast. This is her smule.

On the first episode of the Chain Podcast, Ben is joined by Jen to Exchainge music, talk about Bad Bunny, and his 2025 album ‘DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS’.

DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (★★★★½) is a dedication to Peurto Rico, plena beats, and the past. 🎶

Visit The CHAIN ⛓️‍💥 on Instagram to find links to the playlist volumes, listenable on either Spotify or Apple Music.

Exchange songs:

Arooj Aftab - Whiskey (vol. 12🏅)

Mustafa - beauty, end (Best Albums of 2024)

KAYTRANADA ft. Durand Bernarr - Weird (vol. 8🇺🇸)

Rachel Chinouriri - Never Need Me (Best Albums of 2024)

Notes: This was Jen’s first appearance. A track-by-track review did not occur. This episode has to be republished for technical reasons but was originally released January 7, 2025.

On episode 14, Ben is joined by Amanda to Exchainge music, discuss Steve Harrington aka DJO and his 2025 album The Crux.

On The Crux (★★★★½) DJO provides clean and often filtered modern indie rock vocals while chameleoning between The Stokes, ELO, and the Beatles, paying homage to his sisters, and making a few TikTok hits why he’s at it. Just in time for Season 5.

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The CHAIN ⛓️‍💥 on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find links to the playlist volumes, listenable on either Spotify or Apple Music.

Exchainge songs:

Escape the Fate - Not Good Enough for Truth in Cliche (vol. 20)

Lovesick by Mura Masa & A$AP Rocky (vol. 15❤️)

The High Kings - Whiskey in the Jar (vol. 17🍀)

The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter (vol. 22☮️)

Notes: This was Amanda's first appearance on the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Green Goblin sponsor is not real but is perhaps a precursor of what is to come.

On episode 13, Ben is joined by Tony to Exchainge music, discuss the pairing of Elton John & Brandi Carlile and their 2025 album Who Believes In Angels?

Who Believes In Angels? (★★★★½) is a beautifully crafted collection of energetic anthems celebrating rock and roll’s past greats, possibly saying farewell to a great of the present, and ushering in a great of the future. The musical-esque album constantly tells us to burn bright and be yourself.

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The CHAIN ⛓️‍💥 on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find links to the playlist volumes, listenable on either Spotify or Apple Music.

Exchainge songs:

Blackberry Smoke - Dig a Hole (vol. 2)

Ian Munsick - Horses Are Faster (vol. 21🏇)

Ramones - Bonzo Goes to Bitburg (vol. 8)

Billy Joel - Turn the Lights Back On (vol. 12🎤)

Notes: This was Tony's first appearance on the podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠