Rudy can't fail and neither can this episode!  We are joined by Rev (The Drowns) to break down and enjoy sophomore effort from The Clash.  Can "punk" be more of a credo than a sound?  Does Blue Oyster Cult have anything to do with this?  Is Jar Jar a Sith Lord? 
Join us as we answer these and all the questions you were too scared to ask.  It's drug stabbin' time.
Check out the latest album from The Drowns, "Lunatics" in stores and streaming now.
https://shop.piratespressrecords.com/pages/the-drowns

This week was so much fun because we had not one, but two guests to help us peel this onion.  That "onion" being "Southern Harmony and Musical Companion" by Georgia's own, Black Crowes.  How much life must be lived to sing the blues?  When does ignoring Rick Rubin go right?  Who killed that bird upon your windowsill?  Why does Led Zeppelin come up so much in this episode?  We promise to answer at least two of those questions.  Special thanks to Joey Mazak and Troy Carter for their help on this one.  

Ok, right out the gate there's an asterisk on this episode.  We know it's not the second album.  It's their fourth.  See, if you have a guest fly all the way out from the east cost, we let 'em bend the rules.  To be fair, it's the second album from the "classic lineup".  That counts, right? And there is plenty of Philip K. Dickin' around. Anyway, Thank you to John for joining us on this one.  A good time was had.  Get into "Sister" by Sonic Youth.

This week we are joined by friend and podcaster, Elise Ballard (The Importance of Wine Podcast).  She has chosen the most excellent second album, "Rid Of Me" by PJ Harvey.  Pop the cork on some vino and revel in the veritas. Cheers!

Sir Reginald Dwight.  The Rocket Man.  Captain Fantastic.  In 1970 though, plain ol' Elton John and his band Hookfoot messed around and dropped a jewel.  Let's, shall we?

  1996 was a wild time. The President played saxophone, got BJs, and "smoked" grass.  A "Florida Man" tried to kill Bjork with a mail bomb and got WAY too close to succeeding.  The Feds caught up with Ted Kaczynski who tried to kill some professors with mail bombs and unfortunately was quite successful.  Tupac was gunned down in Sin City.  
     Grunge was also dead. Buried by waves of Bushes and Seven Mary Threes.  Yeah, we still had Rage Against the Machine but they were headed into the "Renegades" era.  The Strokes were just getting their first pubes and Metallica got haircuts.  "Rocking" was becoming precarious.  
     Was there another option?  Maybe, just maybe, we could all just chill the F out for a minute.  
     Enter the Crows.  
     Their second album hits all the right notes for this foul year of our Lord.  Mellow enough but without the Hootie-isms.  Poppy enough but with a poetic bent that owed itself to its Bay Area roots.  Just "rockin" enough to fend off Oasis fans at a festival. 
     Let's party like Woodstock '99 hasn't happened yet.

Fade into this, fool.  Some records are for a certain type of listening.  Some records make you want to pump your fist, shake your booty, or drive fast.  Mazzy's second album will not make you drive fast.  In fact, I wouldn't recommend operating any machinery heavier than a roach-clip while listening to this.  Settle into the gentle groove with us and just relax already.  Seriously!  Fu#&ing relax!  The world (TNE staff) needs this right now.

Here comes another recent second album.  We're living in the now!  "Happier Than Ever" is the second offering from Los Angeles native, Billie Eilish.  She gets by with a little help from her songwriting partner/producer/brother, Phineas.  ASMR pop is here and you'll EFFing like it!

If a disco record drops in a disco-less world, does it make a sound?  You tell me.  If you didn't hear Dua Lipa last year, your quarantine bubble is too tight.  And, maybe get the internet.  In 2021, this album was the star of every Zoom dance party, car stereo, and gas station radio.  Oh, yeah, and the internet.  Time to "Blawst Off"!

This week, with Chris out on assignment, Peter joins Jared in the "117 Studios Compound" to discuss one of his favorite second albums.
Circa Survive's second album, "On Letting Go".  
Jared is just not that into it, historically. 
Will he change his tune?  
Will Peter slander Led Zeppelin?  
Will both of our hosts admit that it's not worth the work to be "cool"? 
Turn up and find out on The Next Episode.