The Next Track

By Doug Adams and Kirk McElhearnTechnology Music

The Next Track episodes

January 28Episode #326: The Grateful Dead Episode
In spite of the fact that Kirk has been a Deadhead for decades, we have never done an episode about the Grateful Dead. With the passing of Bob Weir recently, we decided to talk a bit about the Dead, its history, and its future.
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‌Show notes
Grateful Dead
The Next Track: Episode #23 – David Browne on the History of the Grateful Dead
Episode #67 – The Grateful Dead’s Legendary 5/8/77 Cornell Concert, with Author Peter Conners
The Next Track: Episode #74 – Jeffrey Norman on Restoring, Mixing, and Mastering the Grateful Dead
The Next Track: Episode #213 - The Grateful Dead's 100 Essential Songs, with Bob Trudeau
Our next tracks:
Morton Feldman: Trios 6-disc box set
Kula Shaker: K
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28 min
January 14Episode #325: Anthemic Rock Songs
We look at a specific type of rock song that could be called "anthemic." This type of song generally has a number of movements, a slow introduction, is longer than average, and ends in a crescendo.
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EMBED_TK
‌Show notes
Anthemic rock songs:
Hotel California
Free Bird
Stairway to Heaven
Nights in White Satin
Baba O’Reilly
Layla
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Roundabout
Aqualung
Starless
L. A. Woman
Thunder Road
Metal Box - Wikipedia
Our next tracks:
Bob Weir: Ace
Aerosmith: Pump
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31 min
December 31, 2025Episode #324: Listening to Albums on a Mac
The album isn't dead. Doug has been discovering new ways to listen to albums in Apple's Music app. We also chat a bit about the good old days, when you could tweak macOS. Remember ResEdit?
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‌Show notes
Hudlum - Many Tricks
ResEdit - Wikipedia
RIP Mac OS X Hints, Nov 4 2000 – Nov 4 2014 – The Robservatory
Mac OS X Power Hound
GrapheneOS
A Space Between v3.4
Side Splitter v3.0
3M Precise Mouse Pad
Logitech MX Master 4 mouse
Our next tracks:
The Dictators: Bloodbrothers
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32 min
December 17, 2025Episode #323: Old Tapes Are Deteriorating, and Music Is Fading Away
Back in the day, everything was recorded on tape. Tape is deteriorating, and some people are trying to restore old recordings before they crumble.
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‌Show notes
The ‘Race Against Time’ to Save Music Legends’ Decaying Tapes
Rag paper - Wikipedia
Compact Cassette tape types and formulations - Wikipedia
The Bootleg Series Vol. 18: Through The Open Window, 1956-1963
The 50th Anniversary Collection: The Copyright Extension Collection, Volume 1 - Wikipedia
Our next tracks:
The Durutti Column: The Return Of The Durutti Column
Zapp: Zapp
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32 min
December 03, 2025Episode #322: Our Non-Gift Guide
Lots of people have gift guides this time of year, but we decided to talk about how we don't really need anything at this time of year and have nothing to recommend to others.
Help support The Next Track by making regular donations via Patreon. We're ad-free and self-sustaining so your support is what keeps us going. Thanks!
‌Show notes
MacVoices Podcast
Chris Connaker on immersive audio: Audiophile Style
Duhkha (Wikipedia)
Our next tracks:
Schubert, Four Hands: Bertrand Chamayou & Leif Ove Andsnes
Paul Collins Beat: The Beat
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32 min
November 19, 2025Episode #321: Writing About Music
Kirk recently read Cameron Crowe's memoir The Uncool, about his experience writing about music, notably for Rolling Stone. Doug and Kirk reflect on rock music journalism.
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‌Show notes
Cameron Crowe: The Uncool, a Memoir
Almost Famous
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Jerry Maguire
Aloha
Can AI tell us anything meaningful about Bob Dylan’s songs? - Aeon Essays
Write Now with Scrivener
The Bongos - Wikipedia
Richard Hambleton, ‘Shadowman’ of the ’80s Art Scene, Dies at 65 - The New York Times
Shadowman (documentary about Richard Hambleton)
Our next tracks:
Patti Smith: Horses
Superchunk: Misfits & Mistakes: Singles, B-sides & Strays 2007–2023
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28 min
November 05, 2025Episode #320: In Focus
Kirk was invited by Amazon to be part of a focus group for a forthcoming film on Amazon Prime. He talks about the experience, and he and Doug discuss the key economic difference between music streaming and video streaming.
Help support The Next Track by making regular donations via Patreon. We're ad-free and self-sustaining so your support is what keeps us going. Thanks!
‌Show notes
Keeping Faith - BBC iPlayer
Lillyhammer
Our next tracks:
Brian Brubaker: Eno Piano
The Del Fuegos: Boston, Mass.
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31 min
October 22, 2025Episode #319: Electric Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen has released a four-disc set around his 1982 acoustic album Nebraska, including electric versions of many of the songs.
"You could multi-track right in the bathroom."
Help support The Next Track by making regular donations via Patreon. We're ad-free and self-sustaining so your support is what keeps us going. Thanks!
‌Show notes
Nebraska '82: Expanded Edition
Bruce Springsteen: Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition review – fabled album falls short of expectations
Ian Penman: Infinite Wibble: Brian v. Eno
Betty Cantor-Jackson - Wikipedia
Springsteen on Broadway
Our next tracks:
Brian Eno and Beatie Wolfe: Liminal
The Ratchets: Glory Bound
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28 min
October 08, 2025Episode #318: Biopics
Why are there so many biopics about musicians lately? Follow the money...
Help support The Next Track by making regular donations via Patreon. We're ad-free and self-sustaining so your support is what keeps us going. Thanks!
‌Show notes
Rock’s Legends Were Messy. You’d Never Know That From Today’s Movies. - The New York Times
Upcoming Biopics! Which ones are you excited for?
'Hot Rodent Boyfriends' - A Guide To The Most Famous 'Rat Men'
Beatlemania (musical) - Wikipedia
Our next tracks:
Fred Hersch: The Surrounding Green
Hell-Bent: Insurgent Country, Vol. 2
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28 min
September 24, 2025Episode #317: Apple's Music App in macOS/iOS/iPadOS 26
Apple's new operating systems are out, all numbered 26, and Doug and Kirk discuss changes to the Music app.
Help support The Next Track by making regular donations via Patreon. We're ad-free and self-sustaining so your support is what keeps us going. Thanks!
‌Show notes
Apple's overviews of the new 26 operating systems
Our next tracks:
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Vol. 1, Paul Badura-Skoda
Linda Ronstadt: Simple Dreams
If you like the show, please subscribe in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.
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30 min

About The Next Track

From the publisher's feed

Doug Adams and Kirk McElhearn discuss music and musicians, and how we listen to music, whether it be analog or digital, downloaded or streamed, audio, or video.