What the Riff Next Gen

By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John LynchMusic Music Commentary

What the Riff Next Gen episodes

January 26 426 1998 - June: Page/Plant “Walking into Clarksdale”
Wayne riffs on the sole studio album by Page and Plant, “Walking into Clarksdale,” from June 1998 (Shining the Light / Most High / Please Read the Letter / Whiskey from the Glass).

STAFF PICKS:
One Week by the Barenaked Ladies — Lynch
Lucky Man by The Verve — Bruce.
My Own Worst Enemy by Lit — Rob.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Main theme from "Sex and the City."
31 min
January 19 425 1998 - December: Metallica “Reload”
Lynch riffs on the seventh studio album from Metallica, Reload from December 1997 (Better Than You / The Memory Remains / Fuel).
STAFF PICKS:
Save Tonight by Eagle Eye Cherry — Rob
Sex & Candy by Marcy Playground — Wayne
Walkin' On the Sun by Smash Mouth — Bruce.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Street Life by Randy Crawford (from the motion picture "Jackie Brown").
**(NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.)
31 min
January 12 1998 - November: David Gray “White Ladder”
Bruce riffs on the fourth studio album by David Gray, "White Ladder,” from November 1998 (Please Forgive Me / Sail Away / My Oh My / Babylon).

STAFF PICKS:
Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger — Wayne
Turn the Page by Metallica — Rob
Dragula by Rob Zombie — Greg

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Main theme from the television series Animaniacs.
**(NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.)
32 min
January 05 2002 - October: The Foo Fighters “One by One”
Rob riffs on the fourth studio album by the Foo Fighters, One by One, from October 2002 (Times Like These / Overdrive / Low / All My Life).

STAFF PICKS:
The Middle by Jimmy Eat World — Wayne
Get Over It by OK Go — Bruce
Prayer by Disturbed — Greg

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Main theme from the motion picture "Red Dragon".

**(NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.)
32 min
December 29, 2025 1997 - January: 311 “311”
Lynch riffs on the third studio album from 311, eponymously entitled 311 from January 1997 (All Mixed Up / Misdirected Hostility / Don't Stay Home / Down).
STAFF PICKS:
The Freshmen by The Verve Pipe — Rob.
The Distance by Cake — Wayne.
Van Halen by Nerf Herder — Bruce.

NOVELTY TRACK:
Enter Sandman by Pat Boone.
28 min
December 22, 2025 2000 - December: Kiss “Kiss Symphony:Alive IV”
Wayne riffs on the fourth album in the Alive series by Kiss, Kiss Symphony: Alive IV, from December 2000 (Lick It Up / Calling Dr. Love / Love Gun / Detroit Rock City).
STAFF PICKS:
“Are You There” by Oleander — Lynch.
“If You're Gone” by Matchbox Twenty — Rob.
"Hanging By a Moment” by Lifehouse — Bruce.
"Hemorrhage (In My Hands) - Fuel - Julie Doran.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: "He Carves the Roast Beast"
(from the motion picture "How the Grinch Stole Christmas").
39 min
December 15, 2025 1995 - June: Alanis Morisette “Jagged Little Pill”
Guest Host Julie Doran riffs on the third studio album by Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill from June 1995 (You Oughta Know / Ironic / Hand in My Pocket / Head Over Feet).
STAFF PICKS:
“Lightning Crashes” by Live — Rob.
“Tomorrow” by Silverchair — Lynch.
“Mockingbird Girl” by Magnificent Bastards - Wayne.
“No More ‘I Love You's’” by Annie Lennox — Bruce.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
“Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” by U2
(from the motion picture “Batman Forever”).
40 min
December 08, 2025 Christmas Songs that Rock VIII
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
What The Riff?!? hopes you enjoy our EIGHTH ANNUAL Christmas Rabbit Hole Episode in which we riff on the Christmas standards, classics, covers, and originals that make Christmas Rock!
This year, we’re covering:
Little Drummer Boy - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts.

Jingle Bell Rock - Daryl Hall & John Oates.
I Believe In Stanta Claus - Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton.
Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk this Christmas) - John Denver.
Last Christmas - Wham!
White Christmas - Chicago.
O Holy Night - Michael McDonald.
Christmas at Ground Zero - "Wierd Al" Yankovic.
Grown Up Christmas List - Amy Grant.
Please Come Home for Christmas -Cheap Trick.
Hard Candy Christmas - Dolly Parton.
Redneck Christmas - Ray Stevens.
All I Want for Christmas is You
- Mariah Carey.
And we close out with a very special Christmas song by Lynch’s band, “Cherubic Trash Panda” - exclusively from What the Riff?!? records!
48 min
December 01, 2025 2001 - December: No Doubt “Rock Steady”
Rob riffs on the fifth studio album by No Doubt, “Rock Steady,” from December 2001 (Intro / Hella Good / Hey Baby / Platinum Blonde Life / Making Out).
STAFF PICKS:
“Blurry” by Puddle of Mudd — Lynch.
“In Too Deep” by Sum 41 — Bruce.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
“A Kaleidoscope of Mathematics” (from the motion picture "A Beautiful Mind").
30 min
November 24, 2025 2002 - September: Porcupine Tree “In Absentia”
Bruce riffs on the seventh studio album by Porcupine Tree, “In Absentia,” from September 2002 (Wedding Nails / Trains / The Sound of Muzak / Blackest Eyes).
STAFF PICKS:
“Anger Rising” by Jerry Cantrell — Rob.
“Fine Again” by Seether — Lynch.
“Complicated” by Avril Lavigne — Bruce.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
“The Ballad of Serenity” (from the television series Firefly).
40 min

About What the Riff Next Gen

From the publisher's feed

Every episode of “WHAT THE RIFF NEXT GEN” brings a ROCK AND ROLL album that debuted on the U.S. Billboard charts during a random month between 1995 and 2005. Four Classic Rock fans discuss the artist and 4 tracks from the album as it plays in the background. Then we riff on 3 additional “staff picks” of other artists that were also on the charts during that month and year. You’ll hear Classic Rock bands that were still producing new work, as well as some newer Alternative and Grunge bands that were gaining momentum during this Millennium Y2K Period. We encourage you to find and purchase the tracks and albums from Apple Music, Spotify or your other favorite music service. Please subscribe so you don’t miss any release! In addition to “Next Gen” you can search our ORIGINAL “What the Riff?!?” episodes (1-373) covering 1965 - 1995. We also invite you to follow us and learn more about us @whattheriff on Facebook.

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What the Riff Next Gen

What the Riff Next Gen episodes

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