In the Mix: Recent Episodes
Steve & Dave
Steve and Dave love music, and love making mixes and playlists. So each week (uh, for the most part) they get together, sometimes with a friend, and make a mix based around a theme. They talk about the music they love (or deeply hate) and whatever else is rolling around inside their skulls.
The boys are back and trying to be a little less dour, so with the help of returning champ Jessie "Truck Yeah" McCormick we're talking about some of the songs that get us hyped up like no other. The songs that get us singing, dancing, screaming along in our cars, all of it. It's a journey that takes us from 2000s pop punk to 80s soul, indie dance to queer surf rock, British new wave to the damn Dave Matthews Band.
Steve and Dave finally become self-aware and realize their episodes have been TOO LONG. So they tighten it up with a mix of favorite songs from EPs and make a shorter ep! Still kinda long though...
We return with a fun, unwieldy episode about the power of partying! Max from the band We're Ghosts Now returns to talk parties, party tunes, and the different types of parties you can have. Rich person yacht parties, chill house parties, Matrix club parties, and much more! Grab your solo cup, hit the dance floor, and let's party!
Katie Wright returns to talk about songs that touch on a grizzly, gruesome topic: MURDER. Are these songs terrifying odes to violence, or silly make-believes written by little scamps? From Broadway showtunes to ambient indie, horror punk to 90s alternative, Johnny Cash to Tom Waits, what makes for a great ode to killing and what makes it such an intriguing song topic?
It may be Valentine's Day but we're not here to help you seduce your loved one this year. We're going the other way and talking some of the worst, dumbest, most annoying and least sexy love songs ever put on record. How did one of the worst Billboard number one hits in history ever get made? Could this one Nickelback song undo all the backlash to the backlash? Is Bryan Adams the evil Darius Rucker? All that, plus an awed conversation about how successful Shinedown is, to get you and your partner in the mood.
Joined by returning guest Bill Lambusta (Fake Pockets, The Great Albums), we discuss some songs produced by some of his favorite mixers, engineers and/or gurus along with some of Steve and Dave's favorite produced songs. From Blondie to Stone Temple Pilots, 90s industrial to 2000s emo, we're talking production value! We also discuss the various ways someone can be a good producer and how they can help bring out the best in a band, whether fixating on their guitar tone or just being the adult in the room. We also briefly talk about aliens, and how Tom Delonge has for sure seen one.
We've been too positive lately about music, talking about things we enjoy. Not this week! This week we're gatekeeping and playing devil's advocate, steadfastly refusing to let you enjoy things. We talk about ten popular songs from the last 50+ years that we, for whatever petty reasons, just don't like. Beloved classic rock songs, megahits of the last few years, and sappy ballads all get put on notice so that we can indulge in being haters for a little bit.
Lenny and Andrew from the House of House podcast join the mixboys to examine, diagnose, and treat everyone's musical ailments by taking a listen to popular songs that graced everyone's 'favorite' medical shows.
House of House Podcast
As another year comes to a close, and in fact already came to a close, Steve and Dave bravely logged on one morning despite each being slightly under the weather to discuss their favorite songs of 2022. Listen in for some of the year's finest in hardcore, indie, pop, emo, country, and more!
It's the holiday season! In the past, we've talked good Christmas songs and we've talked bad Christmas songs. This year, with returning guest Chris Fox of Ruby Bones, we go in a bit of a different direction, gazing into the abyss that is horny Christmas songs. From coy jazz numbers to lusty slow jams, killer soul tracks to queercore, we get a wide variety of tunes about having sex on Christmas. Do you know who Blowfly is? You should, and will after this episode. Did you know AC/DC had a Christmas song? You shouldn't, and unfortunately you will after this episode. Sorry about that.
We felt like although last week's episode was a rollicking good time, we're definitely rusty. It was necessary to shake that rust off with some topics we're very familiar with, so we combined two of our favorite topics together: Adam Sandler and nu-metal. We shuffled up some songs from the soundtrack of or played in the underrated 2000 motion picture Little Nicky, where Adam Sandler is the son of the devil trying to save Hell from extinction and where he infamously talks in that fuckin voice, you know the one. But this movie is also a veritable feast of nu-metal and butt rock, which gives us an opportunity to cover some bands we haven't talked about in previous nu-metal episodes. Can we handle listening to multiple POD songs? Why does Dave react so viscerally to Incubus? All that, plus some gushing praise for Deftones and much less praise for Disturbed.
The boys are back! We're doing some more classic mixes this season, and had a big plan to start it off right by doing another power hour with our bud Dave Lynch. Unfortunately, a couple of us were ridiculously hungover at the time of recording and were in no shape for such a feat, so the three of us instead recover and listen to the drinking songs we picked. And it's a good thing we didn't do a power hour, because these are not fun-time songs. Most of them are, in fact, about the sadder elements of drinking, from Kendrick Lamar's ominous warnings to Ernest Tubb's old-timey country binge drinking. But we do still find time for some Bad Bunny bangers and ICP favorites, along with a recommended spirit for each track.
On today's episode, Katie Wright rejoins the boys to discuss the everlasting legacy of ALF and of course, music from Steve's favorite albums of all time.
Back again with some more of Steve's favorite albums tracks! Joined by returning favorite Devon Moore from Fake Pockets, we focus on more of a good vibes time after last time. Together, we take a trip to the Myspace era with some Hellogoodbye, examine the charming nostalgia of Something Corporate, the etheral club vibes of Jessie Ware, and the tentative hopefulness of Frightened Rabbit. All this, plus Prince and the awesome power of being a weird little guy.
After a winter break, we return to the favorite albums project for a low key episode with some downer songs. As Dave bravely muscles through a recording while being sick, the playlist brings us to discussions of the isolation of living alone, nostalgia for life events you didn't actually experience, and living the ultimate dream of working on a ranch that has a Friendly's on it.
For the past few years, our holiday episodes have been derailed by the same scourge: The Christmas Shoes. Because our friend Chris Dubrow can't stop playing the song whenever he's on our holiday episode, this year we did something a little different: we made him watch the 2002 The Christmas Shoes made-for-TV movie starring Rob Lowe. And we also watched it. How do you turn Christmas's most treacly, upsetting song into a heartwarming family movie? Turns out you don't! We watched an unbearable slog of a movie and try to pin down what went wrong.
It's the end of the year, so we're taking a short break from our season-long theme to do our usual end-of-year stuff. First up is our annual favorite songs of the year episode! What did we like this year in punk, indie, R&B, hip-hop, ska, dance, and even video game protest music?
Your hosts return this week, still talking Steve's Favorite Albums, however, this episode has a lil twist. Dave was handed the keys and found himself ten lil songs from Steve's list that he has some serious questions about. Mostly of the 'this isn't an 8, it's a 9!' variety. Along the way, we double dip into artists, create new 'bad lil boy' personas, and try to figure out what music needs to really impress us. Have a listen.
It's just your hosts this week as we take a look at some of the tracks on the favorite albums project that were pleasant surprises. The result is a fun episode about a real bummer of a playlist, from an underrated Tracy Chapman deep cut to the tortured sorrows of American Football and Fleetwood Mac. And in between those we return to a question we asked at the beginning of this season: is Coheed and Cambria books?
Along with returning favorite Jess McCormick, we have a loosey-goosey late night after hours episode as we continue deeper into the favorite albums project. Together, we bond over our love of Frank Turner, indulge in some of Bruce Springsteen's most writerly efforts, break down the genre of "bummer pop," and let the wonderful chaos of glass beach remind us that music is in fact good.
Steve and Dave are nice now as they continue deeper into this favorite albums project. With returning guest Lenny Burnham (Chapter Surfing, House of House), we discuss why Reel Big Fish's most pure radio rock song didn't get the success it deserved, trying too hard to hate Fall Out Boy as a teenager, and we take the plunge into some Steely Dan facts.
In episode 3 of discussing Steve's favorite albums, we have already made the choice to go negative! We're talking 10 songs from these albums that just didn't feel up to par and wondering why. Why did The 1975 try to be Radiohead for a song? Why does it hurt so much when you find a Carly Rae Jepsen song boring? Why would The Wonder Years put an okay acoustic song on an otherwise perfect album? And why does Dave Matthews apologizing to someone sound so skin-crawlingly weird?
This week we continue our season-long thread of trying to determine some of Steve's favorite albums. Joined by returning favorite (?) Chris Dubrow, we discuss whether Weird Al is the GOAT, embrace the Buffett vibes, explain why Oasis being assholes was actually pretty cool, and once again apologize for being Weezer fans.
We're back with a brand new season, and a brand new season-long topic!
This season, we'll be taking a look through a variety of tunes as Steve tries to determine his 100 favorite albums, from the most critically acclaimed classic albums to the least essential pop punk one-hit wonders. On the first episode, we talk the greatest live album of all time, the varied career of AFI, how Gorillaz handle impending climate change, and how to possibly get into Coheed and Cambria without getting bogged down in lore.
We end our season of reevaluations where we started: with the Insane Clown Posse. We bring back our friend Max to watch ICP's 2000 film Big Money Hustlas and see if, even though we can see the things that are bad with it, we can also find what's good. Turns out, there may be more to like than you'd expect. We also get a surprise ICP-related gift from Max that requires an unboxing!
Many factors caused the end of disco by 1980. One that isn't discussed as much: as the market went all-in on disco, established artists who never made even remotely disco music tried to cash in on the trend. Many of these songs were buried as a shameful part of pop music past, but how are they as actual songs? With the help of Chris Fox of Ruby Bones (and our theme song!), we listen to disco songs from soul stars, hard rockers, future 80s pop stars, and even Beatles to see if they warrant a positive reevaluation.
On this week's episode, Dave and Steve are joined by friend and returning guest Jessie McCormick to give 'Bro Country' the ol' college try and see if there's any gold to be discovered amongst the trucks, coolers of silver bullets, and having a few beers before driving down some backroads (please do no do that).
You can find Jessie's most recent release, 'Songs My Mom Likes", on their bandcamp at Jessie McCormick Bandcamp. Check out their other band, The Foes of Fern, at Foes of Fern Bandcamp.
On this week's episode of In the Mix, Steve and Dave are joined by another person named Dave to take a look at a spectrum of music from the 70s to now that encompass themes people would probably mark as being "political." Through good and bad, the trio dissect, deconstruct, and ponder on what makes a good "political song", why so many tend to fail or be rendered meaningless shortly after their release, and if releasing this kind of music really does make a difference.
On today's episode of In the Mix, Steve and Dave take a dive into songs with a cause. From the 70s to now, many musicians took it upon themselves to create singles or records with the idea to make money for causes, organizations, or even individuals. Did they succeed in making good music as well? Take a listen and find out!
What's up all you cool cats and dames. On today's episode of In the Mix, Steve and Dave are joined by old friend and past guest Matt to discuss the finer intricacies of that old horn tootin' and dancin' genre of yesteryear. 1990s yesteryear, at least. We're talking Swing Revival!
On this week's episode, Steve and Dave are joined by friend of the show Zac Schaffner to discuss just what exactly is the deal with jam bands, is there something more there they have been missing, and if all that raw talent also equals 'good' music tunes.
Butt rock, the watered down younger brother of grunge, ruled the rock radio airwaves in the 2000s with bands that became massive successes and cultivated massive fanbases that exist to this day. But it still gets made fun of for being unambitious, whiny, and aggravating. Is it? Steve and Dave examine butt rock, a genre they have some experience with from their younger years, and see if it's as bad as people think. Shave your beard into a soul patch and start headbanging, people you're listening to WITM In the Mix. Nothing. But. ROCK.
The Pure Moods series of CDs promised us pure moods, and left us to decipher what that means. So we decided to listen and see if Pure Moods is right for us as it takes us on a journey of new age, Celtic, ambient, and dance music... and TV theme songs. Along for the ride are Bill Lambusta and Brian Erickson of The Great Albums Podcast, and the four of us discuss the many compilation CD commercials we still remember, tales from our younger days at karate lessons, and perhaps the purest mood of all: Oscar Isaac.
This week, Steve and Dave dive into the long career of Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band. Long maligned as corny boomer music, they instead find a lot of touching, meaningful story songs... as well as a lot of silly songs. Can the easygoing nature of the Buffett experience resonate with your intrepid hosts? Are they now parrotheads?
We're trying to stay positive as we reevaluate all this music, but we're facing our toughest test yet. With returning guest and Chapter Surfing host Lenny Burnham, we take a look at some of the most notorious example of famous people who tried to become successful musicians and completely failed. From socialites to actors, athletes to dancers, we tackle them all. Was Paris Hilton's music actually good? Could Robert Downey Jr. have become the next Harry Connick Jr. if he tried? Is Steven Seagal's music actually good? No, the answer to the last question is no.
We continue our series of "Reevaluations" episodes of music often mocked or written off. This week, we take a trip to the alternate universe of Christian music. The classic genres of music you know... but Christian. As we listen to Christian rock, grunge, ska, , punk, hardcore, EDM, R&B, and hip-hop, we see just how different (or not so different) Christian versions of these genres really are. What works and what doesn't, and how do two guys who aren't religious react to such devout lyrics?
For the rest of the season, we'll be sticking to one theme: Reevaluations. Bands, genres, musical movements and more that have a poor reputation: is that reputation actually earned, or is there more than we realize beneath the surface?
We start this recurring theme the only way we knew how: by seeing if the infamous Insane Clown Posse's music is actually good. Along with our old friend Max Resnick, we look at the lengthy discography of ICP and see if we can find more meaning than we've been conditioned to expect from it. Does the power of the juggalo have an effect on us?
2020 was a year to forget, so Steve and Dave decided to end the year forgetting it! We instead talk about some of our favorite discoveries of the year that was released in any year but 2020. In doing so, we take a look at how we've changed and who we've become in the past year. The weird pivots we've made looking to find positivity, the detached music we've danced to, the legendary artists we finally checked out - and of course, our newfound dedication to appreciating the little things.
Steve and Dave break down some of their favorite songs of 2020, looking at the best the year had to offer in punk, emo, dance, indie, country, hip hop, and something Dave calls "soviet doomer music." All this, plus discussions of what we think makes for good and bad pop music and what it feels like to realize you are old now.
Holiday songs are boring. The only way to make them interesting is to either retool them or make new ones in your own style. So with the help of returning guests Devon Moore and Chris Dubrow, we examine the good and (mostly) bad of artists bringing their own aesthetic to the holiday season. We've got holiday Weezer, holiday dance pop, holiday sadboi emo, holiday island time, and much to Steve's chagrin, the return of the wretched Christmas Shoes.
Culture today may have its issues, but that doesn't mean that everything from the cultures of yesteryear was great. So we banded together in this, our season finale, to examine some of the worst songs from when we were growing up. We discuss bad attempts at being an R&B song, the scourge of butt rock, and a hit song that has been nearly totally disappeared from the internet. Plus, why don't they make hit songs for movie anymore? That was fun!
Nearly a year ago, we decided to record an episode of songs about the end of the world. Instead of being about fictional apocalypses, we talked depressingly about our concerns of a real life apocalypse. However, Steve's old computer overheated and damaged the episode beyond repair, and we never released it. This week, we returned to that playlist to discuss these songs, what we felt last year and how weird it feels to discuss this all in the midst of an actual pandemic.
Getting older can suck. But it can also be a fun time, and there's a lot of good music that gets to the heart of this conflict. Joined by return guest and Chapter Surfing host Lenny Burnham, we discuss some of our favorite songs about aging. From 90s ska bands to the latest in European dance, we get down to just how it feels to remember you're not that young anymore.
To learn more about Lenny's new podcast Chapter Surfing and more, check out his Patreon here!
If you're lucky enough to have a backyard/patio/deck/fire escape/any means of getting some solitary fresh air during this pandemic, we've got you covered with music for the occasion. From some silky smooth Steely Dan to classic Beach Boys, weed rap to ska Sinatra, we've collected a group of songs perfect for slinking into a chair while you're taking in a summer day.
End song: Mad Caddies - Backyard
We grew up as alternative rock kids, as did our guest, returning champion and We're Ghosts Now bassist Max Resnick. So we shuffled every song that ever went #1 on the Alternative songs Billboard chart (currently the Alternative Airplay chart) and discussed the first 10 that came up. How has alternative rock evolved from the chart's beginnings in the late 1980s to now? Why does everything these days sound like it's made specifically commercials? And what the hell even is alternative rock?
Steve and Dave embark on a solo episode this week in which they do a deep dive in the famous "Punk Goes" series of compilations. Going from different eras, from pop punk to emo pop to crunkcore and much more, we ask: what does it mean to have a good Punk Goes Pop song? What makes one worse than others, and is it better to play it safe or try and do something crazy with your cover?
Music fans love finding songs, falling in love with them and then listening to them until you can barely stand them anymore. Returning guest writer/actor/podcaster Katie Wright joins us to talk about some of our favorite songs we couldn't stop listening to throughout our lives. From depressed Paramore to The Pogues, Craig Finn to The Smiths, we cover songs the three of us have gone through periods of exclusively listening to.
If you're interested in donating to Katie's workshop fund, donate here!
NYC-based cinematographer Adam Kolodny joins us to talk about some artists we've enjoyed but who no longer make music. From classic 70s punk to 2010s indie, to folk artists who disappeared, we get into some great artists and why they stopped.
Not every artist you dislike is disliked for a rational reason. So we decided to talk about the artists we refuse to give a chance for admittedly petty, nonmusical reasons, and to join us are returning guests Jessie McCormick and Avery Mandeville! Is a jam band's annoying fanbase enough of a reason to dislike them? Do you NEED to like Frank Sinatra just because old people do? Would listening to John Mayer talk about a song he wrote make it even worse? Hard yes to that last question.
Steve and Dave return to a familiar well for some comfort: some of their favorite cheesy songs. What makes a song cheesy in a good way, as opposed to in a bad way? What made the 90s so conducive to classic cheesy tracks? What makes one corny Michael Buble song good as opposed to all the bad ones? All that, plus a song that is exclusively about PlayStation.
Steve and Dave stumbled across various memes based on the iconic midwest emo song "Never Meant" by American Football, and dedicate an entire episode to some of their favorites. What makes "Never Meant" such a good song, what makes it such a unique candidate for memes and what genres manage to turn it into something entirely new?
Want to enjoy the playlist on your own, and without us getting in the way of it? Check it out here!
Quarantine has made us a little weird and loopy, and it has us missing a lot of experiences we didn't think we missed, or took for granted, or outright hated before all of this. Gross bars, chain restaurants, overrated cities, crowded beaches and more: these are the things we miss that we never would have imagined wanting to return to.
We are back! Ruby Bones guitarist Chris Fox returns to the show and the three of us discuss some of our favorite music we've found while being stuck in the house all day every day, from new discoveries to tracks from our old favorites. Also holiday music. Tune in!
It's our season finale! We wanted to talk some of our favorite songs about beer from ska to classic rock, Nina Simone to Barenaked Ladies, etc. And as drinking beer is something we do with friends, we brought our old pal Dave L back on the show not just to talk music, but do an old fashioned power hour! Well, not necessarily old fashioned. We used hard seltzer. We're old.
With Steve on vacation, Dave needed a guest host. And wouldn't luck have it, one of his good friends, Matt, jumped at the opportunity to be apart of the great legacy of In The Mix! On today's episode, Matt brings a special theme to the ITM studio, one that revolves around one of Earth's favorite characters...Sonic the Hedgehog!
With Dave on vacation, Steve needed a guest host. So Chris Dubrow returns to do a sister episode to his first one. In that episode, we dove into the world of The Mountain Goats, and in this one the two discuss another one of their shared favorites: They Might Be Giants. It's a retrospective of the band's decades of work, how we discovered our love for them and songs we think are good tracks to use for introducing someone to the TMBG oeuvre.
After ending 2019 with a month of positive shows, we're burnt out on liking things. So for an episode we decided to just dedicate some time to rant about some of our least favorite songs. Are Imagine Dragons really as bad as people say, or is there a new contender for worst alternative rock band? How did it take so many people to write High Hopes? And just who do the Chainsmokers think they are? For just a couple of hours, we let ourselves get mad.
We're back with part 2 of our favorites of the 2010s to highlight some of our absolute top picks. Songs to get angry to. Songs to get sad to. Songs to feel a little bit of happiness to. And of course, songs to get horny to. Chris Fox of Ruby Bones is still on mic too as the three of us talk about what makes these songs great and our hopes for the 2020s.
With just a week and a half to go in the 2010s, Steve and Dave decided to put up a pot/buy a box of coffee and dive into some of their absolute favorite songs of the decade for a few hours. With the eventual help of Ruby Bones frontman Chris Fox, we talk about what makes some of this decade's finest in punk, folk, pop, indie, funk and more so darn special to us. Grab your own box of joe and join us!
We continue our end of the decade mixes by discussing our favorites from this year, with the help of returning guest Devon Moore of Fake Pockets. What were our favorite songs and bands from the worlds of pop punk, indie, hip-hop, surf rock and more this year?
For the rest of December, we're going to be talking about our favorite music of the decade as it comes to a close! First up: some artists and songs that we think have gone under the radar and deserve a shout out.
New Jersey musician Chris Dubrow returns to the program as we, for the second year in a row, talk about some of the worst songs the holiday season has to offer. From the new Baby It's Cold Outside to bad covers from rock icons, and from miserable acapella groups to cover songs from 2000s ringtone legends, we break down the many ways one can make a truly terrible holiday song.
Brian Erickson (The Extensions, OneMore with Brian Erickson, The Great Albums Podcast) returns to the program to talk to us about music from the local scenes of Asbury Park, New Brunswick and more, as well as his journey within music scenes and how it has impacted different moments in his life.
Steve and Dave are tired guys without a lot of time to record. So they decided to take this time to help put together some songs to help them - and you - fall asleep to. From lo-fi indie to emo classics, we're here to help you get a much needed full night of sleep.
We've discussed Limp Bizkit and nu metal at length before, but this time we dedicate an entire episode to the works of Fred Durst. Writer and podcaster Lenny Burnham joins us not only to listen to some Limp Bizkit hits and deep cuts, but also to discuss Durst's 2019 film "The Fanatic" starring John Travolta. What does a Fred Durst movie look like, and what is it that makes so many classic Limp Bizkit singles still so fun after all this time?
This week, Katie Wright from the Bret Easton Hell Yes! podcast returns to the show as we discuss some of our favorite songs from musicals. Katie gives us a crash course on some of the most seminal musicals of the past several decades from Fiddler to Les Mis. Meanwhile Dave and Steve remain strong to their brands with New Jersey-centric rock options and the discovery of a ska musical.
Bill Lambusta (Fake Pockets, The Great Albums) joins us in our return to discuss some artists that we certainly enjoy - we just couldn't say we loved. What is it about popular artists from Beck to Ben Gibbard, Goldfinger to The Offspring that has as unable to fully commit to the fandom?
Our beloved Bruce Springsteen released his newest album, Western Stars, last week. So your beloved (presumably) hosts decided to honor the legend with some of their favorite interpretations of his music. Because it turns out everyone has taken the chance to put their own spin on some of Springsteen's most inspiring, saddest, and horniest songs. From funk metal luminaries to 80s one hit wonders, indie synthpop guys to classic rock icons, everyone has given Springsteen songs a try. Here are some of the most interesting.
Steve and Dave know basically nothing about astrology, but would like to know more! So we had our friend and astrology enthusiast Carol Galli over to explain astrology to us while the three of us pick songs for some of the signs. Your intrepid hosts learn a little bit about what the stars have to say about them, and are surprised to find that they relate to it more than they expect. Along the way we talk Billie Eilish, Brendan Urie and A Tribe Called Quest too.
Max Resnick returns to the show to talk a bit about Jersey Animal Rescue before we try something a little new: instead of picking our own songs, we all asked the people in our lives for songs that remind them of us. From shared memories to songs that reflect your feelings to just songs that give off your vibe we get into why certain songs can remind you of the people you love.
Your intrepid hosts are determined to prove how cool they are with a playlist of songs for after you've had sex, and along for the ride is returning champ Ben Resnick, frontman for We're Ghosts Now. From songs picked for the emotions they carry to songs picked because the title kinda sounds like a sex thing, things get weird very quickly!
Seems like pretty much the only thing YouTube is actually good for these days is musical performances What are some of the best ones? We discuss with Riley Schiro of the Cranston Dean Band as he talks about getting most of his new music via NPR Tiny Desk videos, and we go through some of the finest from that series, as well as Audiotree, Pink Couch Sessions and A.V. Undercover.
In the Mix has returned with a new season, and to start things off we decided to do a deeper dive into a genre that constantly comes up on the show: nu-metal. We explore newer songs from the bands of our childhood, and while we may have come up with the theme years ago with the intention of making fun, our perspectives shifted and we instead find some of these bands more resonant than we anticipated. What makes this music meaningful to people still, and what caused our change of heart?
Not to say it's all great. Along the way we mock the rock-to-country grift, hear centrist nu-metal and realize that a band neither of us had thought about in 15 years is still one of the biggest bands in rock today.
The boys end 2018 the way they've spent most of it: a little late. But still, our season finale is here as Steve and Dave break down some of their favorite music of the year. From old favorites to new discoveries, contemporary bands and side projects, these are some of our favorite tunes of the year.
Last year we took a look at some actually good holiday songs. This year we dissect some of the worst ones out there with the help of Scout's Devon Alana. We examine the most viscerally unpleasant Christmas song to listen to, see what happens when you're too talented to sing Christmas songs, and reinterpret the infamous Christmas Shoes to give it a meaning we think makes it more fun to listen to.
Check out Scout's new single, Maybe, on Bandcamp. And come see them play the Starland Ballroom on Sayreville, NJ on Saturday January 5th!
Musician, podcaster and host extraordinaire, frontman of The Paper Jets Brian Erickson returns to the mix for a surprisingly sweet and heartfelt playlist for our parents. We get into how difficult it is to be a good parent, what it's like to hear Christmas music year-round and why 70s music lends itself so well to nostalgic romance. Just in time for big Thanksgiving family dinners, a family mix!
Check out the latest singles from The Paper Jets, "Charlie It Can't Be Done" and "Go On, Go On," on Spotify. And come to their album release show at the Asbury Lanes on December 7!
Chris Fox from Ruby Bones makes his return to talk about some of his favorite bands, and more importantly their songs that didn't quite make the album cut. We cover the classics from Bowie to Bruce, try to figure out how some of these failed to make the album, and whether you can listen to Morrissey while still acknowledging all the terrible things that make him Morrissey.
Steve and Dave are busy boys who don't always have time to think of an elaborate theme, so this week they take it easy and just talk about some of their favorite new tracks and albums. We discuss Dave's recent trip to a renaissance fair, the appeal of Lana Del Rey, whether Say Anything is going out on top and much more.
Steve and Dave agreed that if there was ever not enough time for a guest to give us a theme, we would have no chance but to do... The Nuclear Option. The Nuclear Option is when we take an artist from a list of artists at random, shuffle 10 songs of their's, and discuss.
That had never proved necessary until today. The boys joined returning champion Max Resnick of We're Ghosts Now in a basement bar to listen to and analyze ten songs from superstar duo Florida Georgia Line. Max puts on the neon sign at the bar as we discuss the history of this band, the tropes they continually deploy in their songs, whether these guys are the backwoods boys they claim to be and whether or not these songs make us mad. Which they do.
Check out the newest song from We're Ghosts Now, "Gun in Hand," on Bandcamp and Spotify, and come see their Ghostober show at the Langosta Lounge Friday, October 19th at 9 pm.
The boys get together for a solo episode and discuss the opposite of a previous episode: some of their absolute least favorite songs to ever top the Billboard Hot 100. Some of the worst hits of the last 30-40 years are here, folks. We get into our issues with Bon Jovi, the time they created a cartoon cat for a Paula Abdul duet, and our begrudging respect for the band Crazy Town.
What happens when an artist makes a song no one expected them to make? That is the question posited by Andy and Alex, aka NJ new wave band Sailor Boyfriend, who join Steve and Dave for a discussion of the random choices artists make and why they make them. Why did rock stars keep trying to rap in the 80s? What is Charli XCX's legacy in pop music? Why did Rush decide to sell out 20 years into being a popular band? All that, plus the worst cover of a Velvet Underground song you could ever hear, await you.
Check out Sailor Boyfriend's music on Bandcamp and Spotify!
Where were you in 2002? We mostly spent it listening to music, and so did Avery Mandeville, who joins us to discuss why she thinks 2002 was the greatest year for music. Some of the finest hit songs and indie gems from 16 years ago lead us to discussing the importance of knowing what's punk when you're 12, how Missy Elliott's legacy has evolved, and whether Wilco's "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" deserved the vaunted Pitchfork 10/10.
Check out the new album from Avery Mandeville and the Man Devils, "Happy Birthday Avery Jane," on Bandcamp and Spotify. And check out the music video for her new single, Get Real!
Returning champion Jessie McCormick is back, and for one week these nerds are total jocks. From favorite teams to favorite players, these are the songs of the sporting world. How did Seven Nation Army become a universal chant? How did wrestling come back? And how does an MLB owner get so thoroughly hosed in a Ponzi scheme?
Go see Jessie's new staged musical God, Forgive These Bastards at the 2018 Fringe Festival in Philadelphia starting September 6th!
Halloween... in August?! Yes dear listener. Nothing matters and time isn't real, so when Adam Bird of aBIRD asked if he could do a Halloween episode, we leapt at the chance. Spooky songs and even spookier off-topic discussions about horror movies, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and AFI await you.
Check out aBIRD's music, available on Apple Music and Spotify.
The boys return after a bout of technical difficulties for a solo episode, detailing some of their favorite songs by artists they otherwise do not enjoy. Along the way they figure out if there's a song that could live up to the Garden State headphones scene, Dave's days at Christian camp, the nostalgic days of trying to be a post-hardcore fan, and just exactly what makes John Mayer so insufferable to people.
Darrel from Quality Living returns to the show as we discuss some of the most notable examples of emo and some we think should be. From mid-80s to the early 2010s, we get into it all, plus a surprising amount of Jason Mraz talk. If you wanna hear about post-hardcore bands that almost made it and Get Up Kids side projects, this is the episode for you. If you don't, well, that makes sense. But listen anyway, please.
Singer and ukulele artist Devon Alana returns to the show and, in between our thoughts on Apu, discusses some of the finest examples of artists who recorded one full album, and only that one album. From Reel Big Fish side projects to Conor Oberst side projects, ska-punk to baroque pop, our discussion ranges from why Hozier didn't choose a different lead single to how Dave's musical brand is "Game Over" music.
Our bud Dave Lynch joins us for a discussion of some great songs to have on when you're on the road. What's the best Springsteen album for someone who hasn't gotten into Bruce yet? How did Head Automatica never get big? What the hell was Killer Mike doing talking to the NRA? All that plus our new video game idea, Daddy Dom Me, awaits you.
The fellas decide it's time for a solo ep and come together to discuss some of their favorite songs that have made it all the way to the top - number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Spanning six decades in ten songs, we discuss the consistency of Usher, Dave's passionate thoughts on the movie Miami Vice, and debut our brand new spinoff podcast Good Delicious.
It happened. We did a whole Mountain Goats episode, determining what we think are the best songs to choose to turn someone into a fan. Along for the ride is massive Mountain Goats fan and musician Chris Dubrow (The Burns, Avery Mandeville and the Man Devils, OneMore with Brian Erickson) who curated some of his favorite tracks and live performances. We discuss the tendency to put hero worship onto John Darnielle and the different "eras" of The Mountain Goats. From the early stuff to Goths, we got it all - plus our expected diversions into Weezer and Billy Joel.
Chris Fox of Ruby Bones joins us last minute to talk about some songs we listen to - even if we know they aren't actually good. We learn about the surprising depth of Mr. Roboto, disagree about Meghan Trainor, and explain how Train become the Hallmark card of music. Plus, we listen to the grossest song in rap-rock history and Steve gets a present. More people should give us presents!
Ukulele player and Puppy Grease member Jessie McCormick returns to the show/allows us to return to her house to talk about her latest obsession, the concept album! Jessie details her process of trying to adapt a modern punk concept album into a musical and why it spoke to her. Meanwhile, the three of us discuss how the crushing mundanity of the suburbs makes for interesting stories, the progression of Childish Gambino over the past decade, and how Boys Night Out went from pop punk to creating one of the most unsettling stories in concept album history.
We've talked about bad cover songs before. But now good ones?! YES. Ruby Bones drummer James Janocha joins us for a discussion of some of the most classic covers of the past few decades, plus some you maybe haven't heard. A ska vs. hair bands debate, Dave's love of video game music, and a reminder that The Black Crowes exist await you.
Ah, the river. The perfect place to lounge around on a raft while wearing a large straw hat. But you also need some tunes while you're there. Max Resnick from We're Ghosts Now returns as we all create the perfect playlist for your journey on the river. We notice which artists use rivers as a running motif, the ways men of a certain age accidentally watched But I'm a Cheerleader, and Max regales us with boy scout stories and the tale of when he saw Neil Young. He even brings a gift for Dave!
We're back! And so is NJ radio personality Megan O'Shea, who drops by to talk about her Singles Only Anti-Valentine's Day Song Challenge event in Asbury Park. We discuss some of our favorite songs for heartbreak, loss, and just plain old not caring about love on Valentine's Day. How does country work so well for heartbreak? What makes Miranda Lambert stand out from the crowd? And is Dave secretly in love with Kyle Chandler, or outwardly in love with him?
Meg's event is at The Asbury at 8:00 on Wednesday night, aka Valentine's Day, and is totally free. Check out the finalists' songs on Facebook under the hashtag #SinglesJingle!
In the final episode of the year, the boys talk some of their absolute favorite releases this year, while Fun While You Wait's Devon Moore returns to discuss some of her favorite new releases from the local Asbury Park scene. Plus some surprise messages from guests of episodes past! From The National to Paramore, join us in celebrating the year in music.
It's the holiday season! To celebrate, Chris from Ruby Bones returns to the show and the boys all discuss the Christmas songs that are near and dear to them. How dark do Weird Al holiday songs actually get? Why does a Bob Dylan Christmas song sound like a bar mitzvah? How creepy actually is Baby It's Cold Outside? All that, plus some impeccable Tim Allen impressions. So turn the fireplace on, grab some eggnog, and don't have a blue Christmas - spend it with us!
Mere HOURS ago, the boys met up after an exhausting day to discuss, with their brains fully fried, songs that bring out the winter spirit. We discuss the emotions of New Year's Eve, whether it's appropriate to make winter songs if Beach is in your band name, and come up with pilot ideas.
We're Ghosts Now drummer/YouTuber Jake Resnick returns to the program as we talk about some of the various songs that provoke real, palpable emotions within us all. We cover all the emotions we can think of, like sad, driving, and Steven Universe.
We thought of a theme called Salad Days. It could be about songs from your youth or literally songs about salad and vegetables. So... we went with both! Joining us is our pal, Asbury Park musician Alex Iannone. The three gents talk about their childhoods of the 90s and early 2000s, from summers in Staten Island to middle school days of discovering indie and writing fanfiction. Also, songs about vegetables, complete with salad recipes. Dave makes salad!
The boys got together late last night for a recording sesh and braved technical difficulties to get you an episode about some of their favorite songs that everyone's third parent, television, gave to them. From songs used on shows to songs made for shows, we get down and dirty talking some of our favorite programs. How is the new Stranger Things? Where does Bob's Burgers rank in the pantheon of great television shows? Are there too many Marvel shows? And of course, the biggest question of all - is Shrek politics?
Former guests Lenny Burnham and Katie Wright have been on separately, but this week they're here TOGETHER as the they join the boys to discuss their favorite songs of the 90s. We get into some of the best tracks of the decade, as well as American Pie soundtracks, Radiohead takes, the poetry of Jawbreaker, and perhaps most importantly, the guys from those Sonic commercials.
Check out Lenny and Katie's monthly podcast The Filmographers, available on iTunes and with Major Casts Network!
A last-minute dropout sends the boys scrambling, but luckily their old pal Dave Lynch is around for some podcasting about some of our favorite karaoke jams. We get into songs we have experience in doing, songs we'd like to do, and some that would just be good ass choices. What are the rules of rapping at karaoke? Is our host Dave actually an expert karaoke master? And will the boys finally find that their true talents lie in porn parodies?
This week, we settle into a lengthy conversation with our pal, frontman of The Paper Jets and co-host of The Great Albums podcast Brian Erickson to discuss some of the songs that have shaped him. We discuss the importance of music in family, friendships, and childhood, as well as seeking to understand what it means to succeed in a local scene and whether your 30s are better than your 20s.
Check out Brian's band, The Paper Jets, his podcast The Great Albums, and his work with You Don't Know Jersey. And as mentioned in the episode, check out Tim Ryan's music on Bandcamp!
Actors wanna be rock stars. Do they succeed? To figure this out, the boys are joined by Jersey Shore musician/actress Jessie McCormick to discuss some of the more notable actors who have tried their hand at music. This allows Steve to live out his dream of finally hearing a song by 30 Odd Foot of Grunts. Do they live up to the hype?! We also discuss whether Michael Cera deserved a backlash, find our way into a Steven Moffat tangent, and discover which famous actress tried her hand at nu-metal in the 2000s. It's not who you think! I mean I don't know who you're thinking of, but probably not her.
The boys get together for a solo episode and return to a familiar theme, and they discuss some more of their favorite cheeseball songs. We get deep into the magic of Billy Joel music videos, whether yacht rock can help your depression, and Dave's unending love for Bette Midler. Cheesy songs and knockoff novelty t-shirt ideas await you within!
When you listen to as much music as these nerds do, it's inevitable that some bands will fall by the wayside eventually. We're joined by our friend Darryl, frontman for the NJ band Quality Living, to discuss the artists we once loved and really do not anymore. Why has Dave fallen off the blink-182 bandwagon? How did Incubus get so successful? And how well does a fictional boy band from the early 2000s hold up? All this, as well as three grown men getting mad at prog rock, await you!
Celebrate Labor Day with pop punk! The boys decide to play something called the Pop Punk Drinking Game with help from returning guests Devon Moore and Dave Lynch. The rules fall away fast and the beer hits even faster as we discuss pop punk and it's place in our lives. Is Joel Madden a good singer? Why do the Front Bottoms capture being a sad 20-something so perfectly? And how long can our intrepid host Dave go just listing Wesley Snipes movies? The answer may surprise you!
Devon's band, Fun While You Wait, just released their new EP, Of Course! Check it out on Bandcamp and Spotify!
The boys are back - in town, that is! New episodes of In the Mix kick off with the help of We're Ghosts Now frontman Ben Resnick. Need to get psyched up on the drive to work? The three of us talk songs that can wake you up and keep you motivated - and a couple for a rough ride home. Check out the brand new EP from We're Ghosts Now, Until Death, on Spotify and Bandcamp!
Season finale time! The boys are awfully busy and are taking a month off, but not before sitting down to discuss the songs they love by the artists they never heard more songs by. Joined partially by last week's guest Max as he waits for his ride (WE ARE A PROFESSIONAL OPERATION), we discuss why everyone only knows the one Filter song, how an 80s band on the rise can suddenly stop, and whether pop music is better than ever these days. Plus, special guests dropping by?! Possibly!
What happens when one of our cheeriest friends wants to talk one of our most depressing themes? Things get weird but fun as Max Resnick, bassist for We're Ghosts Now, comes to the studio to talk funeral songs, and how a funeral should be a party. Along the way is a variety of interesting and inspiring songs from several genres, and a downer theme turns into one of our funniest episodes.
What's the one song you would use to convince someone to check someone out? It's a complicated process, but here to help us is the wonderful Bola Odejobi, who introduces us to the songs that convinced her to listen to some of her most recent obsessions. This brings us to our very first metalcore songs, how your Metallica history affects certain songs, and Alkaline Trio's fun but cringey goth phase. Plus, Russian escorts!
Music is bad. But what is the worst music? We're joined by Ruby Bones frontman, former guest, and writer of our theme song Chris Nova to talk some egregiously bad songs. Where has new Fall Out Boy gone wrong? Does Sublime deserve the legacy they have? And what is it about certain cheesy 80s songs that we just hate so much?
Check out the self-titled debut album from Chris's band, Ruby Bones, available on Spotify, Bandcamp, and more, plus follow them on Twitter!
It's not often that a band has a perfect catalogue. What happens when a band you love puts out a real stinker? We're joined by Devon Moore from the excellent Jersey band Fun While You Wait, and together the three of us discuss the worst that some of our favorite bands have to offer. Beyond the inevitable Weezer discussion, we get into the strange career of Fall Out Boy, dissect the worst song The Beatles ever made, and get honest about how it feels when an artist puts out a bad song for the first time in the 15 years you've been a fan.