Bands We Don't Care About: Recent Episodes
Kenneth Hartvigsen
Join Kenneth and Sam as they take a deep dive with bands they don't care about! In each episode they force themselves to read about and listen to a band they have previously ignored, to see if their ambivalence has been justified. Will opening their ears to these musicians change Kenneth and Sam's opinion, and even their taste?
Our musical explorers continue their trip through the frozen north by listening to one of Canada's favorite bands, the Tragically Hip. Will Kenneth and Sam fall Fully and Completely in love with the Hip?
Sam, Kenneth, and guest color commentator Brian finally explore the age old question, why don't I care about Rush? To get to the bottom of this conundrum they break down their experiences listening to the Canadian trio's album "Moving Pictures." Will the boys rush headlong into super fandom?!
You would be hard pressed to find a performer with more creative and professional success than Dolly Parton...so why haven't Kenneth and Sam ever listened to her music? Find out what happens with the boys listen to The Queen of Country's classic album, Jolene.
Will Kenneth and Sam fall pray to John Mayer's seductive cowboy persona? Find out when they listen to Mr. Mayer's Paradise Valley!
Kenneth and Sam give one of classic Rock's biggest bands a second chance, when they listen to the album Desperado by 70's juggernauts, Eagles. Will an album of sepia-toned country-rock outlaw fantasies win the boys over?
Will Steven Perry and company impress our intrepid musical travelers? Find out as Kenneth and Sam take a journey...to themselves, when they listen to the San Fran band's classic album, Infinity.
They're back!......Again!!!!
Fresh off their second lengthy hiatus in less than a year, Kenneth and Sam are back to their shenanigans. This time (after an unreasonably long discussion of Superman 2) they wonder whether or not they should care about contemporary indie rock band, HAIM.
Are Kenneth and Sam working for the Weeknd? Find out as season 5 of everyone's favorite music podcast (starring Kenneth and Sam) returns from pandemic hiatus, with the album After Hours by the Weeknd!
Will Kenneth and Sam be swept away in waves of contemporary psychedelia—or will they wish this Tame Impala was a bit more on the wild side? Find out as they listen to Tame Impala's brand new release, the Slow Rush!
Kenneth and Sam share a Great Eight list of some of their favorite cinematic scenes that were brought to life by the magic of that one perfect song.
Will Kenneth and Sam fall pray to the Dangerous Woman herself? Find out when they listen to one of pop music's biggest superstars, Ariana Grande!
After discussing the musical news of the day, the boys contemplate the state of popular music by playing a game inspired by 2020 Grammy nominees!
Kenneth and Sam tackle one of the biggest superstars in music, by listening to Post Malone's Hollywood's Bleeding. Will the boys be seduced by the lilting laconic tones of Mr. Malone?
To assist all of their loyal listeners in keeping their New Year's Resolutions, Kenneth and Sam play through an exercise mixtape sure to get your blood pumping!
In season four's opening episode, Kenneth and Sam put on their chaps and spurs, and head to the rodeo with Garth Brooks! For this much requested episode, the boys consider Brooks's 1991 Country-Western masterpiece, Ropin' the Wind. Will they finally realize they are urban cowboys at heart?
Kenneth tries to scare Sam with a list of some of his favorite unintentionally scary songs!
After catching up with each other, Kenneth and Sam return to an artist they've discussed in the past to see how their feelings may have changed. Find out if the boys care more or less about Taylor Swift, based on listening to her new album, Lover!
Hey don't-care-heads, we haven't forgotten about you! After a busy October, Sam and I are back in Byron's studio to record the next episode. So stay-tuned for the long-promised return to Taylor Swift, when we talk about her new record Lover!
Kenneth and Sam finally get around to listening to the Godfather of Soul, the hardest working man in show business, Soul Brother Number One, Mr. Dynamite himself, the inimitable James Brown! Will the boys be won over by the seminal 1963 album, "Live at the Apollo?"
Kenneth and Sam contemplate the changing of the seasons, and the beginning of another school year with a magnificent seven list of songs that remind them of school.
Will Kenneth and Sam be wooed by the conceptually ambitious synth-pop of The 1975? Find out as they dive into the band's 2018 release, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships.
In the first mini episode of season 3, Kenneth test's Sam's knowledge of TV tunes. How many of Kenneth's top 5 bad instrumental TV show theme songs will Sam know?
In the inaugural episode of season 3, Kenneth and Sam take on one of pop music's glittering luminaries—the jovial ginger himself, Ed Sheeran. Will the boys be swayed by his songwriting credentials and his smooth production sheen?
Can our intrepid musical travelers hang with the psychedelic delicacy that is the Jefferson Airplane? Find out as they hitch a ride with the group's 1967 masterpiece, "Surrealistic Pillow"!
The boys play a musical game of Guess the Connection, as Kenneth presents a Great Eight List for which Sam must guess the common denominator.
How did our intrepid musical voyagers, both children of the 90s, manage to sidestep one of the most beloved British bands of the era? Will Kenneth and Sam feel Spiritualized by Jason Pierce and co.'s 1997 masterpiece, Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space?
What happens when our lovable curmudgeons Kenneth and Sam investigate one of the hottest young artists in popular music? Find out as when the investigate Billie Eilish's new LP "When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go?"
Kenneth and Sam share a playlist based on the colors of the rainbow...do they need a reason why? You guys know the drill by now :)
What happens when Kenneth and Sam battle with the Beast? Are they emotionally prepared to face the banshee-like whale of Bruce Dickinson and the boys? Find out, as our intrepid musical explorers listen to Iron Maiden's 1982 masterpiece, the Number of the Beast!
The boys (along with a special guest hose) share some of their favorite covers, and talk about that rare phenomenon when a cover is better than the original.
If there were a patron saint of rock stars, it would be Annie Clark—aka, St. Vincent! How will the boys react to her 2017 opus MASSEDUCTION? Will Sam be turned off by her avant-garde posturing? Will Kenneth think the album is too poppy? Find out as the boys, along with guest host Court, explore the dangerous, danceable, daring world of St. Vincent!
In this week's mini episode, Kenneth and Sam indulge in a little bit of improvised silliness, as they challenge each other to come up with musical examples for some very random off-the-cuff questions. Who says preparation is always a good thing?
Are Kenneth and Sam ready for the freewheeling artistic genius of Iceland's favorite daughter? Find out when they tackle Homogenic, the 1997 masterpiece by Bjork!
Dreaming of warmer weather as we inch toward the equinox, Kenneth and Sam share a Great Eight list of spring and summer-themed favorites!
What happens when Kenneth and sam come face to face with King Crimson, one of the most powerful bands in the history of Prog rock? Will they bow before the throne when at last they find themselves In The Court of the Crimson King?
Inspired by singing Piano Man with 20,000 Billy Joel fans, Kenneth explores the phenomenon of musicians who sing songs about singing songs! Join the boys on a sensational six list of metamusical masterpieces!
What happens when our boys come face to face with a band that they know nothing about, but that has influenced many of the musicians they know and love? Find out as they investigate the highs and lows of T. Rex's glamtastic 1971 record, Electric Warrior. It's time to get it on, (bang the gong) get it on!
Kenneth convinces Sam to return to a fan favorite game, Do You Know Your Bro? Who wins when the boys try to guess which songs the other likes and loathes?
Billy Joel is one of the most popular recording artists of all time, having sold 150 million albums in his career...and Kenneth and Sam just don't care. Will listening to Mr. Joel's 1977 masterpiece The Stranger convince them to care about the piano man?
Kenneth and Sam challenge each other to pick just one song to represent the musical style of some of their favorite bands. Can a career's worth of music be distilled in just one song?
Kenneth and Sam test out a listener's hypothesis that 1993 was the best year for hiphop albums, by listening to A Tribe Called Quest's laid-back masterpiece, Midnight Marauders. Will the boys be seduced by Q-Tip and Phife Dog's witty repartee against a bed of jazzy samples?
The lads celebrate the new year, and the start of season 2, with a set of musical resolutions, and Kenneth tries to catch Sam off guard with a musical surprise from yesteryear.
Season 2 starts with a bang as our boys investigate whether young rock gods Greta Van Fleet are the second coming of Led Zeppelin. Is it a crime to mine the music of the past? If so, wasn't the mighty Zep guilty of the same crime? These questions and many more answered as Kenneth and Sam get the led out!...kind of....
In this season finale, Kenneth and Sam walk down memory lane as they remember the highs and lows from their first season as podcasters. Stay tuned to the very end to find out who we won't be caring about when season 2 rolls around!
Why haven't Sam and Kenneth ever listened to the Decemberists? Are they afraid of quirky songwriting, or is it the thought of joining in the hipster revolution that has kept them away? Find out if our intrepid musical travelers will be setting off for Portlandia after they listen to the Decemberist's 2006 classic, The Crane Wife.
Let Kenneth and Sam help you get into a Christmas mood as they share a Great Eight list of under-appreciated Christmas songs. Old classics, new favorites, and a few surprises along the way make for a Christmas playlist unlike any other!
In this mini holiday episode, Kenneth and Sam express their gratitude for the music in the lives, and for you their listeners, with a special "Grateful Eight," list of thankful songs. Happy Thanksgiving one and all!
Kenneth and Sam finally get around to a band that has been frequently requested by listeners—a favorite in their native state of Utah—Imagine Dragons. Will the band's first album, Night Visions, be a sweet dream or a nightmare for our musical travelers?
Kenneth tortures Sam by forcing him to open up, as our intrepid musical explorers each share one of their favorite under-appreciated albums. Sam proves that Mr. Rogers isn't the only one who loves those Cardigans, and Kenneth yearns for New Adventures with one of the biggest bands of his youth....
You knew this would happen eventually....What happens when Kenneth and Sam dive into Creed's 1999 album Human Clay? Will they greet Scott Stapp & co. With Arms Wide Open? Will the day end with our boys holding this band that people love to hate in Higher esteem?
Welcome to our first annual Supernatural Spooktacular, as Kenneth counts down his Great Eight list of favorite Horror movie soundtracks. As the bard once wrote, "scaring is caring," so let the boys show you their love with a few creepy tunes!
In this special episode, Kenneth and Sam pay tribute to one of the greatest tv theme song writers of all time—Mr. Alan Thicke! Join us on a journey through the sonic pleasures of more 1970's game shows than you can possible remember. Plus, a musical surprise for our dedicated fans!
Sam leads this mini episode with a Great Eight list of fan favorites from the ballpark. Enjoy the sounds of the playoffs....and go Sox! (Kenneth wrote that....don't tell Sam).
Sam has always appreciated Beyoncé's radio hits, and particularly enjoys her early solo career and work with Destiny's Child; Kenneth respects her creativity and talent, but has heard little beyond her best-known bangers. Will the boys end this episode drunk in love with her critically acclaimed self-titled record? Do they think it's a flawless album, or are they haunted by confusion over Queen Bey's popularity?
Sam and Kenneth present a shared "great eight," list of popular songs performed by famous actors! Some are pretty good....some are pretty sad. Find out which of our boys legitimately enjoys the crooning of a famous SNL alum, and which is simply perplexed by Professor Dumbledore's youthful musical indiscretions.
In this mini episode, Sam leads us through a magnificent seven list, sharing some of his favorite instances of popular songs used in Seinfeld Episodes. Get ready for a mini episode about nothing!
Their Greatest Hits, by the Eagles is the greatest selling album of all time, having sold a staggering 38 million copies. Kenneth and Sam try to figure out what makes this classic California rock band so appealing by taking a deep dive with the record. Will they be left with a "Peaceful Easy Feeling"? Maybe "One of These Nights," they'll figure out what makes the Eagles so popular.
In this mini episode, Kenneth responds to Sam's instrumental theme songs with a new "magnificent seven," list—seven tv show theme songs that were a soundtrack to his childhood! If you have wondered what makes Kenneth the way he is, too much TV is a reasonable guess :)
Kenneth just doesn't get the Rolling Stones. Why are they so beloved by casual fans and critics alike? Will he and Sam come around once they get their Sticky Fingers on this seminal band's two best albums? Will spending time with Mick, Keith, and the boys finally Shine a Light on the secret of their success?
Bonus Episode! How well do Kenneth and Sam know each other's taste in music? Find out in this mini episode when the boys play a rousing game of Do You Know Your Bro!
The Yardbirds were a quintessential British Blues/Rock band of the 1960s—though they are probably more famous as the launchpad for their three lead guitarists' more illustrious solo careers than for their own musical output. Will these yardbirds make Kenneth and Sam sing?
In this bonus mini episode, Kenneth shares songs he dislikes, recorded by seven of his favorite bands. The boys are about to find out how painful it is when good bands go bad :)
So many people love to hate Nickelback...but is that hatred justified? Find out if Kenneth, Sam, and a special guest want to be Rockstars after diving into the Canadian rockers' 2005 album, All the Right Reasons.
In this bonus mini episode, Sam and Kenneth wax idiotic about their favorite instrumental TV themes songs. You'll never guess which wordless classics keep Sam tapping his toes!
Kenneth could never care about Britpop titans Oasis, but they remind Sam of simpler times. Will listening to (What's the Story) Morning Glory have them both waving the Union Jack, or will this Oasis turn out to be a mirage?
Kenneth used to love the Dave Matthews Band, but they've parted ways in recent years. Can a special guest help Kenneth and Sam get back on the jam band express?
Who is more metal, Kenneth or Sam? You're about to find out as our intrepid musical explorers dive into Metallica's classic thrash masterpiece, Master of Puppets! Inspired by a listener suggestion, the boys are going to figure out if they care about the masters of metal.
Phil Collins is one of the most successful popular musicians of the 1980s and 1990s, with massive hits under his belt as a solo artist and as a member of the classic English prog-rock band Genesis. Will listening to his debut solo album Face Value convince Kenneth and Sam to care about his career? It seems Against All Odds, but there does seem to be something In the Air Tonight....
Sam grew up loving the seminal dance/rock band New Order, but Kenneth has only heard their two biggest hits. Can Sam convince Kenneth that every day should be a Blue Monday?
Kenneth LOVES critical darlings the National, and Sam has heard just one of their songs. What happens when Kenneth tries to give Sam a crash course on their moody and atmospheric brand of arena rock?
Playlist:
Sea of Love
Carin at the Liquor Store
Daughters of the Soho Riots
Terrible Love
Sorrow
Mr. November
Fake Empire
Day I Die
Runaway
The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness
Bloodbuzz Ohio
England
Will Sam convert Kenneth into a Swifty? Will they both become official members of the Swift Squad? Listen to find out as they discuss Taylor Swift's mega-hit album 1989!
Do Kenneth and Sam want to rock and roll all night (and party every day)? Are they going to take a one-way trip to Detroit Rock City?! Find out as they discuss their experiences listening to KISS's fan favorite 1976 album, Destroyer.
Kenneth and Sam have never cared about Fleetwood Mac. Though familiar with the band and a few of their songs, our hosts have never even bothered to listen to Fleetwood Mac's masterpiece, Rumors! Will they change their tune after a week of immersing themselves in the band's history and music?