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Welcome to 1992!

Now on the other side of last year's storm to end all storms, we're starting to see tons of major and minor genres find their voice for the decade. While some are incorporating retro ideas, others are tearing apart existing conventions in service of the next great sound. And, we hop right into KPop this year, as promised!

Electronica is very much in the spotlight this year, so let's spin through all the different permutations as DJs continue to discover their audiences and all the potential opportunities the genre holds in store for us. What will be the next major genre to have their defining year in this decade that cannot possibly slow down?

Join us for the major milestones and underground gems --  maybe you're about to meet your new favorite artist this year. Come find out!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the Essential List here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the Big List here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to 1991!

We have arrived at one of the most consequential years in the modern history of music. As followers and avid music fans may know, 1991 brought us groundbreaking, critical albums from some of the most iconic artists of all time.

But, amid all of these earth shattering pivots in the musical journey this year, let's not forget about the small but meaningful incremental wins too! We have a super-sized episode today to try and cram in every bit of greatness imaginable into today's episode. Some true heartbreaks were left by the essential list wayside the year, but we must march forward!

Join us as we listen to the well-known greats, the underground heroes that might have been previously lost in the noise, and some surprises!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the Essential List here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the Big List here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to 1990! We are officially in the 90s! The memory of the 1980s is now in the rearview mirror, disappearing around the hard corner we just took to get here. Today we kick off the new decade with a bang, talking about everything we just left behind in the last decade, begin to see big and small hints about what this new era will offer us, and how artists decided to aggressively evolve out of the trends that held firmly in place in the 80s. Join us as we explore this new strange world of the 90s, crossing old genres, splicing others, and discovering all new sounds in a decade that is bound to please, surprise, and shock us all! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the Essential List here!⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the Big List here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to Episode 0 of Season 2 for the "It's Not Scary, It's Just Music" Podcast!

Much like in our Season 1 Episode 0, SJ walks you through the brief history of his music listening project that led to this podcast's creation, a bit about his methodology, and a little about what we can expect from Season 2.

Come hear about all the successes and things we learned from doing Season 1 and what you can expect next as we traverse the 1990s!

And, if you're brand new to the podcast, feel free to check out SJ's existing playlists here!

SURPRISE! It's yet another special episode!

We got Chuck Askerneese of The Untouchables back for a Part 2!

Following our amazing first conversation, we found there was a bounty of things we missed, and more wild stories to tell about the LA counterculture scene of the 70s and 80s, the Wild Child European tour, and more!

Please join us where we dig into the growing underground scene in LA back in the 70s, the unbelievable circumstances that The Untouchables found themselves in during their initial run, and a bit about how their sound influenced the 90s ska movement that hit pop culture heights.

The Untouchables have and always will be fundamental to American music history, and we have the honor and privilege to hear more about how their story took shape and influenced others.

Let's give Part 2 a listen!

Welcome to the Season One finale for the "It's Not Scary, It's Just Music" Podcast!! In today's episode, SJ walks through all the major genres that had their moment in the 1980s, highlighting milestone tracks that helped carry us from one end of the decade to the other. From Avant-Garde to Punk, Pop to Rock, JPop, New Wave, Metal...you name it! Join us as we bask in the glorious creativity and ambition of the 80s, with eyes and ears soon turning to what comes just over the next ridge in the 90s. Check out the Essential List here!

Check out the Big "Greatest Hits of the Decade" List here!

Surprise Surprise Surprise! It's another special episode!

I had the great honor of interviewing the amazing lead singer of The Untouchables, Chuck Askerneese.

During our conversation we chat about his experience first discovering music; how he, his brother, and their friends entered the counterculture scene of LA in the late 70s; the early beginnings of The Untouchables; and their inevitable creation of Wild Child, one of our essential albums from 1985.

Please join us where we dig into the ska genre itself, the burgeoning ska scene in LA in the late 70s and early 80s, how they found their unique sound, and eventually become one of the very first, and most foundational, ska bands in the United States.

The Untouchables have been a force in the American counterculture movement for decades and have collaborated with and influenced so many of the greats in musical history.

Let's all come round and listen to this bounty of amazing stories!

Welcome to 1989! The end of the 80s has come! Can you believe it? We're here already! Today we discuss all the final thoughts, feelings, and perspectives that this decade has to offer. Many genres we've been discussing these last several years disappear off the map entirely, while others are making big plays to become the sound of the 90s. Pop, Rap, R&B, Rock, and Metal are all vying for their spots at the top for what's to come next. Join us as we explore the final few steps along one of the most creatively volatile decades in music history, and discuss how what happens this year bridges into the 1990s! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the Essential List here!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the Big List here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to 1988! Gangsta Rap has officially reached the top of the mountain with authority! Public Enemy is joined by NWA this year to not only announce the new standard, but to do so enough to separate from all other Rap styles. Plus, we're starting to see rock begin to crystalize into the sounds we all know and love from the 90s. Retro 60s and 70s ideas are weaving through the sounds of the moment, while the new era of Alternative continues to challenge every convention previously held dear. Pop has quieted considerably across the board -- I wonder what is stepping forward to fill the void? The decade is ALMOST OVER! Can you feel the winds changing? I sure can! Join us as we near the end of this highly transformative era in music as we prepare for what comes next! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the Essential List here!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the Big List here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Surprise again! It's another special episode!

I had the great honor of interviewing the visionary lead singer of The Chameleons, Mark Burgess

During our conversation we chat about his childhood journey of discovering music as well as his voice; the beginnings of The Chameleons, and the creation of 1983 Essential Album, Script of the Bridge; the aftermath of its debut; and the winding road that has led him and The Chameleons here today.

Please join us where we dig into the challenges in owning their creative vision, advocating for their identity, and playing the kinds of music that connected most deeply with them.

Script of the Bridge is a timeless bounty of creative genius that gave rise to incalculable Brit Rock influence for decades.

Come enjoy the conversation!

Welcome to 1987! The REM-era of Alternative Rock is coming to a close, and behind it is a whole new wave of creativity, genre blending, and retro influences. And, the Golden Age of Rap has officially ended, and in its wake, Gangsta Rap's peak is just around the corner. 1987 made us question the state of R&B, what "Alternative" truly means, and how exactly this decade is going to end! Twenty years ago we started to see the emergence of Roots Rock and Psychedelic Rock -- which means the retro movements are incoming as well. Finally, I'm about ready for some more up-tempo electronica -- what about you? 1987 gives us our first video game music check-in, are you ready? Join us as we dive deep into the abyss of an uncertain and complex tail-end to the 1980s. Let's go! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the Essential List here!⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the Big List here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Surprise Surprise! It's another special episode!

I had the incredible honor of interviewing the incomparable front man of Fang, Sammy "Sammytown" McBride.

During our conversation we chat about his life before Fang; the coming together of their groundbreaking debut album, and 1982 Essential Album, Landshark; and how that album changed the direction of punk and its offshoots for years to come.

Please join us where dive in to the counter culture scene of the late 70s and early 80s, all the ways in which Landshark influenced the birth of genres like 90s Punk, Grunge, and a variety of Metal sub-genres, and how Sammytown is exploring and supporting the counter culture movements of today.

Fang changed the direction of Punk forever, fearlessly questioning any hints of conformity, and activating the inspiration for future counter culture greats and rock royalty alike.

Come enjoy our most explicit episode yet as me and Sammytown jump right in!

Welcome to 1986! As promised, the eye of the 1980s storm has passed us in 1985, and the winds have officially kicked back up! With a jam-packed list of essentials this year, we've got a lot of work to do. From Gangsta Rap trying to knock the Golden Age off its perch, to a new era of R&B, Neo-Traditionalist Country moving to the mountaintop, and the first signs that the current era of Alternative Rock is coming to a close, 1986 seems to have had it all! And, let's not forget that coming next year we start the video game music check-in! I promised you a storm of the century in 1986, and it did not disappoint; so let's make sure we strap in tight and enjoy the ride! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the Essential List here!⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the Big List here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to 1985! We are officially in the eye of the 1980s storm! It's a little quiet this year, but some of the shifts just around the edges are powerful, so let's hold on! 1985 gave us some tremendous leaps forward with new, established, and waning genres; from City Pop's forthcoming exit, to Neo-Psychedelic Rock announcing itself as the inevitable successor to the beginnings of the Alternative Rock movement. And, let's not sleep on the huge wave rolling up in the distance: Electronica! Join us for a shorter episode this week, diving in deep to a select few Essentials and Conspicuous Absences. 1985 was a bit quiet, but the storm is going to pick right back up again in 1986, so get ready! Check out the Essential List here! ⁠⁠⁠Check out the Big List here!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Surprise! It's a special episode!

I had the great honor of interviewing the tremendously talented Richard Barone of The Bongos!

During our conversation we discussed the coming together of The Bongos, the creation of 1982 Essential Album "Drums Along the Hudson," the half-decade tour to follow, his musical journey since, and all the wonderful projects he is creating today.

Please join us where we talk about the fearlessness of genre blending back in the 80s, the limitless opportunities of new technology afforded to artists at that time, and how kindness in the industry is an incalculable resource for up-and-comers.

Richard has been a shining beacon in the industry for over four decades -- let's come together and listen to what he has to say!

Welcome to 1984! So excited to say this, that the Golden Age of Rap is officially upon us! While the world of Pop continued to shift and move beneath our feet, Rap was finding several new ways to entertain the masses; from Beatboxing, to Rap Battling, the industry was just starting to realize its own potential. Join us as we bop our heads to all that this year has to offer, hitting us with eternal Pop hits, cutting Rap bars, some down-home Country goodness, and even more early signs that Electronica is not as far away as we might have thought. The field is getting a little bit tough to navigate, so be sure to hold a hand or two as we wade through! Check out the Essential List here!

⁠⁠Check out the Big List here!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to 1983! It's a truly small but mighty year in music, giving us so many paths forward in popular music. Maybe you know some of the future megastars that blasted onto the scene this year -- maybe not! Join us for a little bit of a short episode this week, walking through all the amazing ideas that were birthed in this year, and not just from Pop music! Alternative Rock in all its shapes emerges this year as a dominant sound, and Heavy Metal continues to splinter off. I declare the 1980s officially awake and screaming its message into our faces. What do you think it's telling us? Let's find out together!

⁠⁠Check out the Essential List here!

⁠Check out the Big List here!⁠⁠

Welcome to 1982! Three years into the 80s! We can start to see the edge of New Wave's time on top in the distance, and R&B is making a huge push into Popular culture. 1982 is a year of major transition in which the music world is asking itself how much more New Wave can give us before we've heard enough. And, in that void of curiosity, R&B explodes onto the scene, giving us some truly iconic records and artists. Finally, let's not forget that where New Wave is seeing its decline, something else is waiting in the wings to take its place! The 1980s is really starting to wake up, and I am here to listen to what it has to say. Let's get going!

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Check out the Essential List here!

Check out the Big List here!⁠

Welcome to 1981! We're already two years into the 80s! The synth keyboards and electric guitar solos are really starting to take over! 1981 was such an amazingly prolific year in Punk history. There was such an explosion of new ideas taking shape this year, revealing the markers for countless sub-genres in the near future. It's any wonder that we are STILL living in this post-Punk era even in 2024. Today, I'll be stepping us through many, many "big bang" moments in music history, so strap yourself in! 1981 ignited a TON of fires in the world of rock music! Let's not forget about Contemporary R&B, though! Some pretty seismic shifts were made this year. I'm so excited to groove through together! As always, I walk through my trend impressions (what's moving in, out, and officially reaching the summit); my essential albums; and the atrocities of what I left off the essentials list this year. I think I'm actually learning some stuff as we move along here! I hope you are too. Let's keep rolling!

⁠Check out the Essential List here!

Check out the Big List here!⁠

Hey there! How's it going? Busy? Yeah, me too. Let me be the first to welcome you to the 1980s! Yay! 1980 is such a fun year where the world of on-trend music and revivals seemed to absolutely explode! I'm so excited for us to walk this strange, dark path together. Today, I'll be officially ushering us ever-so-gently into the 80s with its first, surprisingly-dense year. We know a little bit more than last year, but there's still a lot to learn! As always, I walk through my trend impressions (what's moving in, out, and officially reaching the summit); my essential albums; and the devastation of what I left off the essentials list this year. We're more confident, but does that confidence translate to wisdom? Or am I just as biased and untethered as ever? Listen and find out!

⁠Check out the Essential List here! Check out the Big List here!

Hi! How are you? Good? Me too. Welcome to the first year of my music listening journey - 1979! In today's episode, I will be officially kicking this thing off and getting excited about how little I know about music as of this moment in my musical time traveling extravaganza. Curious why I started in 1979, when there was so much great music beforehand? I guess you'll have to listen and find out! As always, I'll also walk through my interpretations of trends moving in, moving out, and rooting themselves in this year; my essential albums and why; and albums conspicuously left off my essential list and why. Come get passionate about all my biased opinions! Check out my Essential List for this year here!

Check out the full list that I kept for this year here!

Hi! It's good to see you. Welcome to the thing before the thing! In Episode 0, I walk through the history of my music project, my personal history with music listening that led me to the inevitable project, some thoughts on what I've learned so far (to include a lengthy history of how musical trends work), and what you can expect going forward. Join me for some light rambling and only a touch of my highly biased opinions.