Explore every episode of the podcast Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast

It's our 50th episode and 5-year anniversary! Join us as we give our honest, unmerciful review of Led Zeppelin's adventurous 1973 album "Houses of the Holy". Chock full of classics, and some genre hops, does the record hold up? Tune in and find out!

Pete and Brian dive into Fiona Apple's unflinching, incisive, and emotionally charged second album, 1999's "When the Pawn...".  Apple's acrobatic vocalizations, clever lyrics and piano skills are on display, backed by a percussive, expressive band. For the young singer, this album was a response to the criticism from her stunning debut, "Tidal", full of fury and also self-reflection and unique takes on relationship dynamics.  How does it hold up 26 years later? Tune in to find out!

Join Pete and Brian as we discuss 1994's debut eponymous album by alternative rock band Weezer, commonly known as the Blue Album. Arriving on the scene with a powerfully produced record that spawned hits "Undone (the Sweater Song)", "Buddy Holly", and "Say It Ain't So", Rivers Cuomo and his bandmates defied expectations almost from day 1.  Embracing their geekiness while blasting power chords and tight harmonies, Weezer's debut was a critical and commercial success... but how does it hold up over 30 years later? Tune in as we uncover the album's secrets and give our honest, unmerciful review!

Pete and Brian share a listening experience that none should take lightly: Boards of Canada's fourth and last(?) studio album, "Tomorrow's Harvest" (2013).  The mysterious Scottish duo is renowned as vanguards of "intelligent dance music", but craft soundscapes and sonic experiments that cross genres.  "Tomorrow's Harvest" is a concept record in many ways, and we'll explore some of the lore and the emotions it conjures.  Be warned - it's not easy listening, but the challenges Boards of Canada throw can lead to revelations!  

Join Pete and Brian as they unravel the many sonic layers of Spoon's revered 2005 indie-rock album, "Gimme Fiction". We'll dig deep into the lyrics, themes, and music of this well-produced, oft-experimental record.  Do the experiments work?  Tune in to hear our Honest, Unmerciful appraisal!

Know what the world needs now more than ever? An honest, unmerciful review of Green Day's 1995 album "Insomniac"...by none other than Skinny D and Jet Carlo, Pete and Brian's special guests this episode.  We'll dig into the punk-rock blast that is Green Day's fourth record, but also their important follow-up to their fame-making album "Dookie". Do they deliver the goods on "Insomniac"?  Tune in to find out!

Pete and Brian return with a journey through "El Dorado", the 1974 concept album by Electric Light Orchestra. Jeff Lynne and Co. craft a record that's sometimes a cinematic throwback with its orchestration, and sometimes a progressive-leaning rock LP. Does the "concept" hold up and is the variety a feature or a bug? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 2 February 2025. 

Pete and Brian travel back to 1985 when Tears for Fears ruled the world, or at least the pop charts on the strength of "Songs From the Big Chair", their multi-million-selling second album. Featuring massive hits "Shout", "Head over Heels" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", the creative forces of Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal were on full display. But with such huge singles, how does the album hold up? Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 27 May 2024.

Join Pete and Brian as they revisit The Black Crowes' 1992 album "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion". The band topped the charts with their earnest revival of 70's-influenced rock, with aspects of blues and gospel, riding four hit singles in a time when hair metal was giving way to grunge on the FM dial. So how does it land all these years later? Tune in to find out!

Join Pete and Brian as they discover the virtuosity of 1981's "Discipline" album by King Crimson. is it progressive rock, math rock, gamelan-inspired systems rock, new wave, or something altogether unique mixing all of that? Only bandleader and guitarist extraordinaire Robert Fripp knows for sure. But we'll aim to unpack the interlocking rhythms, melodies and styles of this incarnation of the influential, ever-evolving band.  Episode originally released 30 March 2024.

For our big 40th episode, Pete and Brian rediscover Hall and Oates' "Private Eyes" from 1981. These soulful crooners scored #1 singes with the title track and "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)", but the record also holds some adventurous surprises, too... tune in to find out! Episode originally released 31 January 2024.

Pete and Brian revisit Echo & The Bunnymen's "Ocean Rain", released in 1984 and hailed (by the band) as "the greatest album ever made". We'll analyze that claim. It it a high-water mark for the post-punk/new-wave band, incorporating orchestration, eastern music, and atmospheres aplenty, riding the crest of classic track "The Killing Moon"? Or does the album spring some leaks? Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 11 January 2024.

Join Pete and Brian as they revisit the Heartland rock of John Cougar Mellencamp's "Scarecrow" from 1985. Mellencamp presents us with a record full of earnest lyrics and no-frills rock and roll that will take you back in time and back to the small towns listening on AM radio! A chart-topper and Big Statement Record of the 80's, how does "Scarecrow" stand up after all these years?  Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 14 November 2023.

Join Pete and Brian as they explore a monumental album of the shoegaze scene, My Bloody Valentine's "loveless" from 1991.  Kevin Shields and company crafted an unmistakably, oft-imitated sonic identity and changed the way guitar could sound and songs could be structured, relying on distortion, odd tunings, tremolo techniques and painstaking production tricks. Add on layer of ambiguous vocals, and the result is a groundbreaking, sometimes challenging listening experience. So does "loveless" get all our love, or less? Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 1 September 2023.

Join Pete and returning guest host Jet Carlo (subbing in.out with Brian) as they debate the merits of Steely Dan and their 1975 album "Katy Lied". Known as perfectionists with a unique jazz/rock fusion sound, Steely Dan have polarized fans and critics throughout their career. We'll explore why that may be as exemplified by "Katy Lied". Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 10 August 2023.

Join Pete and Brian as they rediscover Counting Crows' 1996 album "Recovering the Satellites". The band found huge fame and critical/public backlash after their multi-million-selling debut, so stakes were high for this sophomore release. Vocalist Adam Duritz's plaintive lyrical delivery and musical influences both current and vintage make for a distinctive listen.  But does it hold up to the test of time? Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 12 July 2023. 

Pete and Brian flip the record and revisit Side B of The Beatles' 1969 classic, "Abbey Road". Featuring gorgeous atmospheres, then transitioning to the 8 part Medley, this album side is absolutely stuffed with ideas, moods and movements. How does a collection of short tracks combine as a cohesive suite? How does Side B compare/contrast with Side A (see our episode 33)? And overall, how does "Abbey Road" rank on the warm, tasty burrito scale? Tune in to find that out and a LOT more!  Episode originally released 26 May 2023.

We've finally arrived at The Beatles, taking on their 1969 album "Abbey Road".  The influential status of the band and the complexities of the record mean we'll tackle each side as its own episode. Side A's six tracks pace the way, but are they a cohesive, classic collection, or the leftovers of a band pulling in separate directions? Maybe both? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 11 May 2023.

Pete and Brian uncover Metric's "Fantasies" (2009). Featuring Emily Haines' gifted vocals and thought-provoking lyrics, this indie rock/synth band has carved out a huge following, largely doing it their own way, and becoming one of Canada's most successful independent bands. With hooks aplenty, "Fantasies" adds a well-produced gloss to Metric's sound. How do they measure (ha!) up on our scale of warm, tasty burritos? Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 25 March 2023.

Join Pete and Brian as they look back at the Best (and Worst) of two years and thirty episodes of the Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast! Which albums got a perfect 5 out of 5 warm, tasty burritos on our trademarked scale? Which records were most hotly debated? Remember those wonderful and sometimes wacky guest hosts? Take a trip back with us as we remember our favorite moments, share some new music news, and ponder what we'd change and why we love doing this podcast for you, dear listeners!  Episode originally released 3 February 2023.

Join Pete and Brian as they revisit Billy Joel's hugely successful 1980 album "Glass Houses", which saw the Piano Man largely forgo the keys and ballads in favor of a cool rock sound. Does he nail it, or is this a rock record wrapped in cellophane? Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 16 January 2023.

Join Pete and Brian as they mark the 2-year anniversary of the podcast with indie rock from Modest Mouse! With their 2004 record, "Good News for People Who Love Bad News", the band achieved mainstream success with hit single "Float On". The album is full of unorthodox musicianship and lyrics, rough-around-the-edges jam session vibes, but hints at sophistication and polish.  How does it all hold together? Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 16 December 2022.

Join Pete and Brian as they search for clues to what made The White Stripes' 2003 album "Elephant" a massive hit despite a lo-fi recording mode. Forerunners of the garage/blues-rock revival with distinct sound and style, the two-piece band of Jack (guitars, vocals, etc) and Meg (drums) White turn out stompers alongside quirky deep cuts. Does that variety still make "Elephant" a cohesive listen? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 4 November 2022.

Join Pete and Brian as they revisit Pearl Jam's 1998 album, "Yield". After a trio of hugely successful records, internal and external stresses required Pearl Jam to shake things up in their songwriting approach. Does "Yield" represent a return to classic form, a new stylistic direction, or a herald the "end" of the golden period for the band?  Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 19 September 2022.

Join Pete and Brian as they rediscover a monumental art-pop work from the prodigious talent and unique voice of Kate Bush, who is being rediscovered by a new generation. This episode features Bush's 1985 album "Hounds of Love" which included the single "Running up that Hill", returning to top the UK and US charts again in 2022 thanks to inclusion in the series "Stranger Things". The record is a striking introduction to Kate Bush, split between catchy, well-crafted singles and a side-long conceptual suite with lots of sonic experiments. How do we reassess this through the lens of time? Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 22 August 2022.

Join Pete, Brian, and special guest reviewer Kevin Brown ("The Tom Petty Project") as they track the many stylistic changes on David Bowie's fourth LP, 1971's "Hunky Dory". Bowie at once honors his inspirations and looks toward his own future on an album that features a variety of styles. But with any break from the past and harbinger of what's to come in an artist's career, does the album hold up? Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 27 June 2022.

Join Pete and Brian as they explore U2's "Achtung Baby" (1991), a transformative, influential record with a surprising origin story. This album finds the band redefining their sound and taking huge steps from self-serious 80's rockers to changing the musical landscape of the 90's. Experimenting with new production approaches and attitudes, while still unmistakably U2, "Achtung Baby" garnered even greater commercial success. How does this record hold up 30 years later? Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 6 June 2022.

Join Pete and Brian as they delve into the many layers of The Cure's landmark 1989 album, "Disintegration". Striving to create a work of lasting importance and sustaining a heavy mood, Robert Smith and co. recorded an album that reverberates with melancholia and melodies both grand and sparse.  An all-time classic or an emotionally-draining experience? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 10 May 2022.

Join Pete and Brian as they dive deep into the churning sonic waters of XTC's 1980 album, "Black Sea". This record is brimming over with experimental sounds and lyrics, with XTC wearing the "New Wave" badge as well as referencing mid-60's British psychedelia, while sounding totally distinct and modern. Is the record a work of genius, challenging conventions of the time, or the album equivalent of "everything and the kitchen sink"? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 29 March 2022.

Join Pete and Brian as they explore 1976's "A Trick of the Tail" album by Genesis, the band's first without Peter Gabriel on lead vocals, swapping in young drummer Phil Collins. While the loss of a distinct voice and visual identity could have ended the fledgling band, Genesis delivered a classic album full of progressive music, adventurous lyrics and a voice that began a new era of critical and popular acclaim. Does this record point the band in the direction of pop hitmakers, or represent the logical next step from their art-rock past? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 9 February 2022.

Join Pete and Brian as they tackle AC'DC's 1980 classic LP "Back in Black". One of the all-time best-selling albums, "Back in Black" found the hard-rocking Aussie band paying tribute to their departed vocalist, Bon Scott, and breaking in the pipes of new lead singer, Brian Johnson. Never backing away from hedonistic themes and heavy guitar licks, the album delivers huge singles mixed with some controversial lyrics.  Episode originally released 14 January 2022.

Join Pete and Brian as they dig into Radiohead's lauded but challenging 2000 album, "Kid A". Coming off their acclaimed "OK Computer" record, anticipation for the next LP was high and the pressure was on to deliver. Radiohead responded with an album of sonic experiments and disparate influences that confounded many but also shaped their sound going forward. Is it a landmark masterpiece or a big mess? Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 22 December 2021.

Join Pete and Brian as they revisit a true monolith of classic rock, The Who's 1971 album "Who's Next". We'll discuss how the album's tracks were born out of sessions for another ambitious concept LP/rock opera. A band of huge characters and musical talents, "Who's Next" collects some of their most famous and recognizable tunes, showcasing their style and stretching into new themes and techniques. Does "Who's Next" live up to its mythic status? Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 25 November 2021.

Can a band escape the dreaded "one-hit wonder" label and craft a career of consistency and critical acclaim by musical maturation and perseverance? That was Nada Surf's challenge with 2002's "Let Go", taking the independent route to establish their true identity beyond 1996's buzz-bin hit "Popular". Did they succeed in their efforts? Tune in as Pete and Brian offer their perspectives on this transitional album by a beloved band. Episode originally released 27 September 2021.

Join Pete and Brian for an honest, unmerciful analysis of 1997's "Whatever and Ever Amen" LP by Ben Folds Five.  This power trip (piano, bass and drums) rocked and walked the edge of 90's irony and sincerity with a lively mix of melody, melancholy and rage. Does that sound like a recipe for success or disaster? Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 2 Sept 2021.

Pete and Brian share their honest, unmerciful insights on one of the defining albums of the 80's, Peter Gabriel's "So" from 1986. How does this record walk the line between Gabriel's unique artistic vision and major commercial success? How did he evolve in a way that led to huge pop hits while staying true to his experimental muse? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 7 August 2021.

Join Pete and Brian as they dig into the monumental second Smashing Pumpkins record, 1993's "Siamese Dream". This record appeared as grunge was pushing into the mainstream, and the band was struggling internally and externally to make a different mark. Is it a colossal work of (Billy Corgan's) genius, or an overblown opus? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 1 July 2021.

Join Pete and Brian as they explore a legendary, critically acclaimed album by Tom Petty, 1994's "Wildflowers". This "solo" LP, with major assists from Heartbreakers bandmates, documents the professional and deeply personal changes Petty was feeling at the time. We'll discuss how such changes impact the record's sounds and themes. So get ready to find yourself sonically somewhere you'll feel free! Episode originally released 14 June 2021.

In this episode, Pete and Brian dive into the party that is Franz Ferdinand's eponymous debut album from 2004. Full of raw guitar swagger, disco beats, and ambiguous lyrics, we'll peel away the many layers of this electric, eclectic record. Come check it out with us! Episode originally released 28 May 2021.

Join Pete and Brian as they discuss the debut album by The Sundays, 1990's "Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic". This college rock/dream pop album launched a promising career, thanks to Harriet Wheeler's unmistakable vocals, David Gavurin's jangly guitar lines, and a set of literary, sometimes precious lyrics. But as sure as their star rose, The Sundays faded from view just a couple of records later. How does their debut hold up? Tune in to hear our Honest, Unmerciful review!  Episode originally released 4 May 2021.

Pete and Brian discuss a touchstone of New Wave, Elvis Costello & the Attractions' 1978 classic, "This Year's Model". What makes the record tick: a) a rock-solid rhythm section, b) catchy, omnipresent organ, c) clever wordplay, d) Costello's unmistakable voice, e) all of that, or f) that's too much! Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 12 April 2021.

Join Pete and Brian for a deep dive into Depeche Mode's 1993 album, "Songs of Faith and Devotion", a record that saw the synth-focused band intentionally update their sound amid the early 90's musical landscape. With emphasis on rock elements, live guitar and drums, and layers of interesting samples, the band also experimented with new non-electro genres, while maintaining their emotionally/spiritually-charged themes. So did Depeche Mode survive the alt/grunge era and thrive with a new formula for success? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 3 April 2021.

Join Pete and Brian for an Honest & Unmerciful assessment of R.E.M.'s 1985 LP "Fables of the Reconstruction:. Does the record provide an important transition for the band, or is it part of their natural progression in developing their signature sound? And what's going on with those lyrics?! Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 16 Mar 2021.

Pete and Brian explore Cat Stevens' 1970 album "Tea for the Tillerman" with its rich lyrics and fabled folk music stylings.  Is it "timeless" or "of a time" 50+ years ago?  Tune in to find out!  Originally released 22 Feb 2021.

This episode, Pete and Brian pass the mics to Skinny D and Jet Carlo to discuss Beastie Boys' 1994 genre-busting LP "Ill Communication".  Where do the B-Boys step up, and are there missteps among the tag-team raps, forays into funk-jazz improvs, or returns to their punk roots? Tune in to find out! Originally released 8 Feb. 2021.

Join Pete and Brian for an Honest and Unmerciful discussion of "Stop Making Sense" by Talking Heads. Widely regarded as one of the greatest live concert films, but how does the energy and creativity of this unique performance translate to the record? What does a live album represent or accomplish without its strong visual component and in the career of an extremely creative band?  Tune in to find out!

Join Pete and Brian for an Honest and Unmerciful discussion of Death Cab for Cutie's 2003 conceptual, emotive breakthrough album, "Transatlanticism"! This record is all about the feels, introspective and clever lyrics, and explores themes of movement and distance, emotional and physical. But do earnest sentiments and pleasant alt-rock carry an album? And how does this move the band's career forward? Tune in and find out!

Join Pete and Brian on this "secret journey" into The Police's 1981 classic transitional album, "Ghost in the Machine". Get ready for virtuoso guitars, inventive drumming, sturdy basslines and...synths! And horns, too! Explore the sound of a band approaching their creative and commercial peak, balancing atmospheric pop-rock with some reggae-lite sonic excursions. As always, our verdict will be honest and unmerciful!  Episode originally published 31 Dec 2020.

Pete and Brian offer up diverse perspectives (um, disagreements?) on The Black Keys' 2004 lo-fi blues-rock classic album, "Rubber Factory". Is this a consistent, solid album exploring a variety of tones, or is it stuck in a muddy groove? We'll give our honest and unmerciful summaries of a selection of tracks and the album's overall legacy...don't miss it!

Pete and Brian dive into the fascinating samples and diverse influences that make up Beck's landmark 1996 album, "Odelay". Overrated? Underrated? Just right? Listen in as we weigh in on some classic tracks, deep cuts, and give our honest and unmerciful ratings in this, our debut episode!

Originally released: 11 December 2020.