Explore every episode of the podcast The JAM Yearbook

Shaking off their holiday hangovers, Matt and Jim return with another round of album anniversaries. There were a couple of pleasant surprises from the poll that they were ready to dig into. It's not often they get to chat about Led Zeppelin so they take full advantage. The Pretenders debut, Bob Seger delivers classics, and Phil Collins begins his reign over the charts and award ceremonies. Jim shares a great story about a Black Crowes classic and Matt finally has his moment with Rush. Join in as they revisit, experience, and review classic albums from 25 years and beyond.

It might have been a mistake for two old guys to try to dive into emo music, but Matt and Jim decide to go for it. From it's post hardcore roots in the 80s and the underground Midwest emo scene in the 90s to the explosive pop (punk) emo sounds that overtake the airwaves in the 2000s, Matt and Jim try to decipher why they felt like they had been yelling at kids to get off their lawn. Rites of Spring, American Football, Jimmy Eat World, My Chemical Romance, Paramore....this list goes on. It's the genre that has continues to reshape it's sound and refuses to go away. Their final verdict? Jump in and listen to a few surprising revelations and a few opinions that remained unchanged.

New Year: same 'ol Matt and Jim. The guys come back to the original format to wrap up the best of 2024. There were a lot of surprises to be found. Jim discovered country music and Matt discovers The Cure! Women dominated the music scene once again in almost every genre and rightly so. While the year had some great new releases, they found that the beginning of the year was heavily weighted with the good stuff, while the second half left much to be desired. Matt and Jim share their favorite new songs, a few albums, and give their opinions on the songs chosen by the audience poll. 2024 might not go down as a classic year in music, but there was still a lot worth adding to the collection.

Two for the price of one you say? Everything love a good deal around Christmas. Unfortunately, not everyone likes to release new music. Who wants to compete with Mariah for the Number One spot? Matt and Jim combine the months of November and December and still manage to salvage some amazing music. Pink Floyd builds The Wall, Wham Makes It Big and London Calls The Clash. They also share a little TLC and discuss what the Dr. was prescribing for 2001. But Seriously, what do they really think of Phil Collins? Show a little holiday spirit and give this episode a listen!

What really goes behind making an album? Does all of the magic belong to the artist? Absolutely not. In this episode, Matt and Jim explore the few producers who are behind some of the biggest albums recorded in the past 50 years. They discuss style and sound. Names like Quincy Jones, Rick Rubin and Mutt Lange are closely related to Michael Jackson, Johnny Cash, Shania Twain, Def Leppard and so many more. Come listen as the guys discuss producers crossing genres from rap to country and metal to pop as they attempt to create the legacy sound that the fans will always recognize.

The days are getting shorter as stick season approaches, but there are still a lot of great albums celebrating anniversaries in October for Matt and Jim to discuss. They revisit well-known classics along with a few surprises chosen for the show by the audience. Billy Joel's sun is setting on the horizon, Tom Petty is hitting his stride, and U2 is a step away from worldwide domination. Matt brings a childhood favorite as his pick for the month. Jim gets philosophical about the bond music can create between friends and how the best memories can give us the music we will always go back to first. There's a little rule bending as they go along, but isn't that what rules are made for?

When an artist achieves the number one position on the charts, it can be the pinnacle of their career. But is every number one deserving of that sacred chart position? Or are some songs on the charts for so long, they overstay their welcome. Matt and Jim polled the audience to see what they thought were the least deserving number one songs of all time and the choices were surprising. From Elton John to Starship to the Black Eyed Peas, the Matt and Jim go through each song and share their own verdict. It's not pretty, but it's pretty funny.

Fresh from their Hair Metal episode, Matt and Jim turn to the month of September. Matt is still trying to establish a Part 2 of the previous episode, but Jim tries to shift his focus. Some big albums reach new milestones. Jim questions if they are the best that could have been chosen for the show. Matt and Jim both are pushed outside their comfort zone and find themselves at odds with a couple of albums. Janet Jackson, Aerosmith, REM and more are in the mix. So join Matt and Jim as they get into the nitty gritty of the music.

Welcome to the Hair Metal special! This is also known as Jim's Day Off and Matt's Dream Episode. Originally intended to be a derogatory reference, "Hair Metal" has been a label embraced by loyal fans for over 3 decades. On this episode, Matt and Jim dive into the history and influences of hair metal. They discuss when they think it peaked and what else besides the rise of grunge led to its demise. Matt has a name-dropping marathon as he reconnects to the music that helped define the core of his musical journey. Oh, but sorry Sandy, he forgot to mention Europe.

It's time to move on to August, but this time Matt and Jim celebrate album anniversaries with a twist. Instead of imposing their own picks of best albums celebrating this month, they polled the audience to let them decide. That's not to say it stops them from sharing their opinions about the audience choices. They take the top 5 and count them down like the old days. They jump from funk to hair metal and from trip-hop to Brit-pop with a little disco between it all. Matt and Jim each then share their own favorite album celebrating in August. Of course it wouldn't be right if they didn't throw in a few honorable mentions. So come join in a discover the albums the audience picked, or better than that, join our JAM Yearbook Facebook group page and cast your own vote for next month!

July has come and gone, but not without some great (and not so great) albums celebrating anniversaries. Some lesser known but personal favorite bands like Reverend Horton Heat and 311 get their due praise. The Beastie Boys have a sophomore slump in sales with Paul's Boutique, but the album went on to huge critical acclaim. The birth of Jim Jams arrive with hits from New Edition. Matt finally gets to talk about a lot of metal! Metallica, Dio, and even Quiet Riot! Who did the B-52's inspire? Why do Matt and Jim struggle with Eric Clapton? When did Jim become Encyclopedia Brown? Drop in and find out in another fun anniversary episode!

Welcome to the new format...based on the old format. Once a month Matt and Jim will dive into albums celebrating anniversaries of 25 years or more. They'll cover albums that have impacted their personal musical journey as well as ones that were just making a big splash in the moment. What was celebrated in June 2024? Some seminal albums from Prince and the Boss. Pop punk began it's chart domination 25 years ago. Cher had a second turn in her legendary career and one hit wonders arrived that remain radio staples today. Join the guys as they return the show to it's fun and nostalgic format.

Also, check out their new theme song: 1995 by The Dumbanimals!

The past six months of exploring new music has at times been an arduous task for Matt and Jim. Hours have been spent combing through new music playlists each week, but songs were still missed. Either they slow burned and arrived on their radar late or sometimes it was just simply forgetting to bring a song to the show. The guys play a little catch-up in this episode going back to the start of the year and sharing those missed musical gems. However, the episode then takes a turn as Matt and Jim prepare for the future of the show and decide it has gotten a little off track. They discuss how it will return to it's nostalgic roots and bring back the heart and soul of The JAM Yearbook that they originally shared with the audience.

It's that time we wrap up the month of May and as always, Matt and Jim have found plenty of new music to talk about. Slash releases a collaboration of classics. AI revives the amazing voice of Randy Travis. Is the return of Slim Shady all nostalgic hype? For the first time in months, the ranting cools off. Maybe it's because of the smooth jazz they found when they stopped prejudging bands by their names. Matt and Jim also find fresh punk, great covers, and discover that Childish Gambino has released their summer anthem.

It's finally summertime and what is synonymous with summer? The music festival! Matt and Jim have been asked by a listener to create their very own music festival. Before they do though, they run through the history of the music festival and share some pretty entertaining stories about some of the craziest things moments that have occurred. Then they each get three stages with eight bands and no rules. What can they dream up? The outcome is quite surprising. So pitch your tent and get down to the main stage, because the show starts now!

April is playing fools of us all with the weather and music. Matt and Jim find their love for Pearl Jam again. 80s rockers celebrate classic reissues. Neil Young limps back to Spotify. Has Jim taken the ranting hat from Matt officially? You might think so when you hear what he thinks of the new Taylor Swift album. Summer is approaching and the new releases are starting to appear in droves along the horizon. What are Matt and Jim adding to the playlist as we get towards summer? Listen and find out!

When talented people come together, great things can often come of it. Popular music has a rich history of duets, production collaborations and supergroups. Matt and Jim dig into some of the greatest of these but quickly realize they could create an entire new podcast around this theme. So they decide to have some fun in this episode and each build a dream supergroup they would love to see collaborate. A couple of their choices seem obvious, but they bring some head scratchers as well. They celebrate some of the greatest duets of the 80s and pull the Scooby-Doo mask off of mash-ups.

As the darkness of winter lifts and signs of spring begin to show, it's time for Matt and Jim to discuss the music they were listening to in March. Old favorites like The Black Crowes and the Kaiser Chiefs return. Bleachers and Judas Priest finally release their albums after 6 months of singles. It's EPIC rant time! Jim has some feelings about the Beyonce album and doesn't hold back. Matt anticipates some hate mail. There is a lot of new music to explore coming from newer artists including some high praise for Scotland's own High Fade. We've moved the clocks ahead, but this episode is definitely worth your next hour.

Music and comedy have had a relationship throughout history. Serving as satirical social commentary or simply designed as a play on words, there have always been songs designed to make us laugh. Matt and Jim grew up in the golden era of Spinal Tap, Weird Al, and Saturday Night Live. Some of the biggest names in stand-up comedy also took a chance with music. Whether it was aiming for shock value (2 Live Crew!?) or spoof, there has been plenty to giggle at along the way. A warning though: Matt and Jim get a little more sweary in this episode. Blame that on the comedy they grew up listening to.

It's time to wrap up all of the great new music again and the month of February left Matt and Jim with plenty of love hearts to hand out. There is a very early 80s feel from many older bands making triumphant returns to younger artists picking up the torch of that sound. Rant alert! Jim has something to say about Beyonce creating country music and it may surprise you. Pearl Jam returns in strong form and Billy Joel turns the light back on. There are still a few new artists discovered as well. Matt and Jim saw their shadows which means you won't have to wait 6 weeks until the next episode, so be sure to listen to this one now!

Everyone loves a good list. We live in a world where film, television, performance, and most of all music, have been constantly ranked according to popularity. Music charts have interesting beginnings . On this episode, Matt and Jim explore the charts from their origin to the questionable relevance they have today. The guys reminisce about the golden age of the charts and find a reasonable point to notice it's decline. Do charts have an effect on award ceremonies? It's a possibility worth discussion. Traversing through Top of The Pops, American Bandstand, and the greatest of all Casey Kasem, Matt and Jim find sweet nostalgia from their youth, but also find the shared experience of music charts is lost on today's generation.

Another year begins and enters the fray of "greatest year in music of all time." Matt and Jim will leave that for future generations to discuss, but there was a lot of new music to talk about. Old rockers are still rocking and hair metal was spotted peeking out of the shadows of rock music. Indie and punk were solidly represented. Jim laments over new music from bands that he's raved over in the past losing their steam. Overall though, January didn't disappoint and both Matt and Jim found some great new music to add to their playlist.

The days are getting longer. New Year's resolutions are being broken. What else do Matt and Jim have to look forward to this winter? The Super Bowl of course! Along with the biggest sporting event of the year in the USA always comes the controversy of the performers. In fact, music is prevalent in almost all sport stadiums around the world. In this episode Matt and Jim discuss how music plays a big role in stadium sports. From Jock Jams to the inescapable Taylor Swift along with the differences experienced between USA and UK sports (tangent alert!), join Matt and Jim as they explore the relationship between music and sports.

We've all heard someone say it. Maybe you're even guilty of it yourself. Matt and Jim are not among the innocent. Most people are passionate about music from an era. For some it's a decade like the 80s. For others it can be a specific genre. One thing is certain, at some point most people choose where the best music in their lifetime comes from. Most often people refer back to their formative years as a teenager or young adult. Are there opportunities to have multiple phases? Probably. Do guilty pleasures fit into this conversation? Hit play and join Matt and Jim as they explore the music that makes us who we are.

You've guessed it, Matt and Jim are jumping on the 'wrapped' bandwagon. This doesn't mean their happy with all of their own wrapped results. How did the year rate? It depends on how to define a 1-10. The beginning and end of the year seemed to lack, but there were some great songs and albums that will be listened to for years to come in those middle months. Australia may have saved the year. Pop rock becomes fun, hip-hop returns to old-school roots, and women absolutely kill it in 2023 pushing genres to the edge. If you think good music isn't made anymore, let Matt and Jim direct your attention to everything great about 2023.

As the year winds down, Matt and Jim notice there are fewer new releases and a lot of eyebrows raised. The Beatles are back! Kind of. AI certainly deserves a discussion. Dolly becomes a Rockstar. Andre 3000 returns VERY unexpectedly. So many bands are releasing singles and EPs long before the album comes along. Is this the new trend? A fellow Vermonter is on the rise and getting radio airplay in Scotland! Matt finds the golden nugget: a hip hop album he loves from beginning to end. It's a labor of love, but it took a DEEP dig to find the best of No-vember.

"Are we there yet?" Has this thought ever crossed your mind deep into a song you thought would never end? There are a lot of well-known long songs that are loved by many, but just can't finish soon enough for others. From long guitar solos and repetitive choruses to false intros and songs that don't know how to end, many of the songs we talk about are the backbone of classic rock and pop music. What makes us hit the skip button? Matt and Jim admit they can be guilty of indulging in these songs, but usually in a right time and place situation (and possibly a few beers).

The sugar rush wears off, the clocks go back, and the trees are all shedding their final leaves. This doesn't stop the new releases from flowing strong across October's airwaves. We are literally "sweating to the oldies" as Ringo, The Stones, Waters, and Van release new music. 80s icons make a strong comeback. Matt and Jim discover Jizz Jazz...er....what? As usual there is also a lot of great new music from artists they think you need to know about. Check out the new show today and join Matt and Jim keeping up with these darn kids.

It's October and that time of year when we all ask why we are seeing Christmas decorations already when it's Halloween and the season of ghouls, ghosts and goblins. Nothing has been more popular in recent years than zombies. So what about zombie bands? A core member of the band has passed into the beyond the the remaining members decide to plug someone into their place. From Queen to AC/DC there have been various levels of success. Is this a good thing or is it just creepy? Join Matt and Jim as they explore how zombie bands are either embraced by fans or just seem a bit out of place. Is it a cash grab? Is it timing? And who would be irreplaceable?

It's that time of year again: The daylight is fading. The air becomes crisp. Leaves begin to fall from the trees. Music is still fresh though and Matt and Jim do not find themselves short of anything to talk about with the new music releases in September. There are pleasant surprises from older acts that they may have dismissed. A new all-time Worst Band Name of All Time may be in the running and Matt and Jim certainly run away with joking around about it. The new finds of September? This is some of the best new music they've found all year. Put away the music from 30 years ago and stop saying nothing new is good. The JAM guys have gone and found great new music for you!

Grab your popcorn and fountain sodas, Matt and Jim are making a soundtrack to their lives. Wait a minute! Didn't these guys just do this year by year? Well, kind of. This time they are less focused on the best songs in their lives and focus more on the times the music followed them through life. Music shaped them both in many ways through social circles and making life choices. Sometimes it was profound, but most of the time it was all wrapped around the good times they were having. Matt and Jim pick 10 songs each. Each decade of their lives from the 1970s through the 2020s has to be included.

*Disclaimer: Jim does not hold a boombox over his head outside your window (or does he??)

August 2023 has come and gone. What are you doing still listening to music from 1982? There's a lot of great new music that's been released! Ok. It's not all great, but a lot still is. A young Van Halen emerges. Al Green returns. Matt and Jim discover new female artists are absolutely killing it with great releases. Looking for something new to listen to? We've got you covered. Come check out the music we recommend and better yet, the stuff we warn you to avoid!

Put on your captain's hat and hop aboard as Matt and Jim take everyone on a cruise through the seas of smooth 70s and 80s jams. Where did the term Yacht Rock come from? How long has it been around? There are some big names you're sure to remember and artists you may think you've never heard of, but you'll know every lyric to their hit song. Has Yacht Rock ever influenced modern day music? Grab a life jacket and a drink with a little umbrella in it. Matt and Jim are about to cast off.

Welcome to the new format of The JAM Yearbook! The refresh button has been pushed and Matt and Jim begin their exploration of new music by recapping the best (and worst) that 2023 has offered from January through July. Avoiding the charts is intentional. Their goal is to help you find what might not be right on the surface. They have a lot of praise for some aging rockers, but the gloves come off when they discover country rap. Revisionist albums have become a thing now, but are they all necessary? Rap, rock, punk and metal: none of it has been absent from 2023, but what's been good and what deserves to be avoided? Check out the show as Matt and Jim try to share as much as they can!

After going through as much music as they could within the years of their lifetime, it's time for Matt and Jim to look ahead. They can't move on however, without one final wrap-up. They invited listeners to add one more song to their massive playlist and were not disappointed. One more episode to tidy it all up. There are also a lot of people to thank for the support they've received. The 65 episodes accomplished in 15 months have been amazing, but it's time to shift gears. So what's next? The future of the show lies within this episode.

Matt and Jim have come full circle. They began the show with Version 1971 and now they are completing the years of music in their lifetime in 1972. Like other years in the 1970s, '72 does not disappoint. There were HUGE debuts and highly influential albums released. Matt and Jim celebrate what may have been the best year of Soul music they have stumbled across. Just saying some of the names of these songs can cause spontaneous sing-a-longs. So join them as they wrap up the years in another episode filled with some special music.

It's now Matt and Jim's final year in the 80s. Did they save the best for last? Well, that's a tough call because the 1980s were a huge part of their musical development. It goes without saying though that some of these albums from 1987 have become legendary. Women dominated the pop charts, hair metal was peaking, and alternative music was beginning its slow rise to the top. So join in as they weave their way through 1987 and as the years begin to run out, Matt and Jim want you to know at the end of the episode that they're never gonna give you up or let you down.

It's another special! While the USA and the UK have dominated Matt and Jim's musical development, there's no doubt that growing up on the Canadian border also had an influence. When they weren't eating poutine or watching The Littlest Hobo, Matt and Jim were tuned into CBC and CHOM for videos and classic rock. So join them as they revisit the biggest stars and some of the best music that crossed the border.

This week Matt and Jim arrive in the year 1994. Grunge and alternative radio is practically the new pop. The world is stunned by the loss of Kurt Cobain. Mud slinging fun dominates Woodstock '94 while Jim catches a rose from Wayne and a set by the Beastie Boys at Lollapolooza. Matt thinks 1994 might be fatigued, but finds some gems from the past. Jim attends the Throwing Copper album release party and may have had a hand in introducing Ed Kowakczyk to his wife. It's the final year in the 90s, and still possibly the best year for Weezer. Let the name checking fun begin!

The 2000s are a wrap! This week Matt and Jim go to 2003 and cover the final year from the 2000s. It's not unlike most of the other years from the 2000s with some good music to take away and some better left behind. The sounds are shifting as nu metal peaks but the emo/pop-punk scene is ready to reach over and take the wheel. 2003 just may be the year that women stole the crown on pop music. When they pick their final songs from the 2000s, how full-indie will Matt go? Is Jim going to leave us with more cheesy pop music? Have a listen to Version 2003 and you just may find out!

Tito....get me a tissue! It's 2011 and a year chock full of sentiment for Matt and Jim. With the music though? Not so much. This was the year Jim moved to Scotland and started a new adventure, but not without 8 months of playing music and finishing it all in style. One of his biggest highlights was rejoining Matt on stage again for one final show together. But fear not, they do address the music from 2011 and it was a year with some epic music. Adele became an icon, Ed Sheeran joined the A-Team, the Beastie Boys delivered one of their final finest moments, and LMFAO kept everyone shuffling.

The 1970s have been a complete gift for Matt and Jim. Each year has been full of classic music from an array of genres to explore and reminisce over. Amazingly, it all shared the radio at the same time. Growing up in the 70s, their entertainment was dominated by K-Tel Records and Dynamite Magazine. They may have been too young to be choosing what they were listening to all of the time, but 1978 had a huge impact on the world of music that they continued to discover through the rest of their lives. The debuts in 1978 were unlike most other years. From Van Halen to Dire Straits or The Police to The Cars, the world was about to be dominated by these new bands. So break out that old time rock and roll and freak out to some of the best music of the 70s with your JAM friends!

It's summer and there's no better time than blockbuster season to bring you a blockbuster episode. Matt and Jim grab a seat in the back row at the local theater and sing along with all of their favorite songs from soundtracks through the years. From soundtrack driven storylines to fictional bands, they weave their way through the magic of music in movies. A good soundtrack can lift a movie to greatness and evoke sentiment and emotion. It can make a scene more relatable. The soundtrack can be an extended character of the film. So get to the concession stand and grab your favorite candy, popcorn and fountain soda. It's time to go to the movies!

This barely scratched the surface. Have we arrived in one of the greatest years ever? It almost feels like it. From Lionel to Ozzy or Elton to Bowie, there hasn't been a year more packed with 80s superstars. Matt and Jim try to get through it all, but it's a tall order. Alternative music builds its roots with debuts from REM and Violent Femmes. Cyndi Lauper 'bops' while the Talking Heads burn down the house. Canada jumps in with Bryan Adams, Loverboy, Night Ranger and Corey Hart. Say, say, say what you want, but 1983 is huge!

The early 90s are once again filled with nostalgia for Matt and Jim. The best part of 1992 may have been when they stepped back into each other's lives and wound up in a band together. These were the days of road trips and singing along. Pop and alternative music had interweaved and a lot of the commercial stuff was actually very cool. There were a lot of albums Matt and Jim enjoyed, so instead of waiting until the end of the show to reveal their additions to the playlist, they revisit those albums and pick a song as the show develops. Don't worry, there was still plenty of room for name dropping. So strap yourself into an amazing year in music that they still revisit again and again.

Ever stand in a room and not want to feel bad talking about anyone? That's how Matt and Jim feel looking at the music of 2017. It's a year with some challenges and they've had to look beyond their normal perceptions. Along the way they discover Paramore is multidimensional, P!NK is still ruling pop music and hip-hop rediscovers its roots. Radio killed the video star and a baby voice sample ruins music. Jump into the most challenging year Matt and Jim have faced.

It's 1973 and Matt and Jim are a couple of babies speaking gibberish and dancing in their diapers. Even though they were too young to live the music from this year in the moment, it has followed them throughout their lives. Names like Zeppelin, Floyd, Marley, Dead, Gaye, Skynyrd, and Wonder were dominating the music world with classics that are still on the radio today. Two piano men, Elton and Billy, emerge on the scene while other singer-songwriters like Simon and Croce were creating future classics. ABBA, Aerosmith, Hall and Oates and Queen make their debuts! So get on the midnight train to 1973 as Matt and Jim drop into a year that certainly contributed in a big way to the future of popular music.

It's time for some crazy nostalgia as Matt and Jim arrive this week in 1996. Did Jim ever tell you he used to be in a band? Has he ever shut up about it? Don't worry, Matt reels him in and they both have a great discussion about one of the most classic years in alternative radio. KISS returns in full makeup. The original lineup of Van Halen appears together for the first time in over a decade. Girl Power arrives as the Spice Girls become a phenomenon taking over pop radio worldwide. Jim does finally describe the effort put into making the Cinderblock Baby CD, what it was like opening a box of CDs for the first time, and apologizes to everyone who got put through it over and over again. But there were no regrets and 1996 is a year filled with some of life's best memories.

The year 2013 has arrived and... uh oh.... Matt and Jim get a little nervous. 6+7 equals 13 and those years were not the easiest to find happy places in music. Fortunately they get lucky with some good sounds. Daft Punk 'punks' the Grammys and indie darlings HAIM hit the mainstream. The guys discover that emo/pop/punk CAN mature and have an unexpected reaction to the Paramore album. Some cool collaborations pop up in rap along with a 90s grunge band experimenting with a different famous front man and finding surprising results. Matt and Jim make it through Version 2013 unscathed and really enjoy some of the new sounds they discover.

Welcome to the 50th episode! The show has reached its first anniversary and Matt and Jim are practically toddlers in podcasting now. It's been a rollercoaster ride as they've explored their lives and the soundtrack that has brought them here. Lessons have been learned over time and they've made a huge effort to improve the show along the way. Sometimes prejudging has backfired and as the show has gone on, they've found themselves open to music they wouldn't have imagined a year ago. As they go through the decades, Jim brings different genres while Matt serves up the cheese. Join the celebration as they look forward to the next year ahead.