In this episode, Tom is punched and bitten by a Boxer and an Alligator respectively, but don’t worry: he enjoyed every second. Alex wonders why so many women are being murdered in Appalachia, but he can’t help but groove to the danse macabre. There’s going to be a hiatus while Tom gets married, but we’ll be back. Promise.

Albums discussed

Alex gave Tom Alligator and Boxer by The National.

Tom gave Alex Broken Hymns, Limbs and Skin and Outside by O’Death.

Next time

We’ve given each other three albums each. You’ll have to wait to find out which we pick for the next episode.

In this episode, Alex decides that poetry is not, after all, for the birds, but is very satisfying when sung by a Bird; Tom wishes some Arizonans would turn the bloody noise up, please, and rather loves it when they do. Alex wrecks the intro; Tom saves it. Sorry we’ve been away so long.

Albums discussed

Tom gave Alex Things Are Really Great Here, Sort Of... by Andrew Bird (2014)

Alex gave Tom Clarity by Jimmy Eat World (1999)

Next time

A double album special, featuring o’death and The National.

In this episode, Tom enjoys a second trip to whimsical, witty Canada; Alex realises he knows nothing about Ukraine. The accent should have been cut. Sorry, Ukrainians. But we’re not saying sorry to Bob Geldof.

Albums discussed:

Alex gave Tom O My Heart by Mother Mother

Tom gave Alex Super Taranta! by Gogol Bordello

Next time:

Clarity by Jimmy Eat World

Things Are Really Great Here, Sort Of by Andrew Bird

In this episode, Alex ponders the 70s and the nature of the album form; Tom falls in love with some Canadians. Alex’s two urination breaks have been skilfully excised from the final edit.

Albums discussed:

Tom gave Alex The Dance of Death by The Scaramanga Six.

Alex gave Tom Reconstruction Site by The Weakerthans.

Next time:

* O My Heart by Mother Mother

* Super Taranta! by Gogol Bordello

In this episode, Tom gives Alex yet more folk whose opening track’s farty trumpet causes trepidation; Alex gives Tom Jimmy Fallon’s house band before they were Jimmy Fallon’s house band. Tom is ill (not because of the music).

Albums discussed:

* Peasant by Richard Dawson

* Things Fall Apart by The Roots

In this episode, Tom gives Alex an album that makes him question the very nature of liking things; Alex gives Tom an album that sends Tom down the metal subgenres rabbithole. The introduction is botched.

Albums discussed:

* False Lankum by Lankum

* The Fear of Fear (EP) by Spiritbox

Next week’s albums:

* Peasant by Richard Dawson

* Things Fall Apart by The Roots

Here is the metal website whose name Alex couldn’t remember

In this episode, Tom finds beauty in the horror (and horror in the beauty) much to his delight; Alex realises that whatever he is feeling will be weaponised.

Tom gave Alex This Could Be Texas by English Teacher (2024)

Alex gave Tom The Holy Bible by Manic Street Preachers (1994)

In our second episode, Tom is surprised by a sweet suite of Mancunian space-rock; Alex is irritated by post-punk edgelords. There is much flailing.

Tom gave Alex: Songs for Our Mothers by Fat White Family

Alex gave Tom: Self-Preserved While the Bodies Float Up by Oceansize (2009)

Alex gets Tom to confront his hatred of Britpop; Tom gets Alex to listen to a punk band let loose in the school music cupboard. This makes both of them lie back and think of England.

Albums featured:

- Modern Life is Rubbish by Blur

- Ants From Up There by Black Country, New Road