Explore every episode of the podcast What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music
Dive into the complete episode list for What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
Arctic Monkeys Live at PinkPop 2014 Commentary
10 Nov 2025
01:25:44
The Big Mates provide planted and curious audio commentary for Arctic Monkeys Live at PinkPop 2014.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the 2014 concert and talk about the AM tour in general.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss Angus Murray, Faces of the Cube, Roomuss, and AM by Arctic Monkeys.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their exploration of the career of Arctic Monkeys and conclude their track-by-track analysis of their fifth album.
They explore the composition, tone, lyrics, meaning, and context for each song in turn - all from three differing perspectives, from being deeply into music and analysis, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between!
They also look at the legacy of the album, the success of the album, and how some of these songs became the most listened-to songs ever.
What do we think of the album? How do you count on your fingers? Is Nicky Wire the most influential musician of all time? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out next week, Monday November 10th!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including our album club and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss third albums, dinosaurs, jingles, and Humbug by Arctic Monkeys.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their exploration of the career of Arctic Monkeys and conclude their track-by-track analysis of their third album.
They explore the composition, tone, lyrics, meaning, and context for each song in turn - all from three differing perspectives, from being deeply into music and analysis, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between!
What do we think of the album? What makes a song memorable? What came first, the chicken or the dickhead? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out next week, Monday September 8th!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including our album club and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
R.E.M. Live at Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ, June 1984 Commentary
22 Jan 2024
01:18:36
The Big Mates provide insightful and inspiring audio commentary for R.E.M. Live at Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ, in June 1984.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the live performance (and a whole host of other, completely unrelated things) as broadcast on MTV. It was filmed as part of a series on rock influences - this one focusing on folk rock. It features special guest appearances and R.E.M. preview some new material!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss time travel, big diving, line dancing, and Reckoning by R.E.M.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by continuing and concluding their track-by-track analysis on the band's second album, released in 1984.
They talk about R.E.M. going "full country," recording songs as in-jokes, and provide some more thrilling entries into the Water Watch series, before figuring out what they think of the album as a whole, how it was received at the time, and the legacy it holds in today's musical landscape.
They also talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between.
How does Reckoning stack up against the debut? What kind of font does Michael Stipe sing in? Could our Dads physically lift us? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday January 22nd and will see us provide insightful commentary for R.E.M. live at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic on June 9th 1984.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss foot injuries, binaural recording, the joy of knowing Jesus, and Reckoning by R.E.M.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their track-by-track analysis on the band's second album, released in 1984. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between.
They touch on how the varying estimates of studio time, how the songs are structured, and they try to again define what it is that Adam likes about the band.
They also piece together the meanings of the songs, discuss whether or not they matter within the context of the whole record, and make comparisons to Murmur.
Do the band avoid "difficult second album syndrome?" What does betwixt mean? Did you mean barber coat? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday January 15th and will conclude our track-by-track analysis of Reckoning.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
Join us for another Christmas of mostly the same stuff as the previous ones. Are you ready for Christmas? What's your favourite Christmas? What are your favourite Christmas songs? Is Die Hard having a Christmas movies?
It's all here, and it's all the same! Some games, a round of guess the intro, and some mentions of the holiday season!
We'll be having a little break over the holiday period - we return on Monday January 8th, and we'll begin our deep-dive into the second R.E.M. album, Reckoning!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss head shapes, nostalgia, the sequel to Gladiator, and Murmur by R.E.M.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas conclude their track-by-track analysis on R.E.M.'s debut album, released in 1983. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between.
They touch on the events surrounding the album's release, the critical reaction of the time, and how we view the legacy of a record called "one of the greatest debut albums of all time" in today's musical landscape.
How does the album work as a whole? How does it come across in modern times? What is 'twee'? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is our Xmas Special, out on Monday December 18th!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss niche British TV theme tunes, inherent emotion, time signatures, and Murmur by R.E.M.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their track-by-track analysis on R.E.M.'s debut album, released in 1983. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between.
They touch on indecipherable lyrics, late evening football games, nostalgia, and the mechanics of songwriting.
What is a Moral Kiosk? Does Talk About the Passion sound like Hans Zimmer? What crimes are good? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday December 11th and will conclude our track-by-track analysis of Murmur.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss small waveforms, portmanteaus, Muse, and Murmur by R.E.M.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their track-by-track analysis on the band's debut album, released in 1983. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between.
They touch on how the band found their producers in Mitch Easter and Don Dixon, their decision to sound like a different band, how the band write their songs, and the legacy of Radio Free Europe.
They do this whilst also giving their thoughts and opinions on the album as a whole, the first couple of tracks, and how they see this fitting into the band's discography going forward.
How did the band evolve from their EP? How far into the album will we get? Can anyone make out the lyrics? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday December 4th and will continue our track-by-track analysis of Murmur.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
R.E.M. Live at the Raleigh Underground 1982 Commentary
20 Nov 2023
01:04:41
The Big Mates provide casual and tangential audio commentary for R.E.M. Live at the Raleigh Underground 1982.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the live performance (and a whole host of other, completely unrelated things) as broadcast on TV. Shot on just two cameras and only recently remastered, the show offers an interesting glimpse into the early days of the band, performing here before they'd even released an album!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss the history of rock music, torn posters, pressing mistakes, and the early days of R.E.M..
Adam, Steve, and Lucas start at the beginning, talking about the individual members of R.E.M., how they grew up, and then follow them through the early days of music making in Athens, Georgie. They touch on the musical landscape of the time, the legacy of rock music, and chart the band's musical progression all the way up to their first single release, Radio Free Europe, and the release of their debut EP, Chronic Town.
The Big Mates go track-by-track on the EP, offering up analysis, opinions, and context from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between.
How did R.E.M. form? Is Steve punk? What was Sir Mix-a-Lot knighted for? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday November 20th and will feature insightful audio commentary for an early R.E.M. show!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates introduce Season 6 of the What Is Music? podcast.
It's called "R.(w)E.M.joying This?: A Critical Analysis of the History, Cultural Impact, and Music of R.E.M." Adam, Steve, and Lucas begin their deep-dive exploration of R.E.M. by talking about their experiences with the band's music, and how much they already know.
They then tackle some R.E.M. FAQs, discuss the genre they helped define, and reveal what they're most looking forward to about the season to come.
The season to come will be an album-by-album, track-by-track exploration of R.E.M.'s long and influential career, the context around each release, behind-the-scenes stories of each recording session, a look at the legacy of the albums they've released, and a review of all of it, complete with scores, rankings, and lists!
It promises to be exhaustive, informative, and fun as we approach R.E.M.'s discography from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss engineering, confectionery, ego mechanics, and Humbug by Arctic Monkeys.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their exploration of the career of Arctic Monkeys and their track-by-track analysis of their third album.
They explore the composition, tone, lyrics, meaning, and context for each song in turn - all from three differing perspectives, from being deeply into music and analysis, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between!
What is "crying lightning"? Who is the icky man? What’s wrong with ice cream men? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out next week, Monday August 25th, and will continue the deep-dive into Humbug!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including our album club and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss the O2, boybands, reality television, and catch-up with Billie Eilish.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas jump back into the career of Billie Eilish to find out what she's been up to since they finished Season 3, Should Eilishen?
They discuss songs written for a Pixar film, the 2 track EP Guitar Songs, her contribution to the soundtrack for Barbie, and also touch on her Happier Than Ever World Tour, TikTok virality, and get to say the word 'blosh' again!
What has Billie been up to? What was Lucas made for? Are Steve and Adam 13 year-old girls from Canada? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out next Monday, November 6th, and will see us begin a brand new season!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss queues to nowhere, calamari, tickets prices, and go to see Muse live at the O2.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas travel to London in order to experience a live show by Muse at the O2 arena. They discuss their expectations, Muse's live prowess, and both their initial and considered reactions to the performance.
What do they play? Can Lucas put up with standing? Can Adam put up with Muse? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out next Monday October 30th, and will see us providing a round up of Billie Eilish songs we've missed over the last few months!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss socialising with the fellowship, Uatu the Watcher, lists, and their final thoughts on Lauryn Hill.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas look back on the last 9 weeks of musical examination, place the career of Lauryn Hill into context, and discuss their feelings and opinions on her music.
They take in critical reception, cultural impact, and sum up each album of the her discography. They also find time to discuss their album rankings, final scores, and their Top 10 Lauryn Hill songs.
Does context affect the way we listen to music? Does knowing the history of an artist give you a better appreciation of their output? And, more importantly, do we Ms. Lauryn Hill? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates offer incredibly relevant, illuminating, and trascendantly necessary audio commentary for a selection of music videos from across the career of Lauryn Hill.
Our next episode is out on Monday October 16th and will see us wrap up the Lauryn Hill season and give our final thoughts on her career, legacy, cultural impact, and music.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates present one of their Patreon shows, on the main feed for the first time... The Ultimate Playlist.
Join us as we explore a broader range of music from many genres and numerous artists, with each month focusing on 8 songs centred around a different theme. Each host picks 2 songs, and 2 songs come from our subscribers!
The theme is picked randomly from a pool of subscriber suggestions, but for these episodes (Part 2 out next week!) we conclude our dive into the world of Sports and explore songs by Dream Wife, Jorge Ben Jor, The Lightning Seeds with Baddiel and Skinner, and Bob Dylan! We also vote on what goes into THE ULTIMATE PLAYLIST!!!!!!!!!
To hear more episodes of this show, head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and subscribe to the Biggest Mates tier! Episodes are released on the second and third Thursdays of every month!
The tier also comes with access to ad-free episodes of the main feed, a show in which we revisit the discography of Manic Street Preachers, bonus episodes every month, and a very fun Discord community!
The Big Mates discuss cardboard Bruce Springsteen, Benidorm, Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, and MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 by Lauryn Hill.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Lauryn Hill by concluding their track-by-track exploration of her performance on MTV Unplugged. The Big Mates talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between.
They then discuss what Lauryn has been up to in the decades since the album's release!
How do we even score this album? Why did Lauryn Hill go to prison? Are there animated penguins involved? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday October 9th and we will be watching a selection of Lauryn Hill's music videos from across her career!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates present one of their Patreon shows, on the main feed for the first time... The Ultimate Playlist.
Join us as we explore a broader range of music from many genres and numerous artists, with each month focusing on 8 songs centred around a different theme. Each host picks 2 songs, and 2 songs come from our subscribers!
The theme is picked randomly from a pool of subscriber suggestions, but for these episodes (Part 2 out next week!) we dive into the world of Sports and explore songs by New Order, American Football, Ethel Cain, and Fleetwood Mac!
To hear more episodes of this show, head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and subscribe to the Biggest Mates tier! Episodes are released on the second and third Thursdays of every month!
The tier also comes with access to ad-free episodes of the main feed, a show in which we revisit the discography of Manic Street Preachers, bonus episodes every month, and a very fun Discord community!
The Big Mates discuss cardboard robots, fantasy and reality, Flight of the Conchords, and MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 by Lauryn Hill.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Lauryn Hill by exploring her only full-length release outside of her debut album. It takes the form of a live performance on MTV Unplugged, during which Lauryn Hill played a set of entirely new songs. The Big Mates talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between.
They touch on the themes of the album, from identity and politics, to religion and the music industry, as well as discussing the form of the album and how it was released.
What will we make of the album? Is it even really an album? Are there more lyrics on it than there are in the entire discography of Muse? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday October 2nd and will continue the deep-dive into MTV Unplugged 2.0.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss Kindles, Will Smith, Chess, and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Lauryn Hill by wrapping up their thoughts on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between.
They explore the second half of the album, the hidden bonus tracks that were included, and talk about how the album was released, the critical reaction it received at the time, and how that perception may have changed in the last 25 years.
What score will we give the record? Is the album a cinematic universe? What is love? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday September 18th and will see us provide commentary for Lauryn Hill Live at Budokan 1999.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss adventures, break ups, expectations, and Humbug by Arctic Monkeys.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their exploration of the career of Arctic Monkeys by diving into the band's divisive, murky, and spooky third album.
They discuss the writing and recording of the album, explore the overall themes and sound, and (barely) begin their track-by-track analysis, exploring the composition, tone, lyrics, meaning, and context for each song in turn - all from three differing perspectives, from being deeply into music and analysis, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between!
They also find time to remember their own reactions to the album when it was released, the public perception of the change in sound, and try to figure out which genre of rock is most appropriate to describe the vibe.
What kind of questions should art pose? Does Jamie have a beard? Are the Tings Tings Lucas’ quicksand? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out next week, Monday August 25th, and will continue the deep-dive into Humbug!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including our album club and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss neo-soul, the thickness of sound, album narrative, and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Lauryn Hill by exploring her first and only solo studio album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between.
They touch on the theme of the album, from love to religion and self-actualisation and talk about the various genres Lauryn Hill pulled together and took inspiration from. They also spend some time discussing the Compact Disc as a format for music.
What will we make of the record? Is it a concept album? Is Lauryn Hill a good singer? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday September 11th and will continue the deep-dive into The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss 90s hip-hop, some of the best music ever made, the strange business decisions of Bob Iger, and the career of Fugees.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas begin in earnest their exploration of the career of Lauryn Hill by starting at the beginning. They talk about how Lauryn first got into music, her academic life, her acting career, and how she formed the group Fugees.
They touch both albums by the hip-hop group in this brief overview of their short-lived career. They talk about Blunted on Reality and The Score, discussing how they were made and the cultural impact they both had.
They dig into the numerous samples and interpolations, and trace how Lauryn Hill contributed to the group's enormous success, before talking about why the group disbanded.
How did Lauryn get into music? What will we make of Fugees? Was Lauryn's dad a computer? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday September 4th and will begin the deep-dive into Lauryn's debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates introduce Season 5 of the What Is Music? podcast.
It's called "Do You Ms. Lauryn Hill?: A Critical Analysis of the History, Cultural Impact, and Music of Lauryn Hill." Adam, Steve, and Lucas being their deep-dive exploration of Lauryn Hill by talking about their experiences with her music, and how much they already know.
They then tackle some Lauryn Hill FAQs, discuss the genre she operates in, and reveal what they're most looking forward to about the season to come.
The season to come will be an album-by-album, track-by-track exploration of Lauryn Hill's short but interesting career, associated side projects, the context around each release, behind-the-scenes stories of each recording session, a look at the legacy of the albums she's released, and a review of all of it, complete with scores, rankings, and lists!
It promises to be exhaustive, informative, and fun as we approach Lauryn's discohraphy from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
Greatest Hits Vol. 2: Big Mates At Their Very Best
14 Aug 2023
02:05:08
The Big Mates welcome you back to a celebration of, and look back on the last few years of podcasting.
They present clips from across all 4 seasons of the What Is Music podcast, featuring discussion, arguments, guests, jokes, and some clips appearing for the first time on the main feed!
We hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane - thank you for listening, and for all the support you have given us over the years.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
Greatest Hits Vol. 1: Now That's What I Call What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music
07 Aug 2023
01:43:00
The Big Mates welcome you to a celebration of, and look back on the last few years of podcasting.
They present clips from across all 4 seasons of the What Is Music podcast, featuring discussion, arguments, guests, jokes, and some clips appearing for the first time on the main feed!
We hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane - thank you for listening, and for all the support you have given us over the years.
Join us next week for even more of our best clips!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss the great reset, dynamic edits, languages, and Will of the People by Muse.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas return to their Season 2 subject, Muse, in order to dissect and explore the band's ninth and most recent album, Will of the People. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between.
They tfinish up their track-by-track exploration of the album, sum up their thoughts on it, talk about the ongoing tour, and how the album was released!
How does the album rank against previous Muse albums? Why is it He is risen? Are you Halloween? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Join us next week as we present Volume One of our Greatest Hits!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss the human centipede of seeing things, NFTs, colour grading, and Will of the People by Muse.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas return to their Season 2 subject, Muse, in order to dissect and explore the band's ninth and most recent album, Will of the People. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between.
They touch on the recording process, the impetus of recreating a "Best Of" compilation, the thorny political themes of the album, and the ever-quotable Matt Bellamy. Pandemics, wildfires, conspiracy theories, shadow governments - it must be a Muse album!
Is Plug in Baby on this album? What's the difference between trivia and facts? Do you know why the moon and the sun look the same size? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Join us next week for the conclusion of our deep-dive into Will of the People!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss tipping, building bigger venues, Dopesick and their final thoughts on Radiohead.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas look back on the last 15 months of musical examination, place the career of Radiohead into context, and discuss their feelings and opinions on the band.
They take in critical reception, cultural impact, and sum up each album of the Radiohead discography. They look at how solo-albums and side projects feed into their career, and discuss the journey the band have been on over the past three decades. They also find time to discuss their album rankings, final scores, and their Top 10 Radiohead songs.
Does context affect the way we listen to music? Does knowing the history of an artist give you a better appreciation of their output? And, more importantly, is it rad in yo' head? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Stay tuned at the end for a sneak-peek at Season 5!
Join us next week as we return to the world of Muse and begin the deep-dive into their most recent album, Will of the People.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss Pulp Fiction, subtitles, stop-motion animation, and watch all of Radiohead's music videos in one sitting.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Radiohead by discussing every music video from across the band's career, providing insightful and illuminating commentary along the way.
How many can they get through before the madness starts to seep in? Who is Phil and who is Clive? Which characters have been recast in Chicken Run 2? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss heat, negative energy, hovitating, and Colin Greenwood.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Radiohead by discussing the bassist from the band.
What actually happens in this episode? What does Nick Cave have to do with Peaky Blinders? Which bear's is just right? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Watch along with the commentary portion here: https://youtu.be/JKiRzxBVq3A Or don't! - It works fine either way!
Our next episode is out on Monday July 10th and we will be watching all of Radiohead's music videos in one sitting!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss Burt Bacharach, The Zombies, David Bowie, Scott Walker, Belle & Sebastian, Serge Gainsbourg, The Electric Prunes, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, John Barry, Ennio Morricone, Astrud Gilberto, Mel Torme, The Sonics, and The Age of the Understatement by The Last Shadow Puppets.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their exploration of the career of Arctic Monkeys by briefly stepping outside of it in order to examine the debut album of a side project Alex Turner formed with Miles Kane.
They discuss how the project came together, the writing and recording of the album, and they explore the overall themes and sound, taking in the compositions, tones, lyrics, meaning, and context - all from three differing perspectives, from being deeply into music and analysis, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between!
They also look at how the side project was informed by, and goes on to influence the music made by Arctic Monkeys.
How different is this album to Turner's previous work? How tongue in cheek is it? How many strings does a bass guitar have? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out next week, Monday August 18th!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including our album club and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
Jonny Greenwood Contemporary Classical and Film Score
26 Jun 2023
01:42:26
The Big Mates discuss Paul Thomas Anderson, Sean Harris, Tom Cruise, and a selection of contemporary classical and film score works by Jonny Greenwood.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Radiohead by discussing the extra-curricular activities of guitarist Jonny Greenwood, who has composed many concert works and contributed the score to some of the most acclaimed films of recent times. They look at how Jonny composes these pieces, and take a look at his 20-year career as a composer.
They also obviously find time to talk about Jonny's line of olive oil, and his recent work with Dudu Tassa.
What is classical music? Do we know how to talk about it? Will there be blood? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss painting, the pandemic, Glastonbury Festival, and A Light For Attracting Attention by The Smile.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Radiohead by discussing the debut by side-project, The Smile. They look at how the band featuring Radiohead members Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood came to be, howe they recorded their first album, and the context surrounding the songs.
They also go track-by-track on the record, discuss the band's debut performance on Glastonbury livestream, and look to the future of the project.
Is it just another Radiohead album? What does it mean for the future of Radiohead? Is a flute a woodwind? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday June 26th and we'll be discussing the contemporary classical and film score works of Jonny Greenwood.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
Adam sits down with Associate Professor of Music Theory and affiliated faculty in American Studies at the University of Kansas, Dr. Brad Osborn, to talk about his book, Everthing In Its Right Place: Analyzing Radiohead.
They talk about their experiences of music in general, the different ways to listen ot music, musical analysis, and pick out some Radiohead songs that best fit Brad's theory that "Radiohead’s music exhibits a musical Goldilocks zone, presenting the listener with myriad surprises while at the same time satisfying a number of expectations inherited from both popular and classical music."
They also talk about accessiblity vs. experimentalism, and how Radiohead have managed to exist in both worlds and still maintain success.
Our next episode is out on Monday June 19th and we will be discussing the album A Light for Attracting Attention by The Smile.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Holy Bible (Are We Still So In Love With You?)
08 Jun 2023
03:23:44
A bonus episode, appearing on our main feed from our Patreon show, revisiting Manic Street Preachers. It's called Are We Still So In Love With You?, and you can now claim a free 7-day trial of any subscription tier at www.patreon.com/whatismusicpod.
The Big Mates continue their re-evaluation of Manic Street Preachers by immersing themselves back into the world of The Holy Bible. They discuss whether their opinions on the record have changed over the years, and figure out where the album lands in the Manics' discography now that they are more familiar with it.
Ty reflect on how the original episodes came together, and how they see their roles now, as well as examining the various ways in which their listening habits have evolved.
Also, this time it's actually a fun episode!
We hope you enjoy this sneak peak at what we're doing over on Patreon. Use the link above to claim your free trial and explore the various shows we've been releasing over the last 6 months - with much, much more to come, including the rest of the Manic Street Preachers discography.
The Big Mates discuss Interstellar, U2, hats, and Earth by EOB.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Radiohead by discussing the debut solo album from guitarist Ed O'Brien. They look at how it was conceived, written, and recorded and select a few highlights from the album to talk about.
They make predictions on what Ed will do next, explore the features of his Fender Signature guitar line, and have a look at a remix he did for Paul McCartney.
What does and Ed solo album sound like? Is it cosmic? How do you do that on bass? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday June 12th and we welcome Dr. Brad Osborn, author of Everything In Its Right Place: Analyzing Radiohead.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss dreams, witches, Mr. Bean, and two solo offerings from Thom Yorke.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Radiohead by taking in the most recent solo releases by Thom Yorke, starting with Suspiria, his soundtrack to the Luca Guadagnino film.
They then dive into Yorke'sthird solo album proper, ANIMA, exploring a few of the tracks, the context surrounding the release, and the film Thom made with Paul Thomas Anderson.
They also find time to discuss a Very important remix.
What had Thom been up to since A Moon Shaped Pool? Can you remember your dreams? Are fish animals? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday June 5th and we explore and discuss the first solo album from Radiohead's Ed O'Brien - Earth.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss Goldeneye 64, Fortnite, Rocket League, and the reissues of OK Computer and Kid A/Amnesiac by Radiohead.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Radiohead by taking in some of the more recent releases by Radiohead. They talk about the extensive reissues for OK Computer and the Kid A sessions, a whole slew of previously unrelease songs, as well as the MiniDisc leak and the Kid A virtual exhibition experience.
Why reissue these albums? Is this really about jellyfish? What are your deepest worries and fears? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday May 22nd and will see us provide insightful commentary for Radiohead's performance at Glastonbury Festival 2017.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss Lee Evans, pluralisation, Mark and Lard, and a selection of b-sides by Radiohead.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Radiohead by taking in some more of the b-sides recorded by Radiohead across their entire career. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between.
The songs were selected by YOU, our listeners, for Adam, Steve, and Lucas to dissect. They discuss the varying styles and eras of the band, as well as continuing the infamous b-side guessing game!
What is a pun? Is this really "just a bunch of b-sides?" Who will reign victorious? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday May 15th and will see us discussing and exploring the band's reissues for OK Computer, Kid A, and Amnesiac.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss Heat, Rampart, Friends, and a selection of b-sides by Radiohead.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Radiohead by taking in some of the b-sides recorded by Radiohead across their entire career. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between.
The songs were selected by YOU, our listeners, for Adam, Steve, and Lucas to dissect. They discuss the varying styles and eras of the band, as well as playing the infamous b-side guessing game!
Which songs made the cut? Who will take an early lead in the game? Did they Weekend at Bernie's Jesus? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday MAy 8th and will continue the exploration of Radiohead's B-Sides.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates provide insightful commentary for Radiohead Live in Amsterdam 2016.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the live performance as presented in the form of a bootleg edited together by fans, and uploaded to YouTube by Johnny Airbag! They also find time to discuss Lost, venue sizes, and in-ear monitors. Steve also brings in an exciting questionnaire!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss therapy, cat's cradle, hard soup, and A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue and conclude their deep dive into A Moon Shaped Pool by finishing off their track-by-track discussion, scoring the album, and discussing how it was released.
They also find time to touch on the bonus track Ill Wind.
Why did so many old or unfinished songs find their way onto this album? How do you say Ill Wind? Is there a mutual interest in having a conversation? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday April 24th and will feature insightful commentary for a bootleg of Radiohead playing live in Amsterdam!
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!
The Big Mates discuss Papa Roach, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, and A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the last Radiohead album of this season, A Moon Shaped Pool as part of the exploration into the career and discography of the band . They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between.
What do the think of the songs? Is this a music show? Where is the dotted eighth notes? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday April 17th and will conclude the deep-dive into A Moon Shaped Pool.
Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon! Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including shows about Manic Street Preachers and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!