Backtracking

- Ozzy Osbourne: Blizzard of Ozz

BAND LINKS:

- U2 Official Website | Instagram | X (Twitter)

Welcome to Backtracking – the podcast where three old friends take a second listen to influential bands' albums, track by track. For our third season, we've each selected five albums that we think deserve a good old Backtracking.

On the borderland we email: backtrackingrox@gmail.com

Ozzy Osbourne "Blizzard of Ozz" (1980), Side B: Mr. Crowley Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

Ozzy Osbourne's 1980 debut "Blizzard of Ozz", Side B: "Mr. Crowley", "No Bone Movies", "Revelation (Mother Earth)" and "Steal Away".

Plus a word on sobriety, JW's fear of metal, the ferrous and the non-ferrous, and a farewell: RIP Ozzy.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM:

CHAPTERS:

- 0:00: A Word on Sobriety

- 0:14: Theme Heaven

- 1:07: JW is afraid of metal.

- 7:19: Side B, Track 1: Mr. Crowley

- 17:10: Side B, Track 2: No Bone Movies

- 24:32: Side B, Track 3: Revelation (Mother Earth)

- 32:50: Side B, Track 4: Steal Away (The Night)

- 39:58 : The Ferrous and the Non-Ferrous

- 44:40: RIP Ozzy!

BACKTRACKING SOCIALS:

- Ozzy Osbourne: Blizzard of Ozz

BAND LINKS:

- Ozzy Osbourne Official Website | Instagram | X (Twitter)

Email, but that’s how it goes: backtrackingrox@gmail.com

Ozzy Osbourne "Blizzard of Ozz" (1980), Side A: Crazy Train Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

Ozzy Osbourne's 1980 solo debut "Blizzard of Ozz", Side A: "I Don't Know", "Crazy Train", "Goodbye to Romance", "Dee" and more.

We cover Ozzy and Black Sabbath history, making the band, the lawsuits, the production, "Suicide Solution", and the album as a root of the 1980s metal tree.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM:

CHAPTERS:

- 0:00: Lost in them Baby Blues

- 0:15: Another Best Theme Ever?

- 1:21: We shall commune with the Prince of Darkness.

- 4:30: Why is the term “housekeeping” a podcast term of art?

- 17:00: The Basics

- 21:00: Ozzy & Black Sabbath: Some History

- 24:15: Making the Band

- 29:45: Rockin’ the Lawsuits

- 31:20: Ye Olde Production

- 41:35: The Root of the 1980’s Metal Tree

- 48:40: Side A, Track 1: I Don’t Know

- 58:40: Side A, Track 2: Crazy Train

- 1:10:55: Side A, Track 3: Goodbye to Romance

- 1:20:32: Side A, Track 4: Dee

- 1:25:14: Side A, Track 5: Suicide Solution

- 1:32:35: Not dark enough? It gets darker on B.

BACKTRACKING SOCIALS:

Shudder to Think: Bandcamp

BAND LINKS:

- Ozzy Osbourne Official Website | Instagram | X (Twitter)

Email, but that’s how it goes: backtrackingrox@gmail.com

Nathan Larson on Mind Science of the Mind and Shudder to Think Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

Nathan Larson of Shudder to Think joins us to talk Mind Science of the Mind, D.C. punk, film scoring and what's next.

We cover Swiz, joining Shudder to Think, recording "Pony Express Record", working with Joan Wasser, Mary Timony and Kevin March, Jeff Buckley's influence, "First Love, Last Rites", his solo work as Jealous God, and a new era for Shudder to Think.

GUEST:

Nathan Larson:

Instagram | Spotify

CHAPTERS:

- 0:00: Welcome Nathan!

- 1:14: Nathan’s early days in the D.C. punk scene

- 3:10: Swiz and early influences (Metallica! Megadeth!)

- 4:30: Transitioning from bass to guitar and joining Shudder to Think

- 6:45: Developing a "guitar pyrotechnics" style influenced by 80s rock like Van Halen and Def Leppard

- 8:40: The New York scene: Knitting Factory, The Swans, and noise rock

- 10:20: Musical complexity: Finding the balance between Prog and Pop

- 12:15: Recording Pony Express Record in Baltimore and the creative process behind Mind Science of the Mind

- 15:10: Working with Joan Wasser, Mary Timony, and Kevin March

- 16:45: The influence of Jeff Buckley and his love for "weird rock"

- 18:15: Lyrical approach: Word games and the "exquisite corpse" technique

- 20:50: Transitioning to film scoring and the pop sensibility of First Love Last Rites

- 22:30: Solo work: Jealous God and the challenges of being a frontman

- 24:10: Personal growth, sobriety, and meditation

- 26:00: Looking back at the Mind Science of the Mind record: "Do You Rule"

- 28:45: What’s next: New music and a new era for Shudder to Think

BACKTRACKING SOCIALS:

- Mind Science of the Mind: Bandcamp

LISTEN TO THE ALBUMS:

- Dan’s 5 Albums

- Raf’s 5 Albums

- JW’s 5 Albums

BAND LINKS:

Wrapped around my email: backtrackingrox@gmail.com

Mind Science of the Mind, Self-Titled (1996), Side B: Do You Rule? Mar 18, 2026

Show notes

Mind Science of the Mind's 1996 self-titled album, Side B: "Oceans Don't Need Us", "Do You Rule?", "Aiwass" and more.

Plus "Dutch Ghost Reclamation of the City of New York" and "To the Tender (Beauty Marks/Blisters)", some cross-pollination, and die Besten und die Wurster.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM:

- Mind Science of the Mind

CHAPTERS:

- 0:00: In the Event of My Kidnapping….

- 0:15: Intro!

- 1:30: It’s about cross-pollination.

- 7:00: Side B, Track 1: Oceans Don’t Need Us

- 16:17: Side B, Track 2: Dutch Ghost Reclamation of the City of New York

- 26:42: Side B, Track 3: To the Tender (Beauty Marks/Blisters)

- 34:25: Side B, Track 4: Do You Rule?

- 39:50: Side B, Track 5: Aiwass

- 48:50: Die Besten, Die Wurster

- 54:28: Another Huge Win

BACKTRACKING SOCIALS:

- Mind Science of the Mind: Bandcamp

BAND LINKS:

There's a line, sister, between beauty marks and emails: backtrackingrox@gmail.com

Mind Science of the Mind, Self-Titled (1996), Side A Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

Mind Science of the Mind's 1996 self-titled album, Side A: "Infidels (When Your Hips Came Loose)", "Your Human Spine" and more.

First impressions from all three of us, the basics, the production, and "Skirts to Suffer On", "Does It Rain in Your Womb" and "Science of the Mind." Plus a major announcement.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM:

- Mind Science of the Mind

CHAPTERS:

- 0:00: Bosch: The Fixer

- 0:28: The Best Theme Ever

- 1:30: Every journey begins with an ill-considered step.

- 3:20: The house needs kept.

- 15:00: Raf’s First Impression / Soul Search

- 19:30: JW’s First Impression / Soul Train

- 21:15: Dan’s First Impression / Souly War

- 27:45: A Major Announcement!

- 29:16: The Basics

- 36:50: Cover the Cover, Brought to You by Michael

- 43:50: A Niceley Produced Album

- 1:02:45: Side A, Track 1: Infidels (When Your Hips Came Loose)

- 1:13:05: Side A, Track 2: Skirts to Suffer On

- 1:21:26: Side A, Track 3: Your Human Spine

- 1:34:57: Side A, Track 4: Does It Rain in Your Womb

- 1:43:10: Side A, Track 5: Science of the Mind

- 1:51:48: Enough! Side B next week!

BACKTRACKING SOCIALS:

Mind Science of the Email:backtrackingrox@gmail.com

Season 3 Premiere: Our 15 Albums, From Ozzy to Gang of Youths Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

Season 3 album reveal: Ozzy Osbourne, U2, Asia, Sting, Candlemass, The Chameleons, The Tragically Hip, Barenaked Ladies and more.

Dan, Raf and JW each pick five: "Blizzard of Ozz", Men at Work's "Business as Usual", "Alpha", "Wide Awake in America", "Strange Times", Felt, Dumptruck, "Tales of Creation", "The Soul Cages", "Gordon", Cardinal, "Day for Night", Mind Science of the Mind, Idaho and Gang of Youths. The most diverse list of albums ever, asterisk included.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUMS:

- Dan’s 5 Albums

- Raf’s 5 Albums

- JW’s 5 Albums

CHAPTERS:

0:00: The Coldest Opens, the Deepest Sighs

0:11: A New Intro, a New Era, a New Theme Song?

1:14: Breaking Backtracking Boundaries

4:33: Keeping the House

9:44: We Reveal the Album Reveal

10:30: Raf’s 1st Pick: Ozzy Osbourne “Blizzard of Ozz”

13:24: JW’s 1st Pick: Men at Work “Business As Usual”

16:45: Raf’s 2nd Pick: Asia “Alpha”

18:45: Raf’s 3rd Pick: U2 “Wide Awake in America”

21:45: JW’s 2nd Pick: The Chameleons “Strange Times”

24:45: JW’s 3rd Pick: Felt “Forever Breathes the Lonely Word”

28:58: JW’s 4th Pick: Dumptruck “For the Country”

32:00: Dan’s 1st Pick: Candlemass “Tales of Creation”

36:02: Dan’s 2nd Pick: Sting “The Soul Cages”

39:31: Raf’s 4th Pick: Barenaked Ladies “Gordon”

42:12: JW’s Final Pick: Cardinal (Self-Titled)

45:47: Raf’s Final Pick: The Tragically Hip “Road Apples”

50:10: Dan’s 3rd Pick: Mind Science of the Mind (Self-Titled)

54:40: Dan’s 4th Pick: Idaho “Three Sheets to the Wind”

57:25: Dan’s Final Pick: Gang of Youths “Angel in Realtime”

1:01:59: The Most Diverse List of Albums Ever*

1:04:04: Hasta la Album

BACKTRACKING SOCIALS:

- Mind Science of the Mind

SEASON 3 BAND DIRECTORY:

- Asia

- Felt

- Idaho

- Ozzy Osbourne

- Sting

- The Chameleons

- The Tragically Hip

- U2

Wide Awake in Email: backtrackingrox@gmail.com

Raf and Dan on "Something for Nothing: A Rush Fancast" Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

Raf and Dan join Steve and Gerry of "Something for Nothing: A Rush Fancast" to talk Rush. Them takes is hot.

A bonus Rush episode while Season 3 comes together. Stay tuned.

Listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/something-for-nothing-a-rush-fancast/id1477994760

American Music Club Season Finale: The Best and the Worst Song Brackets Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

Our American Music Club and Mark Eitzel season finale: The Best and the Worst song brackets, best album champions, and the Season 3 reveal.

JW and Dan each crown a best album, a best song and a worst song, and we reveal what's next. The back has been tracked.

CHAPTERS:

0:00: Build it up, burn it down.

0:28: The Final Intro

1:03: A look back on Big Head Todd & the Monsters.

2:50: Haaskeepin’ and thank y’uns.

14:41: JW’s Worst Song Bracket

27:58: Dan’s Worst Song Bracket

36:50: Michael Presents: Best Cover Ever

43:06: JW’s Best Song Bracket

1:03:39: Dan’s Best Song Bracket

1:12:20: The Huge Season 3 Reveal

1:41:50: JW’s Best Album Bracket & Champion

2:06:18: Dan’s Best Album Bracket & Champion

2:17:21: Dan’s Worst Song Bracket & Champion

2:20:25: JW’s Worst Song Bracket & Champion

2:25:50: JW’s Best Song Bracket & Champion

2:33:10: Dan’s Best Song Bracket & Champion

2:40:40: The back has been tracked, and to all a good night.

AMC LINKS:

- Mark Eitzel & AMC on the World Wide Web

- American Music Club on Bandcamp

- American Music Club on Spotify

- Danny Pearson on Bandcamp

BACKTRACKING SOCIALS: