EarWax

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 106: King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown May 29, 2026

Show notes

If landmark records that are kinda remixes and also kinda historically murky are your jams, then look no further. The EarWax crew has you covered this week, chopping it up about the dub classic King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown.

Cody and Hilary discuss very pressing matters such as the various Augustus Pablos, the coolness of names (and there are plenty of cool names on this album), and the unbelievable genius that was King Tubby.

This record is on the ground floor of remixing culture, and its influence has spread far, far beyond reggae/dub. The players on the master tapes that Augustus Pablo brought in are a laundry list legends in the scene. To have them all on one album, and throw in King Tubbys immense talent as well...man, what an embarrassment of riches!

Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Email: earwaxpod@gmail.com

Credits:
Produced by Hilary Miller, Claudia Rivera Tinsley, Spencer Belden, and Cody Tinsley

Edited by Claudia Rivera Tinsley

All original music written and performed by Spencer Belden

Artwork by Hilary Miller

Music This Week 5-29-26 May 29, 2026

Show notes

Who wants moooooaaaar AI in their pop culture? We don't! But we do want to share Music This Week!

Spencer guides us through the new releases, as well as stories about an AI Ozzy that is totally gonna be great, Drake's place atop the charts, and Stephen Colbert's place atop our hearts.

We've got takes; they may not be hot, but they are Music This Week.

Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Email: earwaxpod@gmail.com

Credits:
Produced by Hilary Miller, Claudia Rivera Tinsley, Spencer Belden, and Cody Tinsley

Edited by Claudia Rivera Tinsley

All original music written and performed by Spencer Belden

Artwork by Hilary Miller

Ep. 105: Los Lobos - How Will the Wolf Survive? May 22, 2026

Show notes

We love showing L.A. love. And Los Angeles (and more specifically, East Los Angeles) loves Los Lobos!

How Will the Wolf Survive? was the group's breakthrough record, after finding a home inside the Sunset Strip punk scene of the 80s. The fascinating mix of rock, country, traditional Mexican music, and everything in between gives Los Lobos the keys to the doors of many genres.

A smart, sharp record that cooks as much as it educates, How Will the Wolf Survive? took Los Lobos from playing sets alongside the Blasters and the Germs into the national conscience. And they have not only survived, but they are still absolutely killing it to this day.

Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Email: earwaxpod@gmail.com

Credits:
Produced by Hilary Miller, Claudia Rivera Tinsley, Spencer Belden, and Cody Tinsley

Edited by Claudia Rivera Tinsley

All original music written and performed by Spencer Belden

Artwork by Hilary Miller

Music This Week 5-22-26 May 22, 2026

Show notes

Did you miss us? We thought of you the whole time, we promise. Well, we're back now with more Music This Week!

Spencer gives us the low down on what's coming out today, and then we get into the oh so wonderful news about AI in music. Huzzah!

But seriously, Jack Antonoff has a great take on being a musician.

Doechii and Lady Gaga causing a kerfuffle for their song...kinda not causing a kerfuffle? Only 37 million views, what are we the minor major leagues?

All that, and so much (well, a little) more!

Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Email: earwaxpod@gmail.com

Credits:
Produced by Hilary Miller, Claudia Rivera Tinsley, Spencer Belden, and Cody Tinsley

Edited by Claudia Rivera Tinsley

All original music written and performed by Spencer Belden

Artwork by Hilary Miller

Ep. 104: Brian Eno - Ambient 1: Music for Airports May 15, 2026

Show notes

Calm. Vibes. Futuristic. Ethereal. Brilliant. This is Brian Eno. And this is Ambient 1: Music for Airports - the focus of this week's episode of EarWax.

Where do you go after Roxy Music? Oh, I don't know, how about a crazy run of incredible solo albums leading up to this one? Eno was already basically a legend, so why not just try something out? Recovering from a car wreck, my guy decided to spearhead a whole new genre. And so he did, and he channeled his...interesting take on airports into the glory we hear on record.

Oh and also Hilary recounts the whole history of muzak (and Muzak) while Cody is amazed at it all. It's a scene, an episode, and f'n great record!

Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Email: earwaxpod@gmail.com

Credits:
Produced by Hilary Miller, Claudia Rivera Tinsley, Spencer Belden, and Cody Tinsley

Edited by Claudia Rivera Tinsley

All original music written and performed by Spencer Belden

Artwork by Hilary Miller

Ep. 103: Hiatus Kaiyote - Choose Your Weapon Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

Kick ass music. I could really stop there and it would be a perfectly apt episode description. Hiatus Kaiyote's Choose Your Weapon is where we're headed for this week's episode of EarWax!

A mix of jazz and soul and...video game music?...Hiatus Kaiyote takes us on a journey through time signatures, wisdom, and the mystical. Ohhh, and do you like Studio Ghibli? Well, so do they, and there may be some references buried (in that it's a literal song title).

This is a smart record, a dense record that will have you coming back for more helpings. Choose Your Weapon delivers - lock into what you want, and enjoy the ride.

Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Email: earwaxpod@gmail.com

Credits:
Produced by Hilary Miller, Claudia Rivera Tinsley, Spencer Belden, and Cody Tinsley

Edited by Claudia Rivera Tinsley

All original music written and performed by Spencer Belden

Artwork by Hilary Miller

Music This Week 4-24-26 Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

Well, well, well, what have we here? New Releases, you say? But wait, there's more! We've also got news about music, this week.

We've got pop stars going country. We've got lost and found Coachella gear. And we've got Kanye shows being shuttered. What more do you want? Well, if you want more, let us know what more you want!

Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Email: earwaxpod@gmail.com

Credits:
Produced by Hilary Miller, Claudia Rivera Tinsley, Spencer Belden, and Cody Tinsley

Edited by Claudia Rivera Tinsley

All original music written and performed by Spencer Belden

Artwork by Hilary Miller

Ep. 102: Usher - Confessions Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

You are not ready for this one. You think you are, and you probably are and I'm just hyperbolizing, but you're not ready for this one.

EarWax. Usher. Confessions.

Already on top of the world, Usher mixed messiness and sexiness and decided he was going to reign supreme in the 2000s. And so he did. Club bangers, salacious storytelling, and hooks that haven't left our heads since 2004.

Confessions did everything right by talking about doing everything wrong.

Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Email: earwaxpod@gmail.com

Credits:
Produced by Hilary Miller, Claudia Rivera Tinsley, Spencer Belden, and Cody Tinsley

Edited by Claudia Rivera Tinsley

All original music written and performed by Spencer Belden

Artwork by Hilary Miller

Music This Week 4-17-26 Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

More new releases hot off the vinyl pressing plant and coming at ya this week!

Spencer and crew also talk about Justin Bieber's Coachella set (can you predict whether or not Cody will be a fan of the idea?), the Rock Hall inductees, and whether or not Sade is going to grace us with her presence and a performance when the time comes!

Intrigue, opinions, and music...It's Music This Week.

Check out everything we have going on via the info below:

Instagram: @earwaxpod
TikTok: @earwaxpod
Email: earwaxpod@gmail.com

Credits:
Produced by Hilary Miller, Claudia Rivera Tinsley, Spencer Belden, and Cody Tinsley

Edited by Claudia Rivera Tinsley

All original music written and performed by Spencer Belden

Artwork by Hilary Miller

Ep. 101: Masayoshi Takanaka - Rainbow Goblins Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

Truly one of the most bonkers albums we have tackled on the show, this week the EarWax crew is taking on the genre of "Japanese funk-fusion rock based on an Italian children's picture book." That's right, Masayoshi Takanaka's "Rainbow Goblins"!

A story about rainbow eating goblins with zero analogy attached at all, Takanaka makes maximalism razor sharp. Soaring guitar melodies backed with insanely tight grooves, all telling the story of seven color goblins who were just so hungry they HAD to invade paradise and eat the best rainbow of all time.

Does Cody maybe side with the goblins? Well, you'll have to listen to find out exactly why he does! (Or does he?!)

Shout-out to the Internet Archive, where you can find this album.

The Budokan show? Heck yes we have it! Right here.

Check out everything we have going on via the info below: