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Finest Worksongs — Music
Finest Worksongs

Finest Worksongs is a music commentary and history podcast hosted by Matt Lail and Matt Stevens. The podcast is dedicated to discussing ”great albums” and delving into the music and history of the artists behind them. The hosts often reminisce about their 80s childhoods, providing a nostalgic lens through which they explore the chosen albums.

While the podcast covers a wide range of musical genres and artists, their discussions often center around seminal albums, exploring their impact, production, and the context in which they were created. They also have ”Summer Jamz” episodes where they focus on a single song instead of an entire album.

”Finest Worksongs” has been recognized in local media, being named one of Raleigh’s Top Podcasts by Raleigh Magazine and voted ”Best Local Podcast” in Wake Living Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Awards. The podcast concluded its regular episodes in early 2025 with its 129th episode, a listener’s choice discussion on The Replacements’ ”Let It Be.”

Copyright: © Copyright 2019 All rights reserved.

Latest Episodes:

69. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik Feb 14, 2022

Show notes

Released on the exact same day as both Nirvana’s “Nevermind" and A Tribe Called Quest’s “The Low End Theory,” the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” took radio and MTV by storm thanks to massive hits like “Give It Away” and especially “Under the Bridge.” The Rick Rubin produced album was a crossover hit for a band largely known for funk, punk, and wild on-stage antics. The antics continued, but now to much larger, mainstream audiences. And while the album is full of things that long-time Peppers fans had grown to love, it also gave a glimpse of a more melodic and stronger songwriting ability to come. But there’s still a ton of songs about sex.

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68. James Taylor - Greatest Hits, Volume One Feb 08, 2022

Show notes

It’s an amazing story, really. A well-born son of New England (and thus AMERICAN) heraldry battles drugs and romances only to find solace in songwriting. On a whim, the young man heads oversees and finds himself auditioning for Beatles. Not only do they love his music, they end up signing him to their label, playing on his debut album, and – in the case of George Harrison – being “inspired” by one of the young man’s songs enough to write arguably HIS greatest ever song. This is the story of James Taylor. Massachusetts born. Carolina bred. Some would argue one of America’s most important (and lasting) singer-songwriters. And his “Greatest Hits” is the stuff of legends. Even if in this case the legend speaks softy and plucks an acoustic guitar

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67. Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head Jan 27, 2022

Show notes

If ever there was a band that has come close to "out-U2ing" U2, it is Coldplay. Think about it: four good friends from their school days form a band – led by a charismatic lead singer – and create atmospheric, emotional, sing-along stadium anthems. And with "A Rush of Blood to the Head," Chris Martin & Co. culled together the quintessential Coldplay "sound": chiming piano, uncluttered (and occasionally ringing) guitar, driving bass and drum parts that fill the space and complement the mood. The album starts with "Politik," a 9/11-inspired song that hints that this isn't the same band that JUST used to fill English pubs. "In My Place," "The Scientist" and "Clocks" all catapulted the band into the stratosphere, whether you wanted them to or not.

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66. Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony Jan 12, 2022

Show notes

"Not too hard and not too soft." That phrase personifies, in many ways, the music AND appeal of R&B hitmakers Boyz II Men. They could sing the harmonious, emotional acapella high points with songs like "End of the Road" and "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday" but they could also bring the heat. (See "Uhh Ahh.") However, there was nothing soft about their success. When their debut album, Cooleyhighharmony, hit in 1991, it hit HARD. Fueled by the Michael Bivins-produced "origin story" "Motownphilly," Boyz II Men were on a path of mega superstardom that would show them ruling the airwaves for much of the 1990s – sometimes even beating themselves at the top of the charts.

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65. Christmas 2021 Dec 20, 2021

Show notes

It’s been … one year since the last Finest Worksongs Christmas epipod. But Matt & Matt are back to offer up a couple of Yuletide faves ….and both are quirky and fun - in their own special ways. Barenaked Ladies’ “Barenaked for the Holidays” is quintessential BNL: moments of musical brilliance combined with moments of inane levity. “A Very Special Christmas 3” once again brought music’s top heavy hitters together to put their own, uh, unique spins on holiday classics — and a couple (then) new ones. Giggle your way into the season with our season-ending epipod. And Merry Christmas from Marshmallow and the Duke!

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64. Listener‘s Choice: Taylor Swift‘s folklore Dec 09, 2021

Show notes

This Listener's Choice epipod stays "in the family" as the boys discuss Taylor Swift's 2020 album folklore, which was chosen by Matt Stevens' daughter MC. The adoration and sheer respect for Swift shines through in the discussion – from hosts and guest alike. After all, this was not just a career-defining album for T. Swift, but also a life-changing musical experience for many. The stripped-down and introspective songs were the perfect sounds to arrive during quarantine. And with assistance from the likes of Jack Antonoff, Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver), and The National's Aaron Dessner, Swift created a masterpiece that showed her continued growth and self-confidence, particularly through tracks like "Cardigan," "Exile" and "My Tears Richochet." But don't fret, Swifties: there's still plenty of love triangles, incriminating themes, and self-reflective tracks to keep fans cheering her on and analyzing her love life – and lyrics.

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63. Def Leppard - Pyromania Nov 23, 2021

Show notes

In 1983, Def Leppard emerged from the burgeoning British hard rock/metal landscape as, arguably, the biggest cats around. On the strength of mega hits (and fantastically "1980s-esque" videos) like "Photograph," Rock of Ages," "Foolin'" and "Too Late For Love," the boys from Sheffield were able to become MTV darlings while still leaning into the spike bracelets and fist-pumping ethos. Their third album, "Pyromania," was a break-out success. Their ascension hit a slight bump when drummer Rick Allen was significantly injured in a car accident (and thus lost an arm), but they would reach even greater heights with 1987's "Hysteria." But with '83's "Pyromania," Def Leppard was HOT. And who could forget this classic lyric: Gunter gleiben glauchen globen Follow us on social media @finestworksongs

62. Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair Nov 11, 2021

Show notes

1985 was a big year in pop music. The list of Billboard-topping albums is like a "who's who" of 80s powerhouses: "Born in the USA" ... "Purple Rain" ... "No Jacket Required" .... "We Are the World" ... "Like a Virgin" ... and so on. But one album that made a splash that summer was Tears For Fears' "Songs from the Big Chair." All of a sudden, with hits like "Shout," "Head Over Heels" and "Everybody Wants to Rule The World," Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal were punching above their class with the likes of Bruce, Prince and Madonna. It didn't hurt that the songs undeniably catchy, and the videos were compelling. Almost four decades later, many of us are still singing -- or shouting -- along to these songs.

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61. Fugees - The Score Nov 03, 2021

Show notes

Twenty-five years ago, a hip-hop album hit the scene so hard – and so somewhat unexpectedly – that it is still amazing to reflect on the remarkable impact that it had. In a time where gangster rap was shouting the loudest, "The Score," the second album by Fugees, resonated with virtually everyone, scoring Grammys, selling millions of copies, and being the soundtrack to dance clubs for years to come – while underscoring many of the same issues that their more bombastic contemporaries were also rapping about. Of course, it never hurts to have Lauryn Hill's wordplay and sensual voice; however, the musicality and vision of Wyclef Jean and the skills of Pras Michel made the Fugees a tour de force. With hits like "Ready Or Not, "Killing Me Softly" and "Fu-Gee La," Fugees' "The Score" remains one of the most beloved hip-hop and rap albums of all time.

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60. Adele - 21 Oct 26, 2021

Show notes

When most people turn 21, they celebrate by going out drinking with their friends. Adele used her life experiences as a 21-year-old to create one of the best-selling (and critically acclaimed) albums of all time. It's an album that shares the kind of heartbreak and loss that many young women have dealt with. However, the difference is Adele was able to channel that emotion and turmoil into a complete, beautiful -- and sometimes cleverly vicious -- album. "21" spurred three No. 1 songs: "Rolling in the Deep," "Someone Like You" and "Set Fire to the Rain" -- and "Rumour Has It" was a top 20 hit worldwide as well. And she really did do it her way, by writing songs from her heart that captured the essence of a women going through intense life mileposts. The ex-lover who spurned her allegedly told Adele that she would be "boring and lonely" without him. Today, the world knows Adele and could not give a crap about him. So cheers to you, Adele, for "21!"

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