The B-Sides

Latest Episodes:

46. We Came Back For You, Baby: Reviewing "The Loneliest Time" Nov 09, 2022

Show notes

We came back for you with a full episode review of Carly Rae Jepsen's newest album, The Loneliest Time. The album – which was released the same midnight as Midnights – is a moonstruck album, chock-full of the suns and stars.

First we do a quick recap of Carly Rae's rise to fame, and then play a fun superlative game about what is most Carly and which lyrics we couldn't understand. We hope you go find yourself or WHATEVER (as long as you listen to this podcast on your journey). Be sure to catch our review of her concert here, too.

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45. It's Us, Hi: Reviewing "Midnights" Oct 23, 2022

Show notes

The B-Sides is BACK for Season 3! (We came back for you, baby!)

We are the *most* excited to launch season 3 with a review of Taylor Swift’s 10th studio album, Midnights.

There’s a lot we would’ve, could’ve, should’ve said, but these are our immediate reactions after our first day of listening. We can’t wait to hear what you think - make sure to get in touch with your reactions.

We give out superlatives and awards like: The "That's So Tay" Award, The Cringiest Lyric Award, and The Miss AmericaNO Award. Find out what wins ;)

Thank you for subscribing and leaving a review!

Make sure to follow us on insta: instagram.com/listentothebsides and join us on discord here.

You can now leave us a voicemail! Click here to record a voicemail for us.

Consider joining us on Patreon! For $5 a month, receive one bonus episode a month, a 10-song playlist to accompany one of our episodes, and behind-the-scenes content.

And find us everywhere you find your podcasts! Including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Buy B-Sides merch on TeePublic here.

BONUS: Carly Rae Jepsen Concert Review Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

The B-Sides season 3 is COMING!

Until then, enjoy this bonus episode. Your friendly neighborhood B-Sides hosts went to see Carly Rae Jepsen live in concert at Radio City Music Hall for her So Nice Tour. Today’s episode is an in-depth review of the magical show - even if you didn’t see the concert, our review will help you Cut To The Feeling.

Thank you for subscribing and leaving a review!

Make sure to follow us on insta: instagram.com/listentothebsides and join us on discord here.

You can now leave us a voicemail! Click here to record a voicemail for us.

Consider joining us on Patreon! You’ll receive one bonus episode a month and behind-the-scenes content.

And find us everywhere you find your podcasts! Including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Buy B-Sides merch on TeePublic here.

44. The Long 2009 Dec 22, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to our season 2 finale! We're wrapping up 2021 with a nice long chat about the long shadow of 2009 in pop and pop culture. Such power, such impact. It's time to revisit the brash and soaring sound of music, the final cohort of ubiquitous artists, and the transformative technology that ushered in our modern hell scape. Should be fun, so settle in!

Here was the syllabus for this episode, which we dropped a few days in advance in our discord group:

We also promised to share the Miley and Mandy YouTube channel... pls enjoy.

And thank you for listening, subscribing, and leaving reviews! Here's how to keep up with us in the off season:

Join our discord.

Make sure to follow us on insta: instagram.com/listentothebsides and join the facebook group: bit.ly/bsidesfbgroup

You can now leave us a voicemail! Click here to record a voicemail for us.

Join our Patreon! Where we'll be releasing some exclusive content ;)

And find us everywhere you find your podcasts! Including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

43. The Ethics of Speculating about Taylor Swift's Sexuality Dec 08, 2021

Show notes

Today we’re going to talk about Taylor Swift. We know it’s not ethical to speculate on celebrities’ sexualities. But it feels so intoxicating - and in some moments, righteous - to speculate on Taylor Swift’s personal life, especially when she invites deep speculation into her discography and all the text she puts out into the world. What’s a progressive to do?

We’ll tackle this in four parts:

Part 1: Why it is actually harmful to speculate about anyone’s sexuality
Part 2: Taylor’s own history on this issue and what her easter eggs have done to melt our brains
Part 3: Some history, including the history of closeted celebs and open secrets
Part 4: Trying to land on some actual truths about Taylor
Then we’ll end with our new favorite segment, what are you listening to?

Here was the syllabus for this episode, which we dropped a few days in advance in our discord group:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1rE33nMNB8twCdPLVQudM4kN0N5gv7UnnYQfYy0t3ObI/edit#slide=id.g3b692fe12f_0_0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp3XS0q06Wk especially minute 2:50
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/the-danger-with-speculating-someones-sexual-identity
Extra credit: an episode of taydar pod. Really any, but especially https://taydarpod.libsyn.com/episode-2-we-are-the-foxes-0

Join our discord.

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Join our Patreon!

And find us everywhere you find your podcasts! Including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

42. With Arms Wide Open: How Christian Rock Crossed Over into Mainstream Nov 24, 2021

Show notes

On today’s episode we’re going to talk about the elusive and enduring genre of music that is Christian Rock. How did it happen? Why do we (as Jews) like the sound of Christian Rock? Why do some bands “pretend” not to be as Christian as they are? We'll discuss all this and more, plus play a game called "is this Christian Rock or White Christian Men singing?" We also dive into Adele's new album 30, and of course, Red (Taylor's Version).

Join our discord to keep the conversation going: https://discord.gg/DCy4cTnue9

Other works cited:

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41. Witness to Wokeness: Katy Perry and the Pretense of Purposeful Pop Nov 10, 2021

Show notes

With her 2017 album Witness, Katy Perry invented the genre of “purposeful pop” more as a tool for relevance in her album promotion than an actual political analysis, which hurt both the political agenda she was pushing and the album itself. We think you’ll enjoy this episode whether or not you know the album (and spoiler: even some of the most ardent pop listeners don’t know this album!).

This episode continues the conversation we began in episode 40. You don’t need to listen to episode 40 first, but feel free to!

This episode contains four parts:

Part 1: Witness Overview
Part 2: 2017 Music and Politics Context - 21:17
Part 3: “Purposeful Pop” throughout history - 30:26
Part 4: The result - 54:05
And introducing a new segment: What are you listening to? - 1:01:45

Here was the syllabus for this episode. Feel free to follow along:

Read this piece in Vox
Read this piece in the NY Times
Listen to these songs from Witness: Hey Hey Hey, Miss You More, Save as Draft, Bigger than Me. TBH listen to as much as you can stomach.
DON'T list to: Pendulum
Watch: a few mins of Katy Perry's SNL performances of Bon Appetit and Swish Swish

Note: If you’d like to get future episode syllabi in advance, join our discord: https://discord.gg/DCy4cTnue9

Other works cited:

Thank you for subscribing and leaving a review! Make sure to follow us on insta: instagram.com/listentothebsides and join the facebook group: bit.ly/bsidesfbgroup

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Join our Patreon!

And find us everywhere you find your podcasts! Including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

40. When Reinvention Goes Awry Oct 27, 2021

Show notes

This week, we return to flophood but with a Halloweentown twist. Because the flop eras we’re talking about this episode involve artists who felt compelled to enter eras and try on identities that are aesthetically creepy, at the very least. We dare you to take a side-by-side look at the cover art for Christina Aguilera's Bionic and Katy Perry's Witness...

But the larger story here is about what happens when a pop star reinvents themselves for a new era of their career and, instead of a natural evolution or next step, it seems forced and goes badly. After all, reinvention is a double-edged sword: it can really elevate an artist’s career, help them grow and express themselves in new ways, and even change the direction of pop music, but it can also usher them into flophood. There are a lot of variables at play that can determine whether or not these pivots are successful, but often there’s just sort of an “it” factor of like...does it seem genuine? And then we have to ask why or why not...

We'll also touch on Madonna's role in setting the tone for reinvention and what it means to be a dynamic, longstanding pop star.

Xtina + Bionic starts at: 6:40, Katy Perry + Witness starts at: 46:00 ish

There were two sort of obscure clips we discussed in this episode: here's Xtina's Bionic interview and Katy Perry's Part of Me doc (~2:30)

Thank you for subscribing and leaving a review! Make sure to follow us on insta: instagram.com/listentothebsides and join the facebook group: bit.ly/bsidesfbgroup AND the discord: https://discord.gg/8fA4Wqcqkp

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Join our Patreon!

And find us everywhere you find your podcasts! Including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

39. Will Dear Evan Hansen Ruin Ben Platt's Career? Oct 13, 2021

Show notes

On today's podcast we are joined by musical expert Jon Schneidman. Together we do a deep dive into Dear Evan Hansen, the recent musical turned movie, that may or may not have ruined Ben Platt's career. We explore white mediocrity in film vs stage, autistic coding, and nepotism. Maybe, after you listen, you'll be found.

TW: this episode talks about suicide as it relates to the plot of DEH.

Reading on autistic coding and representation.

Thank you for subscribing and leaving a review! Make sure to follow us on insta: instagram.com/listentothebsides and join the facebook group: bit.ly/bsidesfbgroup

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Join our Patreon!

And find us everywhere you find your podcasts! Including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

38. ARTFlop and GlitterBomb Sep 29, 2021

Show notes

What’s in a flop?

On today’s episode, we look at moments that “flopped” through a more critical lens to discuss why albums flop, what happens when a “flop” is not really a “flop,” and how the cultural void of the early aughts fits in to this. We’ll do that by examining two seminal texts - ARTPOP by Lady Gaga (2013) and Glitter by Mariah Carey (2001).

So excited to announce the creation of our discord space, which you can join here: https://discord.gg/8fA4Wqcqkp

And - THE GRITTY T-SHIRTS ARE HERE! Link to buy them: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheBSidesMerch/

Flop taxonomy starts at: 8:15
ARTPOP starts at: 17:00
Glitter starts at: 53:05

Shoutout to Audrey Davis, who’s piece about Lorde and Billie Eilish and Flops that we mentioned is linked here.

Thank you for subscribing and leaving a review! Make sure to follow us on insta: instagram.com/listentothebsides and join the facebook group: bit.ly/bsidesfbgroup

You can now leave us a voicemail! Click here to record a voicemail for us.

Join our Patreon!

And find us everywhere you find your podcasts! Including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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