What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music

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Latest Episodes:

Pablo Honey (Pt. 1) Apr 25, 2022

Show notes

The Big Mates discuss music venues, university, Muse, and Pablo Honey by Radiohead.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Radiohead by starting their track-by-track analysis on the band's debut album, released in 1993. 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 struggled with the studio environment, their legendary performance on MTV's Beach House, their cover of Wonderwall, and of course tackle the history behind Radiohead's legendary song Creep.
How did the band evolve from their EP? How far into the album will we get? Can anyone play guitar? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday May 2nd and will continue our analysis Pablo Honey and explore how the album was received at the time, as well as its legacy today.
You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!
What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.com
If you'd like a different way to donate to us
You can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusic
Any donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!
Join the conversation on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpod
E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com
http://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/

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On A Friday/Drill Apr 18, 2022

Show notes

The Big Mates discuss band names, Brian May, crying at books, and the early days of Radiohead.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas start at the beginning, talkign about the individual members of Radiohead, how they grew up, and then follow them through the early days of music making as On A Friday. They listen to early demos and chart the band's musical progression all the way up to their transformation into Radiohead and the release of their debut EP, Drill.
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 Radiohead form? What did they sound like? WHICH AVENGER IS THOM YORKE?! Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday April 25th and will take in Pablo Honey, the debut album by Radiohead.
You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!
What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.com
If you'd like a different way to donate to us
You can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusic
Any donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!
Join the conversation on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpod
E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com
http://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/

Support the show

Season 4 Introduction: Is It Rad In Yo' Head? Apr 11, 2022

Show notes

The Big Mates discuss art vs. entertainment, the ecstatic truth, music as a time capsule, and introduce Season 4 of the What Is Music? podcast.
It's called "Is It Rad In Yo' Head?: A Critical Analysis of the History, Cultural Impact, and Music of Radiohead." Adam, Steve, and Lucas being their deep-dive exploration of Radiohead by talking about their own experiences with the five-piece band from Oxford, how they first discovered them, and how much they already know.
They then tackle some Radiohead FAQs, discuss the role of the critic in art, 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 Radiohead's entire 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 they've released, and a review of pretty much everything Radiohead have ever done, complete with scores, rankings, and lists! It promises to be exhaustive, informative, and fun as we approach the band 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 makes a great album great? Are Radiohead overrated? Which Avenger is Thom Yorke? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Our next episode is out on Monday April 18th and will look at the early days of Radiohead and their debut EP, Drill.
Knives Out on TOTP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEJuK3W3AfI
You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!
What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.com
If you'd like a different way to donate to us
You can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusic
Any donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!
Join the conversation on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpod
E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com
http://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/

Support the show

The Ultra Vivid Lament (Pt. 2) Apr 04, 2022

Show notes

The Big Mates discuss Instagram, Summer Heart, Batman Forever, and The Ultra Vivid Lament by Manic Street Preachers.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas focus on their track-by-track deep-dive into the Manics' fourteenth album, giving musical analysis, discussing the lyrics, themes, their takes and opinions and everything inbetween! Do the Manics still surprise us, fourteen albums in? What doesn't this album sound like? What makes a song sound nostalgic? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Make sure you have all the context for this album by listening to last week's episode - an interview with Dave Eringa, the producer of The Ultra Vivid Lament!
Next week we begin another season of the podcast by introducing you to the artist we'll be covering. Be sure to join us on April 11th!
You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!
What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.com
If you'd like a different way to donate to us
You can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusic
Any donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!
Join the conversation on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpod
E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com
http://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/

Support the show

The Ultra Vivid Lament (Pt. 1 with Dave Eringa) Mar 28, 2022

Show notes

The Big Mates are joined by music producer Dave Eringa to discuss Hail to the Thief by Radiohead, Glastonbury Tor, online forums, and The Ultra Vivid Lament by Manic Street Preachers.
Adam, Steve, Lucas, and Dave talk about what it was like to work with the Manics again on their 14th studio album, how the songs were written and recorded, the context surrounding the album, and its release in September of 2021. This is a very fun chat that also lifts the lid on the process behind the No. 1 album.
Next week Adam, Steve, and Lucas being their track-by-track deep-dive on The Ultra Vivid Lament.
The week after that sees the beginning of Season 4, on April 11th!
You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!
What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.com
If you'd like a different way to donate to us
You can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusic
Any donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!
Join the conversation on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpod
E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com
http://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/

Support the show

Billie Eilish: Final Thoughts Mar 21, 2022

Show notes

The Big Mates discuss Steve's acting career, driver's license photos, David Copperfield, and offer their final thoughts on Billie Eilish.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas look back on the last season of musical examination, place the career of Billie Eilish into context, and discuss their feelings and opinions on it. They also find time to discuss their album rankings, final scores, and their Top 10 Billie Eilish 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, should eilishen? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Join us next week for the first of two episodes on the Manic Street Preachers' 14th studio album, The Ultra Vivid Lament. We'll be joined by special guest, Dave Eringa, who produced the album.
You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!
What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.com
If you'd like a different way to donate to us
You can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusic
Any donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!
Join the conversation on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpod
E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com
http://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/

Support the show

BREAKING MUSE: Compliance (and album news!) Mar 17, 2022

Show notes

BONG. YOU ARE RECEIVING AN EMERGENCY NEWS BROADCAST.
The Big Mates discuss the newly released single, Compliance by Muse. They also explore the announcement of Muse's ninth studio album, Will of the People. They look at the tracklist, artwork, and what the band themsevles have said about it. They then speak on their expectations for the album, and their thoughts on the new single.
You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!
What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.com
If you'd like a different way to donate to us
You can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusic
Any donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!
Join the conversation on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpod
E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com
http://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/

Support the show

Billie Eilish Music Videos Mar 14, 2022

Show notes

The Big Mates discuss Spanish speaking countries in South America, eating vegetables, and they watch every music video by Billie Eilish.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas embark on an epic journey and watch all of the Billie Eilish videos in one sitting and offer comments, opinion, and general musings on them. It is long, rambly, and hopefully a lot of fun! How do the music videos hold up? Will they even make it all the way through?! Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
Next week - we offer our FINAL THOUGHTS on Billie Eilish!
You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!
What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.com
If you'd like a different way to donate to us
You can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusic
Any donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!
Join the conversation on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpod
E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com
http://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/

Support the show

A Love Letter to Los Angeles Commentary Mar 07, 2022

Show notes

The Big Mates provide insightful commentary for Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the film as released on Disney+, featuring Billie and Finneas performing Happier Than Ever in full, joined by a live orchestra! They also find time to discuss fidget cubes, Monster Munch, and Lucas's tentative marriage to Finneas.
Head to Disney+ to watch along with us!
Or don't - the episode works fine either way!
You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!
What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.com
If you'd like a different way to donate to us
You can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusic
Any donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!
Join the conversation on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpod
E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com
http://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/

Support the show

Happier Than Ever (Pt. 3) Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

The Big Mates discuss visiting cats, OPM, Phoebe Bridgers, and Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish.
Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep-dive into Billie's second album, giving a track-by-track analysis, discussing the music, lyrics, themes, and everything inbetween! How does this album land with The Big Mates? How was it received by the public? Is Adam still going on about narrative? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?
You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!
What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.com
If you'd like a different way to donate to us
You can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusic
Any donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!
Join the conversation on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpod
E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com
http://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/

Support the show