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What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music

Music Podcasts

A podcast about discographies. A different artist every season. Currently in Season 4: Is It Rad In Yo' Head?: A critical analysis of the history, cultural impact, and music of Radiohead. Join Adam, Steve, and Lucas, as they go album by album, track by track, to find out if context can change your experience of music, how people become obsessed with artists, and to ultimately answer the question 'what is music?' Expect in-depth analysis, tedious tangents, controversial music opinions, and an exhaustive attitude to context. Also expect to find out more about the artists (and the hosts) than anyone could ever want to know! Previous seasons have covered Manic Street Preachers, Muse, and Billie Eilish!

A podcast about discographies. A different artist every season. Currently in Season 4: Is It Rad In Yo' Head?: A critical analysis of the history, cultural impact, and music of Radiohead. Join Adam, Steve, and Lucas, as they go album by album, track by track, to find out if context can change your experience of music, how people become obsessed with artists, and to ultimately answer the question 'what is music?' Expect in-depth analysis, tedious tangents, controversial music opinions, and an exhaustive attitude to context. Also expect to find out more about the artists (and the hosts) than anyone could ever want to know! Previous seasons have covered Manic Street Preachers, Muse, and Billie Eilish!

Location:

United Kingdom

Description:

A podcast about discographies. A different artist every season. Currently in Season 4: Is It Rad In Yo' Head?: A critical analysis of the history, cultural impact, and music of Radiohead. Join Adam, Steve, and Lucas, as they go album by album, track by track, to find out if context can change your experience of music, how people become obsessed with artists, and to ultimately answer the question 'what is music?' Expect in-depth analysis, tedious tangents, controversial music opinions, and an exhaustive attitude to context. Also expect to find out more about the artists (and the hosts) than anyone could ever want to know! Previous seasons have covered Manic Street Preachers, Muse, and Billie Eilish!

Language:

English

Episodes

OK Computer (Pt. 3)

7/3/2022
The Big Mates discuss murderous cats, musique concrete, ASMR, and OK Computer by Radiohead. Adam, Steve, and Lucas conclude their track-by-track deep dive into the mammoth third album 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 also explore how the album was received at the time of release and the incredibly large legacy it has left...

Duration:01:32:45

OK Computer (Pt. 2)

6/26/2022
The Big Mates discuss technology, Ewoks, the ZX Spectrum, and OK Computer by Radiohead. Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their track-by-track deep dive into this blockbuster album by beginning their track-by-track exploration. They 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 discuss the context, recording process, and reception of the songs,...

Duration:01:31:46

OK Computer (Pt. 1)

6/19/2022
The Big Mates discuss Soul Asylum, Baz Luhrmann, R.E.M., and OK Computer by Radiohead. Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Radiohead by tackling their highly praised third album OK Computer. 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...

Duration:01:44:26

Radiohead Live at the Metro 1996 Commentary

6/12/2022
The Big Mates provide insightful commentary for Radiohead Live at the Metro. Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the show as boradcast on TV in 1996, and dig in to the context surrounding the tour undertaken in support of The Bends. They also find the time to discuss the debut of a new song in 1995, and a song Radiohead covered on the tour. Head to the Radiohead Public Library to watch along here: https://www.radiohead.com/library/#bends/1996-04-06-chicago-metro-96/ Or don't - the episode...

Duration:01:40:40

The Bends (Pt. 3)

6/5/2022
The Big Mates discuss Bridge of Lies, LCD Soundsystem, dealing with anxiety, and The Bends by Radiohead. Adam, Steve, and Lucas conclude their track-by-track deep dive into the influential second album 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 also explore how the album was received at the time of release and the legacy it has left...

Duration:01:11:59

The Bends (Pt. 2)

5/29/2022
The Big Mates discuss Sports Direct, Sigur Ros, iron lungs, and The Bends by Radiohead. Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their track-by-track deep dive into the influential sophomore album 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. What are the themes of the album? Why are some mugs so large? Can Steve do the outro? Find out on this episode...

Duration:01:16:29

The Bends (Pt. 1)

5/22/2022
The Big Mates discuss air fryers, high charts, dry charts, and The Bends by Radiohead. Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Radiohead by picking up where they left off starting their deep dive into the band's second album, released in 1995. 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...

Duration:01:15:32

Making Pablo Honey with Paul Q. Kolderie

5/15/2022
Adam sits down with music producer Paul Q. Kolderie to discuss mixing techniques, the music industry, and his work producing Pablo Honey by Radiohead. They talk about how Paul became a music producer, how he got started with his producing partner, Sean Slade, and how they started working with Radiohead. Paul gives insight into how the band were in the studio, and touches on the respeonse to, and legacy of the album. They also, of course, talk about Creep and find time to chat about Paul's...

Duration:01:05:23

Radiohead Live at the Astoria Commentary

5/8/2022
The Big Mates provide insightful commentary for Live at the Astoria, the officially released live VHS by Radiohead. Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the show as committed to tape in 1994, and dig in to the context surrounding the tour undertaken by Radiohead in support of Pablo Honey? They also find the time to discuss the bands appearances at Glastonbury and Reading 1994, the sneak previews of songs from The Bends, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers! They also "do a live react" to Radiohead's...

Duration:01:25:00

Pablo Honey (Pt. 2)

5/1/2022
The Big Mates discuss The Sims, The Clangers, Friends, and Pablo Honey by Radiohead. Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Radiohead by completing their track-by-track analysis of 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...

Duration:01:24:18

Pablo Honey (Pt. 1)

4/24/2022
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...

Duration:01:40:32

On A Friday/Drill

4/17/2022
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,...

Duration:01:30:44

Season 4 Introduction: Is It Rad In Yo' Head?

4/10/2022
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...

Duration:01:43:44

The Ultra Vivid Lament (Pt. 2)

4/3/2022
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...

Duration:02:00:00

The Ultra Vivid Lament (Pt. 1 with Dave Eringa)

3/27/2022
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...

Duration:01:07:20

Billie Eilish: Final Thoughts

3/20/2022
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...

Duration:01:56:40

BREAKING MUSE: Compliance (and album news!)

3/17/2022
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...

Duration:00:24:20

Music Videos

3/13/2022
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...

Duration:01:54:59

A Love Letter to Los Angeles Commentary

3/6/2022
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)...

Duration:01:24:52

Happier Than Ever (Pt. 3)

2/27/2022
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)...

Duration:01:13:13

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