Oh, hello! Join us on a Danse Macabre this week as we weave through a fantastical land of conquerors, demons, and kings with Dear Wormwood, the sophomore concept album from folk duo The Oh Hellos! These Texas siblings wrote and recorded this C.S. Lewis-inspired epistolary all by themselves, with each track representing another step in the protagonist's quest to end an unhealthy relationship. We'll Oh-Lei-Oh-Lai our way through whimsical tracks like There Beneath and Soldier, Poet, King, and learn about everything from the intricacies of Irish citizenship to all the ways you could get wet during a concert. This folksy album blends deep symbolism with hard-hitting poetic lyrics and upbeat instrumentals that you might just have to hear to believe. We know who we are now... do you?

Turn on your Radio, crack open a Diet Mountain Dew, and experience that Summertime Sadness with us.. We're Off To The Races with Lana Del Rey's sweeping, saturated, cinematic debut Born To Die! This trip-hop album with a dark edge was born from her experiences with alcohol, mental health, and growing up. The Mixtaper is taking us on a journey through her Dark Paradise with facts that are almost as cinematic as this record, from Gatsby memes to dino dinners. We'll talk about her storytelling lyrics, signature low-register vocals, and Connor will rant about Carmen in the mornin'. It's truly a unique, unforgettable, genre-shifting album that's a must-listen for anybody who's interested in the pop music that defined the 2010s. Keep Spinning Del Rey!!

SPIN IT BACKTRACKS: DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S A TUNNEL UNDER OCEAN BLVD

It's a Rollie, not a stopwatch. Drake don't ever stop, and neither does his 2018 double album Scorpion! This week we're learning about everyone's favorite star of Degrassi (remember that) and exploring every corner of his unique, chart-topping style. We'll hear Sandra's Rose bloom with 25 rap and R&B-influenced hits full of hidden lyrical gems that keep Drake talking about Drake engaging for an hour and a half. The Mixtaper is bringing lawsuits, Rab Havztims, and whiskey records from the Top Boy himself! From God's Plan to In My Feelings, can this daunting record earn an 8 Out Of 10? Will it Elevate Connor's taste in rap? Worms.. we just opened up a can of those.

And if, like Drake, you find yourself asking, "Is There More?" YES! There is! Head over to www.SpinItPod.com for the special extended B-Side version of the episode where we dive into all 25 tracks, discuss some of his unbelievable chart and sales records, and visit the world's worst website. The Mixtaper has bonus facts that will take us for a walk on the Champagne Papi side... just watch out for Raptors. And don't scrub ahead!!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE B-SIDE!

She's a single mom who works two jobs, who loves her kids and never stops... she's a Survivor, and she's Reba McEntire!! James & Connor are discovering Whoever's In New England this week with her ballad-laden, breakthrough tenth record! We petition the Oklahoma Music Hall Of Fame and journey from her rodeo origins to the biggest stages in country music. The Mixtaper's lined up a star-studded red carpet affair with a few familiar fact faces and the Concept King is back at it again to weave these tracks into a touching story of love, heartbreak, and healing. Reba Can't Stop Now and neither can we.. so grab One Thin Dime, slip off that Little Rock, and get ready To Make That Same Mistake Again with us this week! OMHOF.... get with it.

Oh, honey, let's ride!! We're celebrating Connor's birthday (DEFINITELY not forgetting it again!) with his newest pick: The Strike's 2022 album The Lost Years! We first discovered their single Overtime on our Singles Episode (#15) and now we're going All The Way with a dozen Painkillers that are anything but Nothing New. It's a feel-good, good-time alt-pop extravaganza, driven by its energetic instrumentals and unique saxophone solos! The Mixtaper's back with an inflated ego after his last bout with Connor and he's done the unthinkable... Will facts about bomb shelters, ambulances for snowmen, and bad bowling stump him? We also wrap up with a live-listen to their brand new single The Getaway! If you like desert drives, brass instruments, and custom combs... this is your episode!

Looking California and feeling Minnesota? Well you've come to the right place! James and Connor are breaking our Rusty Cage this week and exploring the Mind Riot of Soundgarden's 1991 album Badmotorfinger! We'll talk about the actual garden of sound that gave the band their name, the science of cryptozoology, and the black hole that almost had a very famous name. From Chris Cornell's legendary vocals to Kim Thayil's exceptional guitar solos, this album of experimental time signatures and guitar tunings (you instrumentalists will get it) helped secure the band's legacy as grunge legends and is sure to keep you on your toes. We're getting faster and weirder than ever before!!

Rumour Has It we're spinning Adele this week.. She Set Fire To The Rain with her unforgettable coming-of-age breakup record 21 and now the tables have turned and we get to talk about it! From music fan to music student to early-life crisis to international superstar, find out what turned her into a mononymous household name. The Mixtaper has more facts about things he thinks James doesn't know.. we'll learn about the time she emotionally compromised a secret agent, her blossoming rivalry with another pop star, and see the suspicious return of a recent fact. She might find Someone Like You but we'll never find another one like her.. Can she join an elite club and earn our most prestigious honor?

Woah-oh, Listen To The Music! That's right, we're Rockin' Down The Highway with The Doobie Brothers and their breakthrough sophomore album Toulouse Street! We trace the band's Pud origins as a biker band and watch them grow into one of the foundational pillars of rock for more than a decade. We'll talk about a Beatle-beating record, the mysterious and unknowable origins of Doobie (Do-Bee?), and the explosive hobby that sent Skunk Baxter to Congress. Their tight vocal harmonies and country rock-inspired fingerpicking set this album apart.. Whether you're a Snake Man or Jesus Is Just Alright With You, there's a whole lot to love on this record. And Connor would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for you kids and your.. ugh, you know. 

SPIN IT BACKTRACKS: MINUTE BY MINUTE

...---... You know what that means: Time to talk about SZA's expansive, Grammy-winning sophomore album SOS! In an ambitious, intentional attempt to blend all her influences and styles into one melting pot, this 23-track record incorporates rock, pop, R&B, hip-hop, and more into hits like Kill Bill, Shirt, Low, and Snooze (and Conceited)!! James & Connor talk about SZA's Olympic dreams, her doomsday bunny, and more. The Mixtaper stumbles upon the most truth-filled lie he's ever made up. Between the content and the various strong Spin Cycle tie-ins, how will we compare SOS to the Album Of The Year it lost out to in Midnights? Did SZA deserve the Grammy instead? All this and more will be answered in this episode!

And if you can't get enough SZA or Spin It in your life, head over to our website and check out the B-Side Extended Episode! We'll share our thoughts on every single one of these 23 tracks, get a little deeper into streaming royalties and Album-Equivalent Units, and face off against the Mixtaper with two bonus facts about shelved ships and the wrath of Athena. Find it at .-- .-- .-- .-.-.- ... .--. .. -. .. - .--. --- -.. .-.-.- -.-. --- -- (that's www.SpinItPod.com for all you non-Morse coders)!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE B-SIDE!

When all you've gotta keep is strong listen to The All-American Rejects' sophomore album Move Along, like you know we do! James and Connor are breaking down the pop punk band's signature album with hits you might know from Rockband, Snakes On A Plane, and even the Disney Cars video game. Plus, the Mixtaper is back to spill the band's Dirty Little Secrets as we learn about their time in a Batcave, a bassist who can't play bass, and a license to hunt rare animals. Whether you're on Top Of The World or you Can't Take It with your Straightjacket Feeling, a taste of the Rejects soup might just Change Your Mind and make you Dance Inside. Either way..... It Ends Tonight.

WOAH! YEAH! Mötley Crüe's iconic 1989 record Dr. Feelgood has Kickstarted Our Hearts, hope it never stops! James & Connor are learning about the band's wilder days, including the true stories that inspired their most iconic songs! From power ballads like Without You to thinly-veiled euphemisms like Rattlesnake Shake and Sticky Sweet, we're ordering up another slice of glam metal! The Mixtaper is getting fired up this week with tales of aggressive pest control, run-ins with Swiss police, and an ex who tried to extinguish a relationship... literally. One thing's for sure... it's never the Same Ol' Situation when Mötley Crüe is involved. And once you're done with this episode... Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away).

We interrupt this broadcast to bring you a new concept: A March Madness-style bracket made entirely of TV show theme songs! We compiled 64 of the most iconic, memorable, and popular television shows, separated them by category, and brought them to the dance. We debated each matchup carefully and considered all kinds of factors, from relevance and intensity to storytelling and instrumentation to narrow down the best of the best! By the episode's end we'll crown our first March Madness champion! We're 100% sure there's a theme song you know or love on this list, so start rooting for your favorite and see how well it fares in this exciting tournament! Recorded live at twitch.tv/spinitpod!

Get ready to Roll Up for another week of ranking albums! We're on the Rooftops of Pittsburgh with Wiz Khalifa's 2011 major-label debut, Rolling Papers! It features the mega hit Steelers anthem Black And Yellow, pop crossover No Sleep, and a dozen other atmospheric, synth-laden tracks that will give us a glimpse into Wiz's life. The Mixtaper has new Hopes & Dreams with facts about the time he wiz arrested, the ghosts that haunt him, and his trademark (?) laugh. Will this be another hiccup in the Year Of Healing? How long can Wiz Khalifa sing about his own success? And WHY hasn't anyone made the perfect Fruit Roll Up commercial yet?! Find out when we finish the race, taking the winner's place!

Sucker for the pain, huh, honey? This week we're Forever (Sailing) into forlorn indie pop with Valentine, the heart-wrenching sophomore album from 1999-born Lindsey Jordan, better known as Snail Mail! From the depths of heartbreak (and a lamplit cave), we'll explore everything from resilient teeth and homemade paper to lipomyelomeningocele. With captivating lyrics, provocative imagery, and the 249th-best guitar playing the world has ever seen, Snail Mail is coming out of her shell at her very best this week! The only question left to answer is this: so why'd you wanna erase her?

Meet me at midnight... for another Spin It Grammy Special! We've got plenty of award winners and performances to discuss. Find out how we were right and wrong about last week's predictions! And you best believe Taylor Swift is still Bejeweled... her latest record Midnights is the 2024 Album Of The Year! We'll talk about what she's been up to since we covered Red (it's a lot), break down her record-breaking Grammy wins, and dig into her surprise announcement of a new album, The Tortured Poets Department! Our resident Anti-Hero the Mixtaper is, of course, the Mastermind behind another round of Fact Or Spin, bestowing awards about elbows, corny husbands, and coveted convoluted handwriting. Can we push through the Lavender Haze and get to the bottom of this record, or will Karma track us down?

For more about Taylor Swift check out Episode 113 (and the extended B-Side version on our website) about Red! We go in-depth about her career beginnings, Taylor's Versions, the Eras Tour, and MUCH more!

It's Groundhog Day! Back in Episode 45 Connor introduced us to George Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue, and described it as his "going mad montage" where he tried to catch a pesky gopher. So we decided today should be Gopher Day instead! We're celebrating by revisiting George and Ira Gershwin and some of the iconic music that made their careers the stuff of legends. From the banks of the Swanee to Porgy & Bess and every concerto, suite, and show tune in between, these brothers were international pioneers of America's musical pantheon. We cover their lives end to end (and then some) with 13 of their greatest works, learn about their secondary careers, experience gastric dysfunction, and discuss the differences between groundhogs and gophers. Time to reap what we've sown... It's a new kind of holiday special you'll go-pher time and time again!

Every Day We Have The Blues, and today we're getting to know the King-- B.B. King, that is! His 1965 concert album Live At The Regal has often been hailed as one of the best blues records of all time. How Blue Can You Get? James & Connor will find out as they discover Blues Boy King's exceptional tractor-driving skills (and tractor-wrecking skills), his iconic guitar(s) Lucille, and an explosive career that made him one of the most legendary names in music. We'll learn about the historic Regal Theater, the Eggwich, and the dangerous hobby he carried into his 70s. Find out if our second-ever live album lives up to the hype as our Sweet Little Angel or if We Done Lost Our Good Thing Now.

Got a Heart Like A Truck? Hold our halos... this week we're cooking with Grease and talking about Lainey Wilson's award-winning country fusion record Bell Bottom Country! From ripping country hits like Road Runner and Wildflowers and Wild Horses to unforgettable moments like Watermelon Moonshine and Those Boots, you won't need BBSP to know a good time's in store! The Mixtaper tries to call his Fact Or Spin shot with tales of Lainey's MySpace, inherited pirate treasure, and the true secret identity of Hannah Montana... there's no telling what this one's gonna cost him! Can this Hillbilly Hippie bust out of Connor's country clump?

Sarah's off on a turnaround, but James and Connor are on to another album! This week we're spinning Daryl Hall & John Oates' 1973 sophomore album Abandoned Luncheonette! It's a perfect example of their blossoming signature sound, with a blend of tracks that might just end up being magical. We'll talk about the shootout origins of one of rock's most recognizable duos, the legal woes they just can't seem to stay away from, egregious luncheonette litter, and more. Join us as we get to the bottom of what "&" means, prepare for doomsday, and get our hands covered in gravy! Had we known this album better then, we might have been alright when the morning came!

How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful! James and Connor are building a Ship To Wreck and talking about the smash-hit third record by Florence + The Machine. From emotional introspective rockers to soulful ballads, Florence Welch can sing it all (with her impressive 3-octave vocal range)! We'll talk about her favorite smells, turbulent travel, and throat-donor fans during Fact Or Spin, and Connor will have some VERY tough decisions to make. It's an album that's full of water-free water songs that have both peakish and valleyish tendencies. Can we get some intrachorus consistency from the Queen Of Peace, or will we be Caught in the Various Storms And Saints? Find out!

SPIN IT BACKTRACKS: HIGH AS HOPE

Happy New Year! We're back @ it again with another Listener Recommendation and saying Goodbye To All Of That 2023 with The WLDLFE! This up-and-coming indie pop band has toured with some of our previous faves like Bad Suns and The Band Camino. James and Connor are breaking down their FOURTH record to talk about lemonade, a lack of i's, drum muggers, Monkey Boo, and more! We're also recapping the past year of Spin It with a brand new game with real prizes on the line! Wake up, get close to all your friends, and be a little more like Jeremy as we jump into the deep end and ring in the new year with a bang bang this week!

It's another Spinter Wonderland special! We're reviving last year's Naughty Or Nice competition and putting 12 holiday hits head-to-head in a bracket-style elimination! The catch? Each song is by an artist we've covered in one of this year's episodes and voted on LIVE by our Twitch chat! From Elvis and the Eagles to Ray Stevens and *NSYNC, the results WILL surprise you and you'll find plenty of joy in the "Season Of Silly." Deck those halls, rock around those Christmas trees, jingle those bells, and fuel up that blimp! Come see who lands on the Nice list and who gets sentenced to Naughtiness this year!

Hello, we've waited here for you Everlong! Get ready to put a Monkey Wrench in your listening habits with The Colour And The Shape, the sophomore album from the Dave Grohl-led Foo Fighters! James and Connor find out what he's been up to since Nirvana. What's a foo? Who earned the title of Honorary Beatle? What caused the band to move the earth? We'll answer all these questions and then talk about this musical therapy session (and Our Poor Brain isn't ready)! Kick back and look at the February Stars with us on this very Foo-ful episode!

Connor's taking the wheel this week with another album.. it's Drive by Alan Jackson! This 2002 record is often considered one of the best of his career and it features songs like First Love, That'd Be Alright, and the contemplative Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning). We'll talk about his pets, weightlifting, and his career's sky-high origins, and we'll even taste test his favorite food! The Mixtaper is back up against lil' ugly flirty Smurf Connor and hoping to beat his personal best of 50/50 and you don't wanna miss it. Whoops, we slipped and fell in love with Drive!