The Doctor Is In!! It's Spin-ter Wonderland season, and we're kicking off the holidays with Connor's pick: Dr. Demento's Greatest Christmas Novelty CD Of All Time! Brace yourself. This festive record is packed with a wide array of comedic tunes, from staples that have transcended novelty like Christmas Don't Be Late, Hippopotamus For Christmas, and Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer to lesser-known deep cuts. We'll talk about the Disc Jockey himself and learn about monkey muggings, dog mayors, and the Weird Al movie! It's an album unlike any we've encountered before (and hopefully unlike any we'll encounter again) so be sure to tune in and "stay demented!"

It's time to get Sparky with PEP, the latest record from Canadian pop music's own Prodigal Daughter, Lights! This "electronic landscape of moody sunset times" strikes a balance between joy and sadness like few other records can, from the brooding Beside Myself to the unbridled energy of Money In The Bag. We're going where no music podcast has dared to go before-- join us as we learn about the largest Sony TV, uncover an ACTUAL CRIME for the first time, and watch Connor attempt to eat 50 chicken nuggets before the episode's exciting conclusion. This album is truly the Real Thing, and it'll be in your head Rent free after this episode that's much more than Okay Okay!

You Oughta Know the '90s is a state of mind. We're taking a Jagged Little Pill with Alanis Morissette's third record this week, featuring hits like Hand In My Pocket and the not-so-ironic Ironic. This album's got a lot to say, and this post-punk garage rock will fill the void that's solely yours. We'll talk about Alanis' peanut butter preferences, that time she got mugged before meeting Madonna, and the bizarre 6-week period where her music could only be purchased from Starbucks. Take a listen; this record might just be All You Really Want!

So I was taking a walk the other day... We're talking about Kendrick Lamar's 2017 record, DAMN. this week. Kendrick tackles a wide range of emotions and challenges, from Fear to Loyalty to Pride. This concept record was designed to be played forward AND backwards, so we'll talk about all the intricacies that come with an album like that. We also learn about another celebrity prank, the perfect cereal ratio, and how not to prepare a turkey, and we find out What Happens On Earth Stays On Earth! Get ready to sit down, be Humble, and learn about the power, poison, peace, and joy inside this album's DNA that makes it so impactful.

Better make a little Room For Squares this week.. It's time to party like it's 2001 with John Mayer's debut album! It features hits like Why Georgia and Your Body Is A Wonderland! This acoustic singer-songwriter soft pop record showcases Mayer's skill with a guitar and shows off his ability to craft a metaphor, even if it plateaus pretty early on. We'll talk about his murder ties, take a ride on the Skunk Train, and crown our very own Pickle King in between discussion about all 13 album tracks, watch collections, krav maga, and James Franco films. Plus, we have our second FAN FACT OR SPIN at the end of this week's episode!

You can't plant us in your penthouse, we're going back to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by the Rocket Man himself, Sir Elton Hercules John! This ambitious double-LP features some of his biggest hits of all time, including Candle In The Wind, B-B-B-Bennie And The Jetsss, and Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting! We'll talk about his remarkable journey to superstardom and uncover the truth about his dressing room needs, his Godfather tendencies, and that time he hired a team of snipers. PLUS! You can find an extended cut of this episode with bonus facts, discussion about our live concert experience, and our thoughts on all 17 "unskippable" tracks at www.SpinItPod.com!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE B-SIDE!

Hang On To A Dream with us this week! We're spinning Everything As Nice As Mother Makes It (aka The Nice Album) by the grandfathers of Prog Rock and launchpad for famed pianist Keith Emmerson, The Nice! Half the album consists of the last batch of studio tracks the band would ever record, while the back half features two raucous live performances from New York City's Fillmore East. Hear the roots that make up this "missing link" album between the acid rock of the late '60s and the prog rock of today! Plus, the Mixtaper is putting James on the spot with cow-mounting, chess chimps, and root beer. It's anything but the Diary Of An Empty Day!

Mixtober comes to its epic conclusion this week! Connor can't make it to the recording so we have a special guest host... Join us as the Mixtaper takes us on a journey through the story of HIS favorite masked villian, The Phantom Of The Opera! We're talking about Andrew Lloyd Webber and the 2004 film adaptation of his 1986 show that's become a staple of musical theatre everywhere. We'll learn why he was so into trains, learn about the legendary superstar he accidentally killed, and why he needed a Cats dog as we explore the dungeons of dark despair that lie just behind the mirror. Keep your hand at the level of your eyes!

Keep Mixtober coming this week with another creepy Halloween-themed album! This week we're venturing into The In-Between with In This Moment's 2020 record Mother! This sweeping monolith of an album lands firmly in a genre we've dubbed "aluminum metal"-- come see why! We also discuss the band's surprising touring connections, debate the best way to cover a song, and shed some light on all the "spookable" creatures frontwoman Maria Brink may or may not have encountered. Find out if this album will Fly Like An Eagle or be turned Into Dust... what's its Legacy?

Welcome to Mixtober! We're taking Spin It to the movies this week with Ice Nine Kills' Silver Scream! Each track is inspired by a classic horror movie and brought to life through the band's signature music videos and metal "theatricore" sound. Prepare yourself for slashers, monsters, serial killers, and the most disgusting Fact Or Spin fact we've had yet. Stay tuned for more special Mixtober episodes the rest of the month!

What's Love Got To Do With It? We don't know, but Tina Turner does! This week we're showing some respect to her 1984 record Private Dancer! This pivotal first record after her divorce helped reinvigorate and elevate her solo career to the next level. James and Connor are discussing this time capsule of an album, digging into her world records and horseback riding habits, and getting into heated debates about our least favorite tracks this week! Come see what the iconic Queen Of Rock And Roll from Nutbush, TN is up to this week!

These are our drums. This.. is our podcast! James and Connor are headed deep into Bummerland with AJR's OK Orchestra! From transparent underpants to paintball islands, find out what this band of brothers has been up to when they're not busy churning out snappy electropop hits from their living room! Featuring hits like Bang! and Way Less Sad, the band's latest, pandemic-inspired record continues to do what they do best, looking at life's biggest problems through life's tiniest metaphors. Take a listen and hear what we loved (or didn't) as AJR spews their tiny symphony on this uniquely entertaining LP.

Picture This: A Blondie episode. One Way Or Another we were going to do it. This week we're spinning their breakthrough 1978 record Parallel Lines, which catapulted them from the New Wave underground into power pop superstardom. From the sing-songy melodies to the gritty guitars, this album is nothing short of a wild ride. We'll talk about Debbie Harry's closest encounters, including her ties to Grand Theft Auto and serial killer Ted Bundy's attempts at Grand Theft Blondie. Miley Cyrus' Plastic Hearts (Ep. 20) brought us here; let's see how it stacks up to this Spin Cycle Pick!

You may be asking yourself, "where is Tim McGraw?" Would you believe us if we said he's Everywhere? At least, that's what he tells us on his 1997 record, Everywhere! From the blizzards of Albuquerque to the tip of his hat-bearing fivehead, Tim McGraw puts his best foot forward and delivers SIX Top 2 singles, including classics like Where The Green Grass Grows, Just To See You Smile, and It's Your Love. We'll discuss his baseball ambitions, his inner thigh tattoos, and how much private islands cost as we figure out whether we do or we don't like these songs (and pimento cheese).

Revisit the peak of 1960s folk with Bob Dylan's sixth album, Highway 61 Revisited! Recorded and released in the wake of the genre-changing Newport Folk Festival where Dylan "went electric," this record features nine songs that helped re-shape the genre's sound altogether including Like A Rolling Stone and the mysterious Ballad Of A Thin Man. We're digging into Dylan's history and legacy, plus learning about his obscure hobbies, how he smells, and how much milk one human can safely drink. Grab your harmonica and head on down Highway 61 with us this week on Spin It!

You want One Hit Wonders? We Got 'Em. In our first-ever Bracket Challenge we put 16 of the biggest hits from the last 50 years head-to-head in a cutthroat single elimination tournament. The catch? YOU decided our winners! We recorded this episode LIVE on our Twitch and let the chat choose the outcome! Connor and James made their own brackets and are competing for accuracy... Who will win? Can we even compare The Lion Sleeps Tonight with Gangnam Style? And where did the Mixtaper get a blimp?! Only one way to find out, on this week's unique take on a Spin It Singles Episode!

We all go up in flames... James and Connor are going out in style this week with Coheed And Cambria's Vaxis II: A Window Of The Waking Mind! Set in frontman Claudio Sanchez's fictional Amory Wars universe, this concept album tells the story of a pair of criminals on a quest to save their son's life. We're digging into the lore, fandom, and outstanding music behind the story this week. Mama, watch your mouth-- Figure out what NOT to do with cereal, discover the truth about Claudio's rap career, and learn what Coheed's "pinkle sprinkle" is on this week's epic unclear episode!

The extended B-Side cut (our longest ever!) is packed with two bonus rounds of Fact Or Spin, stories from Coheed's current tour, and ALL our thoughts that were too long to put into the normal episode. Give it a try if you're really One Among The Fence! 

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE B-SIDE!

Jitterbug! Put the boom-boom into your life with James and Connor! We're taking you back to 1984 with Make It Big, the second and final studio album by British power pop duo Wham! George Michael and Andrew Ridgely bring all the hits, including Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Everything She Wants, and the iconic Careless Whisper. We'll dive into the world of F3 racing, discuss capybara care, and figure out if jitterbugs are even real. There's a lot to learn in this episode and if you were there... You'd know.

A million here, a million there... James and Connor are trying to Phone Home with Lil Wayne! His Three-Peat sixth record, Tha Carter III, features career-defining chart-toppers like A Milli, Dr. Carter, and the crossover hit Lollipop. From his innovative, on-the-spot lyrics to his captivating instrumentation, Weezy really brings his all to this record that led the charge for 2008 hip hop. We also discuss his role as the Tin Man, that time he joined the Bee Gees, and the infamous Got Milk campaign, all while disappointing Tom Hanks. Find out if we're Comfortable giving Mr. Carter a high score, or whether he's Tied Our Hands this week on Spin It!

We thought love was only true in fairytales. Then we listened to More Of The Monkees and now we're believers! This sophomore album from mid-60s TV stars The Monkees has a really unique backstory unlike any album we've talked about! Born of controversy, label control, and mounting tension, this album surprised everyone- even the band- when it came out. Learn about their revolutionary TV show and try your trivia knowledge as some classic Fact Or Spin tropes return, including a "legend" from episodes past! She only did you wrong but we won't, so check out this Monkee-fied episode of Spin It!

Need a little Post-Hardcore in your life? We did, so we turned to Dance Gavin Dance's 2016 release Mothership! Powered in equal parts by captivating instrumentals, smooth-yet-bouncy melodies, and corrosive, nonsensical John Mess screams, this is unlike any record we've covered to date. Learn the truth behind Trumpeter Swans, Feathercore metal music, and prep for the release of their upcoming Jackpot Juicer with James and Connor! We're also digging into certified poetry in brand new ways, with classic lyrics like "I can't wait to tap into the brain of my cat," and "Rooster's beak, I'll sleep when I leap that jeep." DGD might not be right for everyone but they might be just right for you, and there's only one way to find out-- diving in headfirst on this week's episode of Spin It!

It's Brutal out there, so it may be Good 4 U to listen to this episode of Spin It! We're getting swept off our feet by Olivia Rodrigo's record-breaking debut, SOUR! Featuring the smash hit Drivers License, this pop album with punk roots will have us taking steps forward, backward, and all over the place. Find out how much money she spent on a designer doghouse, how many undercut slaps are headed your way, and whose toenails were up for auction as we dig into this Grammy-winning album!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We're starting off Year Two with a different kind of album. It's the ephemeral, genre-fluid, medium-challenging fourth studio album from British innovators Radiohead: Kid A! From weird instruments (like the Ondes Martenot and the EBow) to snippets of lyrics pulled from a hat, we kind of figure this album is like listening to a painting. Some favorite facts return, and The Mixtaper teaches us how to ruin a Goldfish Christmas. Could Kid A be a record-breaker for both James and Connor? Only one way to find out.

PLUS! We have some Big Birthday Announcements this week! Starting tomorrow, you can find special Spin It Merchandise on our new Etsy store, and to celebrate we'll be hosting a giveaway later on in the week (keep an eye on socials @Spinitpod and @Spinitpodofficial for more details)! One of our favorite fibbing felons has made his way onto Twitter as well, and we've got even more to announce in this episode.

Thanks so much to each and every one of you for making this first year of podcasts such a fun ride. We're looking forward to many more albums, spins, and memories with you by our side! Keep Spinning into Year Two with us!

It's the last episode of Year One, so Connor's taking a shot at redemption with his third pick: Crazy Love by modern music's favorite crooner, Michael Bublé! We'll talk about how his pipe dreams turned into a surprising career, discuss his proudest accomplishment (no, it's not his four Grammys), and explore how he stood his ground against record labels to cover pop and jazz standards, and keep the flame of some of the genre's most enduring hits alive for a new generation. This record and this episode are bubbling over with big band, so come celebrate the end of our first year with us!! 

Happy Fourth Of July! Celebrate Independence Day with Green Day's 2004 rock opera, American Idiot! Brimming with Billie Joe Armstrong's scathing critiques of the nation, this snot-rock masterpiece follows Jesus Of Suburbia on a journey of self-discovery down the Boulevard Of Broken Dreams. We'll talk about how one of punk's most recognizable trios rose from the halls of high school via Bookmobile to the stage of a very muddy Woodstock. From the frantic opening guitar to the gentle fade of Whatsername, this is an album and a story you shouldn't miss.