40 - Popoff Pop Rock (Lit - My Own Worst Enemy)

This week we're revisiting "My Own Worst Enemy" by 90's #bowlingrock stalwarts Lit. We chat about how unfortunately influential this video was to our younger selves, touch on their evolution from hair metal act Razzle to grunge band Stain to the band that America briefly fell in like with, and remember their horrible connection to the Kelly Thomas incident.

Also in this episode: a hard stance against Journey's Kids and vodka, an embarrassing story about covering this song in a middle school band, an edgy bowling ball named "Headhunter," being too chubby/old to do the worm, and we somehow manage to talk about Friends, Married with Children, Clarissa Explains it All, Dharma and Greg, and Frasier.

39 - Braveheart, But About Puka Shells (Real Slim Shady & Get Back)

This week, my guest and I dissect Real Slim Shady, perhaps the goofiest of sound fx wizard Eminem’s interchangeable shock-rap tracks, and Get Back by Zebrahead, a rap-metal song which, much like Real Slim Shady, is a nonsensical mishmash of pop culture references.

My guest discusses being a closet Eminem fan, his father being an outspoken Eminem fan, and somehow growing up to be a halfway decent human being after listening to this in middle school. I argue that being a dorky version of Limp Bizkit is worse than the real thing and discover a line-for-line christian parody of our Eminem track.

Good music discussed on this episode: Savages, Death Grips, and some of Eminem’s better material

38 - Mixed Metaphorical Arts (Ain't Love Grand & On Wings of Lead)

Today we return to the metalcore/fashioncore/brocore scene of the early 2000's with Atreyu's Ain't Love Grand and Bleeding Through's On Wings of Lead. We remember the strange phenomenon of tough guys in eyeliner and bleach-streaked mohawks busting MMA moves and singing melodramatic lyrics about being drowned in blood by ex-girlfriends.

We also discuss merch-buying protocol, listening to these bands while far superior bands were playing at the same venues, how terrifying a mosh pit was to a fourteen year-old first timer, and getting a snarky email from Jacob Bannon of Converge.  

Good bands discussed on this episode: Converge, Integrity, Disembodied, Cave-In, and many more

37 - Take Off Your Pants & Inspector Jaggit (David Duchovny & Gillian Anderson)

To celebrate the return of the show, we're dissecting two unlikely songs and videos from the cast of The X-Files: the titular track from David Duchovny's Weather Channel inspired, cliche-ridden debut album, "Hell or Highwater," and Gillian Anderson's hyper-sexual, spoken-word nonsense for Hal's Extremis.  

Also: A review of Duchovny's ridiculous children's(?) book, Holy Cow, my guest relays a story about in-laws from Roswell, these two "red-blooded males" find Gillian Anderson attractive enough to acknowledge her personhood, and, as always, a selection of delicious YouTube comments.

36 - Woodstock '94 (Paper Lanterns & I Alone)

Today we're revisiting the corporate circus of Woodstock '94 as Travis Duscay and I analyze performances by Green Day and Live. Could something like this ever happen at a modern festival like Coachella? Was their mudfight the precursor to Billie Joe's iHeartRadio "meltdown"?  Will Live get lucky again and release a single to coincide with an attack on American soil? Find out today!

Good music: Woodstock performances of NIN's "Reptile" and and Metallica's "For Whom The Bell Tolls"

35 - Scooby Dooby Doo (Scatman & Mambo #5)

Today I'm joined by Albert "311" Albanez to talk about two bizarre novelties from the 90's: Scatman John's "Scatman," and Lou Bega's "Mambo #5." We explore the Scatland utopia described in the Scatman's 1995 hit concept album, Scatman's World; try to decide if Mambo #5 is a failed attempt at a Macarena-style dance craze, and examine Lou Bega's stunningly rich assortment of terrible covers. We also remember David Bowie and share a story of a drunken scat-along to Under Pressure. Lots of scat. 

34 - A Flash of Genius (Breakfast at Tiffany's)

Today we’re talking about Breakfast at Tiffany’s—a song by that band whose name you don’t know. We dissect their on-the-nose, breakfast-filled music video, fashion styles lost to the ages, and with the help of a few YouTube commenters, take Beethoven down a notch. We also discuss Good Songs by Broken Social Scene, Garbage, Save Ferris, and Polaris (yes, it’s that one)

33 - Click With Trust (Reel Big Fish - Take On Me)

On today's episode, my guest details her love/hate relationship with Reel Big Fish, and I argue that this cover might be the superior version of the song. We also discuss how the overbearing dorkiness of the two frontmen would have appealed to middle-school kids, and how the trumpet player reminded my guest of a Nightmare Theater Boyfriend she had in high school.

32 - Dad Rave (Two Princes & Run-Around)

The show's first guest, Aaron Brock, returns to help me dissect Dad Jam Anthems Two Princes and Blues Traveler's Run-Around. Why are these supposed hippies in Spin Doctors writing lyrics about medieval courtship rituals? Is the fake band in Run-Around a deliberate parody of Counting Crows' Adam Duritz? Are either of these groups actual jam bands?

Aaron also tells me about seeing Soul Asylum and Jimmy Buffet in concert as a kid, we discuss the Dad Rave known as the HORDE Festival, and discuss a couple "Adult Alternative" songs we actually like: Weezer's El Scorcho and Ben Folds Five's Do It Anyway.

31 - Forced Americana (Zoot Suit Riot & Rock This Town)

Season 2! I talk to returning guest Cahn Curtis about swing revivalists Cherry Poppin' Daddies' "Zoot Suit Riot" and Brian Setzer's Stray Cats' "Rock This Town." We discuss the swing revival of the 90's, whether or not Stray Cats are punk (they're not), and argue about the merits of revisionist Americana. Happy New Year!

Awful Spotlight #3 - The Tom Show (Tom DeLonge)

Today Nick and Matt return to talk about the disappointing career trajectory of Tom DeLonge. We're dissecting Blink 182's "All the Small Things," Box Car Racer's "I Feel So," and the incredibly masturbatory and highly entertaining Angels & Airwaves documentary, "Start the Machine."          

We discuss Blink songs we actually like, Tom's transformation into high school goth, and posit a possible connection between his grandiose, generically ambitious space operas and Scientology.

29 - Nonsense Words (Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm & Bawitdaba)

Late episode! Sorry, folks, but hopefully it was worth the wait. Today we're talking about nosense word songs as we dissect Crash Test Dummies' Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm and Kid Rock's Bawitdaba.

My guest Leigh opens up about her embarassing taste in showtunes, watching VH1 instead of MTV, and we also discuss Brad Roberts' bad poetry(?) and Kid Rock's dad owning a dealership(s). 

28 - Bed Bath & Beyond Radio (Hey There Delilah)

Continuing with our theme of "Vaguely Folkish Alterna-Emo," I chat with Cahn about the bane of our 2006: Hey There Delilah by The Plain White T's.

Cahn reminisces about being subjected to the song while on the clock, and I reminisce about hearing the song while buying alcohol in bulk. There's a story about an unusual phone-in request to the local radio station, Cahn adds a new bit to his routine, and we spend much more time than usual on music we actually like.

Discussed on this episode: Jethro Tull, David Kauffman and Eric Caboor, Neil Young, My Morning Jacket, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, James Taylor Swift, Nirvana, and Iron & Wine

27 - Vaguely Folkish Alterna-Emo (First Day of My Life & Screaming Infidelities)

Cahn returns to the show and we debate how tolerable Bright Eyes' First Day of My Life is, while we generally agree that Dashboard Confessional's Screaming Infidelities is at best a "cool alternative" to traditional worship music. 

24 - Shirley Manson Can't Be Serious (Dope Show & Celebrity Skin)

On today's episode I'm joined by Shaina to talk about our middle school years and dissect Marilyn Manson' Dope Show and Hole's Celebrity Skin.

 My guest talks about her transformation fom Xena superfan into goth kid, being called a poser at the mall, and her dispute with Montel Williams (or possibly Montel Jordan). We also talk about one of my weirder ex-girlfriends and solve the murder of Kurt Cobain with the help of some plucky YouTube commenters.

23 - Just Chumbawamba (Tubthumping, obviously)

Today, Kevan returns to help me hone in on the infamously terrible 90's hit "Tubthumping" by Chumbawumba.

We dissect the painfully awkward video, remember our adolescent impressions of the song, discuss the band's anarcho-punk background, talk about finding hardcore and punk music in the age before YouTube and Spotify, and try to figure out why YouTube commenters have such a hard time finding good music nowadays.

22 - Community College Rock (Heroes & Semi-Charmed Life)

Today I talk to friend and musician Kevan Aguilar about the semi-alt rock of the late 90's, including The Wallflowers' odd contribution to the Godzilla soundtrack and Third Eye Blind's meth and sex-laden hit Semi-Charmed Life.

I try to figure out the video for Heroes, Kevan also discusses being introduced to bands by his older sisters, and we both realize what a loser Stephen Jenkins is.

21 - Hardcore History (Korn - Falling Away From Me)

We're finishing our Nu-Metal conversation today by remembering and dissecting Korn's "Falling Away From Me."

We talk about how amazing it is that a music video about child abuse made it onto TRL, the crazy stories from their recording sessions, and growing up latino and listening to "white" music. We also talk extensively about navigating the early days of internet pornography, Nu-Metal we still actually like, and James's and my old hardcore band Life Tyrant.