What happens when your podcast’s theme song—cobbled together from GarageBand loops—gets called “game show music” and likened to a cereal commercial? You rewrite it. In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of Switched on Pop’s sonic makeover, from scathing critiques by music industry heavyweights to the creation of a lush, layered soundscape inspired b ... Show More
Jun 9
Paul McCartney went back to Liverpool for something new to say
Boys of Dungeon Lane, McCartney's collaboration with producer Andrew Watt, arrived when McCartney was 83 and and he came out swinging: the opening track greets listeners with a dissonant, unresolved guitar chord that sets the album's tone. Harmonic instability runs through the en ... Show More
42m 8s
Jun 5
How a sci-fi dystopia became a personal utopia (ft. Arc Iris)
A sci-fi ballet imagined a 2080 where AI strips people of purpose, and the day before its New York premiere, an actual dystopia arrived. Arc Iris, the trio of Jocie Adams, Zach Tenorio and Ray Belli, built iTMRW as a concept record set in a future ruled by a mega-corporation that ... Show More
13m 2s
Jun 2
Why bands give us purpose (ft. MUNA)
A culture that rewards easily consumable individual identities produces plenty of pop stars and almost no bands. A significant exception: MUNA, the trio of Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson. MUNA treats the band as a structure that grounds identity beyond the ego a ... Show More
52m 19s
Jan 2025
A Theme About Themes - TV, Movie, and Cartoon Theme Songs Karaoke Style
It's Episode 69 of the Friday Night Karaoke Podcast, and the theme was TV, Movie, and Cartoon themes! Get ready for the ultimate nostalgia trip! This week on the Friday Night Karaoke Podcast, Mike and Joe are diving into the world of Movie, TV, and Cartoon Themes, featuring incre ... Show More
58m 42s
Jul 2024
Star Trek the Original Series - the Music (Part IV)
Our final look at the music of Star Trek puts us in the position of the show's music editors and composers. With so many classic episodes to get through, how did they stretch their music budget to cover an entire season? The music of Sol Kaplan, Joseph Mullendore, Gerald Fried an ... Show More
59m 9s
Jun 2019
"Tiny Dancer" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John
<p>Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin wrote so many great songs over the years that it was impossible to pick a single one for Strong Songs. So, why not do two? Kirk dives into a pair of classics by the storied songwriting duo, talking about Elton's chameleon-like voice, h ... Show More
46m 42s
Apr 2025
Even more songs to calm the nerves
Our third installment of calming songs includes Max Richter's tribute to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ambient sounds from Ryuichi Sakamoto, Brazilian jazz from Wayne Shorter and more.Featured artists and songs:01. The Choir: "You Don't Have To Smile," from 'Transluc ... Show More
54m 45s