How does a good pop song end? With a bang, right? As it turns out, explosive endings are kinda over. Songwriters are instead opting to end with a final dropout. Even the biggest pop anthems close with a quiet final moment. In this musical short, Nate, our resident musicologist, offers some theories as to why. FEATURING Taylor Swift – Blank Space One Republic ... Show More
Sep 22
Tove Lo wants her music to sound out of control (ft. Tove Lo)
Swedish singer-songwriter Tove Lo’s new album ESTRUS can be summarized in the opening lyrics of the album’s closing track, “source of life”: “Feral, fragile, numb, ecstatic / sad, euphoric, catatonic / Horny, repulsed, proud and shameful / Good, demonic, contradictions.” A songwr ... Show More
38m 19s
Sep 15
The power of singing together (ft. Tiny Habits)
Throughout pop history, groups from The Ink Spots to the Beach Boys to Fleetwood Mac all forged their sound in the alchemy of vocal harmonies, harnessing the magic that happens when different voices join as one. Then suddenly, right around the 1980s, vocal harmonies started to wa ... Show More
40m 33s
Apr 2022
'Made in the A.M.' | Every Single Album: One Direction
They're down one member, but they're still rocking. Nora and Nathan talk about One Direction's bittersweet final album as a band. They discuss "Drag Me Down," the defiant lead single they released (1:00), their sophistication as songwriters showing through in songs like "Olivia" ... Show More
1h 39m
May 2024
'The Tortured Poets Department' Wrap-Up, and the Power of 'Espresso' | Every Single Album: Taylor Swift
Nora and Nathan give a few final thoughts about 'The Tortured Poets Department,' including what the charts can tell us about how people are listening to this album (1:00), and whether Taylor Swift albums can be properly reviewed anymore (34:25). Then, they talk about Sabrina Carp ... Show More
1h 4m
Dec 2024
It's the End of an Era(s Tour)
After almost two years, 149 shows, and 51 cities, Taylor Swift's Eras Tour has officially come to a close. Nora and Nathan talk about the cultural impact of this tour and what it did for Swift's star status (1:00), discuss what may come next for the singer now that she has some m ... Show More
1h 14m
Jul 2023
Drafting 'Speak Now (Taylor's Version)'. Plus, the End of Love on Tour.
Nora and Nathan talk about Harry Styles's Love on Tour finally ending this week, and the rumors that Taylor Swift will do a second U.S. leg of her tour (1:00). Then, they draft their new favorite songs from 'Speak Now (Taylor's Version)' (17:16).
Hosts: Nora Princiotti and Natha ... Show More
46m 25s