Pop Episodes
Dec. 23, 2020
Last Christmas (Wham!) w/ Dave Barnes - Episode 619
Uncle Dave, aka heartthrob and songster Dave Barnes, returns as special guest cohost as we get in the celebration mode for the holidays! Wham!'s "Last Christmas" has joined Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" as…
Dec. 9, 2020
Charlie Puth (Rivalry Week 2) - Episode 617
For Round 2 of this season's Rivalry Week, we're going to look at the body of work of one Charlie Puth and fight over his worthiness of our attention (no pun intended). JP hates him; Rob loves him. How about you? Want MORE s…
Dec. 2, 2020
Rivalry Week - "How Bizarre" (OMC) - Episode 616
Rivalry Week returns with a look into the '90s hit "How Bizarre" by your favorite New Zealand acoustic mariachi pop group, OMC! JP loves this song, and Rob can't stand it--take a listen and see who you side with! Want MORE s…
Nov. 25, 2020
Wouldn't It Be Nice (Beach Boys) w/Joey Abbott - Episode 615
Track 1 from arguably the greatest album of all time, with the commentary and perspective of good friend of the show Joey Abbott! - Rob’s sad lack of Beach Boys familiarity - The Greatest Song of the 1960’s - Phil Spector, B…
Nov. 11, 2020
American Pie (w/Don McLean) - Episode 613
An absolutely iconic piece of art, "American Pie" is one of the greatest single songs in pop music history. And we've got the man behind it, the brilliant Don McLean, to chat with us on the show! In this episode: - “It’s as …
Nov. 4, 2020
Good Lovin (The Rascals) w/Felix Cavaliere - Episode 612
True rock royalty joins us for Hall of Fame week, and we couldn't be more thrilled to welcome a member of one of the most important acts in rock history, as The Rascals/Young Rascals frontman Felix Cavaliere joins us to chat…
Oct. 28, 2020
Hooked on a Feeling (w/BJ Thomas) - Episode 611
BJ Thomas is a big deal. Multiple Grammys, Oscar winner, you name it he's done it. Plus he's like super handsome. In this episode we break down one of his many signature hits, plus: - Sweetest candies by volume - Turns out i…
Oct. 21, 2020
Flood (Jars of Clay) w/Dan Haseltine - Episode 610
The halfway point of Season Six is a big one, with a massive crossover hit from the '90s, and a seminal piece of CCM, Jars of Clay's "Flood." We'll get into all the greatness of the song, it's instant and unique recognizabil…
Oct. 14, 2020
Dirty Dancing Double Feature: "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" + "Hungry Eyes" w/Franke Previte Interview - Episode 609
Our first-ever Double Feature! This week we're covering two songs, both featured on the same movie soundtrack, and both co-written by the same guy, Franke Previte! In this XL episode we'll talk about: - Weird stuff in popcor…
Oct. 7, 2020
Biggest Part of Me (Ambrosia) w/Burleigh Drummond Interview - Episode 608
It's a stone-cold groove, man. And the chords, my gosh, the chords!! The boys drool over the sheer musicality of one of the most versatile bands in pop-rock-blue-eyed-prog-soul history, and we chat with the man behind the gr…
Sept. 23, 2020
Escape (The Piña Colada Song) + Rupert Holmes Interview - Episode 606
This week we're talking about the catchiest little ditty about cheating on your spouse you ever did hear, and we are joined by the brilliant and funny Rupert Holmes to tell the tale. An instant Mount Rushmore interview with …
Sept. 16, 2020
"Superman (It's Not Easy)" - Five For Fighting w/John Ondrasik Interview - Episode 605
One of the most gut-punching songs of the 21st Century is about the Man of Steel admitting he's not so strong, and it comes from a band that's not really a band. Does that about cover it? Very special interview with Five for…
Sept. 9, 2020
Must Be Hard Being You (Clark Beckham) - Episode 604
American Idol Season XIV standout and runner-up Clark Beckham joins us to talk about his funky, fun single "Must Be Hard Being You," life beyond Idol, and more, including: - The tightest band Clark has ever heard - Clark’s h…
Aug. 19, 2020
Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond) - Episode 601
Season 6 starts with a bang! Neil Diamond, the Jewish Elvis, gives us one of the most iconic singalongs of all time, and yer boys are back to break it down. In this episode: - Neil’s almost-stage-names, the * better* of whic…
June 3, 2020
Best Day of My Life (American Authors) - Rivalry Week 6 - Episode 518
The happiest, most commercial song of the 2010s is the divisive topic for our 6th installment of Rivalry Week. Rob loves it; JP hates it--it's the absolutely ubiquitous "Best Day of My Life" by American Authors. Grab your ba…