x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Album Mode

Demar Grant & Adriel Smiley

Welcome to Album Mode where journalist, Demar Grant and The Cool Table host, Adriel Smiley breakdown and review the latest albums. Each episode features a new album where both hosts dive in-depth about the project and the artist’s path to its release.

music music commentary

All Episodes

31:17

James Blake and Kanye West Are at War with Spotify

Album Mode ·

2024/03/16

James Blake and Kanye West are on a rampage. Blake has joined the choir of artists to denounce Spotify and lament the streaming ecosystem, saying it doesn't pay enough and that listeners have been brainwashed into thinking music is free. Kanye is thinking of putting Vulture 2 out but not on streaming. Demar and Andriel break it down and wonder if it's even possible to escape streaming today.TIMECODES:00:50 James Blake's Twitter rant2:52 Adriel silencing women8:53 CD era10:12 Right message, wrong

en

60:07

CLXVII. Ariana Grande | Eternal Sunshine

Album Mode ·

2024/03/16

This week, Démar and Adriel discuss Ariana Grande's seventh studio album, 'Eternal Sunshine', her competency but lack of risk-taking and her influences bleeding through all of her songs.Démar’s rating: 6.5 / 10Adriel’s rating: 5 / 10The Love List: eternal sunshine, the boy is mine, don't wanna break up againTIMECODES:3:42 Made for a group class of elderly’s4:01 GTA music4:38 Harry Styles comparison6:02 Never dropping a bad song, but jumping up takes a risk6:34 The boy is mine10:20 What new R&B

en

28:31

Lil Rod Presents New Diddy Allegations and Meek Mill...

Album Mode ·

2024/03/08

A second person has come forward against Diddy with accusations of sexual assault, illicit behavior Demar and Adriel give their thoughts about the whole ordeal. Also, Meek Mill is somehow the butt of the joke despite Diddy's alleged acts, the duo tackle the news.TIMECODES:1:30 Lil Rod accused Diddy of assault3:25 Twitter jokes3:47 Adriel reading tweets / AK6:44 Meek Mill has been embarrassing himself on the internet for 5 years 8:01 People don’t actually care 10:10 Cosby comparison12:00 At this

en

65:51

CLXVI. Schoolboy Q | Blue Lips

Album Mode ·

2024/03/06

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Schoolboy Q's sixth album, 'Blue Lips', his status as a blog era legend and his adoption of jazz into his dark, muddy sound.Démar’s rating: 7 / 10Adriel’s rating: 9 / 10The Love List: Pop, Blueslides, Cooties, oHio, Movie, Lost TimesTIMECODES:1:10 - TDE inverted03:09 - Crash Talk03:38 - Demar didn’t get Schoolboy Q06:57 - Collard Greens10:34 - Legend of the Blog era12:03 - Demar's favourite Schoolboy Q song..13:00 - Groovy Tony15:02 - No loops/stand-out

en

40:01

Yeat is the SGA of Hip Hop, Rappers vs NBA Players...

Album Mode ·

2024/03/02

Because Adriel shut him down in the past, Démar is doubling down on his Yeat-SGA take while also drawing some other comparisons between the hip hop world and the NBA. It's a fun one, strap inP.S. This was recorded before the additional Diddy allegations. That episode will be dropping on WednesdayTIMECODES:0:45 All-star weekend02:42 - SGA is higher than Yeat 05:15 - Lil Baby is D Rose07:04 - I think that’s worse …8:30 - Does towns have a ‘My Turn’?13:30 - People who listen to Tyler now were not fans

en

54:30

CLXV. MGMT | Loss of Life

Album Mode ·

2024/02/29

This week Démar and Adriel discuss MGMT's first album in 6 years, 'Loss of Life', the maturation of their listeners and it's pump fake in production. Also, is it possible for a song to be both properly written and underwritten?Démar’s rating: 8 / 10Adriel’s rating: 7.5 / 10The Love List: People In The Street, Bubblegum Dog, Nothing To Declare, Phradie's Song, I Wish I Was JokingP.S. I know it's Phradie's song not Phardie's song, I misspoke the first time I mentioned it T_TTIMECODES:01:57 - Song more

en

68:43

CLXIV. Yeat | 2093

Album Mode ·

2024/02/22

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Yeat's fourth studio album '2093', its novel cyberpunk aesthetic and whether he's jumped ahead of Travis Scott and Playboi Carti.Démar’s rating: 9.5 / 10Adriel’s rating: 6 / 10The Love List: Psycho CEO, Shade, ILUV, As We Speak, Power Trip, Stand On ItP.S. I'm not backing down from my score, I'll see y'all in 2025 when you agree with me, as usual - D. Also Team CEO sounds like a Hotline Miami song.TIMECODES:4:10 - For Yeat it found him early (sorry about that)5:34

en

30:32

Usher Super Bowl Halftime Reactions and Predictions...

Album Mode ·

2024/02/15

Demar and Adriel react to the Super Bowl halftime show, reminisce on the best Super Bowl in history and who should do the next one. Taylor Swift is probably gonna be in the building for the next one so... I guess it's an easy call to make? Maybe even Drake? The duo also talk about Little Simz's latest EP 'Drop 7' and albums their looking forward to coming this year.TIMECODES:04:23 - There is dancing then there is dancing6:23 - Demar is on a different algorithm09:01 - Give Adriel the R&B

en

65:49

CLXIII. Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign | Vultures 1

Album Mode ·

2024/02/15

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign's collab album 'Vultures 1', whether its possible to divorce the art from the artist and how Kanye became deadweight on his own album.Démar’s rating: 2.5 / 10Adriel’s rating: 4 / 10The Love List: BURN, FUCK SUMN, VULTURESP.S. For new Album Mode listeners, the NBA Youngboy zone is when we no longer review an artist's music. For Youngboy in particular it's because his music has been so bad for so long, despite his popularity, we stopped

en

47:46

2024 Grammys Recap, Reaction and TikTok Breaks Up...

Album Mode ·

2024/02/08

Demar and Adriel recap the Grammys and breakdown why the award continues to lose relevance. Also the duo catch up on the TikTok and UMG negotiation breakdown, independent artists are up! P.S. Hard times for Drew Walls and his content with the UMG negotiations, keep him in your prayersTIMECODES:0:58 - Grammys who cares8:10 - Rod Wave should be considered a mainstream artist9:58 - Understanding Drake and The Weeknd frustrations11:16 - Never nominating anything off after hours12:52 - They don't

en

63:54

CLXII. The Last Dinner Party | Prelude to Ecstasy

Album Mode ·

2024/02/08

This week Démar and Adriel discuss The Last Dinner Party's debut studio album 'Prelude to Ecstasy', their tug of war between sexuality and religion and their industry plant allegations.Démar’s rating: 9 / 10Adriel’s rating: 9 / 10The Love List: Sinner, Burn Alive, Prelude To Ecstasy, The Feminine Urge, Nothing MattersTIMECODES:2:39 - Just a band 4:03 - Industry plant allegations7:40 - Hip-Hop DIY11:37 - Grade 10 band nostalgia 16:46 - Rock beat switch19:40 - Sinner 23:14 - Mirror is 2012 Lana Del

en

29:27

Megan Thee Stallion Triggers Nicki Minaj Into...

Album Mode ·

2024/02/01

We've got beef again! Nicki Minaj is livid over a few sneak disses from Megan Thee Stallion in her single 'Hiss'... In response she dropped 'Big Foot' and it's one of the worst diss track in hip hop history. Let's discuss.TIMECODES:1:00 Don’t know if it’s real beef5:50 Demar needs to cut this part (finding info)7:05 People are selective on what lines get a rise out of people 7:42 Big Foot 12:12 Nikki made it about Nikki14:09 Can Nikki recover from this15:50 S he took an L20:28 Sympathetic shit goes

en

55:09

CLXI. Benny the Butcher | Everybody Cant Go

Album Mode ·

2024/02/01

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Benny the Butcher's fourth studio album 'Everybody Can't Go', building a bridge between mainstream and underground production and leveling up as an artist.Démar’s rating: 7.5 / 10Adriel’s rating: 8.5 / 10The Love List: Jermaine's Graduation, BRON, How To Rap, One Foot In,TIMECODES:1:30 - Demar can’t stand Westside Gunn's voice3:22 - 2000’s style coming back5:31 - Why he’s a legend7:01 - Adriel’s a Benny fan8:00 - Best Features 12:38 - 2008 single13:18 - Limewire

en

40:50

Mos Def's Drake Problem and Playboi Carti's Singles...

Album Mode ·

2024/01/19

We've somehow come full circle in Drake's career and old heads are calling him "not hip hop" again. This time is Yasiin Bey / Mos Def who can't grasp versitility. Also, are Playboi Carti's new singles just 2015 Future knock offs? The duo breakdown and respond to the discourse. *NOTE*: This episode was recorded before Pitchfork's layoffs were announced or there'd be a lengthy conversation. Pitchfork is one of the main inspirations for Album Mode and we love the work they do there. Our best wishes go

en

61:33

CLX. 21 Savage | American Dream

Album Mode ·

2024/01/18

This week Démar and Adriel discuss 21 Savage's third solo album 'American Dream', his constant improvement and how he's finally found a way to incorporate his love for R&B in his music.Démar’s rating: 7 / 10Adriel’s rating: 6.5 / 10The Love List: all of me, n.h.i.e., prove it, dark daysTIMECODES:6:30 the trailer9:20 21 being born in Uk10:50 collaboration projects15:08 favourite 21 song17:00 the duality of 21s style/character (big bad wolf)19:30 there’s more behind the murder20:00 things get

en

61:22

The Top 10 Songs of 2023

Album Mode ·

2023/12/26

In the era of TikTok songs and sporatic singles you know we had to give our top 10 singles of 2023 2023. Adriel and Démar list their best singles of the year and come to realize there's a difference between music listeners who are 'outside' versus 'inside' it's a weird discovery, so strap in for the last pod of the year.P.S. If Boy's a Liar isn't in your top 10 we need to have a serious conversation...TIMECODES: 2:50 - #10’s5:58 - She is doing something with the sample7:12 - #9’s9:43 - Demar showing

en

86:30

The Top 10 Albums of 2023

Album Mode ·

2023/12/21

Finally the episode you've all been waiting for, the top 10 albums of 2023. Adriel and Démar list their best albums of the year and hand out some supperlatives to cap off 2023. There's some surprises in both lists so strap in for our year-ender.TIMECODES:2:46 - #10’s 6:50 - #9’s7:00 - Jessie Ware is the Jimmy Butler of music 10:05 - Demar has been saying Yeat's name for years 12:03 - #8’s19:23 - Tame Impala since currents 19:45 - #7’s20:32 - Avril Lavine vs Taylor Swift for Olivia Rodrigo27:18 -

en

77:14

CLIX. Nicki Minaj | Pink Friday 2

Album Mode ·

2023/12/13

This week Démar and Adriel discuss the sequel to Nicki Minaj's influential debut album, Pink Friday 2 and scourge of lazy samples in modern hip hop.Démar’s rating: 7 / 10Adriel’s rating: 7.5 / 10The Love List: RNB, Everybody, Red Ruby Da Sleeze, Pink Birthday, CowgirlTIMECODES:3:20 - Women in hip-hop3:52 - Nicki top 50?5:09 - Popstar Nicki6:50 - Monster8:04 - Good Friday’s12:25 - Demar likes 'Super Bass'18:33 - Barbie Dangerous 23:30 - Sampling26:45 - 808’s29:45 - Waste of a feature32:22 - Didn’t

en

71:01

Top 5 Music Storylines of 2023

Album Mode ·

2023/12/08

The Music year is nearly over so Demar and Adriel recap their favourite stories. Taylor Swift, Diddy, DJ Envy, Tory Lanez all included and Frank Ocean catches another stray.TIMECODES:4:55 - Redefining what success is 9:37 - A lot of it is noise12:15 - We have the same 3 / DJ Envy15:50 - Breakfast Club documentary (we gotta do it now)17:23 - DJ Envy is going to be fine 18:30 - 2000s mindset19:58 - Frank Ocean doubles down23:30 - They’re delusional24:34 - Jay-Z treatment28:50 - P. Diddy37:14 - Hip-hop

en

41:49

Diddy's Heinous Allegations, Megan Thee Stallion +...

Album Mode ·

2023/11/23

Cassie had Diddy up on allegations on until the settlement, watch Demar and Adriel give their thoughts about the whole ordeal. Also Pardison Fontaine and Megan Thee Stallion are beefing, what else is new? Andre 3000's latest album! Adriel gives his thoughts on the hip hop legend's woodwind project.P.S. If what Cassie said is true, Diddy is a cuck right? I mean according to the text...TIMECODES:0:57 - Diddy5:45 - Who’s going to be the first person to speak out and cancel Diddy6:30 - Diddy is praying

en

314 results

Similar Podcasts

Pasquale Maassen Soundcloud

Pasquale Maassen

Marian Klose

Marian Klose

sevenism

sevenism

Dean Delray"s LET THERE BE TALK

Cactus Radio Network

Word In Your Ear

Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold