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PODCAST

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music

Adam Scott Glasspool, Steve Murphy, Lucas Way

A podcast that dives deep into discographies - one artist per season. Hosts Adam, Steve, and Lucas go album by album, track by track, exploring how context shapes our experience of music, why fans become obsessed, and what music really is. With three hosts coming from wildly different levels of musical knowledge, expect sharp analysis, wild tangents, hot takes, and more information about the artists (and the hosts) than you ever asked for. Current focus: Björk. Previous seasons featured Manic Street

music music commentary

All Episodes

311:18

R.E.M. Final Thoughts

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/04/28

The Big Mates discuss and conclude their thoughts on R.E.M. and their career. They bring an 18-month journey to a close, with thoughts on the sound, story, and attitude of the band, a recap of each of their albums and moods, and a look at their impact and legacy. It's a long finale to a long season! Thank you all for joining us! Is it era or era? Do Nirvana sound like the Spice Girls? What is the true identity of Santa Claus? Find out on this episode of What Is Music? ...

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265:12

R.E.M. Music Videos

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/04/21

The Big Mates watch all of R.E.M.'s music videos in one sitting. Or a lot of them, at least! You can watch along with us here: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1BTocYjExC/ Or you can just listen without watching anything - that works too! Or you could make your own playlist - scroll down to see which videos we covered! Our next episode will see us wrap-up and offer final thoughts on the whole 15-album, 31-year career of R.E.M. and is out on Monday April 28th! Join the conversation on: Bluesky...

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64:23

Managing R.E.M. with Bertis Downs

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/04/14

Adam talks to Bertis Downs, long-time legal advisor and manager of R.E.M. They talk about the formation of his musical tastes, his background in law, and meeting the band in the early days of their career. They also discuss what he saw in R.E.M., how he learned the job as he was doing it, how to manage a band with a clear vision of their own, how to pick singles, life after the band, and much more! Our next episode is out on Monday April 21st! Join the conversation on: Bluesky: https:/...

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83:49

R.E.M. B-Sides

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/04/07

The Big Mates discuss face food, William S. Burroughs, obscure Arctic Monkeys singles, and a selection of b-sides by R.E.M.. Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss some b-sides and rarities from across the band's career, discussing the content and recording process. Which songs have been included? How do you use a Scrub Daddy? Find out on this episode of What Is Music? Our next episode is out on Monday April 14th! Join the conversation on: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatismusicpod.bsky....

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70:36

Behind the Scenes of R.E.M. with Ethan Kaplan

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/03/31

Adam welcomes back Ethan Kaplan, this time to discuss his work with the band during the process of Accelerate and Collapse Into Now. They talk about album promotion in the 21st Century, embracing emerging technology, the advent of social media, and the studio process for the last few R.E.M. albums. Our next episode is out on Monday March 31st! Join the conversation on: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatismusicpod.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@whatismusicpod Instagr...

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154:49

R.E.M. 1997 - 2011

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/03/24

The Big Mates take a brief pause to discuss ratings, rankings, audience demands, and the career of R.E.M. from 1997 - 2011. Adam, Steve, and Lucas talk about their feelings so far on the band, having now covered the five records that encompass the second half of their career at Warner Bros. They place each album previously covered into the context of this era, they return to each album with more experienced ears, and they talk about how they feel about them now. They chat context, albums, p...

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91:34

The End of R.E.M.

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/03/17

The Big Mates discuss addictive games, compilations, goodbyes, and the last few months of R.E.M. Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by looking at how the band ended their long and storied career. Starting with a quick commentary, they watch the final full-band performance from R.E.M. in Hansa Studios, Berlin and then discuss how the band announced that they would be calling it a day. They then examine the band's career-spanning co...

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71:22

Playing in R.E.M. with Scott McCaughey

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/03/10

Adam and Steve chat with Scott McCaughey to discuss the 17 years he spent playing in R.E.M. as an additional musican. They talk to Scott about his long and productive relationship with Peter Buck, how he joined the band at the height of their fame, and what it was like to jump in on a staidum tour. They also talk about the process of recording albums like New Adventures in Hi-Fi and Accelerate, the experiemtnal sessions for Up and Reveal, and how it felt recording Around the Sun. Scott als...

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88:49

Collapse Into Now (Pt. 2)

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/03/03

The Big Mates discuss reality television, etymology, Austin Powers, and Collapse Into Now by R.E.M. Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by concluding their analysis of the band's fifteenth and final studio album, released in 2008. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and...

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90:54

Collapse Into Now (Pt. 1)

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/02/24

The Big Mates discuss endings, the 20th century, Moose Juice, and Collapse Into Now by R.E.M. Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their analysis of the band's fifteenth and final studio album, released in 2011. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, ...

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66:01

R.E.M. 2008 Tour Commentary

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/02/17

The Big Mates provide nice and good audio commentary for some footage from the 2008 R.E.M. World Tour. Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss a couple of videos from the final R.E.M. tour, and also talk about how the band undertook this tour, the kind of setlists they played, and Adam talks about seeing them for the last time! Here are the two videos we watch, if you'd like to watch along: Fan Club Footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGUNU7M5Eg4 R.E.M. Live in Mexico City 2008 https://www.you...

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48:47

BONUS: Manic Street Preachers - Critical Thinking...

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/02/14

BONG. In this bonus episode The Big Mates discuss the newly released album Critical Thinking by Manic Street Preachers - out today! They give their first impressions on the album and the individual tracks, compare it to previous works, and try and figure out some of the themes and subjects the band explore. Purchase or Stream Critical Thinking now - and come and let us know what you think... Join the conversation on: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatismusicpod.bsky.social Threads:...

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98:01

Accelerate (Pt. 2)

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/02/10

The Big Mates discuss commercial pressure, word sandwiches, revenge fantasies, and Accelerate by R.E.M. Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by concluding their analysis of the band's fourteenth studio album, released in 2008. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and musi...

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111:37

Accelerate (Pt. 1)

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/02/03

The Big Mates discuss modern rock music, digital promotion, tiny umbrellas, and Accelerate by R.E.M. Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their analysis of the band's fourteenth studio album, released in 2008. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to...

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121:24

R.E.M. Live at the Olympia

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/01/27

The Big Mates discuss introductions, bullies, beef, and Live at the Olympia, a live album by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by deviating from the timeline and exploring the document of the band's "public rehearsals" in Dublin in 2007. They talk about what R.E.M. did after Around the Sun, the time they spent apart, and how they went about preparing for their next recording sessions. They look at the 2006 Best Of Compilation And I...

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116:21

R.E.M. Live Commentary

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/01/20

The Big Mates provide fun and cool audio commentary for R.E.M. Live, the live video release by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the live album and film as originally presented on CD and DVD and also dig into how it was made, how R.E.M. performed the songs from Around the Sun, and explore the whole 2005 World Tour.Dig out those official DVDs to watch along...Or don't - the episode works fine either way!Our next episode comes out Monday January 27th!Join the conversation on:Bluesky: https:/...

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97:57

Around the Sun (Pt. 2)

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/01/13

The Big Mates discuss death threats, protest songs, milk toast, and Around the Sun by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by concluding their analysis of the band's thirteenth studio album, released in 2004. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not car...

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94:17

Around the Sun (Pt. 1)

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2025/01/06

The Big Mates discuss Coldplay, Maroon 5, Robbie Williams, and Around the Sun by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their analysis of the band's thirteenth studio album, released in 2004. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for...

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92:49

The Ultimate Playlist: Xmas (Pt. 2)

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2024/12/30

The Big Mates present one of their Patreon shows on the main feed... The Ultimate Playlist.Join us as we continue to explore a broader range of music from many genres and numerous artists, with each month focusing on 8 songs centred around a different theme. Each host picks 2 songs, and 2 songs come from our subscribers!The theme is picked randomly from a pool of subscriber suggestions, but for these episodes (Part 1 came out last week!) we focussed on the appropriately festive theme of Xmas!...

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97:34

The Ultimate Playlist: Xmas (Pt. 1)

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music ·

2024/12/23

The Big Mates present one of their Patreon shows on the main feed... The Ultimate Playlist.Join us as we explore a broader range of music from many genres and numerous artists, with each month focusing on 8 songs centred around a different theme. Each host picks 2 songs, and 2 songs come from our subscribers!The theme is picked randomly from a pool of subscriber suggestions, but for these episodes (Part 2 out next week!) we focussed on the appropriately festive theme of Xmas!To hear more epis...

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