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PODCAST

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast

Hey, look at you! You made it to the Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast. Your hosts Pete and Brian are musicians, music fans, and long-time collaborators ready for lively discussion and debate on an eclectic mix of albums and genres. We’ll chat about classics, personal favorites, records you may know well or may be new to you. We’ve got two words for you: ”honest” and ”unmerciful” - what works on these albums, what doesn’t, and viewed through the prism of time, how do they hold up today

music music commentary

All Episodes

65:35

Ep. 48 - Weezer: "Weezer" (The Blue Album)

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/09/17

Join Pete and Brian as we discuss 1994's debut eponymous album by alternative rock band Weezer, commonly known as the Blue Album. Arriving on the scene with a powerfully produced record that spawned hits "Undone (the Sweater Song)", "Buddy Holly", and "Say It Ain't So", Rivers Cuomo and his bandmates defied expectations almost from day 1. Embracing their geekiness while blasting power chords and tight harmonies, Weezer's debut was a critical and commercial success... but how does it hold up over 30

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01:05:27

Ep. 47 - Boards of Canada: "Tomorrow's Harvest"

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/08/09

Pete and Brian share a listening experience that none should take lightly: Boards of Canada's fourth and last(?) studio album, "Tomorrow's Harvest" (2013). The mysterious Scottish duo is renowned as vanguards of "intelligent dance music", but craft soundscapes and sonic experiments that cross genres. "Tomorrow's Harvest" is a concept record in many ways, and we'll explore some of the lore and the emotions it conjures. Be warned - it's not easy listening, but the challenges Boards of Canada throw

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01:29:16

Ep. 46 - Spoon: "Gimme Fiction"

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/06/13

Join Pete and Brian as they unravel the many sonic layers of Spoon's revered 2005 indie-rock album, "Gimme Fiction". We'll dig deep into the lyrics, themes, and music of this well-produced, oft-experimental record. Do the experiments work? Tune in to hear our Honest, Unmerciful appraisal!

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42:55

Ep. 45 - Green Day: "Insomniac"

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/03/06

Know what the world needs now more than ever? An honest, unmerciful review of Green Day's 1995 album "Insomniac"...by none other than Skinny D and Jet Carlo, Pete and Brian's special guests this episode. We'll dig into the punk-rock blast that is Green Day's fourth record, but also their important follow-up to their fame-making album "Dookie". Do they deliver the goods on "Insomniac"? Tune in to find out!

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01:03:47

Ep. 44 - Electric Light Orchestra: "El Dorado"

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/02/02

Pete and Brian return with a journey through "El Dorado", the 1974 concept album by Electric Light Orchestra. Jeff Lynne and Co. craft a record that's sometimes a cinematic throwback with its orchestration, and sometimes a progressive-leaning rock LP. Does the "concept" hold up and is the variety a feature or a bug? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 2 February 2025.

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01:04:21

Ep. 43 - Tears for Fears: "Songs From the Big Chair"

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/02/02

Pete and Brian travel back to 1985 when Tears for Fears ruled the world, or at least the pop charts on the strength of "Songs From the Big Chair", their multi-million-selling second album. Featuring massive hits "Shout", "Head over Heels" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", the creative forces of Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal were on full display. But with such huge singles, how does the album hold up? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 27 May 2024.

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59:30

Ep. 42 - The Black Crowes: "The Southern Harmony and...

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/02/02

Join Pete and Brian as they revisit The Black Crowes' 1992 album "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion". The band topped the charts with their earnest revival of 70's-influenced rock, with aspects of blues and gospel, riding four hit singles in a time when hair metal was giving way to grunge on the FM dial. So how does it land all these years later? Tune in to find out!

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01:08:53

Ep. 41 - King Crimson: "Discipline"

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/02/02

Join Pete and Brian as they discover the virtuosity of 1981's "Discipline" album by King Crimson. is it progressive rock, math rock, gamelan-inspired systems rock, new wave, or something altogether unique mixing all of that? Only bandleader and guitarist extraordinaire Robert Fripp knows for sure. But we'll aim to unpack the interlocking rhythms, melodies and styles of this incarnation of the influential, ever-evolving band. Episode originally released 30 March 2024.

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01:03:44

Ep. 40 - Hall and Oates: "Private Eyes"

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/02/02

For our big 40th episode, Pete and Brian rediscover Hall and Oates' "Private Eyes" from 1981. These soulful crooners scored #1 singes with the title track and "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)", but the record also holds some adventurous surprises, too... tune in to find out! Episode originally released 31 January 2024.

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01:03:09

Ep. 39 - Echo & The Bunnymen: "Ocean Rain"

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/02/02

Pete and Brian revisit Echo & The Bunnymen's "Ocean Rain", released in 1984 and hailed (by the band) as "the greatest album ever made". We'll analyze that claim. It it a high-water mark for the post-punk/new-wave band, incorporating orchestration, eastern music, and atmospheres aplenty, riding the crest of classic track "The Killing Moon"? Or does the album spring some leaks? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 11 January 2024.

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01:04:06

Ep. 38 - John Cougar Mellencamp: "Scarecrow"

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/02/02

Join Pete and Brian as they revisit the Heartland rock of John Cougar Mellencamp's "Scarecrow" from 1985. Mellencamp presents us with a record full of earnest lyrics and no-frills rock and roll that will take you back in time and back to the small towns listening on AM radio! A chart-topper and Big Statement Record of the 80's, how does "Scarecrow" stand up after all these years? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 14 November 2023.

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01:02:28

Ep. 37 - My Bloody Valentine: "Loveless"

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/02/02

Join Pete and Brian as they explore a monumental album of the shoegaze scene, My Bloody Valentine's "loveless" from 1991. Kevin Shields and company crafted an unmistakably, oft-imitated sonic identity and changed the way guitar could sound and songs could be structured, relying on distortion, odd tunings, tremolo techniques and painstaking production tricks. Add on layer of ambiguous vocals, and the result is a groundbreaking, sometimes challenging listening experience. So does "loveless" get all

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01:01:57

Ep. 36 - Steely Dan: "Katy Lied"

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/02/02

Join Pete and returning guest host Jet Carlo (subbing in.out with Brian) as they debate the merits of Steely Dan and their 1975 album "Katy Lied". Known as perfectionists with a unique jazz/rock fusion sound, Steely Dan have polarized fans and critics throughout their career. We'll explore why that may be as exemplified by "Katy Lied". Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 10 August 2023.

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01:02:08

Ep. 35 - Counting Crows: "Recovering the Satellites"

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/02/02

Join Pete and Brian as they rediscover Counting Crows' 1996 album "Recovering the Satellites". The band found huge fame and critical/public backlash after their multi-million-selling debut, so stakes were high for this sophomore release. Vocalist Adam Duritz's plaintive lyrical delivery and musical influences both current and vintage make for a distinctive listen. But does it hold up to the test of time? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 12 July 2023.

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01:28:58

Ep. 34 - The Beatles: "Abbey Road" Side B!

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/02/02

Pete and Brian flip the record and revisit Side B of The Beatles' 1969 classic, "Abbey Road". Featuring gorgeous atmospheres, then transitioning to the 8 part Medley, this album side is absolutely stuffed with ideas, moods and movements. How does a collection of short tracks combine as a cohesive suite? How does Side B compare/contrast with Side A (see our episode 33)? And overall, how does "Abbey Road" rank on the warm, tasty burrito scale? Tune in to find that out and a LOT more! Episode

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59:50

Ep. 33 - The Beatles: "Abbey Road" Side A!

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/02/02

We've finally arrived at The Beatles, taking on their 1969 album "Abbey Road". The influential status of the band and the complexities of the record mean we'll tackle each side as its own episode. Side A's six tracks pace the way, but are they a cohesive, classic collection, or the leftovers of a band pulling in separate directions? Maybe both? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 11 May 2023.

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01:02:28

Ep. 32 - Metric: "Fantasies"

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/02/02

Pete and Brian uncover Metric's "Fantasies" (2009). Featuring Emily Haines' gifted vocals and thought-provoking lyrics, this indie rock/synth band has carved out a huge following, largely doing it their own way, and becoming one of Canada's most successful independent bands. With hooks aplenty, "Fantasies" adds a well-produced gloss to Metric's sound. How do they measure (ha!) up on our scale of warm, tasty burritos? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 25 March 2023.

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50:59

Ep. 31 - Special Two-Year Retrospective!

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/02/02

Join Pete and Brian as they look back at the Best (and Worst) of two years and thirty episodes of the Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast! Which albums got a perfect 5 out of 5 warm, tasty burritos on our trademarked scale? Which records were most hotly debated? Remember those wonderful and sometimes wacky guest hosts? Take a trip back with us as we remember our favorite moments, share some new music news, and ponder what we'd change and why we love doing this podcast for you, dear

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01:01:35

Ep. 30 - Billy Joel: "Glass Houses"

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/02/02

Join Pete and Brian as they revisit Billy Joel's hugely successful 1980 album "Glass Houses", which saw the Piano Man largely forgo the keys and ballads in favor of a cool rock sound. Does he nail it, or is this a rock record wrapped in cellophane? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 16 January 2023.

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01:00:08

Ep. 29 - Modest Mouse: "Good News for People Who Love...

Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast ·

2025/02/02

Join Pete and Brian as they mark the 2-year anniversary of the podcast with indie rock from Modest Mouse! With their 2004 record, "Good News for People Who Love Bad News", the band achieved mainstream success with hit single "Float On". The album is full of unorthodox musicianship and lyrics, rough-around-the-edges jam session vibes, but hints at sophistication and polish. How does it all hold together? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 16 December 2022.

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