Podcast
Spin It! The Record Ranking Podcast
Hosted by James & Connor · EN
The Record Ranking Podcast for people who would rather be listening to music. Each week James and Connor give their spin on a popular album. James has listened to each one dozens of times, but Connor's only heard them once. Come check out our unprofessional insights and learn a little more about the music you love from every genre, artist, and era!
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33episodes
Episodes
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Pacific Daydream - Weezer | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 255
6d ago01:18:31Tap to summarizeYeah, it Feels Like Summer! We're back for another Happy Hour with Weezer! After their debut Blue Album left Connor with a puzzle he just didn't want to put together, we're trying again with their sun-soaked, beachy experiment, Pacific Daydream! It's a clear departure from their signature style, complete with complicated spreadsheet-crafted compositions, but crankin' them Beach Boys might be enough to redeem a low score!James & Connor revisit all the special moments from Episode 26 (pigeon racing included) before diving back into the Weezer-verse with a deeper look at the band's history and the decisions that led up to one of their most controversial records. We'll check in on their tours, SZNZ, and speculate about what they're up to next. The Mixtaper is bringing four Karlificated facts about coloring books, vegeterrorism, and more straight from Weezerpedia.. Will this be his QB Blitz? Find out if James' nostalgia pick can Get Right and swing Connor's expectations this week.Is any friend of Diane's a friend of yours? Do you like the coastal vibes, or was the classic Weezer sound more your speed? Be honest, would you ever go pigeon racing? We have it on good authority that there are clubs across the nation. Like and follow for more!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro0:25 Last Time: The Blue Album6:21 About Weezer11:35 About Pacific Daydream19:38 Awards & Accolades20:33 Fact Or Spin21:57 They Have A Coloring Book28:22 Today Is A Special Anniversary32:04 Rivers Cuomo Is A VegeTerrorist35:04 They Have Their Own Encyclopedia40:30 A Surprise Fifth Fact: The Mixtaper Has Gone Pigeon Racing44:13 Album Art45:29 Mexican Fender51:03 Beach Boys53:24 Feels Like Summer55:36 Happy Hour57:49 Weekend Woman59:31 QB Blitz1:03:26 Sweet Mary1:04:52 Get Right1:05:54 La Mancha Screwjob1:07:57 Any Friend Of Diane's1:09:29 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sunrise City - Sub-Radio | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 254
2w ago01:08:43Tap to summarizeWe've been having more dreams lately.. Welcome to Sunrise City, the feel-good sophomore record from "soft" indie guys Sub-Radio! This band of middle-school friends went viral as they got down bad for Stacy's Dad, and by broadcasting on Reddit during the pandemic they were able to generate a significant fanbase. Sunrise City is a saccharine nostalgia trip from teenage nights on the beach to Summer's End. Can their hooky record full of nuggets of gold carry them to a strong ranking?James & Connor reminisce on hard times and strong men before giving this audience-recommended album a listen. The Mixtaper has a Better View and a few facts about tricky fae (who can play a mean recorder), the short-lived Reddit Public Access Network, and Monkey. Monkey? Monkey. We'll talk about the nuances of Pink Lemonade and Tiger's Blood and find out if WE'RE IN LOVE (!!) with this album... and whether Sub-Radio is Onto Us. What's your favorite snow cone flavor? Are you in a good time or a hard time? Think you could take down Sub-Radio in a game of Mario Kart?? Let us know in the comments and on socials, and tune in next week for a Year Of Redemption feature that will knock your sweater off.Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro3:17 About Sub-Radio9:53 About Sunrise City12:25 Awards & Accolades12:34 Fact Or Spin13:56 They May Have Encountered A Trickster Fae18:00 They Were The First Musicians On The RPAN23:00 They Channel The Spirit Of The Monkey26:08 John Fengya Has Never Lost A Game Of Mario Kart30:03 Album Art31:00 Sunrise City32:17 Pink Lemonade34:32 I'M IN LOVE!!37:08 Onto Me39:08 Sleep On The Beach44:26 Dimension46:17 Don't Cry47:59 Burden49:28 Spin50:59 Better View52:04 Nothing's Broken54:12 Pretty Boy55:22 2257:00 Friends (Summer's End)58:28 heavenheavenheaven1:00:06 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Exodus - Bob Marley & The Wailers | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 253
3w ago01:12:38Tap to summarizeThis week we've got So Much Things To Say as we review and rank Exodus, the gripping reggae album by Jamaica's own Bob Marley! After pushing rocksteady boundaries with his childhood friends Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh, Bob's career made a strong pivot to pop and rock crossover music, riding the reggae wave to superstardom! A failed assassination attempt sent Marley overseas, where he crafted his ninth studio album, charged with Rastafarian theology and themes of love and freedom. We'll learn the effect it had on his legend, and how the Marley mythos has evolved over time.James & Connor recount our previous Bob Marley experiences (both torturous and fishy). The Mixtaper has an aviary of little birds this week with facts about the House Of Dread FC, palm reading, and an unusual prison break during Fact Or Spin. Then we'll get to Jamming about the album, from the restrained intensity of The Heathen to the chill optimism of Three Little Birds! So kick back, relax, and don't worry about a thing... There's a Natural Mystic blowing through this episode!Are you a bigger fan of the intense half or the chill half of Exodus' sound? What's your favorite bird? Was your first Bob Marley experience as drastic as James'? Let us know on socials, and tune in next week to smile with the rising sun yet again!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro6:16 About Bob Marley16:27 About Exodus23:42 Awards & Accolades25:56 Fact Or Spin26:52 The Secretary Bird: Bob's Soccer Obsession30:33 The Raven: He Was A Palm Reader33:09 The Jailbird: Bob Marley Was Part Of A Prison Break37:08 The Baby Chick: He Kidnapped The Easter Bunny45:18 Album Art46:56 Natural Mystic48:38 So Much Things To Say50:12 Guiltiness52:13 The Heathen53:15 Exodus55:53 Jamming58:27 Waiting In Vain59:57 Turn Your Lights Down Low1:01:12 Three Little Birds1:03:43 One Love/People Get Ready1:05:27 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Band On The Run - Wings | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 252
4w ago01:24:22Tap to summarizeStuck inside those four walls? We're making our escape with Band On The Run, the 1973 record by Wings! After a tough Beatles breakup, a burnt out Paul McCartney was struggling to stay relevant in the music world. He started Wings alongside his wife Linda and guitarist Denny Laine, and after a few tough outings, Band On The Run proved to be their major breakthrough! Despite a tumultuous recording process in Lagos, Nigeria, hits like JET (!), Let Me Roll It, and Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five have become catalog staples. We're catching up on our personal Beatles history and learning about the foundation of Wings! We trace the band's Lagos trip through cholera outbreaks, broken equipment, and knifepoint robberies, but learn why Paul needed this record so badly. The Mixtaper relies on James' fear of "jelly babying" himself with another round of McCartney facts! We'll break down jailbreak ambience, investigate a holiday hostage, and drink a drink with Lily The Pink in Fact Or Spin. We might have No Words... but what's the use in worrying?How's your Scooby Doo impression? What would your last words be? Do you forget when Picasso was alive? Which of the sections of Band On The Run stands above the rest? Let us know your Wings takes in the comments and on socials!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro3:27 About Wings12:48 About Band On The Run25:58 Awards & Accolades26:50 Fact Or Spin28:09 Paul Insisted On A Jailbreak Ambience Check31:07 Paul Kidnapped The Easter Bunny35:22 Paul Guest Starred In A Comedy Production40:13 Paul Is Related To The Inventor Of The Woman's Tonic49:23 Album Art52:42 Band On The Run57:03 Jet1:00:31 Bluebird1:02:15 Mrs. Vandebilt1:06:38 Let Me Roll It1:08:29 Mamunia1:09:52 No Words1:11:04 Picasso's Last Words1:14:24 Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five1:17:29 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Emotion - Carly Rae Jepsen | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 251
May 101:18:50Tap to summarizeWe're Making The Most Of The Night as we review and rank Emotion, the 80s-infused pop record from Canadian songwriter and actress Carly Rae Jepsen! After we just met her (and that was crazy) back in 2011, Carly was struggling to shed the bubblegum pop reputation she gained with Call Me Maybe. After retreating from the spotlight, acting on Broadway, and writing a scrapped folk record, Emotion was her attempt to make something different. It proved to be a critical success and paved the way for the next era of her career with big singles like Run Away With Me and I Really (Really Really Really Really Really) Like You... but is this album Our Type?Let's Get Lost in her Canadian Idol roots! James & Connor talk about previous opinions of her work (can't judge her for that), celebrate CRJ's 40th and 44/100ths birthday, and give these songs a powerful listen. The Mixtaper is giving us Boy Problems in Fact Or Spin, where we'll learn about her growing collection of weaponry, a secret Maybe List, and a deceptive signature from "the boss man." Between the pop anthems and powerful ballads, find out if this record can stir up our E•MO•TIONS and redeem our premature opinions of her music.Did you wish CRJ a Happy Birthday? Do you have Boy Problems too? Would you ever try to trick the Boss Man? Let us know how you felt about Call Me Maybe in the comments or on socials, and tune in next time for another high-flying episode!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro3:29 About Carly Rae Jepsen9:15 Call Me Maybe12:42 About Emotion26:04 Awards & Accolades26:50 Fact Or Spin28:19 The Fandom Armed Her34:44 Carly Rae Jepsen Armed The Fandom40:35 She Has A "Maybe List"45:11 She Takes Her Contracts To The Boss Man51:12 Album Art52:14 Run Away With Me56:10 Emotion58:10 I Really Like You1:00:58 Gimmie Love1:01:44 All That1:03:02 Boy Problems1:05:01 Making The Most Of The Night1:06:02 Your Type1:07:27 Let's Get Lost1:08:35 LA Hallucinations1:09:40 Warm Blood1:10:53 When I Needed You1:12:00 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Moving Pictures - Rush | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 250
Apr 2401:21:31Tap to summarizeFor our 250th episode, we're stepping into the Limelight to revisit Rush! In Ep. 121, we discovered how 2112 earned the trio creative control with their sci-fi rock opera gamble... Now we're back to learn about Moving Pictures, the band's most commercially successful album and home to enduring hits like Tom Sawyer and YYZ! The band aims to strike the perfect balance between unique identity and mass appeal. With the addition of more synth undertones and a shift in Neil Peart's lyricism, Moving Pictures was able to punch up and future-proof their ever-changing style, and sunset their lengthy prog epics with The Camera Eye. How will this record move US? Can it live up to its counterpart episode (pun intended)?James & Connor revel in the unexpected Year Of Redemption for Geddy and Alex in the form of their 50-Something reunion tour. We walk through the eras since our last episode and trace their evolution, and talk about why this might be a more Connor-friendly pick. The Mixtaper is back on a Witch Hunt, with dastardly (and suspicious) facts about youth crime, rusty coconuts, and frozen follies. Are biographies and past knowledge enough to save James from defeat? Connor learns about the triple pun on the album cover, we learn limited Morse Code, and we definitely don't repeat any jokes in this major milestone episode!What do you consider to be Rush's magnum opus? What's our signature work? Do you agree that everybody needs to deviate from the norm? Do you get your hockey arenas mixed up? (Me too.) Let us know in the comments and on socials! We'll be back with a surprise recommendation next week. Follow for more! Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro0:27 Last Time: 21124:25 About Rush12:10 About Moving Pictures24:11 The 50-Something Tour26:13 Awards & Accolades26:55 Fact Or Spin29:03 They Are Officers34:25 Geddy Lee Is A Rusty Coconut39:41 Neil Peart Went Back To School42:47 Alex Lifeson Made A Chilly Mistake47:32 Album Art50:30 Tom Sawyer54:45 Red Barchetta57:30 YYZ1:00:21 Limelight1:03:48 The Camera Eye1:07:20 Witch Hunt1:11:12 Vital Signs1:13:00 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Stop And Smell The Roses - Mac Davis | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 249 (Connor's Pick)
Apr 1701:43:54Tap to summarizeYou've got to stop... and wish Connor a happy birthday! We're celebrating with a special episode reviewing Mac Davis' hit-packed 1974 record Stop And Smell The Roses! After making a name for himself as a songwriter with Elvis cuts like In The Ghetto, Mac established himself as a recording artist and TV personality. His fifth record crosses over from country to folk to soft pop seamlessly, and tentpole tracks like Burnin' Thing and Texas In My Rear View buoy clever-ish album cuts like Lucus Was A Redneck and Two Plus Two for a solid album by our favorite jean-wearing song painter!James & Connor look back on the Birthday Curse, talk about getting Hooked on Mac Davis back in Episode 15, and learn more about the road that took Davis from Lubbock, Texas straight into songwriting legend. The Mixtaper finds it Hard To Be Humble as he introduces us to quirky backup singers, crowdsourced cowriters, and a fudged proposal. Will Connor's lifelong fandom pay off? We'll talk about questionable narrators, his surprising use of slurs, and the versatility that turned him into a crossover hit as we break down the record.Did you ever watch The Mac Davis Show? Did you vote for our favorite son back in 1992? Did YOU remember Duke Ellington's birthday? Let us know in the comments and on socials! Follow and stay tuned for EPISODE 250 next week!!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro0:33 Previously: The Birthday Curse8:01 About Mac Davis21:18 Fact Or Spin23:19 Mac Davis Fudged A Proposal30:44 He Worked With Some Difficult Backup Singers36:23 He Had Some Interesting Cowriters41:08 Fast Fired Facts: Mac Davis Show Guests45:00 Mac Davis Ran For President52:22 Album Art55:05 Thoughts On I Believe In Music56:47 Stop And Smell The Roses1:02:38 Soft, Sweet Fire1:05:47 The Sweetest Song1:07:37 Two Plus Two1:10:39 The Birthday Song1:12:56 One Hell Of A Woman1:15:17 A Poor Man's Gold1:17:58 Lucus Was A Redneck1:21:03 Kiss It And Make It Better1:22:36 Burnin' Thing1:24:12 It's Hard To Be Humble1:26:32 Texas In My Rear View Mirror1:28:11 Rock 'N Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life)1:29:52 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Arrival - ABBA | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 248
Apr 1001:20:17Tap to summarizeYou can dance, you can jive! We're having the time of our lives this week as we review and rank Arrival, the 1976 breakout record for Europop sensation ABBA! After winning Eurovision (4th time's the charm), the band had to prove to the world they were more than a One-Hit Waterloo Wonder. Their hooky melodies and intricate vocal harmonies led to the band's most important record yet, from royalty-approved Dancing Queen to Money, Money, Money. Learn how Arrival cemented the legacy of one of Sweden's biggest bands and turned ABBA into a household name, even decades after their heyday.Here we go again.. James & Connor talk Mamma Mia opinions and ABBA faves before exploring the band's history. We'll learn all about Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Anni-Frid, discover why the B is backwards, and talk about how exciting helicopter rides can be. From quirky exhibits in the ABBA museum to Voyage, the band's swansong virtual residency made of digital ABBAtars, this episode truly has it all. The Mixtaper is back to Take A Chance on Fact Or Spin as he teaches us about a mysterious benefactor, shy mics, and the tux tax. Tune in, because there's something in the air tonight!Are you on Team Happy Hawaii or Team Why Did It Have To Be Me? What do you think the Tiger is? Are we WRONG about Mamma Mia?! Let us know your hottest ABBA takes in the comments or on socials. Follow for another record next week!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro5:57 About ABBA19:56 About Arrival33:07 Awards & Abbalades35:28 Fact Or Spin36:58 Their Songs Are Fit For Royalty39:02 They Turned Down The Chance To Become Billionaires41:46 They Used An Interesting Tax Loophole43:50 They Had A Strict No-Eye-Contact-With-Mics Rule46:22 Bjorn Took A Chance On Working Out49:14 Album Art52:04 When I Kissed The Teacher54:17 Dancing Queen58:01 My Love, My Life59:25 Dum Dum Diddle1:01:56 Knowing Me, Knowing You1:03:27 Money, Money, Money1:05:15 That's Me1:06:17 Why Did It Have To Be Me?1:08:14 Tiger1:09:33 Arrival1:10:39 Fernando1:13:26 Happy Hawaii1:14:44 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Hallelujah, I Love Her So - Ray Charles | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 247
Apr 301:21:18Tap to summarizeHallelujah, We Love Him So! We're doing the Mess Around back to the earliest days of soul music with The Genius, Ray Charles, and his self-titled 1957 debut LP! After a childhood marked by tragedy, Ray Charles learned to read braille sheet music and arrange songs. After moving from coast to coast and back again to find work, Ray's intuition for melody and his passionate vocals finally started to land him on the charts and earn record deals. His eponymous album (later reissued as "Hallelujah, I Love Her So) features fourteen of his biggest early hits, from the wailing Drown In My Own Tears to the zip and pep of I've Got A Woman! He would change the course of music as we know it... but how does this early record compare?After learning all about Charles' past, we invite The Mixtaper back for some Fact Or Spin! He'll teach us about Ray's affinity for chess, an improvised scramble that turned into a crossover pop hit, and we'll explore the fascinating world of limited edition postage stamps. Then we break down the album track by track and discover what exactly about his music makes him a legend. We'll talk nostalgia, famous covers, and anagrams as we learn to Care Rashly about Ray Charles this week!Are any of these tracks sleeper hits for you? Did you look up all the interesting new stamps after the episode (like we did)? Had you ever heard the word "philatelic" before? Be honest. Like, subscribe, rate, comment, follow... do all the things and we'll see you next week for another album!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro3:17 About Ray Charles11:34 About Hallelujah I Love Her So18:40 Awards & Accolades20:20 Fact Or Spin21:13 He's A Chess Grandmaster30:54 He Ran Out Of Songs35:05 He Has Memory Expansion37:58 He Has A Unique Stamp47:44 Album Art50:49 Ain't That Love52:29 Drown In My Own Tears55:12 Come Back Baby56:57 Sinner's Prayer58:12 Funny (But I Still Love You)59:44 Losing Hand1:01:05 A Fool For You1:02:02 Hallelujah, I Love Her So1:04:08 Mess Around1:06:06 This Little Girl Of Mine1:07:09 Mary Ann1:08:16 Greenbacks1:10:09 Don't You Know1:11:15 I've Got A Woman1:13:38 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Rio - Duran Duran | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 246
Mar 2701:11:55Tap to summarizeWe're dancing on the sand this week as we rank and review Rio, the sophomore album by Duran Duran and a staple of the early '80s New Romantics movement. Featuring some of the band's biggest hits in Hungry Like The Wolf, Save A Prayer, and the title track, this record also includes some cult classics like the ambient soundscape of The Chauffeur! Learn how the Fab Five leveraged provocative music videos to dominate MTV and lead the charge for the Second British Invasion. Rio is a meticulously constructed record, with a vibrant energy and a cigar-inspired aesthetic to match. How will they fare in our ratings?James & Connor will talk about their love for early '80s music. Then we get into the band's sci-fi name origins, Girls On Film, and the three unrelated Taylors. The Mixtaper Mixtaper is back for Fact Or Spin, where we set sail on Drum The Cursed Yacht, flee some non-imminent bulls, and talk about the 1987 hit movie Mannequin. We learn all about the dangers of shooting videos in Antigua and Sri Lanka, discover the role Hungry Like The Wolf played in a grisly murder trial, and explore the loving intervention behind Hold Back The Rain. It's a one-of-a-kind episode for a one-of-a-kind band!Would you ever wear such sharp earrings? How hungry do you think a wolf can get? Do you prefer the band's energetic new wave sound or the sweeping soundscape of The Chauffeur? Let us know in the comments and on social media!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro2:31 About Duran Duran8:55 About Rio19:03 Awards & Accolades19:40 Fact Or Spin21:09 Duran Dudrum29:34 Duran Duryachtin'33:51 Duran Durunning With The Bulls36:29 Duran Durannequins42:20 Album Art44:31 Rio47:36 My Own Way50:00 Lonely In Your Nightmare51:30 Hungry Like The Wolf56:03 Hold Back The Rain57:39 New Religion59:07 Last Chance On The Stairway1:00:07 Save A Prayer1:02:42 The Chauffeur1:04:17 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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