Podcast
Verse Chorus Verse
Hosted by David Leisten · EN
dl is a life-long music obsessor and student. With the help of friends Evil Jimmi and Rachel Pollio, Verse Chorus Verse tackles band dissections, album reviews and interviews of fantastic guests from all parts of the industry.
Also. Drinks. Lots of drinks.
21episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
New Music 2026 IV
5d ago01:01:38Tap to summarizeThe conversation begins with a lighthearted discussion about pre-show dog activities, followed by an introduction and preview of the albums to be reviewed. The first album reviewed is 'Charmer' by Toadies, followed by a discussion on the album by Underscores. The conversation covers the artist's progress, technical issues, reviewing Underscores' album, discussing Neurosis and metal, reviewing 'An Undying Love for a Burning World' album, and a disappointing review of Foo Fighters' 12th album. The conversation delves into the disappointment with the Foo Fighters album, the diverse opinions on Metric's 'Romanticize the Dive' album, and the engagement with listener questions and the announcement of the upcoming episode on 'OK Computer'.TakeawaysPre-show dog activities set the stage for a casual and relaxed atmosphere.The albums 'Charmer' by Toadies and the album by Underscores are reviewed and discussed in detail. Artist's progress and challengesTechnical issues and solutionsAlbum review insights Album lacks memorable tracksFan loyalty to the band influences perceptionDiverse opinions on the albumEnjoyment of the synth-wave vibeEngagement with listener questionsUpcoming episode on 'OK Computer'Chapters00:00 Pre-Show Dog Activities06:26 Discussion on Underscores' Album21:23 Exploring the Artist's Progress28:32 Album Review: An Undying Love for a Burning World38:02 Foo Fighters' 12th Album: A Disappointing Review58:23 Listener Questions and Next Episode
Transcribe →New Albums 2026 III
2w ago01:02:19Tap to summarizeThe conversation begins with pre-show banter and a discussion about drinks, leading into a review of the first album, 'Fondness, etc.' by Shaky Graves. The hosts share their initial thoughts and impressions of the album, discussing its mood and vibe. The conversation covers a diverse range of topics, including album listening experiences, movie reviews, and discussions on internet culture and youth entertainment preferences. It also delves into detailed album reviews for Shaky Graves, Ecca Vandal, and Roger Klein and the Peacemakers. The conversation provides insights into the recording process, equipment, and the impact of microdynamics on music listening experiences. The conversation delves into the exploration of unfamiliar sayings, followed by a review of the album 'Roger Klein and the Peacemakers.' The discussion then shifts to analyzing the album's production and sound, followed by the impact of personal experience on music perception. The conversation further explores the influence of adversity on music quality, followed by a review of the album 'This Music May Contain Hope' by Ray. The analysis then focuses on the album's length and impact, and concludes with a review of Tori Amos's album 'In Times of Dragons.'TakeawaysPre-show banter and drink discussions set the tone for the episode.The album 'Fondness, etc.' by Shaky Graves is reviewed with a focus on its mood and vibe. Diverse range of entertainment topicsInsights into album listening experiencesImpact of microdynamics on music Exploring unfamiliar sayings and their regional originsThe impact of personal experience and adversity on music perception and qualityChapters00:00 Introduction and Album Preview18:03 Reviewing the First Album: Fondness, etc. by Shaky Graves23:42 Recording Process and Equipment29:34 Shift in Movie Preferences35:22 Album Review: Shaky Graves (Contd.)44:12 Album Review: Roger Klein and the Peacemakers50:31 The Influence of Adversity on Music Quality57:08 Analyzing the Album's Length and Impact01:02:32 Reviewing the Album: Tori Amos's 'In Times of Dragons'
Transcribe →287 | Happy Hour
3w ago01:07:25Tap to summarizeThe episode delves into Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, exploring specific albums, their impact, artist influences, and musical styles. It features discussions on Sparks' 'Come On to My House,' Sheryl Crow's self-titled second album, and Big Star's debut 'Number 1 Record.' The conversation delved into the influence of rock bands on the discussed album, impactful songs, album sequencing, and the best songs. It also included album ratings and reviews, as well as an introduction to the next albums. The historic significance, influence, and impact of each album were explored, followed by album ratings and reviews. The conversation concluded with an analysis of the last song and an overview of the upcoming episodes.TakeawaysRolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All TimeExploration of specific albums and their impactDiscussion of artist influences and musical styles Influential Rock Bands: The album discussed in the conversation was influenced by rock bands such as The Replacements, REM, Teenage Fan Club, Wilco, Fountains of Wayne, Primal Scream, and Guided by Voices.Impactful Songs: The conversation highlighted impactful songs from the album, such as 'The Battle of El Gu do' and 'Feel', as well as the guitar work by Chris Bell and the influence of Eddie Van Halen.Chapters00:00 Big Star's Debut: Number 1 Record44:21 Impactful Songs and Guitar Work49:42 Introduction to the Next Album: Barrio Final by Daddy Yankee55:04 Album Rating and Review of Barrio Final by Daddy Yankee01:03:31 Introduction to the Next Album: Rhythm Nation by Janet Jackson01:12:10 Introduction to the Next Album: Move On Up by Curtis Mayfield01:22:06 Analysis of Stand by Your Man by Tammy Wynette
Transcribe →Neil Young's Harvest
4w ago00:55:39Tap to summarizeThe podcast episode features a discussion about Neil Young's album 'Harvest' and its impact. The hosts explore the album's significance, its orchestral elements, and its place in Neil Young's catalog. They also touch on the Neil Young-Leonard Skynyrd rivalry and share their personal experiences with the album. A deep dive into Neil Young's album 'Harvest' reveals a complex mix of orchestral arrangements, songwriting brilliance, and the artist's resistance to traditional rock stardom. The album's impact on listeners and its place in Neil Young's discography are explored in detail.TakeawaysNeil Young's album 'Harvest' is a significant and complex work that evokes strong reactions.The orchestral elements in the album are jarring and raise questions about their place in the overall composition. Orchestral arrangements and songwriting brilliance create a complex mixNeil Young's resistance to traditional rock stardom is evident in the albumThe album's impact on listeners and its place in Neil Young's discography are explored in detailChapters00:00 The 'Yours, Mine, and the Truth' Theme43:31 The Impact of the Album on Listeners and Its Place in Neil Young's Discography
Transcribe →Rory Gallagher's Calling Card
May 2501:01:25Tap to summarizeThe conversation delves into the legacy of musician Rory Gallagher, exploring his impact on the music industry and his unique approach to music. It also touches on the personal experiences of the speakers, including their interest in live music and their album exchange. The discussion covers the album 'Calling Card' and its production, band members, and musical influences. The conversation delves into the life and impact of Rory Gallagher, highlighting his refusal to conform to commercial pressures and his unwavering dedication to his craft. It also explores the unique qualities of his guitar playing and the influence he had on other musicians. The conversation delves into the influence of blues legends on Eric Clapton, the authenticity of his music, and comparisons with other guitarists like Rory Gallagher and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The discussion also explores the album 'Calling Card' by Rory Gallagher, highlighting its standout tracks and the impact of Gallagher's live performances.TakeawaysRory Gallagher's influence on the music industryThe personal experiences and interests of the speakers Unwavering dedication to craftInfluence on other musicians Influence of blues legends on Eric ClaptonAuthenticity in music and comparisons with other guitaristsExploration of 'Calling Card' album by Rory GallagherChapters00:00 Album Exchange and 'Calling Card'37:19 Reception and Influence52:26 Exploring 'Calling Card' Album by Rory Gallagher
Transcribe →Radiohead Pablo Honey The Bends: How Creep Almost Destroyed the Greatest Band of Their Generation
May 1801:13:44Tap to summarizeDL kicks off the Verse Chorus Verse Radiohead series with the first two albums — solo, no Evil, no Rachel, just a man and his favorite band.Pablo Honey (1992) gets a 7/10. It's a gateway drug, not a masterpiece — a Brit rock album from the early 90s that happens to contain one of the most important songs ever recorded. The story behind Creep: recorded in one take, initially hated by the band, ignored until Arsenio Hall found the tape in his car, made enormous by a Beavis and Butt-Head segment. Top songs: Creep, Rip Chord, You.The Bends (1995) gets a 9/10 and a full reassessment — DL argues this album is massively underrated and better than he'd ever given it credit for. Jonny Greenwood's octatonic guitar work on "Just" (inspired by an obscure French composer), the story of EMI threatening to drop them after Pablo Honey, Tom York's stage breakdown and the NME calling it a "temper tantrum," and why Fake Plastic Trees is great even if it's not a personal favorite. Top songs: Just, My Iron Lung, Bulletproof I Wish I Was.Part 1 of a 6-episode Radiohead dissection series. OK Computer with Rachel and Evil is next.
Transcribe →System of a Down's Toxicity: The Most Political Metal Album Ever Made? (2001 Deep Dive)
May 1101:02:03Tap to summarizeDL, Evil, and Rachel dig into System of a Down's Toxicity (2001) — one of the biggest metal albums ever made, debuting at #1 the week before 9/11 and getting Chop Suey immediately pulled from radio.The central argument: Toxicity is not a nu-metal record. It's one of the most coherent political albums ever made — a sustained meditation on apathy, incarceration, the Armenian-American experience, and what happens when society stops giving a shit about each other. Prison Song, Needles, ATWA, and "somewhere between the sacred silence and sleep" hit completely different when you actually listen to what Serj Tankian is saying.Along the way: why "Chop Suey" was originally titled "Suicide" (and how the rename was pure SOAD genius), the story of Rick Rubin seeing them at the Viper Room in 1997 and immediately knowing, Daron Malakian's insistence the album fit on one side of a tape at exactly 40 minutes, the time signatures and hemiola that make Toxicity sound heavier than it should, and the direct sonic DNA connecting Faith No More's Epic piano outro to Chop Suey's ending.The influence arc: System of a Down directly cited Faith No More as a key influence — this episode is part of a two-week influence-to-influence series starting with The Real Thing.Scores: Rachel 10/10, Evil 10/10, DL 9.8/10.Part of Verse Chorus Verse's album-by-album deep dive series.System of a Down,Toxicity,Chop Suey,Serj Tankian,Daron Malakian,Rick Rubin,metal album review,Armenian rock,2001 albums,political metal,Faith No More influence,music podcast
Transcribe →Faith No More's The Real Thing: How a 19-Year-Old Mike Patton Changed Rock Forever (1989 Deep Dive)
May 401:12:16Tap to summarizeDL, Evil, and Rachel dig into Faith No More's The Real Thing (1989) — the album that accidentally invented nu-metal, made "Epic" a cultural phenomenon, and was written entirely by a 19-year-old Mike Patton who had never met the band before.The central debate: did Epic's massive MTV success actually hurt Faith No More's legacy by making casual listeners think they were a one-hit wonder? And is The Real Thing even their best album — or does Angel Dust win that argument by a mile?Along the way: the story of how Courtney Love almost got the singer job, the Chuck Mosley firing, why Billy Gould's bass on this album is the direct ancestor of Fieldy in Korn, how "Surprise You're Dead" at the 38-second mark contains one of the best gear shifts in rock, and a deep dive into why Epic's piano outro resolves a tritone (the "devil's interval") that the main riff deliberately left open.The influence argument: System of a Down have cited Faith No More as a direct influence — and the parallels between Serj Tankian and Mike Patton, and between Daron Malakian and Jim Martin, are hard to ignore. This episode sets up next week's Toxicity deep dive.Scores: Rachel 7/10, Evil 8.5–9/10, DL 8.3/10.Part of Verse Chorus Verse's influence-to-influence album arc.Faith No More,The Real Thing,Mike Patton,Epic,alt-metal,nu-metal,1989 albums,Angel Dust,System of a Down,album review,music podcast,funk metal
Transcribe →Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums: Miranda Lambert, Howlin' Wolf, The Kinks, and Selena (#477–481)
Apr 2700:51:53Tap to summarizeDL works through the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, reviewing four albums and four songs from entries #477–481 — and handing out scores along the way.Albums covered: Miranda Lambert's The Weight of These Wings (2016) gets an 8.7/10 — a genuine surprise, with DL arguing it's more Orville Peck than generic Nashville country. Selena's Amor Prohibido (1994) gets a 7/10, with praise for Los Dinos and the vocal performances but honest limits on Tejano expertise. Something Else by The Kinks (1967) gets a thoughtful take on a band that was the real rock stars of the '60s — even when they were chasing the Beatles. Howlin' Wolf's Moanin' in the Moonlight earns a 10/10 and a full Delta Blues sermon, with a side argument that it deserves to be ranked way higher than #487.Songs covered: "Just a Friend" by Biz Markie, "Oye Como Va" by Santana, "Back That Azz Up" by Juvenile, and "Our Lips Are Sealed" by the Go-Gos.Plus: the Radiohead solo episode series explained, listener questions on which Radiohead album to give Evil and Rachel as a gateway, and DL's current ranking with Howlin' Wolf sitting at #2 behind Arcade Fire's Funeral.Part of Verse Chorus Verse's ongoing Rolling Stone 500 album-by-album coverage.Rolling Stone 500,Miranda Lambert,Howlin Wolf,The Kinks,Selena,Biz Markie,Santana,album review,Delta Blues,country music,music podcast,Radiohead
Transcribe →2001 in Music: Our Top 10 Albums (Gorillaz, Toxicity, Lateralus, Is This It and More)
Apr 2001:28:06Tap to summarizeDL and Evil Jimmy go deep on the best and worst albums of 2001 — a year that somehow produced Gorillaz's self-titled debut, The Strokes' Is This It, System of a Down's Toxicity, Tool's Lateralus, Jay-Z's The Blueprint, and Jimmy Eat World's Bleed American all at once.They build a collective top 10, trading picks and hot takes: Gorillaz at number one, Toxicity at two, Is This It at three — plus arguments for Opeth's Blackwater Park, Converge's Jane Doe, Tool's Lateralus, Muse's Origin of Symmetry, Jay-Z's The Blueprint, White Stripes' White Blood Cells, and Neurosis rounding out the list.Along the way: why Nickelback and Creed represent everything wrong with 2001 mainstream rock, the case for Built to Spill's Ancient Melodies of the Future, Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, the Toadies' Hell Below Stars Above, Ben Folds' Rockin' the Suburbs, Tenacious D's self-titled, and Tupac's Until the End of Time. Plus favorite songs of the year, a Stone Temple Pilots deep cut, Andrew W.K.'s She Is Beautiful, and a Clint Eastwood / Morgan Freeman life philosophy detour courtesy of the Gorillaz track.Part of Verse Chorus Verse's year-by-year and album-by-album music coverage.2001 music,Gorillaz,The Strokes,System of a Down,Tool,Jay-Z Blueprint,Jimmy Eat World,album rankings,year in music,indie rock,metal,music podcast
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