Album Nerds

• Classic Casey Countdown (November 3, 1973) : Billy Preston & The Rolling Stones

  Don and Dude begin a series of episodes celebrating Casey Kasem and the American Top 40.Don and Dude time-travel back to this week in 1973 to discuss two albums with songs that appeared in the Top 10 on November 3, 1973. From soulful genre-mashups to rock-star excess, this episode spotlights artists who blended styles, broke rules, and landed hits.Billy Preston – Everybody Likes Some Kind of Music (1973) Keyboard legend’s genre-celebrating LP—funk, gospel, rock, and classical all swirl together featuring the #9 song on November 3, 1973, Space Race." Preston’s experimental spirit and melodic joy define the record’s upbeat, inclusive vibe.The Rolling Stones – Goats Head Soup (1973) The Stones soften swagger for introspection and moody funk. “Angie” had a stop at #2 this week before eventually reaching the top spot with acoustic heartbreak. Musical range, self-reflection, wah, slide guitar, and controversy meet to mark a new era for the band.Diggin’Dude:Mammoth – The End (2025)Stevie Wonder – Innervisions (1973)Don:Depeche Mode M A Film by Fernando Frias (2025)Duran Duran – "Shadows On Your Side"Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and BlueSky at @albumnerds.Support the show by subscribing, rating, reviewing, and sharing“Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.”

  --------  

  49:56

  --------

  49:56
• What Are You Supposed to Be?: New York Dolls & Ghost

  Happy Halloween!Don and Dude get into the spirit with a pair of albums by artists who turned makeup, mystery, and myth into musical identity. Some masks conceal, others reveal . These bands prove that image can be as powerful as sound. From glitter-streaked proto-punk to sacred heavy metal pageantry, this episode dives into records that blur the line between costume and self.New York Dolls – New York Dolls (1973) Glam rock’s wildest children crash onto the scene with guitar riffs that swagger and sneer. Produced by Todd Rundgren, this debut revs with glitter, grime, and chaotic charm. David Johansen, Johnny Thunders, and company blend garage grit with lipstick-stained theater, creating the blueprint for punk attitude and glam-metal swagger alike. Songs like "Personality Crisis," "Trash," and "Jet Boy" turn confusion and defiance into style itself.Ghost – Meliora (2015) From Sweden’s cathedrals of doom comes a band that made Satanic spectacle strangely sublime. Led by Tobias Forge under papal disguise, Ghost’s breakthrough record polishes metal into something divine and disturbingly singable. Meliora fuses heavy riffs, orchestral touches, and choirlike harmonies to explore faith, absence, and false salvation. The Grammy-winning "Cirice" leads the sermon, while “He Is” and “Deus in Absentia” bring haunting grandeur to a godless world. It’s as if Queen joined Black Sabbath inside a gothic cathedral of mirrors.Diggin’Dude:Unto Others – I Believe in Halloween II (2025);Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath (1970)Don:The Blow Monkeys – Birdsong (2025)The Sisters of Mercy – Floodland (1987)What album conjures your inner alter ego? Tell us on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and BlueSky at @albumnerds.Support the show by subscribing, rating, reviewing, and sharing the spooky sonic love.

  --------  

  48:44

  --------

  48:44
• Secret Crushes: Goo Goo Dolls & Color Me Badd

  Don and Dude get honest about the records that live in their guilty pleasure zone. These are favorites we rarely admit loving but revisit for comfort, catharsis, and cool-defying joy. Get ready for heartfelt hooks, lush harmonies, and surprising confessions.These are the records we play in private, the ones that keep finding their way back onto the playlist, no matter what critics say. From grungy Buffalo alt-rock to glossy New Jack Swing, this episode is all about celebrating what truly moves us.Goo Goo Dolls – Dizzy Up The Girl (1998)Buffalo band’s sixth album shows John Rzeznik’s transition from punk covers to melodic, alternative rock stardom. Produced by Rob Cavallo, the band delivers earnest lyrics paired with arena-ready production. They found massive success after the breakthrough single “Name”.This record features a blend of punk grit with pop-rock polish. Upbeat riffs, cinematic string arrangements by David Campbell, and vulnerable songwriting all combine to make their sound distinct. Tracks like “Dizzy,” “Black Balloon,” “Broadway,” and “Iris” balance introspection and radio-friendliness. Deep cuts add emotional complexity and raw energy. The album established the Goo Goo Dolls as melodic hit-makers and proved vulnerability and anthems can work together.Color Me Badd – C.M.B. (1991)The breakout debut from this Oklahoma City vocal group became a cornerstone of R&B, pop, and New Jack Swing. Founding members Bryan Abrams, Mark Calderon, Sam Watters, and Kevin Thornton worked with Dr. Freeze, Howie Tee, and Nick Mundy on production. Their blend of doo-wop harmonies, polished synths, and playful sex appeal brought crossover chart success and influenced future vocal groups.This album features slow jams and party anthems with a playful spirit, classic ‘90s radio gold. Signature grooves sample Betty Wright and Lyn Collins, hooks loop through rich harmonies, and the vibe shifts from gospel inspiration to hints of Latin pop. C.M.B. went triple platinum, set a new standard for pop-R&B, and paved the way for a wave of boy bands and vocal groups to follow.Diggin’Dude:Carter Faith – Cherry Valley (2025) This debut blends cinematic country, indie spirit, and strong songwriting, especially on “Sex, Drugs and Country Music.”America – America (1971) A folk-rock classic packed with acoustic warmth, reflective themes, and “A Horse With No Name”.Don:Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl (2025) Upbeat pop and soft rock inspired by Eras Tour moments and high-profile relationships. “The Fate of Ophelia” stands out.Gary Numan – Telekon (1980) A synth-driven, dystopian electronic album that inspired the future of industrial music, highlighted by “We Are Glass”.What album is your secret crush? Tell us on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and BlueSky at @albumnerds or at albumsnerds.com. Support the show by subscribing, rating, reviewing, and sharing those guilty pleasures.

  --------  

  51:54

  --------

  51:54
• Nü metal: Korn & Linkin Park

  What happens when heavy riffs meet raw emotion? This week, Don and Dude dive into two landmark albums that launched Nu Metal from underground oddity to global phenomenon, blending hip-hop, metal, and vulnerability in ways rock had never witnessed.Born in the late '90s, Nu Metal fused bruising guitar riffs, hip-hop swagger, and electronic experimentation, connecting deeply with fans wrestling alienation, trauma, and identity. These albums didn’t just soundtrack angst, they rewrote heavy music’s rulebook.Korn – Korn (1994)Background: Debut record by Bakersfield’s five-piece, produced by Ross Robinson at Indigo Ranch, captured mostly live for maximum intensity. Jonathan Davis’s anguished vocals, Fieldy’s clacking bass, and down-tuned Ibanez 7-string guitars created Nu Metal’s foundation.Sound/Legacy: A claustrophobic nightmare of sludgy riffs, twisted nursery rhymes, and unfiltered emotion—Korn’s first single “Blind” became a genre’s birth cry, while “Daddy” redefined honesty in heavy music. The album’s “bounce metal” sound, real-time aggression, and confrontational lyrics inspired an army of imitators.Key Tracks: “Blind,” “Shoots and Ladders,” “Faget,” “Clown,” “Helmet in the Bush,” “Daddy.”Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory (2000)Background: Los Angeles band, renamed and reimagined when Chester Bennington joined, fused emotional rock, rap, and DJ effects for a style that stormed radio, MTV, and the hearts of millions. Producer Don Gilmore’s perfectionist approach resulted in a polished sonic punch.Sound/Legacy: Hybrid Theory delivered universally relatable lyrics—paranoia, frustration, failure—through a seamless interplay of Mike Shinoda’s rap and Chester Bennington’s soaring melodies. Every song packs arena-ready hooks and emotional weight, making the album a nu metal, rap-rock, and emo touchstone.Key Tracks: “Papercut,” “One Step Closer,” “Points of Authority,” “Crawling,” “In the End,” “A Place for My Head,” “Pushing Me Away.”Diggin’Dude:Mirador – Mirador (2025)Debut from Greta Van Fleet’s Jake Kiszka and company, recorded live, blending rock, folk, blues, country themes of myth, hope, and identity.“Feels Like Gold”The Go-Go’s – Beauty and the Beat (1981)Punk to new wave classic, hit singles “Our Lips Are Sealed” and “We Got the Beat.”Don:The Pink Stones – Thank the Lord… It’s The Pink Stones (2025)Athens, GA cosmic Americana, rootsy punk, country, and psychedelic mix.“If I Can’t Win (With You)”Andy Bell – Ten Crowns (2025)Erasure frontman’s third solo, produced by Dave Audé, mixes Eurodisco, synth-pop, gospel; features Debbie Harry.“Hearts a Liar”What song helped you survive your angsty years?Connect on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and BlueSky @albumnerds or at albumsnerds.com. Support the show: subscribe, rate, review, and spread the word!

  --------  

  51:33

  --------

  51:33
• Literary Albums: The Alan Parsons Project & David Bowie

  What happens when classic literature inspires classic albums? This week, Dude and Don explore two towering concept records that channel the words and worlds of famous authors, transforming poems and dystopias into some of rock’s most ambitious music.Theme: Albums Inspired by Books From Poe to Orwell, musicians have long found fuel in the pages of novels and poems—turning tales of fear, fate, and rebellion into creative sonic journeys.1. The Alan Parsons Project – Tales of Mystery and Imagination (1976)Background: Debut album by producer Alan Parsons and songwriter Eric Woolfson, tales of Edgar Allan Poe reimagined in progressive rock. Features guest vocals from John Miles, Arthur Brown, and orchestral flourishes by Andrew Powell.Sound/Legacy: Cinematic, theatrical prog with standout studio effects (early use of vocoder on “The Raven”) and lush orchestration. A cult classic, it set a standard for literary concept albums—melding horror, drama, and symphonic grandeur.Key Tracks: “A Dream Within a Dream,” “The Raven,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Fall of the House of Usher.”2. David Bowie – Diamond Dogs (1974)Background: Eighth Bowie album, born from an abandoned adaptation of Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, blends dystopian fiction with glam, proto-punk, and theatrical storytelling. Bowie takes the reins on guitar and production.Sound/Legacy: Razor-edged and restless, this LP combines dark glam anthems with fragmented narrative and new techniques like Burroughs’ “cut-up” lyrics. “Rebel Rebel” provides glittery hooks, while Halloween Jack and Hunger City stalk its dystopian landscape. Influenced punk and goth scenes to come.Key Tracks: “Diamond Dogs,” “Sweet Thing/Candidate,” “Rebel Rebel,” “Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family.”Diggin’The Hives – Forever Forever The Hives (2025)Duran Duran – Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983)Of Monsters and Men – All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade (2025)Kathleen Edwards – Billionaire (2025)Join Us What book would make a wild concept album? Hit us up @albumnerds on socials or email [email protected]. Full archive: albumnerds.com. Share, subscribe, and review!

  --------  

  50:31

  --------

  50:31

More Music podcasts

Trending Music podcasts

About Album Nerds