Picky Bastards

What's this? A Picky Bastards Podcast Mini not featuring Fran Slater? Are you sure? Well, we all know Fran is clueless when it comes to electronic music - so, instead, we welcome James Spearing and Fat Roland as they talk about the latest album from Bonobo. Get it in your ears. If you enjoy this one, please subscribe to the podcast, give us a nice review on your podcast app, and come find us o...

Welcome to Episode 103 of the miserable music podcast: also known as the longest episode ever (maybe, I haven't checked), or the Episode we discuss the death of the Mercury Prize, or if you have different taste in music, the episode we discuss the best Mercury Prize shortlist of all time. Either way, it's our Mercury Prize special for 2026. Listening will tell you so many things that will...

Welcome to another Episode of Picky Bastards, in our new Sam free era. Another rotating guest joins us for this one in the form of Lisa Whiteman-Pearce. This month, we discuss recently released albums from Man/Woman/Chainsaw, Grace Cummings, L'Rain, and Petey USA and a classic from the Judds before Lisa takes us on an emotional journey through her love of Sinead o'Connor in the Why I Love...

The podcast mini marathon continues, as Fran and James discuss Emotional Junglist by Nia Archives. With James being a big fan of electronic music, and Fran feeling like a fraud every time he has to talk about it, how will this one go? Tune in to find out. If you enjoy this one please subscribe to the podcast, give us a nice review wherever you do that kind of thing, and come and follow us on Insta...

It's another podcast mini from the miserable music podcast. This time, Fran and Sam get together to discuss what may be both of their most anticipated album releases of the decade so far - Lost Weekend by Phoebe Bridgers. But will it live up to their high expectations? If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to the podcast, leave us a nice review on your chosen platform, and come and find us o...

It's another mini edition of the miserable music podcast known as Picky Bastards. This time out, regular host Fran Slater is joined by Will Collins to discuss Massive Champion by Getdown Services. Did we love it? Did we hate it? Did we get over our pretentious preconceptions? Well, I guess you'll have to listen to find out. If you enjoy this one, please subscribe to the podcast, give us a nice 5 s...

Life without Sam as a co-host begins in Episode 101, where Matt and Fran are joined by the first in a series of rotating guests for this here miserable music podcast. Joe Hoare joins us to discuss new releases from Beth Orton, Madonna, JJerome87, and Mary in the Junkyard and classic from Bratmobile. Fran closes out the episode by telling you why he loves Kevin Morby. If you enjoy this episode, ple...

Yep. Believe it or not, the most disorganised set of miserable music podcasters have managed to make it to 100 episodes. To celebrate, we get the usual crew together alongside Pickybs.com editors and regular podcast guests James and Tom. Instead of the normal playlist full of new releases and classic albums, we look back at our favourite musical discoveries since we started the show in 2017. Expec...

It's Picky Bastards Podcast Mini time once more. Join regular podcast host Fran Slater and previous guest and pickybs.com editor Tom Burrows as they share their thoughts on Fenian by Kneecap. If you enjoy this, please subscribe to the podcast, give us a nice review or some stars wherever you get your podcasts, and come follow us on Instagram @thepickybastards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privac...

Episode 99 of the miserable music podcast is upon you, so please come and join us as we say goodbye to episode numbers with two digits. On this month's playlist we discuss newly released albums from Aldous Harding, SHHE, Genesis Owusu, and Cola and a classic LP from OMD. And, as long time Picky Bs host Sam Atkins gets closer to his final episode with his, he introduces what he calls 'the most poin...

In Episode 98 of the miserable music podcast, Fran, Matt, and Sam review four more recently released albums and a classic album none of us know. The episode closes, as always, with one of the panel telling you about a band or artist they adore in the ‘Why I Love’ section. This month, the new albums are from Arlo Parks, Brown Horse, Lime Garden, and Wesley Joseph and the ‘classic’ is from Nitzer Eb...

In Episode 97 of the miserable music podcast, Fran, Matt, and Sam review four more recently released albums and a classic album none of us know. The episode closes, as always, with one of the panel telling you about a band or artist they adore in the 'Why I Love' section. This month, the new albums are from Mitski, Yebba, By Storm and Altin Gun and the 'classic' is from 10,000 Maniacs. Fran closes...

It's time for the 96th episode of the miserable music podcast, with hosts Matt, Sam, and Fran. As always, we cover four recently released albums and a classic album that none of us know, before one of the panel tells you all about a band or artist that they adore in the 'Why I Love' section. This month, we have new releases from Geologist, Ratboys, Dream Nails, and Mandy, Indiana and a classic fro...

On Episode 94 of Picky Bastards we are back with hosts Fran, Matt and Sam. Back for 2026 we are here with a new playlist of albums including a Classic and a Why I Love. This month's playlist: Mon Rovia - Bloodline A$ap Rocky - Don’t Be Dumb Cavetown - Running With Scissors Sleaford Mods - The Demise of Planet X CLASSIC: Wrens - The Meadowlands Why I Love - Sparks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

On Episode 94 of Picky Bastards we are back with hosts Fran, Matt and Sam. It's our Album of the Year 2025 special and we are here to decide definitively which album was the best this year. This month's playlist: Jasmine 4.t - You Are The Morning Clipse - Let God Sort ‘Em Out Maruja - Pain To Power Heartworms - Glutton For Punishment Hayley Williams - Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party Spiritbox -...

On Episode 93 of Picky Bastards we are back with hosts Fran, Matt and Sam. We have new releases by Sigrid, Dave, Tame Impala and Just Mustard. This month's classic album is Folksinger by Dave Van Ronk and then Fran tells us why he loves TORRES. This month's playlist: Sigrid - There's Always More That I Could Say Dave - The Boy Who Played The Harp Tame Impala - Deadbeat Just Mustard - WE WERE JUST...

On Episode 92 of Picky Bastards we are back with hosts Fran, Matt and Sam. We have new releases by GANS, Kojey Radical, Geese and Purity Ring. This month's classic album is Diana by Diana Ross and then Sam tells us why he loves Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves. This month's playlist: GANS - GOOD FOR THE SOUL Kojey Radical - Don’t Look Down Purity Ring - purity ring Geese - Getting Killed Diana Ross...

On Episode 91 of Picky Bastards we are back talking about our favourite music award the Mercury Music Prize. This month the regular bastards are joined by Tom Burrows to discuss all 12 of this year's Mercury shortlisted albums. We discuss who we think should win and who would be the worst possible winner of the Mercury Prize 2025. The list includes: CMAT: ‘EURO-COUNTRY’ Emma-Jean Thackray: ‘Weirdo...

On Episode90 of Picky Bastards we are back with hosts Fran, Matt and Sam. We have new releases by The Sick Man of Europe, Hayden Pedigo, Big Special and Annahstasia. This month's classic album is Different Light by The Bangles and then Matt tells us why he loves Hidden by These New Puritans. This month's playlist: The Sick Man of Europe - The Sick Man of Europe Hayden Pedigo - I’ve Be Waving as Yo...

On Episode 89 of Picky Bastards we are back with hosts Fran, Matt and Sam. We have new releases by Little Simz, Shura, Mckinley Dixon and Lifeguard. This month's classic album is Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous by Big L and then Fran tells us why he loves Bob Dylan. This month's playlist: Little Simz - Lotus Shura - I Got Too Sad For My Friends McKinley Dixon - Magic, Alive! Lifeguard - Ripp...

On Episode 88 of Picky Bastards we are back with hosts Fran, Matt and Sam. We have new releases by SENTRIES, Blondshell, Jenny Hval and Model/Actriz. This month's classic album is Amor Prohibido by Selena and then Sam tells us why he loves Take That and Robbie Williams. This month's playlist: Blondshell - If You Asked for a Picture SENTRIES - Gem of the West Model/Actriz - Pirouette Jenny Hval - I...

On Episode 87 of Picky Bastards we are joined by special guest Rick Larson. We have new releases by Japanese Breakfast, Greentea Peng, Backxwash and YHWH Nailgun. This month's classic album is Laughing Stock by Talk Talk and then Rick tells us why he loves Double Nickels On The Dime by Minutemen. This month's playlist: Japanese Breakfast - For Melancholy Brunetts (& sad women) Greentea Peng -...

On Episode 86 of Picky Bastards we have new releases by Sharon Van Etten, Antony Szmierek, LISA and Everything Is Recorded. This month's classic album is from Willie Nelso with Red Headed Stranger and then Matt tells us why he loves Interpol This month's playlist: Sharon Van Etten - Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory Antony Szmierek - Service Station At The End of the Universe LISA - Al...

On Episode 85 of Picky Bastards we have new releases by Victoria Canal, FKA Twigs, Ditz and Central Cee. This month's classic album is from Fugazi with The Argument and then Fran tells us why he loves This Is The Kit This month's playlist: Victoria Canal - Slowly, It Dawns FKA Twigs - Eusexua Ditz - Never Exhale Central Cee - Can't Rush Greatness Fugazi- The Argument Why I Love - This is the Kit H...

On Episode 84 of Picky Bastards we have new releases by Franz Ferdinand, Moonchild Sanelly, Ethel Cain and Lambrini Girls. This month's classic album is from Rufus Wainwright with Want One and then Sam tells us why he loves Rahim Redcar/Christine and the Queens. This month's playlist: Ethel Cain - Perverts Franz Ferdinand - The Human Fear Moonchild Sanelly - Full Moon Lambrini Girls - Who Let The...