At First Listen

We break down a pair of tracks from a relatively unknown but charismatic Queens, New York-based rapped called Young Cardamom.   This Indian-American emcee dropped a flurry of songs with great-looking visuals about a decade ago. Two, in particular, “#1 Spice” and “Nani,” caught our attention this week.   But it’s been years since Young Cardamom released any new music. What happened to him? Tell us...

Andrew and Dominique know almost nothing about D’Angelo, so if they didn’t do a D’Angelo episode now, they might never learn.   We enlist LiteFM midday host and National Black Radio Hall of Famer Helen Little to help fill in the gaps in our knowledge.   Helen has worked at heritage R&B radio stations in both New York and Philadelphia since the '90s. She was in on the proverbial ground floor of...

We discuss the anomaly that is the 1993 stop-motion animated film The Nightmare Before Christmas — a gothic Halloween musical comedy for children that hinges of themes of death, depression, belonging and the Christmas spirit.   Extraordinarily offbeat and original, Nightmare has inspired generations of people with its music, aesthetic and lesson of embracing what makes each of us unique.   Tell us...

This bonus episode is a loving tribute to the greatest and one true Halloween song.   Tell us about your first listen @AtFirstListenpodcast on Instagram!   Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!   (NOTE: Andrew is of course referring to “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder when he says “Supernatural.” He is humiliated.) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We dive into John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s powerful 1972 statement on political violence, “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” which has just been re-released in a gigantic (potentially evil capitalist) box set.   Dominique rants about commercial art versus performance art, and we discuss Yoko Ono’s immense impact on the latter.   Tell us about your first listen @AtFirstListenpodcast via Instagram!   Subscribe so...

U.K.-based rockers Dinosaur Pile-Up returned this year after a lengthy absence to remind us that contemporary rock music can deal with serious topics and be fun at the same time. DPU singer-guitarist Matt Bigland re-evaluated much of his life and his choices during a hospital stay in 2021. Once healthy again, Matt recommitted himself to his music and his band. This past August, Dinosaur Pile-Up re...

April Kae returns to the show to join the conversation around Cardi B's  AM I THE DRAMA? album. We discuss the high and low points of Cardi's highly-anticipated, 24-track (!) divorce album, her unending charm and how she constantly finds ways to push boundaries of pop music.  April explains the debt she owes to Cardi B's "Up," as well as the challenges she’s faced while developing her own music an...

We check out the recent single "Hiding in Plain Sight" by the L.A.-based metalcore band Holywatr. Andrew has highly conflicting feelings about the band, but it's right up Dominique's alley.  Tell us about your first listen at @AtFirstListenPodcast on Instagram. Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We add some context to Hayley Williams' landmark third solo album,  Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party , discuss why it's a step into uncharted territory for her and what it means for the future of Paramore. Tell us about your first listen @AtFirstListenPodcast on Instagram! Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! (Episode 40.) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're talking about a single from Blood Orange's new album,  Essex Honey . We marvel at the mulit-instrumental talent of songwriter/producer Dev Hynes and we discuss the pitfalls and freedoms that comes with being a true solo artist. Tell us about your first listen at @AtFirstListenPodcast via Instagram. Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the eve of the release of the new Deftones album, private music , we’re breaking down the band's “milk of the madonna" single.   Andrew and Dominique ask where the line is when it comes to an artist rehashing their ‘classic’ sound, and how private music is bound to be  the quintessential Deftones album for the new generation of fans who just recently discovered the band and elevated the Deftone...

We highlight progressive metal band Kallias' latest single, "The Final Cleansing," the day their new album, Digital Plague , arrives on all streaming platforms. Andrew and Dominique dive into the many layers of "The Final Cleansing," how the song ebbs between cinematic intricacy and straightforward slam. Tell us about your first listen @AtFirstListenPodcast on Instagram. Subscribe so you don't mis...

We honor the work of Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away this week at age 76.   Andrew and Dominique give Ozzy his flowers for being a much greater singer, performer and ambassador for rock and heavy metal music than people realize.    We talk about the grim circumstances that led to Ozzy co-founding Black Sabbath with Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward, and we consider how Satanic panic unwitting...

We surf with The Beach Boys in memory of the band’s late mastermind Brian Wilson, who passed away in June at age 82.   Andrew discusses his longstanding curiosity about The Beach Boys, while Dominique explains how one of the squarest bands of the ‘60s was an element of her teenage rebellion in the ‘00s.   We discuss why coolness has always eluded the Beach Boys and where the band's legacy stands t...

A band Andrew has traveled across the world to see just released its first new song in years. From Perth, Australia, Karnivool is probably the greatest rock band in the world that nobody knows about! We discuss the new single, "Drone," the merits of having a tight catalog and why Karnivool is such a well-kept secret. Tell us about your first listen at @AtFirstListenPodcast on Instagram! Subscribe...

Foo Fighters released their first new original song since 2023 this week with "Today's Song." We give our thoughts on the track, the Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl's famous fall from grace last year and how he got away with having such an annoying personality for so long without anyone saying anything.  Tell us about your first listen at @AtFirstListenPodcast on Instagram! Subscribe so you don't miss an...

We talk about Lola Young’s embrace of 2010s indie music in her unique brand of soul-pop, and how it confirms a change in alt music, who alt music reaches and who can credibly create it.   Tell us about your first listen @AtFirstListenPodcast on Instagram! Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gina Petro a.k.a. singer-songwriter HOLDN takes the wheel and assigns us Banks'  Goddess debut album, one of the most impactful records for Gina's own musical endeavors.  Gina recalls how she backed into being a "singer" in the first place and how she bonded with Banks' music in the back of a van while on tour with her old alternative band.  We discuss the merits of seeing concerts alone, where bi...

Kesha's new single "BOY CRAZY." is an early contender for song of the summer.  We ask ourselves, is Kesha's return a harbinger of an oncoming Boy Summer ... or just a recession indicator. Tell us about your first listen at @AtFirstListenPodcast on Instagram. Subscribe so you don't miss an episode of  At First Listen ! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, we ask why a five-year-old song by Charli xcx is suddenly a hit, and whether the indie sleaze vibe of the official music video for “party 4 u” is a recession indicator.   Tell us about your first listen at @AtFirstListenPodcast on Instagram. Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode of At First Listen ! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Avril Lavigne released her first new song in a couple of years, and it features her old skate park pals Simple Plan. Like a siren calling out to millennials, "Young and Dumb" might be enough to get the attention of aging emos, but does it have anything more to offer than nostalgia? And is Avril too young to be making these types of songs? Tell us about your first listen via Instagram @AtFirstListe...

Our longest running challenge was to watch the Hulu documentary  Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) and listen to Sly & the Family Stone's  Fresh album, and after several months, we finally completed it! We discuss what struck us about QuestLove's documentary, the highs of the Fresh album and our respective experiences with Sly and the Family Stone's music in our lives. Subscribe so y...

We let our moms choose the music for today's episode! We parse through hits from the likes of Stevie Wonder and Carole King, as well as jazz standards, while contemplating how our mothers shaped our musical experiences.  Subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Call your mom. And connect with us via Instagram @AtFirstListenPodcast! (Episode 34.) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We react to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 2025 class of inductees with Q104.3 New York and iHeartRadio Classic Rock brand boss Eric Wellman.  We wrestle with the controversies, compromises and inherent frustrations of the Rock Hall. Eric dives into the Rock Hall’s history and relevance to the radio and music business. Andrew and Dominique weigh the relevance of this year’s nominees and what dir...

Users on social media platforms have been acting Frank Ocean's "Solo" from his 2016 studio album,  Blonde .  Dominique and Andrew discuss what might have sparked this trend, why Frank Ocean is such a pivotal artist for LGBTQ+-identifying people and André 3000's contribution to the accompanying "Solo (Reprise)" track from the album. Tell us about your first listen via Instagram @AtFirstListenPodcas...