Why Is This So Hard For You?

Episode 146 starts with two beautifully crafted pieces of British pop before the category round takes us from seasonal weirdness to one of the stranger stories behind a late-blooming hit. Jonathan opens with Hue and Cry , bringing blue-eyed soul, sophisticated pop, and the kind of sharp ’80s production that rewards a closer listen. Curtis follows with Prefab Sprout , where Paddy McAloon’s songwrit...

Episode 145 starts polished, sophisticated, and very musical—then the category round takes a turn that gets considerably more disturbing. Curtis opens with Leonid & Friends teaming up with Gino Vannelli , bringing big arrangements, immaculate playing, and the kind of studio-musician precision that lives right in the show’s wheelhouse. Jonathan follows with Deacon Blue , adding literate pop-roc...

Episode 144 starts with another trip to the movies, moves into some serious instrumental muscle, and eventually reaches a recording that forces Curtis to reopen the Sonic Holocaust file. Jonathan continues his soundtrack streak with Billy Joel , digging up a movie song that sounds unmistakably like him while living a little outside the part of his catalog most people know. Curtis follows with Snar...

Episode 143 gets smooth, cinematic, and increasingly questionable as Curtis brings some late-night jazz-pop atmosphere, Jonathan continues digging through movie soundtracks, and the category round moves from grown-up soul to an aging crooner reaching for arena-rock relevance. Curtis opens with Michael Franks , bringing his trademark blend of jazz, soft rock, understated grooves, and impossibly lai...

Episode 142 keeps Jonathan’s movie-song streak rolling, then jumps headfirst into Van Halen before the category round brings weed smoke, unlikely collaborations, and one massive power ballad that somehow never reached No. 1. Jonathan starts with Stephen Bishop and another trip into the world of movie soundtracks, this time pulling a smooth, overlooked performance from Tootsie . It’s polished early...

Episode 141 starts in classic-rock territory, takes a cinematic singer-songwriter turn, and then heads directly into two category songs that may test everyone’s patience in very different ways. Curtis opens with Styx and a key moment in the band’s evolution—the first album to feature Tommy Shaw. The track begins almost like a straight singer-songwriter piece, restrained and melodic, before gradual...

Episode 140 gets smooth, sophisticated, and then deeply questionable as Curtis and Jonathan move from polished West Coast AOR into expansive jazz atmosphere before the category songs start raising eyebrows. Curtis opens with Bill Champlin, bringing soulful vocals, studio-musician polish, and that sweet spot where soft rock, yacht rock, and blue-eyed soul all start sharing the same expensive microp...

Episode 139 moves from Southern rock atmosphere into silky adult-contemporary sophistication before the category songs take a hard turn into overplayed-radio exhaustion and late-’80s redemption. Jonathan opens with Atlanta Rhythm Section, bringing melodic classic rock, polished Southern groove, and the kind of overlooked album-cut energy that fits perfectly in the deep cuts lane. Curtis follows wi...

Episode 138 brings the horns, the grooves, and one deeply questionable duet decision as Jonathan and Curtis move from jazz-funk fireworks into smooth studio-player territory before the category songs start causing emotional damage. Jonathan opens with a live Brecker Brothers performance, bringing precision horn lines, funk muscle, and the kind of jazz fusion intensity that makes everyone in the ro...

Episode 137 settles into prime late-’70s studio-player territory, with Curtis bringing Steely Dan and Jonathan following with the Doobie Brothers for a double shot of slick production, soft rock polish, and yacht rock-adjacent groove. Curtis opens with a Steely Dan cut built for radio mythology, full of jazz-pop sophistication, dry wit, and that unmistakable Becker/Fagen perfectionism. Jonathan ke...

Episode 136 jumps from pop-rock deep cuts to full-on prog-rock chaos, then winds its way through original-version history and a song that got absolutely cooked by overexposure. Jonathan opens with Rick Springfield he really doesn't like, bringing a polished early-career cut with plenty of melodic pop craftsmanship. Curtis follows with King Crimson, heading straight into one of prog rock’s defi...

Episode 135 gets strange in all the right ways, moving from literary singer-songwriter atmosphere to heavy, harmony-rich rock before crashing directly into one of the most baffling novelty records ever allowed near a microphone. Curtis opens with Rickie Lee Jones, bringing smoky art-pop storytelling, jazz-shaded songwriting, and the kind of album-cut depth that rewards a closer listen. Jonathan fo...

Episode 134 brings together modern yacht rock polish, classic singer-songwriter comfort, original-version history, and one of the most joyful records ever to miss the top spot. Curtis opens with Monkey House, bringing sleek AOR production, studio-musician detail, and that throwback West Coast sound that feels custom-built for deep cut obsessives. Jonathan follows with James Taylor, adding warm sof...

Episode 133 slides into that sweet spot where modern yacht rock polish, jazz fusion chops, and forgotten pop history all somehow belong in the same conversation. Curtis opens with State Cows, bringing smooth AOR textures, West Coast studio-musician energy, and the kind of throwback songwriting that feels built for this music podcast. Jonathan follows with Jeff Lorber Fusion, adding electric keys,...

Storm warnings, cinematic storytelling, powerhouse vocals, and one of pop music’s most famously misunderstood jokes. Jonathan opens with a Billy Joel deep cut before Curtis turns to Bruce Hornsby and the Range for a beautifully arranged song that feels like the closing scene of a movie nobody remembers seeing. For the category selections, Jonathan brings Covers with Jon Lampley, Clyde and Gracie L...

Episode 131 gets wonderfully musician-brained as Derek Hale brings Allan Holdsworth into the room, which means jazz fusion, impossible guitar lines, and the general feeling that everyone else may need to practice more. Curtis continues his run through favorite debut albums with Donald Fagen , adding sleek studio polish, sophisticated songwriting, and that perfectly engineered jazz-pop/AOR atmosphe...

Episode 130 keeps Derek Hale in the room for another round of deep cuts, debut-album discoveries, jazz fusion precision, and one very important reminder that some guys used to sing like their lives depended on it. Curtis continues his run through favorite debut albums with Kenny Loggins, bringing warm singer-songwriter craft, soft rock polish, and the kind of 1970s studio-musician atmosphere that...

Derek is still hanging around for Episode 129, which means the episode has room for smooth late-night atmosphere, ambitious debut-album energy, and a few jazz turns along the way. Jonathan opens with a moody collaboration from Chris Botti and The Blue Nile , bringing atmospheric trumpet, polished production, and cinematic melancholy. Curtis then continues his run through standout debut-album cuts...

Episode 128 brings Derek back to the show, and this one comes with an unusually personal theme. Curtis talks about recently going through a stress test and echocardiogram after having some strange heart sensations, so naturally the only reasonable response was to build an entire episode around heart-related songs. Curtis opens with a moody, atmospheric selection from Porcupine Tree , setting a dar...

Episode 127 moves from tight British jazz-funk into smoky modern songwriting before taking a sharp turn into kid-sized smoothness and soundtrack-country glory. Curtis opens with a groove-heavy selection from Level 42 , bringing slap-bass energy, sharp musicianship, and that unmistakable blend of funk, pop, and precision. Jonathan follows with a beautifully restrained track from Norah Jones , leani...

This episode moves from ’80s prog-pop precision into songwriter sophistication before landing in show-tune energy and one very David Foster-shaped category pick. Jonathan opens with a bright, punchy selection from Yes , leaning into the band’s more streamlined era where big musicianship meets accessible hooks. Curtis follows with a laid-back, character-rich track from Rickie Lee Jones , bringing t...

Episode 125 turns into a full Van Halen moment as both Jonathan and Curtis arrive with tracks from different corners of the band’s catalog. Jonathan kicks things off with a high-energy, late-era cut that brings big hooks, big guitars, and full arena confidence, while Curtis follows with an early classic that captures the attitude, swing, and personality that helped make the band impossible to igno...

Episode 124 keeps Curtis’ debut-album deep cut streak alive with a sharp, high-energy selection from Toto , packed with studio precision, rock muscle, and the kind of musicianship that made their first record so loaded. Jonathan follows with a polished track from Glad , bringing tight vocals, earnest songwriting, and a different kind of ’80s/’90s craft. In the category songs , Curtis brings anothe...

Episode 123 moves from smooth jazz-funk into classic songwriter territory before ending with two songs built for completely different kinds of emotional driving. Jonathan opens with a groove-heavy selection from George Benson , blending fluid guitar work, rhythmic sophistication, and the effortless cool that defined his crossover era. Curtis continues his ongoing exploration of standout debut albu...

Episode 122 leans into songwriter storytelling, all-time debut album magic, and two category songs that could easily start arguments in the parking lot after the show. Jonathan opens with a reflective, late-night selection from Marc Cohn , bringing warmth, lyrical detail, and that unmistakable road-worn vocal style. Curtis continues his ongoing appreciation for legendary debut albums with a soarin...