Album Nerds

Travel back in time with us… Back to a time when MTV was still relevant and wearing your pants backwards wasn’t a mistake. We recommend our favorite records from 1992 and look back on the sounds of 25 years ago. Sit back and nerd it up!

After getting lost the mountains last week – we’re back to talk about some exciting new releases! Blues rock newcomers Greta Van Fleet have peaked our interest with their first official release. And we’re bullish on veteran underground rapper Billy Woods new full length as well. Plus we recommend a couple new artists to watch and follow on Twitter. Get your full, doctor-recommended serving of nerd...

Music streaming services like Spotify and Google Play Music have revolutionized how we listen to and discover music. We talk over the pros and cons of the technology – how well do they know our tastes and do they truly support the artists? We also highlight two albums that we discovered via our streaming services – The Como Mamas ‘Move Upstairs’ and the Glorious Sons ‘The Union’. Take 2 nerds and...

We dig into the Bee Gees’ catalog and are surprised to find a lot of good music outside of the disco grooves you’d expect. Join us as we highlight two of the bands influential records.

The best part of having a secret is telling someone. We have two ‘secret’ albums to share with you today. Two records that are lesser known, though still of Album Nerds quality. We recommend early 90’s singer/songwriter Jefferey Gaines self-titled debut as well as early 2000’s hardcore group Circle Takes the Square first full length. Hear why we think these hidden gems are worthy of digging up. Ne...

Join us for another installment in our essential jazz and country listening series. We focus on a classic country record from outlaw country legend, Kris Kristofferson as well as a modern jazz record from Grammy winning drummer Terri Lyne Carrington. Hear why they should be part of any music fan’s collection. Nerd it up!

Early last month, country music up-and-comer, Tyler Childers put out a record we both have taken a liking to. Join us as we talk about this new class of outlaw country as well as this record’s strengths and weaknesses. We also give a proper shout-out to Netflix show ‘Ozark’ as well as bluetooth headphones from TaoTronics. What do you think of Tyler Childers’ Purgatory? Tell us your thoughts on Twi...

Join us for the next installment of our Future Classics recommendations where we talk over 2 recent records we feel will be classics in the years to come. Our nominations are Janelle Monae’s 2010 Pop/R&B album The ArchAndroid as well as Michael Kiwanuka’s 2012 soulful debut Home Again. What records from the last 5-10 years would you nominate?

Let’s go back – back all the way to the glorious year that was 1993. Bill Clinton’s cigars were still clean, the Internet was just a baby and lots of great music was released. We highlight 2 of our favorite records from the year – Counting Crow’s August and Everything After and Pearl Jam’s Vs. Get your nerd on and tell us your favorite records from this year on Twitter @albumnerds!

We’ve got some hot n’ fresh new release recommendations for ya! Both of our picks are tasty treats from the rock music world, but they come from very different places. Industry mainstays, the Foo Fighters, have a new record out that has caught our interest. We also recommend the first full-length from a lesser known Scottish band named Dvne. Turn that nerd up to 11 for all the juicy details. Tell...

As much as we love talking about albums, recent events have caused us to take a step back and reflect a bit on more serious matters. The Dude expresses our sympathy to the victims and loved ones of the Las Vegas shootings as well as to Tom Petty and his family. We’ll be back next week with a full dose of album nerdiness. Hug the ones you love and we’ll talk to you then.

Giving a friend an album recommendation can be a tricky prospect. There’s a lot that can go wrong, but when it works, it’s magical. On this episode we talk over 2 albums recommendations we gave to each other – Benjamin Booker’s blues rocker ‘Witness’ and Canadian punk group Propagandhi’s new release ‘Victory Lap’. Tell us your thoughts on these records @albumnerds on the Twitters. Nerd it!

For our (believe it or not) 50th episode we dive back-in to our Essential Jazz and Country project. Join us for some mind-bending saxophone from the Lee Konitz and then sit back while Willie Nelson tells us story about love and loss in the wild west. Pour some nerd on that shit.

Let the Album Nerds help get you in the Halloween spirit. We’ve got 2 great spooky album recommendations for you – one to party with and the other to scare yourself. Hear our thoughts on Black Sabbath’s 1970 classic debut record as well as underground British group Coil’s 1999 release Musick to Play in the Dark.

We’ve got 2 hot ‘n fresh new release recommendations for you this week. The Dude steps outside of his comfort zone and picks an experimental record from doom metal band Bell Witch. Andy selects a zany electronic record that certainly is unique and has the dude scratching his head. Don’t be a turd, turn up that nerd!

If you love albums like we do, you probably love vinyl too. Today we dig into our vinyl collections to highlight 2 records that we think sound best on wax. Andy recommends a Zappa record that nicely balances his musical genius and goofy sense of humor. The Dude picks out a deluxe version of a Lenny Kravitz’s 1993 record, Are You Gonna Go My Way that includes some lesser known tracks. Spin that bla...

Everyone loves a good story. We talk over 2 albums that not only are interesting musically, but also take the time to tell a story. In 1988 metal group Queensryche released their an ambitious record detailing the adventures of a brainwashed hit man working for a secret organization trying to overthrow the government. It’s pretty much a an action movie set to music. And we also dig into the lore su...

Join us as we take a stroll down memory lane, all the way back to the year 1994. We cover some of the movies and pop culture that was going on, but our focus is on 2 influential albums from that year. Lesser known and underappreciated group King’s X put out a great record that managed to fit Beatles-esq harmony’s into the hard rock sound of the time. And a new punk rock group called Sunny Day Real...

Hard to believe it’s been a year since we started our Essential Project deep-dive into Blues, Country and Jazz music. Today on the show we recap the albums we highlighted throughout the year as well as share how the project has affected our listening to modern day music. Crank that essential nerdiness to 11.

We’ve got two new release recommendations for you this week. Veteran gospel singer Mavis Staples latest release is a beautifully written statement of love and togetherness, focused on lifting up minorities. And Canadian rockers, One Bad Son, have added yet another solid rock record to their ever growing catalog. Help us spread the message of good music by cranking that nerd to 11!

Holiday music can get old fast. It’s the same set of songs, over and over again. Luckily your favorite Album Nerds are here with a couple holiday album recommendations that feature some excellent original songs to help you celebrate your Christmas-Hanukkah-Kwanzaa-Festivus Day in style. Our first pick was released in 1973 by country legend Merle Haggard. The economy was in a recession and many fam...

It’s the close of another year and that can only mean one thing – year end countdown lists! In a bold move of originality, we count down our top 10 favorite records of 2017. In this episode we cover our honorable mentions and numbers 10 through 6. Honorable Mention Bell Witch – Mirror Reaper (Dude) A heavy, dark doom record that sounds open and spacious. Hiss Golden Messenger – Hallelujah Anyhow (...

We complete our 2017 year end countdown of our favorite records of the year that was. In this episode we cover numbers 5-1. 5 Mastodon – Emperor of Sand (Dude) The seventh studio album from the Atlanta, GA progressive metal band that sees them returning to their concept record roots. Downtown Boys – Cost of Living (Andy) A raucous, post-punk rock record with lyrics focused on social and economic i...

We kick off our 2018 edition of the Essential Project where we dig deep into a particular genre, bringing you the important records and historical context you need to be a true Album Nerd. This year we’re focusing on NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) and Funk music. Our first NWOBHM record is from a ‘what-could-have-been’ band named Angel Witch and their 1980 album by the same name. They he...

We look back on the year that was 1995. As we reared our heads out of the grunge movement, what was left? A new wave of rock bands emerged, trying to capitalize on the Seattle sound. Hip-hop continued to move into the mainstream. And of course, there’s always Weird Al to put his spin on it all. We combined our individual lists to arrive at this top 5: Honorable Mentions GZA – Liquid Swords Mobb De...