All I want to do is talk about Madonna

Kenny and Mark light some candles to celebrate one of the most frequently-streamed song in the Madonna canon - and the return of M.I.A.!   Should MDNA have had THIRTEEN official album tracks?  Topics include: M.I.A.’s “Come Walk With Me”, the joys of silliness, Sixties Mod-sters, The Beatles, secret final tracks, Stevie Wonder and the other anthemic birthday songs.  Plus, Mark works...

Mark and Kenny bust out their decoder rings to interpret the diaristic lyrics on this bonus track from MDNA and fight over what constitutes a “bonus track.”  Topics include swimming pools, Madonna’s art collection, Rocco’s canvases, Madonna going hiking, lyrical exorcisms, fantasy roads not taken, potential duets, and whether or not we can forgive (and forget).  Plus, Kenny introduces a...

Kenny and Mark pull on their Burberry trenches to investigate this fan favorite from the deluxe edition of MDNA while Madonna role plays femme fatale with Martin Solveig, the Alain Delon Appreciation Film Festival is launched, and the girls from Madame X give a preview at an extra special live show at the Paris Olympia.  Plus an extra special announcement to share at the top of the episode -...

Mark and Kenny wrap up the standard album version of MDNA with a deep and vulnerable discussion about heartbreak, relationships, mortality, and freedom.  William Orbit collaborates with Torch Song bandmate Laurie Mayer and Joe Henry’s back to assist his sister-in-law.  Plus, Special Guest Miguel Gutierrez performs a cover version of the ballad as “Sadonna” from the August 2024 live show....

Kenny and Mark re-string their banjos to break down BOTH versions of this fan favorite ballad (?) from MDNA.  Topics include family prenups, Sex and the City’s Bunny MacDougal (as well as Charlotte and Trey’s doomed marriage), Marian Seldes, Lynn Cohen, Muni Long, Free School, the veteran Alain Whyte, Morrissey’s Your Arsenal , MIKA, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, corsets, J Lo and Ben A...

Mark and Kenny get down on their knees to discuss the sparkling and oh-so-Catholic shoulda-been single from MDNA .  Topics include Kelis and the album she co-wrote with Jean Baptiste  Flesh Tone , the return of poppy William Orbit, the Pet Shop Boys, Thomas Aquinas, Mark’s grandfather, ICE CREAM, Kenny’s play about miracles and Golda Meir, and the potential first Millennial saint. ...

Kenny and Mark bust out their To-Do lists and revisit this autobiographic and confessional track from MDNA .  Topics include a return to rap, operatic escalations, time management lessons from Trixie Mattel and Joan Rivers, meeting the new tech guy, the musical variety of collaborator Julien Jabre, and whether or not Madonna truly ever yearns to hop off that never-ending treadmill.  Plus...

Mark and Kenny take their insulin shots to survive the sugary-sweet return to 1980s Madonna, Topics include a pair of mystery songwriter/producers, a special suprise remix, and - oh no! - Lola starts smoking!  Ooh La La indeed!

Kenny and Mark strap on their pumps and dance with one of the darker, secret tracks on MDNA.  Topics include William Orbit, the brilliant Klas Åhlund & his collaborations with Robyn, lyrical weaponry, the sleaze of the Rolling Stones, the return of Dita Parlo, and a special three song story (across three albums) about vengeance.  Quiet in the limousine!

Kenny and Mark bust out the pom-poms for a LIVE show at the Francis Kite Club in Alphabet City to discuss the first single and so much more from MDNA .  Topics include cheerleading, female collaborators, garage rock, bananas, ZZ Top, Burgundy wine, Martin Solveig, Michael Tordjman, Bob Costas, mascots, Megaforce, trench coats and baby carriages, THE SUPER BOWL HALFTIME PERFORMANCE, Midwestern...

Live from the Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center in New York City!  Mark and Kenny hop back in the car with Madonna to rave about the final single from MDNA .  Topics include Martin Solveig, Jade Williams, Bridgette Bardot and Barcelona, cleavage and convertibles, handsy chauffeurs, sweetheart Brahim Zaibat, Laidback Luke, R3hab, Tom Munro, missing dance breaks, the chart-toppers Au...

Live from the Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center in New York City!  Kenny and Mark welcome special guest (and notorious Madame X critic) Rich Juzwiak for a joyous and EDM-tinged discussion about the hard-driving dance track from MDNA .  Topics include critical exchanges and reassessment, the beloved Madonna bridge, Katy Perry and naked running, “dom energy”, competitive producers, d...

Mark and Kenny explore the dark and vengeful corners of MDNA on this audacious and visceral story song.  Topics include sunset trickery, transforming a demo, studio nerd-dom, William Orbit, Demolition Crew, the power of dubstep, the arrival of a new Madonna voice going there, Tori Amos’ Strange Little Girls album, the emergence of musical mash-ups, and another reckoning with Madonna’s visual...

Here it comes - Mark and Kenny get wild while breaking apart the second single from Madonna’s MDNA, her first on Interscope Records.  Topics include the returns of the Benassi Bros. and Mert and Marcus, the liberation from constraints, Kazaky, ghosting in Provincetown, the inspiration of new collaborators and influences, Quentin Tarantino, 60s mod style, Jimmy Fallon and Facebook Live, cover...

Kenny and Mark kick off a packed Season Six assessing the many non-musical ventures Madonna embarks on into the second decade of the 21st century including clothing lines, fragrances and gyms. Plus, a deep dive conversation about W.E. and its official theme song “Masterpiece”. Topics include: the emergence of Lourdes Leon, Taylor Momson, Zendaya and the rest of the Material Girl models, Madonna as...

SPECIAL SUMMER EPISODE: A Conversation w/ Ann Powers, author of Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell For Part Two of our celebration of Joni Mitchell, the great ANN POWERS, esteemed rock writer and NPR music critic, joins Mark for a conversation about her brilliant new book Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell.   Topics include: the question of critical enthusiasm, Ann Beattie, Don DeLi...

Mark and Kenny spend a long awaited spring afternoon in conversation about one of Madonna’s early musical influences - Joni Mitchell - and their favorite album 1976’s Hejira, as well as road trips and motels, a crackerjack collection of jazz fusion musicians, a genius’ search for bravery and clarity in both personal relationships and the relationship with herself, a renewed search in the American...

Kenny and Mark wrap up some loose threads (and Season Five!) with a celebratory discussion of the title song from Madonna’s THIRD greatest hits album.  Topics include: the continuing challenges of a greatest hits record, Paul Oakenfold, Ciaran Gribbin, INXS and the late great Michael Hutchence, a tribute to Fine Young Cannibals, Benny Benassi, a desire for the throb, the Dance of Life, Jesus...

Mark and Kenny load it up to discuss one of the two new tracks included on Madonna’s third (or fourth?) greatest hits collection from 2009.  Topics include: Lil Wayne (and his many feuds), DJ Frankie, the Jackie Boyz, R&B swagger, cigars, drive-by recording, the return of Louise Oriole, troublesome mixes, Paul Van Dyk, David Guetta, Tracy Young, gun metaphors in songwriting, the appeal of...

Mark and Kenny load it up to discuss one of the two new tracks included on Madonna’s third (or fourth?) greatest hits collection from 2009.  Topics include: Lil Wayne (and his many feuds), DJ Frankie, the Jackie Boyz, R&B swagger, cigars, drive-by recording, the return of Louise Oriole, troublesome mixes, Paul Van Dyk, David Guetta, Tracy Young, gun metaphors in songwriting, the appeal of...

Kenny and Mark take a mega, near-THREE hour dive into the 2008-2009 world tour as well as the documentary I Am Because We Are .  Topics include: Nathan Rissman, Michael Moore, Desmond Tutu, Hustling at Cannes, Hamutsan Serve, Kevin Antunes, Stefanie Roos, Sofia Boutella, unnecessary thrones, Madonna’s hat, Britney Spears, ad hoc car shows, Keith Haring, double-dutch jump rope, a tribute to Mi...

Mark and Kenny wrap up their conversations about Hard Candy and also welcome Special Guest Zachary Pace (author of I Sing to Use the Waiting: A Collection of Essays About the Women Singers Who’ve Made Me Who I Am ) to discuss this urgent ballad (and final Timbaland/Timberlake collaboration).  Topics include Hello Suckers , singing in the shower, Kabbalah, essential b-sides, Cher, Rihanna, ask...

Kenny and Mark celebrate the return of Brother-in-Law of the Decade Joe Henry and the haunting story song ballad from Hard Candy .  PLUS - at long last - a reckoning and reassessment of Madonna’s film directing debut, Filth & Wisdom .  Spoilers abound so do yourself a favor and head over to the indispensable www.ifc.com to stream the film beforehand!  Thank you and you’re welcom...

Mark and Kenny dive back into their respective school days to discuss the joyfully divisive palate cleanser of a song from Hard Candy .  Topics include Mrs. Ritchie the Art Teacher, banging erasers, phonetic worksheets and language lessons, Monte Pittman, hooded monks, and The Percolator.  Plus EXTRA SPECIAL GUESTS Parrita Duarte and Augustin Aguirre (hosts of the magnifico/caliente Span...

Kenny and Mark remain on the dance floor with Madonna (Timberlake and Timbaland) for a simmering song about moving your body.  Topics include thick beats, smoking grass, Madonna as professor, musical courtships, the weirdness of star billing, NPR’s Tiny Desk series, the virtues of being beautiful or interesting, Janet Jackson’s Discipline , apocalyptic chaos, Justin’s voice, artistic flexing,...