At First Listen

Our guest Kelly Branco introduces us to Ween via the band's 1997 album 'The Mollusk.' We discuss the alternative music landscape in the '90s that enabled a strange band like Ween to find its audience, as well as how Ween's unsinkable irreverence influenced beloved millennial TV shows like 'South Park' and 'SpongeBob Squarepants.' Tell us about your first listen at @AtFirstListenPodcast on Instagra...

We tackle some fresh hardcore from Thrown with the newly-released single, “Split.” Thrown’s groovy brand of slam metal feels especially livid in a genre where the primary goal is to put anger on tape. The Swedes are one of Andrew’s favorite up-and-coming heavy bands. On this bonus episode, Andrew and Dominique discuss what makes “Split” hit different. Tell us ab...

In this bonus episode, we check out a dreamy new collaboration between VÉRITÉ and LEXXE, “Labyrinth.”   The lush, witchy single seems like a longtime coming between a pair of artists with a lot of mutual respect.   Naturally, Andrew and Dominique veer of course to argue about the credits.   Tell us about your first listen @AtFirstListen podcast on Instagram.  Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode...

Andrew got an exclusive look at the brand new documentary film, Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition , which tracks one of heavy metal's greatest bands from its humble East London roots to the world's stage. Burning Ambition is exclusively in theaters May 7. Go to IronMaidenFilm.com for tickets and more information. Tell us about your first screening at @AtFirstListenPodcast on Instagram! Subscribe so yo...

Lady Gaga and Doechii dropped a fresh collaboration, "Runway," ahead of the highly anticipated sequel to The Devil Wears Prada , coming in a few weeks. We talk about what we like about the Gaga/Doechii partnership. Then Dominique harangues Andrew for saying the original Devil Wears Prada  film has uninspiring characters and a flimsy plot. Tell us about your first listen @AtFirstListenPodcast on In...

We finally dive into the French-Canadian instrumental rock band that has taken over the Internet for millions of people. In an age of pastiche and plagiarism, Angine de Poitrine looks and sounds like nothing you've heard before. 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.

British singer-songwriter and producer Raye just released a behemoth of a new album, THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE .   Andrew and Dominique grapple with the grand scope of the album, which is packed with jazz, musical theatre and classical influences.   Tell us about your first listen on Instagram @AtFirstListenpodcast!   Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! (Episode 48.) See omnystudio.com/liste...

We take a closer look at the 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees, since quite a few of them surprised us. We discuss who among the nominees is a lock to make the Hall, and who we would vote for this year. Tell us who you would vote for @AtFirstListenPodcast on Instagram. Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! (Episode 47.) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We get to know Nashville fusion bassist Jon von Boehm over his love of George Benson's "Give Me the Night," and his own new solo album, 'Reflections.' Tell us about your first listen in the comments or at @AtFirstListenPodcast on Instagram. Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! (Episode 46.) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With his latest album, I Barely Know Her , Sombr has solidified his place as one of the most promising young singer-songwriters today.   Andrew and Dominique break down the high points of the Grammy-nominated album, as well as what sets Sombr's production style apart from his peers.   Tell us about your first listen @AtFirstListenpodcast on Instagram!   Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! (Epi...

The podcast is back to celebrate 311 Day, the high holy day of ‘90s white boy culture.   The Nebraska-bred rap-rock-reggae band has seemingly always met (valid) criticism of its music with positivity, persevering for over 30 years to cultivate one of the most loyal followings in rock.  Andrew introduces Dominique to 311 via their 1999 favorite "Come Original," and we get to hear her immediate reac...

Our guest, comedian Larry Dorsey, Jr., introduces us to Afrobeat innovator Fela Kuti. We discuss how Kuti exported Pan-Africanism to the world through his music. We talk about his musical roots, his political activism and his *check notes* ... 27 wives??? Tell us about your first listen @AtFirstListenPodcast on Instagram! Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! (Episode 44.) See omnystudio.com/lis...

Andrew and Dominique look back at their first year cohosting the At First Listen podcast.   We did 43 episodes this year. It was a lot of music to listen to and far too much to remember! So we have to ask: What did we love? What did we forget about? What do we wish we could forget?   Dominique admits that she still listens to Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet weekly. Andrew comes clean about his...

Dominique brings in a new song by rapper Fatmowf called 'Copycat," as an epilogue to last week's B.B. King episode, where we asked questions about the legacy of the blues in modern music. Tell us about your first listen @AtFirstListenPodcast on Instagram. Subscribe so you don't miss an episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why don’t people care about the blues anymore?   We applaud guitarist Joe Bonamassa’s heroic tribute B.B. King Blues Summit 100 , celebrating what would be the King of the Blues’ 100th birthday, but have to ask, ‘Why?’   We parse through our conflicted feeling about the state of the blues; is the blues a dead genre and did white people kill it?   Tell us about your first listen @AtFirstListenPodca...

We check out a new song called "Thick Neck" by rapper/guitarist Ando San. We're intrigued by Ando San's whole vibe, his metal vocalist-turned-rapper transition and whether or now he's a cat guy. Tell us about your first listen @AtFirstListenpodcast on Instagram. Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.