Earbuddies

We can only imagine! In this episode, Mat and Tim recall the heyday of CCM – contemporary Christian music – and bemoan the ever-narrowing sonic range found in the genre today. What happened? The answer, it turns out, is tied to money, focus groups, and someone named Becky. Oh, you guys are gonna love this ep! Get to listening! SONGS PLAYED: MercyMe - I Can Only Imagine Housefires - I Thank God Jar...

If you're happy and you know it, subscribe to Earbuddies! In this ep, Mat and Tim are joined by Caitlin Claessens, better known by millions as Caitie from Super Simple Songs . Caitlin discusses her status as a kids' music superstar – then, they figure out what separates the great children's tunes from the rest. SONGS PLAYED: Super Simple Songs - There's a Monster in My Tummy Super...

Turn that up in my headphones! In this episode, Mat and Tim discuss the crucial role that producers play in the creation of pop music as we know it. DISCLAIMERS: Under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” of copyrighted material in a manner that constitutes quotation, criticism, review, parody, caricature, pastiche, and other legal copyright exceptions. Fair use...

Put on your suspenders and fill your mason jars! In this ep, Mat and Tim prepare the Earbuddies Army for the coming return of indie folk – a genre that defined millennial culture 15 years ago. What are we supposed to do? How are we supposed to feel? Let the buddies figure it out for you! SONGS PLAYED: Noah Kahan - All My Love Noah Kahan - Stick Season Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait Of Monsters a...

Sound the alarm!! In this emergency ep, Mat and Tim unpack the big moments from MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT. From Tracy Chapman to Miley Cyrus, and of course, Taylor Swift's announcement of "The Tortured Poets Department". All's fair in love and poetry, I guess!

GARTH BROOKS IF YOU'RE READING THIS: OUR USE OF YOUR MUSIC IS PROTECTED BY FAIR USE PRINCIPLES UNDER THE COPYRIGHT ACT OF 1976. PLEASE LEAVE US ALONE. THANK YOU In this ep, Mat and Tim discuss the best selling solo recording artist of all time: Garth Brooks! Everyone knows who he is, but does anyone know *who he is*? It's time to find out. SONGS PLAYED: Garth Brooks - Callin' Baton Rou...

Zzzzzz... in this palate-cleansing episode, Mat and Tim discuss a topsy-turvy cottage industry within the music industry: "functional noise." That is, white noise! What is it? Why is it so comforting? And should white noise farmers be paid by Spotify at the same rate as musical artists? Answers within! SONGS PLAYED: Vulfpeck - Fugue State Vampire Weekend - White Sky Vampire Weekend - M79 V...

Drop and give us 100! In this centennial ep, Mat and Tim share ten lists of ten tunes (which equals one hundred. You get it!) They laugh. They cry. They look back. They look to the future. Join them! Visit Earbuddies. Army for the latest from your buddies, as well as exclusive merchandise! Click here to see all ten lists of ten songs. This link contains spoilers for this episode of Earbuddies! ---...

Those were the best days of his life! In this ep, Mat and Tim are joined by a songwriter whose work helped define rock and pop music in the 1980s: Jim Vallance. He tells us why for him, songwriting isn’t a choice: it’s what he must do. Plus, he offers insights into his long and fruitful career writing music with Bryan Adams. SONGS PLAYED: Bryan Adams - Summer of ’69 Aerosmith - Rag Doll Bryan Adam...

When good buddies go bad! From ‘irreconcilable differences of ambition’ to ‘ultimate partnership betrayal’ – so many buddies of yesteryear have gone their separate ways. What can Mat and Tim, as buddies themselves, learn from these bygone buddies to ensure that their personal and professional relationship remains fruitful and life-giving? Songs Played: Daryl Hall & John Oates - Kiss On My List...

Grab your pitch pipes! In this ep , Mat and Tim discuss the world's preeminent a cappella group, Pentatonix. They ask (and answer!) so many questions: Are they a Christmas band? Why do they make those faces all the time? How in the world do they sound like that? Do they actually like being an a cappella group? And so on and so forth. Buckle up, choir nerds. SONGS PLAYED: Pentatonix - Mary, Did...

We'll pod our best for you (pa-rum-pum-pum-pum)! In this festive ep , Mat and Tim unwrap the entire history of the most important drum ever invented: the snare drum. From the nativity of Christ to the end of monoculture, we trace every boom-chick and rat-a-tat-tat throughout history. SONGS PLAYED: Traditional - The Little Drummer Boy Buddy Rich - Talk of the Town Greg Hutchinson - Drum Solo Tr...

More like 'Rainy Days and Never Missing Mondays'! On this very special ep , Mat and Tim are joined by legendary songwriter Paul Williams. The award-winning musician shares stories about his career as a songwriter, including how he got into the headspace of Kermit the Frog for "The Rainbow Connection". He also discusses his work as an advocate for artists' rights and how he view...

Please stop asking about Tim! In this, yet another solo ep , Mat takes us down into his music laboratory to analyze one of the great “middle of the road” musical groups of our time: The Carpenters. Why do so many of us only listen to them in December? Why don't we talk about their tunes very much? It's time to change things the only way Mat knows how to: for the better. -- Disclaimers: Und...

Matty's on the mic to talk about the tunes ! Or rather, a single tune – one that carried an entire feature length film and ran circles around much of the music it paid homage to: That Thing You Do! -- Disclaimers: Under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” of copyrighted material in a manner that constitutes quotation, criticism, review, parody, caricature, p...

Get by with a little help from your buddies! In this ep , Mat and Tim finally – finally – talk about the lovable lads from Liverpool. Are they actually underrated? How's that new single of theirs? And are they actually a children's band? SONGS PLAYED: The Beatles - With a Little Help From My Friends The Beatles - Now and Then The Beatles - Come Together The Beatles - Penny Lane Little Rich...

Go buddies, give us nothing! In this ep , Mat and Tim try to discern the superstardom of Dua Lipa, the reigning queen of disco pop in 2023. What's beneath the surface of her tunes? Listen and find out, maybe! SONGS PLAYED: Dua Lipa - Houdini Dua Lipa - Levitating Dua Lipa - Dance the Night Zetta Bytes - Nothing's Wrong With Me Dua Lipa - Don't Start Now Kesha - TiK ToK Chic - Dance, Da...

Won't you be my buddy? In this ep , Tim shares his love of the joyful, jazzy music of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood . SONGS PLAYED: Fred Rogers - It's You I Like Fred Rogers - Won't You Be My Neighbor? Fred Rogers - There Are Many Ways To Say "I Love You" Fred Rogers - Please Don't Think It's Funny Fred Rogers - This Is Just the Day Jon Batiste - Space Maker Art Tatum...

Don't say we didn't warn you! In this ep , Mat and Tim discuss 1989 (Taylor's Version). Were the buddies wrong to be worried about this one? Is it good that Taylor's a billionaire now? Answers lie within! SONGS PLAYED: Taylor Swift - Bad Blood (Taylor's Version) Taylor Swift - Blank Space (Taylor's Version) Taylor Swift - You Are In Love (Taylor's Version) Taylor Swift...

Maybe together, we can get somewhere! In the season three premiere   of Earbuddies, Mat and Tim consider the state of country music – and heck, all of music – and heck, all of art, maybe! – by examining the massive success of Luke Combs's cover of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car". SONGS PLAYED: Tracy Chapman - Fast Car (performed by Cover Orchestra) Tracy Chapman - Fast Car Luke Combs -...

Listening to Earbuddies tonight – it's a bad idea, right? In this special episode, Mat and Tim discuss the sophomore effort by Olivia Rodrigo, GUTS. Does it live up to its predecessor? Is it embarrassing for adults to listen to? Plus: circling back to our feelings on album lengths.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. In this ep , Mat and Tim reflect on the journey they've been on as part of Season Two of Earbuddies. Are we better equipped to face the pop music landscape of 2023? Find out! Thank you for your continued support of Earbuddies. Regular episode releases will continue in the fall of 2023. You may also receive bonus episodes in your feed as the summer progresses. So, you know...

Hit the road, Jack! In this ep, Mat and Tim are joined by marathoner Thomas Stromme, who just achieved the major milestone of completing the Boston Marathon. So what kind of tunes does he recommend training to? Plus: a trip to Planet Money to talk about BANKS. THE HOUR OF ANGST PLAYLIST: Ocean Avenue - Yellowcard  Sugar we’re going down – Fall Out Boy  Holiday – Green Day Uma Thurman – Fall Out Bo...

Or is it the American Idol of Europe? In this ep , Mat and Tim explore Eurovision: the massive annual pop music event that Americans just don't really care about. SONGS PLAYED: Noa Kirel - Unicorn (Israel) Lys Assia - Refrain (Switzerland) Conchita Wurst - Rise Like a Phoenix (Austria) Kalush Orchestra - Stefania (Ukraine) ABBA - Waterloo (Sweden) Käärijä - Cha Cha Cha (Finland) Loreen - Tatto...

This one's for all you mathematicians! In this ep , Mat and Tim finally consider the life and times of Ed Sheeran, who 1) just released a new album, and 2) just saved pop music(?!). SONGS PLAYED: Ed Sheeran - Shape of You Ed Sheeran - Boat Ed Sheeran - The A Team Justin Bieber - Love Yourself Ed Sheeran - Sing One Direction - Little Things Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud Ed Sheeran - Bad Habits...