Every Album Ever with Mike Mansour

This week we're discussing the one and only album by Control Denied. Metal nerds will be familiar with this band because it was the last record Death's Chuck Schuldiner released before his untimely death. This is basically Death but with NWOBHM-style vocals. God, we miss Chuck. Be sure to check out episode 23 for our full episode on Death. Closing track: "The Fragile Art of Existence" from The Fra...

This week we're discussing every album by Nirvana. This is probably the biggest band we've covered on the show yet, and thus needs very little introduction. However, in case you spent the last 30 years living in North Korea, Nirvana is the band who broke grunge into mainstream, inspired millions of musicians, and never made a bad record. The suicide of frontman Kurt Cobain shook the world and drum...

This week we're discussing every album by Neu! Made up of Michael Rother and Klaus Dinger, Neu! helped pioneer krautrock in the early 70s. Repetitious, hypnotizing, and jammy, this band pairs nicely with weed, as Mike won't stop saying. Not for everyone, but worth a listen. Dig it. Closing track: "Hero" from Neu! '75 (1975) Check out our episode playlists on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/user/...

This week we're discussing every album by the absolutely bonkers Altar of Plagues. Led by James Kelly, this band is one of the most crushing and brutal black metal bands to ever play 500 bpm. Criminally underrated and truly brilliant, this band caught Mike off guard, while Alex has been a fan for years. Dig it. Closing track: "Reflection Pulse Remains" from Teethed Glory and Injury (2013) Check ou...

This week we're talking about England's The Chameleons. These guys are often associated with fellow post-punk/goth acts like Joy Division and The Cure, but were entirely distinct in style, in addition to being fantastic songwriters. Alex and Mike both went into this band blind but came out delighted by the accessibility and inventiveness of this group. Dig it. Closing track: "Tears" from Strange T...

This week we're discussing Kyuss. While known by many as the band who introduced the world to Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme, Kyuss also helped push forward stoner metal and "desert rock." This was a comfort episode for Alex, who's been a fan for years, but Mike has mixed feelings about the band. Heavy and satisfying band. Dig it. Closing track: "Catamaran" from …And the Circus Leaves Town (...

This week we're talking about the terrifyingly unique Brainiac. These guys were something else entirely. Equal parts grunge, party rock, and cosmic aliens who learned how to use synthesizers, Brainiac is a noise rock band like no other. While active in the early to mid 90s, Brainiac's career was cut short due to the tragic and unexpected death of frontman Tim Taylor. Even if you don't love them, t...

This week we're talking about the faster than lightning Dark Angel. While credited with helping to popularize thrash metal in the mid 80s, Dark Angel also marks the fourth band we've covered to feature drummer Gene Hoglan. Chaotic, fast, and a damn good time. Dig it. Closing track: "The Burning of Sodom" from Darkness Descends (1986) Check out our episode playlists on Spotify! https://open.spotify...

This week we have Mike's brother Robert back on to discuss the legendary Yellow Magic Orchestra. From Tokyo, Japan, YMO is credited with pioneering electronic music, J-Pop, and even video game music. To this day, YMO is widely considered Japan's answer to the Beatles, and with good reason. These guys are absolutely incredible and it was delightful digging into their discography. Also, Alex almost...

This week Mike and Alex tie up some loose ends by talking about Born Stupid by the great Paul Leary. Leary is the co-founder of the Butthole Surfers (check out episode 54 for our full episode on them) and this is his first solo album in 30 years. Spoiler alert: it's weird. Afterward, we talk about music we're currently listening to, awkwardly asking musicians for photos, and River's Edge with Kean...

This week we're talking about one of the gnarliest bands in history, Crass. Pioneers of anarcho punk, Crass, was a manic, terrifying, and surprisingly brilliant group of (probably) smelly musicians. While their style remained rooted in punk throughout their career, their writing, both lyrically and musically, elaborated on a kind of nuanced brutality with every record. If extremely heavy cockney a...

This week we're talking about supergroup Them Crooked Vultures. Made up of Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana), and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), this is a lineup that is almost superhuman. Because each of these musicians is world-famous and likely very busy, Them Crooked Vultures have only released one album, although it is possible we might get anoth...

This week we're talking about The Clash. Led by the late great Joe Strummer, this is one of the most cherished bands we've covered on the show. Although they began as a straightforward 70s punk band, the Clash quickly evolved into a genre-jumping pop giant. This is a sacred cow for a lot of people, so beware. Closing track: "Spanish Bombs" from London Calling (1979) Check out our episode playlists...

This week we're talking about the wildly influential Mission of Burma. These guys basically created indie rock in the late 70s, were then mislabeled as punk, which led them to being pretty unpopular and quickly breaking up. Fast forward 20 years, the people realized they screwed up and Mission of Burma reunited to release four more records. Really good band that truly created a sound and kept elab...

This week we discuss the ubiquitous Spice Girls. This episode was requested on Patreon by Horacio, so he's the one to blame. But we listened to every one of these albums and believe it or not, we have some interesting thoughts. One of the biggest groups in the world with a surprisingly interesting history. Dig it. Closing track: "Say You'll Be There" from Spice (1996) Check out our episode playlis...

Mike and Alex tie up some loose ends this week by discussing the new (and unexpected) reunion album from X. Afterward they talk about all things music, motivation, and iced tea. Be sure to check out the full episode we did on X back on episode 14! Full episode on X: https://youtu.be/cAsAsmdjPzs Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, early access to these Loose Ends episodes, and more! https://www.pa...

This week we're discussing the fuzzed out and noisy godheadSilo. Made up of Dan Haugh and Mike Kunka, godheadSilo had a life on Sub Pop Records, although remained largely under the radar for years. Known by fans for their brutal and punishing live performances, godheadSilo managed to gain a reputation as one of the loudest bands in underground rock despite only being a bass and drums duo. They reu...

This week we're talking about the proggy and insane Mars Volta. Led by vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala and guitarist/songwriter Omar Rodríguez-López, the Mars Volta had a unique and modernized take on prog rock, which led to some fascinating, intricate, and at times way too long records. Unbelievably talented bunch of guys, but definitely a style that was not made for everyone. This episode was also...

This week we're talking about the semi-fictitious, semi-parody, yet somehow still awesome Dethklok. While originally the central characters in the Adult Swim show Metalocalypse, show creator and guitarist Brendon Small somehow managed to bring this fictional band to life with the help of legendary metal drummer Gene Hoglan. While technically a cartoon parody band, Dethklok is actually a respectabl...

This week we're talking about the fabulous New York Dolls. Pioneers of punk, these guys were all around showmen. While their records aren't exactly our cup of tea, their influence is undeniable. Grab a pair of stilettoes turn this one up. Closing track: "Chatterbox" from Too Much Too Soon (1974) Check out our episode playlists on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/user/motherpuncherinc Join our Pat...

This week we discuss the beautiful and tragically short discography of Jeff Buckley. While his only official studio album, Grace, remains a classic to this day, the demos for what should have been his follow up show even more adventurous songwriting and creativity. It's a shame it was never completed and that his death came so suddenly. This dude's voice might just be the best in the world. Closin...

This week we're discussing Black Thought and Questlove's The Roots. While they are known these days for being the house band for the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Roots have a long, diverse, and fascinating discography. This is a rare artist for us to cover because they are still active and releasing albums, but an important band nonetheless. Dig it. Closing track: "You Got Me" from Dave Cha...

This week we're discussing the almighty Soundgarden. Although they are technically considered pioneers of grunge, these guys transcended genres and were some of the most brilliant songwriters to ever gain massive mainstream success. The suicide of frontman Chris Cornell in 2017 put a tragic end to their successful reunion, in addition to breaking Mike's heart for a legit 2 years. This is a great e...

This week we're running down our best albums of 2020. Regardless of the dystopian nightmare that the world has become, these artists managed to bring us some honest to god joy in this train wreck of a year. We're eternally grateful to everyone who's put out music this year, not just to those on this list. Although the ones on this list kick slightly more ass than everyone else. Happy New Year, eve...

This week we're talking about the hilarious and extremely horned up 2 Live Crew. While known by most as the guys who rapped about butts, coochie, and D, without 2 Live Crew, free speech in music would not be what it is today. Luke Campbell battled with the supreme court (and won) after he and record store owners were arrested for distributing these albums. Seriously. Singing about booty used to la...