Every Album Ever with Mike Mansour

This week we discuss the beloved and divisive Neutral Milk Hotel. To say this band has a cult following is an insult to cults—people worship this band. Alex and Mike nearly come to blows considering how much they disagree with each other on this one. Good band, interesting band, overrated band? Possibly. Closing track: "Naomi" from On Avery Island (1996) Check out our episode playlists on Spotify!...

This week we discuss the wordy and innovative Eric B. & Rakim. These guys made some extremely gnarly hip-hop during the late 80s and early 90s that paved the way for groups like the Wu-Tang Clan. Influential, awesome, and we had a great time dissecting each album. Closing track: "Don't Sweat the Technique" from Don't Sweat the Technique (1992) Check out our episode playlists on Spotify! https://op...

This week we talk about the most obscure band we've covered yet, The Fluid. This band was requested by listener Colt. Neither Alex nor Mike had ever heard of this band prior to this episode, so we're all going in blind together. The Fluid started out as a straightforward punk band in the mid to late 80s, but then evolved into an energetic rock 'n' roll/grunge hybrid. Interesting overlooked band, e...

This week we talk about one of the pioneers of electronic music, Kraftwerk. The recording of this episode was eerily close to the recent death of founding member Florian Schneider, which was a heartbreaking coincidence. However, it also makes now a perfect time to revisit one of the most iconic bands of the 20th century. These guys were incredible, innovative, and extremely odd. It's wonderful. Cl...

This week we discuss the legendary Cream. These guys were intense. Not only are they widely regarded as the first supergroup ever (made up of Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, and Ginger Baker), they also set the standard for giant, arena rock bands. However, not everything of theirs holds up that well, meaning Alex and Mike are certainly going to get some death threats from this episode. At the very leas...

This week, we discuss the powerful Isis, and if you make one hacky reference to the terrorist group we're shutting down the podcast. Isis changed what heavy music is throughout their lifespan and their influence is as strong today as ever. Incredible musicians and songwriters who didn't release a bad album. I hope you like episodes where we don't complain at all, because this is definitely one of...

On this episode we talk about the moody, dark, and beautiful Joy Division. This is the band you listen to when you're tired of smiling. Having said that, they still wrote some truly spectacular songs throughout their brutally short career. Vocalist Ian Curtis committed suicide just before their first US tour in 1980 and the remaining members continued on as New Order. Great band, but for the love...

This week we are discussing the one and only Sublime. Say what you will about this band (and we definitely do), they're the soundtrack of every teenager's life in southern California. Sublime were truly a stoned and shirtless voice of a generation. Having said that, this is a full blown disclaimer: Sublime fans are not going to enjoy this episode. Alex and Mike are not fans. Closing track: "Seed"...

This week we discuss the tragic and beautiful sounds of Nick Drake. During his lifetime, this guy made no money, sold no records, had no fans, yet still somehow managed to record 3 gorgeous albums through it all. Now, decades after his untimely death in 1974, his music is widely available and beloved. We tackle each album in extreme detail and generally blow the guy for over an hour. Closing track...

On this episode we talk about the Beastie Boys. The Beasties started out as a snotty hardcore punk band in the early 80s before morphing into the party-crazy rappers featured endlessly on KROQ to this day. However, despite the radio choosing only to play the same 4 hits ad nauseam, they were great until the tragic death of founding member Adam Yauch, aka MCA in 2012. If you haven't heard anything...

This week we are talking about the violent, psychotic, and absolutely astounding Birthday Party. Many of you are familiar with Nick Cave, who has a lengthy and fantastic musical (and film and writing) career. You also might not be familiar that he was once the wildest frontman for one of the most ravenous bands in rock history. The Birthday Party, from Melbourne, Australia (later relocated to Lond...

This week's episode was suggested by listener Emely. However, if she hadn't suggested it, we would've done it anyway because Dead Kennedys are one of the greatest punk bands, hardcore bands, rock bands—one of the greatest BANDS ever. We had a blast talking about all of their albums. Not a single bad record. Listen to anything by them, honestly. They're completely batshit. Brilliant songwriters, to...

This week we discuss one of the most beloved rappers of all time, the great Biggie Smalls. Although he only recorded 2 full length records in his lifetime, we dissect each of them in extreme detail. If you haven't heard Biggie and you're even remotely a fan of hip hop, you should be ashamed. The man's lyrics are absolutely bananas. Closing track: "Dead Wrong" from Born Again (1999) Check out our e...

To celebrate our 30th episode, we invited our buddy Matt Berlinsky ( @meistermatt ) from the Stone & Steel Radio Show ( stoneandsteelradioshow.com ) to join us as we honor the almighty Slayer. Slayer were the first of thrash's Big 4 to break up, so we knew it was our duty to discuss their entire discography in extreme detail. We all know Slayer is a great band, but we don't pull any punches here—S...

This week we discuss Hüsker Dü from Minneapolis, MN. Yet another band who influenced countless other, more successful bands. Hüsker Dü's evolution is profound—they started as lightning-speed hardcore punk, ventured into noisy psychedelia, then finally settled on poppy indie rock. They're good, go listen. Closing track: "Chartered Trips" from Zen Arcade (1984) Check out our episode playlists on Spo...

This week we're tackling Switzerland's very own Celtic Frost. To say this band is abrasive is a viking-sized understatement. However, their contribution to the creation of extreme metal is undeniable, regardless of whether or not you might actually enjoy their music. Important band in heavy metal's history. But be warned, some of their stuff gets extremely weird. Cool, heavy, and weird. Closing tr...

This week we discuss The Replacements from Minneapolis, MN. Like countless other highly influential rock bands, these guys had a bit of a drug and alcohol problem. However, they still released some wonderful records before crumbling into a mess of drugs and sadness. This is one of the rare instances where Alex and Mike see eye to eye during the whole episode. Sort of. Closing track: "Answering Mac...

On this episode, Mike and Alex talk about the most beautiful black rose, Charles Bradley. This former James Brown impersonator went through it all before achieving success in his early 60s. After 3 brilliant albums, Bradley tragically died of cancer in 2017, but a 4th album was released posthumously. The man was absolutely spectacular and we'll never get another one like him. We're all a victim of...

Mike and Alex discuss the lovely Cocteau Twins this week. This is the perfect band for people who appreciate goth but wouldn't be caught dead in platform boots or mascara. And if you have no interest in goth whatsoever, listen for Elizabeth Fraser's unbelievable voice. If you have no interest in unbelievable voices whatsoever, then maybe you're listening to the wrong podcast. Closing track: "Beatr...

This week Mike and Alex tackle one of the most important punk bands in history. Black Flag went through a litany of style and lineup changes throughout their short existence, all while somehow single-handedly inventing genres along the way. Exciting band. Hell yeah. Closing track: "Scream" from My War (1984) Check out our episode playlists on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/user/motherpuncherinc...

This week we are talking about Death from Orlando, FL. Death—or more accurately, Chuck Schuldiner—is often credited with creating the entire death metal sub-genre, although music nerds probably still debate that. Even still, there is no question how important they were and are to metal. Death is absolutely incredible and it's truly heartbreaking Schuldiner passed away so young. This is one of the...

This week we talk about the highly underrated Wipers from Portland, OR. Singer/guitarist and primary songwriter Greg Sage churned out some of the most inventive, psychedelic, and musical punk ever written, yet the Wipers are mostly known as that band that Nirvana covered a bunch. It's criminal. They released some spectacular albums in the early 80s. Then the 90s came and that's where Mike and Alex...

This episode we talk about the wonderfully talented A Tribe Called Quest. This band did a lot over the course of their 6 albums, but most importantly, they got Mike and Alex to agree on everything. Everything. This is the first episode of Every Album Ever where Alex and Mike ended up with the exact same picks for best, personal favorite, and worst albums. This band is that good. Closing track: "We...

We made it to episode 20—we can't believe it. Because of this, we thought it was only appropriate to talk about one of the most famous bands in history. Plagiarism, statutory rape, vagina sharks—we cover it all. Apologies in advance, but also these guys were brutal, for real. Closing track: "In the Light" from Physical Graffiti (1975) Check out our episode playlists on Spotify! https://open.spotif...

If you're wondering why there's no video for this episode, it's because Mike's an idiot and he managed to lose it. Since this is a music podcast, it's only necessary we talk about our favorite albums of the year, if only to prove that we're still hip. Aside from Alex and Mike's picks for album of the year, there are no rankings on this episode. All of these albums are great and you should listen t...