Music at a Rational Volume

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Music at a Rational Volume, Nate and Kyle do their best to help you feel better about the state of music in 2024 by giving their pick for the best albums to come out of music last year. So listen along as the hosts weed out the so-so stuff to find the albums that had something interesting about them. This week's playlist: 2024 Best Albums Nate's List:...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Music at a Rational Volume, Nate and Kyle take a listen to 6 of this season's holiday music offerings. The hosts offer their opinions on what's merry and bright as well as the stuff that honestly deserves a steaming pile of coal in the stocking. So take a listen as Nate and Kyle try and make sense of these records so you don't have to... but if yo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Music at a Rational Volume, Nate and Kyle present songs about getting older, looking back, and appreciating the journey. More than just songs about being old, the hosts look at songs spanning a lifetime perspective. So sit back and enjoy as the hosts talk about the ins and outs and what was chosen and what was not. This week's playlist: Father Time We Close...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, admittedly a long time in coming, Nate and Kyle are back after an unexpected hiatus and come in swinging with a breakdown of a "great" record. The next in the As Good As They Say series, The MARV hosts take a closer look at the  Beach Boys'  album Pet Sounds which was released in May of 1966. Yes, the album that people who are supposed to know have...

Send us Fan Mail In this comeback episode of Music at a Rational Volume, Nate and Kyle say hello again with a playlist of the songs that never let them down, that can always be counted on to deliver good vibes and happy memories. So listen along as the hosts explain themselves and explain why this may just be the best playlist you'll have heard this week. This week's playlist: The Warm B...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Nate and Kyle disagree about what good music is... I'm sorry, Music at a Rational Volume, is what I meant to write... where was I... Oh right, the episode description! In this episode Nate and Kyle discuss the new, and also the debut, self-titled record by the Wolves of Glendale. WoG is a comedy music trio whose narrative structure and absurdist bent may no...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Music at a Rational Volume, Nate and Kyle discuss the highs and lows and cool finds they discovered in a hunt for Michigan's best music. As is tradition with our Best of States episodes and playlists, we focus on songs and artists that seem interesting or under appreciated, to shine a light where there hasn't been enough attention paid. So listen along...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Music at a Rational Volume, Nate and Kyle discuss the new album by the Old 97s called American Primitive. So listen along as the hosts go through the tracks and talk about what they liked and what they didn't about the latest effort from a great band. No playlist this week, instead listen to Old 97s - American Primitive Support the Podcast at : Buy Me A Cof...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Music at a Rational Volume, Nate and Kyle take their shot at creating  a "get psyched" mix in the mold of the classic How I Met Your Mother episode.  You know, the New Years Eve episode in which Barney Stinson shows off his all rise playlist to his friends. So listen along as Nate and Kyle explain themselves and why they chose the ones they did. Then y...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Music at a Rational Volume, Nate and Kyle discuss some of the new music they've been listening to this year. Sure there's some new stuff on this playlist, but like most of this podcast's playlists, there's a lot of things that somehow slipped through the cracks. So listen along as the hosts talk about their selections and get hyped for a quir...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Music at a Rational Volume, Nate and Kyle discuss the new album by the Kaiser Chiefs, their Easy Eighth Album. Listen along as the hosts dissect the highs and the lows of this long awaited new effort from one of our favorite bands making music today. Hear what Nate and Kyle have to say then check out the record to see if you agree with their takeaways. No playli...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Music at a Rational Volume Nate and Kyle talk about the upcoming St. Patrick's Day and reveal their playlist full of drinking and fighting songs. Enjoy this playlist as you celebrate Leprechaun season with your favorite Emerald Isle people, green or otherwise.  This week's playlist: Drinkin' and Fightin' Drunken Lazy Bastard – the Mahones Wil...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Music at a Rational Volume Nate and Kyle discuss the new record from West London's indie rockers, the Vaccines. Called Pick-Up Full Of Pink Carnations, the album is The Vaccines 6th studio record and the hosts of this particular podcast have some definite opinions on this album. So listen in as Nate and Kyle discuss the highs and lows of this effort. Just d...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Music at a Rational Volume Podcast, Nate and Kyle (mostly Kyle) take you on a brief reminiscence into the life and career of one Neill Kirby McMillan Jr. (August 2, 1957 – February 7, 2024), who was professionally known as Mojo Nixon. Perhaps best described as the "dirty" Weird Al, Nixon's work was sarcastic and cutting but also witty and clev...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Music at a Rational Volume, Nate and Kyle disagree about one of the most recognizable, well regarded, and simultaneously controversial albums of the 80s, Paul Simon's Graceland. In the latest installment of the As Good As They Say? series, your humble hosts talk about this iconic album from 1986 which is most known for the radio hit "You Can Call Me Al...

Send us Fan Mail In one of the more juvenile episodes/playlists we have made here at Music at a Rational Volume, Nate and Kyle have curated a very special set of songs just in time for Valentines Day. A playlist full of songs about self care, getting a grip on yourself, and embracing your situation, whatever that is... okay, let's call it what it really is, just a bunch of songs about masturb...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Music at a Rational Volume, Nate and Kyle discuss the newest October release that was Gaslight Anthem's History Books. As one of the host's favorite bands, Gaslight Anthem has a long track record of making great music. So listen along and see if Nate and Kyle think History Books lives up to the expectations of the band's previous greatness and Bri...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Music at a Rational Volume Nate and Kyle discuss another one of the greatest albums ever made by humans on planet Earth, Material Issue's underrated classic Destination Universe. Listen as the hosts give some background, context, and reasons why this record was and is still a work of genius, but had the bad luck of being born at a time when its sound and it...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Nate and Kyle discuss the songs made because Winter is a thing for most of us, and Mother Nature can be quite frosty. So the Hosts have created a playlist just for you and your slog through the shivering and freezing months. Listen along as Nate and Kyle discuss the choices for the playlist and set up your listen of definitely the best winter songs playlist out the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Music at a Rational Volume, Nate and Kyle discuss their favorite, and therefore best, albums of the previous year 2023. Listen along as the hosts give their justifications for what they like and try to explain why all they chose these albums to recommend them to you. This week's playlist: Best Albums of 2023 10)  Semisonic – Little Bit of Sun (Nov 3, 2023)...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Nate and Kyle reminisce about the year that was 2023 and highlight the tunes they discovered. This is not a playlist of songs released during the year, but the tunes that have crossed any space or time to impact the hosts this year. So listen along as they talk you through the songs they've picked, the circumstances, and the reasons why. Then sit back and clic...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Nate and Kyle discuss the best, or at least their favorite traditional/classic Christmas tunes. The hosts attempt to explain their choices as they pick their favorites from 26 of the most done to death and over recorded Christmas songs around. Listen in as they talk about the whys and the whats around every song and hopefully there will be something new for everyon...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Nate and Kyle discuss the 80s "Classic" album The Replacements Let It Be. Released in 1984 this record has been widely hailed as one of the most influential albums ever released and has also received critical praise for its brilliance. The hosts take a stab at reviewing it now and seeing if it is indeed as good as they say. Nate hadn't heard it all t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Music at a Rational Volume, Nate and Kyle break out the next round of epic breakup songs. No matter who you are you will have your heart torn into pieces at least once and if you're really honest with yourself, you're better for it... and let's be honest you kind of deserved that one, you know which one I'm talking about. So listen in as the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Nate and Kyle do some housekeeping and clear out the glut of albums released in 2023 that they haven't had time to do full reviews on. Enjoy bite sized commentary on a random assortment of albums released this year from Ruston Kelly, Dessa, Foxy Shazam, Turnpike Troubadours, and others. Thanks for listening! This week's playlist - Album Review Grab Bag Sa...