Nevermind the Music

Which critically-acclaimed albums this year do Mark and Nichole actually kind of hate? In this week’s Sidetrack, we come back once again to discuss the eight nominees for “Album of the Year” at the 2026 Grammys. Tune in to hear our hosts deep-dive on the high and low points of this year’s crop of nominees. As a bonus: our thoughts on the “Song of the Year” and “Record of the Year” categories! Chec...

If you get caught, what should you say? “It wasn’t me!” In this episode, we are lied to by the fun 2000 hit “It Wasn’t Me” by Shaggy and Rikrok. Nichole walks us through the ways people can use denial as a coping mechanism, while Mark paces through how rhythms can be used to help tell an engaging story…. butt naked. Other music heard in this episode: Shaggy - “Boombastic”, Shaggy - “Angel”, Sting...

Who’s ready for a feeding frenzy? This week we are joined by podcast super-host Matt Kelly from the Geekscape network to talk about the mid-90s! For a wild few years, it seemed like the record labels were signing every quirky band they could to try to recreate the magic of Nirvana. We talk trend-chasing corporations, confusing genre labels, Mark’s deep regrets, and more in this wide-ranging conver...

Have you ever actually tried to sleep with one eye open? In this week’s episode, we rock out to Metallica’s 1991 metal powerhouse “Enter Sandman.” Mark shows us some key changes that he finds dreamy. Meanwhile, Nichole makes a dark song event darker, looking at its meaning through the lens of childhood trauma. Off to Never-Neverland, indeed. Other Music heard in this episode: Boyz II Men - “Under...

Is it flutist or flautist? Would you want to know the setlist before you see the concert? What’s going to be our hosts next side-hustle? It’s Season 2 and time for listener questions! See you next week for our next regular episode! Music heard in this episode: Fiona Apple - “Paper Bag”, Less Than Jake - “Hows My Driving, Doug Hastings?”, Taylor Swift - “Wood”, Taylor Swift - “Wi$h Li$t”, Taylor Sw...

Are you a responsible eldest child? A spoiled youngest? This week, there are many things that we would like to say to you about Oasis’ 1995 sing-along classic “Wonderwall.” Nichole muses on a psychological theory that might explain some of the toxic family dynamics in the band, and Mark outlines the cool melodic patterns that help make this song so catchy. And, of course, Mark’s top five 90s guita...

Can we predict the next musical revolution? We welcome Lorehounds co-host David as we unpack the Generational Music Theorem, which links major changes in popular music with the coming of age of each generation’s youth. The conversation is wide-ranging and, while we aren’t all totally sold on the theory, David brought charts so it must be true! Check us next week for a regular episode! David’s char...

Is it me you’re looking for? In this episode, we pine after “Hello,” Lionel Richie’s 1983 mega-hit. While Nichole falls hard for obsessive romantic delusions, Mark yearns for classic chord patterns used in interesting ways. Also, the co-hosts talk about what makes it cool to have that Jonathan Taylor Thomas poster on the wall, but not a poster of the cute boy from English class.   Other Music hear...

Is Thanksgiving week already too late to start talking about Christmas music? In this Sidetrack, Nichole and Mark put on their festive sweaters, spike the eggnog, and share the greatest holiday songs. What’s the laziest holiday banger? Which Jewish songwriter wrote the best Christmas song? Does Nichole finally understand what “new wave” means? Tune in to find out, and catch us next week for a norm...

This week, the team nod their heads to The Chainsmokers’ catchy dance hit “Don’t Let Me Down” from 2016. While Mark shows off some shifty rhythms, Nichole is let down by all-or-nothing thinking… and some therapists. And who’s more motivated to be at school, psych majors or music majors? Other Music heard in this episode: The Chainsmokers - “Closer”, The Chainsmokers - “Something Just Like This”, M...

When is it punk to be kind and rebellious to be optimistic? We welcome Lorehound and Wool-Shift-Dust co-host Elysia Brenner to do what she does best: deep dive on pop culture through angles nobody else is taking. Using the new Superman film as a starting point, we talk the literary movement “hopepunk” as a new form of counter-culture, and wonder at the musical aspects of this unique way of looking...

Why write both a melody and a chord progression when just one will do? Here our hosts follow along with the 1978 punk anthem “One Way or Another” by Blondie. Mark marvels at the simplicity and unity between the song’s tune and chords, while Nichole wonders if the modern world has lost all its toughness. And, Mark declares war on all Baby Boomers (or something).  Other music heard in this episode:...

Who is the MVP of the best baseball teams? The ballpark organist! Our guest on this episode, Steve Hogan, is musically responsible for three World Series championships with the San Francisco Giants. We talk with Steve about the way music plays an important role in sporting events and, of course, we have to get deep into the details. Celebrate this year’s Fall Classic with a fun conversation on the...

Why can’t Mark keep the Batman films straight in his mind? This week, the light hits the gloom on Seal’s 1994 baroque pop gem “Kiss From a Rose.” Mark is fascinated by the clashes between major and minor in this song, and Nichole likens that to Jung’s shadow self that lurks in all of us. Other music heard in this episode: Seal - “I Put a Spell on You”, Seal - “Crazy”, Seal - “Prayer for the Dying”...

When should “Crazy Mariah Carey Girl” be the first line on your resume? Music and tech executive-turned professor Bree Nguyen will tell us! On this Sidetrack, we talk with Bree about the crazy story of how one Mariah-obsessed teen was put in charge of online marketing for one of the greatest performers of all time, and turned it into a full career. Our conversation touches on wholesome fan communi...

Can a song be a hit when everyday people aren’t good enough to sing along? In this episode, we embarrass ourselves following along with Mariah Carey’s 1991 classic “Emotions.” Nichole goes deeper than she’s ever dreamed of about how we’re just meat puppets whose emotions are caused by a bunch of funny-sounding chemicals floating in our brains. Meanwhile, Mark is really into how Mariah goes higher...

What songs explain the twisted minds of our co-hosts? In this sidetrack, Mark and Nichole share the soundtracks to their own life stages. What toys was a young Mark obsessed with? Just how evil were Nichole’s middle school bullies? Tune in to feast on our exposed guts, and check us out next week for a regular episode! Music heard in this episode: Dire Straits - “Money for Nothing”, Another Bad Cre...

Why did it take us so long to get to Taylor? Welcome to season 2 of Nevermind the Music! Here, we look under someone’s bed and pickup that old “Cardigan,” Taylor Swift’s vibey hit from 2020. Mark has found a dreamy rhythmic trick that Taylor and producer Aaron Dressner use to weave the music forward. Nichole looks backward, talking about different kinds of memory and how they make this a great COV...

What were the best moments of NTM Season 1? In this finale podcast, Nichole and Mark rate their favorite songs, funniest moments, deepest thoughts, biggest misses, and more. Come back next week as we start Season 2! Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Has Mark finally gone too far? In this episode, we finally turn to Nirvana, with their iconic 1994 anthem “Lithium.” Mark writes a term paper on mic, putting his music theory skills to use for the forces of… good, or evil? Nichole takes things in a totally different but equally fancy direction, musing on solipsism, and how Kurt Cobain seems to have been exceptionally ego-dystonic for a rock star....

Can we nap to heavy metal? Did Evanescence save a plane full of people? Did we really miss the mark with Weezer? In this super-sized episode, we hear one last batch of listener questions for Season 1! Come back next week for the last regular episode of our first season! Music heard in this episode: Luciano Berio - “Sinfonia: III - In ruhig fliessender Bewegung”, Evanescence - “Bring Me to Life”, S...

Why do we always keep coming back? Here we break down Post Malone’s 2019 summer jam “Circles.” Mark has some thoughts about how the melody feeds on itself, but Nichole would rather talk about what it would be like to “check out” and completely disengage from society. We dare you to DOOOOOO something! Other music heard in this episode: Post Malone - “White Iverson”, Post Malone - “Rockstar”, Post M...

Did either of us ever think we’d have an episode about psychics? For some reason, we have a fun conversation about paranormal mental abilities, what exactly we believe, and how it all connects to psychology. Come on back next week for a full episode! Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Don’t you just love a good beat switch? Here we pray to Dionne Warwick’s sneaky-fancy hit from 1967, “I Say a Little Prayer.” While Mark wants to marvel at the changing time signatures in this song, Nichole is most interested in what the song shows about the life situations of military families. Are these ideas related? Nichole certainly makes a good stab at explaining how they might be! Other mus...

What do pop stars and 19th-century opera composers have in common? Some of them are awful people! After avoiding it for months, we finally have the conversation about what it means to love music created by potentially terrible people. There’s a whole lot of Michael Jackson talk. No answers are found but a whole lot of interesting questions are raised. Tune in next week for a full episode! Send us...