The Buds Podcast

Can you believe this is EPISODE 20?!  This week we’re talking xx — The XX’s stunning self-titled debut, a minimalist masterpiece that blends indie pop, dream pop, indie rock, and subtle electronic influences into one of the most distinctive debut albums of the late 2000s. Intimate, understated, and emotionally charged, it explores themes of love, desire, heartbreak, vulnerability, distance, and th...

Welcome back! This week we’re talking The Suburbs — Arcade Fire’s sprawling, nostalgic masterpiece that blends indie rock, art rock, folk, and baroque pop into one of the defining albums of the 2010s. It’s intimate, reflective, and deeply evocative, exploring themes of nostalgia, growing up, suburban life, lost innocence, and the uneasy relationship between memory and reality. In this episode, we...

SURPRISE (midweek) ONE PUNCH!  We couldn’t wait until the next episode for this one… This time, Kyle’s thrown “12 to 12” by Sombr at Mike for a completely blind reaction — and yeah, this one gets interesting fast. It’s smooth, moody, a little addictive, and has that late-night, stuck-in-your-head quality that makes you want to immediately hit replay. The kind of track that sneaks up on you… then s...

ONE PUNCH is back — short, sharp, and straight to the point. No warm-ups, no overexplaining. Just one track dropped cold… with one of us fully prepped, and the other going in completely blind 👀 This time, it’s “Often Others” — raw, reflective, and quietly powerful. A track that sits in the tension between vulnerability and release, layering intimate lyricism with an energy that slowly pulls you u...

Welcome back to Part 2 of our deep dive into To Pimp a Butterfly , we pick up with the album’s second half, where Kendrick Lamar pushes his vision even further. As the narrative unfolds, the themes become more personal, the questions more difficult, and the stakes even higher. From moments of celebration and defiance to introspection, doubt, and ultimately self-discovery, these tracks explore the...

EPISODE 15! It's been awhile, but WE ARE BACK & ready to dive into the next album. We’re talking To Pimp a Butterfly — Kendrick Lamar’s sprawling, ambitious masterpiece that blends hip-hop, jazz, funk, soul, and spoken word into one of the most important albums of the 21st century. It’s personal, political and relentlessly creative, tackling everything from race, identity, fame, depression...

Episode 14 is upon us, and spending some time with Some Devil by Dave Matthews* — a record that feels less like a big statement piece and more like sitting across from someone telling you exactly where they’re at in life. Released in 2003 as Dave Matthews’ only true solo studio album, Some Devil strips away a lot of the huge live-band energy people associate with him and replaces it with something...

After a significant break, we are back with Episode 13 , and it’s all about Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally by Harry Styles — a record that leans hard into dance, glamour, and electronic late-night energy. From the first listen, it feels like a blend of hazy disco floors, soft-focus synth pop, and that signature modern pop polish. We’re breaking down how Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally...

This week, we’re back to our long form episodes giving this one the full deep-dive treatment 👀 Episode 12 is all about Closer to Happy by Joseph — a record that’s caught our attention and refuses to let go. From first impressions to standout moments, we’re breaking down what works, what surprised us, and where this album really hits. We get into the sound, the songwriting, the emotional core of t...

This week, we’re diving headfirst into the future of our playlists 👀 It’s all about new and upcoming albums — the releases we’re counting down to, the projects we’re cautiously optimistic about, and the ones we already know are about to dominate our rotation. From long-awaited returns to surprise announcements, we’re breaking down what’s landing soon, what’s got us excited, and what might just re...

ONE PUNCH is here — short, sharp, and straight to the point. No warm-ups, no context overload. Just one track dropped cold… with one of us fully prepped, and the other stepping in completely blind 👀 This time, it’s “Pixelated Kisses” — glitchy, romantic, late-night energy that feels like falling in love through a screen. Digital spark, hazy textures, and a hook that lingers long after the first s...

ONE PUNCH is here — short, sharp, and straight to the point. No warm-ups, no context overload. Just one track dropped cold… with one of us fully prepped, and the other walking in completely blind 👀 This time, it’s “Blame It on the Moon” by Cory Wong — slick, cosmic, groove-heavy, and impossible to sit still to. One song. One listen. One punch to the ears. And for the first time ever… you can watc...

New Year 2026, no easing in. ONE PUNCH is here — short, sharp, and straight to the point. No warm-ups, no context overload, just a single track dropped cold, with one of us knowing exactly what’s coming… and the other completely in the dark 👀 The atmospheric, slow-burn brilliance of “To Space” by Kings Of Leon . One song. One listen. One punch to the ears. Hit play, ring in the new year, and let...

It’s Christmas week and we’re coming in hot with a brand new (and shorter) segment: ONE PUNCH! Think quick hits, no filler — just singles that have grabbed us by the collar and refused to let go. Each One Punch episode sees either Mike or Kyle bringing a surprise track to the table… and the other has no idea what’s coming 👀 Up first? The seriously smooth and unexpectedly brilliant “Automatic Yes”...

'Tis the season for episode 6! This week by cranking up the pop-punk cheer and diving headfirst into the joyful chaos of Relient K . We’re talking Let It Snow, Baby… Let It Reindeer — the band’s Christmas record that somehow balances heartfelt sincerity, tongue-in-cheek humor, and full-on seasonal nostalgia. It’s fast, it’s melodic, it’s occasionally emotional, and it’s basically the sound of...

We're back with Episode 5! We're getting in the holiday spirit this week where we are cozied up in the warm, soulful, genre-blending world of Robert Glasper . We’re talking In December — Glasper’s beautifully intimate holiday EP that somehow feels nostalgic, comforting, and totally fresh all at once. It’s jazz, it’s R&B, it’s soul… it’s basically the musical equivalent of sitting by th...

Episode 4 is finally here, and this week we’re diving into the transcendent, emotionally charged world of Jeff Buckley . Buckley’s Grace —his legendary 1994 debut album—remains one of the most beloved and influential records of its era. As we get into on the show, many will know Jeff for his soaring voice, astonishing range, and the haunting cover of “Hallelujah” that reshaped the song for a gener...

Episode 3 is live, and this week we’re stepping into the beautiful, reflective world of Lera Lynn. Lera is a U.S. singer-songwriter whose eighth studio album, Comic Book Cowboy , arrived in 2025. As we get into on the show, many will recognise her haunting work from True Detective Season 2. In this episode, we walk through the entire record, track by track: ​Comic Book Cowboy ​Left Turn Lane ​Cher...

Episode #2 is here! We’re diving right back into the depths of DEMA to finish unpacking BREACH by Twenty One Pilots. In this second half, we’re breaking down the sound, story, and symbolism behind the remaining tracks—and trust us, there’s a lot to uncover. Tracks featured in Part 2: Center Mass, Cottonwood, One Way, Days Lie Dormant, Tally, and Intentions. Show Links: Intentions Reversed: ⁠ https...

In episode 1 of The Buds Podcast, we dive into BREACH by Twenty One Pilots. We cover a whole lot in this chat: The inspiration behind the album Track-by-track breakdown Production / songwriting / themes Featured tracks in part 1: City Walls, RAWFEAR, Drum Show, Garbage, The Contract, Downstairs & Robot Voices. Show links: - Dema Lore: https://youtu.be/zyXpwQgYOdk?si=x2Uq2nwvmiQ4RotM - City Wal...