The Midlife Critics Podcast

Listen to Nathan Ferrell, Steve Strait, Wellington Davis, Claire Knight, Bryan Mosby, and Grant Wasson join your host Burke Wasson for the most conversation we've ever had on this podcast, counting down the results of our group's songs of the year poll. The full list will be revealed in the Facebook group shortly . For now, find out what they are, which song is #1, and what we think of all...

Special message from Burke Wasson: Curt and Gretchen Wasson's span of influence on their sons is far-reaching and our topic of this very special episode. My brother Grant and I talk for an hour and 19 minutes on memories from childhood, when our parents were 10 years or more younger than we are now. You're going to hear some great stories, clips from several songs, and how Grant and I became who w...

Wellington Davis and Claire Knight join your host Burke Wasson to get into this week's songs - which will go into our big songs of the year poll on Friday, Dec. 12. We also reveal a specially themed future #FreshCuts volume, discuss how our kids integrate our music into their lives, and put some perspective on Travis Boots' efforts to infuse more hip-hop into the group. If you enjoy this podcast,...

In this specially themed episode, Wellington Davis and Steve Strait join your host Burke Wasson to get into songs reconsidered. These songs didn't get enough votes the first time around, and now we've given them the respect that they're due. We now like a good number of songs that we originally rejected...but we still don't like others. More episode info will post by Friday, Dec. 5. Enjoy! If you...

In this special Thanksgiving episode, your host Burke Wasson gives thanks to The Midlife Critics and is joined by fellow critics Wellington Davis, Nathan Ferrell, and Steve Strait. We discuss everything from Sigourney Weaver, Bill Paxton, and the movie "Creepshow" to cross-genre bands, artists better to hear as an album than in #FreshCuts, "unc" rock hate gone too far. And Wellington perhaps perfo...

In a frankly honest episode, we cover more personal territory than perhaps ever in the first half-hour and discuss how to critique songs we don’t like. Wes Dorris, Steve Strait, Travis Boots, Nathan Ferrell, and Wellington Davis join your host Burke Wasson to cover this and our songs of the week from #FreshCuts Vol. 85. Synth soundscapes, loving optimism, quality trap rap, double-digit-minute epic...

This is a heck of an episode counting down our songs of the week from #FreshCuts Vol. 83 (Standings below). Bryan Mosby, Jesse Morgan, Travis Boots, Wellington Davis, and a mystery guest join your host Burke Wasson. Plus, we have insights on a bite or a scar or perhaps a birthmark in a video of one of our songs, the roots of Travis' underground hip hop taste, physical ailments of middle age, and W...

In this short but sweet episode, Steve Strait joins your host Burke Wasson to discuss our songs of the week from #FreshCuts Vol. 82. Steve and Burke ponder classic rock being an ironic prison, the movie that "The Hangover" ripped off, progressive jazz and progressive rock, the perfect 2 a.m. song, and taking back the American flag. Plus, Steve forgets one of his #FreshFour picks from 2 weeks back....

This episode makes history, being the first to preview two future #FreshCuts nominated for Vol. 81. But before that, your host Burke Wasson is joined by Wellington Davis, Steve Strait, and Bryan Mosby to get into our #FreshCuts countdown from a raucous Vol. 80. There was a lot more metal than typical. Also some deep punk talk. And some controversy over a certain #FreshCut being included. This epis...

Steve Strait joins your host Burke Wasson to discuss our emotionally and politically charged songs of the week from #FreshCuts Vol. 78. We cover a lot of ground, go a lot of places we didn't expect, and even discuss what our pets think of our music. If you enjoy this podcast, you can donate any amount, big or small, to keep it going through the following apps: PayPal at wasson.burke@gmail.com Venm...

0:00: Kicking Off Vol. 77 with a Supertramp Tribute 6:03: Claire Estelle Knight’s Alt-J Pick and Wellington Davis’ Ecuador Mission 11:51: Travis Boots’ Prime Hip-Hop Pick and The Commodores’ “Night Shift” 20:02: #FreshGrass Is Coming and We Go Off the Rails on the Sasquatch Festival and “Night Shift” with Nathan Ferrell, Steve Strait, and Travis 26:48: Jeremy Cook’s Ministry Pick and More #FreshCu...

0:00-4:54: My Anxious Week, Community Support, and the #1 Song Tiebreaker 4:54-14:29: Diving into Heatmiser's 'Get Lucky' and Victory Theatre Experiences 14:29-21:02: Exploring Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Other Fresh Cuts from the Mid-List 21:02-30:42: From Detroit Cobras to ‘Cocaine Hippo’ 30:42-42:30: The Flaming Lips' Foresight, Neil Merriweather, and Wednesday's Unique Vocals 42:30-47:39: Un...

Wes Dorris joins your host Burke Wasson to count down our mostly unheard by us songs of the week from #FreshCuts Vol. 75. We also ponder why no one is starting a music video channel in 2025. We want our MTV...because MTV is pure ridiculousness! Literally! The playlist will post Friday evening. For now, enjoy the episode. If you enjoy this podcast, you can donate any amount, big or small, to keep i...

Nathan Ferrell, Travis Boots, Steve Strait, and Wellington Davis join your host Burke Wasson to discuss our favorite #FreshCuts from the past week. Plus, find out what our kids think of last week's #1 song. We discuss our recent trip to St. Louis to see Broncho at Off Broadway, break down how patient you have to be to enjoy prog, and discuss why Kurt Cobain owes Killing Joke a sandwich. The #Fresh...

What happens when you get your host Burke Wasson and stalwart midlife critics Travis Boots, Wellington Davis, and Steve Strait together in the same recording session? Hot four-way action. Hear Travis' continued evolution getting into "good shoegaze" and "bluegrass with balls." Hear Steve wax poetic on more Swedish stoner rock and dark hip-hop. Listen to Wellington marvel at the eclecticism of this...

Wellington Davis, Nathan Ferrell, Jesse Morgan, Travis Boots, and Bryan Mosby join your host Burke Wasson to break down our songs of the week from #FreshCuts Vol. 72. Wellington shares a big piece of his personal journey. Nathan ponders nominating songs to mess with people. Jesse shares his concern for people who nominate sad songs (even though he did, too!). Travis marvels at 2025 being a great y...

In this countdown format episode of our songs of the week from #FreshCuts Vol. 71, your host Burke Wasson is joined by Travis Boots, Bryan Mosby, Jesse Morgan, Wellington Davis, and Steve Strait in a voyeuristic turn sneaking up on us in the studio. You’ll hear some new audio features and clips from some fantastic songs. Travis marvels at hearing “the only Billy Joel song that matters.” Burke and...

We start the episode paying tribute to the late great Ozzy Osbourne before getting into our songs of the week in #FreshCuts Vol. 70. Nathan Ferrell, Steve Strait, Wellington Davis, and Claire Knight join your host Burke Wasson. We discuss the changing dynamics of the crowd at live shows, Trent Reznor making songs for Disney movies, and we ponder if The Midlife Critics are a curse or in tune with t...

Want to hear which songs are our top 25 of the year so far? You must listen to this episode. Wellington Davis, Bryan Mosby, Travis Boots, and Steve Strait join Burke Wasson to discuss. We don't always agree, but we have a great time. And Steve ends the episode pondering how people will look back on this decade. If you enjoy this podcast, you can donate any amount, big or small, to keep it going th...

#FreshCuts Vol. 68 was one of the weirdest, cage-rattling collections we've had yet. We ponder heady subjects like relationships, spite and optimism through the lens of Charles Bukowski and God, trauma through the words of a Marine veteran who took his own life, and living your own life. We also discuss if Trump was the basis for Biff in the Back To The Future movies, songs tricking us halfway thr...

We had so many Stray Cuts in #FreshCuts Vol. 67, they needed their own episode. Travis Boots, Bryan Mosby, Nathan Ferrell, and Wellington Davis join Burke Wasson to discuss their favorite songs that didn't make the cut for our songs of the week. They are: ​Ghost - Peacefield (2025) (Mary Owens-Fletcher) ​Holy Serpent - Purification By Fire (2016) (Steve Strait) ​The Bus Boys - Heart and Soul (1982...

Travis Boots, Bryan Mosby, Nathan Ferrell, and Wellington Davis join Burke Wasson to discuss our songs of the week in #FreshCuts Vol. 67. This week was definitely a vibe. A mood. And funky - in more ways than one. We discuss it all here, adding color to one of most interesting weeks yet. Plus ,there is now a way for you donate on Venmo monthly, twice a month, or weekly to keep the podcast going. G...

What do people have against taking a day off to celebrate the end of slavery? What does Rod Stewart gargle with before he goes onstage? Is Steve Strait typecast in the role of psychedelic music man? Race relations, hijinks, and music are all fertile ground for this episode - plus a few "guest appearances" from Baby Huey. Nathan Ferrell, Steve Strait, and Wellington Davis join Burke Wasson to discu...

One hour and 55 minutes of great discussion with Steve Strait, Wellington Davis, Nathan Ferrell, and Bryan Mosby on one of our strongest weeks yet. And 17 minutes of Steven Seagal talk. Download and listen to the #FreshCuts Vol. 64 Songs of the Week playlist on the apps at the following links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1mFVRx82dAIDAYVDhZUcns?si=RmKxDyh-TOeOO-_m2Uubtw&pi=d_VGol...

The Midlife Critics' songs of the week for #FreshCuts Vol. 63 are a laidback affair, fraught with weirdness as well as comfort food music. May is almost over, so let's chill together. Steve Strait and Wellington Davis join Burke Wasson to discuss our songs of the week, realizing that we shouldn't expect bands from high school to sound the same now, and modes of transportation songs. This is a fun...