The Midlife Critics Podcast

This episode accomplishes exactly what it set out to do. And that’s discuss the first day of polls to cut our 32 greatest R&B/funk songs in half to the top 16. I’m joined by Travis Boots and Bryan Mosby for a dive into these songs. And listen for a brief cameo from Jennifer. Find us on Facebook under private groups at Live Wire. In this episode, we discuss songs by Otis Redding, James Brown, Bill...

Jennifer and I break down all 24 of the next week’s #FreshCuts nominations. These are songs so new or so rare that most of us haven’t heard them. It’s also my favorite part of Live Wire, which you can find on Facebook private groups. Send us a join request and get in on a comprehensive music experience. The playlist is shared below on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and YouTube. It features songs (in orde...

This is a very special episode of the Live Wire podcast, interspersing 6 guests in and out as we wind our way through our top 25 songs of 2024 so far. We also get into our thought processes of picking new music. If you’re looking for new songs, this episode is for you. And if that intrigues you so much, find us on Facebook under private groups at Live Wire. I won’t give away the actual list here,...

For an immersive music experience, find us on Facebook private groups under Live Wire. I am joined by Bryan Mosby and Steve Strait to discuss the 2nd Chance polls for our greatest R&B/funk songs of all time. And if you could pick one album to hear again for the first time, what would it be? You’ll hear our picks. Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart (1990) vs. Alabama Shakes - Dunes (2015) Michael J...

I’m joined today by artist and music aficionado Steve Strait. Steve is a longtime friend, and we get into a wide variety of topics. If you’ve ever heard of Deke Leonard, May Blitz, Adam Blessing, or Back Jack, this episode is for you. And if you haven’t, listen and learn. We also reveal the polls for the final day of new songs in our R&B/funk polls for Wednesday, July 3. And we end with a wide-ran...

I’m joined by Travis Boots and Bryan Mosby to discuss the close votes so far in our greatest R&B/funk songs. We also go on a hell of a derailment over recently unearthed 1985 comments from Jerry Garcia about Eddie Van Halen. And with some encouragement, I issue a warning against any suspected hate voting in Tuesday’s polls. Get ready.

Nine episodes in, we already have a lost episode. 😱 If you want to hear how Jennifer and I come up with our votes and the ridiculous levels that can take, this episode is for you. This is a collection of bits from our first attempt at recording Episode 9. It did not go well. But 18 minutes of comedic gold that gets funnier as it goes ensued. Here are those 18 minutes.

With the year half-over, it’s a great chance to pay respect to our favorite songs of 2024 (so far). Jennifer and I review all 50 songs chosen by the Live Wire group. We pick the ones worthy of the top 25 (there are more than 25 worthy!), discuss whether Taylor Swift is more a poet than a singer, ponder the last generation of outside kids, and consider the deeper meanings of each song. We also get...

This is the most fascinating episode we’ve done. Part intervention, part therapy session, all relevant. The Geto Boys were ranked way too low, Biz Markie was ranked way too high, and we get into a pet peeve - voting without listening to both songs. This episode will provoke you. So you might as well give it a listen.

Jennifer and I crack open the new #FreshCuts posted on Saturday, June 22, and believe it is the strongest group we’ve had yet. On a 44-minute silly-sophical discussion, we uncover a theme of self-acceptance in this week’s songs. And we ponder 2 very different versions of the same song (twice!), how the ‘90s has turned retro cool, if in fact Brad sucks, and when does alternative become more of the...

We debate which songs deserve the last 3 spots in our Sweet 16 hip-hop songs of all time. But first, our Grand Poobah Bryan Mosby of the Shadow Council, exerts his tiebreaker powers and picks the 3 matchups for Thursday’s 3rd Chance polls. Plus, a Google dive on Lil’ Troy uncovers a shocking change in employment - from a baller to a hauler? Find out.

No joke. This is the greatest hip-hop conversation I’ve ever witnessed. And that’s because of the minds of Travis Boots and Bryan Mosby. I’m just glad I was a part of it. We discuss the exits of Run-DMC and 2Pac from the tournament and get into an illuminating discussion on 3rd round hip-hop songs. The best of which I’ve ever heard.

Last Friday, June 7, Jeremy Cook, Nathan Ferrell, and I experienced one of the best and most immersive concert experiences I’ve ever seen. And that was Night 1 of the Shawnee Cave Revival outside Murphysboro, Illinois. Greensky Bluegrass, The Red Clay Strays, and Paul Thorn put on memorable shows. But the venue itself was just as much the star. Buried below a cave bluff is an amphitheater of natur...

Our 1st published episode has full versions of each song discussed rather than the intended 30-second clips. This episode fixes that. In Episode 1, I discuss how Live Wire tries to achieve growth through music; discuss newly discovered #FreshCuts from Annie Bosko & Dwight Yoakam, Booker T. Jones & Yim Yames, Blitzen Trapper, and Pavid Vermin; and Bryan Mosby and I debate some of the greatest hip-h...