WorkTape

At what point does music stop being authentic? Is "Christian" music less original than "non-Christian" music? How has Lecrae alienated his audience(s)? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Is "Christian" music less inventive than "secular" music? Is artist creation possible ex nihilo, or will ideas always need to be pulled from ones already pre-existing?

Is 70s disco superior to every other era of disco? Did disco become more of an element, and less of a genre over time? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Has country in the modern era maintained its blue roots? Do some people have the "it factor", while others may not? Has disco always been formulaic?

Did disco die completely? Is the synthwave aesthetic overdone? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Has disco always been hit-focused? Does disco still exist today?

What's one of the Apple Airpod Pro 2's best features? What is the "Amen Break"? This is the main topic that we go over in this episode: Does Apple stretch out their product evolution too long?

Is 128kbps still more than sufficient for casual listening? Is bluetooth too limited? Here is the main topic that we go over in this episode: Is lossless audio all that it's hyped up to be?

Can PC producers set their RGB color to monitor their computers' temperature? What computer specs do producers need to prioritize for production? Here is the main topic that we go over in this episode: What is Kevin's computer of choice?

Are live sound and studio sound engineered the same way? Is ear training essential for sound engineers? Here is the main topic that we go over in this episode: How did Kevin get his start in live sound?

Is rock what it used to be? Is it okay to wear shirts of bands/artists you don't listen to? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Does "genreless" music exist? Has rock become oversimplified over time? Is "pop" a more vast "landscape" than "rock"? Are most traditional rock fans "out-of-touch" with what rock is today?

Were Guns 'N' Roses the bridge between hair metal and grunge? Is Slash the last true "Guitar Hero" to date? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Are Guns 'N' Roses hair metal?

Who is Brandon Lake? Is the majority of 80s music production over-to-the-top? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: What have we been listening to lately?

What is the proper way to execute a melisma? Have singers butchered "The National Anthem"? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: What are some tips for singing a melisma properly? Why are Africans (the) best at singing melismas?

Do musicians need to do drugs to make good music? Has drug use only been limited to rock and rap artists? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Why do artists feel the need to take substances? Is Eric Clapton's "Cocaine" an anti-drug song? Is "Wonderwall" a good song? Is "OK Computer" really all that great?

Are The 1975 art rock? Was Elliott Smith's go-to tuning D Standard? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Who are The Sugarcubes? How old is Neil Young's "Harvest" LP? Can punk bassists use a Fender Jazz? Did grunge end up eclipsing most alternative music?

What are vocables? Why is Debussy considered the "jazz guy" of the classical world? This is the main topic that we go over in this episode: Is there any correlation between scat and melismas?

Is the Halo chant one giant melisma? What is a coloratura soprano? This is the main topic that we go over in this episode: Where in popular culture are some melismas found?

What is Messianic Music? Who is Ofra Haza? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: How did Messianic Music come about within Jewish culture? Is Messianic Music a fairly recent conception? Who are Marty Goetz and Paul Wilbur?

How did Kate Bush's 1985 song get such a big push 37 years later? Did mainstream music get too safe toward the end of the 90s? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Was Kate Bush "her own" era's "Billie Eilish"? Is Billie Eilish's popularity comparable to that of Nirvana's? Did trip hop experience a proper resurgence in the 2010s? What makes MGMT's "Electric Feel" such a tim...

Was Kanye's Stem Player a fair marketing move to/for fans? How do the cult followings of Kanye and Tom Cruise's compare with each other? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Is underproduction excusable for big artists, and can they get away with it?

How loyal can the fans of cult followings be? Are there some artists who just "can't do wrong"? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Why did Taylor re-record "Red"? Why wasn't "Donda 2" eligible for Billboard Charts?

Why did Mitch choose mahogany as his main guitar tonewood? Has Taylor surpassed Martin in relevance? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: What has Mitch been up to all of this time? Who are some artists/bands who use Taylor and/or Martin?

Is being 100% "your own" and sound a myth? Does micromanagement "make" the band? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Is Skrillex a metalhead? Do artists and artists need to compromise their songwriting in order to be (more) marketable? Is it "The Cure" without Robert Smith? Who are some artists and/or bands who have been great at balancing marketable songwriting with uniqu...

Does music theory always help with songwriting, or can it sometimes become a hindrance to the process? Is good songwriting essentially a matter of theory, luck, or talent? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Is a lot of good songwriting just comprised of clever "illusion" and proper "compensation"? Who is Nigel Godrich and who has he produced? What is the reason why people...

Does marketability compromise artistic authenticity? How did Jeff get his songwriting style? This is the main topic that we go over in this episode: What are some of Jeff's main songwriting choices and major music influences?

Was the major seventh the best part of the 70s? Was The Beatles' "'Mop Top' Era" comparable to their psychedelic period? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: How prominent was jazz in 70s rock (and 60s folk)?

Who is The Cure's longest standing member? Is 90s post-punk worth anyone's attention? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: The Cure discography overview Is "The Top" The Cure's worst album?