WorkTape

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?

When was the golden era of Muse? Is Axl Rose just a Robert Plant "ripoff"? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Did Nickelback sound the best when they were the least commercial? Was "The 2nd Law" a good album? Is Patrick Stump just as important to the late 00s as Hayley Williams and Brendan Urie? Is Billie Joe's voice "too good" and "too refined" for punk? Did Janis Joplin...

How much do Queen contrast other prog rock bands stylistically? What is a "melisma" in classical music? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Is "Another One Bites the Dust" Queen's least Queen-sounding hit? Should "We Will Rock You" and "Single Ladies" have stayed a cappella? Did early Rush sound like Led Zeppelin? Is Alex Lifeson overshadowed by Geddy and Neil? Is Harry St...

Is "The Dark Side of the Moon" a boring album? Who is Scott Joplin? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Can it be challenging for younger generations to relate to old(er) music? Is the "Oz/Dark Side" "coincidence" just necessitated by placebo effect? What's the best track of "The Dark Side of the Moon"? Did Vince Guaraldi's music "make" Peanuts? Are youthful rebellion and...

Did Heart's "Barracuda" take from Led Zeppelin's "Achilles Last Stand"? How is Led Zeppelin's "D'yer Mak'er" pronounced? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Why is "Presence" unique among Led Zeppelin's catalog? Why is "Achilles Last Stand" a quintessential Led Zeppelin track? Is "D'yer Mak'er" as bad as "Honey Pie"? Are Foo Fighters going through the same situation with H...

Is "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" more cohesive than "Happier Than Ever"? Why was psychedelic rock so controversial? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: What are "Happier Than Ever"'s best tracks? Can some "creative decisions" ever result in "bad" art? Is John Paul Jones an overrated bassist? Is Jimmy Page an overrated guitarist? Was John Bonham Led Zeppelin's...

Due to the recent passing of the late Taylor Hawkins, we though that we'd weigh in on why Taylor was such a major influence in the music world. Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: How and when did Taylor start drumming for Foo Fighters? Who are the drummers who influenced Taylor's style? How did Taylor's drumming style differ from Dave's? Was Taylor a major reason why Foo...

Is it fair to "make it personal" when judging the music of artists? Did you know that Olivia Rodrigo and Bella Poarch are of Filipino descent? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: What is The Beatles' worst track? Are Radiohead the "Beatles" of this generation? How has Elton John been able to stay relevant? Do "guilty pleasures" exist? Is there such thing as "genreless" mus...