Honest & Unmerciful Record Review Podcast

Ep. 45 - Green Day: "Insomniac"

Know what the world needs now more than ever? An honest, unmerciful review of Green Day's 1995 album "Insomniac"...by none other than Skinny D and Jet Carlo, Pete and Brian's special guests this episode.  We'll dig into the punk-rock blast that is Green Day's fourth record, but also their important follow-up to their fame-making album "Dookie". Do they deliver the goods on "Insomniac"?  Tune in to find out!

Ep. 44 - Electric Light Orchestra: "El Dorado"

Pete and Brian return with a journey through "El Dorado", the 1974 concept album by Electric Light Orchestra. Jeff Lynne and Co. craft a record that's sometimes a cinematic throwback with its orchestration, and sometimes a progressive-leaning rock LP. Does the "concept" hold up and is the variety a feature or a bug? Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 2 February 2025. 

Ep. 43 - Tears for Fears: "Songs From the Big Chair"

Pete and Brian travel back to 1985 when Tears for Fears ruled the world, or at least the pop charts on the strength of "Songs From the Big Chair", their multi-million-selling second album. Featuring massive hits "Shout", "Head over Heels" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", the creative forces of Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal were on full display. But with such huge singles, how does the album hold up? Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 27 May 2024.

Ep. 42 - The Black Crowes: "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion"

Join Pete and Brian as they revisit The Black Crowes' 1992 album "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion". The band topped the charts with their earnest revival of 70's-influenced rock, with aspects of blues and gospel, riding four hit singles in a time when hair metal was giving way to grunge on the FM dial. So how does it land all these years later? Tune in to find out!

Ep. 41 - King Crimson: "Discipline"

Join Pete and Brian as they discover the virtuosity of 1981's "Discipline" album by King Crimson. is it progressive rock, math rock, gamelan-inspired systems rock, new wave, or something altogether unique mixing all of that? Only bandleader and guitarist extraordinaire Robert Fripp knows for sure. But we'll aim to unpack the interlocking rhythms, melodies and styles of this incarnation of the influential, ever-evolving band.  Episode originally released 30 March 2024.

Ep. 40 - Hall and Oates: "Private Eyes"

For our big 40th episode, Pete and Brian rediscover Hall and Oates' "Private Eyes" from 1981. These soulful crooners scored #1 singes with the title track and "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)", but the record also holds some adventurous surprises, too... tune in to find out! Episode originally released 31 January 2024.

Ep. 39 - Echo & The Bunnymen: "Ocean Rain"

Pete and Brian revisit Echo & The Bunnymen's "Ocean Rain", released in 1984 and hailed (by the band) as "the greatest album ever made". We'll analyze that claim. It it a high-water mark for the post-punk/new-wave band, incorporating orchestration, eastern music, and atmospheres aplenty, riding the crest of classic track "The Killing Moon"? Or does the album spring some leaks? Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 11 January 2024.

Ep. 38 - John Cougar Mellencamp: "Scarecrow"

Join Pete and Brian as they revisit the Heartland rock of John Cougar Mellencamp's "Scarecrow" from 1985. Mellencamp presents us with a record full of earnest lyrics and no-frills rock and roll that will take you back in time and back to the small towns listening on AM radio! A chart-topper and Big Statement Record of the 80's, how does "Scarecrow" stand up after all these years?  Tune in to find out! Episode originally released 14 November 2023.

Ep. 37 - My Bloody Valentine: "Loveless"

Join Pete and Brian as they explore a monumental album of the shoegaze scene, My Bloody Valentine's "loveless" from 1991.  Kevin Shields and company crafted an unmistakably, oft-imitated sonic identity and changed the way guitar could sound and songs could be structured, relying on distortion, odd tunings, tremolo techniques and painstaking production tricks. Add on layer of ambiguous vocals, and the result is a groundbreaking, sometimes challenging listening experience. So does "loveless" get all our love, or less? Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 1 September 2023.

Ep. 36 - Steely Dan: "Katy Lied"

Join Pete and returning guest host Jet Carlo (subbing in.out with Brian) as they debate the merits of Steely Dan and their 1975 album "Katy Lied". Known as perfectionists with a unique jazz/rock fusion sound, Steely Dan have polarized fans and critics throughout their career. We'll explore why that may be as exemplified by "Katy Lied". Tune in to find out!  Episode originally released 10 August 2023.