What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About R.E.M.

Apr 14 2024 333
What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About R.E.M. artwork

A podcast about discographies. A different artist every season. Currently in Season 6! Join Adam, Steve, and Lucas, as they go album by album, track by track, to find out if context can change your experience of music, how people become obsessed with artists, and to ultimately answer the question 'what is music?' Expect in-depth analysis, tedious tangents, controversial music opinions, and an exhaustive attitude to context. Also expect to find out more about the artists (and the hosts) than anyone could ever want to know! Previous seasons have covered Manic Street Preachers, Muse, Billie Eilish, and Radiohead!

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Document (Pt. 2)

Apr 14 2024 101 mins  
The Big Mates discuss Christmas tree etiquette, goose related nightmares, Flea from Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and Document by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by finishing up their track-by-track analysis of the band's fifth studio album, released in 1987. They talk about the writing and recording process, the contex

Document (Pt. 1)

Apr 07 2024 111 mins  
The Big Mates discuss file naming conventions, Role Models, trickle-down economics, and Document by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their analysis of the band's fifth studio album, released in 1987. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analy

The Smile Live in Brighton

Mar 31 2024 78 mins  
The Big Mates discuss running, arranging the arrangements of a meeting, paste, and go to see The Smile live at the Brighton Centre.Adam, Steve, and Lucas converge in Brighton in order to experience a live show by Radiohead sidproject, The Smile. They discuss their expectations, live business, and both their initial and considered reactions to the performance. What do they play? Wha

Dead Letter Office

Mar 24 2024 119 mins  
The Big Mates discuss liner notes, The Velvet Underground, being nice, and Dead Letter Office by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by exploring the collection of b-sides they released in 1987. They talk about where each track came from, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from

R.E.M. Clip-a-palooza 82-86 Commentary

Mar 17 2024 80 mins  
The Big Mates provide exciting and tangential audio commentary for a selection of R.E.M. clips ranging from 1982 to 1986.Confronted with very little good footage of the Pageantry tour, Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss a range of clips, from news reports, live performances, interviews, and promos from across the band's career so far! There's also some grainy footage of their

Lifes Rich Pageant (Pt. 3)

Mar 10 2024 95 mins  
The Big Mates discuss Godzilla, a car crash, The Lion King, and Lifes Rich Pageant by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by finishing up their track-by-track analysis of the band's fourth studio album, released in 1986. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up

Lifes Rich Pageant (Pt. 2)

Mar 03 2024 86 mins  
The Big Mates discuss bedtime routines, contact lenses, gravity, and Lifes Rich Pageant by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their track-by-track analysis of the band's fourth studio album, released in 1986. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer u

Lifes Rich Pageant (Pt. 1)

Feb 25 2024 100 mins  
The Big Mates discuss BIG NEWS, Band of Brothers, animals, and Lifes Rich Pageant by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their analysis of the band's fourth studio album, released in 1986. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions,

R.E.M. Live on Rockpalast 1985 Commentary

Feb 18 2024 107 mins  
The Big Mates provide lively and intellectual audio commentary for R.E.M. Live on Rockpalast in 1985.Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the live performance (and a whole host of other, completely unrelated things) as broadcast on German TV. They also dig into their thoughts surrounding R.E.M. this far into the season. A must!Head to YouTube to watch along:https://www.youtube.com/watch?

Fables of the Reconstruction (Pt. 2)

Feb 11 2024 90 mins  
The Big Mates discuss the U.S. civil war, Foo Fighters, aliens, and Fables of the Reconstruction by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their track-by-track analysis on the band's third studio album, released in 1985. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and