The Album of Record

summary Join Craig and Andrew as they discuss the return of Indycast, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction of Oasis, recent album releases from Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, and more. Dive into their takes on music trends, band histories, and cultural moments that shape the music scene today. Chapters 00:00 Life's Unpredictable Turns 02:49 The Return of Indycast 05:39 Ticketmaster Lawsuit and Its Implications 08:04 Haley Williams' Cultural Moment 10:59 Oasis and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 16:24 Toadies' New Album Preview 19:50 Foo Fighters' Latest Release 26:37 The Impact of Influential Albums 28:40 Exploring Popular Artists: Noah Kahan and Mumford & Sons 31:41 The Rise of Roman Candle: A New Sound in Hardcore 37:21 Terror: The Legacy of Hardcore Music 40:41 The Sadest Landscape: A Deep Dive into Screamo 47:30 Cultural Connections: Music and Personal Stories

summary Join Craig and Andrew as they discuss recent concerts, new album releases, and their insights on bands like Filth is Eternal, Tiger's Jaw, and the Toadies. They explore music production, band dynamics, and the evolving landscape of alternative and punk rock. Chapters 00:00 Spring Break Reflections 01:50 Concert Experiences and Live Shows 08:57 Band Comparisons and Music Industry Insights 13:39 Deaf Heaven's Anniversary and Album Discussion 18:59 Filth is Eternal's New Album Review 24:48 Exploring Female-Fronted Bands and Industry Dynamics 27:15 The Evolution of Tiger's Jaw and Their New Sound 30:27 Chalk Hands: A Deep Dive into Screamo 36:02 The Challenges of International Touring for Small Bands 38:48 Recommendations and Anticipations for Upcoming Music Releases

summary In this episode, Craig and Andrew explore the evolution of alternative and hardcore music, discuss upcoming album releases, and analyze the dynamics of music festivals. They share insights on bands like Third Eye Blind, The Toadies, Angel Dust, and the Foo Fighters, offering a deep dive into genre blending, industry trends, and live performances. Chapters 00:00 Nostalgic Musical Journeys 02:43 The Evolution of Third Eye Blind 05:52 The Toadies: A Band's Journey 08:29 Festival Economics and Band Lineups 11:23 Foo Fighters: Consistency in Music 14:01 The Legacy of the Foo Fighters 27:50 February Blues and Music Reflections 29:54 Tori Amos and the Evolution of Music 31:11 Converge's New Album: A Fan's Perspective 35:42 The Origins of Angel Dust and Hardcore Scene 40:25 Angel Dust's Musical Journey and New Album 52:54 Final Thoughts on Angel Dust's New Album

In this episode of the Album of Record podcast, hosts Craig Lyndall and Andrew Schnitkey dive into the latest in indie, punk, and metal, headlined by a review of Joyce Manor's seventh studio album. They also provide extensive coverage of the 2026 Grammy Awards, celebrating a historic night for the Baltimore hardcore band Turnstile. The conversation transitions from modern punk to a surprising exploration of classical music, as Andrew shares his newfound appreciation for Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, drawing parallels between orchestral "breakdowns" and hardcore music. The episode concludes with a Recommendation Corner featuring a mix of doom shoegaze and southern indie rock. Chapters 00:01 – Introduction and Hoodie Season The hosts catch up on the cold February weather and Andrew's recurring Deftones sweatshirt. 01:09 – Review: Joyce Manor's New Album A deep dive into the band's latest release, discussing its signature short runtime, infectious hooks, and themes of wistful depression. 09:33 – Pitchfork Ratings & Final Scores Craig and Andrew compare their personal scores of 7.0 and 7.6 to the Pitchfork critic and reader ratings. 12:14 – 2026 Grammys: Turnstile's Historic Night Reaction to Turnstile winning Best Metal Performance and Best Rock Album, including a debate on their status in the hardcore scene. 24:58 – The Cure and Grammy Eligibility Debates A discussion on The Cure's first Grammy win for Songs of a Lost World and Craig's defense of the Grammy cutoff for album eligibility. 32:24 – Classical Music for Hardcore Fans Andrew explains how The West Wing and ChatGPT led him to discover the frenzied similarities between Beethoven and punk. 38:24 – Recommendation Corner Craig recommends the all-female doom shoegaze band Blackwater Holy Light, and Andrew previews the new Rat Boys record. 49:06 – Looking Ahead: Agriculture & Angel Dust Anticipation for seeing the band Agriculture live in Cleveland and next week's highly anticipated Angel Dust release.

Summary In this episode, Craig and Andrew discuss their experiences with winter weather, the loss of their favorite podcast IndieCast, and their current podcast listening habits. They dive deep into Zach Bryan's new album, exploring its songwriting, sound, and artistic choices. The conversation shifts to the state of music criticism, particularly focusing on Pitchfork's new subscription model and its implications for music consumption. They also discuss the challenges of navigating the current landscape of music reviews and recommendations, concluding with thoughts on upcoming releases and their personal music recommendations. Chapters 00:00 Winter Weather and Weekend Plans 02:44 Nostalgia for IndieCast 05:32 Podcast Listening Habits 08:26 Zach Bryan's New Album Review 16:41 Zach Bryan's Unique Style and Appeal 22:22 The Death of the Web and Subscription Models 33:16 The Value of Subscription Services 35:33 Community Engagement in Music Reviews 38:18 Understanding Pitchfork's Rating System 51:53 Defining Musical Masterpieces 56:34 Recommendations and Anticipations for New Music

In this special bonus episode closing out 2025, Craig and Andrew discuss one of their favorite bands, Foxing, and the band's recent decision to go on indefinite hiatus to mend their personal relationships and relationship with the music. Andrew interviews Craig about the two farewell shows he attended in Chicago and just how different they were.

Summary In this episode, Craig and Andrew reflect on their favorite music from the past year, discussing various albums and ranking them using a tier list. They explore the criteria for what makes an album stand out, share personal favorites, and engage in lively debates about different artists and their latest releases. The conversation highlights the diversity of music and the subjective nature of musical appreciation, making for an engaging and insightful discussion. In this episode, Andrew Schnitkey and Craig Lyndall dive deep into their thoughts on various album releases from the year, exploring genres like pop punk, hardcore, and singer-songwriter vibes. They discuss the evolution of artists like Danny Brown and the maturity of bands like Deftones, while also celebrating the sense of community found in hardcore music. The conversation touches on the challenges of ranking albums, the impact of anticipation, and the resurgence of emo music. With a mix of personal favorites and new discoveries, the hosts provide a comprehensive overview of the music landscape for the year. Chapters 00:00 Year in Music Overview 05:41 Exploring Emo and Indie Albums 11:53 Emerging Artists and Surprises 17:23 Rap and Hip-Hop Insights 25:19 Final Thoughts and Recommendations 29:54 Disappointments and Surprises in Music 33:53 Exploring New Sounds: Fust and Beyond 39:03 Greet Death: A Career-Defining Album 43:03 Cloakroom: A Mixed Bag 43:49 Blood Brothers and Combust: Hardcore Highlights 45:55 Danny Brown: A Party Album 48:42 Deftones: Maturity in Music 49:39 Drain: The Most Reliable Hardcore Band 51:01 Fleshwater: A Divisive Album 51:59 Froglord: A Solid Listen 52:43 Geese: Glad We Heard It 53:47 Runner: An Album of Record 54:59 Glitterer: A Recent Discovery 55:32 Higher Power: Solid Hooks 56:37 Home is Where: Good but Not Great 56:54 Hotline TNT: A Forgotten Gem 59:03 Exploring MS Paint and Noctambulist 01:00:18 Deafheaven and Restraining Order: A Deep Dive 01:01:38 Taylor Swift and The Armed: Ranking the Albums 01:03:08 Shoegaze and Emo: The Sounds of 2023 01:05:33 New Discoveries: Ben Quad and Turnstile 01:07:32 Anticipated Releases: Sam Fender and Dyspitz 01:09:29 Emo Files: Kerosene Heights and The Low Blow

Craig revisits an April conversation with Andrew about Deafheaven's 2025 album Lonely People With Power. They talk about why it hit them so hard, how it balances heaviness with melody, and why it feels like a culmination of everything the band has done. They break down the intentional role of the three "Incidentals," highlight the musicianship of Kerry McCoy, George Clarke, Daniel Tracy, Shiv Murali, and Chris Johnson, and compare the production to the band's earlier work. Track standouts include Doberman, Magnolia, Amethyst, Body Behavior, Revelator, Winona, and The Marvelous Orange Tree. Both hosts agree the record may be Deafheaven's best and expect it to show up on year-end lists. Timestamp Notes 00:00 – Intro and setup for the replay 00:40 – Why this album will appear on year-end lists 01:20 – Opening banter 02:00 – First impressions: both hosts love it 03:00 – Craig's note on why Deafheaven isn't for everyone 04:00 – Andrew's early struggles with Sunbather 06:00 – Wondering if this record would continue Infinite Granite 07:00 – Roadrunner Records and the return to heaviness 08:00 – The band's mystery and unpredictability 09:00 – Where Deafheaven sits in the broader music world 10:45 – The "Incidentals" and how they shape the album 12:00 – Incidental I leading into Doberman 13:00 – Incidental II analysis and Jay Matthews's part 16:00 – Incidental III and Paul Banks 17:00 – Why the sequencing matters 19:00 – Doberman and Magnolia as re-introductions 22:00 – Where Deafheaven fits on festival lineups 25:00 – Their evolution from Sunbather to now 28:00 – George Clarke on feeling exposed during Infinite Granite 30:00 – Why Infinite Granite was necessary for this album 34:00 – The album's length and relentlessness 37:00 – Body Behavior and Chris Johnson's bass moment 40:00 – Overall musicianship discussion 48:00 – Amethyst as the emotional core 52:00 – Production shift with Justin Meldal-Johnsen 56:00 – Amethyst as the purest form of the band 58:00 – Winona vs. The Marvelous Orange Tree 1:00:00 – How critics are receiving the album 1:03:00 – Why the album feels personal to the hosts 1:05:00 – Is this their best album? 1:06:00 – Closing remarks and sign-off

Summary In this episode, Craig and Andrew discuss seasonal affective disorder, the latest music industry news, and the recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. They delve into the Grammy nominations, highlighting Turnstile's historic nominations and the eclectic nature of the categories. The conversation shifts to Stereogum's relaunch and the impact of AI on ad revenue, emphasizing the challenges faced by independent music publications. The episode concludes with reflections on the importance of supporting music journalism. Chapters 00:00 Seasonal Affective Reflections 02:52 The Psychology of Extroversion and Introversion 05:53 Music Industry News: Red Hot Chili Peppers and More 08:58 Henry Rollins and Ian McKay: A Misunderstanding 11:58 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Highlights 17:52 Performance Reviews: Outkast, 21 Pilots, and More 24:04 Emerging Bands: Geese and the Subculture Scene 26:30 Viral Commentary on Music Covers 35:01 Grammy Nominations and Turnstile's Impact 44:06 Stereogum's Relaunch and the Future of Music Journalism

Summary In this episode of the Album of Record podcast, hosts Craig and Andrew engage in a lively discussion covering a range of topics from personal anecdotes about blood donation to the upcoming Rock Hall ceremony. They delve into the speculation surrounding Soundgarden's induction, share thoughts on Chris Kirkpatrick's recent antics, and announce the Foo Fighters' upcoming tour. The conversation shifts to album reviews, including Spiritual Cramp and White Reaper, before wrapping up with a discussion on the Psychedelic Porn Crumpets' latest release and other new music. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Light Banter 03:08 Blood Donation Experience and Personal Anecdotes 06:06 Rock Hall Ceremony and Soundgarden Induction 08:47 Discussion on Chris Kirkpatrick and Artistic Integrity 11:44 Foo Fighters Tour Announcement and Opener Speculation 17:37 Mark Lanegan's Music and Personal Connection 29:35 Nirvana's Live Albums and Legacy 31:18 The Evolution of Nirvana's Live Sound 35:36 Exploring New Music: Spiritual Cramp 45:35 The Impact of Drummers on Band Sound 51:10 White Reaper: A New Wave of Rock 52:17 Psychedelic Porn Crumpets: A Fun Musical Journey

Summary In this episode, Craig and Andrew discuss various new albums, focusing on their experiences with lossless Spotify, the latest Taylor Swift album, and insights from Haley Williams' interview. They explore the evolution of Taylor Swift's music, the production quality of recent albums, and the impact of artists like AFI and Foxing on the music scene. The conversation highlights the importance of music in connecting different generations and the significance of artistic expression in today's music industry. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Lossless Spotify Experience 02:37 Exploring New Albums and Their Impact 05:33 Taylor Swift's New Album Discussion 08:03 Comparing Taylor Swift's Musical Evolution 10:52 Cultural Impact and Listening Obligations 22:22 The Cultural Impact of Music Icons 25:48 Hayley Williams: A Dynamic Performer 35:31 The Evolution of Paramore and Feminism in Music 40:31 AFI's New Direction and Davey Havoc's Unique Persona 44:39 Podcasting Challenges and Future Plans

Summary In this episode, Craig and Andrew reflect on their recent concert experiences, particularly focusing on the Deftones and Idles performances. They discuss the impact of live music, the dynamics of concert crowds, and the evolution of bands over time. The conversation also touches on gaming, particularly the new Borderlands 4, and concludes with a review of the new album by Saturdays at Your Place, highlighting its emotional depth and musicality. Chapters 00:00 Concert Reflections and Post-Concert Malaise 02:45 Gaming and Music: The Perfect Combo 05:36 Idols: A Surprising Opener 10:44 Deftones Concert Experience 16:26 Setlist Surprises and Fan Reactions 26:43 The Evolution of Deftones' Sound 29:08 Live Performance Highlights 32:57 Setlist Insights and Fan Reactions 34:29 The Encore Experience 36:47 Reflections on the Concert 42:42 New Music Review: Saturdays at Your Place