CD Burners, hosted by the dynamic duo behind Emo Nite, T.J. Petracca and Morgan Freed, is your new go-to podcast for an immersive journey into the heart of iconic albums. With a special spotlight on the albums featured at this year's 'When We Were Young Fest', each episode offers a deep dive into a specific album that defined an era. Listeners are treated to exclusive interviews with the artists themselves, from the band members who poured their hearts into the music to the producers who captured the magic in the studio. But it doesn't stop there;Â CD Burners also brings in voices from behind the scenes - the key players whose stories breathe new life into the music we thought we knew. Each episode is a journey through the creation, impact, and legacy of an album, enriched with sound bites and anecdotes that provide a fresh perspective on these beloved tracks. Whether you're a long-time fan or a newcomer to the scene, CD Burners offers a unique blend of nostalgia, insight, and storytelling that will deepen your appreciation for these musical milestones. Tune in weekly to rediscover the albums of the When We Were Young Fest and beyond, as T.J. Petracca and Morgan Freed guide you through the hidden layers and untold stories of the music that shaped a generation.
On this episode of CD Burners, we're diving into You'll Be Fine by Hot Mulligan with Chris Freeman himself. He breaks down how the band went from playing house shows in Michigan to headlining sold out tours — and how You'll Be Fine accidentally became their breakout album during the pandemic. We get into insane behind-the-scenes stories: recording above a seafood restaurant, band fights over harmonies, Discord fan takeovers, and how a View-Master and secret website helped launch new music.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are diving into one of the most chaotic and influential internet-era bands: Attack Attack. We're joined by drummer Andrew Wetzel, who breaks down the band's wild origin story, the viral rise of “crabcore,” and the backlash that made them underground legends. From MySpace fame to meme status to full-circle redemption, this is the unfiltered story of how a group of Ohio kids accidentally changed metalcore forever.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are deep diving into the legendary pop punk album, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket by Blink-182 with special guest, renowned DJ & producer, Dillon Francis. From fart jokes to existential angst, iconic singles to hidden gems, we dive into it all & get the inside scoop on how this record shaped Dillon's taste.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are deep diving into one of the most iconic yet underrated rock albums of the 2000s, Sing The Sorrow by AFI. We're joined by legendary A&R, Luke Wood, who gives us an inside perspective on signing AFI and reveals stories behind the record's sound, the intense industry battles over singles and radio play, and why this masterpiece never hit the massive commercial success it deserved.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are diving deep into breakthrough album, The Young and The Hopeless by Good Charlotte. This misunderstood 2002 record helped shape emo and mall punk as we know it and made an everlasting impact on a generation that needed it most.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are deep diving into cult classic album, Phantoms by Acceptance with special guest, singer, Jason Vena. Released in 2005, this debut album had the odds stacked against it from album leaks to controversial label software yet has still held its ground as a truly solid pop rock album.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are deep diving into Suicide Season by Bring Me The Horizon with special guest, album producer, Fredrik Nordström! Bring Me The Horizon have always been ahead of the times and their musical shift with this second studio album is no exception.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are joined by their first podcast cohost, Games We Play! Tune in to hear them deep dive into debut studio album, Take This To Your Grave by Fall Out Boy. What started as a fun side project has skyrocketed to be one of the most influential albums and bands of all time.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are deep diving into the highly influential debut emo album, Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has A Body Count by From First To Last with original member and current frontman, Matt Good. This album shook the scene and if MySpace plays counted the way streams do, these songs would have topped the charts.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are deep diving into one of the best written albums of all time, I'm Wide Awake It's Morning by Bright Eyes. Released in 2005 and inspired by 70s folk, this sixth studio album stands out for its lyrical genius and true artistry.
On this bonus episode of CD Burners, TJ & Morgan are chatting it up with pop punk band, Magnolia Park! Blending elements of hip hop, pop punk, & emo rock, Magnolia Park creates a sound that packs a punch. Tune in to hear the inside scoop on what it was like building this new world for their first concept album, VAMP, out NOW!
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are joined in the studio by emo rapper turned multi genre extraordinaire, Nothing, Nowhere. Tune in to hear the inside scoop on his artistic journey and how he stays authentic to himself by creating music that's outside of the box.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are deep diving into an album truly ahead of its time, Interventions + Lullabies by The Format. While it didn't gain the proper recognition it deserved, it sure as hell paved the way for indie pop and showcased Nate Ruess as one of the best pop singers around.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are deep diving into a debut album like no other, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out by Panic! At The Disco. Album producer, Matt Squire joins the podcast to give us the insider perspective of what it was really like to create this one of a kind, wildly theatrical record that blended electronic beats, emo angst, and vaudeville inspired drama.
On this episode of CD Burners, TJ & Morgan are diving deep into one of the most influential albums of all time, Something To Write Home About by The Get Up Kids. Founding member and lead vocalist, Matt Pryor joins the podcast to give us the inside scoop on the album that paved the way for emo in all its forms and served as the blueprint for all the bands we know and love.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are diving into Leaving Through The Window by Something Corporate and getting the inside scoop from special guest, frontman, Andrew McMahon. This major label debut album is packed with piano-fueled anthems, heartbreak, and undeniable angst that set this record apart and stand the test of time.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are talking all things Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! by Hellogoodbye, with the OG Bedroom Pop genius himself, Forrest Kline. Produced by Matt Mahaffey, this debut album has a playful and chaotic sound that's entirely its own and truly embodies the Myspace era and scene culture.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are deep diving into one of the most iconic albums of all time, Enema Of The State by Blink-182. Produced by Jerry Finn and released in the summer of 1999, this album forever changed the state of the scene and what it means to be punk. It's funny, it's juvenile, it's relatable, and it's a timeless album you'll always go back to.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are deep diving into No Really, I'm Fine by The Spill Canvas with special guest, frontman, Nick Thomas. Released in October 2007, this first major label release from the band solidified their place in the emo scene despite not necessarily being an emo band. With their sound being "somewhere between The All American Rejects and Matchbox Twenty", this album proves that sometimes emo is a spectrum and more about a scene than a sound.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are pulling back the layers of the album some would call the pinnacle of emo, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge by My Chemical Romance. The album's producer, Howard Benson joins the guys to give an inside look at what it was like to work on an album that shaped culture and proved that emo is so much more than just a genre.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are digging into the album that forever shifted the scene, Riot! by Paramore. Released in 2007 and produced by David Bendeth, this secondary album proved that Hayley Williams and Paramore were a force to be reckoned with.
On this bonus episode of CD Burners, the guys are listening to your voicemails! Got something to say? We wanna hear it! Call 323-310-2731.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are diving into the world of Warped Tour with none other than the legend himself, Kevin Lyman. There's no denying the monumental impact Warped Tour had on the music scene by blending together bands and artists of different genres, activism, and community. Tune in and prepare for the long awaited return of the largest and longest touring music festival in North America to date.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are deep diving into one of the most influential emo albums of all time, Tell All Your Friends by Taking Back Sunday. Released in March 2002 and produced by Sal Villanueva, this debut album has become the bestselling release for both Taking Back Sunday and Victory Records.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are peeling back the layers of Your Favorite Weapon by Brand New. Produced by Mike Sapone and released in 2001, this debut album is power chord heavy and packed full of lyrics that perfectly describe the highs and lows of the teenage experience.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are diving into We The Kings' self titled album with special guest, We The Kings singer, Travis Clark. Released in October 2007, this is a pretty perfect pop album that is heavily guitar driven and jam packed with catchy pop choruses.
On this episode of CD Burners, TJ & Morgan are digging deep into Tigers Jaw's self titled album, Tigers Jaw. This album, first released in September 2008, has proven to be undeniably digestible, relatable, and just straight up cool to people in and out of the emo music scene.
Morgan catches up with Ryan & Josh of Story Of The Year ahead of their set at When We Were Young Festival '24 to chat about the fest, new music, & other projects they're working on!
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are delving into The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus's debut album, Don't You Fake It. Produced by David Bendeth and released in the summer of 2006, this album truly showcased the band's ability to blend popular rock genres and land spots on both the charts and radio stations.
Morgan catches up with Martin Johnson of Boys Like Girls ahead of their set at When We Were Young Festival '24 to chat about the fest, new music, & other projects they're working on! Listen to their new album, Sunday At Foxwoods now! https://link.boyslikegirls.com/foxwoods This bonus episode is powered by GHOST Energy
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are deep diving into Neck Deep's sophomore album, Life's Not Out To Get You. Produced by Andrew Wade & A Day To Remember's Jeremy McKinnon, this album set out to be the "bigger and better" version of their debut album with stronger vocals and undeniable pop punk roots throughout.
Morgan catches up with Shane Told of Silverstein ahead of their set at When We Were Young Festival '24 to chat about the fest, new music, & other projects they're working on! Pre-Order Antibloom by Silverstein here: https://silversteinmusic.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaY86dAjfshnvfCL3dcrPMZ3RrYKn1CSa7-oLKvSqYF_u58kLyC3PMz4A2Y_aem_cYriUKX97jKy0D4X7avJwg This bonus episode of CD Burners is powered by GHOST Energy
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are back and this time they're diving into The Starting Line's debut album, Say It Like You Mean It with none other than Ken Vasoli. Produced by Mark Trombino, this album was released in the summer of 2002, full of catchy hooks and hyperstrummed power chords that heavily influenced the newer generation of pop punk and emo bands that followed.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are back and this time they get to chat with myspace sensation Gabe Saporta of Cobra Starship about the making of Viva La Cobra!, produced by Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump. This album, released in fall 2007, was a unique blend of emo, pop punk, and electropop. This album famously paved the way for many other bands into this new era of music consisting of genre bending, scandalous, party anthems.
On this episode of CD Burners the guys are back and this time they're taking a look at one of the most mature, highly emotional, and relatable pop punk albums released in 2013, The Greatest Generation by The Wonder Years. Dan Campbell blesses the pod with his insight and experience making such a critically acclaimed and nostalgic piece of music.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are back this time we have an in-depth interview with none other than Derek DiScanio from State Champs about the making of their debut album, The finer things. This album, released in October 2013 was produced by Sam Pura and Steve Klein, is the essence of pure Pop Punk and charted number 2 on Billboard's Heatseekers Album charts.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are back and this time they're digging into one of the most inspiring emo bands of all time, Thursday, who released their second studio album Full Collapse in April 2001. Produced by Sal Villanueva, this album is the perfect example of early 2000s post hardcore and screamo. With the music video for it's debut single "Understanding in a Car Crash" gaining rotation on MTV, this album launched the underground hardcore sound into the mainstream.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are back and ready to dig deep into the album with one of the most iconic emo anthems ever recorded, Until The Day I Die. That Album was Page Avenue by Story of The Year released in September 2003. The guys have the unique opportunity to chat with the lead singer Dan Marsala about the process of recording this album with the one and only John Feldmann.
On this bonus episode of ur favorite podcast, Morgan introduces you to MDDN Records artist Petti Hendrix!! Petti brings a blend of hip-hop & pop-punk to the scene that just keeps on evolving. Not only is the music amazing.. but so is his story. Stacked with so many odds against him, Petti Hendrix has stayed passionate and is proof that anyone can have success when you work hard and believe in what you do.
On this episode of CD Burners the guys talk about the self titled album by The All-American Rejects release in 2002 with lead guitarist Nick Wheeler and Drummer Chris Gaylor. This uniquely authentic album, produced by Tim O'heir, paved the way for Pop Punk music to take risks with their sound and use instruments like organs and 80's synths. The guys chat with Nick and Chris about the process of making this album and what it was like recording with Doghouse records at the ripe age of 17 and 19.
On this episode of CD Burners, TJ and Morgan dig deep into the 2nd studio album from Silverstein, Discovering The Waterfront. This album, released in 2005, laid the bricks for the emerging emo scene in the early 2000s. The guys get a chance to chat with the lead singer Shane Told about the process of making this legendary album that had major influence on the scene.
On this episode of CD Burners the guys take a deep dive into the second studio album by The Used titled In Love and Death. This band from Utah, made waves in the music industry when this released in 2004 and sold over one million copies. The guys get a chance to talk with producer John Feldmann about the recording process and creating this album with the band.
On this episode of CD burners the guys take a deep dive into one of the biggest emo bands to come out of Arizona, Jimmy Eat World. Post the grunge era of the 90s, this band took scene by storm and was signed to Dreamworks before they were making movies. The guys get a chance to chat about their 4th studio album Bleed American and talk to it's producer Mark Trombino about the process of making it.
On this episode of CD Burners, T.J. and Morgan take a deep dive into the the iconic album They're Only Chasing Safety by Underoath. This melodic hardcore album was the first album Underoath released after replacing their lead singer in 2004. The guys get a chance to talk to both Spencer Chamberlain and Aaron Gillespie about what it was like for them as a band in a time when playing together live was much more important than recording demos.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys dig deep into the fourth studio album from Four Year Strong, Enemy of The World. This band was the perfect blend of metal and pop punk, with every song on the album fitting together cohesively from start to finish. The guys get a chance to talk with Machine, producer for this album, about his experience working with the band and creating such a unique sound.
In 2006 two bands from Tallahassee Florida came together to form Mayday Parade. Shortly after they recorded their debut album, A Lesson In Romantics, when Derek Sanders was only 20 years old. Produced by Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount, this album defined the emo genre as we know it and landed them a slot at Warped tour in 2007.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys discuss The Maine's debut album Can't Stop Won't Stop released July 8th, 2008. This album was unlike anything else at the time because of the producer Matt Squire who pushed the band members to use new instruments and think outside the box. T.J interviews with Pat Kirch, drummer for The Maine, and talks about his experience with creating this album.
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are back and ready to dive into the incredibly mature sounding debut album Feel Something by Movements. Released in 2017, when Patrick Miranda was only 19 years old, this album sounds wise beyond its years. T.J. and Morgan interview Will Yip, the producer of this album and likely the producer of all your favorite emo albums with credits from Circa Survive, Panic! at The Disco, Title Fight, The Wonder Years, La Dispute and many more.
On this week's episode of CD Burners, T.J. and Morgan take a look at the debut album from Chiodos, Alls Well That Ends Well, released in 2005. This album, produced by Mark Hudson, takes you on a post-hardcore journey. The guys talk about the experience of listening to this album from beginning to end and how it sparked influence for so many other artists in the scene.
CD Burners is back and this time the guys talk about one of the most influential albums released in 2001 by Morgan's favorite band, Stay What You Are by Saves The Day. Chris Conley blesses the podcast and talks at length about what it was like being a New Jersey band in LA, mental health expressed through lyrics, and emo youth playing in basements and community centers. This album paved the way for many other emerging bands as emo music started on its path into the mainstream.
On this episode of CD Burners - T.J. and Morgan take a closer look at the album that was the blueprint for modern pop punk. In the 00's this album was inescapable. Jordan Pundik, frontman of New Found Glory, joins the pod and shares some insight into where the band's mindset was at when making this album.