Quality Qontrol

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Welcome to Quality Qontrol. The podcast where we rate never before heard songs on Spotify. Quality Qontrol is hosted by Ben and Max, two jaded New York transplants with masochistic musical sensibilities.

Quality Qontrol


    • Nov 18, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 34m AVG DURATION
    • 129 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Quality Qontrol podcast, hosted by Ben and Max, is a sensational duo that never fails to entertain. Their comedic banter and witty back-and-forths are enough to reel you in, but it's their goated reviews of these songs that truly keep you wanting for more. This podcast is like crack, addicting and leaving you scratching your neck in anticipation for the next episode.

    What sets this podcast apart from others is its refreshing take on music and pop culture. While many podcasts follow a structured format, Ben and Max bring a lightheartedness that makes each episode feel like a casual conversation between friends. Their hot takes on everything but top hits bring a smile to your face with every listen, and their unpredictable pop culture references make each episode exciting and engaging. Moreover, they introduce listeners to new music that they may have never heard before, expanding their musical horizons in an enjoyable way.

    However, like any podcast, The Quality Qontrol does have its drawbacks. Sometimes the comedic aspect of the show can overshadow the analysis of the songs being reviewed. While the banter between Ben and Max is entertaining, there are instances where I wish they would delve deeper into their thoughts on the music itself. Additionally, given that this podcast focuses on reviewing lesser-known songs rather than top hits, there may be times when listeners are unfamiliar with the tracks being discussed. This can make it difficult to fully engage with the content if you haven't listened to the songs beforehand.

    In conclusion, The Quality Qontrol podcast is a delightful addition to anyone's listening lineup. It offers a break from more structured podcasts and provides an entertaining escape into the world of music and pop culture. Ben and Max's hilarious dynamic keeps you coming back for more while also introducing you to new sounds along the way. Though at times I wish there was more in-depth analysis of the songs themselves, overall this podcast is undeniably enjoyable and worth giving a shot. So sit back, relax, and let Ben and Max take you on an entertaining journey through their lighthearted and litty podcast.



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    Latest episodes from Quality Qontrol

    Alliance for Stagnation- Episode 6

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2024 57:31


    The final episode covers how presidents after Ike engaged with Guatemala. Superficially idealist, practically brutal and like so many other countries in Latin America, things get exponentially worse when Reagan shows up. The civil war escalates as right wing paramilitaries roam the countryside, murdering and kidnapping supposed insurgents with impunity. The military class amasses power and status superceding the government's functions, culminating in one of the many forgotten genocides of the 20th century.

    Two Tragedies - Episode 5

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2024 41:37


    Arbenz is exiled as Guatemala backslides into facsism with the State Departments approval. But the new military government presses too far, igniting a civil war that would tear the country apart for decades to come. United Fruit faces its own obstacles as the 20th century progresses, finding itself subsumed by the twisted economic logic that rewards financial speculation instead of actually producing anything. Get it? Produce?

    UN-helpful Chapter 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2024 64:10


    Where the League of Nations failed, the UN will succeed, right? Will international diplomacy and cooperation act as a bulwark for Guatemala's defense? How will the CIA organized invasion succeed with scant fighting forces and very little popular support? What fate will meet Jacobo Arbenz? Will these rhetorical questions compel you to tune into this episode? Only one of the above questions is yet to be determined.

    Macho Men - Guatemala Ch. 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2024 33:47


    The counterfeit liberation force finds it's frontman as the CIA plots behind the scenes to put their pawns in place while diplomatic attempts to resolve the situation stall. An analysis of the efficacy of Arbenz's reform and the ideological composition of his government is included within to answer the question; was his regime REALLY a "communist beachhead"?

    cia guatemala macho men
    Conflict of Interest- Episode 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 49:09


    What happens when United Fruit's stockholders are elected to the Senate? What happens when the legal counsel of United Fruit rises to the highest office in the State Department? What happens when the head of the CIA is personal friends with the owners of the New York Times, Time and Life Magazine? Revolutionary Guatemala gets off to a rough start.

    The Octopus - E1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 66:46


    We are first introduced to the iconic yellow fruit that changed the fates of an entire region and the fortunes of a few men, including a forgotten American titan of agriculture and industry who's personal wealth could be mentioned alongside such names as Vanderbilt or Carnegie, and a sinister monopoly known as "The Octopus" We will also briefly cover the socio-economic context that made Guatemala ripe for both bananas and revolution.

    The Final Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2022 42:22


    On this episode, Max and Ben wrap up the podcast.

    Skipping To The Finish Line | Episode 126

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2022 32:34


    On this episode, the boys reflect on the past 4 years of doing the podcast and (barely) listen to some shitty shit crap music.

    The Beginning of the End | Episode 125

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2022 31:16


    On this episode, Max and Ben announce their plan to end First Play Podcast at the end of July and listen to some shitty music.

    I Don't Want To Be A Kid Again | Episode 124

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2022 31:24


    On this episode, we reflect on childhood and the fundamental deceit of nostalgia and get very, very off track.

    Army of Squirrels | Episode 123

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2022 36:43


    On this episode, Ben wants to talk about theology, an Army of Squirrel addicts takes over and the boys take a spiritual trip to South Carolina.

    Racist Rick James | Episode 122

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2022 37:55


    On this episode, we listen to a man struggle with his hard head and some abominable funk music sung by Racist Rick James.

    Booty Talk | Episode 121

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2022 40:32


    On this episode, we're talking about Booty's. That's right. Big wet butts, bouncing in the club. We go off the rails hard, which is to be expected at this point. First Play Forever

    Hard on a Brotha | Episode 120

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2022 41:59


    On this episode we listen to a list of reasons why life is hard, some sickening affirmation and a treatise on resilience, and an example of when the hyper critical voices in your head are right.

    Cracker Spirituals | Episode 119

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2022 41:09


    On this episode, we listen to some god awful pseudo-scat music, negro spirituals for white people and some Curren$y raps if he spelled his name with a cent sign instead of a dollar sign.

    Big Dick Gandhi | Episode 118

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2022 37:01


    On this episode, we get back to our roots with some classic dick talk and a few songs that sound just like other songs but worse. You know, that old chestnut.

    Oops, We Did a Podcast | Episode 117

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2022 33:47


    First Play Podcast; We fuck around so you can find out! On this episode we listen to some overwrought crooning, and some classic adultery jams, which are our bread and butter at this point.

    Don't Say Cum | Episode 116

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2022 38:31


    On this episode, we adhere to a content challenge, listen to some instruments that we're almost certain are guitars and get a blast from the past with the worst sounds of 2013 we were happy to forget all about.

    Episode 115 | The Knaves of Leon

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2022 39:17


    On this episode. we listen to a very convincing Muse cover band, shitty rapping and the ear-piercing blaring of Max's racism alarm.

    Episode 114 | Font Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2022 35:40


    On this episode, Ben forgot to edit it on time on account of being in Las Vegas. But it's here. What songs will we listen to? I don't remember but its a good one!

    Return of the (Riff)Raff | Episode 113

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2022 38:20


    On this episode, we listen to certified wife guy antics, some OK rappers, (that's a pun) and some anthems for the lads.

    Into the Spider Voice | Episode 112

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 33:58


    On this episode, we listen to criminal baby talk, racially ambiguous raps and a woman who is desperately trying to warn us of the coming spider invasion.

    Where It All Began | Episode "111"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2022 50:39


    We're on vacation so didn't get a chance to record a new one but in celebration of our apparent 3 year Twitter Anniversary, we're going back into the vault to bring you the first ever episode we recorded in June 2018. Enjoy!

    The Yodelling Problem | Episode 110

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2022 43:07


    On this episode, we listen to impassioned yodels, Soljia Boy adjacent jams and stinky party anthems.

    Popping Love Pills | Episode 109

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2022 36:14


    On this episode we listen to a commercial for Viagra, a stupid soundscape and some intense bay area accents.

    SUV Blues | Episode 108

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2022 39:31


    On this episode, we talk about cars jerk eachother off for living in New York and not needing them, listen to some mediocre crooning and another trippy childrens song.

    The Rex Takeover | Episode 107

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2022 38:30


    On this episode, our super fan Rex takes the reins as he picks out all of the songs including a wack rapper who just found out about homonyms, a mumbling jazz musician and quite literally the most anger inducing song about loving your parents I've ever heard.

    New Year, Same Podcast | Episode 106

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2022 31:11


    Join us as we ring in the new year listening to a fine selection of unheard of music and talking about all sorts of nonsense. It's the first First Play of 2022

    Happy Holidays, Fuck Family | Episode 105

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2021 37:12


    On this episode, we listen to a song called "Fuck Family" suggested by a member of Ben's family, a song about the idiotic legend of 4/20, and the mescaline version of Bowie's "Life on Mars." Hope you all have a great holiday season!

    The King's English | Episode 104

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2021 40:04


    Hey, we got a new episode for you. Does anybody actually read these? Three bad songs, two funny guys. You know the drill. It's First Play

    The Hook Goblin | Episode 103

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2021 31:27


    We listen to an evil homunculus who lives in the bottom of an LA recording studio drop a hook, hyper masculine emotions, and the most straightforward song we've ever heard

    The Adjective Society | Episode 102

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2021 36:45


    On this episode, we listen to a treatise on the existence of extra terrestrial life, an incredibly confusing song about going to a party and then we ruminate on what "Jingle my Bell" is a metaphor for.

    A1 Everything | Episode 101

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2021 36:28


    It's nearly Thanksgiving, fuck your family and listen to Ben and Max riff about the most terrible music we could find on Spotify, it's First Play Podcast

    Dr. Scholl's Pleasure Center with David Baler | Episode 100

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2021 53:02


    On our hundredth episode, our first ever guest, David Baler, returns to talk about bad text etiquette, bad dancing and bad footwear.

    I'm The Boy? | Episode 99

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2021 35:44


    On this episode of First Play, we listen to some reggae evangelism, someone who is very afraid you'll forget he's the boy and a band with a very confusing name.

    Cuck Tales | Episode 98

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2021 38:30


    On this episode we listen to a ham handed metaphor with ducks, werewolf barmitzvah's and a song that made Ben age 40 years in a minute and a half.

    Vote Blue No Matter Who (Smurfs) | Episode 97

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2021 35:14


    On this episode, we listen to a rapper sneaking mildly homo-erotic lines in between generic rap bars, some nauseating "vote blue no matter who" songs and then some baseless conversation about Smurf ethics.

    Squid Game SEO | Episode 96

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2021 32:20


    On this episode, we try and game current trends to get more listeners and listen to more bad rap music. A day in the life of Ben and Max

    The Problematic Episode | Episode 95

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2021 32:01


    On this episode, we listen to a woman with problems, men singing about a woman with problems and a man with problems. It's a problematic episode!

    Let's Hear It For The Hoes! | Episode 94

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2021 33:51


    On this episode, we listen to a man who's wife has had ENOUGH, a man onstage having an identity crisis and relying upon the crowd to set him straight, and a grimey bar banger.

    The Funny Music Project | Episode 93

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2021 31:22


    On this episode, Ben and Max make a discovery that could change First Play forever, along with a rap song recorded on a broken 1st Generation iPhone and....something else overshadowed by the groundbreaking discovery.

    Black Billy Ray Cyrus | Episode 92

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2021 32:53


    On this episode, we listen to a drunk rapper terrorize a local day care, a soul song about (figurative?) rats and Little Kim. Not the one you're thinking of.

    Macaroni and Sleaze | Episode 91

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2021 36:44


    On this episode, we listen to a CIA Psy-Op, the worst Lonely Island song in existence and an inconsolable glutton with a predilection for pussy and pasta.

    The Ballad of Tone Loc | Episode 90

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2021 36:34


    On this episode, we listen to an overstimulated man in a Halloween store, someone who *totally* isn't racist, and a really stupid parody of a Tone Loc song.

    Doing Our Thug Thang | Episode 89

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2021 34:15


    We listen to Tommy Wiseau's failed 80's pop single, a treatise on how to behave like a thug and a song that causes Max physical pain.

    The Young Republicans | Episode 88

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2021 38:05


    On this episode, we listen to Young Money/Guddaville rejects, mommy issues and a pastor who's name sounds too much like a pasta sauce for us to focus on it.

    Ol' Skool Love Rap with Jackson McMurray | Episode 87

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2021 35:44


    Friend of the show Jackson, from No Nerds Allowed Podcast, drops by our studio (apartment) to dissect some throwback rap music and some awful, awful metal music that Jackson liked because he likes everything.

    Christianity, What's Up With That? | Episode 86

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2021 35:47


    On this episode, we mostly just listen to a 9 minute long track about a guy who fundamentally doesn't understand Christianity and would like some questions answered. There are two other songs, but this one is the real meat on the bone.

    A Very Goofy Podcast | Episode 85

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2021 35:42


    On this episode, we listen to the head crack house inspector, a horny country singer with an eerie resemblance to the Disney cartoon and a guy who doesn't like Spaghetti? Or maybe he does? It's complicated.

    The Ballad of the Big Guy | Episode 84

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2021 37:10


    On this episode, we listen to a horny ghost, Bane's regrettable rap debut, and listen to the worst Lonely Island track that didn't make any of their albums.

    Wrong Bed | Episode 83

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2021 33:35


    On this episode, we listen to a woman who wants to wear french fry pants, suburban rapping and someone who should be way more concerned about his hospitalized kid.

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