Rock Of Ages

David Bowie's immensely successful follow-up to Ziggy Stardust - if you only judge it by how famous the album cover is - is a bizarre story about a Ziggy disciple touring America and musing about what he sees. Maybe. Do the theater kids agree? Well find out as they talk about what might be one of Bowie's most theatrical albums, Aladdin Sane!Originally recorded December 8, 2024.

Jangle pop and college rock were never the same without this, another one of influential debuts we covered in 2024! But do the theater kids think it's that influential! Find out their thoughts on REM's, Murmur!Originally recorded November 30, 2024

Originally recorded November 23, 2024.Rock of Ages takes another foray into the world of hip-hop in this special birthday episode for our panelist Kate (formerly Jamie), with one of the most modern, brash, and exciting sounding rap albums yet! Almost makes us want to check out more... We're talking Death Grips and their debut [mixtape], Exmilitary!Also meant to add an obituary to the band here, but since it seems they've reformed I don't have to do it anymore!

Rock of Ages tackles The Stooges 2: The Iggy Stooges BackOriginally recorded November 17, 2024.

Originally recorded November 9, 2024.Rock of Ages does its first foray into Britpop with Paul's second birthday episode! It might be the most English album we've covered, next to The Kinks' VGPS, and boy is it good. Let's dive into Blur, Parklife!

Originally recorded November 2, 2024.In 1981, The Cure released their third studio album, and after two starter albums finally showed the world who they are. It's dark, gloomy, and it sounds awesome and beautiful at once. So what do the theater kids think of Robert Smith? Well, I have Faith that they'll like him.... I'll show myself out.

Originally recorded October 26, 2024.This musical inspired by RL Stevenson's 1886 novel has gone through many phases and versions. And for this podcast I chose the "Complete" version. It was a bit more adult contempo than any of us were expecting. Let's talk Jekyll & Hyde!

Originally recorded October 18, 2024.Pardon any sound problems this episode may have. Idk if it was anything wrong with my mic or my setup, but the point is the sound might be a little wonky.Anyway, Neil Cicierega time, baybeeeee! He may not have a radio hit to his name, but on the internet he's well known through almost all walks of life! And he also makes music. Let's talk "Spirit Phone"!

Originally recorded October 12, 2024.Devo is a band we think about sporadically, but it's always been there throughout our lives even when we didn't know it. Especially Mark Mothersbaugh. And will the theater kids recognize him as well? Not to spoil but yes, they do. This debut rocks, go listen to it!

Originally recorded October 5, 2024.Not to be confused with the Doors' song of the same name on a different album for some reason. What will the theater kids think of Waiting for the Sun in a time ofMegalopolisandGrunkle Stunkle winning the Funkle Bunkle? Let's find out!

Originally recorded September 30, 2024.Good morning, Baltimore! I say this as I upload it in the morning and in Baltimore! For the past couple decades, the movie, musical, and movie-musical Hairspray has been growing as a part of Maryland culture. And what better way to celebrate it than to do an episode on the movie musical's soundtrack! Let's dive in!

Originally recorded September 21, 2024. If released today, this album may not be so freaky. But back in 1966, it absolutely deserved the freaky moniker. Frank Zappa was undoubtedly a genius, but is genius, and his wit, enough to save this album in the minds of the theater kids? Let's find out with The Mothers of Invention's "Freak Out!"

Originally recorded September 14, 2024. What else is there to say? The Beatles, Rubber Soul! One of the best records of all time, certainly one of the best transitional albums ever, and the theater kids are all over it!

Originally recorded September 8, 2024. After four long years of stalling, Rock of Ages is finally covering Radiohead. And what better place to start than the beginning! Oft considered their worst album, the theater kids still think their debut has got its merits. So lets check out Pablo Honey!

Originally recorded September 1, 2024. It's possible that without the immense success of Frozen, this musical would've likely flown below the radar. But alas, this Adele Dazeem led opus composed by the Next To Normal crew remains popular to this day, with its soaring numbers and interesting if not a little muddied plot. Does it still deserve accolades? Well 'If' it does 'Then' we'll let you know.

Originally recorded August 22, 2024. This album by the Cambridge collective not only breaks the sophomore slump, but manages to be one of the greatest albums of the 2020s, let alone of all time. Filled with music & lyrics both poignant and personal, the band may never be the same after this but our feelings on it will be. It's BCNR's "Ants From Up There"!

Originally recorded August 17, 2024. The title most certainly doesn't lie. Oft considered one of the greatest and most influential hard rock albums to come out of the 1970s, the lyrics may not make a lot of sense but it's the instruments that steal the show and pave the road. It's Deep Purple In Rock!

Originally recorded August 10, 2024 Apologies for the very late upload, college has been kicking my heinie as of later and I haven't got time to edit episodes. But I should have some more free time coming up. Until then, have episode on the seminal 80s speed metal rock & roll classic, Ace of Spades by Motorhead!

One of the best and most overlooked debuts of the 1990s, this album is pure bliss. Not much left to say about why it's so special. But there's plenty to hear. It's The Sundays' "Reading, Writing & Arithmetic"!

For my 4th birthday episode, we discuss a barely known debut album from one of the world's most well-known performers. Before he became Mayor of Margaritaville, he was a socially conscious folkie who wrote down-to-earth stories about down-to-earth people. How he went to his cover of "Once in a Lifetime" still remains a mystery. So let's talk about Jimmy Buffett and his debut album, fittingly called "Down to Earth"!

Disclaimer: If I sound weird a bit in the episode it's not because I was drunk or anything, like the song says "I'm tense and nervous and can't relax" One of the most remarkable debut albums by the most remarkable band of the late 1970s and early 80s. They did much better albums after this, but the fact this still holds up is a testament to their staying power. This is Talking Heads' "Talking Heads: 77"!

In this episode, we cover the Elton John/Tim Rice musical that wasn't made to be a movie! Based on the Verdi opera of the same name, it garnered an adult contemporary hit for Elton with "Written in the Stars", but the critical response was widely negative after the previews. Was it worth the hate? Let's find out with 'Aida'!

//Trigger Warning, conversations involving s**cide In this 1975 concept album, Elton John & Bernie Taupin reminisce about the time they met each other in the 1960s. Their personal lives were a mess and both men fell into deep depressions about the impossible-to-escape states they were in. But through it all, they persevered together and became the biggest names in music. And this might be their best album yet. This is "Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy".

One of the single-most important albums of all time, it deserves to be mentioned in the same breath more as albums like its better sibling 'Highway 61 Revisited', and even 'Sgt. Pepper's' and 'Nevermind'. But remembering the last time we covered Dylan, what will the theater kids think of it? This is Bob Dylan, bringin' it all back home with 'Bringing it All Back Home'!

This 1980 new wave debut is a true diamond in the rough. Jangling post-punk guitars and Chrissie Hynde's beautiful voice mesh greatly with her lyrics, which are much more than meets the eye and invite further examination. And the theater kids are here for it. It's the self-titled debut by (the) Pretenders!

Alright, vacation time's over, time to release a new batch of episodes! Theres three more coming after this and we'll be caught up after an extended break of not editing and relaxing for a change. First up we got one of the defining funk albums of the 1970s, one that is surely great to introduce to a theater kid if you don't start them with the title track! It's Funkadelic, "Maggot Brain"!

This probably could be the most obscure thing we've discussed on the podcast, but that's okay. Never be afraid to dive into things you haven't heard of before. Be afraid if you'll like it or not. Will the theater kids like this? I guess we'll find out when we cover Big Head Todd & The Monsters' "Sister Sweetly"!

Apologies for the late upload, I was on vacation. More on why at the end of the episode. Anyway, what do you get when you combine one of the greatest American comedians, an underrated jangle pop singer-songwriter, and a banjo? You get Steve Martin & Edie Brickell's hugely successful...bluegrass albums!! Oh, they made a musical too. This is Bright Star!

You wouldn't think an album with a 23-minute song would be a theater kids' favorite. But lo it is. This fourth album by one of the great prog bands exemplifies what's so great about the genre! Let's talk about Genesis, "Foxtrot"! And here's the awesome visualization of "Supper's Ready" we bring up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4HfFwVy-h0&pp=ygUNc3VwcGVycyByZWFkeQ%3D%3D

In honor of the recently deceased producer legend Steve Albini, we decided to check out one of the albums he produced. This one was with the acclaimed alt-rock singer/songwriter PJ Harvey. The album is highly acclaimed for its confrontational sound and lyrics. So does it make for music that theater kids would like? Let's find out with "Rid of Me"!

Canada's biggest band enters the 1980s on one of their strongest albums yet. And whilst they add some newer influences to expand their sound, they never abandon their prog roots. But are catchy singles and killer guitar hooks enough to hook in the theater kids? It's Rush, "Permanent Waves"!

One of the band's greatest albums, one of the genre of metal's greatest albums, one of the greatest albums of all time. Do the theater kids share that same sentiment with Black Sabbath's "Paranoid"? Let's find out!

Cyndi Lauper? Really? Not that she did anything bad but...it's still perplexing. Based on the 2005 film based on the true story, this musical won six Tonys in 2013, including Best Musical. It's Kinky Boots!

A critical success upon release yet a commercial disaster, this album has since been vindicated by history and is now seen as one of the greatest albums of all time. And spoilers, this episode on The Kinks is *considerably* nicer than our previous episode on The Kinks. So let's talk "The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society"!

Critically praised yet publicly reviled at its release, the self-titled debut of Weezer has since seen a resurgence of appreciation thanks to its presence in internet meme culture. That and the fact it's just a damn good album. Join the theater kids as they traverse the Blue Album!

One of the most important debuts in new wave and pop rock, this album delivers with all the killer hooks and tightness you'd hope from an album like this! And the theater kids are here for it! Let's drive with The Cars!

April fools description: Welcome to Hyperpop of Ages! Where we discuss a hyperpop album on each episode! And on this special first episode we take a look at the two albums by arguably the most famous hyperpop project making music right now, 100 gecs! With a few cross-tangents about Beyonce and Fox News getting in the way, of course.

We cap off March, Women's History Month, with this seminal debut album by one of the best female-led classic rock groups of all time! The theater kids might just know it from the one song from Guardians of the Galaxy 3, but it's still some good stuff. Let's hop onto "Dreamboat Annie" by Heart!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all who celebrate it! And this year to apologize for covering the Lizzie Borden musical we're taking a look at Ireland's best rock band to ever come out of the 90s, if not ever even, with a lead singer while dearly departed still shines through after all these years! The theater kids are diving into the debut of the Cranberries, "Everybody Else is Doing it, So Why Can't We?"!

Kate Bush time, baby! The Dreaming!

Tom Waits is not a name most theater kids know, but he still has certainly made a name for himself as a music artist. In the 70s he was the barfly's barfly, making songs for the drunken heartbroken saps he knew. But in the 80s things changed. He met his wife Kathleen Brennan who turned him on to the music of Captain Beefheart, Harry Partch, and many more. In turn, his music turned rapidly experimental and dissonant, to the point where no record company wanted to release this album when it was finished. But it was eventually released and now it's the theater kids' turn to react to it! This is Tom Waits' "Swordfishtrombones"!

The fourth entry in the Eagles canon is this album, One of These Nights. It's not as big as Hotel California but it's still especially important to them because it launched them into the mainstream with three hit singles. Will the theater kids like it? Or will they not? And will they enjoy my Eagles concert story more?

At the start of the 20th century, Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninov was at his lowest point. His first symphony was a disaster and he believed he would amount to nothing in the world of music. But through the help of therapy, hypnosis, and self-perseverance, he pulled through and made some of the best classical pieces of the century. Over a hundred years later, Broadway genius Dave Malloy made a musical about that period of time. How does it hold up? Lets find out with "Preludes"!

"The plus is because Pete Townshend likes it. (...) Beware the forthcoming hype. This is ersatz shit." -Robert Christgau in his D+ review of King Crimson's debut album "In The Court of the Crimson King" "A statue has never been erected in honor of a critic." -Jean Sibelius Me and the theater kids agree. This is prog rock.

The zany energy from this band on their debut album still holds to this day. It's campiness in all the right ways, authentic in all of its approaches, and it's just darn fun to listen to. The theater kids are gonna have fun with the debut album by The B-52s!

Romi's birthday episode for 2024 is a compilation album of old songs covered by (somewhat) new musicians. From the good, the bad, and the Iggy, what they all have in common is that they're under the Light in the Attic record label. So let's dive into "Light in the Attic & Friends"! Link to our episodes that have been taken down: https://archive.org/details/episode-10_20240122

How ironic that our previous episode was an album that kickstarted the glam metal scene, and this episode is an album that *killed* it! The album wasn't meant to become the global juggernaut it is, but if it didn't the musical landscape might look a little worse. And the theater kids are (mostly) in agreement! So let's look at Nirvana's "Nevermind"!

From the ashes of the slow-running classic rock train, rises a new hard rock act with a massive-sounding debut album that ushered in a new sound for rock in the 1980s up until the early 90s. And while many of the acts it inspired sound of their time and dated, somehow this album remains fresh and relevant with each passing year. And could it be because of their amazing guitarist? The theater kids sure do think so! So let's talk about the self-titled debut by Van Halen!

Sara Bareilles' musical based on the 2007 indie film of the same name was not one I expected to be so popular, and yet it is. And this is not to deny the quality of the musical, which both smells and tastes as good as a marshmallow pie! Let's look at 'Waitress'!

At the end of each year, we like to go around and discuss our favorite and least favorite albums we covered, along with some hopes for what the next year will bring. And on this third year of the podcast, there is a lot of good stuff to be covered! So join us as Rock of Ages says goodbye to 2023 and looks forward at 2024!

After ditching Los Angeles and its singer-songwriter scene for good, The Piano Man penned some of the greatest tunes of his career at that point and decided to throw out Columbia Records' assigned producer and band in favor of producing it himself with his own backing band. It was a risky gambit, and one that didn't work, as this album peaked at #122 on the Billboard 200. But I never said the album was bad because of it. Let's talk Billy Joel, "Turnstiles"! Also sidenote I forgot to give my rating at the end (8.5)