The Music List

Cities in the United States do not have the longevity of influencing western and world music as their European counterpoints- Vienna, Berlin, and London certainly come to mind. However, the United States has come on as the world leader in music over the last century. Starting with ragtime, the United States became the primary innovator of modern popular music. The United States is the birthplace of rock and roll, country music, hip hop, jazz, and the blues. Enjoy this podcast as the siblings debate the most important, most influential, and most exciting cities in the United States to learn about and enjoy a wide range of musical tastes.

April showers and all that...No better time to bring out a bunch of songs about rain. And as Beth says in this episode, "I'm here to be a menace." There are some heavyweight songs with "rain" in the title, but are there some potential underdogs than can somehow make the top 5 or even claim the title as the best "rain" song of all time? Rainy days and Sundays might get you down, but this episode won't!

Reba McEntire is the Queen of Country Music. With over 41 million albums sold in the United States alone, she is the 7th best-selling female artist in history. Not country music history, all of it. With one of the most prolific recording careers in history, one that spans nearly 50 years of studio albums, landing on the five best songs out of her entire discography is a task not for the faint of heart. Luckily, the siblings are prepared to lay out their arguments. After tensions mount and the dust settles, you can count on The Music List podcast to make that definitive list for you in this episode!

Sometimes a category is so big, you know going into the episode that the siblings are bound to disagree. This is one of those categories. Rock and roll is so diverse, so wide-ranging, and now with over 70 years of history behind it, that banging out the five best male rock vocalists of all time is a daunting task. Without question, some legendary vocalists won't make the cut. But will there be a surprise in the top 5? Listen to this explosive episode to find out!

The siblings love a good holiday, and with a strong family heritage that extends to the island of Ireland, St. Patrick 's Day is a worth a special episode. But, beware, not all luck is good luck. Sometimes you get a "good run of bad luck" and sometimes "when you're hot, you're hot." So, "Good Luck, Babe," and enjoy this episode dedicated to songs about luck!We also want to apologize for the sound quality during a large portion of this episode. We dealt with some unlucky events of our own, so we thank you for your understanding!

Are you about to give up on your new year resolutions? Are you about to quit going to the gym or stop that run quota you set for yourself at the end of 2024? Well, don't give up just yet! Let The Music List help you by providing you a playlist of songs that are GUARANTEED to keep you motivated and hitting that track or pumping the iron. Well, maybe not guaranteed, but definitely, probably more likely. In this episode, the siblings duke it out of the songs they feel best keep the blood flowing and the bodies moving!

The siblings are back! Returning from the customary January break, The Music List returns with some of the best, most heated and hysterical moments of 2024. Shaun, the producer of TML, guides you through some of 2024's best moments. Nobody comes out of 2024 unscathed! Ben gets emotionally wounded in the Best Cover Songs episode as well as the Black Friday episode. Fireworks go off over a discussion about great 80s guitarists. The movie Elf provides laughter from the misheard lyrics episode. The laughter continues with a rhyming extravaganza when sharing horrible one-liners. But, be ready! This is just a primer for an explosive 2025!

Christmas commemorates the birth of the Savior of the world, and musicians have been writing songs to celebrate it for more than 1500 years. While The Music List loves to enjoy songs about snow, Santa, bells, and Christmas trees, it is the birth of the Christ child that is worth celebrating and honoring. In this episode, the siblings bring tidings of great joy along with a competitive spirit as they debate the best songs specifically relating to the nativity scene. There are hymns as well as contemporary songs. Join the siblings as they tackle more than a millennium's worth of music to make the definitive list of the best nativity songs of all time.

The Music List hopes you haven't already finished your Christmas shopping, because we have some recommendations for the music lovers in your life. In this special public service episode, the siblings outline not the normal nine, but a grand total of fifteen amazing albums that make incredible gifts. Vinyl records have made a comeback for the ages, and more and more people are starting collections. Check out this episode of The Music List and listen to samples of the choices. The biggest qualification for this year's list? They have to be "no skip" albums. The album has to be a great listen from start to finish!

The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday. Despite the ominous sounding name, Black Friday is a great day for many retailers. It's the day when many small businesses no longer operate in the red but get into the black and turn a profit for the year. The siblings grew up as the children of a small business owner, so it is fitting to celebrate Black Friday with the best songs that have "black" in the title. If you think your Thanksgiving table got contentious when somebody brought up politics, you ain't seen nothing yet. This one gets personal. It gets heated, and on the proverbial chopping block to not make the cut include some of the most recognized rock classics of all time. So, what are the best songs with "Black" in the title? Listen in as the siblings duke their way out to the definitive top 5 list!

Autumn is here, and one of stars of the season are the beautiful fall leaves. Pun intended, the Music List thought it would be appropriate to list out the best songs about leaving. Leaving what? Leaving where? Leaving...who? Or even how? With no genre restrictions to limit the siblings, this episode has a little something for everybody. So, sit back, but certainly don't...leave...until you've heard the definitive best five songs about leaving!

Get your popcorn ready, but don't expect to get too comfortable...Horror movies use the visual to scare you, spook you, and get you on the edge on of your seat. With macabre imagery and clever cinematography, directors can keep you awake and making you afraid to look under your bed. However, it is the often the score that sets the mood. It is a song that can transform a shot of a beautiful fall night on a desolate suburban street into an anxiety-filled moment full of dread. In this episode, the siblings take on a favorite subject of theirs- horror movies- and debate the greatest horror movie theme songs of all time. There are timeless classics and modern frighteners in this Halloween inspired episode. If you want to survive the episode, remember the rules: no hanky-panky, no drinking or drug usage...and no pausing before saying, "I'll be right back..."

In this explosive episode of The Music List, the siblings are ready to Rock and Roll All Nite as they tackle the monumental task of selecting the best of the best, the cream of the crop...the top five KISS songs of all time. With face paint, pyro, and a catalog that has defined hard rock, narrowing the list to just nine and then ranking the top five is sure to ignite some pyro between the siblings. From iconic anthems to power ballads, this episode will highlight some of the tracks that helped cement KISS's place in rock history. Whether you're a lifelong member of the KISS Army or a casual fan, this episode is sure to have you shouting it out loud! Listen in as the siblings break down the magic behind the makeup and provide the definitive very best of KISS!

Not all lyrics are created equally. In fact, some really stink. But what individual lines from songs are the absolute worst? What lines make your stomach churn or give you heartburn? That is exactly the question that the siblings tackle on this episode of The Music List. So buckle in, grab your Pepto, and see if you agree with the definitive list of worst one-line lyrics of all time!

Once again, Eddie Van Halen finds himself in the thick of the sibling war of words and music. This time, the topic is the best of the best when it comes to 80's rock guitarists. The 80's were absolutely loaded with amazing guitar players that came from the world of glam rock, heavy metal, hard rock, prog rock, and yes, the blues rockers were laying the licks down. But which guitar player do the siblings settle on as the best do it in the 80s? Listen in on this episode of The Music List Podcast to find out!

Are you ready for some football? It's an NFL song party! The siblings grew up where two things could be counted on for certain- football after church on Sunday and great music accompanying their lives. In this episode, the siblings take their love of music and attach it to NFL teams. The rules are simple- pick a great song that names the mascot or location of the team. Which team will get the first win of the season? Listen in, laugh out loud, and find out!

The people have spoken. After laughing with the siblings during the "Favorite Misheard Lyrics" episodes in seasons one and two, the masses have demanded a volume III. Because The Music List is here to please you, we are happy to oblige! Join the siblings as they share some misheard lyrics and laughs in this lighthearted and fun episode of The Music List.

Television in the 1980s absolutely rocked. Were there visual representations that captured the 80s better than TV shows like Miami Vice, Dallas, or Roseanne? Not to be outdone were the theme songs of what may be the best era in the history of TV. Which 80s TV theme songs reign supreme as the most iconic? And which theme song from the 80s is the most iconic? It's no doubt a battle, but the siblings are up for a fight!

A great movie soundtrack can often be better than the movie itself. However, a truly great soundtrack provides the emotional connection between the film and the viewer. Whether it be an incredible score or a series of rock songs that move the plot forward, an unforgettable soundtrack can be part of a movie's legacy. So much so, that watchers and listeners may talk about it decades after the movie leaves the theaters. But what is the best soundtrack of all time? Is it an incredible score? Is it a series of pop or rock tunes? A musical with a composer and lyrical genius using music to create timeless characters and scenes? It's a brutal question, which means the siblings of The Music List decided to argue and debate their way to a top five list. Which soundtrack came out on top? Listen to this episode of The Music List to find out!

It's time to party like it's 1776! The Fourth of July may have come and gone, but The Music List is keeping the Independence Day celebration going. We're bringing the best songs with red, white, or blue in the title to the table, so settle in with your hot dogs and take in the fireworks!

It is the Battle Royale fans of The Music List have been asking for. Arguments about Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth have peppered episodes for three seasons. The siblings heard the cries of listeners for an episode dedicated to Van Halen so it can be hashed out once and for all. Controversial. Heated. Entertaining. But we say, “Rock On. Rock on.” Van Halen has one of the strongest hard rock catalogs in the history of rock. With over 20 songs charting on the Billboard Hot 100 and countless more landing on the rock charts, narrowing the list of Van Halen songs to top the 5 is a near impossible task. But if one podcast is ready to set off this "Eruption" of a debate, it's The Music List podcast!

Happy Father's Day 2024! There are a number of pathways to fatherhood, but there is one sure-fire method: Make a baby. In honour of Father's Day, the Music List is compiling the top 5 list of best baby-making songs. Feel free to set the mood and get you and your honey all hot and bothered with a smoking list of sensual songs that include rock, country, and, of course, R&B.

Garth Brooks is the best-selling solo act of all time. Only the Beatles have sold more albums than Brooks in the history of music. He's won ACA's, Grammys, CMA awards, Billboard awards, Golden Globes, Emmys, and has already been inducted into a legion of Hall of Fames. In short, Garth Brooks is one of the biggest names to ever step behind a microphone. And with 77 singles, 20 of which rose all the way to #1, picking the top 5 songs that belong to him is as impossible a task as the siblings have taken to date. Yet, they take it. Join The Music List as the siblings go to war over one of the biggest icons in music history, Garth Brooks!

Happy Mother's Day! Even though the episode is dropping a few days after the holiday, the siblings wanted to honor their wonderful mother, Phyllis. This episode is dedicated to all the moms, mammas, mothers, and the like by listing the best songs about great moms or even mothers just doing their best to help their children. This episode is loaded with variety from hip hop to country to rock and roll. And to make this episode extra special, the the siblings' momma is in the house to make some decisions on the The Music List!

To celebrate Heather's 50th birthday, a female rocker in her own right, The Music List takes on a topic near and dear to her heart- the best of the best female rock vocalists. And since Heather was born in 1974, we thought we would just decide to make it the best vocalists of her lifetime. Rock and roll has changed and evolved since the mid-70s, but what hasn't changed is that women with incredible chops have been front and center in the world of rock. But who are the best? The Music List Podcast hammers that out in this special birthday episode!

April showers bring May flowers, and the springtime reminds The Music List of all of the great songs that discuss the weather. Sunny skies or runny days fit the bill in this one. Just as spring weather is diverse with many changes, so too is this playlist. This weather-themed episode includes nearly every genre under the sun...or clouds.

It's hard enough to write, play, and produce a great song. What can be even harder, however, is to win over the hearts and minds of the fans by taking a great song and doing it even better than the original. In this episode, the siblings duke it over the best cover songs. This episode hits all the genres. Rock, country, R&B, soul...you name, it's represented in this episode. Join The Music List podcast as the siblings nail down the five best cover songs of all time!

March Madness has begun! Madness...crazy...it's a synonym thing, and The Music List podcast went with it! The siblings go mad and get mad at each other trying to make the definitive top 5 list of songs that delve into the world of the crazed. Join The Music List for an episode loaded with diversity and some crazy to go with it!

Rock and roll has been an American staple for over 70 years. Rock bands have been R-O-C-K-ing in the USA since the 1950s. The numbers of legendary bands that have emerged from the United States is legion. But which American bands stand out and above all the rest? And which is the best American rock band of all time? Join us on this explosive episode where the siblings get heated answering these very questions, and the fireworks light up the podcast world like the 4th of July!

No name in Disco resonates quite like the BeeGees. With over 120 million albums sold, only the Beatles and the Supremes have sold more units as a band. The Gibb brothers, Barry, Robin, and Maurice, won the world over with some of the tightest harmonies ever recorded, recognizable songwriting, and, of course, some of the best disco music to do the bus stop to. But what are the best BeeGees songs of all time? While the Gibb siblings earned their notoriety by being on the same page and working well together, the podcast siblings are going to war to answer this question. So, join us on the Music List podcast, and see if your favorite BeeGees song will be Stayin' Alive or if it will end in Tragedy.

What's better than a love song? A love song sung between lovers. Or, at least, those pretending to be. Love duets capture the chemistry, the passion, and the tension of love in a way a solo performance simply can't. Some are iconic love duets performed by the some of the titans of the music industry. Some are actual couples whose real love pours into the recording and out of the speakers. There are classics. There are new songs that are capturing our hearts. But what duets will steal our hearts enough to make the Music List? And which one will reign supreme as the best Love Song Duet of all time? Listen to the siblings duke it out on this episode of The Music List podcast!

Earlier Christmas episodes heavily relied on secular Christmas music, but in this episode, the focus is on the sacred. Many Christmas carols date back centuries, so many of the traditional carols sang in churches and by carolers have stood the test of time in centuries. The siblings tackle the daunting task of creating the best list of Christmas carols.

While Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Nat King Cole, Sinatra, and the crooners may lay claim to being the voices of Christmas past, rock, pop, and country singers have taken over the Christmas music scene since the 1970s. While their songs are much more diverse in musical sound than from decades before, they are also much more divisive with the listening populace. But, it makes for great podcast episode fodder! The question remains, however, what are the best modern Christmas songs? What are the best Christmas song recordings since 1970? The siblings tackle this question in the first of their 2023 Christmas episodes.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our wonderful listeners! We are thankful for you, and so this episode is a bit of a treat. To celebrate the time-honored traditions of the American Thanksgiving holiday, the siblings work together to create a delicious Thanksgiving spread using only band names. Appetizers, main courses, side dishes, and desserts. They all need to present. The catch? The band names MUST be a food that can reasonably be found on a traditional Thanksgiving table.

Fall is in full swing. The cooler temperatures are starting to sweep through the land, and The Music List is celebrating with an episode dedicated to fall! Wait, well, dedicated to falls...or falling...or fell. A different kind of fall, but it's all in honor of autumn! Which falling song will stay on top? Find out on this episode of The Music List podcast!

Spooky season is here! As much as Heather and Beth love Halloween and all things associated with the holiday, The Music List is guaranteed to bring you a fright-filled episode in October. Ghosts and hauntings are a fairly popular theme across all genres of music, and the siblings take on the daunting task of compiling and ranking the top five ghost story songs of all time in this episode. So, sit back, grab a handful of candy corn, and dim the lights for a great conversation about the best ghost story songs of all time.

Music has accompanied sporting events for literally thousands of years. From the Colosseum and gladiator combat of ancient Rome to the Super Bowls of today, stadium songs have always been an important segment of the sports culture. We play stadium songs at every level from the pro leagues down to junior high. Even pee-wee football teams that take their pregame seriously pump up the volume with a well-placed hype song in the pregame. But what songs are the greatest sports anthems of all time? Join the siblings, all of whom love music and love sports, to answer that very question!

The siblings went toe to toe over two episodes to determine the top five songs of Beatles in the early era as well as the top five songs from the late Beatles era. With 10 songs between them selected, which five will make the cut as the best Beatles songs from their entire catalog? Which Beatles classic will reign supreme as their very best? Will the siblings be petty like the previous two episodes, or will they put aside their differences and Let it Be? Find out in this bonus episode of The Music List podcast!

Few bands accomplished so much over such a short period of recording time that the Beatles. With just seven years of recording history, the "Fab Four" are widely considered the greatest rock and roll band to grace a stage or put music to vinyl. It is perhaps the late Beatles era, from 1966 to 1970, that solidified their place as rock's greatest and most influential band. With albums such as Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, the White Album, Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road, and Let it Be, the Beatles flooded the late 60's with songs that ranged from tried and true rock and roll to psychedelic rock to experimentalism that set the standard for the next 30 years in the industry. But which songs on these incredible albums are the best five of the late Beatles era? The siblings duke it out in a snarky and fierce debate that gives as close to a definitive answer as you might find, only on The Music List!

There has been no shortage of great rock albums in the last 50 years. Five decades ago takes us back to 1973- quite possibly in the midst of the greatest diversity of sound in what would be considered "rock and roll." Queen, Skynyrd, and ZZ Top Released debut albums in 1973 while a couple of brothers whose last name was "Young" started a band of their own in Sydney, Australia. Rock got grittier, heavier. And, the albums rocked people's socks off. But what are the best rock albums since 1973? In order to get this list right, the siblings bring in an outside vote for the first time in TML history. Join the siblings and their producer, Shaun, as they tackle one of the toughest lists to date.

Back by popular demand, the second annual "Favorite Misheard Lyrics" episode is here! No genre is off limits. No musical icon is safe. A general musical mystery remains unsolved, and potty humor makes a roaring comeback in this fun and comedic episode. Join the siblings as they take a break from the arguing and laugh together to some hilarious misheard lyrics.

The 1980's was a decade of decadence, spandex, machismo males wearing lipstick while playing guitars, and, of course, hard-hitting jams about sex, drugs, and rock and roll. And yet, there was a softer side to the hair bands and hard rockers of the 80s. It manifested itself in the power ballad. The 80's didn't invent the power ballad, but they certainly ramped up the song production, the cheesy lyrics, and the music video budgets. Which power ballads are the very the best of the 1980's? Join the siblings as they bicker and haggle their way to a definitive top five list- The Music List.

Tumbleweed. Big iron. Mood-setting flute music. Ten paces and fast draws. In this explosive episode of The Music List podcast, the siblings duel it out over the best story ballads in the history of country music. Country music tells great stories that showcase conflict with winners and losers, and sometimes, no winners at all. The siblings mirror that with a conversation that gets so heated, the hosts have to take a timeout and cool down! See how it all shakes out on this narrative and controversial episode of The Music List podcast.

In the late 1960s, a new pop sound arrived on the scene. Geared toward kids and adolescents, this new subgenre earned the name "bubblegum pop." Many of the monster hits that fall under this "sweet" new sound were recorded by one-hit wonders. Others dominated not only the radio charts but television ratings as well. These same bands had merchandise that included toys, lunchboxes, and lots and lots of albums sold. In an episode dedicated to their mom, the siblings battle it out over the sweet things. Which bubblegum songs "pop" into the top 5? Which one is the cherry on top? Listen to this sweet episode of The Music List podcast to find out!

From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee...patriotic songs ring through the land during summertime. Rock legends, country icons, soul superstars, and more have honored America with amazing patriotic songs about the United States. In honor of America's Independence Day, the siblings fight as if it were the Battles of Lexington and Concord. But which American patriotic song reigns supreme? And does anyone really reign in a democratic, constitutional republic? Find out all of this and more on this patriotic episode of The Music List!

The first official day of summer has arrived, and no band harnesses the summer sun, the beach, and summer vibes quite like the Beach Boys. The Beach Boys revolutionized rock music and became one of the most influential groups of all time. The Beach Boys have more Billboard Top 40 hits than any other American band in rock history, so cutting the list to the top 5 is a near impossible task. Join in as the siblings scratch, claw, and surf their way to taking that task head on. Whether you agree or disagree, we guarantee you'll have Fun, Fun, Fun listening to this episode as we listen to and discuss some of the very best songs the Beach Boys have to offer.

Father. Dad. Daddy. Pops. Papa. Papi. There are billions of father's all over the world and a fair number of great songs celebrating them. In June, we celebrate Father's Day, and The Music List podcast comes in with an episode dedicated to all the great dads out there, including the cohosts' own. Join the siblings in one of the most emotional episodes in the podcast's history. Enjoy great music, great debate, and great stories.

The Beatles need no introduction. They are best selling musical act of all time and the most successful in the history of the Billboard charts. Like others who stand the test of time, the Beatles evolved with the musical styles of the day. Or perhaps, they stayed fresh and the musical times evolved to keep up. There was a marked change in the Beatles between Rubber Soul, their sixth studio album and Revolver, their seventh and the beginning of their psychedelic era. It is the "Early Beatles" era that the siblings tackle in this episode. Which songs in their first six studio albums are their best? A near impossible task, but the TML won't ask for Help! in this one.

Back in season 1 (episode 9) of The Music List, the siblings argued, persuaded, cut deals, and finally settled on the top 5 female R&B vocalists of the 20th century. In season 2 (episode 9), the TML siblings decided on a top five list of the best male R&B vocalists during the same period. In this special bonus episode, The Music List takes the list of those 10 absolute R&B legends, and assumes the unenviable task of removing five of them from the master list. To up the ante, the siblings then have to rank the top five. Listen in as last week's argument spills over into this bonus episode!

Rhythm and blues music originated in the African-American communities during the 1940's. Over the past 80 years, R&B has developed subgenres and even the subgenres have subgenres. Doo-wop, hip-hop, funk, soul, and even swamp rock can trace their roots to R&B music. And of course, that amazing baby-making music of slow jams and crystal-clear voices is the heart and soul of the R&B genre. As diverse a genre as R&B is, this episode did not disappoint. The only thing that is greater than the diverse sounds of the vocalists in this episode is the talent. The siblings argue over what constitutes an R&B artist, but the one thing that is not in dispute- the song selections are on point. Join the siblings as they take on the monumental task of ranking the best male R&B vocalists of the 20th century.

Pete Rose finished his baseball career as the all-time hit leader with 4,256 hits. That's 4,255 more than the artists discussed in this episode. Like Pete Rose, however, these artists will likely not be getting a Hall of Fame invitation. In this installment of The Music List, we celebrate the best one-hit wonders of the 1980's. The siblings duke it out over the songs, the artists, and even...what exactly constitutes a "hit," anyway? Join us as TML explores one of their more diverse episodes to date with soft rock, hard rock, jazz, hip hop, and more as we rank the Best 80's One Hit Wonders!