The Sonic Collective

This episode explores the original motion picture soundtrack of the 1997 action-horror movie, Spawn, based on Todd McFarlane's comic book of the same name. This album is unique in that it consists of all original music, with each song featuring a collaboration between some of the hottests artists of the day. Contributors of note include Korn, The Prodigy, Moby, Marilyn Manson, The Crystal Method, and more. We discuss the tracks we enjoyed, the tracks we didn't, and talked about just how unique this album is. At the end of the podcast, we attempt to quantify how much we each liked it by scoring the album out of five. Stay tuned till the end to hear what member Scott Gregory has selected as the album we review next month. _____ Welcome to the Sonic Collective, a music podcast that explores a different album or musical concept each month, diving deep into its history, context, and impact on the music industry. Join hosts Alain Dupuis, Scott Coates and Darren Scott, along with Scott Gregory, as they share their thoughts, insights, and personal connections to the music, inviting listeners to discover new perspectives and appreciation for some of the greatest albums of all time.

We chat about impressions listening to 1983's Hit Express. Overall we really enjoyed it and everyone rated it 4 out of 5.

Welcome to the Sonic Collective, a music podcast that explores a different album or musical concept each month, diving deep into its history, context, and impact on the music industry. Join hosts Alain DuPuis, Scott Coates and Darren Scott, along with Scott Gregory, as they share their thoughts, insights, and personal connections to the music, inviting listeners to discover new perspectives and appreciation for some of the greatest albums of all time. Darren Scott reminisces about compilation albums and the group's original rule against reviewing compilations or best-of albums, but acknowledges exceptions. The podcast delves into the history of compilation albums, particularly those from K-Tel Records, founded in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1962 by Philip Kives. Kives became renowned for compilation albums featuring diverse hits across various genres. He started the infomercial craze in 1962 and applied direct marketing to music, leading to the popularity of compilation albums in the 70s and 80s. Darren shares his memories of compilation albums from his childhood, particularly the album "Full Tilt," a Canadian release with a U.S. version that differed significantly. He explains the Canadian content law that required a percentage of music played on the radio to be Canadian, which helped the Canadian music industry grow. The members discuss their experiences with compilation albums, highlighting the diversity of genres and artists featured. They mention standout tracks like Diana Ross's "Upside Down," Kenny Loggins's "I'm All Right," and the Irish Rovers' "Wasn't That a Party." They also touch on the influence of British culture on Canadian music and the eclectic mix of songs on the album. The podcast concludes with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of compilation albums, their nostalgic value, and their role as time capsules of popular music. The hosts share their ratings for the album "Full Tilt" and introduce the next album for review, "Hit Express."

Skid Row entered the scene at a cross roads of rock and grunge. Touring with both sides of the fence, they went through a journey on this album from a more polished glam metal sound to something harder. Did it work? The guys get together and give their takes on what they thought of the album and the musical happenings of the time that might have influenced it's fate. Could the band put out something solid in the face of changing musical tastes? Stay tuned at the end when Darren reveals his pick for next month where we explore a new theme for a round: favourite compilation album. Find out some initial thoughts on why he picked 1981's Full Tilt by K-Tel records.

We spent January 2025 listening to and pondering over the 1967 compilation album, Best of the Beach Boys, Vol. 2. As we listened, we found ourselves dreaming about what it must have been like to spend carefree summer days in the 1960s, catching waves along the coasts of California with the surf-rock stylings and delicious harmonies of the Beach Boys. Tune in to hear our review of this album, and stick around until the end to hear what album we'll be reviewing next.

Over the last couple of months, both Darren and Scott picked the first albums they ever owned for us to review, so I'm continuing the trend. The first album I ever owned was Best of the Beach Boys, vol. 2 on cassette. Compiled and released by Capitol Records in 1967, this album served to fill a gap in releases by the band to keep the fans happy and the hype train going. Best of The Beach Boys vol. 2 features a selection of iconic tracks that showcase The Beach Boys' signature surf-rock sounds, filled with many popular hit songs, including Surfin' Safari and California Girls. Join us at the end of the month for our review.

We chat about Joan Jett's debut album after listening to it over the month of December 2024. We enjoyed it, were blown away by what she has become over the decades, but were also surprised by how it had a bit of everything (not always good). From 50s-style tracks to straight up rock, they were throwing it all at the wall here to see what stuck. But it's a must listen to understand the story of rock, particularly women in rock.

Take a Musical Journey with the King: Elvis Presley's Debut Album What made Elvis Presley the undisputed King of Rock ‘n' Roll? This month on The Sonic Collective, the team dives into the groundbreaking self-titled debut album that launched Elvis into stardom. Released in 1956, this record is a time capsule of raw energy and revolutionary sound that forever changed the music landscape. Host Darren Scott reflects on his own introduction to Elvis as a young boy in Newfoundland, spinning records on his Simpson Sears Mickey Mouse turntable. For Darren, Elvis wasn't just music—it was the soundtrack to a joyful childhood, and now he invites you to revisit the electrifying era of rock's early days. This episode celebrates more than just nostalgia—it's about understanding why this album remains a touchstone for music fans, young and old. What makes Elvis's debut so iconic? Why does his music still resonate nearly seven decades later? And how did this album shape the future of rock ‘n' roll? Find out what Darren, Alain, and the two Scotts have to say in this exciting exploration of Elvis's debut. Did they love it? Hate it? Find surprising connections to today's music? Tune in to hear their thoughts! Ready to shake, rattle, and roll? Don't miss this nostalgic and insightful episode dropping the first week of December 2024! Check it out at thesoniccollective.com and join the conversation.

We think it was in late 2014 that a thirst for exposure to a greater range of music led us to come together as a group – The Sonic Collective (TSC). Our goal is to each month select, listen to, and consider an album of ‘significance' that is at least six-years of age. We tend to avoid greatest hits compilations and live albums, but exceptions have been made. Over the years we've listened to nearly 150 albums, had a few special rounds, and also interviewed a handful of artists and experts (Danko Jones, Sam Roberts, Alan Cross). So here we are, at 10-years of musical discovery, which seems like the ideal time to reflect on where we've been, the music we've enjoyed, perhaps albums we didn't like so much, and think about how the experience has shaped us as fans of music. Enjoy listening to our look back on decade of exploring music!

Our pick for December 2024 is Joan Jett's Bad Reputation, her first debut solo studio album after her band The Runaways called it quits. It was originally released independently in May 1980, self titled, then Jett signed with Boardwalk Records and it was re-released worldwide with this new title on January 23, 1981. It was pretty favourably received, with Jett having song writing credits on just 4 of 12 songs, with 5 singles being released. This was pre Jett forming The Black Hearts. Today Jett is recognized as one of the OG females of rock n' roll and is still going strong today. She's a legend. Dig in and see what you think...

Growing up in Newfoundland in 1975, I was a kid who loved Elvis Presley. His music had a unique spark that captured my imagination, and, looking back, I realize that spark ignited worldwide. For my pick on The Sonic Collective Podcast this month, I chose Elvis's groundbreaking debut album from 1956, an album that changed the music industry forever. This album didn't just bring Elvis to the masses; it introduced rock 'n' roll to a wider audience, shaping the future of popular music. I still remember hearing those soulful, energetic vocals and feeling the sheer power of something truly different. In this episode, we dive into how Elvis's first album turned him into a cultural icon and why it left a lasting impact on fans like me and the world at large. Join us to explore the magic of Elvis's debut and hear why this record remains one of the most pivotal releases in music history.

In this episode, Darren, Scott C, Alain, and Scott G close out our series of four special episodes where we select two feature albums and discuss how one may have been influenced by the other in some form. The twist this time is new kids Stone Temple Pilots might have influenced Def Leppard, comparing the albums Purple and Slang. Is there a connection?

This month, we round out our four-part series exploring how some albums influence others by seeing if the Stone Temple Pilots influenced Def Leppard. Sometimes bands with careers that span decades aren't just the influencers, but take inspiration from new genres and newer bands smashing it in them. When Def Leppard decided to get into the grunge and alt rock scene in the 90s, did Scott Weiland and crew influence them? Let's find out.

In this episode, Darren, Scott C, Alain, and Scott G embark on our third of four special episodes where we select two feature albums and discuss how one may have been influenced by the other in some form. Up for discussion: The Deftones' third album from 2000, White Pony and Sleep Token's debut album from 2019, Sundowning.

In this review we share our impressions of the second of four episodes where we feature two album picks thinking about how one album may have influenced the other. This time we're exploring The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion by The Black Crowes and how it may have been influenced by The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St. These albums were released 20-years apart and we all felt they had similar vibes.

Did the Deftones influence Sleep Token? This month, Alain kicks off the third of our four-part series exploring albums that sound like they were influenced by other albums. Or perhaps, more broadly, bands that sound like they were influenced by other bands, focusing on an album from each band that demonstrates the similarities. Can you find the influences when listening to Deftones' White Pony and Sleep Token's Sundowning? Join us at the end of the month for our discussion episode.

When the members of The Sonic Collective podcast set out to explore the connection between Bad Brains' "Rock for Light" and Dave Grohl's self-titled Foo Fighters album, they embarked on a journey filled with deep dives into music history, interviews, and countless hours of listening. Each member approached the research from a unique angle, tracing musical lineage and sonic parallels, delving into cultural and historical contexts, focusing on personal accounts from Grohl, and analyzing production techniques. They noted the similarities in raw energy, DIY ethos, and the aggressive, fast-paced riffs that both albums embody, highlighting the profound influence of Bad Brains on Grohl, who grew up in the D.C. punk scene. Through their combined efforts, the podcast members painted a comprehensive picture of the profound impact "Rock for Light" had on Dave Grohl and his self-titled Foo Fighters album. They revealed a rich tapestry of influences, connections, and inspirations that showcased the enduring legacy of Bad Brains and underscored the cyclical nature of musical innovation. This analysis included insights into how Grohl admired Bad Brains' fearless experimentation and raw, unfiltered emotion, and how he drew inspiration from their production values while crafting his own album, blending polished yet gritty sounds. Find show notes for this episode and access to all episodes at http://thesoniccollective.com

Released in May 1992, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion is The Black Crowes' second album and expectations were beyond high after the huge success of their first release, Shake Your Money Maker. And it did not disappoint. Was it influenced by Exile on Main St., The Rolling Stones' 10th UK album and 12th in the US. It's known for its murky, inconsistent sound due to more disjointed musicianship and production, along with a party-like atmosphere heard in several tracks. It was released in May 1972, 17-years before The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. It was their first double-album and contains a wider range of influences in blues, rock and roll, swing, country and gospel than some of their earlier releases. I've loved this album for quite a long time too. I'll leave it at that. Let's dig in and see if one did influence that.

It's the end of the month and we come back together to discuss this month's pick: Fiona Apple's debut album, Sleep to Dream. Our differing musical tastes show through as we explore what we each liked and didn't like on the album. See how our thoughts match yours, and stay tuned to the end to see if you agree with the scores we give and find out what's on tap for next month.

The Foo Fighters' self-titled debut album, released in 1995, bears noticeable influences from Bad Brains' "Rock for Light," a seminal hardcore punk album released in 1983. Dave Grohl, the driving force behind the Foo Fighters and former drummer of Nirvana, has often cited Bad Brains as one of his major musical inspirations. The raw energy, aggressive sound, and punk ethos of Bad Brains significantly shaped Grohl's approach to the Foo Fighters' early music. Check out all our album and music reviews on https://TheSonicCollective.com

Fiona Apple's first album Tidal debuted in 1996, and received significant positive reviews from fans and industry. It had this dark, rough vibe to it that somehow bridged the rock and grunge I was into at that time. Her vocals cut against the cutesy pop star image that was being sold at that time by many others, yet she wasn't some crazy metal chick either. She seemed like some depressed, angry chick (I said chick back then) that seemed willing to get a littler darker than Alanis, who'd also just released Jagged Little Pill right around then. Listen along with us all May and tune back in at the end of the month to see what Alain, Scott, Darren and I thought, and be sure to share your thoughts with us about your own listen through. Until then, this is Scott G signing off for the sonic collective. Cheers.

Over the month of April, 2024, The Sonic Collective did a deep dive into The Prodigy's third, and most impactful album, Fat of the Land. Tune into this episode and hear our thoughts on what makes this album good, whether or not we enjoyed it, and if it still holds up to modern music sensibilities.

We chat about our impressions of our pick for March 2024, John Mayer's Continuum. Have a listen to hear what we thought and how we scored it.

Tune in as Alain tees off his selection for April 2024. He has us exploring the monumental impact of The Prodigy's 'The Fat of the Land' on the late '90s music landscape, and its lasting influence on electronic and rock genres.

Step into the captivating world of timeless music with our podcast, where we delve deep into the iconic albums that have shaped the landscape of rock and alternative music. This month, we turn our spotlight on "The Head on the Door" by The Cure, a seminal album that has left an indelible mark on generations of music lovers. Join us as we dissect each track, exploring the album's innovative soundscapes, poignant lyrics, and enduring influence on the music industry. From the infectious hooks of "In Between Days" to the haunting melodies of "A Night Like This," we provide insightful commentary and analysis, offering listeners a fresh perspective on this classic record. Whether you're a die-hard fan or new to The Cure's discography, our podcast promises to take you on a captivating journey through the rich tapestry of "The Head on the Door," celebrating its legacy as a cornerstone of alternative rock. Tune in and discover why this album continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, standing the test of time as a true musical masterpiece.

I've known of John Mayer for a couple decades, get the feeling he's a cool guy, respected guitar player, songwriter and singer, member of Dead & Company that last good number of years, but realized I couldn't name a single nor have I ever listened to one of his albums. How has this artist gotten by me? It's time…

"The Head on the Door" is not just an album; it's a testament to The Cure's versatility and their knack for pushing musical boundaries. As we embark on this exploration of "The Head on the Door," be prepared to be immersed in a world of sonic innovation, where every note is a brushstroke on the canvas of alternative rock history. So, join me as we unravel the layers of "The Head on the Door" by The Cure, an album that not only defined an era but continues to resonate with generations of music lovers. Stay tuned for a deep dive into the tracks that make this album a timeless masterpiece. Listen to this and get access to more episodes and content at https://thesoniccollective.com

The premise is absurd and simple - You're stranded on a desert island and you've only brought 10 albums with you, which may be the last albums you'll ever listen to... Which albums would you pick and why? This thought exercise was more difficult than you'd expect, and we each made some pretty wild and interesting choices. Listen to us break down the albums we're bringing and why we chose them on this special episode of The Sonic Collective.

Well, another year in the bag and we go out on an Oasis bang. I wasn't quite sure how everyone would land on this one. It's still one of the greatest British rock bands ever, but they were full of themselves and drugs during recording. It was great to get their thoughts and see where we ligned up. Check out what the group thought of the third-best Oasis album of all time. Spoiler: Liam catches some heat.

If you could only listen to the same 10 albums for the rest of your life, what would you choose and why? This is the question at the forefront of a ridiculous thought experiment we've come up with to ring in the new year and our tenth year of doing this thing. Wanna play along? Here goes. You're stranded on a desert island, and you can only bring 10 albums with you. Which albums would they be and why? Alain tees off this thought experiment, which leaves us with a month to ponder on the subject. Tune in for the next episode when each of us reveals our 10 albums and why we've chosen them.

Hi everyone out there in Sonic Collective land. This is Scott G and I'm bringing you the last pick for 2023. We're going to rock out this December to Oasis's third-best album: “Be Here Now”. You may remember it from the singles “D'you know what I mean?”, “Stand by Me”, “All around the world” or “Don't Go Away.” You may also remember it as the last album that featured the original members. Now, you may be asking, “why the third best album, Scott? Why not the second or first?” Well those albums mattered for their own reasons and I adore them, but there's a whole lot going on here behind the scenes and on the album that I think is deeply worth exploring. Both in the context of the band's development, and the britpop music scene as well. Top it with just analyzing how the album is crafted in general, and there's a lot of meat on this bone to chew over at the end of the month.

We dove into Jay-Z's 2003 classic, the Black Album, which was hyped up to be his mic-drop. A magnum opus. His final release before he sailed off into the sunset. As history has shown, Jay-Z did not retire. But was this album worthy of his swan-song? Was this a worthy farewell to the rap game? And how does it sound now, over 20 years later in an era of mumble rap, trap beats, and blending of styles? Find out the answer to these questions and more as we reveal our thoughts and opinions on this one. Spoiler alert: We didn't all agree!

We review our pick for October 2023, MC5's debut album Kick Out the Jams. What did we like and not like so much? Have a listen. Influenced our tastes: 2.9 Would we recommend: 3.3 Overall: 2.4

For our November 2023 review, Alain brings to the table Jay-Z's The Black Album. Once infamously claimed to be his final mic-drop before retirement, Jay-Z left us with a critically-acclaimed piece that hit #1 on the US Top 200 and achieved 4x platinum status. Clearly it wasn't just hyped up over false rumors of retirement, then. 20 years later, we're revisiting it to see if The Black Album still holds up. Join us at the end of November for our verdict!

Get ready for a thrilling ride through music history! In the last four episodes, we've been grooving to the catchy tunes of one-hit wonders. But now, hold on to your seats because we're shifting gears. Our very own music aficionado and Sonic Collective member, Darren Scott, has taken us on a journey back to the world of influential albums. This time, we're diving headfirst into the debut album of the incomparable Tracy Chapman. Picture this: soul-stirring lyrics, mesmerizing melodies, and a voice that'll give you goosebumps. We've gathered around to dissect this musical masterpiece and explore how it still holds up today. But here's the twist – while we found ourselves nodding in agreement on some aspects, our opinions and passion for this album couldn't be more diverse. Is Tracy Chapman an artist worth your precious listening time? Well, there's only one way to find out: tune in and join the conversation with Darren at The Sonic Collective!

This month we're tackling an album I've been aware of for a long time, never listened to, but the time has come. Kick Out the Jams by MC5 was released in February 1969 and has been classified as proto-punk. While the band formed in 1963, it took a few years for their debut album to come into form, and uniquely, it was recorded live over two nights at Detroit's Grande Ballroom in 1968. Typically bands release a live album well into their career but MC5 uniquely opted to do so out of the gates. It was not terribly well received upon release, with critic Lester Bangs, writing his first review for Rolling Stone, calling Kick Out the Jams a "ridiculous, overbearing, pretentious album". But as time often does, as the years passed, it has become one of the most positively cited live albums, as well as noted for laying the tracks for the true punk explosion that was to come. Over the last few months I keep hearing Kick Out the Jams and MC5 being mentioned in articles and podcasts, so the time has finally come to embark down the MC5 road. So, buckle up, pour a drink, have a puff, turn it up to 11, and let's see where this takes us…

In last round of our "One Hit Wonder" series, we gave a listen to Bringing Down the Horse by The Wallflowers. Overall the album was generally liked with some differences of opinion on some of the positives and negatives of the album. We also mature and share our reasoning of what qualifies as a one hit wonder and decide if this band qualifies based off the performance of "One Headlight" and the rest of the slbum. Tune in to the episode to see what we thought of it. As always, for show notes and access to all our episodes, please visit us at thesoniccollective.com.

The Sonic Collective Podcast is back for their September 2023 pick. Darren Scott dives into why he chose this album for a full review. After completing our past four episodes based on 1-hit wonders, this is a great way to show an artist that was huge after one album but mainstrem success never followed. Do you remember this album from 1988, or are you just hearing Luke Combs version and thinking that is a beautiful song. Listen along to the original and see if this entire album stands the test of time and what Sonic Collective members think of this. For more media, photos, videos and more reviews, please follow us on your favourite podcast platform and check out https://thesoniccollective.com Darren Scott - The Sonic Collective

As you know we've been doing a series of picks based on the idea of whether the artist is a one hit wonder or not. This month's pick is One Headlight off The Wallflower's 1996 Album “Bringing Down the Horse”, and was a smash hit for its time. The song was written by Jakob Dylan, band frontman and son of famous folk singer Bob Dylan. Join us at the end of the month to hear our thoughts on whether The Wallflowers are a one hit wonder, or is there more beyond One Headlight for us to know and love.

In the third installment of our One Hit Wonders round, we listened to Blu Cantrell's debut album, So Blu. The album was released in 2001 and featured the very famous and very awesome song "Hit em' up Style (Oops!)". But what about the rest of the album? Equally awesome? Well, that's what we endeavored to find out this month as we dissected So Blu. Does Blu Cantrell deserve to be better known for her body of work? Was she done dirty? We seemed to be aligned for the most part. Tune in to the episode to see what we thought of it. As always, for show notes and access to all our episodes, please visit us at thesoniccollective.com. Enjoy! Alain @ The Sonic Collective

As we continue to explore one-hit wonders, we seek to understand whether the artist truly deserves the title of One-Hit Wonder, and if the rest of their album/discography is worth exploration. This month, Alain has chosen Blu Cantrell's 2001 album So Blu, which features her best-known hit song, Hit Em Up Style (Oops!). It was her debut single, released in summer of 2001 and dominated the charts worldwide. Yet, in the 20+ years since, Blu Cantrell is still best known for this one song, making her qualify for one-hit wonder status... But is that fair? What about the rest of her music? That is what we'll be uncovering this month. Listen along and join us at the end of July for our review!

So here, it is, the second review of our One Hit Wonders round, this time listening to New Radicals' Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too. The album was released October 16, 1998, and is essentially an album by lead singer, Gregg Alexander, who is the only person to play on all the album's tracks. He enlisted a swath of session musicians (28) to play instruments while recording, really making this an album of hired guns. The very successful You Get What You Give charted high on most Top 40 lists around the world, then the band broke up in 1999. A second single, Someday We'll Know, was released shortly after the band called it quits and the rest is history.

Sonic Collective member Darren Scott started off our one hit wonder round by choosing a-ha. a-ha is often considered a one-hit wonder, largely due to the immense success of their debut single "Take on Me." The song reached number one in the United States and several other countries in 1985, and its innovative music video became an iconic part of 80s pop culture. We now go back and listen to this album and explore this band a little deeper to see if they deserve the negatively perceived one hit wonder moniker. Listen along to see what we discovered about this band from Norway, we think you will be surprised at some of the things we discovered. For show notes and access to all our episodes, please visit us at http://thesoniccollective.com. Enjoy! Darren @ The Sonic Collective

Here we are on our second of four picks with our One Hit Wonders series, looking at artists and albums that were One Hit Wonders - loosely meaning that the album had one or so big singles, then we likely never really heard from the band again. I've always liked the song You Get What You Give by New Radicals, bought the album when it came out, but don't remember listening to it beyond the single, and have been listening to that single a lot recently. Then the Foo Fighters announced Josh Freese as their new drummer in May 2023, and while reading about him, I noticed he drummed on two songs from Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too by New Radicals, and decided to make this my pick for the month. - Scott Coates

Scott's pick had the team split. We had a range of opinions covering the entire spectrum. We're usually more into music where the guitars are plugged in, so country music has a hard time breaking into the mix. Still, everyone found something to appreciate (or at least not dislike!) about this album, even though the scores hit both ends of the spectrum. Have a listen and see what each member of the team thought after a month of listening and see who you matched up with most.

For the next four podcast episodes we will be reviewing what are considered to be one-hit wonders. Member Darren Scott started off by choosing a-ha. a-ha is often considered a one-hit wonder, largely due to the immense success of their debut single "Take on Me." The song reached number one in the United States and several other countries in 1985, and its innovative music video became an iconic part of 80s pop culture. While a-ha did have other hits in Europe, including "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." and "Hunting High and Low," they were unable to replicate the massive success of "Take on Me" in the US. However, the band's overall discography is quite extensive and they have continued to release albums and tour throughout the years. Listen along and join us for the full review and hear if this band deserves the title, or is worth an exploration of their discography. Darren @ The Sonic Collective

This month we'll be listening to When Fallen Angels Fly by Country artist Patty Loveless. When Fallen Angels Fly was her seventh studio album and was certified platinum. It also won the Country Music Awards album of the year, with Patty being only the third woman to ever have done so. Will this album still hold up? Tune in at the end of the month and find out!

Alain's pick for March 2023 had us listen to The Velvet Underground's debut album, The Velvet Underground and Nico, which was released in 1967, but failed to really make a splash on the music scene until nearly a decade after its release for a variety of reasons. We all understood that The Velvet Underground comes with a sort of reverence in the music world for being highly influential on the shape of rock music, but none except for Darren had much experience with their music, so we weren't really sure what to expect. Upon listening, some of us were surprised at how accessible the album (or at least many of the tracks) were - This was not the weirdo, experimental, hyper-niche album I think we were bracing for, which probably came as a relief considering how we felt about last month's review, King Crimson's In the Court of the Crimson King. Overall we largely enjoyed this album, kinks, quirks, rough edges and all. While over 50 years old at this point, The Velvet Underground and Nico holds up surprisingly well, which is either a testament to how ahead of its time it was, or just how much The Velvets managed to influence the music that we've been listening to since its release. Is this album for you? Have a listen to our review and see how the strengths and weaknesses line up with your own impressions.

For March 2023 we will listen to and share our thoughts on The Velvet Underground's 1966 debut and almost self-titled album, "The Velvet Underground and Nico". This album is said to have been one of the biggest influences on rock and alternative music ever, but when it was first released, it was a flop, largely in part to its controversial subject matter. How does it hold up to modern tastes and sensibilities? Will any of us enjoy this album? Tune in at the end of the month to see our review.

February 2023 saw us listen to King Crimson's debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King, which was released on 10 October 1969 and hit #1 on the UK charts. We went into this with pretty high expectations being how many times we had read about this album being a major influence on bands like The Who, and cited by many rock publications as one of the best ever prog rock albums. Well… let's just say we weren't that wow'd and don't really get how it has cultivated the legacy it has.

This month, The Sonic Collective member Darren Scott chose this classic Pink Floyd album to go back and experience. Most know Dark Side of the Moon or Another Brick in the Wall, but this album followed their success of those albums and found a band in turmoil. Listen as we discover what that result was and if this album is still worth going back to listen to (Spoiler alert! IT IS!!). Listen along and rediscover what we learned about this album. For full show notes, more media and access to all our shows, please visit us at https://TheSonicCollective.com.