Vinyl Verdict

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam are joined by their friend Reece to talk about Adam's next pick - Joey Valence & Brae's "No Hands". Released in 2024, it was their second album. With a sound that is a callback to hip-hop of days past, the duo raps with a style reminiscent of the Beastie Boys, which we've covered before in our episode on their album "Paul's Boutique". The group's ability to go viral on platforms such as TikTok has allowed them to skyrocket in popularity in a short period of time. But what will the boys think of the album? Will they say its "OK" or will they say it's "THE BADDEST"? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Jamie's next pick, AC/DC's "Back in Black". Released in 1980, it was their seventh studio album. Following the death of their lead singer, Bon Scott in February 1980, the band sought out a new singer and selected Brian Johnson who was formerly of the band Geordie. The album was recorded quickly and released in July 1980 to tremendous success. It is the second-best selling album with an estimated 50 million records sold, following Michael Jackson's "Thriller", which has an estimated 70 million sold. The album spawned four hit singles and their tour in support of the album was one of the most successful in rock history. Additionally, many metal and rock groups have cited the album as influential. But - will the boys like it? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Bell's next pick, Limp Bizkit's "Significant Other". Released in 1999, it was their second studio album. Following the success of their previous album "Three Dollar Bill, Y'all", the band was invited to perform at Woodstock '99. The band's performance has been widely criticized as having further instigated violence at the festival, particularly during their performance of the song Break Stuff. Controversy surrounding this appearance propelled the sales of this album, and led to further mainstream success of the band. But will the boys be able to cut through the controversy and ask the album to "Show Me What You Got"? Come along and find out!

On this special episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam are joined by their friend and former host, Plouffe! Plouffe's pick for this week is  "Demon Days" by Gorillaz, a call back to our first episode, which was their album "The Now Now". Released in 2005, it was their second album. Propelled ahead by the success of the singles "Feel Good Inc", which later won the Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration and "DARE", the album is their most successful in terms of sales to date. The album discusses a number of dire things plaguing humanity, such as our propensity to violence, our willful destruction of nature and greed, making it somewhat of a concept album. But what will the boys think of this Plouffe pick? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Adam's next pick, Deafheaven's "Sunbather". Released in 2013, it was their second album. The album was critically well received, with many reviewers noting its ability to unite elements of other genres and styles into one cohesive sound. On year-end lists for 2013, it was listed as one of the top albums of the year, with many publications saying it was the best Metal album of that year. But will this be the best metal album of this podcast? Will the boys find it "Irrestible"? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Jamie's next pick, Carole King's "Tapestry". Released in 1971, it was her second studio album. By the time of the release of this album, Carole King was already an established songwriter, having written or co-written dozens of hit singles. This album won 4 Grammy Awards in the following year, including Album of the Year. It is one of the highest selling albums of all time, with over 25 million copies sold, and holds the record the most consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 by a female artist. It remained on the Billboard 200 for 313 weeks, which is second only to Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon", which we have previously covered. But what will the boys think of this album? Will they feel the earth move, or will they be left saying "It's Too Late"? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Bell's next pick, Mother Mother's "O My Heart". Released in 2008, it was their second album. A band local to us in Vancouver, they got their start on Quadra Island, which is between the mainland and Vancouver Island. In 2020-1, several tracks off of "O My Heart" went viral on TikTok, leading to a resurgence of interest in this album. But will the boys have a resurgence of interest in listening to this album again? Will they instead try to throw this record into a "Burning Pile"? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Adam's next pick, Wilco's "A.M." Released in 1995, it was their debut album. The band was formed following a series of disputes between Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar of Uncle Tupelo, with Tweedy going on to form Wilco and Farrar going on to form Son Volt. Both "A.M." and Son Volt's album "Trace" were highly anticipated because of the turmoil in Uncle Tupelo. Ultimately, "Trace" became the more critically respected album, and Wilco eventually moved on from the alt-country/country-rock sound of this album, producing two extremely well received albums in the 2000s, "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" in 2001 and "A Ghost is Born" in 2004, which won two Grammy Awards. But is this album a relic of an acrimonius split in a well respected group? Will the boys think "I Must be High?" Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Jamie's next pick, Peter Gabriel's "So". Released in 1986, it was this fifth studio album after leaving Genesis in 1976. This album is his highest charting, most critically well respected and most awarded. Five singles from the album charted, with the most successful being Sledgehammer, which we covered in the Season One episode Hot Singles in Your Area. The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards, but lost to Paul Simon's classic "Graceland". But will the boys think this is the album of their year? Come along and find out!

On this inaugural episode of CD Consensus, Bell, Jamie and Adam explore the magic world of music played by lasers! Adam brings Weird Al's album Straight Outta Lynwood, released in 2006. Bell brings the soundtrack to the 2015 game Life is Strange. Jamie brings the Foo Fighters The Colour and the Shape, released in 1997. Just like our previous incarnation as a vinyl record podcast, the choices could not be more different! Come along as we discuss the compact disc!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Bell's next pick, NxWorries' "Why Lawd?". Made up of the duo of Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge, this is their second album, released in 2024. Following Anderson .Paak's painful divorce, the album touches on a number of related emotions and thoughts. Critically well received, the album was praised for Knxwledge's intricate production work. At the 67th Grammy Awards, the album won Best Progressive R&B Album. But will the album be well received by the boys, or will they say "MoveOn"? Come along and find out!

On this special epsiode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam ask their sisters to pick an album from their collection. Bell's sister Ashley picks Bill Withers' "Just As I Am", released in 1971. The album was critically well received upon release and was home to the hit single "Ain't No Sunshine", which won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. Adam's sister Karen picks twenty one pilots' "Vessel", released in 2013. The album received mostly positive reviews upon release and is considered one of the duo's strongest work. Lastly, Jamie's sister Steph picks Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours", released in 1977. The album received rave reviews upon release and has been named one of the greatest albums of all time. As is par for the course for topic episodes, the albums could not be more different! Will all three picks be a winner? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Adam's next pick, King Crimson's "Red". Released in 1974, it was their seventh studio album, and the last King Crimson album until the group was re-formed by bandleader Robert Fripp in 1981. The album has been cited as an important work in both progressive rock and heavy metal, influencing a multitude of other artists, such as Kurt Cobain. But what will the boys think of the album? Will they describe it as "One More Red Nightmare" or will it influence them as well? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Jamie's next pick, Paul McCartney & Wings' "Band on the Run". Released in 1973, it was his fifth album since leaving The Beatles in 1970, and his third album with his new group, Wings. To date, it is his most successful post-Beatles album in terms of sales and critical rating. Recorded partially in Lagos, Nigeria with final overdubs recorded in London, the album won Best Engineered Non-Classical Album at the 17th Grammy Awards in 1974. But what will the boys think of the album? Will this be a rare quorum or will they have "No Words"? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Bell's next pick, Pezz's "Watoosh!". Released in 1999, it is the only album from Pezz, because as it turns out, there was another band called Pezz already. The band later changed their name to Billy Talent and is now one of Canada's most successful artists. "Watoosh!" is reminiscent of a number of albums we have covered previously because it is a little bit of what you might hear on a Tony Hawk soundtrack. But what will the boys think of the album? Will it have them "Absorbed" or will it all fall apart after the "Recap"? Come along and find out!

On the special episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam are joined by guest Jonathan Horst. Our former colleague at the office, Jonathan brought with him Jack J's second album, "Blue Desert", released in November 2024. A mix of musical sounds that are reminiscent of a number of genres popular between the mid 80s and the mid 90s, the album is skilful at sounded upbeat while having somewhat downbeat lyrics. This album also features some great saxophone, which is a podcast favourite. Come along as the boys chat with our friend Jonathan and find out whether they are "Wrong Again" or just "Born Without a Smile".

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Adam's next pick, Kendrick Lamar's"To Pimp a Butterfly". Released in 2015, it was his third studio album. Upon release, the album received rave reviews, with many critics lauding its production, the social relevance of the lyrics, and the use of many styles of music. At the 2016 Grammy Awards, it received 7 nominations, including Album of the Year, it won for Best Rap Album. But will the boys find this to be their best rap album? Will it make the top spot on their lists or will they find it to be just "Alright"? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Jamie's next pick, Green Day's "Dookie". Released in 1994, it is way up there on the list of the best selling albums of all time. Their major label debut, it came out of the gate strong and was amplified by an absolutely unhinged appearance at Woodstock '94. Critics have said this album marks a turning point in the 90's, moving music away from the grunge sound from the early part, to a more pop-punk sound in the later half. We've already covered four albums that came out in 1994, Live's "Throwing Copper", Weezer's "Blue Album", The Offspring's "Smash" and Nas' "Illmatic", but what will the boys think of this one? Will they be "Having a Blast"? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Bell's next pick, Coldplay's "Parachutes". Their debut album, it was released in the distant future of the year 2000. The runaway success of the album was propelled by two of the singles, Trouble and Yellow. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album at the 2002 ceremony, and has gone on to sell upwards of 13 million copies. But is the album a brilliant first release from a band, or a boring one? What is a Coldplay? Join the boys as they delve into these questions and more!

On this special episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam dive into the topic of greatest hits, best ofs and other compilations! Bell brings blink-182's "Greatest Hits", their first such compilation, released in 2005. A fun, often goofy release from the masters of pop-punk, it came out two years after their fifth album. Adam's pick, Engelbert Humperdinck's "20 Great Hits", released in 1977, raises two questions. Firstly, what constitutes a "great hit"? Second, what is a "middle of the road balladeer"? The boys grapple with both questions. Finally, Jamie's pick, Patsy Cline's "Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits", is a brief exploration of Patsy Cline's unfortunately short music career. Will this episode be our greatest hit? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Adam's next pick, Bjork's "Homogenic". Released in 1997, it was subject to widespread critical acclaim. Many critics lauded the production, lyrics and general vibe of the album as being excellent. The album spawned five singles, two of which were nominated for Grammy Awards for their music videos. The album itself was nominated for Album of the Year, but lost to Radiohead's "Ok Computer". Rolling Stone calls "Homogenic" the #202 album of all time, but what will the boys think? Will they call it "Immature", or will they say "All is Full of Love"? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Jamie's next pick, Gary Numan's "The Pleasure Principle". Released in 1979, it was his first solo album following two albums with the group Tubeway Army. The album covers a number of genres that were in popularity at the time, including synthpop, new wave, electropop and electronica. Taking its title from a surrealist painting of the same name, the album has a largely sci-fi theme to it. What will the boys think of the album? Will they find it too 'Complex' or will it strike up a 'Conversation'? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Bell's next pick, Beck's "Guero". Released in 2005, it was his ninth studio album. Propelled forward by the single E-Pro, the album was his best selling and highest charting, worldwide. Critically, the album was well received, with most reviewers noting it was a return to form for Beck. But what will the boys think? Will they say 'Hell Yes' to the album or will they run for the 'Emergency Exit'? Come along and find out!

Merry Christmas from Vinyl Verdict! This year the boys decided to try something new - gifting each other albums for Christmas. Adam gifts Jamie D'Angelo and the Vanguard's "Black Messiah", the long awaited followup to "Voodoo". Jamie gifts Bell Pink Floyd's iconic album "Dark Side of the Moon". Finally, Bell gifts Adam L'Orange's "The City Under the City". As always, the picks could not be more different! Come along and hear our takes on this year's Christmas episode!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Adam's picks from Bell and Jamie's collections. From Bell's collection, Adam picked Dump's “Superpowerless”. A collection of home recordings from James McNew, the bassist of Yo La Tengo, “Superpowerless” is a look at the creative output of a very talented guy. From Jamie's collection, Adam picked The Police's “Synchronicity”, their fifth and final album. The album had a number of hit singles, and sold incredibly well. As always, the choices could not be more different! Will this be a rare episode where both picks are bangers? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Adam's next pick, Charli XCX's "Brat". Released in 2024, it was her sixth studio album. Entering the Billboard 200 at #3, it represented her highest debut on the chart. Critically lauded upon release, the album went on to be nominated for 9 Grammy awards, including Album of the Year. But what will the boys think? Will the album be full of "Club Classics", or will it just "Talk Talk"? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Jamie's next pick, The Cars self titled debut album. Released in 1978, it was an immediate radio hit, later going 6x Platinum. Described variously as New Wave, Power Pop and Synth-Rock, the album incorporates elements of all three genres. Rolling Stone has most recently named this the #353/500 Greatest Albums of all Time. But will the boys say "Bye Bye Love" to it after repeat listenings, or will the "Good Times Roll"? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Bell's next pick, Mac DeMarco's "This Old Dog". Released in 2017, it was his third studio album. Some of the themes of the album are Mac's relationship with his father, aging, and relationships. On the album, Mac plays every instrument himself, while also handling production. Reviews for the album were overwhelmingly positive, with most critics praising the musicianship, tone and writing. But what will the boys think? Will they complain about "One More Love Song"? Come along and find out!

On this special episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell and Jamie pick two albums from Adam's collection! Bell picks Death Grips' "The Money Store", released in 2012. Jamie picks Black Sabbath's "Master of Reality", released in 1971. As always, the picks could not be more different, with one being a highly experimental rap album and the other being one of the first albums in the stoner metal genre. Which album will the boys like more? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Adam's next pick, The Rural Alberta Advantage's "Hometowns". Their debut album, it was released in 2008. The album exemplifies the indie rock sound of the time while exploring themes of the the lead singer's upbringing in - you guessed it - rural Alberta. The album was originally released independently in early 2008 and following the band being featured by eMusic as artist of the month in November, they were signed to Saddle Creek Records. Critical reviews of the album were positive, with Pitchfork giving the album an 8. But will the boys be as generous about the album, or would they rather "Sleep All Day"? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Jamie's next pick, The Dave Brubeck Quartet's "Time Out". Released in 1959, it was the thirteenth album released by the Quartet, and was their most successful album. After taking a trip with the US State Department on a trip of Eurasia, Dave Brubeck discovered the street music of Turkey and their use of time signatures that would be unusual in jazz. "Time Out" features 7 songs with odd time signatures, including Take Five, the best selling jazz single of all time. But what will the boys think of the album? Come along and find out! And also listen to Adam get increasingly frustrated with Bell and Jamie.

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Bell's next pick, Frank Ocean's "Blonde". Released in 2016, it was his second studio album. The album was highly anticipated, having been delayed several times and came out to widespread critical acclaim. Some of the things critics raved about were the progressive sound and introspective lyrics in the songs, with a number of publications calling it one of the best albums of 2016. Pitchfork has called it the best album of the 2010s and Rolling Stone has ranked it at #79 on the list of the 500 Greatest Albums of Time. But how will the boys rank it? Will they call it "Pretty Sweet" or will they strap on their "Nikes" and beat a trail away from it? Come along and find out!

On this special episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam are joined by special guest Sven! Sven brought Lana Del Rey's "Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd", her ninth studio album, released in 2023. A beautiful, full sounding album, the title recalls the actual tunnel under Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach, California. Some of the genres the album takes influence from are Americana, folk, trap, soul, and alt-pop. But will the boys want to know more about the tunnel under Ocean Boulevard, or will they ask their grandfathers to stand on the shoulders of their fathers while they're deep-sea fishing? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Adam's next pick, Danny Brown's "Atrocity Exhibition". Released in 2016, it was his fourth studio album. Filled with haunting samples, sometimes grim themes and vocal style that critics described as ranging from 'agitated squawking' and 'dainty', the album has been described as "progressive rap". Critically lauded, including by Pitchfork - a publication that hates music - the album was named as one of the best of 2016. But will the boys hold it in the same esteem, or will it leave them "Lost" in a "Downward Spiral"? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Jamie's next pick, Stone Temple Pilots' "Core". Released in 1992, it was their debut studio album. Initially ignored by critics, the album received heavy radio play and the singles were staples of MTV. The album went on to win a Grammy award for Best Hard Rock Performance for the single Plush. But what will the boys think of the album? Will they find the album Dead and Bloated, or will they be left with No Memory of it? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Bell's next pick, Our Lady Peace's "Spiritual Machines". Released in 2000, it is their fourth studio album. A staple of Canadian rock radio since their first album released in 1994, this album also received heavy radio play. Much of the radio support for this album was carried by the singles "In Repair" and "Life". The album is loosely inspired by futurist Ray Kurzweil's book "The Age of Spiritual Machines" and features him on several spoken word tracks throughout the album. But does this vision for the future hold up 24 years after release? Will the boys yearn for "The Wonderful Future", or will they ask each other "Are You Sad?" Come along and find out!

On this special episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam dive into the topic of albums that we loved when we were in college (or university). Jamie brings Weezer's "Weezer (aka The Blue Album)". Adam brings Thank You Scientist's "Stranger Heads Prevail". Finally, Bell brings Tyler, the Creator's "Wolf". Once again, the choices could not be more different! Will the boys be saying "Say it ain't so!" or will these three picks "Need More Input"? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Adam's first pick for season 3, Carly Rae Jepsen's "E•MO•TION". Released in 2015, the album received warm critical reviews and spawned three hit singles. One such single, "Run Away With Me", was named one of the best songs of 2015 by publications such as Pitchfork, Rolling Stone and Vulture. The album itself was named to several end-of-decade best of lists by a number of publications, with many critics labelling it the best pop album of the 2010s. What will the boys E•MO•TIONs be on this episode? Will there be Boy Problems or will they say I Really Like You? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Adam listen to Jamie's first pick for season 3, Joe Cocker's "Mad Dogs and Englishmen". Released in 1970, it was the accompanying album to the film of the same name, chronicling his brisk tour of the U.S. Hailing from Sheffield, England, Joe Cocker had just two years prior made a name for himself with his cover of the Beatles' "With a Little Help From My Friends" and his subsequent appearance at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. After being surprised by his record label with a tour, Joe assembled a band of friends in less than a week. The band consisted of 22 people - three drummers, a horn section, a choir, two guitarists, a bass play, a piano player and two percussionists. Will the boys be Feelin' Alright, or will they Drown In Their Own Tears? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and for the first time as host -- Adam listen to Bell's first pick for season 3! Bell brings to the podcast local Vancouver band Peach Pit's debut album "Being so Normal". Prior to this album, the band members had day jobs such as being a carpenter and Amazon delivery driver, but the success of this album meant they could pursue music full time. In support of the album, the band went on a world tour and appeared at multiple festivals such as Osheaga and SXSW. How could the album be described? The band calls it 'chewed bubblegum pop', but it's a mix of indie pop, rock and surf sounds. Will the boys want to go to Tommy's Party, or will they Drop the Guillotine on this album? Come along and find out!

Vinyl Verdict will be back weekly starting Saturday September 7th! Thanks for listening, and come along with us for Season 3.

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe discuss the season that was and celebrate our 100th episode! As Season 2 of the podcast draws to a close, we look back at the hits, misses and debate whether we were too harsh or too fair on the albums. Where do Plouffe and Jamie's picks fall on the Bell Curve? What are the plans for Season 3 for Vinyl Verdict? Come along and find out!

On this special episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe dive into the topic of albums by artists we've already covered in previous episodes. Jamie brings Supertramp's "Breakfast in America", their 1979 album. Bell brings George Clanton's "Ooh Rap I Ya", his 2023 album. Plouffe brings MF Doom's "MM..FOOD", his 2004 album. The albums once again could not be more different -- but will the boys have the same reactions this time around? Is Bell secretly a huge Supertramp fan? Come along and find out!

On this special episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Plouffe and Jamie sit down to talk about EPs in their collections. Bell brings Ginger Root's "City Slicker", Plouffe brings Yellow Days' "Harmless Melodies" and Jamie brings Devo's "Dev-o Live". In a recurring theme for our topics, the choices could not be more different! Come along as the boys discuss things such as tomato sauce and Energy Domes!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe listen to Plouffe's next pick, Cake's "Comfort Eagle". Their fourth album, it was released in 2001. Upon its release, critics noted that the sound was reminiscent of their previous albums and that the riffs were often very infectious. The album charted well, ending up at #13 on the Billboard 200. It has sold over one million copies in the U.S. But will it sell copies to the boys? Will they be building a religion, building it bigger? Will they call you "Dude!"? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe listen to Jamie's next pick, Buddy Guy's "This is Buddy Guy". Released in 1968, it was his first live album, released shortly after his first studio album. The album is a time capsule of an early part of his solo career, following years of being a musician in fellow blues musician Muddy Waters touring band, and playing as a session guitarist at Chess Records. Since its release, Buddy Guy has put out a staggering 32 studio albums and 14 more live albums, continue to tour to this day at age 89. Will the boys latch on to Buddy, or will they say 'I ain't your Guy, friend'? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe listen to Bell's next pick, Lucy Rose's "This Ain't the Way You Go Out". Released on April 19, 2024, it had the misfortune of coming out on the same day as Taylor Swift's "The Tortured Poets Department". Critics praised the jazzy, upbeat sound of the album, and noted the lyrics were vibrant and full of life. But will the boys find the album to be beautiful and raw, or will they find it overcooked and bland? Come along and find out!

On this special episode of Vinyl Verdict, the boys are joined by Sarah Farrell, our most vocal - and most local fan. Sarah brought us Beyonce's newest album, "Cowboy Carter". Released at the end of March 2024, the album immediately entered the chart with 23 of its tracks in the Hot 100. The album subsequently went to #1 in over 30 countries. Her first foray into the Country genre, the album was both welcomed and spurned by people in the Country community. But will this album lasso the boys hearts, or will it be just another horse in the race? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe listen to Plouffe's next pick, Fatboy Slim's "Palookaville". Released in 2004, it is the last studio album from Fatboy Slim, a.k.a Norman Cook. Continuing his style of loops and beats, the album was released to mixed reviews, with many reviewers calling it a low-point in his career. Several reviewers also noted that the album could've used another pass to remove unnecessary songs. But what will the boys think? Will this album only appeal to long haired freaky people? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe listen to Jamie's next pick, The Offspring's "Smash". Released in April 1994, the album has just celebrated its 30th anniversary. Riding a wave of success for punk groups such as Green Day and Rancid in the mid-90s, the album was a huge breakout hit for the band. Four singles from the album charted, and the album has sold 11 million copies since its release. It holds the record for most sales for an album released on an independent record label. But will it go to #1 in the boys hearts? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe listen to Bell's next pick, Kings of Convenience's "Peace or Love". Their fourth album, it was released 12 years after their previous album. Many of the songs on this album had been performed live in the previous decade and some of them had even been recorded in a studio, but the duo was not convinced the versions were good enough. The album was released to positive reviews, with a number of reviewers noting that it was a welcome return by the duo. But what will the boys think of the album? Will it be their best reviewed album to date, or does it need more time in the oven? Come along and find out!