Playing By Ear

Episode Archive

Episode Archive

12 episodes of Playing By Ear since the first episode, which aired on June 23rd, 2025.

  • Flesh & Blood (Poison)

    February 3rd, 2026  |  1 hr 49 mins
    1980s, 1990s, 80s, 90s, bobby dall, brett michaels, c.c. deville, guitar, hair metal, metal, music, rikki rockett, rock, rock and roll, rock music, songwriting

    By 1990 hair metal was on the precipice of irrelevance, soon to be swept aside by grunge. Nevertheless, the genre's last big year was filled with big riffs, big beats, and big hair as Poison ripped some incredible bops (unskinny or otherwise) that we had a blast reviewing.

  • Drive (Bic Runga)

    January 20th, 2026  |  1 hr 45 mins
    1990s, 90s, american pie, musician, new zealand, rock, rock music, singer, songwriter, songwriting, sway, vocalist

    Bic Runga's debut album features beautiful, haunting vocals and equal parts soft singer/songwriter, and late 90s female-powered grunge. Does "Drive" drive, or does it just drive us crazy? We delve into this layered and complex work to peel back what makes it worth paying attention to.

  • Bad (Michael Jackson)

    January 6th, 2026  |  1 hr 42 mins
    1980s, 80s, michael jackson, mtv, music, pop, pop music, r and b, r&b, songwriting

    By the time of 1987's "Bad" Michael Jackson was an unstoppable cultural phenomenon, perhaps the most singularly famous person in the entire world, and all off of the strength of its predecessor, "Thriller" which remains the best-selling album of all time. Could the King of Pop continue his reign, or would this album live up to its title? Nearly 40 years on, "Bad" remains an incredible collection of infectious grooves that cements the Gloved One's place in music history.

  • Revolver (The Beatles)

    December 23rd, 2025  |  2 hrs 34 mins
    1960s, 60s, beatles, british invasion, classic rock, george harrison, john lennon, lennon, mccartney, music, paul mccartney, psychedelia, psychedelic, ringo starr, rock, rock and roll, rock music, songwriting, the beatles

    This is the end of the beginning... How do you break down one of the best albums by one of the best (if not perhaps THE best) band of all time? Kyle presents The Beatles' masterpiece, "Revolver", to Ami, Doug, and returning guest musician Sophie Gonzalez (www.themoonunits.com) for a music review that's here, there, and everywhere.

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    The American Egypt (Mike Viola)

    December 9th, 2025  |  2 hrs 35 mins
    indie, indie rock, music, rock, rock music, songwriter, songwriting, that thing you do

    Wistul, emotional, cheeky, and melodic, Mike Viola's "An American Egypt" uses inventive stream-of-consciousness lyrics to paint a dreamy picture of life as a middle-aged parent in Los Angeles. Sometimes silly, sometimes sad, and often both, Doug, Ami, and Kyle had a blast unpacking this album along with guest musician Sophie Gonzalez (www.themoonunits.com) to discuss an album she loves so much she wants to be buried with it lik a true American Egyptian.

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    Songs For You, Truths For Me (James Morrison)

    November 25th, 2025  |  1 hr 58 mins
    gospel, independent, indie, james morrison, music, rock, rock and roll, songwriting, soul

    Soulful, heartfelt, and powered by James Morrison's unique raspy vocals, "Songs For You, Truths For Me" strings together one spectacular song after another, but is it too much of a good thing? Ami, Kyle, and Doug talk about which songs light our fire and break on through, and which ones feel like they could be the end.

  • IV (Led Zeppelin)

    November 11th, 2025  |  1 hr 42 mins
    jimmy page, john bonham, john paul jones, led zeppelin, metal, metal music, music, robert plant, rock, rock and roll, songwriting, tolkein

    It's been a long time since we rocked and rolled. Epic, thundering, mythic, Led Zeppelin's fourth untitled album achieved legendary status, buying the band a stairway to metal heaven. Between the crushing guitar licks, Tolkein references, and delicate mandolin, IV remains an influential classic that has not dulled since it first conquered the airwaves in 1971.

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    Nine Lives (Aerosmith)

    October 23rd, 2025  |  1 hr 53 mins
    1990s, 90s, aerosmith, joe perry, rock, rock and roll, rock music, songwriting, steven tyler

    After 13 albums and a massive hit with "Get A Grip" venerable rockers Aerosmith released their follow-up "Nine Lives". Though not as successful as its predecessor, 9 Lives still stands on the solid foundation of Steven Tyler's inimitable vocals and Joe Perry's face-melting guitaring. If this one passed you by in the 1990s, now's as good a time as any to check it out.

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    Sha Sha (Ben Kweller)

    September 23rd, 2025  |  1 hr 54 mins
    00s, 2000s, indie, indie rock, music, rock, rock music

    This episode we're revisiting Ben Kweller's freshman album, Sha Sha, as he brings his Weezer-esque sincere and heartfelt music straight from his soul to your ears. In the early 2000s indie artists were trying to break through the pop music brick wall built by NSYNC, Brittney Spears, and others. Although this particular album did not break through, its thoughtful approach and lack of polished prouction makes it worth replaying as part of that indie scene.

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    Black Holes and Revelations (Muse)

    August 23rd, 2025  |  1 hr 45 mins
    00s, 2000s, baroque, classical music, hard rock, matt bellamy, muse, music, prog, prog rock, queen, rock

    After finding success with hits like "Hysteria" and "Time Is Running Out" Muse unleashed their biggest and boldest album to date. 2006's "Black Holes And Revelations" pushed boundaries by combining classic hard rock, Queen-like harmonies, baroque complexity, to showcase the band's impeccable skill. Whether this ambitious effort succeeds is a matter of taste, but what we found indisputable was that Muse has the capacity to create sounds unlike any other band before or since.

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    The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society (The Kinks)

    July 23rd, 2025  |  1 hr 47 mins
    1960s, 60s, british, british invasion, classic rock, concept album, kinks, music, ray davies, rock, rock an roll, satire, songwriting, the kinks

    Kyle brings the Kinks' hidden gem "The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society". While the Kinks were known for big proto-punk hits like You Really Got Me, this 1968 concept album finds the group celebrating and satirizing the quiet English countryside with fifteen short but memorable songs.

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    Mr. A-Z (Jason Mraz)

    June 23rd, 2025  |  1 hr 58 mins
    00s, 2000s, folk, jason mraz, mraz, music, music theory, pop, rock, songwriting

    On our premier episode Ami brings Mr. A-Z for consideration. Is Jason Mraz's sophomore album the remedy, or is it serious? We break it down track by track to see if Mr. A-Z really is all about the wordplay.