Playing By Ear

Episode Archive

Episode Archive

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

  • Mini-Sode: If I Can Dream (Elvis Presley)

    September 29th, 2026  |  13 mins 37 secs
    1960s, 60s, classic rock, elvis, elvis presley, gospel, rock, rock and roll

    While he may have left the building, Elvis remains the King. The soulful "If I Can Dream" musters all of Elvis' raw power and focuses it on hope for a better tomorrow. This song remains moving decades on, and reminds us of the promise beyond the horizon, if only we could walk hand in hand to find it.

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    Yourself Or Someone Like You (Matchbox Twenty)

    September 22nd, 2026  |  2 hrs 14 mins
    1990s, 3am, 90s, long day, music, push, real world, rob thomas, rock, rock and roll, songwriting

    Powered by radio-friendly megahits like 3 AM and Push, Matchbox Twenty's debut album demolished charts and set the stage for a career that would continue to generate megahits one after the other. This first album remains one of their strongest, and one we had an easy time revisiting.

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    Mini-Sode: My Generation (The Who)

    September 15th, 2026  |  16 mins 8 secs
    1960s, 60s, classic rock, john entwhistle, keith moon, music, pete townshend, rock, rock and roll, roger daltrey, songwriting, the who

    On this mini-episode we're t-t-talking about My Generation. A clarion call not just for the 60s but for all time, My Generation showcases all the raw power and youthful rebellion The Who could muster. From Roger Daltrey's screaming vocals, Pete Townshend's feedback-laden guitar, John Entwhistle's driving base, and Keith Moon's unbridled and unmatched drumming, no one can try to put this down.

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    My Aim Is True (Elvis Costello)

    September 8th, 2026  |  1 hr 51 mins
    1970s, 70s, classic rock, garage rock, musician, rock, rock and roll, rock music, singer, songwriter, songwriting, vocalist

    Elvis Costello's debut album "My Aim Is True" is aptly titled. Full of short, laser focused tunes, played by Costello with the raw energy of youth and pure rock and roll dreams, the album is melodic, cheeky, and a fantastic example of artist pouring out their true vision with no supervision.

  • Mini-Sode: 9 to 5 (Dolly Parton)

    September 1st, 2026  |  14 mins 40 secs
    1980s, 80s, country, country music, dolly parton, jane fonda, lily tomlin, songwriting

    To help you along with your working week, we're going to start releasing mini-episodes on individual songs, and this time, we're celebrating the late and unimaginably great Dolly Parton by analyzing one of her most famous tracks, 9 to 5.

  • Boston

    August 25th, 2026  |  1 hr 28 mins
    1970s, 70s, classic rock, more than a feeling, musician, rock, rock and roll, rock music, singer, songwriter, songwriting, vocalist

    One of the greatest classic rock records of all time, Boston's self-titled debut exploded with ambitious prog rock, reliable blues, and some of the most soaring vocals of the 1970s from lead singer Brad Delp. With over 20,000,000 copies sold worldwide, anyone with more than a feeling about this smoking album's place in history can have some peace of mind about this rock and roll band.

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    Big Red Letter Day (Buffalo Tom)

    August 11th, 2026  |  2 hrs 7 mins
    college rock, grunge, indie, indie music, indie rock, music, my so-called life, rock, rock and roll, songwriters, songwriting

    Buffalo Tom's "Big Red Letter Day" may not have commercially been the big red letter day the band was looking for, but it exemplifies the feelings and soundscapes of grunge-era college rock. We're joined by musician and comedian Dylan Ris (www.lostmoonradio.com and www.themoonunits.com) to throw on some flannel and think about our so-called lives in the early 90s.

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    Sounds Like This (Eric Hutchinson)

    July 28th, 2026  |  1 hr 37 mins
    music, rock, rock and roll, songwriters, songwriting

    Heartfelt and full of swinging, bright melodies "Sounds Like This" sounds like Eric Hutchinson finding his musical footing. The album exhibits a confidence of an artist taking command of his style and audience, as darker subjects are slipped into catchy upbeat melodies. If Eric Hutchinson wants to rock, he rocks, and if he wants to roll, he rolls. We're right there rolling along with him.

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    Automatic For The People (R.E.M.)

    July 14th, 2026  |  1 hr 57 mins
    1990s, 90s, alternative, bill berry, everybody hurts, man on the moon, michael stipe, mike mills, music, nightswimming, peter buck, rock, songwriting

    R.E.M.'s eighth album lived up to the band's name, as it featured a far more dream-like sound than what they had done before. With deeper lyrical subjects about death, aging, and legacy, R.E.M. challenged themselves, their audience, and created an album that received critical and audience acclaim, often appearing on the lists of greatest albums ever made. The jangly pop guitar sound the band was known for gave way to strings (with an assist from Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones), dulcimers, bozoukis, and piano for a softer contemplative album that stands among R.E.M.'s best work. Featuring huge hits "Everybody Hurts" and "Man on the Moon", Automatic For The People firmly cemented the band as, perhaps, the greatest alternative act of all time, marrying indie depth and mainstream appeal. This album deserves a quiet night.

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    Pinkerton (Weezer)

    June 30th, 2026  |  1 hr 47 mins
    1990s, 90s, alternative, music, rivers cuomo, rock, rock music, songwriting, weezer

    Weezer's second album looked nothing like Buddy Holly. While Rivers Cuomo and company returned with their signature memorable melodies, their sound was significantly harsher, full of screams and squeals. As a result, the album was less radio friendly, and even the band itself had a complex relationship with the material. But that material is very strong, and many cite Pinkerton as Weezer's best album. How cool is that?

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    Wide Open Spaces (The Chicks)

    June 16th, 2026  |  2 hrs 4 mins
    country, country music, dixie chicks, emily strayer, martie maguire, music, natalie maines, songwriting, the dixie chick

    Easy on the ears, The Chicks' fourth album "Wide Open Spaces" broke wide open and made the band, then known as The Dixie Chicks, a household name. Nearly thirty years on, this album still holds up beautifully, as the trio's impeccable harmonies and their collaborators' exceptional melodies results in an album that will take care of you. Searingly sincere and clear vocals from the band's then new singer Natalie Maines cemented The Chicks as a County force to be reckoned with, and this first album with her plants a big old boot proving why.

  • Hedwig and the Angry Inch: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

    June 2nd, 2026  |  1 hr 46 mins
    gay, glam, glam rock, lesbian, lgbt, lgbtq, lgbtq+, music, musical, musical theater, musicals, pride, pride month, queer, rock music, songwriting, theater, theatre, trans

    To honor Pride Month we start by tearing down walls revisiting the glam rock soundtrack of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch". It's the 25th anniversary of John Cameron Mitchell's landmark adaptation of the stage production about a fictional icon whose gender and sexuality are simultaneously right in the middle, babe, and nothing at all. Stephen Trask's songs continue to shine like the brightest star, a transmission on the midnight radio.

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    All The Pain Money Can Buy (Fastball)

    May 19th, 2026  |  1 hr 39 mins
    1990s, 90s, alternative, music, pop, rock, songwriter, songwriting

    Fastball's winning album "All The Pain Money Can Buy" was best known for its huge hits, "The Way" and "Out Of My Head" but if you only stopped at those two, then you missed out on an album full of endearing and heartfelt songs. On this episode we confirm that Fastball hit this one out of the park.

  • Great Divide (Semisonic)

    May 5th, 2026  |  1 hr 52 mins
    1990s, 90s, alternative, closing time, dan wilson, music, pop, rock, songwriter, songwriting

    Dan Wilson is one of the most prolific and accomplished songwriters of the last thirty years. Before hitting it big with "Closing Time", his band Semisonic released its first album, "Great Divide" which showcases exactly why Wilson was destined for success. Full of lush, memorable melodies, this record is a perfect calling card of Wilson's legendary skill. Comedian Rich Baker joins us for a look back at this fantastic album.

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    Ozzmosis (Ozzy Osbourne)

    April 28th, 2026  |  1 hr 53 mins
    1990s, 90s, black sabbath, crazy train, hard rock, metal, music, ozzy osbourne, rock, rock and roll, songwriting

    The Prince of Darkness, the Ozzman, whatever you call him, Ozzy Osboune remains the undisputed master of heavy metal. No one did more to cement what metal was, and his unique vocals and showmanship were untouchable. This episode we look back at 1995's "Ozzmosis" with comedian Rch Baker, and analyze why Ozzy's reign remained, even while musical tastes around him completely shifted.

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    Parallel Lines (Blondie)

    April 14th, 2026  |  1 hr 43 mins
    classic rock, debbie harry, music, punk, rock, rock and roll, songwriter, songwriters, songwriting

    One way or another, "Parallel Lines" from Blondie is gonna get you. This 1978 album is innovative, and a convergence of genres on the rise, from punk rock, to new wave, and everything in between, anchored by Debbie Harry's limitless cool and swagger. Highly influential, this album is a gas that doesn't turn out to be a pain in the ass.