Playing By Ear
Every episode of this podcast breaks an album down, track by track, to cover why it's not only worth playing, but replaying.
Displaying 8 items of Playing By Ear with the tag "rock music".
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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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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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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.
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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.
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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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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.