Verse Chorus Verse

David Leisten
  • 4.8 (26)
  • Music Commentary
  • Updated Daily

dl is a life-long music obsessor and student. With the help of friends Evil Jimmi and Rachel Pollio, Verse Chorus Verse tackles band dissections, album reviews and interviews of fantastic guests from all parts of the industry. Also. Drinks. Lots of drinks.

  1. 3d ago

    Neil Young's Harvest

    The podcast episode features a discussion about Neil Young's album 'Harvest' and its impact. The hosts explore the album's significance, its orchestral elements, and its place in Neil Young's catalog. They also touch on the Neil Young-Leonard Skynyrd rivalry and share their personal experiences with the album. A deep dive into Neil Young's album 'Harvest' reveals a complex mix of orchestral arrangements, songwriting brilliance, and the artist's resistance to traditional rock stardom. The album's impact on listeners and its place in Neil Young's discography are explored in detail. Takeaways Neil Young's album 'Harvest' is a significant and complex work that evokes strong reactions.The orchestral elements in the album are jarring and raise questions about their place in the overall composition. Orchestral arrangements and songwriting brilliance create a complex mixNeil Young's resistance to traditional rock stardom is evident in the albumThe album's impact on listeners and its place in Neil Young's discography are explored in detail Chapters 00:00 The 'Yours, Mine, and the Truth' Theme43:31 The Impact of the Album on Listeners and Its Place in Neil Young's Discography

    56 min

  2. May 25

    Rory Gallagher's Calling Card

    The conversation delves into the legacy of musician Rory Gallagher, exploring his impact on the music industry and his unique approach to music. It also touches on the personal experiences of the speakers, including their interest in live music and their album exchange. The discussion covers the album 'Calling Card' and its production, band members, and musical influences. The conversation delves into the life and impact of Rory Gallagher, highlighting his refusal to conform to commercial pressures and his unwavering dedication to his craft. It also explores the unique qualities of his guitar playing and the influence he had on other musicians. The conversation delves into the influence of blues legends on Eric Clapton, the authenticity of his music, and comparisons with other guitarists like Rory Gallagher and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The discussion also explores the album 'Calling Card' by Rory Gallagher, highlighting its standout tracks and the impact of Gallagher's live performances. Takeaways Rory Gallagher's influence on the music industryThe personal experiences and interests of the speakers Unwavering dedication to craftInfluence on other musicians Influence of blues legends on Eric ClaptonAuthenticity in music and comparisons with other guitaristsExploration of 'Calling Card' album by Rory Gallagher Chapters 00:00 Album Exchange and 'Calling Card'37:19 Reception and Influence52:26 Exploring 'Calling Card' Album by Rory Gallagher

    1h 1m

  3. May 18

    Radiohead Pablo Honey The Bends: How Creep Almost Destroyed the Greatest Band of Their Generation

    DL kicks off the Verse Chorus Verse Radiohead series with the first two albums — solo, no Evil, no Rachel, just a man and his favorite band. Pablo Honey (1992) gets a 7/10. It's a gateway drug, not a masterpiece — a Brit rock album from the early 90s that happens to contain one of the most important songs ever recorded. The story behind Creep: recorded in one take, initially hated by the band, ignored until Arsenio Hall found the tape in his car, made enormous by a Beavis and Butt-Head segment. Top songs: Creep, Rip Chord, You. The Bends (1995) gets a 9/10 and a full reassessment — DL argues this album is massively underrated and better than he'd ever given it credit for. Jonny Greenwood's octatonic guitar work on "Just" (inspired by an obscure French composer), the story of EMI threatening to drop them after Pablo Honey, Tom York's stage breakdown and the NME calling it a "temper tantrum," and why Fake Plastic Trees is great even if it's not a personal favorite. Top songs: Just, My Iron Lung, Bulletproof I Wish I Was. Part 1 of a 6-episode Radiohead dissection series. OK Computer with Rachel and Evil is next.

    1h 14m

  4. May 11

    System of a Down's Toxicity: The Most Political Metal Album Ever Made? (2001 Deep Dive)

    DL, Evil, and Rachel dig into System of a Down's Toxicity (2001) — one of the biggest metal albums ever made, debuting at #1 the week before 9/11 and getting Chop Suey immediately pulled from radio. The central argument: Toxicity is not a nu-metal record. It's one of the most coherent political albums ever made — a sustained meditation on apathy, incarceration, the Armenian-American experience, and what happens when society stops giving a shit about each other. Prison Song, Needles, ATWA, and "somewhere between the sacred silence and sleep" hit completely different when you actually listen to what Serj Tankian is saying. Along the way: why "Chop Suey" was originally titled "Suicide" (and how the rename was pure SOAD genius), the story of Rick Rubin seeing them at the Viper Room in 1997 and immediately knowing, Daron Malakian's insistence the album fit on one side of a tape at exactly 40 minutes, the time signatures and hemiola that make Toxicity sound heavier than it should, and the direct sonic DNA connecting Faith No More's Epic piano outro to Chop Suey's ending. The influence arc: System of a Down directly cited Faith No More as a key influence — this episode is part of a two-week influence-to-influence series starting with The Real Thing. Scores: Rachel 10/10, Evil 10/10, DL 9.8/10. Part of Verse Chorus Verse's album-by-album deep dive series. System of a Down,Toxicity,Chop Suey,Serj Tankian,Daron Malakian,Rick Rubin,metal album review,Armenian rock,2001 albums,political metal,Faith No More influence,music podcast

    1h 2m

  5. May 4

    Faith No More's The Real Thing: How a 19-Year-Old Mike Patton Changed Rock Forever (1989 Deep Dive)

    DL, Evil, and Rachel dig into Faith No More's The Real Thing (1989) — the album that accidentally invented nu-metal, made "Epic" a cultural phenomenon, and was written entirely by a 19-year-old Mike Patton who had never met the band before. The central debate: did Epic's massive MTV success actually hurt Faith No More's legacy by making casual listeners think they were a one-hit wonder? And is The Real Thing even their best album — or does Angel Dust win that argument by a mile? Along the way: the story of how Courtney Love almost got the singer job, the Chuck Mosley firing, why Billy Gould's bass on this album is the direct ancestor of Fieldy in Korn, how "Surprise You're Dead" at the 38-second mark contains one of the best gear shifts in rock, and a deep dive into why Epic's piano outro resolves a tritone (the "devil's interval") that the main riff deliberately left open. The influence argument: System of a Down have cited Faith No More as a direct influence — and the parallels between Serj Tankian and Mike Patton, and between Daron Malakian and Jim Martin, are hard to ignore. This episode sets up next week's Toxicity deep dive. Scores: Rachel 7/10, Evil 8.5–9/10, DL 8.3/10. Part of Verse Chorus Verse's influence-to-influence album arc. Faith No More,The Real Thing,Mike Patton,Epic,alt-metal,nu-metal,1989 albums,Angel Dust,System of a Down,album review,music podcast,funk metal

    1h 12m

  6. Apr 27

    Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums: Miranda Lambert, Howlin' Wolf, The Kinks, and Selena (#477–481)

    DL works through the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, reviewing four albums and four songs from entries #477–481 — and handing out scores along the way. Albums covered: Miranda Lambert's The Weight of These Wings (2016) gets an 8.7/10 — a genuine surprise, with DL arguing it's more Orville Peck than generic Nashville country. Selena's Amor Prohibido (1994) gets a 7/10, with praise for Los Dinos and the vocal performances but honest limits on Tejano expertise. Something Else by The Kinks (1967) gets a thoughtful take on a band that was the real rock stars of the '60s — even when they were chasing the Beatles. Howlin' Wolf's Moanin' in the Moonlight earns a 10/10 and a full Delta Blues sermon, with a side argument that it deserves to be ranked way higher than #487. Songs covered: "Just a Friend" by Biz Markie, "Oye Como Va" by Santana, "Back That Azz Up" by Juvenile, and "Our Lips Are Sealed" by the Go-Gos. Plus: the Radiohead solo episode series explained, listener questions on which Radiohead album to give Evil and Rachel as a gateway, and DL's current ranking with Howlin' Wolf sitting at #2 behind Arcade Fire's Funeral. Part of Verse Chorus Verse's ongoing Rolling Stone 500 album-by-album coverage. Rolling Stone 500,Miranda Lambert,Howlin Wolf,The Kinks,Selena,Biz Markie,Santana,album review,Delta Blues,country music,music podcast,Radiohead

    52 min

  7. Apr 20

    2001 in Music: Our Top 10 Albums (Gorillaz, Toxicity, Lateralus, Is This It and More)

    DL and Evil Jimmy go deep on the best and worst albums of 2001 — a year that somehow produced Gorillaz's self-titled debut, The Strokes' Is This It, System of a Down's Toxicity, Tool's Lateralus, Jay-Z's The Blueprint, and Jimmy Eat World's Bleed American all at once. They build a collective top 10, trading picks and hot takes: Gorillaz at number one, Toxicity at two, Is This It at three — plus arguments for Opeth's Blackwater Park, Converge's Jane Doe, Tool's Lateralus, Muse's Origin of Symmetry, Jay-Z's The Blueprint, White Stripes' White Blood Cells, and Neurosis rounding out the list. Along the way: why Nickelback and Creed represent everything wrong with 2001 mainstream rock, the case for Built to Spill's Ancient Melodies of the Future, Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, the Toadies' Hell Below Stars Above, Ben Folds' Rockin' the Suburbs, Tenacious D's self-titled, and Tupac's Until the End of Time. Plus favorite songs of the year, a Stone Temple Pilots deep cut, Andrew W.K.'s She Is Beautiful, and a Clint Eastwood / Morgan Freeman life philosophy detour courtesy of the Gorillaz track. Part of Verse Chorus Verse's year-by-year and album-by-album music coverage. 2001 music,Gorillaz,The Strokes,System of a Down,Tool,Jay-Z Blueprint,Jimmy Eat World,album rankings,year in music,indie rock,metal,music podcast

    1h 28m

  8. Apr 13

    2001 part 1

    The conversation delves into the year 2001 as a time of musical transition, influenced by the impact of 9/11. It explores the rise of electronic music, the release of albums, and personal reflections on music preferences during that time. The conversation delves into the musical journey between the release of Lateralis and 10,000 Days, exploring the impact of Lateralis and Anima on the artist. Additionally, the topic of Juggalos is discussed, providing insight into the cultural phenomenon. The conversation delves into the exploration of music labels and management changes, highlighting the impact of streaming on the music industry. The discussion provides insights into the evolving landscape of the music business and its influence on artists and their careers. Takeaways 2001 was a year of musical transitionThe impact of 9/11 on the music industry Musical journey between Lateralis and 10,000 DaysImpact of Lateralis and Anima on the artist Exploration of music labels and management changesImpact of streaming on the music industry Chapters 00:00 Reflecting on 2001 and Personal Music Preferences13:42 Musical Journey and Impact25:30 Exploration of music labels and management changes

    1h 7m
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4.8
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About

dl is a life-long music obsessor and student. With the help of friends Evil Jimmi and Rachel Pollio, Verse Chorus Verse tackles band dissections, album reviews and interviews of fantastic guests from all parts of the industry. Also. Drinks. Lots of drinks.

Information

  • Creator
    David Leisten
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    287
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 David Leisten
  • Show Website
    Verse Chorus Verse

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