1991: The Year AOR Ate Itself

Jeff Giles and Matt Wardlaw
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MUSIC HISTORY
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

A yearlong investigation into some of the albums released by the genre's biggest artists in the year before grunge took over. Which ones still rock? Which ones helped burn it all down? Let's look back.

  1. 12/16/2021

    1991: The Bonus Episode

    We've discussed one album from 1991 each month here on the podcast and that still leaves a lot of great records on the table. Jeff and Matt circle back for a free form discussion regarding some of their favorites. They welcome a special guest from Columbus, Ohio's own Watershed, who put out their debut major label release on Epic Records in 1991. Guitarist Colin Gawel sits in with Matt and Jeff to share stories about Spin Doctors, touring with Insane Clown Posse, the Smithereens and lots more! Plus: the guys reveal details about the podcast they'll launch in January.

    1h 37m

  2. 12/03/2021

    U2 - Achtung Baby

    We round out our look at the AOR of 1991 with a discussion of U2's blockbuster Achtung, Baby album — a set of songs from one of rock's most popular acts that pointed the way toward what was about to happen at the format. For this episode, Matt and Jeff are joined by the witty and charming Jordan Stepp!

    1h 26m

  3. 11/04/2021

    Genesis - We Can't Dance

    The 1991 album release calendar closed out with a flurry of new records from major rock acts — and few were more highly anticipated than Genesis' We Can't Dance LP. Join Matt and Jeff as they dig into this era-capping effort from the prog stalwarts-turned-Top 40 kingpins, with an assist from special guest Jason Hare!

    1h 25m

  4. 10/06/2021

    Rush - Roll the Bones

    Why are we here? Because we're here ... to discuss Rush's Roll the Bones. Why does it happen? Because this album happened to be released in 1991, of course! For this episode, Ted Asregadoo, co-host of the Planet LP podcast, joins Matt and Jeff to discuss the Canadian power trio's 14th studio album — and how it fits into the coming AOR upheaval that was only beginning to be felt.

    1h 31m

  5. 09/17/2021

    Guns 'N' Roses - Use Your Illusion

    You knew this episode was coming — after all, it's nearly impossible to talk about AOR in 1991 without discussing the year's most highly anticipated two-album set. In fact, there's so much to get into here that Matt and Jeff don't even have a special guest this time around. Listen in for a look back at Guns 'N' Roses' Use Your Illusion.

    1h 4m

  6. 08/20/2021

    Bad English - Backlash

    What do you get when you put the broken pieces of Journey and the Babys together and use them to make a brand new supergroup? Bad English, of course — and although the band's first album was a huge hit, that was absolutely not the case for their 1991 followup, Backlash. How did it go so wrong, so fast? Jay Kumar joins Matt and Jeff for a look at this jinxed sophomore effort — and how it fits into the year AOR ate itself.

    1h 7m

  7. 07/16/2021

    Van Halen - For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge

    Ultimate Classic Rock head honcho Matthew Wilkening sits in with Jeff and Matt for this fond look back at one of the biggest — and most highly anticipated — rock records of 1991. Grab a power drill and join us for a look back at Van Halen's For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge!

    56 min

  8. 07/05/2021

    Foreigner - Unusual Heat

    Foreigner sold records by the fistful during the '70s and '80s, racking up a string of AOR and Top 40 singles with singer Lou Gramm at the mic. After he left, the group soldiered on with new singer Johnny Edwards — but the end result, 1991's Unusual Heat, ended up being the band's first flop. What the hell happened, and how does it fit into the year AOR ate itself? Singer, songwriter, author, and podcaster Ben Arthur joins Jeff and Matt to figure it out.

    1h 18m
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About

A yearlong investigation into some of the albums released by the genre's biggest artists in the year before grunge took over. Which ones still rock? Which ones helped burn it all down? Let's look back.

Information

  • Creator
    Jeff Giles and Matt Wardlaw
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023 1991: The Year AOR Ate Itself
  • Show Website
    1991: The Year AOR Ate Itself