Anything But Toto

Anything But Toto
  • 3.5 (2)
  • Music Commentary
  • Updated Monthly

Anything But Toto is a pop culture and current events podcast. Join Bianca and Julian as they dig into music, movies, TV, news, and celebrity gossip. You never know who or what will be discussed next, but rest assured, this is a Toto-free space.

  1. 11h ago

    Ep. 35: “The End of Wanting” - Phoebe, Ariana & Role Model

    Movie classics, Beatles discourse, and three of pop’s biggest new releases - Bianca and Julian are back with another sprawling music roundup. They kick things off with two recent watches: Sidney Lumet’s timeless "Dog Day Afternoon" and Matt Johnson’s new Anthony Bourdain biopic, "Tony", before weighing in on the internet’s latest obsession: the flood of set photos from Sam Mendes’ four Beatles biopics. Then it’s time for the music. First up is Phoebe Bridgers’ "Lost Weekend", a haunting meditation on grief, memory, and the strange ways we revisit the past. Bianca and Julian unpack how Bridgers transforms the death of her father and a broken engagement into one of her most cinematic records yet, exploring Jack Antonoff’s fragmented production, the album’s shifting sense of time, and - because they can’t help themselves - a deep dive into the Phoebe Bridgers and Bo Burnham lore. Next comes Ariana Grande’s "petal," an album that feels furious without ever raising its voice. They explore its restrained emotional palette, the tension between vulnerability and anger, and how the recent discourse surrounding Ariana’s public image has shaped the conversation around the music itself. A quick detour brings them to Slayyyter’s “brand new chanel$”, the explosive lead single from her upcoming album "WOR$T MAN IN AMERICA" - and they make the case that it’s already one of the strongest pop songs of the past decade. Finally, they close with Role Model’s "Chuck Timely & The Hourglass", a concept album steeped in early ’70s Americana. Bianca and Julian wrestle with what the album’s concept is really trying to say, and where the line lies between homage and innovation. Email us: anythingbuttoto@gmail.com Theme music by: Daniel Konikoff

  2. Jul 31

    Ep. 34: "SS26 Pop Music Roundup" - Charli, Gracie, Madonna & The Strokes

    Summer is in full swing, pop music is in overdrive, and Bianca and Julian are back with one of their biggest episodes yet. Before anything else, they kick things off with an exciting announcement about the future direction of Anything But Toto—and what listeners can expect from the show going forward. First, they catch up on life lately: Bianca reports back from seeing Tame Impala twice in Toronto (with Djo opening), and the duo shares their thoughts on recent films, including The Invite and The Odyssey. Then it's onto the main event: a deep dive into the state of pop music in the spring and summer of 2026. Bianca and Julian begin with Gracie Abrams' third album, Daughter From Hell, unpacking its lyrical perspective, sonic evolution (or stagnation?), and the ongoing conversation surrounding her creative partnership with Audrey Hobert. From there, they tackle Charli XCX's Music, Fashion, Film - a record preceded by two years of expectation management and one that raises bigger questions about artistic reinvention, the 2000s pop rock revival, and whether form can outweigh substance. Next up is The Strokes' Reality Awaits, perhaps the most divisive release of the season. Is it a bold, high concept experiment or simply autotuned slop? Bianca and Julian weigh both sides before giving their verdict. Finally, they close things out on the dance floor with reviews of Madonna's Confessions II and a quick discussion of Slayyyter's upcoming Worst Man in America. Whether you're looking for album reviews, pop culture analysis, or an unreasonably long conversation about the biggest music releases of the spring and summer, this episode has you covered. Email us: anythingbuttoto@gmail.com Theme music by: Daniel Konikoff

  3. Jun 30

    Ep. 33: "Real Big Expectations" - A Review of Olivia Rodrigo's you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love

    This month, Bianca and Julian return to the first artist they ever reviewed - singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo, and her third album "you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love". But first, they catch up on some current events, including Paul McCartney's Wings-inspired new album, "The Boys of Dungeon Lane", and Taylor Swift's #1 hit contribution to the Toy Story 5 soundtrack - "I Knew It, I Knew You". Then it's all in on Olivia Rodrigo and her new record. Bianca and Julian discuss her lyrical perspective, vocal abilities, and musical nods to other artists (*ahem* The Cure...). They also delve into her falling out with Taylor Swift, her upcoming festival Daisy Chain Fields, and her position as The Voice of Gen Z Angst.   Is this album Cure cosplay? Is the talk singing overdone? Is Brandi Carlile trying to sneak into various celebrity wills? Listen to find out! Email us at anythingbuttoto@gmail.com Theme song by Daniel Konikoff

  4. May 29

    Ep. 32: "Toto Rides West" - Reviewing 5 New Country Hits

    Dusty roads stretch west, the speaker crackles, and Bianca and Julian saddle up for an unexpected detour - Anything But Toto goes country. In this episode, they put their long-held assumptions about the genre to the test with a blind review of the five biggest country songs currently dominating the charts. For two self-professed skeptics of Nashville’s clichés, political baggage, and bro-country stereotypes, it’s an experiment in open-minded listening. Will they strike gold... or just more rhinestones in the rough? Before riding west, they catch up on some current events: the release of The Lemon Twigs’ new album Look For Your Mind! and their bizarre Toronto concert experience, which sparks a broader conversation about concert etiquette and social awareness. They also discuss the backlash surrounding Harry Styles’ Together Together tour controversy, and celebrate the ongoing Canadiana cinema renaissance, with love for films like Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, Mile End Kicks, and Blue Heron. Then it’s onto country. Bianca and Julian unpack their history with the genre, from observing the suburban millennial migration away from hip-hop and toward country, to the political and cultural forces that may have shaped that shift. Along the way, they revisit some of their favourite country-adjacent songs and trace the genre’s many stylistic branches - from California country to polished pop-country crossovers, with stops at everyone from Glen Campbell and Eagles to Shaboozey and Taylor Swift. And then comes the main event: the Billboard Top 5. What begins as a broad review quickly becomes an unofficial review of Ella Langley’s singles, with appearances from Stella Lefty, Luke Combs, and Kacey Musgraves along the way. Do they find the needle in the haystack? The diamond in the dust? You’ll have to listen to find out. Share your favourite country songs at anythingbuttoto@gmail.com Theme music by: Daniel Konikoff

  5. Apr 27

    Ep. 31: “I’m Actually Kinda Famou$” - A Review of Slayyyter’s WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA

    Bianca and Julian are back for Episode 31 — a deep dive into Slayyyter’s WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA. With this visual album generating industry buzz, they take on what might be the heaviest album they’ve covered yet; it’s apocalyptic, metal and ironic, and somehow still fun. But does Slayyyter’s vision fully land? Before getting into the album, they catch up on current events: they break down Coachella 2026 — from Sabrina Carpenter’s ambitious set (and its pacing issues) to Justin Bieber’s polarizing laptop set.  Then it’s all Slayyyter. Bianca and Julian explore what makes her such a compelling, DIY voice right now: the financial anxiety, the cinephilia, the “sunshine melancholy,” and her ability to turn hyper-specific experiences into something strangely universal. They unpack her concept of “party in the face of hopelessness,” her fascination with 2000s iPod music, and why that recession-pop aesthetic feels eerily perfect for the current moment. They dig into her songwriting, vocal performances (and character voices), production choices, and visual world, including the influence of David Lynch’s Inland Empire. Along the way, they ask the big questions: would Karl Marx have loved Slayyyter? And how does Bianca really feel about Tate McRae? So charge your iPod, press play, and “dance like it’s the apocalypse.”   Email us at anythingbuttoto@gmail.com Theme music by Daniel Konikoff Follow Bianca’s new Substack, “After Hours”, and read her latest essay, “Those Hips Will Never Fly You to Paris”: https://substack.com/home/post/p-194630536

  6. Mar 30

    Ep. 30: “Dance No More” - A Review of Harry Styles’ Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.

    Anything But Toto has entered its dirty thirties! To celebrate, Bianca and Julian dive into a full-length, in-depth review of Harry Styles’ fourth solo album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.  But first, a quick detour into the headlines: a string of Chappell Roan controversies and what they say about boundaries. Then it’s onto Harry. Is this album a trend-chasing identity crisis or a bold statement? Bianca and Julian unpack the record as both experiment and homage, tracing its sonic lineage (with special attention given to LCD Soundsystem) while questioning whether Harry fully commits to new wave and dance rock’s emotional and vocal demands. Over the course of their review, they also discuss concept albums, “musical geographic universes,” the importance of vocal expressiveness in new wave, and (somehow) cartoon villains and “popping” kneecaps. Also covered is Harry’s One Night in Manchester concert film, his BRIT Awards dance, and the controversy surrounding the Together Together tour. As always, the conversation goes beyond the music itself: what does this album reveal about Harry’s brand, his artistic instincts, and his place in pop right now? It isn’t quite “spiritual experience on a Berlin dance floor”, but it gets close! Follow Bianca’s new Substack, “After Hours”, and read her first article “My Formal Resignation as an OG Harry Styles Fan”: https://biancatomori.substack.com/p/my-formal-resignation-as-an-og-harry?r=45y62n&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true  What do you think of this album? Let us know at anythingbuttoto@gmail.com Theme music by Daniel Konikoff

  7. Feb 27

    Ep. 29: "Here's the Thing" - 10 Recent Rock Songs on Rotation

    Rock music may be absent from the Grammys stage, but is it actually making a comeback? In this episode, Bianca and Julian ask a simple question: is 2026 the year rock re-enters the mainstream? After noticing the genre’s total disappearance from Grammy broadcasts, they put Bianca’s bold prediction to the test with a curated list of ten recent rock songs they can’t stop playing. The only rules: no artists previously covered on the show, all somewhat new artists, and all recent releases. From the midwest slacker energy of MJ Lenderman, to the emotional gut punch of Hayley Williams, and the hardcore-by-way-of-Gwen Stefani sound of Turnstile, they make the case that guitars are far from dead. Before diving in, they catch up on a few current events: head scratching moments from the 2026 Grammys (including the eligibility debate around Billie Eilish's Wildflowers and the lack of a proper tribute to Brian Wilson) and highlights from Bad Bunny’s stellar Super Bowl performance. It’s part culture check-in, part rock manifesto - and a reminder that just because something isn’t televised doesn’t mean it isn’t thriving. Email us: anythingbuttoto@gmail.com Theme music by: Daniel Konikoff

  8. Jan 26

    Ep. 28: “Ruminating Ruminating” - A Review of Lily Allen’s West End Girl

    Bianca and Julian are back with their first episode of 2026....which ironically is a deep dive into one of the most talked-about pop releases of 2025: Lily Allen’s West End Girl. The episode opens with some scene-setting - pop music predictions for 2026 (is 2010s nostalgia closer than we think?), plus an explanation of the Khia Asylum and who currently resides there. From there, the focus turns to West End Girl, Lily Allen’s viral fifth studio album, which has already been compared to such classics as “Jolene,” “You Oughta Know,” and “You’re So Vain.” Bianca and Julian revisit Lily’s career and public image, from her early hits and tabloid notoriety to her lasting influence on the pop girls of the 2020s. They also discuss her marriage to David Harbour - including that unsettling AD house tour - before moving into a track-by-track breakdown of the album. Along the way, they propose a central idea: that West End Girl is built around a tension between the classical and the contemporary, reflected in its themes, sound, and packaging. The conversation broadens to include the history of concept albums and what it means for a pop record to be this cohesive. Why don't more celebrities talk about mortgages? What the hell is a "medicator"? Did Lily rip of this show's theme song?! Listen to find out! Email us: anythingbuttoto@gmail.com Theme music by: Daniel Konikoff

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Ratings & Reviews

3.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Anything But Toto is a pop culture and current events podcast. Join Bianca and Julian as they dig into music, movies, TV, news, and celebrity gossip. You never know who or what will be discussed next, but rest assured, this is a Toto-free space.

Information

  • Creator
    Anything But Toto
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Anything But Toto

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