Skip or Repeat

Troy Owens
  • 5.0 (7)
  • MUSIC HISTORY

We tell the untold stories of the best artists' worst albums. Did they deserve to bomb? Why hasn’t anyone heard of them?

  1. 14 - The Beach Boys: Summer In Paradise (Part Five)

    08/13/2025

    14 - The Beach Boys: Summer In Paradise (Part Five)

    In Part 5, Bryan Hall and I wrap up our track-by-track review of Summer in Paradise and try to make sense of the last half of the album. Along the way, we wrestle with eco-anthems, doo-wop detours, and some baffling production choices. Then we zoom out to ask the bigger questions: What was this album trying to be? What did it mean for The Beach Boys? And how did Mike Love end up both steering the ship and setting it on fire? Is the album a skip or repeat? Listen to find out. Want to rediscover The Beach Boys before this series? I made a playlist to get you all caught up. Listen on Apple Music or Spotify. Listen to Summer in Paradise on YouTube here, or in high quality here. (It's not on any streaming service...) Sources: Book: Good Vibrations: My Life As A Beach Boy (by Mike Love)Book: Catch a Wave (by Peter Aimes Carlin)Video: CNBC "The Real Story" (July '91)Video: Mike & Bruce on Maury Povich (June 14 '92)Video: The Infamous Goldmine Levitation Interview (July '92)Video: Mike & Bruce on MuchMusic (Aug '92)Video: Mike Interview in Finland (June 15 '93)Video: Beach Boys Reunion, Studio Session, and Interviews (1995)Video: John Stamos on Kelly ClarksonArticle: The untold story of 'Kokomo,' the Beach Boys' most annoying songArticle: Low Tide: The Beach Boys Hit Rock Bottom in 1992 with 'Summer In Paradise'Article: The Number Ones: The Beach Boys’ “Kokomo”Article: In 1992 The Beach Boys released Summer In Paradise. It was so bad it took them 20 years to put out another albumArticle: John Stamos Remembers Beach Boys Bandmate Jeff Foskett: 'I Can't Express How He Changed My Life'Article: The Beach Boys 1992 Flop Summer in Paradise Was All About Mike Love, Drum Machines and a Horrifying Foray into Hip HopArticle: John Stamos Is on Mike Love’s SideSend us a text Follow the podcast on Instagram!

    1h 13m
  2. 13 - The Beach Boys: Summer In Paradise (Part Four)

    08/06/2025

    13 - The Beach Boys: Summer In Paradise (Part Four)

    In part 4 we begin our track-by-track review of Summer in Paradise, breaking down the first half of the album. Bryan and I talk through lyrics, production, intentions, and what it all says about where the band was in 1992. Somehow it gets more confusing the deeper you go. Want to rediscover The Beach Boys before this series? I made a playlist to get you all caught up. Listen on Apple Music or Spotify. Listen to Summer in Paradise on YouTube here, or in high quality here. (It's not on any streaming service...) Sources: Book: Good Vibrations: My Life As A Beach Boy (by Mike Love)Book: Catch a Wave (by Peter Aimes Carlin)Video: CNBC "The Real Story" (July '91)Video: Mike & Bruce on Maury Povich (June 14 '92)Video: The Infamous Goldmine Levitation Interview (July '92)Video: Mike & Bruce on MuchMusic (Aug '92)Video: Mike Interview in Finland (June 15 '93)Video: Beach Boys Reunion, Studio Session, and Interviews (1995)Video: John Stamos on Kelly ClarksonArticle: The untold story of 'Kokomo,' the Beach Boys' most annoying songArticle: Low Tide: The Beach Boys Hit Rock Bottom in 1992 with 'Summer In Paradise'Article: The Number Ones: The Beach Boys’ “Kokomo”Article: In 1992 The Beach Boys released Summer In Paradise. It was so bad it took them 20 years to put out another albumArticle: John Stamos Remembers Beach Boys Bandmate Jeff Foskett: 'I Can't Express How He Changed My Life'Article: The Beach Boys 1992 Flop Summer in Paradise Was All About Mike Love, Drum Machines and a Horrifying Foray into Hip HopArticle: John Stamos Is on Mike Love’s SideSend us a text Follow the podcast on Instagram!

    1h 6m
  3. 12 - The Beach Boys: Summer In Paradise (Part Three)

    07/30/2025

    12 - The Beach Boys: Summer In Paradise (Part Three)

    Part 3 takes us inside the making of Summer in Paradise, where we get some questionable decisions made leading up to the storm... We look at how Mike and Terry assembled a committee to write and record a “definitive soundtrack of summer,” complete with covers, hip hop beats, metal guitars, and lyrics about saving the planet. Sort of. Want to rediscover The Beach Boys before this series? I made a playlist to get you all caught up. Listen on Apple Music or Spotify. Listen to Summer in Paradise on YouTube here, or in high quality here. (It's not on any streaming service...) Sources: Book: Good Vibrations: My Life As A Beach Boy (by Mike Love)Book: Catch a Wave (by Peter Aimes Carlin)Video: CNBC "The Real Story" (July '91)Video: Mike & Bruce on Maury Povich (June 14 '92)Video: The Infamous Goldmine Levitation Interview (July '92)Video: Mike & Bruce on MuchMusic (Aug '92)Video: Mike Interview in Finland (June 15 '93)Video: Beach Boys Reunion, Studio Session, and Interviews (1995)Video: John Stamos on Kelly ClarksonArticle: The untold story of 'Kokomo,' the Beach Boys' most annoying songArticle: Low Tide: The Beach Boys Hit Rock Bottom in 1992 with 'Summer In Paradise'Article: The Number Ones: The Beach Boys’ “Kokomo”Article: In 1992 The Beach Boys released Summer In Paradise. It was so bad it took them 20 years to put out another albumArticle: John Stamos Remembers Beach Boys Bandmate Jeff Foskett: 'I Can't Express How He Changed My Life'Article: The Beach Boys 1992 Flop Summer in Paradise Was All About Mike Love, Drum Machines and a Horrifying Foray into Hip HopArticle: John Stamos Is on Mike Love’s SideSend us a text Follow the podcast on Instagram!

    1h 28m
  4. 11 - The Beach Boys: Summer In Paradise (Part Two)

    07/23/2025

    11 - The Beach Boys: Summer In Paradise (Part Two)

    In Part 2, I'm joined by Bryan Hall as we explore how The Beach Boys got here... from the success of "Kokomo" to the idea that they could maybe keep the train rolling without Brian Wilson. We talk about the state of the band in the early '90s, the missing voices, the strange optimism, and how Terry Melcher and Mike Love ended up behind the wheel. Want to rediscover The Beach Boys before this series? I made a playlist to get you all caught up. Listen on Apple Music or Spotify.  Listen to Summer in Paradise on YouTube here, or in high quality here. (It's not on any streaming service...) Sources: Book: Good Vibrations: My Life As A Beach Boy (by Mike Love)Book: Catch a Wave (by Peter Aimes Carlin)Video: CNBC "The Real Story" (July '91)Video: Mike & Bruce on Maury Povich (June 14 '92)Video: The Infamous Goldmine Levitation Interview (July '92)Video: Mike & Bruce on MuchMusic (Aug '92)Video: Mike Interview in Finland (June 15 '93)Video: Beach Boys Reunion, Studio Session, and Interviews (1995)Video: John Stamos on Kelly ClarksonArticle: The untold story of 'Kokomo,' the Beach Boys' most annoying songArticle: Low Tide: The Beach Boys Hit Rock Bottom in 1992 with 'Summer In Paradise'Article: The Number Ones: The Beach Boys’ “Kokomo”Article: In 1992 The Beach Boys released Summer In Paradise. It was so bad it took them 20 years to put out another albumArticle: John Stamos Remembers Beach Boys Bandmate Jeff Foskett: 'I Can't Express How He Changed My Life'Article: The Beach Boys 1992 Flop Summer in Paradise Was All About Mike Love, Drum Machines and a Horrifying Foray into Hip HopArticle: John Stamos Is on Mike Love’s SideSend us a text Follow the podcast on Instagram!

    1h 15m
  5. 10 - The Beach Boys: Summer In Paradise (Part One)

    07/16/2025

    10 - The Beach Boys: Summer In Paradise (Part One)

    In our 4th series, we're tackling The Beach Boys 1992 album Summer in Paradise with guest Bryan Hall. In Part 1, we go back to the early days of The Beach Boys to understand how one of America’s most innovative bands slowly transformed into a nostalgia act. We'll trace the group’s rise, Brian Wilson’s brilliance (and burnout), and how Mike Love managed to keep the name alive long enough to eventually... do this... thing. Want to rediscover The Beach Boys before this series? I made a playlist to get you all caught up. Listen on Apple Music or Spotify. Listen to Summer in Paradise on YouTube here, or in high quality here. (It's not on any streaming service...) Sources: Book: Good Vibrations: My Life As A Beach Boy (by Mike Love)Book: Catch a Wave (by Peter Aimes Carlin)Video: CNBC "The Real Story" (July '91)Video: Mike & Bruce on Maury Povich (June 14 '92)Video: The Infamous Goldmine Levitation Interview (July '92)Video: Mike & Bruce on MuchMusic (Aug '92)Video: Mike Interview in Finland (June 15 '93)Video: Beach Boys Reunion, Studio Session, and Interviews (1995)Video: John Stamos on Kelly ClarksonArticle: The untold story of 'Kokomo,' the Beach Boys' most annoying songArticle: Low Tide: The Beach Boys Hit Rock Bottom in 1992 with 'Summer In Paradise'Article: The Number Ones: The Beach Boys’ “Kokomo”Article: In 1992 The Beach Boys released Summer In Paradise. It was so bad it took them 20 years to put out another albumArticle: John Stamos Remembers Beach Boys Bandmate Jeff Foskett: 'I Can't Express How He Changed My Life'Article: The Beach Boys 1992 Flop Summer in Paradise Was All About Mike Love, Drum Machines and a Horrifying Foray into Hip HopArticle: John Stamos Is on Mike Love’s SideSend us a text Follow the podcast on Instagram!

    1h 6m
  6. 9 - Joni Mitchell: Dog Eat Dog (Part Four)

    08/01/2024

    9 - Joni Mitchell: Dog Eat Dog (Part Four)

    In this 4 part series, we dive into Joni Mitchell's 1985 album "Dog Eat Dog," a polarizing departure from her iconic 1960s folk roots. Embracing the digital soundscapes of the time, Joni channeled her frustration with the era's religious, political, and social controversies into a blunt political statement. Joining us to dissect this controversial chapter in Jon''s career is Jacob Ketcham. In this episode (Part 4) I'll explain the background of each track and Jacob and I will give our thoughts and reviews for each one. Afterwards we'll assess the album as a whole and answer the question, skip or repeat? Listen to the Primer Playlist on Apple Music or Spotify Listen to Dog Eat Dog on Apple Music or Spotify Sources (linked on Google Doc because it wouldn't let me list them all here) 3 Books24 Articles12 Youtube Videos11 Podcast Episodes The original Dog Eat Dog painting, The Shiny Toys single art, and my attempt at what could have been the original album art (Google Drive). Send us a text Follow the podcast on Instagram!

    58 min
  7. 8 - Joni Mitchell: Dog Eat Dog (Part Three)

    07/30/2024

    8 - Joni Mitchell: Dog Eat Dog (Part Three)

    In this 4 part series, we dive into Joni Mitchell's 1985 album "Dog Eat Dog," a polarizing departure from her iconic 1960s folk roots. Embracing the digital soundscapes of the time, Joni channeled her frustration with the era's religious, political, and social controversies into a blunt political statement. Joining us to dissect this controversial chapter in Jon''s career is Jacob Ketcham. In this episode (Part 3) we will discuss the tense recording sessions and the release of Dog Eat Dog, what songs were popular in 1985, the reception of the album, and why we think it failed. Listen to the Primer Playlist on Apple Music or Spotify Listen to Dog Eat Dog on Apple Music or Spotify Sources (linked on Google Doc because it wouldn't let me list them all here) 3 Books24 Articles12 Youtube Videos11 Podcast Episodes The original Dog Eat Dog painting, The Shiny Toys single art, and my attempt at what could have been the original album art (Google Drive). Send us a text Follow the podcast on Instagram!

    1h 12m
  8. 7 - Joni Mitchell: Dog Eat Dog (Part Two)

    07/25/2024

    7 - Joni Mitchell: Dog Eat Dog (Part Two)

    In this 4 part series, we dive into Joni Mitchell's 1985 album "Dog Eat Dog," a polarizing departure from her iconic 1960s folk roots. Embracing the digital soundscapes of the time, Joni channeled her frustration with the era's religious, political, and social controversies into a blunt political statement. Joining us to dissect this controversial chapter in Jon''s career is Jacob Ketcham. In this episode (Part 2) we are continuing to talk about the controversial 80's and why they made Joni so angry. There's plenty of political content here, so buckle up. Listen to the Primer Playlist on Apple Music or Spotify Listen to Dog Eat Dog on Apple Music or Spotify Sources (linked on Google Doc because it wouldn't let me list them all here) 3 Books24 Articles12 Youtube Videos11 Podcast Episodes The original Dog Eat Dog painting, The Shiny Toys single art, and my attempt at what could have been the original album art (Google Drive). Send us a text Follow the podcast on Instagram!

    52 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

We tell the untold stories of the best artists' worst albums. Did they deserve to bomb? Why hasn’t anyone heard of them?

Information

  • Creator
    Troy Owens
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Skip or Repeat
  • Show Website
    Skip or Repeat