SKiP'D

Mike and Rob

https://linktr.ee/skipdpod SKiP’D is the ultimate music podcast for album aficionados & casual listeners alike. Each episode, hosts Mike & Rob press play on a listener’s pick to determine whether each album is so flawless you’d never skip a single track, or if it belongs in a skip. With expert storytelling, in-depth album deep dives, & the hosts infectious banter, every unskippable album becomes a rich journey. From hidden gems to classic masterpieces, Mike & Rob explore the stories behind each album, share trivia, & invite listeners to rediscover what makes each album truly unskippable.

  1. 1d ago

    Ep 65: Forever The Sickest Kids - 'Underdog Alma Mater'

    In episode sixty-five of Skip’d, Rob & Mike dive headfirst into the neon-soaked world of Forever the Sickest Kids and their 2008 debut album, Underdog Alma Mater. Arriving at the height of the pop-punk, emo-pop, and MySpace boom, the album released during a period when genre boundaries were becoming increasingly blurred, and Underdog Alma Mater fused pop-punk energy, glossy production, synth-pop flourishes, and infectious hooks into a relentlessly upbeat package. But nearly two decades later, does Underdog Alma Mater still stand as an underrated classic of the scene, or is it simply a time capsule from one of alternative music's most divisive eras? Rob & Mike explore whether the album's blend of pop and punk still feels fresh today, examine how it compares to other scene-era releases, and discuss whether its reputation has benefited from the current wave of emo and pop-punk nostalgia. This episode explores how the album earned its cult following, whether its songwriting has stood the test of time, and if its legacy is built on genuine musical quality, nostalgic affection, or a combination of the two. What's inside: A deep dive into the album's biggest tracks and whether Forever the Sickest Kids stand out in a crowded scene.A discussion on MySpace-era pop-punk and if Underdog Alma Mater deserves more respect in retrospective conversations.Reflections on how the album compares to other scene favourites from the late 2000s, and what role milennial nostalgia plays.Plus, a whole lot of Biddy Blas for no reason. Stream Skip’d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your audio fix. Got an album that's been worshipped, debated, over-praised, or under-appreciated? Send it our way. Rob & Mike will dive deep and decide whether it's truly unskippable.

  2. Oct 21

    EP 64: Crowded House - 'Woodface'

    In episode sixty-four of Skip’d, Rob & Mike turn their attention to Crowded House's 1991 album 'Woodface', an album often hailed as one of the finest examples of sophisticated pop-rock songwriting. Released during a period of transition for both Crowded House and the Finn brothers, Woodface emerged from a collection of songs originally intended for different projects before being woven together, the result was a record filled with rich harmonies, intricate arrangements, and some of the band's most beloved songs, including "Weather With You", "Four Seasons in One Day", and "Fall at Your Feet". Yet beneath its effortless melodies lies a deeper question: what exactly makes Woodface resonate so strongly with listeners more than three decades later? Rob & Mike explore whether the songwriting truly stands above its contemporaries, examine the distinctive partnership between Neil and Tim Finn, and discuss how the album manages to feel both deeply personal and universally relatable. From its radio staples to its hidden gems, this episode examines how the album achieved its reputation, whether its songwriting remains as powerful today as it was in 1991, and if its legacy is built on flawless craftsmanship, emotional honesty, timeless melodies, or a combination of all three. What's inside: A track-by-track exploration of Woodface and the songwriting partnership behind its most celebrated momentsA deep dive into the album's themes of love, change, identity, and emotional vulnerabilityReflections on whether Woodface represents the ultimate Crowded House album, Plus, heated debates over lyrics relating to God's underwear and early morning water Stream Skip’d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your audio fix. Got an album that's been worshipped, debated, over-praised, or under-appreciated? Send it our way. Rob & Mike will dive deep and decide whether it's truly unskippable.

  3. Oct 14

    Ep 63: Rush - 'Moving Pictures'

    Find all the links you need at https://linktr.ee/skipdpod In episode sixty‑three of Skip’d, Rob & Mike fire up their red Barchetta for Rush’s 'Moving Pictures'. Released in 1981, the album marked the peak of the band’s prog‑rock powers, balancing intricate time signatures, razor‑sharp musicianship and sci‑fi‑tinged songwriting with a newfound sense of focus and radio‑ready punch. Rob & Mike unpack how those choices shape the album’s identity, and dig into what has shaped its legacy. This episode also digs into why fans and critics still hold it up as the band’s defining statement, and what makes certain tracks sound more astonishing with every listen. From its famous opener to its sprawling, cinematic closer, this week the boys explore if all this and more make this album unskippable. What’s inside: A breakdown of the album’s prog‑rock sound and how its tighter, more concise structures shape the listening experienceA deep dive into key tracks and the themes of conformity, freedom and fame running through Neil Peart’s lyricA look at how Rush’s evolution from sprawling epics to sharper songcraft informs the album’s receptionPlus, an unexpected dose of Guitar Hero nostalgia Stream Skip’d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your audio fix. Got an album that surprised you, soothed you, or made you rethink an artist entirely? Send it our way. Rob & Mike will dive deep and decide if it’s truly unskippable.

  4. Oct 7

    Ep 62: Elton John - 'Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy'

    Find all the links you need at https://linktr.ee/skipdpod In episode sixty‑two of Skip'd, Rob & Mike saddle up for Elton John's Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. Released in 1975, the album marked a deeply personal turn, tracing the early struggles of Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin through piano‑driven pop, lush arrangements and warm, wistful storytelling that plays out like a musical autobiography. Rob & Mike unpack how those choices shape the album's identity, and dig into what has shaped its legacy, why it made chart history on release, and what makes certain tracks feel more poignant with every listen. From its sweeping opener to its quietly reflective closers, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is an album built on candour, craft and heart, and this episode explores if that makes it unskippable. What's inside: A breakdown of the album's piano‑pop sound and how its autobiographical structure shapes the listening experience.A deep dive into key tracks and the themes of ambition, doubt and friendship running through Taupin's lyrics.A look at how the Elton and Bernie partnership and their path to stardom inform the album's reception.Plus, memoirs of the tour that launched the record from Rob's own father-in-law. Stream Skip'd on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your audio fix. Got an album that surprised you, soothed you, or made you rethink an artist entirely? Send it our way. Rob & Mike will dive deep and decide if it's truly unskippable.

  5. Sep 30

    Ep 61: Kendrick Lamar - 'Good Kid M.A.A.D City'

    Find all the links you need at https://linktr.ee/skipdpod In episode sixty‑one of Skip'd, Rob & Mike take a drive through Compton with Kendrick Lamar's Good Kid, m.A.A.d City. Released in 2012, the album marked a breakthrough moment in modern hip‑hop, weaving cinematic storytelling, shifting flows and West Coast production into a coming‑of‑age narrative that plays out like a short film. Rob & Mike unpack how those choices shape the album's identity, and dig into what has shaped its legacy, why it's so often named among the greatest rap albums ever made, and what makes certain tracks land harder with every listen. From its skits and voicemails to its towering centrepieces, Good Kid, m.A.A.d City is an album built on ambition, tension and remarkable control, and this episode explores if that makes it unskippable. What's inside: A breakdown of the album's production and how its narrative structure shapes the listening experienceA deep dive into key tracks and the themes of temptation, violence and survival running through Lamar's writingA look at how Kendrick's rise and the Compton setting inform the album's receptionPlus, more evaluation of the black experience from a cripplingly white standpoint, like anyone needed anymore of that Stream Skip'd on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your audio fix. Got an album that surprised you, soothed you, or made you rethink an artist entirely? Send it our way. Rob & Mike will dive deep and decide if it's truly unskippable.

About

https://linktr.ee/skipdpod SKiP’D is the ultimate music podcast for album aficionados & casual listeners alike. Each episode, hosts Mike & Rob press play on a listener’s pick to determine whether each album is so flawless you’d never skip a single track, or if it belongs in a skip. With expert storytelling, in-depth album deep dives, & the hosts infectious banter, every unskippable album becomes a rich journey. From hidden gems to classic masterpieces, Mike & Rob explore the stories behind each album, share trivia, & invite listeners to rediscover what makes each album truly unskippable.