Spin It! The Record Ranking Podcast

James & Connor
  • 5.0 (7)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Record Ranking Podcast for people who would rather be listening to music. Each week James and Connor give their spin on a popular album. James has listened to each one dozens of times, but Connor's only heard them once. Come check out our unprofessional insights and learn a little more about the music you love from every genre, artist, and era! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Hallelujah, I Love Her So - Ray Charles | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 247

    5D AGO

    Hallelujah, I Love Her So - Ray Charles | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 247

    Hallelujah, We Love Him So! We're doing the Mess Around back to the earliest days of soul music with The Genius, Ray Charles, and his self-titled 1957 debut LP! After a childhood marked by tragedy, Ray Charles learned to read braille sheet music and arrange songs. After moving from coast to coast and back again to find work, Ray's intuition for melody and his passionate vocals finally started to land him on the charts and earn record deals. His eponymous album (later reissued as "Hallelujah, I Love Her So) features fourteen of his biggest early hits, from the wailing Drown In My Own Tears to the zip and pep of I've Got A Woman! He would change the course of music as we know it... but how does this early record compare? After learning all about Charles' past, we invite The Mixtaper back for some Fact Or Spin! He'll teach us about Ray's affinity for chess, an improvised scramble that turned into a crossover pop hit, and we'll explore the fascinating world of limited edition postage stamps. Then we break down the album track by track and discover what exactly about his music makes him a legend. We'll talk nostalgia, famous covers, and anagrams as we learn to Care Rashly about Ray Charles this week! Are any of these tracks sleeper hits for you? Did you look up all the interesting new stamps after the episode (like we did)? Had you ever heard the word "philatelic" before? Be honest. Like, subscribe, rate, comment, follow... do all the things and we'll see you next week for another album! Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 3:17 About Ray Charles 11:34 About Hallelujah I Love Her So 18:40 Awards & Accolades 20:20 Fact Or Spin 21:13 He's A Chess Grandmaster 30:54 He Ran Out Of Songs 35:05 He Has Memory Expansion 37:58 He Has A Unique Stamp 47:44 Album Art 50:49 Ain't That Love 52:29 Drown In My Own Tears 55:12 Come Back Baby 56:57 Sinner's Prayer 58:12 Funny (But I Still Love You) 59:44 Losing Hand 1:01:05 A Fool For You 1:02:02 Hallelujah, I Love Her So 1:04:08 Mess Around 1:06:06 This Little Girl Of Mine 1:07:09 Mary Ann 1:08:16 Greenbacks 1:10:09 Don't You Know 1:11:15 I've Got A Woman 1:13:38 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 21m
  2. Rio - Duran Duran | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 246

    MAR 27

    Rio - Duran Duran | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 246

    We're dancing on the sand this week as we rank and review Rio, the sophomore album by Duran Duran and a staple of the early '80s New Romantics movement. Featuring some of the band's biggest hits in Hungry Like The Wolf, Save A Prayer, and the title track, this record also includes some cult classics like the ambient soundscape of The Chauffeur! Learn how the Fab Five leveraged provocative music videos to dominate MTV and lead the charge for the Second British Invasion. Rio is a meticulously constructed record, with a vibrant energy and a cigar-inspired aesthetic to match. How will they fare in our ratings? James & Connor will talk about their love for early '80s music. Then we get into the band's sci-fi name origins, Girls On Film, and the three unrelated Taylors. The Mixtaper Mixtaper is back for Fact Or Spin, where we set sail on Drum The Cursed Yacht, flee some non-imminent bulls, and talk about the 1987 hit movie Mannequin. We learn all about the dangers of shooting videos in Antigua and Sri Lanka, discover the role Hungry Like The Wolf played in a grisly murder trial, and explore the loving intervention behind Hold Back The Rain. It's a one-of-a-kind episode for a one-of-a-kind band! Would you ever wear such sharp earrings? How hungry do you think a wolf can get? Do you prefer the band's energetic new wave sound or the sweeping soundscape of The Chauffeur? Let us know in the comments and on social media! Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 2:31 About Duran Duran 8:55 About Rio 19:03 Awards & Accolades 19:40 Fact Or Spin 21:09 Duran Dudrum 29:34 Duran Duryachtin' 33:51 Duran Durunning With The Bulls 36:29 Duran Durannequins 42:20 Album Art 44:31 Rio 47:36 My Own Way 50:00 Lonely In Your Nightmare 51:30 Hungry Like The Wolf 56:03 Hold Back The Rain 57:39 New Religion 59:07 Last Chance On The Stairway 1:00:07 Save A Prayer 1:02:42 The Chauffeur 1:04:17 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 12m
  3. Rascal Flatts (2000) - Rascal Flatts | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 245

    MAR 20

    Rascal Flatts (2000) - Rascal Flatts | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 245

    If you've been Waiting All Your Life for a follow-up to our Rascal Flatts episode (18), this is your time!! With the band officially re-formed and on their own redemption tour, we figured the Year Of Redemption was the perfect time to check out their self-titled debut album! After Me And My Gang pierced our nostalgic rose-colored glasses, we'll learn if getting right down to the DNA of Rascal Flatts' boy band-esque country sound can recalibrate our perceptions. After a fortuitous founding in a Nashville club, Jay, Gary, and Joe Don introduced themselves to the world with memorable tracks like Prayin' For Daylight, This Everyday Love, and I'm Movin' On. With sleek harmonies, hooky choruses, and a family-friendly polish, find out what's made the band so unreplicatable over the decades. James & Connor will talk about why Me And My Gang went sideways and dive deeper into the band's founding. A lot has changed since Episode 18! We'll revisit Hot Chicken Takeover (RIP) and the creation of Spinny, and then talk about what Rascal Flatts has been up to for the last five years (and why reunion seemed so out of reach)! Then The Mixtaper shocks us during Fact Or Spin as we learn the expensive REAL origins behind the band's name, visit a secret supper club, and learn to Walk The Llama Llama... it's truly deep-cut, must-see Rascal Flatts lore. Some Say it's a redemption, I say... take a listen and decide for yourself this week. Do you feel the Rascal Flatts nostalgia? Are you more into the rock-leaning Me And My Gang, or the sleek polish of their 2000 debut? Did you ever imagine they'd collab with the JONAS BROTHERS?! Let us know your rascaliest, flattest thoughts in the comments and on social media! Like and subscribe for more next week!  Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 0:26 Last Time: Me & My Gang 6:24 About Rascal Flatts (The Band) 8:44 About Rascal Flatts (The Album) 16:56 The Reunion! 19:50 Awards & Accolades 20:57 Fact Or Spin 22:22 They Are Rascal Flatts 2.0 27:46 Gary's Secret Supper Club 31:27 They Were Almost In The Emperor's New Groove 37:55 Jay DeMarcus Got Electrocuted 43:46 Album Art 44:19 Prayin' For Daylight 46:43 This Everyday Love 49:23 While You Loved Me 52:29 Some Say 54:03 See Me Through 56:28 One Good Love 57:59 It's Not Just Me 59:22 Waiting All My Life 1:00:41 From Time To Time 1:02:44 Long Slow Beautiful Dance 1:05:25 I'm Movin' On 1:07:42 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 15m
  4. A (Movie) Score To Settle - March Madness 2026: Episode 244

    MAR 13

    A (Movie) Score To Settle - March Madness 2026: Episode 244

    Lights, camera, action! March Madness is in full swing, and this year we're breaking down a bracket of 36 iconic MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS! With four quadrants representing different genres and showcasing four facets of a meaningful soundtrack, this lineup is guaranteed to set the scene, get your adrenaline pumping, and tug at your heartstrings. Our audience had the opportunity to rank and score each song to determine our winners, and James and Connor are here to see how their personal brackets held up to public opinion. From the rich worlds of Middle Earth to a galaxy far, far away, from action heroes like Indiana Jones to James Bond, and from shark attacks to shower scares, this bracket has it all. We'll talk briefly about our experience with each movie and get to the bottom of what makes each score so special. We'll learn about iconic composers like John Williams, Hans Zimmer, and Alan Silvestri along the way! Each head-to-head matchup is a VERY close race, and every round is a chance at elimination. Who will rise to the top? Can we settle the score in 2026?! Did the audience's votes match your own bracket? What movies did we over/underhype and what else would you like to see represented? Let us know in the comments and on socials! Happy March Madness!  Find playlists for each of these songs here: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Ni4rnoeOp4DePi0mvzVeL?si=355aa17a8be64ea7 YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYumnChiw_I-rd015bWlwULcKuxx-mbhX&si=q9Z79YAcUCH93hsE Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 4:20 This Year's Bracket: Rules, Regions, And Voting 9:40 Opening Ceremony 12:57 Region One: Epic Worlds 13:46 Epic Worlds Round 1.1: Binary Sunset (Star Wars) vs. Test Drive (How To Train Your Dragon) 20:06 Epic Worlds Round 1.2: Welcome To Jurassic Park (Jurassic Park) vs. Now We Are Free (Gladiator) 24:48 Epic Worlds Round 1.3: Hedwig's Theme (Harry Potter) vs. The Medallion Calls (Pirates Of The Caribbean) 30:52 Epic Worlds Round 1.4: Concerning Hobbits (Lord Of The Rings) vs. Ripples In The Sand (Dune) 34:32 Epic Worlds: Round 2.1 37:22 Epic Worlds: Round 2.2 38:10 Epic Worlds: Round 3.1 40:08 Region Two: Action & Adventure 40:11 Action & Adventure Round 1.1: Desert Chase (Indiana Jones) vs. Komodo Dragon (James Bond: Skyfall) 45:08 Action & Adventure Round 1.2: Time (Inception) vs. Stairs And Rooftops (Mission Impossible: Fallout) 49:36 Action & Adventure Round 1.3: Portals (Avengers Endgame) vs. Storm Is Coming (Mad Max Fury Road) 54:01 Action & Adventure Round 1.4: Like A Dog Chasing Cars (The Dark Knight) vs. The Clock Tower (Back To The Future) 57:47 Action & Adventure: Round 2.1 58:35 Action & Adventure: Round 2.2 1:00:59 Action & Adventure: Round 3.1 1:03:28 Region Three: Tear Duct Titans 1:03:42 Tear Duct Titans Round 1.1: Rose (Titanic) vs. Flying Theme (E.T.) 1:08:05 Tear Duct Titans Round 1.2: No Time For Caution (Interstellar) vs. The Feather Theme (Forrest Gump) 1:11:06 Tear Duct Titans Round 1.3: The King Of Pride Rock (The Lion King) vs. Going The Distance (Rocky) 1:15:13 Tear Duct Titans Round 1.4: Married Life (Up) vs. Immolation (Schindler's List) 1:18:08 Tear Duct Titans: Round 2.1 1:19:12 Tear Duct Titans: Round 2.2 1:19:57 Tear Duct Titans: Round 3.1 1:21:07 Region Four: Fear & Tension 1:21:14 Fear & Tension Round 1.1: The Shark Approaches (Jaws) vs. Beau's Death Theme (A Quiet Place) 1:24:51 Fear & Tension Round 1.2: Supermarine (Dunkirk) vs. In Motion (The Social Network) 1:28:13 Fear & Tension Round 1.3: Trinity (Oppenheimer) vs. The Beast (Sicario) 1:31:03 Fear & Tension Round 1.4: The Murder (Psycho) vs. Tubular Bells (The Exorcist) 1:36:28 Fear & Tension: Round 2.1 1:36:59 Fear & Tension: Round 2.2 1:38:23 Fear & Tension: Round 3.1 1:39:54 The FINAL FOUR 1:40:11 Round 4.1 1:41:40 Round 4.2 1:44:04 The FINAL SHOWDOWN 1:47:37 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 52m
  5. Ready To Die - The Notorious B.I.G. | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 243

    MAR 6

    Ready To Die - The Notorious B.I.G. | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 243

    The Notorious B.I.G. lived his life Ready To Die, and he set out to prove it to the world with his 1994 debut album... Ready To Die. After walking away from a straight-A career to enter the world of drug dealing and rap, Christopher George Latore Wallace (or, as you may know him, Biggie Smalls) became THE dominant force in the thriving East Coast hip-hop scene. His music was unfiltered, witty, and raw. It didn't glamourize or sugarcoat his lifestyle, but also highlighted his lighthearted side. Crossover hits like Big Poppa and Juicy set Biggie up for incredible success... and then the unthinkable happened. James & Connor will explore Biggie's role in the infamous East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry, his decaying friendship with Tupac Shakur, and the pair of unsolved murders that devastated the music world. We'll hear the story unfold through tracks like Things Done Changed and Who Shot Ya? The Mixtaper is back to tell us about some unfortunately realistic sound effects, a personal diss he took to heart, and some spoiled "mashed potatoes" during an Unbelievable round of Fact Or Spin. From opening heartbeat to final thud, we'll cover the clever lyrics, soulful samples, and unstoppable attitude that make up the only LP released during Biggie's abbreviated lifetime. Learn how he achieved rap immortality and Life After Death this week! Are you a fan of the harder tracks or the pop crossover sounds? Will you ever hear Respect the same way? Where do you stand in the Biggie/Tupac rivalry? Let us know in the comments and on socials! Follow, like, and check out our website for more! Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 2:01 About Biggie Smalls 10:51 About Ready To Die 16:55 Later Career 19:07 East Coast Vs. West Coast Rivalry 21:27 Tupac Murdered 23:35 Biggie Murdered 26:14 Awards & Accolades 27:02 Fact Or Spin 28:23 A Public Service Announcement 28:59 You Can Hear His... Explicit Activities 31:47 He Signed A Rapper While In Bed 34:12 Biggie Dissed His Teacher 36:49 His Mom Threw Out His Mashed Potatoes 39:29 Biggie Had His Own Restaurant 43:36 Album Art 44:36 Intro 46:13 Things Done Changed 47:19 Gimme The Loot 50:12 Machine Gun Funk 51:18 Warning 52:53 Ready To Die 54:04 One More Chance 57:00 F Me (Interlude) 59:05 The What 1:00:12 Juicy 1:04:24 Everyday Struggle 1:05:29 Me And My B**** 1:07:04 Big Poppa 1:09:21 Respect 1:10:33 Friend Of Mine 1:12:00 Unbelievable 1:12:35 Suicidal Thoughts 1:14:57 Who Shot Ya? 1:16:47 Just Playing (Dreams) 1:18:12 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 24m
  6. London Calling - The Clash | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 242

    FEB 27

    London Calling - The Clash | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 242

    Hello? It's London Calling, the revolutionary third record by British punk pioneers The Clash! Widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, the band writes on everything from nuclear meltdown to consumerism to the harsh realities of addiction, backed by a raw edge and a reggae-infused beat. We'll learn how Joe Strummer & co. rose to meet the musical moment, taking cues from friends and rivals like the Sex Pistols and The Ramones. From staples like Lost In The Supermarket to Train In Vain (a cut that almost missed the album altogether), find out what makes The Clash and their legacy such a force to be reckoned with. We'll talk about our favorite Clash hits as we Rock The Casbah! Then The Hateful Mixtaper is bringing The Clampdown once more during Fact Or Spin, where we discover a marathon disappearance, child labor, and pogo grandmas... Rudie Can't Fail, but can our resident Dastard? Then we get Lost In The Supermarket with each track on this expansive double album as we explore everything from Spanish tourism to Over The Hedge! Curl up with your favorite Montgomery Clift movie and take a listen to this episode. Find out whether London Calling achieves Death Or Glory! Is this double album worth the listen? What's the worst place to practice the drums? Should you stay or should you go?! (The answer is GO... but go to our socials and www.spinitpod.com for more!) Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 2:49 About The Clash 14:03 About London Calling 22:40 Awards & Accolades 23:13 Fact Or Spin 24:23 Joe Strummer's Marathon Disappearing Act 27:39 They Gave Two Kids Career Opportunities 29:25 Topper Had A Unique Practice Space 33:23 Mick Jones Missed A Soundcheck To Teach Grandmas How To Pogo 39:54 Album Art 43:26 London Calling 48:55 Brand New Cadillac 50:23 Jimmy Jazz 51:56 Hateful 53:45 Rudie Can't Fail 55:37 Spanish Bombs 57:22 The Right Profile 1:00:18 Lost In The Supermarket 1:05:19 The Clampdown 1:08:31 The Guns Of Brixton 1:10:13 Wrong 'Em Boyo 1:11:30 Death Or Glory 1:13:33 Koka Kola 1:16:10 The Card Cheat 1:17:41 Lover's Rock 1:19:07 Four Horsemen 1:21:05 I'm Not Down 1:22:23 Revolution Rock 1:23:51 Train In Vain (Stand By Me) 1:26:09 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 36m
  7. GNX - Kendrick Lamar | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 241

    FEB 20

    GNX - Kendrick Lamar | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 241

    Tell 'em Kendrick did it... We're back to talk about Compton's own Kendrick Lamar and his 2025 record GNX! After we explored Damn back on episode 72, James felt like this Pulitzer Prize winner deserved a better score from Connor. We're back (reincarnated) in the Year Of Redemption to break down his shortest record yet (but one of his most expansive). After decimating Drake in a years-long feud with the astounding Not Like Us, GNX is Kendrick's attempt to move his career forward with songs of the confrontational, the introspective, and the catchy. He wrote more than 80 songs for the project, but only a dozen made the cut. Will it be the perfect combo to redeem his score? James & Connor will debrief on our last Kendrick episode and get to the bottom of why we're back again. We relive the backwards concept album and catch up on our Kendrick listening habits. The Mixtaper is ready to Squabble Up with a new round of Fact Or Spin, featuring comfy socks, vault tracks, and a baffling reskin of a classic crunchy conundrum. From the vintage car on the cover to the final twist of Gloria, we'll touch every corner of this Album Of The Year nominee. Ain't no legends if his legends end, so find out why we think K Dot does (or doesn't) deserve the Greatest Of All Time! Is this album a step up or a step back after Damn and Mr. Morale? Is SZA a dominant force for Favorite Feature or can one of the 9 other voices on this record compete? If you woke up lookin' for that broccoli, turn the TV Off and head to our socials or spinitpod.com for more! Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 0:25 Last Time: Damn. 4:55 About Kendrick Lamar 7:31 Not Like Us / Drake Feud 11:48 About GNX 16:12 Awards & Accolades 17:25 Fact Or Spin 20:03 He Has An Interesting Rider 24:00 He Has An Unreleased Track With Prince 26:20 Kendrick Has A Supernatural Connection To Tupac 29:47 He Needs A Shepherd's Pie For Every Show 39:40 Album Art 40:53 Wacced Out Murals 43:36 Squabble Up 45:52 Luther (with SZA) 48:55 Man At The Garden 50:10 Hey Now (feat. Dody6) 51:47 Reincarnated 54:20 TV Off (feat. Lefty Gunplay) 56:26 Dodger Blue (feat. Wallie The Sensei, Siete7x, Roddy Ricch) 57:47 Peekaboo (feat. AZChike) 59:52 Heart Pt. 6 1:01:32 GNX (feat. Hitta J3, YoungThreat, Peysoh) 1:03:58 Gloria (with SZA) 1:05:50 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 14m
  8. Bewitched - Laufey | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 240

    FEB 13

    Bewitched - Laufey | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 240

    It Must Be Love this Valentine's Day as we review and rank Bewitched, the second studio album by jazz-pop sensation Laufey! With timeless melodies, lush instrumentation, and heart-filled lyrics, this "love album" blends the traditional and the trendy effortlessly. We'll see Laufey's career through From The Start, including her run on The Voice Iceland and her solo cello appearance with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra at age 15! From jazz standards like Misty to the powerful Lovesick, Bewitched is a record that lives up to its title track! James & Connor talk Valentine plans, jazz affinity, and more, all while trying to remember what little we know about Icelandic pronunciation. The Mixtaper is back to introduce us to a new alter ego and sidekick in Mei Mei the Bunny in a cozy knit sweater! Then he teaches us about sugar-sweet clapbacks, a fairytale moment, and Laufey's secret (fifth?) language! Then we break down this record top to bottom, exploring the stories behind Letter To My 13 Year Old Self, Promise, California And Me, and more! It's a Grammy-winning album with its own kind of pizzazz, but how will it fare amongst Jazzy Connor's other rankings? Are you rocking with jazz pop? Do you prefer the vocals or Mei Mei's newly-unearthed instrumental versions? If you inadvertently insulted Laufey in a coffee shop... what do you think she'd say? Let us know in the comments and on social media! Tune in next week for an episode on another (very different) album!  Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 3:22 About Laufey 10:03 About Bewitched 15:20 Awards & Accolades 16:13 Fact Or Spin 18:18 She Has An Alter Ego & Sidekick 25:31 She Gave A Sugar-Sweet Clapback 29:28 She Had A Cinderella Moment 32:28 She And Her Twin Have A Secret Musical Language 35:48 Album Art 37:23 Dreamer 38:38 Second Best 39:46 Haunted 41:00 Must Be Love 41:39 While You Were Sleeping 43:07 Lovesick 44:07 California And Me 45:37 Nocturne (Interlude) 46:41 Promise 47:59 From The Start 49:55 Misty 52:31 Serendipity 52:58 Letter To My 13 Year Old Self 56:02 Bewitched 57:13 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 5m
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out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The Record Ranking Podcast for people who would rather be listening to music. Each week James and Connor give their spin on a popular album. James has listened to each one dozens of times, but Connor's only heard them once. Come check out our unprofessional insights and learn a little more about the music you love from every genre, artist, and era! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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