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. Emotion - Carly Rae Jepsen | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 251

    6D AGO

    Emotion - Carly Rae Jepsen | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 251

    We're Making The Most Of The Night as we review and rank Emotion, the 80s-infused pop record from Canadian songwriter and actress Carly Rae Jepsen! After we just met her (and that was crazy) back in 2011, Carly was struggling to shed the bubblegum pop reputation she gained with Call Me Maybe. After retreating from the spotlight, acting on Broadway, and writing a scrapped folk record, Emotion was her attempt to make something different. It proved to be a critical success and paved the way for the next era of her career with big singles like Run Away With Me and I Really (Really Really Really Really Really) Like You... but is this album Our Type? Let's Get Lost in her Canadian Idol roots! James & Connor talk about previous opinions of her work (can't judge her for that), celebrate CRJ's 40th and 44/100ths birthday, and give these songs a powerful listen. The Mixtaper is giving us Boy Problems in Fact Or Spin, where we'll learn about her growing collection of weaponry, a secret Maybe List, and a deceptive signature from "the boss man." Between the pop anthems and powerful ballads, find out if this record can stir up our E•MO•TIONS and redeem our premature opinions of her music. Did you wish CRJ a Happy Birthday? Do you have Boy Problems too? Would you ever try to trick the Boss Man? Let us know how you felt about Call Me Maybe in the comments or on socials, and tune in next time for another high-flying episode! Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 3:29 About Carly Rae Jepsen 9:15 Call Me Maybe 12:42 About Emotion 26:04 Awards & Accolades 26:50 Fact Or Spin 28:19 The Fandom Armed Her 34:44 Carly Rae Jepsen Armed The Fandom 40:35 She Has A "Maybe List" 45:11 She Takes Her Contracts To The Boss Man 51:12 Album Art 52:14 Run Away With Me 56:10 Emotion 58:10 I Really Like You 1:00:58 Gimmie Love 1:01:44 All That 1:03:02 Boy Problems 1:05:01 Making The Most Of The Night 1:06:02 Your Type 1:07:27 Let's Get Lost 1:08:35 LA Hallucinations 1:09:40 Warm Blood 1:10:53 When I Needed You 1:12:00 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 19m
  2. Moving Pictures - Rush | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 250

    APR 24

    Moving Pictures - Rush | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 250

    For our 250th episode, we're stepping into the Limelight to revisit Rush! In Ep. 121, we discovered how 2112 earned the trio creative control with their sci-fi rock opera gamble... Now we're back to learn about Moving Pictures, the band's most commercially successful album and home to enduring hits like Tom Sawyer and YYZ! The band aims to strike the perfect balance between unique identity and mass appeal. With the addition of more synth undertones and a shift in Neil Peart's lyricism, Moving Pictures was able to punch up and future-proof their ever-changing style, and sunset their lengthy prog epics with The Camera Eye. How will this record move US? Can it live up to its counterpart episode (pun intended)? James & Connor revel in the unexpected Year Of Redemption for Geddy and Alex in the form of their 50-Something reunion tour. We walk through the eras since our last episode and trace their evolution, and talk about why this might be a more Connor-friendly pick. The Mixtaper is back on a Witch Hunt, with dastardly (and suspicious) facts about youth crime, rusty coconuts, and frozen follies. Are biographies and past knowledge enough to save James from defeat? Connor learns about the triple pun on the album cover, we learn limited Morse Code, and we definitely don't repeat any jokes in this major milestone episode! What do you consider to be Rush's magnum opus? What's our signature work? Do you agree that everybody needs to deviate from the norm? Do you get your hockey arenas mixed up? (Me too.) Let us know in the comments and on socials! We'll be back with a surprise recommendation next week. Follow for more!  Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 0:27 Last Time: 2112 4:25 About Rush 12:10 About Moving Pictures 24:11 The 50-Something Tour 26:13 Awards & Accolades 26:55 Fact Or Spin 29:03 They Are Officers 34:25 Geddy Lee Is A Rusty Coconut 39:41 Neil Peart Went Back To School 42:47 Alex Lifeson Made A Chilly Mistake 47:32 Album Art 50:30 Tom Sawyer 54:45 Red Barchetta 57:30 YYZ 1:00:21 Limelight 1:03:48 The Camera Eye 1:07:20 Witch Hunt 1:11:12 Vital Signs 1:13:00 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 22m
  3. Stop And Smell The Roses - Mac Davis | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 249 (Connor's Pick)

    APR 17

    Stop And Smell The Roses - Mac Davis | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 249 (Connor's Pick)

    You've got to stop... and wish Connor a happy birthday! We're celebrating with a special episode reviewing Mac Davis' hit-packed 1974 record Stop And Smell The Roses! After making a name for himself as a songwriter with Elvis cuts like In The Ghetto, Mac established himself as a recording artist and TV personality. His fifth record crosses over from country to folk to soft pop seamlessly, and tentpole tracks like Burnin' Thing and Texas In My Rear View buoy clever-ish album cuts like Lucus Was A Redneck and Two Plus Two for a solid album by our favorite jean-wearing song painter! James & Connor look back on the Birthday Curse, talk about getting Hooked on Mac Davis back in Episode 15, and learn more about the road that took Davis from Lubbock, Texas straight into songwriting legend. The Mixtaper finds it Hard To Be Humble as he introduces us to quirky backup singers, crowdsourced cowriters, and a fudged proposal. Will Connor's lifelong fandom pay off? We'll talk about questionable narrators, his surprising use of slurs, and the versatility that turned him into a crossover hit as we break down the record. Did you ever watch The Mac Davis Show? Did you vote for our favorite son back in 1992? Did YOU remember Duke Ellington's birthday? Let us know in the comments and on socials! Follow and stay tuned for EPISODE 250 next week!! Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 0:33 Previously: The Birthday Curse 8:01 About Mac Davis 21:18 Fact Or Spin 23:19 Mac Davis Fudged A Proposal 30:44 He Worked With Some Difficult Backup Singers 36:23 He Had Some Interesting Cowriters 41:08 Fast Fired Facts: Mac Davis Show Guests 45:00 Mac Davis Ran For President 52:22 Album Art 55:05 Thoughts On I Believe In Music 56:47 Stop And Smell The Roses 1:02:38 Soft, Sweet Fire 1:05:47 The Sweetest Song 1:07:37 Two Plus Two 1:10:39 The Birthday Song 1:12:56 One Hell Of A Woman 1:15:17 A Poor Man's Gold 1:17:58 Lucus Was A Redneck 1:21:03 Kiss It And Make It Better 1:22:36 Burnin' Thing 1:24:12 It's Hard To Be Humble 1:26:32 Texas In My Rear View Mirror 1:28:11 Rock 'N Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life) 1:29:52 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 44m
  4. Arrival - ABBA | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 248

    APR 10

    Arrival - ABBA | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 248

    You can dance, you can jive! We're having the time of our lives this week as we review and rank Arrival, the 1976 breakout record for Europop sensation ABBA! After winning Eurovision (4th time's the charm), the band had to prove to the world they were more than a One-Hit Waterloo Wonder. Their hooky melodies and intricate vocal harmonies led to the band's most important record yet, from royalty-approved Dancing Queen to Money, Money, Money. Learn how Arrival cemented the legacy of one of Sweden's biggest bands and turned ABBA into a household name, even decades after their heyday. Here we go again.. James & Connor talk Mamma Mia opinions and ABBA faves before exploring the band's history. We'll learn all about Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Anni-Frid, discover why the B is backwards, and talk about how exciting helicopter rides can be. From quirky exhibits in the ABBA museum to Voyage, the band's swansong virtual residency made of digital ABBAtars, this episode truly has it all. The Mixtaper is back to Take A Chance on Fact Or Spin as he teaches us about a mysterious benefactor, shy mics, and the tux tax. Tune in, because there's something in the air tonight! Are you on Team Happy Hawaii or Team Why Did It Have To Be Me? What do you think the Tiger is? Are we WRONG about Mamma Mia?! Let us know your hottest ABBA takes in the comments or on socials. Follow for another record next week! Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 5:57 About ABBA 19:56 About Arrival 33:07 Awards & Abbalades 35:28 Fact Or Spin 36:58 Their Songs Are Fit For Royalty 39:02 They Turned Down The Chance To Become Billionaires 41:46 They Used An Interesting Tax Loophole 43:50 They Had A Strict No-Eye-Contact-With-Mics Rule 46:22 Bjorn Took A Chance On Working Out 49:14 Album Art 52:04 When I Kissed The Teacher 54:17 Dancing Queen 58:01 My Love, My Life 59:25 Dum Dum Diddle 1:01:56 Knowing Me, Knowing You 1:03:27 Money, Money, Money 1:05:15 That's Me 1:06:17 Why Did It Have To Be Me? 1:08:14 Tiger 1:09:33 Arrival 1:10:39 Fernando 1:13:26 Happy Hawaii 1:14:44 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 20m
  5. Hallelujah, I Love Her So - Ray Charles | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 247

    APR 3

    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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
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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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