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. Bewitched - Laufey | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 240

    4D AGO

    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
  2. DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS - Bad Bunny | 2026 Grammy Award Special: Episode 239

    FEB 6

    DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS - Bad Bunny | 2026 Grammy Award Special: Episode 239

    ¡Hola! In our annual Grammy Special, we're reviewing and ranking the Album Of The Year: DeBÍ TIRAR MáS FOTOS by Puerto Rican sensation Bad Bunny! This reggaeton fusion record is a love letter to Benito's roots and homeland, from plena and dembow beats to vibrant traditions. With diverse instrumentation, nostalgic lyrics, and his signature swagger, Bad Bunny delivers on his promises and takes us straight to the Enchanted Isle (and El Clúb)! After a near-miss at the 2023 Grammys, find out how this award-winning album rose above all the competition! It all kicks off with our Grammy recap. We'll reveal the results of our predictions, debrief about the night's biggest winners, and talk ceremony highlights. Then we discover our (somewhat minimal) experience with Spanish and discuss various influential rabbits as we explore Bad Bunny's unique rise to the top of the global charts! The Mixtaper is back in Fact Or Spin to bestow new Awards For The Shellbound, spanning conservation, soap operas, and gastroparesis. Find out which of these 17 tracks Bad Bunny loves, and get ready for his Super Bowl LX halftime show with this special episode!! ¿Entiendes español? Was Bad Bunny your AOTY champion, or did you make other predictions? What did you think of the Grammys? Let us know in the comments or on socials, and stay tuned for another album next week! Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 2:29 68th Grammy Awards Predictions Results 13:54 Ceremony Highlights Recap 20:29 About Bad Bunny 31:19 About DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS 37:02 Awards & Accolades 38:27 Fact Or Spin 40:30 The Turtle Conservation Award 44:03 The Bubble Bath Betrayal Award 48:56 The Gastroparesis Award 55:23 Fast Fire Awards: Chaotic Concerts 1:01:48 Album Art 1:03:47 NUEVAYoL 1:07:00 VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR 1:09:56 BAILE INoLVIDABLE 1:12:55 PERFuMITO NUEVO 1:15:18 WELTiTA 1:16:57 VeLDÁ 1:18:29 EL CLúB 1:20:46 KETU TeCRÉ 1:22:13 BOKeTE 1:23:49 KLOuFRENS 1:25:16 TURiSTA 1:26:50 CAFé CON RON 1:28:32 PIToRRO DE COCO 1:30:40 LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii 1:33:54 EoO 1:35:54 DtMF 1:40:14 LA MuDANZA 1:41:12 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 55m
  3. Predicting Every 2026 Grammy Winner: Bonus Content

    JAN 31

    Predicting Every 2026 Grammy Winner: Bonus Content

    BONUS CONTENT! It's Grammy Week once again and we're gearing up for our special episode by predicting the winners of ALL 95 categories! After Connor's big win last year, who will walk away the winner? James & Connor will talk about the new categories for 2026 and discover some oddities-- a father & son competition, 8-bit jazz, stacked categories for Best Rap Album and Best Pop Vocal Album, and some humous hopefuls. There are artists we've covered (like Doechii, Cody Fry, Lady Gaga, and Kendrick Lamar, to name a few) and even more new names to consider. See how many picks we make in sync again, and then find out who we predict will be our next Album Of The Year! Every nominee from Bad Bunny to Leon Thomas would be a first-time AOTY champion, so this year's ceremony will certainly be one for the record books! Find all our Grammy picks on our Official Ranking Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NV92dyhk2KfdSpSzx9avIAHrWzrFo5wMsg7Lf_-TxvY/edit?gid=409464286#gid=409464286 And tune in on the Friday after the Grammys for our annual Grammy Special to learn how we did with these picks and see who reigns supreme with the Album Of The Year! Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 3:17 Changes To The Categories 4:59 Field 11: Classical 8:11 Field 10: Production, Engineering, Composition, & Arrangement 9:56 Field 9: Package, Notes, & Historical 12:45 Field 8: Children's, Comedy, Audiobooks, Visual Media, & Music Video/Film 20:40 Field 7: Latin, Global, Reggae & New Age, Ambient, or Chant 22:38 Field 6: Gospel & Contemporary Christian Music 23:39 Field 5: Country & American Roots Music 29:28 Field 4: Jazz, Traditional Pop, Contemporary Instrumental & Musical Theater 32:32 Field 3: R&B, Rap, & Spoken Word Poetry 35:35 Field 2: Rock, Metal & Alternative Music 37:12 Field 1: Pop& Dance/Electronic Music 40:24 General Field 45:51 Predicting Album Of The Year 48:10 Wrap-Up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  4. Highwayman - The Highwaymen | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 238

    JAN 30

    Highwayman - The Highwaymen | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 238

    Happy Gopher Day! Join James and Connor (aka the Country Road Kid) as we rank and review Highwayman, the debut studio album by country supergroup The Highwaymen! In an attempt to stay relevant in an ever-changing country music landscape, four legends came together to create something different: Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. After collaborating and admiring each other's work for decades, the Mount Rushmore of rugged outlaw country took to the studio, armed with ten hits like Against The Wind, Deportee, and Cash's own Big River. Would this Hail Mary effort jumpstart their iconic careers? We'll talk about the four episodes that led us here -- one about each individual Highwayman-- and learn about the holiday specials and films that brought them all together in the first place. We'll explore their group dynamics and talk about the ways music had changed around them between their debuts and 1985. All the while we'll reminisce about panning for gold in the sandbox, hearing these songs as kids, and more. The Mixtaper has facts (or spins) about hotel horses, midwife pranks, and a suspiciously Bill-Murray-adjacent Midnight Breakfast fact. Turn those suits inside out and get ready to ride with some of the genre's greatest. What do you think about the Highwaymen supergroup? Is this album over- or under-ambitious, and is it the best of their three records to cover in an episode? How do you think the Groundhog Day time loop mechanics work? Let us know in the comments or on socials, and be sure to follow for our Grammy Special coverage next week! Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 2:05 Relevant Past Episodes 5:20 About The Highwaymen 9:10 About Highwayman 17:48 Awards & Accolades 18:41 Fact Or Spin 21:39 Waylon And Willie Rode Horses In A Hotel 24:36 Waylon And Cash Used Dynamite As Entertainment 26:58 Willie Tricked Kris Into Thinking He Was Delivering A Baby 30:52 Waylon and Cash Loved To Make Midnight Breakfast 37:17 Album Art 38:02 Highwayman 41:19 The Last Cowboy Song 42:23 Jim, I Wore A Tie Today 44:36 Big River 46:55 Committed To Parkview 48:08 Desperados Waiting For A Train 49:20 Deportee (Plane Wreck At Los Gatos) 51:30 Welfare Line 52:20 Against The Wind 54:55 The Twentieth Century Is Almost Over 56:58 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 6m
  5. Brat - Charli XCX | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 237

    JAN 23

    Brat - Charli XCX | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 237

    We're just living that life, Von Dutch, cult classic, as we rank Charli XCX's hyperpop club record Brat! Its danceable melodies, carefree bite, and minimalist neon green aesthetic sparked a cultural movement in Brat Summer, and hits like 360, Apple, and Sympathy Is A Knife turned into certified Club Classics. Inspired by her early days in London's underground illegal rave scene, Brat sees Charli showing off striking vulnerability through crisp, energetic songs with memorable melodies. From relationships to generational trauma to impending motherhood (or even to just a good party song), this record really does it all. James & Connor are ready to Talk Talk about Charli's unique path to superstardom, from I Don't Care and Boom Clap to Wuthering Heights. The Mixtaper is so Julia as we ponder her homecoming coup, a sentimental vault track, Bratcoin, and even more VERY passionate fans during Fact Or Spin! Then we Rewind to 2024 and reminisce about Brat Summer as we work through these bite-sized pop beats. Where will Connor score Charli XCX compared to her fellow Album Of The Year nominees? James might even go so far as an on-the-spot redemption for this one! Did you catch the main metaphor in Apple? What foods would you make into footlongs? Are we your favorite reference? Tell us all about it in the comments or on socials! Follow for more next week as we go for a supergroup during our Gopher Day Special!! Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 3:01 About Charli XCX 13:13 About Brat 19:10 Awards & Accolades 20:03 Fact Or Spin 21:17 She Crashed A High School Homecoming Dance 25:45 Hardcore Fans Are Obsessed With Her Unreleased Song 28:52 She Has Passionate Fans 35:16 She Launched Her Own Cryptocurrency 39:58 Album Art 44:21 360 47:27 Club Classics 49:11 Sympathy Is A Knife 51:39 I Might Say Something Stupid 52:31 Talk Talk 54:50 Von Dutch 58:00 Everything Is Romantic 59:04 Rewind 1:00:18 So I 1:02:05 Girl, So Confusing 1:04:23 Apple 1:07:40 B2B 1:09:25 Mean Girls 1:10:14 I Think About It All The Time 1:12:06 365 1:13:18 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 21m
  6. Remain In Light - Talking Heads | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 236

    JAN 16

    Remain In Light - Talking Heads | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 236

    Same as it ever was... We're letting the days go by as we review and rank Remain In Light by the Talking Heads! For their iconic 1980 record, Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz migrated to the Bahamas to escape city life. While they were there they developed an affinity for the Caribbean ethos and African-inspired percussion, which they brought into the studio alongside producer Brian Eno. The result is a polyrhythmic, pulsing new-wave sound, made with "human sampling" techniques and a flair for the funky. The record is home to instant classics like Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) and Once In A Lifetime, but how will the rest of these intense-yet-danceable tracks hold up? James & Connor (your own resident talking heads) walk through the band's history and a breakup so sudden only David Byrne knew it had even happened! We'll talk about their inspirations and legacy, and we'll learn why this blotchy album cover is the first of its kind! The Mixtaper's ready for another round on the Great Curve of Fact Or Spin with tales of limo dispatches, sticky shaving, and a humiliating burglary at letter-opener point. Then we'll Overload you with facts about the 8 tracks that make up Remain In Light... but the Talking Heads' score remains to be Seen And Not Seen. You may ask yourself, "well, how did I get here?" Good question. Let us know on our socials and wherever you get your podcasts! Are you a Talking Head-head? Do you have a tiny way mouth? What's the worst shaving liquid? We want all your thoughts in the comments!! Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 3:19 About Talking Heads 10:50 About Remain In Light 22:46 Awards & Accolades 23:24 Fact Or Spin 24:21 Tina Weymouth Was A Limo Dispatcher 27:40 David Byrne Shaved With An Interesting Lubricant 30:37 David Byrne Was Burgled With A Letter Opener 36:51 Fast Fire Facts: Celebrity Talking Head Heads 44:16 Album Art 48:21 Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) 51:35 Crosseyed And Painless 54:05 The Great Curve 55:38 Once In A Lifetime 1:01:43 Houses In Motion 1:03:18 Seen And Not Seen 1:05:08 Listening Wind 1:07:26 The Overload 1:09:09 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 17m
  7. Immortalized - Disturbed | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 235 (Connor's Pick)

    JAN 9

    Immortalized - Disturbed | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 235 (Connor's Pick)

    Ooh-wah-ah-ah-ah!!! This week we head into the Eye Of The Storm as we review and rank Immortalized, the riotous sixth studio album from Disturbed! After an indefinite hiatus in the early 2010s the band roared back onto the scene with this surprise record in 2015, featuring iconic moments like The Vengeful One, the ballad-adjacent The Light, and an unforgettable cover of The Sound Of Silence. Sucker punch hooks and powerful vocals keep the album moving, but did the band play it too safe by sticking to their tried-and-true formula? Connor first recommended Disturbed's Evolution to James half a decade ago. It was a solid record, but scored low on his ranking list. In the Year Of Redemption, Connor's hoping a more lively record can Fire It Up and recalibrate James' opinions. We'll talk about the band's rise to greatness, David Draiman's decision to walk from a six-figure salary, and learn about the secret reunion that led to Immortalized! The Mixtaper is brewing up facts about a wrestling wife, defenestration, and a four-year follicular fakeout. Can Disturbed Open Our Eyes or have we Saved Our Last Goodbye for the latest of Connor's picks? Have you ever been to Oconomowoc, WI? Did we even get close to saying that one right? Did you recognize that gurgly sound? Let us know in the comments or on social media! And be sure to like and subscribe for more-- in the words of Disturbed, "What Are You Waiting For?!" Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 1:45 Past Disturbed Experience 6:55 About Disturbed 17:13 About Immortalized 25:50 Fact Or Spin 27:19 Love Was Brewing For Mike Wengren 30:43 Brewing Was Love For Mike Wengren 36:42 David Draiman Disturbs Almost Everyone 44:11 Dan Donegan Was Not As He Appeared... 51:50 Album Art 54:43 The Eye Of The Storm 55:59 Immortalized 59:37 The Vengeful One 1:02:12 Open Your Eyes 1:05:44 The Light 1:08:36 What Are You Waiting For 1:10:43 You're Mine 1:12:14 Who 1:14:51 Save Our Last Goodbye 1:18:48 Fire It Up 1:20:32 The Sound Of Silence 1:25:09 Never Wrong 1:27:48 Who Taught You How To Hate 1:29:59 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 47m
  8. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 234

    JAN 2

    The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 234

    Honey, Just Allow Him One More Chance! The Year Of Redemption blows us back into the North Country this week to revisit The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan! After Highway 61 Revisited didn't exactly leave Connor "going electric," we decided to wind back the clock to 1962 and explore one of Dylan's first masterpieces. After barely breaking even with his debut, people called him a folly... but with his sophomore effort, this so-called spokesman of a generation set out to prove them wrong! Armed with a guitar and a harmonica and inspired by social upheaval that defined the decade, the future folk legend suddenly came into his own with hits like Blowin' In The Wind, A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, and Don't Think Twice, It's All Right. James & Connor break down what went wrong for Dylan in our first episode. Then we'll explore his backstory and dive deeper into the making of Freewheelin', from its jazz producer to its strikingly cool (literally) cover photo. The Mixtaper is back to redeem himself with facts about loitering crime, scared children, and a $100,000,000 secondhand couch. As we move through Freewheelin' track by track, we'll discover the traditional roots of so many of these songs and learn the social, political, and personal context behind lyrics that evolved the course of popular music. Whether you're here for pacifist protest pieces like Masters Of War, heartaching ballads like Girl From The North Country, or you just want to hear him say "needle" in a funny voice... Freewheelin' could be just the Bob Dylan redemption you need. Have you tried the infamous cherry cordial milk? Would you be kind to a scruffy vagrant? Is YOUR favorite Dylan track in the acoustic or electric style? Let us know if Dinky Dylan deserved a follow-up in the comments or on socials. See you soon for another album; Happy New Year!! Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 6:50 About Bob Dylan 11:09 About The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan 22:18 Awards & Accolades 23:37 Fact Or Spin 26:21 Bob Dylan Is A Scruffy Vagrant 30:35 Bob Dylan Went Incognito 34:48 Grandpa Bob Scares Children 38:17 Bob Dylan Is Not Much Of A Negotiator 46:48 Album Art 49:59 Blowin' In The Wind 54:23 Girl From The North Country 58:16 Masters Of War 1:00:52 Down The Highway 1:03:59 Bob Dylan's Blues 1:04:57 A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall 1:08:20 Don't Think Twice, It's All Right 1:10:49 Bob Dylan's Dream 1:13:10 Oxford Town 1:15:12 Talkin' World War III Blues 1:17:08 Corrina, Corrina 1:19:18 Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance 1:21:04 I Shall Be Free 1:23:53 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 32m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
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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