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. Sunrise City - Sub-Radio | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 254

    5H AGO

    Sunrise City - Sub-Radio | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 254

    We've been having more dreams lately.. Welcome to Sunrise City, the feel-good sophomore record from "soft" indie guys Sub-Radio! This band of middle-school friends went viral as they got down bad for Stacy's Dad, and by broadcasting on Reddit during the pandemic they were able to generate a significant fanbase. Sunrise City is a saccharine nostalgia trip from teenage nights on the beach to Summer's End. Can their hooky record full of nuggets of gold carry them to a strong ranking? James & Connor reminisce on hard times and strong men before giving this audience-recommended album a listen. The Mixtaper has a Better View and a few facts about tricky fae (who can play a mean recorder), the short-lived Reddit Public Access Network, and Monkey. Monkey? Monkey. We'll talk about the nuances of Pink Lemonade and Tiger's Blood and find out if WE'RE IN LOVE (!!) with this album... and whether Sub-Radio is Onto Us.  What's your favorite snow cone flavor? Are you in a good time or a hard time? Think you could take down Sub-Radio in a game of Mario Kart?? Let us know in the comments and on socials, and tune in next week for a Year Of Redemption feature that will knock your sweater off. Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 3:17 About Sub-Radio 9:53 About Sunrise City 12:25 Awards & Accolades 12:34 Fact Or Spin 13:56 They May Have Encountered A Trickster Fae 18:00 They Were The First Musicians On The RPAN 23:00 They Channel The Spirit Of The Monkey 26:08 John Fengya Has Never Lost A Game Of Mario Kart 30:03 Album Art 31:00 Sunrise City 32:17 Pink Lemonade 34:32 I'M IN LOVE!! 37:08 Onto Me 39:08 Sleep On The Beach 44:26 Dimension 46:17 Don't Cry 47:59 Burden 49:28 Spin 50:59 Better View 52:04 Nothing's Broken 54:12 Pretty Boy 55:22 22 57:00 Friends (Summer's End) 58:28 heavenheavenheaven 1:00:06 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 9m
  2. Exodus - Bob Marley & The Wailers | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 253

    MAY 15

    Exodus - Bob Marley & The Wailers | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 253

    This week we've got So Much Things To Say as we review and rank Exodus, the gripping reggae album by Jamaica's own Bob Marley! After pushing rocksteady boundaries with his childhood friends Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh, Bob's career made a strong pivot to pop and rock crossover music, riding the reggae wave to superstardom! A failed assassination attempt sent Marley overseas, where he crafted his ninth studio album, charged with Rastafarian theology and themes of love and freedom. We'll learn the effect it had on his legend, and how the Marley mythos has evolved over time. James & Connor recount our previous Bob Marley experiences (both torturous and fishy). The Mixtaper has an aviary of little birds this week with facts about the House Of Dread FC, palm reading, and an unusual prison break during Fact Or Spin. Then we'll get to Jamming about the album, from the restrained intensity of The Heathen to the chill optimism of Three Little Birds! So kick back, relax, and don't worry about a thing... There's a Natural Mystic blowing through this episode! Are you a bigger fan of the intense half or the chill half of Exodus' sound? What's your favorite bird? Was your first Bob Marley experience as drastic as James'? Let us know on socials, and tune in next week to smile with the rising sun yet again! Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 6:16 About Bob Marley 16:27 About Exodus 23:42 Awards & Accolades 25:56 Fact Or Spin 26:52 The Secretary Bird: Bob's Soccer Obsession 30:33 The Raven: He Was A Palm Reader 33:09 The Jailbird: Bob Marley Was Part Of A Prison Break 37:08 The Baby Chick: He Kidnapped The Easter Bunny 45:18 Album Art 46:56 Natural Mystic 48:38 So Much Things To Say 50:12 Guiltiness 52:13 The Heathen 53:15 Exodus 55:53 Jamming 58:27 Waiting In Vain 59:57 Turn Your Lights Down Low 1:01:12 Three Little Birds 1:03:43 One Love/People Get Ready 1:05:27 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 13m
  3. Band On The Run - Wings | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 252

    MAY 8

    Band On The Run - Wings | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 252

    Stuck inside those four walls? We're making our escape with Band On The Run, the 1973 record by Wings! After a tough Beatles breakup, a burnt out Paul McCartney was struggling to stay relevant in the music world. He started Wings alongside his wife Linda and guitarist Denny Laine, and after a few tough outings, Band On The Run proved to be their major breakthrough! Despite a tumultuous recording process in Lagos, Nigeria, hits like JET (!), Let Me Roll It, and Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five have become catalog staples.  We're catching up on our personal Beatles history and learning about the foundation of Wings! We trace the band's Lagos trip through cholera outbreaks, broken equipment, and knifepoint robberies, but learn why Paul needed this record so badly. The Mixtaper relies on James' fear of "jelly babying" himself with another round of McCartney facts! We'll break down jailbreak ambience, investigate a holiday hostage, and drink a drink with Lily The Pink in Fact Or Spin. We might have No Words... but what's the use in worrying? How's your Scooby Doo impression? What would your last words be? Do you forget when Picasso was alive? Which of the sections of Band On The Run stands above the rest? Let us know your Wings takes in the comments and on socials! Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com! Thanks for listening! 0:00 Intro 3:27 About Wings 12:48 About Band On The Run 25:58 Awards & Accolades 26:50 Fact Or Spin 28:09 Paul Insisted On A Jailbreak Ambience Check 31:07 Paul Kidnapped The Easter Bunny 35:22 Paul Guest Starred In A Comedy Production 40:13 Paul Is Related To The Inventor Of The Woman's Tonic 49:23 Album Art 52:42 Band On The Run 57:03 Jet 1:00:31 Bluebird 1:02:15 Mrs. Vandebilt 1:06:38 Let Me Roll It 1:08:29 Mamunia 1:09:52 No Words 1:11:04 Picasso's Last Words 1:14:24 Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five 1:17:29 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 24m
  4. Emotion - Carly Rae Jepsen | Album Review & Ranking: Episode 251

    MAY 1

    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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
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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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