The Unlistenables

Howard Hsu

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MUSIC HISTORY

Well I guess this is growing up? Join former scenesters Andrew Hollingworth and Howard Hsu as they revisit seminal Emo albums and dissect them from their vantage point as grown men. The Rewatchables meets Dissect meets a Chris Carrabba Singalong

10/16/2024

The Unlistenables Episode 11: In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3

To put it plainly, "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3", the Sophomore album from Coheed and Cambria, is a behemoth. The quadruple layers of this album, coupled with the weight of having to do actual editing on this episode almost broke us. But, as they say: whatever doesn't kill you makes you Sniper. Join Ahole and Howard as they break down this former Unlistenable in all its decadent, high pitched glory.

2h 2m
07/01/2024

The Unlistenables Episode 10: Riot!

Did Paramore possess the strongest moral fortitude in all of Emo before they graduated high school? Listen as we dive into Paramore's come-up, their bizarre Katy Perry connection, and the enduring relevance of Riot!

1h 37m
04/02/2024

The Unlistenables Episode 9: The Black Parade

Can a single G note send an entire generation into a thousand yard stare? My Chem certainly tries to answer that question on "The Black Parade". Listen to our latest episode as Ahole and Howard dig into this sweeping, ambitious rock opera for the ages.

1h 27m
12/18/2023

The Unlistenables Episode 8: Cursive's Domestica

The Videotape from "The Ring". Cursive’s Doméstica. William Hung’s entire existence. These are the third rails of turn of the millennium pop culture - content that, when consumed, has the potential to render the consumer forever altered and worse for the wear. In many ways, Doméstica is the ultimate Unlistenable: a brutal, punch in the face of a record that spends all 30 minutes of its run time telling you it’s going to punch you in the face, punching you in the face, and then telling you it just punched you in the face. In spite of this (or perhaps because of it), the album still has the power to transcend time and space to draw you into its black hole of ennui and despair. Sound like fun? Do the complete deep dive with Ahole and Howard!

1h 42m
11/25/2023

Episode Slightly More than 7: Death Cab/Postal Service Dual Episode

What does it feel like to be in a crowd of thousands all contemplating calling their exes at the exact same moment? Is Ben Gibbard the original Laxmachiavelli? Join Ahole, Howard, and Meyers as they dig into these questions and more as part of their continued examination of the Transatlanticism/Give Up Nostalgia Tour

2h 2m
10/17/2023

Episode (Slightly Less than) 7: Postal Service/Death Cab Emergency Pod

Special Emergency episode of the pod where Ahole, Howard, and Special Guest Patrick Meyers discuss the Postal Service/Death Cab Nostalgia tour. Question of the day: did Ben Gibbard drop the worst lyric of all time?

44 min
09/15/2023

The Unlistenables Episode 6: Tell All Your Friends

The year is 2002. Taking Back Sunday has just released "Tell All Your Friends", shaped largely by their falling out with former member, and eventual lead singer of Brand New, Jesse Lacey. The album kicks off the Long Island emo version of the east coast/west coast hip hop war. A young Ahole pores over the liner notes like the Zapruder film, trying to find the meaning amongst all the scuttlebutt. Virgin-eared Howard recoils from the abject aggression and swearing. What do they both make of this album 20 years on?

2h 2m
08/14/2023

The Unlistenables Episode 5: The Places You Have Come To Fear the Most

Is this the best one of the best ones? Dashboard Confessional's...Confessional style of songwriting defined an era. How does this blinding earnestness hold up now that Chris Carrabba is almost 50 years old? Join Ahole, Howard, and Milch as they examine the phenomenon.

2h 15m
07/23/2023

The Unlistenables Episode 4: Pinkerton

Howard and Ahole and a special guest dig into their most contentious, controversial album yet: Weezer's Pinkerton. Is it a moment of Icarus-level candor and brilliance from the band, or a cynical, over-rated anachronism? Listen on to see where you net out.

2h 6m
05/26/2023

The Unlistenables Episode 3: From Under the Cork Tree

This week, we’re exploring Fall Out Boy’s influential sophomore album, From Under the Cork Tree. We deep dive this trojan horse of a record, and how it wraps power chords and soaring choruses around a deep, honest examination of fame, depression, and anxiety. If you ever wanted to relate to Pete Wentz on a deep emotional level, now’s your chance!

1h 53m
04/28/2023

The Unlistenables Episode 2: Clarity

We continue our serialized examination the emo canon with Jimmy Eat World's highly influential Clarity album. Meandering and atmospheric, this is the emo equivalent of shooting your shot. Mentioned in this episode: Dustin Glick's Theory of Hipster Relativity Washed Up Emo blog Jimmy Eat World's Phoenix Sessions for Clarity

1h 21m
03/16/2023

The Unlistenables Episode 1: Deja Entendu

The inaugural episode of The Unlistenables. Ahole and Howard deep dive Deja Entendu from Brand New - an album some have called "The Cadillac of Emo", and others have just called "depressing as hell".

1h 5m

12 Episodes

Well I guess this is growing up? Join former scenesters Andrew Hollingworth and Howard Hsu as they revisit seminal Emo albums and dissect them from their vantage point as grown men. The Rewatchables meets Dissect meets a Chris Carrabba Singalong

Creator

Howard Hsu
Years Active

2023 - 2024
Episodes

12
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Howard Hsu
Show Website

The Unlistenables