Classic Rock And Prog Almanac

THE KINKS - Arthur: Is it their best album?

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:37:04 +0200

This week, Tim, Peter and Shaun discussed the seventh studio album by The Kinks, Arthur or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire. Topics covered include: whether it’s the band's greatest album or not, the difference between the American and British reception of the band, whether Arthur is a concept album or not, what historical period it covers, and whether the lyrics make sense. Also, did King Arthur really exist? What’s the name of the teapot on the cover? Was Tim’s Great Grandmother (who died in 2004) a Victorian? Is Shaun planning to write the album up into a play? What is plus-de-jouir when it’s at home? And what’s the problem with the world today?

FLEETWOOD MAC - Tusk: How do you follow one of the most famous albums of all time?

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 08:53:54 +0200

This week, Tim discussed Tusk, the twelfth studio album by Fleetwood Mac. Topics covered include: the problem of following up a mega-hit album, the deconstructionist and situationist nature of Tusk, how the track listing could have been improved, which of the three main songwriters did their best work on this album and the influence of punk and new wave on the band at the time. Also, if Peter Green really played on one track, why can’t anyone remember him actually being there? What would Samuel Beckett have thought of the album? Did Lindsey really cut his hair with nail scissors? In what way is the album like a tortilla? Why did the band keep excluding Stevie Nicks songs? And is that Mick Fleetwood, or is it a Kleenex box?

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uYVm0J7KdZsk04ioZ7C6D?si=GSCYDjR9Td-f6GruvjyzXA&utm_source=copy-link&pi=6rbryv-URACd5

RUSH - Caress Of Steel: Why it's better than 2112!

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:25:16 +0200

This week, Tim did a monologue on the third Rush album, Caress Of Steel. Topics covered include: Rush’s relation to the prog rock canon, the influence Rush had on bands like Metallica, Rush’s arrangement gift, the nostalgic nature of some of the words, and how the album matches up to Rush’s more famous album, 2112. Also, are drum solos on albums ever a good idea? Can Thomas More’s Utopia be found in Canada? What would Woody Allen think of Rush? Who is the Greek God of having fun? Which bit of the album can be described as ur-Lifeson? And where do you find Ontario on the maps of Middle Earth?

RANKING: Our top five albums of 1969

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:20:41 +0200

This week, Tim, Peter and Shaun discussed their top five favourite albums from 1969. Topics covered include: the bubbling cauldron of creativity that was the 1960s, what the best year in the history of rock was, the balance between U.K. & U.S. albums, whether the albums from this period should be considered unrepeatable experiences, and the infamous prog proms. Also, what is Lammastide when it’s at home? What’s Alain Badiou’s theory of history? What’s the best play ever written about a carpet fitter? Does anyone remember Bagpuss? Who’s your Neil Young? What was Noel Redding angry about? And it’s a welcome return (one assumes) for round-up of the week.

REFUGEE - Refugee: A worthy successor to The Nice?

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 09:09:42 +0200

This week, Tim discussed the only studio album by the band Refugee, from 1974. Topics covered include: why the album wasn’t rubbish, the virtuosic gifts of Patrick Moraz, whether prog is modernist or post-modernist, how the band measures up to The Nice and ELP, and why they never made a second album. Also, should the band have been called Asylum Seeker? What was Lee Jackson’s ex-wife like? Is music schizophrenic? What would TripAdvisor have made of this album? Did Lee Jackson waste his time in the library? And who chose that cover?

Which is the best Kinks album?

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:28:05 +0200

This week, Tim did a ranking of all 24 studio albums by The Kinks. Topics covered include: the role of genre music in the Kinks catalogue, the difference between the American and the British reception of the band, the importance of having a concept for an album, the political correctness issue, the Ray/Dave Davies dialectic and the singles/albums split. Also, how many times do you have to kill Antigone? Is there a connection between Ray Davies and Morrissey? Is Ray Davies serious when he says he hates education? Do soundtracks have to be any good? Is there any universality that isn’t subjective? And is a spectre haunting The Kinks?

SPECIAL EPISODE: Jazz for rock fans (pt.2): 1950-1979

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:05:03 +0200

This week, Peter and Shaun brought their history of jazz for a rock audience up to date. Topics covered include: the relationship between individual jazz musicians and bands, whether there was a ‘golden era’ of jazz, what the ‘cultural revolution’ of the 60s meant for jazz, whether jazz is essentially an American art form, and do we like modal and free jazz? Also, does anyone remember Les Dawson? Did Frank Zappa try to put his audience off from listening to him? What’s the exact temperature of cool jazz? Can you beat jazz flute? And is something jazz just because Ginger Baker says so? Will anyone mention Miles Davis? And is it pronounced Porgy or Porky?

Link to Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3DBe4plpktVOuKFyV6T9LR?si=eHnSdIR4TEyYzuqiQBVRjg&pi=iw2MwbMnRUWqU

JACK BRUCE - Songs For A Tailor: A post-Cream masterpiece?

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 08:52:32 +0200

This week, Tim discussed the debut album by Jack Bruce, Songs For A Tailor. Topics covered include: Bruce’s eclectic musical influences, whether this is Jack Bruce’s best album, the story of Jeannie Franklin, the surrealist dimension of the album’s lyrics, the unusual harmonisations on the record and what a follow-up to Cream’s Wheels Of Fire might have sounded like. Also, which song on the album could have been played Metallica? What was Jack Bruce’s favourite local record shop? How do you represent quantum physics in R&B form? Should you tell a Beatle when he’s playing out of tune? Is Imaginary Western a tautology? And how many points do we get for mentioning the Mahavishnu Orchestra?

SPECIAL EPISODE: Jazz for rock fans: 1920-1949

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 09:28:38 +0200

This week, Peter and Shaun give a potted history of jazz for a rock audience. Topics covered include: how the lads took the path from jazz to rock (and sometimes back), the definition of jazz itself, the influence of the 1920s in the 1960s and the chronology of jazz movements as a whole. Also, is fear the driving force in jazz? Why did jazz happen at all? Who was in Bix Beiderbecke’s gang? Can hamsters play jazz? Who is the John the Baptist of jazz? Which is the rudest pre-war jazz song? What would have happened to Hank Williams if he’d been able to shake his hips? And exactly how many shenanigans are there in jazz? Here's the episode playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3umw0kBfjdFRWGZQu9w08U?si=XKzKN9_hTOKyvJdjvu9FEA&pi=6_ux3V0eSLmYZ

ELP - Love Beach: The album that killed prog?

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 09:03:49 +0200

This week Tim discussed the seventh studio album by ELP, Love Beach. Topics covered include: the album’s place in the ELP canon, the structural nature of the writing, the mediaevalist slant in the lyrics, the paradigm nature of some of these tracks and the classical music themes that are quoted on the album. Also, does Carl Palmer work undercover as an Estate Agent? Which track sounds like a church service? How much tax did ELP avoid by going to the Bahamas? Is Keith Emerson using his synths to subtly subvert Greg Lake’s lyrical motifs? Which is the worst lyric on the album? And is there a sexual relation?

RANKING: Bob Dylan's 1960s albums

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 08:55:28 +0200

This week, Tim and Peter gave their rankings of Bob Dylan’s 9 albums from the 1960s. Topics covered include: Dylan’s chaotic approach to recording, the change in Dylan’s voice over the years, Dylan’s sense of humour, how to identify the different phases of Dylan’s 1960s career, and the relationship between Dylan and The Beatles. Also, what does the word ‘existential’ mean? Does Woolworth’s still exist? Does Peter choose his shoes for musical reasons? What’s a surface of inscription when it’s at home? Has there ever been a technically worse duet than Bob Dylan singing with Johnny Cash? What’s ‘the Dylan paradox’? And of course, how many ears must one man have?

PAUL & LINDA MCCARTNEY - Ram: A concept album about the end of The Beatles?

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:53:03 +0200

This week, Tim and Shaun discussed Paul McCartney’s second post-Beatles album, Ram. Topics covered include: the difference between his second album and his first, the idea of Paul retaining The Beatles as musical interlocutors, whether this is Paul’s best album, and whether there’s a proto-glam element in some of the songs. Also, what was number one during Shaun’s birth? What did Paul and Linda use for glue? Who is the better singer: Linda or Yoko? Which song on the album is most like a Samuel Beckett play? What’s the most Ringoesque drum passage on the album and why? How can you explain The Wombles? And our perennial question: to what extent can this be considered a concept album?

STEPHEN STILLS – Manassas: The most epic break-up album of all time?!

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:57:30 +0200

This week, Tim discussed a personal favourite: the debut double album by Manassas, called Manassas (featuring Stephen Stills). Topics covered include: the history of break-up albums, the Stills-Hillman nexus, the medleyish nature of the record, the Caribbean influence on the music, the music's economic nature, and the question of albums as therapy. Also, what on earth are the five stages of grief? Why was Stephen Stills so unlucky in love? Why didn’t George Harrison and Eric Clapton have an affair? Should the album have been called Suite: Rita Brown Eyes? How good is Stephen Stills at Spanish? And we may finally reveal who Carly Simon’s ‘You’re So Vain’ was written about. Or not.

RANKING: The Top Five best double albums of all time

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:15:55 +0200

This week, Tim, Peter and Shaun discussed their top five favourite double albums of all time. Topics covered include: why there aren’t more great double albums, the importance of packaging on double LPs, the fact that CDs killed the phenomenon of the double album, whether good double albums require a large surplus of material to be available, and which doubles received the greatest public acceptance. Also, what double album would have made a very bad film? What’s the name of the guitarist from U2? Who has the best voice in rock? What line from Hey Jude did Paul McCartney want to change, until John Lennon intervened? Are rock bands, in fact, idiots? And crucially, is Shaun’s handyman at work a neo-fascist?

10CC - Sheet Music: A worthy successor to The Beatles?

Mon, 25 May 2026 08:44:12 +0200

This week, Tim analysed the second album by 10cc, Sheet Music. Topics covered include: whether the band has trademarks or not, the influence of Caribbean music on the band, the use of satire in the album, the different writing combinations within the group, the complexity of their harmonic and melodic writing and where this album stands in their canon. Also, are 10cc as funny as The Bonzo Dog Band? Which is the most Shakespearean track on the album? Is it a good idea to anthropomorphise a plane? Are there any pop albums that contain more songs about the oil crisis than this one? Can Tim make his way through the album’s complicated chord sequences without embarrassing himself? And who is that at the door?

RANKING: King Crimson albums

Mon, 18 May 2026 08:52:09 +0200

This week, Tim and Shaun ranked all 13 King Crimson studio albums, from their least favourite to their favourite. Topics covered include: the Bartokian influence on the band; whether the 1980s incarnation of the band should have taken the name King Crimson; whether the band were the precursors of mathrock; which the best line-up of the band is and whether the band should be considered prog or not. Also, what do King Crimson have in common with Cher? How do you pronounce Gamelan? What’s the most Foreigner-like album King Crimson ever made? What was on JG Bennett’s shopping list? What did people do for fun before the internet was invented? And who will be the first to mention Angine de Poitrine?

BURNING AMBITION: A (reverse) history of Iron Maiden in 17 songs

Mon, 11 May 2026 08:34:44 +0200

This week, in celebration of the new documentary 'Burning Ambition', Tim went backwards through the history of Iron Maiden, choosing a paradigm song from each of their albums. Topics covered include: the classical music influence on the band, which album is their best, how the line-up changes in the band have affected their approach, the programmatic aspect of Maiden’s writing, and whether the band can be considered ‘prog-adjacent’. Also, what’s the connection between Iron Maiden and theoretical physics? What’s the most historically inaccurate film ever made? Is Britain a country of hobbyists? What would the philosopher Wittgenstein have thought of Iron Maiden? Can you imagine ELP playing a Maiden track? And why is Bruce Dickinson’s autobiography unreadable?

GENESIS - Nursery Cryme: An Edwardian rock masterpiece?

Mon, 04 May 2026 09:20:20 +0200

This week, Tim and Peter discussed the third album by Genesis, Nursery Cryme. Topics covered include: how this album stands in relation to the rest of the Genesis canon, the effect of the line-up change, why the album was recorded so quickly, the contrast between the various writing styles in the band, and the surrealist dimension of the album. Also, is it an Edwardian album or a Victorian one? Which of these songs wins the prize for the most key changes? Is there a worse way to be castrated than with a croquet mallet? Is Harold The Barrell Peter Gabriel’s re-writing of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles? Why are British people obsessed by the Russians? And crucially, do Yes have a sense of humour?

GRYPHON - Red Queen To Gryphon Three: What if Henry VIII fronted a rock band?

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:31:09 +0200

This week, Shaun did one of his critically-acclaimed “pods from the wood” series, this time on the third album by Gryphon, Red Queen To Gryphon Three. Topics covered include: the uniqueness of the band’s sound, the band’s connection with Rick Wakeman, how this record compares to the group’s other work, the visual nature of their music and the connection with Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland. Also, what’s a Krumhorn when it’s at home? If Gryphon were an apple, what kind would it be? Is the last part of the album based on the Battle of Hastings? How little does Shaun know about rap music? Who is Dan Pearce and can he get in touch? And will the trees please shut up?

GENESIS – Abacab: Why do Genesis fans hate this album?

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:31:33 +0200

This week Tim did an analysis of the eleventh studio album by Genesis, Abacab. Topics covered include: the antipathy long-time Genesis fans have towards the album, whether there’s a difference between progressive and experimental music, the soul influence on the album, the difference between writing for guitar and writing for keyboard, and which bits of the record sound like Steve Hackett. Also, what’s the connection between Steve Hackett and Jeremy Corbyn? How is it possible that the same man wrote Smallcreep’s Day and Like It Or Not? Why can’t Tony Banks pronounce the word ‘reggae’? Did Phil Collins’ wife leave him because of his cockney accent? Why don’t you ever see Tony Banks and Tony Blair in the same room? And of course, what would Stumpy do?

THE BONZO DOG BAND - Keynsham: An early version of The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:41:39 +0200

This week, Shaun and Tim discussed the fourth album by The Bonzo Dog Band, Keynsham. Topics covered include: whether this is their best album, the relationship between comedy and music, the relationship between The Bonzos and The Beatles, the influence that the band had on the British comedy scene, the band’s musical skills, and their connections to the Monty Python group. Also, who exactly was Horace Batchelor? Was Bryan Ferry ever actually sighted on a ferry? What happened when Tim and Shaun were attacked on stage by some dockers from Tilbury? Were the Bonzos influenced by Marcel Duchamp’s toilet? Should Jimmy Page have used a leg theremin in The Song Remains The Same? And our classic question: is it is or is it ain’t a concept album?

RANKING: The albums of The Incredible String Band

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:46:50 +0200

Today Peter gives his ranking of The Incredible String Band albums. Topics covered include: the Edinburgh folk scene, the distinctive String Band cover art, the influence ISB had on other bands of the period, the band’s unusual lyrics and the Williamson-Heron dialectic. Also, who is the worst singer in the band? Exactly how cold is Edinburgh? Who is Wee Tam? Why is The Hedgehog Song so popular? When did the scientology kick in? Who does worse fake laughter, the String Band or Joni Mitchell? And of course, which album will be number one?!

ROGER WATERS - Amused To Death: What if 2001 A Space Odyssey were an album?

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:19:08 +0200

This week Tim had a conversation with himself about Roger Waters’ third studio album, Amused To Death. Topics covered include: whether this is Waters’ best solo album, the subterranean structure of the album, the difference between George Orwell and Aldous Huxley, whether the album is written like a musical, and the debt the album owes to Pink Floyd. Also, how does Roger Waters echo the 19th Century German philosopher Feuerbach? Is TV a good thing or a bad thing? Is Jeff Beck doing Dave Gilmour doing Jeff Beck? Can Dark Side Of The Moon really be played in sync with The Wizard Of Oz? Why is Andrew Lloyd-Weber so bad? And what exactly is basketball?

RANKING: The Top Five albums of 1968

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 09:43:47 +0200

This week, Tim, Shaun and Peter discussed their top five albums of 1968. Topics covered include: whether 1968 is very different from 1967, whether rock albums carry the day in 1968 or other genres, what role nostalgia plays in the albums, and whether the U.S. or the U.K. had better albums at that time. Also, do the 1970s begin in 1968? Did Roy Wood from ELO invent the general theory of relativity? Do you have to be a musician to make music? How many times did Timothy Leary die? And is Ray Davies Shaun’s own personal Morrissey?

QUEEN - Queen II: Rock as Gesamtkunstwerk?

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 09:58:55 +0200

This week Tim did a monologue on the newly-re-released second album by Queen, otherwise known as Queen 2. Topics covered include: whether the critical consensus on this album is accurate, why the band called one side white and one side black, the extent to which the album can be considered a concept album, whether this album is an originator of the later British heavy metal scene, and whether Queen in their turn were influenced by Gentle Giant. Also, has a worse acronym ever been invented than NWOBHM? What was the name of the film whose title track was “Flash”? How many proto-Bohemian Rhapsodies did Queen produce? How bad are the lyrics to Loser In The End? And how much is it possible to complain about Queen whilst both celebrating and lauding one of their key works?

KATE BUSH - Never for Ever: A pop star reads The Interpretation Of Dreams?

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:00:30 +0200

This week, Tim discussed the third album by Kate Bush, Never For Ever. Topics covered include: Kate Bush's harmonic sophistication, the poetic mastery she displays on the album, whether she should be considered an underrated artist, the constant Freudian sexual motifs she uses and the literary and cinematic dimension of the record. Also, why is the angel and the whore motif so popular? Why are the monsters on the cover emerging from Kate’s dress? Has anyone ever sat through a whole Ken Russell film? Are we really all just trying to get back to our mother’s breast? And is Babooshka trying to seduce her husband because she wants to win him back or is she just collecting material for the divorce papers?

PROG UNDERDOGS: Ranking our favourite prog bands of all time (minus the top 7!)

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:43:36 +0200

This week, Tim and Shaun discussed their favourite prog bands of all time, with the exception of the ‘Premier League’. Topics covered include: what prog actually is, whether prog was superseded by jazz-fusion, the role of the Canterbury sound in the history of prog and the role of humour in the prog genre. Also, what would Genesis have sounded like if they’d come from Kent? What happened to Shaun in Whitstable? What does Richard Sinclair sound like in real life? Is Arnold’s Gift Centre in Brentwood still open? And crucially, who will be number one?

CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG - "Back To The Mothership": The best of the debut solo albums

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:42:19 +0200

This week, in the second of our heavily-trailed phantasy album series, Tim discussed his proposal for a hypothetical follow-up to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s Deja-Vu. Topics covered include: whether there is a stylistic difference between the Stills-Young axis and the Crosby-Nash axis, which member of the band had the best solo album, whether the first CSN album was definitory of the California sound, why they bothered including Neil Young in the group, and where this hypothetical album would have stood in their canon, had it actually existed. Also, what is counterfactual history? How many grooves can you fit on a side of an LP? Why are there generally no girls in bands? Do all protest songs have to have a geographical name in the title? And how is David Crosby’s first album like The Gettysburg Address?

STEELEYE SPAN - Commoners Crown: The most Anglo-Saxon album ever made?

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 09:51:01 +0200

This week, Tim and Shaun discussed the seventh studio album by Steeleye Span, Commoners Crown. Topics discussed include: the connection between folk rock and prog rock, whether we prefer Steeleye Span or Fairport Convention, the American anthropology of British folk music, what the parallels are between Steeleye and The Wombles, and the prospect of various heavy metal bands covering these songs. Also, is there any album in the history of rock that contains more songs about child murder? What’s a homunculus? Did Shaun really pour tea all over his motherboard? Who made Bagpuss? And crucially, what did an elderly couple say to Shaun when he was coming out of the toilets at a Steeleye gig?

THE BEATLES – "A Doll's House": What if the white album were a double (but different)?

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 09:55:37 +0200

In the first of our mooted fantasy albums series, Tim and Peter each set out their alternative track listings for The Beatles, the band’s ninth studio album, colloquially known as The White Album. Issues covered include: the idea of a non-concept concept album, the contrasts between the band members’ different writing styles, where the band had reached in their career by this point, what we think of the final title versus the working title, and the extent to which the album reflected the socio-cultural context in which the band were working. Also, should Revolution 9 be included? What’s the problem with CDs? Was the protagonist of Mother Nature’s Son run over by a milk van? Why does George Harrison hate other humans so much? And did the band tell Ringo the time signature of Happiness Is A Warm Gun, or just wait for him to figure it out by himself?

BRIAN ENO - Before And After Science: Rock as quantum physics?

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:46:50 +0200

This week Tim discussed Brian Eno’s fifth album Before And After Science. Topics discussed include: the influence of Erik Satie on Brian Eno, the role of humour on the album, the Talking Heads connection, the extent to which Eno can be considered a minimalist, the hauntological dimension of Eno’s music, and what Eno understands by science. Also, how can one sum up the Carry On films? Why is Eno obsessed with spiders? What constitutes a claim to fame story? Which famous hitchhiker did Tim’s dad pick up on the M1? And most importantly, who’s Kurt?

FLEETWOOD MAC – Rumours: A paean to the drama of love?

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:57:01 +0200

This week Peter and Tim discussed the eleventh studio album by Fleetwood Mac, Rumours. Topics covered include: the continuity between this album and the so-called California sound, whether this is Fleetwood Mac’s best album, the American versus the British aspects of the band, why Stevie Nicks’ best material was left off the album, and why you should and shouldn’t listen to music exclusively on headphones. Also, what alternative titles has Peter invented for all the songs? What’s the smallest number of chords you need to write a song? What’s the most annoying use of rock music by a politician? Who’s the best guitarist at playing just one note? Is the ending of The Chain in the wrong key? And finally, there’s a welcome return for Turner’s Turntable.

DAVID BOWIE - Hunky Dory: Bowie as Superman?

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:47:39 +0200

This week Tim had a conversation with himself about the fourth David Bowie album, Hunky Dory. Topics covered include: whether this is Bowie’s best album, which Beatle he is closest to in style, Bowie’s exceptional lyrical gift, whether there are trans themes on the album and the importance of Rick Wakeman's contribution to the album. Also, what’s Bowie’s favourite chord sequence? Is ‘My Way’ any good? What did Bridget Jones mean by singleton? Did the Nazis misinterpret Nietzsche? And most importantly of all, is it pronounced Bowie, or Bowie?

RANKING: Our top ten favourite side-long epics

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:55:11 +0200

This week, Shaun and Tim ranked their Top Ten side-long rock epics. Topics covered include: what constitutes a side-long track, how many different ways there are of structuring such a track, what differentiates normal art from working-class art, how many apotheoses you need in a side-long piece, and why all British side-longs seem to concern industrial development. Also, what’s the connection betwen Rick Wakeman and Paddington Bear? What does the Al-Hambra building have to do with the band Renaissance? What happened when Shaun’s art tutor met Vangelis? What’s the connection between Rush and Tom Jones? And most important of all, who will be number one?

RANKING: Rush studio albums

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 10:39:35 +0200

This week Tim ranked the Rush studio albums, from 19 to 1. Topics covered include: Tim’s Rush autobiography, Rush’s exceptional arrangement skills, the quality of Rush’s lyrics, whether Rush work better in minor or major keys, and why Rush sound like a string quartet. Also, was Lady Gaga influenced by Rush? What’s the difference between synchrony and diachrony in the social sciences? Did Rush invent thrash metal? What would Walter Benjamin have thought of the band? Why did Neil Peart keep going on about Ayn Rand? And crucially, which will be number one?

RANKING: Our favourite songs about animals

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:06:58 +0200

This week, Peter and Tim discussed their favourite songs about animals. Which produce the best material, vertebrates or invertebrates? Which period produces the best animal songs? What do animals mean in art? What did Kant think of animals? Who really runs the planet, humans or insects? And can you get double points if both the song and the band name make reference to animals? Find out all this and more in this week’s (sort of Christmas special) episode.

When prog bands do punk and punk bands do prog: Peter Hammill and DEVO

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 10:06:30 +0200

This week Tim discussed the connection or otherwise between prog and punk, with particular reference to Peter Hammill’s album Nadir’s Big Chance and Devo’s album Q. Are We Not Men? A. We Are Devo! Topics for discussion this week include: the connection between Van der Graaf Generator and Nadir’s Big Chance, Devo’s connection with the musical scene in Germany, whether punk music sounds more European or American and how each group deals with the ‘schizoid position’. Also, what’s a Moebius strip? What did Johnny Rotten think of Peter Hammill? Did George Orwell really see a hanging? And who is the mysterious figure that connects prog and punk? Find out all this and more, in this week’s episode!

Renaissance - Scheherazade And Other Stories: The greatest symphonic rock album ever made?

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:18:01 +0200

This week, Shaun and Tim discussed the sixth studio album by Renaissance, Scheherazade And Other Stories. Topics discussed include: whether the album could be made today; whether Renaissance can be considered prog rock or symphonic rock; how many musical references to Rimsky-Korsakov the band include in this album (and others); whether or not the band were considered cool at the time; and how many octaves Annie Haslam can sing. Also, what’s the connection between Renaissance and Jilted John? What’s it like to go on a date with Roy Wood? What language do they speak in Cornwall? And how soon will Shaun be able to stage his hip hop version of the life of Admiral Nelson?

Steve Hackett - Voyage Of The Acolyte: A lost Genesis album?

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 10:06:11 +0200

In this week’s episode, Shaun discusses Steve Hackett’s debut solo album Voyage Of The Acolyte. Topics covered include: the extent to which Genesis was the genesis of this material, the Christian echoes on the album, whether the final title of the LP was the optimal choice, Steve Hackett’s use of dynamics and how the cover matches up to other Kim Poor material. Also, should Steve Hackett be considered the George Harrison of Genesis? Why didn’t Shaun go and watch John Hackett playing live? Why are there both crows and owls in Shaun’s wood? What happened when Shaun met Steve Hackett? And were Shaun’s schoolfriends really able to use Tarot cards to raise the spirit of Shaun’s maths teacher’s dustman?

Van der Graaf Generator - H to He Who Am The Only One: A body without organs?

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 10:01:50 +0200

This week, Tim did a monologue about H to He Who Am The Only One, by Van der Graaf Generator. Topics covered include: whether VdGG are really heavy metal without guitars, whether H to He can be considered a pop album, the extent to which the album precipitates the band’s later work, and how the dialectic between voice and sax works in the band. Also, how did VdGG influence Iron Maiden? Do the wind parts represent the Freudian drives? Is the ‘hit’ song Killer a comic or a tragic piece? Is there a schizoid element in the band’s work? And can fishes fly? Or would that constitute a black swan?

RANKING: The Top Five albums of 1967

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 14:05:35 +0200

This week Tim, Peter and Shaun discussed their favourite albums from “the summer of love”, 1967. Topics covered include: whether ’67 was the beginning of the postmodern period, what relation the period had to subsequent developments in music, what influence folk, blues and jazz had on the period, and whether the period was predominantly optimistic or pessimistic. Also, couldn’t “the highest paid act in America” get someone to tune their guitars? Which band hated each other the most? What did Steve Jobs actually invent? Should we have chosen a different year to discuss? And most importantly of all, who will be number one?

RANKING: Genesis Outtakes

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 10:09:04 +0200

In this week’s episode, Shaun and Tim discussed their top ten favourite Genesis outtakes. Topics covered include: the difference between outtakes from the classic and contemporary periods of the band, why Genesis didn’t write psychedelic pieces, how the Banks-Rutherford dialectic affected the sound of the band, and the influence of Phil Collins’ love life on the lyrics. Also, why did Steve Hackett keep getting quieter? What’s the essence of Stoic philosophy? Should some of the single albums have been doubles? Should some of the double albums have been singles? And was Mick Barnard the secret genius behind Genesis?

Gentle Giant - The Power And The Glory: Gentle's Giant's Leviathan?

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 10:36:50 +0200

This week Tim did a monologue about the sixth studio album by Gentle Giant, The Power And The Glory. Topics covered include: whether the band had read Graham Greene, George Orwell or Thomas Hobbes; the extent to which the lyrics are reflected in the music and vice versa; the unique style and sound of Gentle Giant; and whether the album should be considered political or anti-political. Also, should the ending of the album actually have gone at the beginning? Was Cogs In Cogs influenced by Charlie Chaplin? Did the album lead to the demise of Nicolae Ceaușescu? Was Watergate really that big a deal? And crucially, how did Hegel distinguish good infinity from bad infinity?

Yes - Drama: The last great prog album?

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 09:50:49 +0200

This week, Tim and Shaun had a chat about the tenth studio album by Yes, Drama. Topics covered included: the relative success of this rock-new wave mash-up; what the nature of the Yes-Horn/Downes collaboration was; whether the cover of the album was based on the songs; and whether this line-up should have made another album. Also, would the album have been better if Chris Squire had sung it? What were Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman drinking when they decided to leave the group? What is it like to go on your honeymoon with Steve Howe? Is Trevor Horn actually a camera? Should Man In A White Car actually have been called Newman In A White Car? And what did Eddy Offord do to that pigeon?

Planxty - Planxty: The greatest Irish band of all time?

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 09:59:28 +0200

This week Tim did a monologue on the first album by Planxty. Topics covered include: whether Planxty are really the greatest Irish band of all time, whether prog fans would like this album, the mythological nature of the group’s songs, the carefully programmed nature of the album, and the connection between Planxty and the band Kneecap. Also, how did the band Elbow get their name? How do you make an English person feel Irish? Was the Jolly Beggar really a beggar or not? And did Christy Moore invent rap music on The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy?

TOP(OGRAPHIC) TRUMPS: Tommy vs. Quadrophenia

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:13:54 +0200

This week, Tim and Peter did an album-off, between Tommy and Quadrophenia by The Who. Topics covered include: whether both albums deserve to be doubles, in what sense Quadrophenia is a response to Tommy, how important Kit Lambert’s influence was, how each album deals with the question of sexual identity, and whether Underture is too long or not. Also, what would Freud have thought of the band? Which is the most offensive line on the two albums? Was Tommy actually finished or not? Are mods male or female? And which is better, Keith Moon’s drumming or his screaming?

RANKING: The greatest progressive rock albums of all time

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 08:59:40 +0200

This week, Shaun and Tim ranked their top ten favourite progressive rock albums. Which of your favourite bands will be in there? And how will they be represented? Find out in this bumper episode!

The Incredible String Band - The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion: An alternative Sgt. Pepper?

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 09:02:22 +0200

This week Peter did a monologue about the second album by The Incredible String Band, The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion. Topics covered include: the String Band’s unusual harmonic sense, the Eastern influence on their music, their importance to the 60s music scene in the U.K., why the band weren’t better known and the uniqueness of the Edinburgh folk scene. Also, who was the best sitar player in the 60s? Why don’t the band do any middle eights? What are the politics of turning an album over? And is you is or is you ain’t on board?

The Nice - Five Bridges: The first real progressive rock album?

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 09:26:04 +0200

This week Tim did a monologue on Five Bridges by The Nice. Topics covered include: whether Five Bridges is the first stage in the development of the progressive rock "paradigm"; where the album stands in the band’s catalogue; how The Nice compares to ELP; and whether the dialectic between band and orchestra is successful. Also, why don’t bands get Arts Council grants any more? What does the band have to do with the philosophy of science? Was the introduction influenced by tantric sex? Was Lee Jackson a Maoist? How do you say “ars” without causing offence? And most importantly of all, what does Stumpy say?

RANKING: Live progressive rock albums

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 08:53:21 +0200

This week Shaun, Peter and Tim rank their top five favourite live prog rock albums. Who will be number one?

SPECIAL EPISODE: Shaun's Shed (Caravan: Girls That Grow Plump In The Night)

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 09:18:07 +0200

In this episode - potentially one of an occasional series - Shaun reviews sections of Caravan's fifth studio album: Girls That Grow Plump In The Night, whilst sculpting a bust of Richard Sinclair and arguing with the postman and a charity worker.

Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak: The hard rock Ulysses?

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 09:05:56 +0200

This week Tim discussed the classic sixth album by Thin Lizzy, Jailbreak. Topics covered are: whether Lizzy is the greatest Irish group of all time, whether they are Iron Maiden avant la lettre, what the essential ingredients of their sound are, and the role that the Irish literary and poetic tradition play in the mix. Also, how many references to brothers are there on the album, and who exactly are they? What do the French say about gambling? Is Don Juan secretly gay? And there may be about to be a Jailbreak somewhere in the town, but presumably it will at least start in the jail?

Peter Gabriel - 3 (Melt): A concept album about apartheid?

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 13:47:40 +0200

This week Shaun and Tim discussed the third album by Peter Gabriel: 3 (Melt). Themes covered include: whether this is a psychological or a political album (or both), whether it’s a concept album about apartheid, the status of the album within Gabriel’s discography, the psychological resonances of the cover and the influence of world music on the album. Also, are some of the lyrics based on Freud’s analysis of the Schreber case? Was the track Intruder about the Milk Tray man? Are there too many songs on side one? Did Lee Harvey Oswald kill JFK? And what happened to William the Conqueror when they tried to put him in his coffin?

Mike Rutherford - Smallcreep's Day: A Genesis album in a parallel universe?

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 09:28:00 +0200

This week Tim discussed side one of Mike Rutherford’s first solo album, Smallcreep’s Day. Topics covered include: the playing on the album, the programmatic implications of the Smallcreep’s Day Suite, the differences between Smallcreep’s Day and Supper’s Ready by Genesis, and the decisive use of suspended chords on the album. Also, why is the cover better than the source material? Is Rutherford a romantic or a transcendental idealist? What exactly is the problem with the Marxist concept of alienation? How many apotheoses are required in a 24-minute piece? How is Smallcreep like James Bond? And how do you say “thief” in Spanish?

Simon and Garfunkel - Bookends: The anti-Summer of Love album?

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 10:45:16 +0200

This week, Peter and Tim discussed the fourth album by Simon and Garfunkel, Bookends. Topics considered include: whether the album was an attack on hippy ideals and culture, whether it was a New York broadside against California, what connects Simon and Garfunkel and The Kinks, the nature of Paul Simon’s writing process and whether the album would be considered “meta” today. Also: what does “America” mean? Who was “Kathy”? Was Mrs. Robinson really Mrs. Roosevelt? Is it pronounced “Hazy Shade Of Winter” or “Whiter Shade Of Pale”? And is all the world really a stage?

Genesis - And Then There Were Three: Selling America by the pound?

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 15:40:07 +0200

This week Shaun and Tim discussed the ninth studio album by Genesis, And Then There Were Three. Themes discussed include: whether this was Genesis’ least experimental album, what Steve Hackett’s absence meant to the band, whether the unexpected is a necessary but insufficient condition for artistic creation and whether the album should have been called “Selling America By The Pound”. Also, was there any instrument on the album that couldn’t have been played by Tony Banks? Was Ballad of Big about Steve Hackett? Did Shaun get off the Genesis bus before or after Tesco’s? What the hell is Snowbound about? And which was the first Genesis track on which Phil start discussing his Mama?

Frank Zappa - Sheik Yerbouti: The unicorn of a perfect double album? (WARNING: Contains adult themes!)

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 18:19:40 +0200

This week, Tim discussed Frank Zappa’s 1979 album Sheik Yerbouti. Issues discussed are the artistic status of the rock double album, the role of humour in music, what to make of the accusation of racism, whether Frank Zappa had read Freud, the musical eclecticism one finds on the album and the role of aleatory music in Zappa’s oeuvre. Also: how are the musique concrète pieces like a Japanese restaurant? Is the character of Bobby Brown a metaphor for today’s culture? Who’s funnier: Frank Zappa or the Bonzo Dog Band? Is the closing track a veiled threat to his own musicians? And most important of all: do unicorns exist or not?

RANKING: YES SOLO DEBUT ALBUMS

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 10:22:23 +0200

This week Tim and Shaun ranked the first eight (or is it seven?!) Yes solo debut albums. Issues which emerge are: what the thinking was in putting these albums together; who has the best musicianship on their album; how the sound of these albums relates to the Yes sound; and how the onstage dynamic might affect the group dynamic as a whole. Also, what would King Crimson have sounded like with Phil Collins on drums? Is the phrase Alan White a metaphor? Which exactly are the two sides of Peter Banks? Who plays pervy sax on Fish Out Of Water? Why is Richard Nixon on the cover of Henry? And what on earth is ramschackling?

RANKING: PINK FLOYD STUDIO ALBUMS

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 10:30:59 +0200

This week, Peter and Tim ranked the 15 Pink Floyd studio albums. Topics covered included: Hipgnosis cover art, the transition from psychedelia to prog, or art rock, whether we can separate our views of Pink Floyd from their cultural significance and the relative merits of the different members of the band. Also: who has the best joke about Momentary Lapse of Reason? Is anyone prepared to watch an entire Barbet Schroeder film? How does Piper At The Gates Of Dawn resemble a chocolate box? Why is Alan’s Psychedelic Breakfast so long? And which is the bravest 9 minutes in Pink Floyd’s career? And finally, the crucial question: how many Pink Floyds are there?

Godley and Creme - Consequences: The longest resignation letter in history?

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 18:38:36 +0200

This week Tim did a monologue on the first album by Godley and Creme, Consequences. The discussion includes: the extensive artistic talents of the duo, the nature of the split with 10cc, what Deceptive Bends would have been like if Godley and Creme had stayed, and the environmental theme. Also, was the album a hello or a goodbye? Should it really have been a triple? Can it be described as the weirdest album in the history of rock? What was the Gizmotron? How on earth did they get Peter Cook and Sarah Vaughan involved? And is the answer to life, the universe and everything: “17”?

RANKING: GENESIS SOLO DEBUT ALBUMS

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 12:09:07 +0200

This week, Shaun and Tim did a ranking of the first six solo albums by the key members of Genesis. Topics included: the difference between band writing and solo writing, the difference between instrumental writing and songwriting, the punk-prog dialectic, the prevalence of journeying themes in the albums, and sexual difference when it comes to choosing your favourite Genesis member. Also, where is the Mick Barnard album? How many wine glasses did Steve Hackett actually crush? What kind of trade union member is Phil Collins? And how many members of Genesis does it take to fit cannons and tympanis in a canal boat?

Van der Graaf Generator - Godbluff: The sound of a nervous breakdown set to music?

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 07:56:39 +0200

This week, Tim discussed the fifth album by Van der Graaf Generator, Godbluff. Topics covered are: where the album sits in the band’s trajectory, the band’s unusual line-up, whether they can be considered prog rock, the European influences on the band and the meaning of the album title. Also, what was their influence on Iron Maiden? Were the band influenced by romantic literature? Were they really obsessed with the wars of religion? Are the band “heavy metal without guitars”? And does the word “George Harrison-y” constitute an acceptable use of the English language?

TOP(OGRAPHIC) TRUMPS: Tales From Topographic Oceans vs. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 09:52:25 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim compare and contrast the two classic prog rock double albums: The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway by Genesis and Tales From Topographic Oceans by Yes. The discussion includes: why the bands decided to do double albums at this point; the role of jamming on both albums; the religious character of the two themes; and who’s better: Roger Dean or Hipgnosis? Also, are Jon Anderson’s words wonderful or terrible? Was The Lamb based on The TV show The Prisoner? Why did Alan White play a tree? Who was Lilith? And is Shaun using a microphone or a telescope?

Fairport Convention - Liege And Lief: Their last great album, or their first great album?

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 11:19:12 +0200

This week, Shaun and Tim did a review of the folk-rock classic, the fourth album by Fairport Convention, Liege And Lief. The discussion included: what the album title means; whether this was the band’s last great album, or their first great album; how close to romanticism folk music is; and whether the album is optimally sequenced. Also, how do you pronounce ‘Hutchings’? What is that object on the back cover? What’s the difference between Matty Groves and Titanic? Is Shaun qualified to join the cast of Time Team? And is Jacob Rees-Mogg a were-fox?

The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds: Is it as good as they say?

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 14:56:41 +0200

This week Tim did a monologue on Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys. He attempted to answer the question as to whether it is as good as everybody says it is. Did he manage it? Listen and find out!

Gentle Giant - In A Glass House: Their existentialist masterpiece?

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 14:28:02 +0200

This week, Tim discussed the fifth album by Gentle Giant, In a Glass House. Topics covered are: the band being dropped by their record label, whether the band is a prog band or a ‘sublimated pop band', the complexity of the band’s playing and writing and their relationship with the missing brother and how it affected the theme of the album. Also, had the band read Jean-Paul Sartre? What happened when the band supported Black Sabbath? Why the hell did they make Giant For A Day? How did Kant define the Enlightenment? And finally, who were The Moles?

RANKING: THE TOP TEN U.S. BANDS OF ALL TIME

Wed, 28 May 2025 10:46:56 +0200

This week, Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their Top Ten favourite US bands of all time. The discussion includes: the difference between bands and solo artists; whether a subjective analysis is the same as an opinion; who the most influential bands were; and which decade produced the best music? Also, why was there a fetish for misspelling animal names? Why doesn’t Shaun listen to anything that was released after 1993? Why did noone mention The Doobie Brothers? And who will be number one?

Caravan - In The Land Of Grey And Pink: Review

Mon, 19 May 2025 16:56:18 +0200

This week, the first of an occasional series: “Pods from the wood”, in which Shaun goes back to nature and discusses one of his favourite albums whilst moving around in the Essex countryside. Today’s topic is the third album by Caravan, In The Land Of Grey And Pink. Themes discussed include: the influence of Chaucer on the band, where the album stands in the Canterbury canon, the Tolkeinesque nature of the cover, and how Caravan relates to its successor bands. Also, is that wind, or an earthquake in the Home Counties? Can you think of another band with cousins in? What is a winter wine (when it’s at home)? And who’s that on the phone?

RANKING: THE BEACH BOYS ALBUMS

Fri, 16 May 2025 19:26:27 +0200

This week, Shaun and Tim did a marathon ranking of the 28 albums by The Beach Boys. The discussion included: the difference between a great album and a favourite album; who the best songwriter was after Brian; whether Pet Sounds is really that good; whether the Beach Boys discography is a curate’s egg or jam sandwich; and how many of The Beach Boys albums are concept albums. Also, how bad does one song have to be to ruin an album? What happened to Shaun when he was in the bath while listening to 20/20? And how many references to Stalin can the lads include in a Beach Boys ranking?

Curved Air - Air Conditioning: Review

Fri, 09 May 2025 13:51:51 +0200

Peter and Shaun were busy this week, so Tim did a monologue, on the first album by Curved Air, Air Conditioning. Topics that come up are: Curved Air’s role in the English rock scene post-psychedelia and pre-prog rock, the nature of the writing committeee they mobilised, how the album fits into the band’s career trajectory, and the extent to which they can be considered a fusion band. Also: how do Curved Air relate to French philosopher Alain Badiou? What would Kant have said? What would Stumpy have said? How does the band incorporate quantum mechanics in their work? And we know that something happened today, but what exactly was it?

Strawbs - From The Witchwood: Review

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 14:26:25 +0200

Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the third album by Strawbs, From The Witchwood. The discussion includes: whether it should be thought of as a concept album, where it stands in the Strawbs canon, why we can’t find any information on the cover, whether Wordsworth was an influence on the lyrics, and how important the Christian influence was on the band. Also, does Rick Wakeman ever stop playing? Can we trust Artificial Intelligence? Does the animatronic Oliver Cromwell have a Norfolk accent? And which is better, the English Civil War or the Norman Invasions? There’s only one way to find out…

RANKING: THE TOP FIFTEEN BEATLES OUTTAKES

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 14:18:24 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their favourite Beatles outtakes. The discussion includes: the ratio of John songs to Paul songs and of John and Paul songs to George songs; why there are so many early outtakes and late outtakes; who did the best solo album; and why they gave so many songs to Billy J. Kramer. Also, are there any Ringo songs on the list? Is there anything that shouldn't have been on the White Album? Is ‘Every Night’ brilliant or awful? And why did Cilla Black sound like that?

The Electric Light Orchestra - The Electric Light Orchestra: Review

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 08:59:42 +0200

Peter and Shaun were busy this week, so Tim did the second part of his ‘Birmingham Beatles’ duology: the first album by the Electric Light Orchestra. The ‘conversation’ included: the Move connection, the differences between ELO and the later prog movement, the incredibly high quality of ELO’s musicianship and the nature of the creative relationship between Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood. Also, why did so many of the songs have two titles? Why was the album called ‘No Answer’ in the U.S. (as opposed to, say, ‘Press one for hold’)? Where would one cry from if not from one’s eyes? And who led the Royalist forces against Cromwell in the English Civil War?

The Move - Move: Review

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 09:08:44 +0200

Peter and Shaun were busy this week, so Tim did a monologue about the debut album by The Move, Move. The ‘conversation’ included: the multicultural nature of The Move’s music, the ELO connection, whether this is the best UK album of the 1960s and why this was both the beginning and the end for the band. Also, why didn’t they make a concept album about gardening? Who the hell is singing each song? How did the album tapes end up in a bin in central London? And who was Mr. Chad?

RANKING: THE TOP TEN UK BANDS OF THE 70S

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:03:31 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their favourite Top Ten UK Bands of the 1970s. The discussion includes: the difference between cultural importance and musical importance, punk versus pre-punk genres, whether we trust one band to write better than another, and why we had so many honourable mentions. Also, who were the real heirs to The Beatles? Why did Phil Collins play on everybody’s records? Did Shaun preempt early US rap music? And what does lampooning mean?

Black Sabbath - Paranoid: Review

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 11:56:19 +0200

Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the second album by Black Sabbath, Paranoid. The discussion includes: whether Black Sabbath started heavy metal, who the most important member of the band was, the influence of drugs on their performance, what their influences were and what the relationship is between jazz and heavy metal. Also, what would Kant have made of Black Sabbath? Why did they keep setting the drummer on fire? Who can do the best Birmingham accent? And why does Shaun keep throwing salt over his shoulder?

Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells: Review

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 18:48:47 +0200

Tim and Peter were busy this week, so Shaun had a conversation with himself, about the debut album by Mike Oldfield, Tubular Bells. The following topics were covered: how Tubular Bells relates to the rest of the Oldfield catalogue, the relationship between Tubular Bells and early minimalism and how Oldfield's early life affected his compositional processes. Also, did Oldfield exclusively write his music down on the back of cigarette packets? Why hasn’t Shaun seen The Exorcist? And how good is Viv Stanshall?!

10CC - 10CC: Review

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 09:41:12 +0200

Peter and Shaun were busy this week, so Tim did a monologue, on the first album by 10cc. ‘We discuss’ the history and pre-history of the band, the gap between 10cc’s talent and the way they’re remembered, the nature of the band’s harmonic and creative gifts, as well as the poor quality of 10cc reissues. Also, are 10cc the Beatles of the 70s? Why did they open the album with what is objectively the worst track? Who's funnier, 10cc or Frank Zappa? And what would Stalin have made of the band?

Yes - The Yes Album: Review

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 11:49:59 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the third album by Yes, The Yes Album. The discussion includes: the rebirth of Yes as a group, why they decided to get rid of Tony Kaye and Peter Banks, why the band sounds so American, whether Jon Anderson’s lyrics are good or not, and whether this is an example of a perfectly programmed album. Also, we know what Tony Banks thought of this album, but what about Peter Kay? What did Heraclitus think about rivers? Who is Ray Cooper? And was the cover photo taken in an outpatient clinic?

RANKING: THE TOP 10 WOMEN IN ROCK

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 12:21:03 +0200

Shaun, Peter and Tim discuss their favourite female rock artists. On the agenda for today: is cultural importance relevant to musical importance? Which is the best period for female rock stars? How do we distinguish an individual contribution from a collective one? And do women appreciate certain female artists more than men, and vice versa? Also, how many of the contributors owned a dansette? Can we get through one episode without discussing Doctor Who? And why does a fight break out every time a member of the team tries to play a Whitney Houston song in public?

Hawkwind - Warrior On The Edge Of Time: Review

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 11:50:27 +0200

Tim and Peter were busy this week, so Shaun had a debate with himself, about the fifth studio album by Hawkwind, Warrior On The Edge Of Time. The ‘discussion’ includes the following topics: where ‘Warrior’ stands in the Hawkwind canon, Hawkwind’s relationship to the British counterculture and whether ‘the Warrior’ was a metaphor for the band itself. Also, is it pronounced Elrich, or Elrich? What happened when the Anglo-Saxons broke ranks at Senlac Hill? And how many member of Hawkwind has Shaun actually met (while playing cricket)?

Pink Floyd - Animals: Review

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 08:10:06 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the tenth album by Pink Floyd, Animals. The discussion includes: whether the album was an attempt to fit in with the punk aesthetic, whether Roger Waters is a genius or not, to what extent is the band channeling George Orwell and what role love has to play in the album’s theme. Also, what is the band’s problem with the animals? Who was Mary Whitehouse? Is it pronounced Battersea or Battersea? And what happened when Shaun bumped into Dave Mattacks in the toilets?

The Beach Boys - Smile: Review

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 10:55:41 +0200

Peter and Shaun were busy this week, so Tim had a conversation with himself, about the unreleased album by The Beach Boys, Smile! The ‘discussion’ includes: the myth versus the reality of Smile!, whether it really would have changed the course of rock history if it had been released, how it relates to the following album Smiley Smile and how The Beach Boys and The Beatles saw each other. Also, why did Capitol Records print 400,000 album covers for an album that didn’t exist? What happened to the missing chorus of Heroes and Villains? And did Brian Wilson really start the fire that happened next door to the Beach Boys’ studio because he recorded a song called ‘Fire’?

RANKING: THE TOP 10 UK BANDS OF THE 60S, NOT INCLUDING THE BEATLES AND THE STONES

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 13:06:20 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their favourite 60s bands, minus ‘the big two’. How does the British rock and pop scene stand up without its two most famous elements? The guys discuss: the difference between musical contributions and cultural contributions, the influence of folk and blues, what it means to say that a band made its key contributions in the 60s (if they continued into the 70s) and whether the musicianship at the time matched the songwriting. Also, which 60s pop drummer was the best? Which band looked coolest on the Ed Sullivan show? And which 60s musicians would play which role in a hypothetical casting of Oliver?

Cream - Wheels Of Fire (Studio): Review

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 13:59:05 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the third album by Cream, Wheels Of Fire (Studio). The discussion includes: whether the band can be considered psychedelic or not, why they are masters of the art of syncopation and why they hated each other so much. Also, was Cream really a jazz band but noone had bothered to tell Eric? Is Pressed Rat And Warthog really like Wind in the Willows on acid? Is Ginger Baker doing satirical drumming on Politician? And were things really so great in the lost city of Atlantis?

Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast: Review

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 10:19:31 +0200

Peter and Shaun were busy this week, so Tim had a conversation with himself, about the third album by Iron Maiden, The Number Of The Beast. The ‘discussion’ includes: the programmatic nature of Maiden’s music, why this album is considered their best, why they always use the same chords, and which their best line-up was. Also, was Hallowed Be Thy Name based on a book by Dostoyevsky? Is this Iron Maiden’s most woke album? Is 22 Acacia Avenue based on Roxanne by The Police? And did the title track ultimately lead to Brexit?

RANKING: THE BEATLES BROWN ALBUM

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 16:59:14 +0200

This week, Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their least favourite songs by possibly the greatest band of all time, thus providing a potential track listing for a third mythical album to add to “The White Album” and “The Black Album”: “The Brown Album”. Topics discussed include the following. Will George and Ringo be over-represented in the list? Are later bad Beatles songs worse than early bad Beatles songs? Is ‘over-McCartneyish’ a legitimate criticism? And: is ‘the greatest Beatles song of all time’ actually their worst? Also: on how many levels can a bad song be bad? What was Paul McCartney really doing ‘in the road’? If Harrison was so tired on Blue Jay Way, why didn’t he just go to bed? And finally, if The Beatles really believed that ‘All You Need Is Love’, why did they start by quoting the Marseillaise, the most bloodthirsty song in history?

King Crimson - Red: Review

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 14:47:21 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the seventh studio album by King Crimson, Red. The discussion includes: the band’s incredible musicianship, the relative merits of the albums in the Mark III period, whether the group sounds better with or without violin, and whether Starless is the greatest King Crimson track of all time. Also, can Robert Fripp play the blues? Does Phil Collins sound like a seal? Does time literally slow down when the band is doing an over-long improvisational passage? And what would it sound like if cardboard could sing?

Camel - The Snow Goose: Review

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 15:19:11 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the third album by Camel, The Snow Goose. The discussion includes: the quality of Camel's musicianship, why they decided to do an instrumental album, where does the band stand in the British prog canon and to what extent can music represent images? Also, were the band influenced by 70's game show music? Why did they choose duck sounds to represent a goose? Why didn't the Nazis finish off the British army at Dunkirk? And does Canterbury really exist?

Queen - 1: Review

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 14:24:11 +0200

Peter and Shaun were busy this week, so Tim did a monologue about the newly-rereleased Queen 1. The monologue includes: the uneven development between Queen’s songwriters, the brilliance of Brian May’s guitar playing, whether Queen’s singles are better than their albums, and is the cover an early example of ‘queering’? Also, was Freddie a Christian? Did Roger Taylor really need a drum solo? And would Leon Trotsky have liked Bohemian Rhapsody?

Led Zeppelin - 2: Review

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 11:45:46 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinons of the second album by Led Zeppelin. The discussion includes: the British blues explosion of the sixties, the difference between English folk and American folk, why couldn’t the band think of proper names for their albums?, and did John Bonham write Whole Lotta Love? Also: are the lyrics on this album good or not? Did they understand that the name Led Zeppelin was a metaphor? And which is better: Toad by Cream or Moby Dick by Led Zeppelin? There’s only one way to find out…

RANKING: GENESIS STUDIO ALBUMS

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 14:33:03 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim rank the Genesis studio albums. There's a few surprises, and one or two good rants. Also, how many ways are there to count to 15? And what does Shaun's brother Steve think?

Jethro Tull - Aqualung: Review

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 15:31:09 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the fourth album by Jethro Tull, Aqualung. The discussion includes: Jethro Tull’s innovative lyrics, whether their style precipitated prog rock and heavy metal, why the album was so big in America, and, most crucially, was it a concept album or not? Also, did Ian Anderson really threaten to do a flute solo if the band didn’t nail their solos in two takes? What's the English word for pants? And what’s it like to share a bathroom with John Bonham?

Rush - 2112: Review

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:12:33 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the fourth album by Rush, 2112. The discussion includes: Rush’s career swerve, the band’s fascination with Ayn Rand, why the album was considered better than Caress of Steel, and whether the whole concept for the album actually came from Tchaikovsky. Also, what actually happens in the title track? Would it really be so bad to live under the rule of the Priests? And is the postcode for The Temples of Syrinx SY or SX?

Marillion - F.E.A.R.: Review

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 11:09:53 +0200

Peter and Shaun were busy this week, so Tim had a debate with himself, about the eighteenth studio album by Marillion, F.E.A.R.. The ‘discussion’ includes: whether Marillion owe more to Genesis or to Pink Floyd, why the band’s abstract compositional technique is so difficult to discuss conceptually, and whether ultimately they are writing tracks or albums. Also, did they read Thomas Pikkety’s Capital in the 21st. Century? Can the band be considered political catastrophists? And who is that at the door?

E.L.P. - Brain Salad Surgery: Review

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 11:17:00 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the fourth (or fifth?) album by Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Brain Salad Surgery. The discussion includes: ELP's astonishing musical talent, whether this was supposed to be a concept album or not and the question of why the band chose to do so many cover versions. Also, why was everyone so keen to go to Switzerland? Can we put together a crowd funder to reclaim Carl Palmer's drum kit? And what exactly did Greg Lake need a ladder for?

King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King: Review

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 11:28:56 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the debut album by King Crimson, In The Court Of The Crimson King. The discussion includes: King Crimson as singularity, what makes Michael Giles such a good drummer and why the heavy reliance on the mellotron? Also, should Mirrors be used on Strictly Come Dancing? And how do you pronounce Judy Dyble's surname?

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon: Review

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 13:28:42 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the eighth album by Pink Floyd, Dark Side Of The Moon. The discussion includes: Pink Floyd's musical ability, whether it truly works as a concept album and whether the cover was based on the Black Magic chocolate box or Milk Tray. Also, is the opening of 'Money' the sound of someone paying Clare Torry her 60 quid session fee? And who on earth is Barry St. John?

Yes - Close To The Edge: Review

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 08:53:36 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the fifth studio album by Yes, Close To The Edge, as well as Jon Anderson's early work, as a milkman in Accrington, Lancashire.

Genesis - Selling England By The Pound: Review

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 18:26:20 +0200

Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the fifth studio album by Genesis, Selling England By The Pound.