272. 10 Years of This Is My Nightmare by The Good Fight

We talk a lot of about album anniversaries on this show, but this is the first time we talk about one of our own!

On November 9, 2013, Tom’s band The Good Fight released their debut (and final) EP “This Is My Nightmare” and the guys go track by track and discuss the writing and recording process of each song and provide some insight on how recording your own music opens up a world of appreciation for the songs and albums we listen to every day.

270. All That I've Got by The Used

Daddy and daddy have been away for a few months, and we’re very sorry that we left you all alone with the babysitter, a terrible April Fool’s joke of an episode. So we’re popping in real quick with a brand new toy to hopefully make things right. Here’s All That I’ve Got by The Used, but for real this time. Not a dragon in sight. See you in 10 months…

268. 99 Red Balloons by Goldfinger

You know those moments in your life where you know you’re going to come away from that moment a completely different person? That’s what hearing 99 Red Balloons for the first time was for us. It’s the reason we’re friends. It’s the reason we ended up starting a band that we played in all through high school. It very well may be the reason we love pop-punk as much as we do. And it all started with a weird German song in the 90s that captivated the hearts of 3rd wave ska captains, Goldfinger. Thanks for everything, John Feldmann. And sorry for everything, as always…

267. Drunken Lullabies by Flogging Molly

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, friends! As many as you may know or have guessed by now, we’re both hella Irish, so we’re happy to talk about the most Irish song we know, Drunken Lullabies by Flogging Molly. (Suck it, Irish National Anthem!)

The song is great year-round, but it hits especially hard on St. Patty’s Day. But the VIDEO! Dear Christ, the video is so good. It’s basically just a skate film featuring Patrick Melcher and you won’t catch either of us complaining about it. It rules!

Erin Go Bragh!

266. The Science of Selling Yourself Short by Less Than Jake

Way too much time has gone by without screaming at everyone about how much we absolutely love Less Than Jake. Not only have they been cranking out some of the best music we’ve ever heard since the early 90s, but they even gave us Fueled by Ramen, so put some respect on the name!

While The Science of Selling Yourself Short isn’t the most feel-good song of all time, it’s an absolutely killer track with a super trippy and amazing music video that is deserving of so much more than we could ever give it. Summer of ska, here we come!

264. Anywhere But Here by Mayday Parade

It’s no secret that Mayday Parade is one of our favorite bands of all time, but we’re super guilty of only talking about their debut album, A Lesson in Romantics. It seems like the rest of the world may be guilty of the same crime, so we’re trying to set the record straight today. Mayday Parade is much more than a one-album wonder!

Anywhere But Here was a very good sophomore record, even on the heels of losing one of their singers to Go Radio over a disagreement concerning songwriting credits. The title track is super fun, the music video is wild and weird, and Facebook is keeping it all to itself. Bastards.

263. Everywhere by Michelle Branch

No early 2000’s podcast is complete without a Michelle Branch episode, because that woman was everywhere, much pun intended. And she wasn’t even a woman yet, she was like 15, taking the entire planet and the airwaves by storm!

Our motto this year is #BangersOnly, so it’s only natural we talk about Michelle Branch, even if it is a little bit out of genre as a blend of “moody post-grunge rock and breezy Y2K pop”. It bangs, and we’re 100% here for it. If only Michelle was 100% here on the podcast. Maybe next time…

262. Same Direction by Hoobastank (Into the Hoobaverse)

It’s no secret that Hoobastank’s music video for The Reason is our favorite heist movie ever, but it recently came to our attention that there’s a sequel! Hooba picks up right where they left off and tell a gripping tale of crime, rock and roll, and betrayal all in three minutes, and somehow managed to outdo themselves once again.

However, we want more. Selfishly, but there were also a few loose ends that we’d love to see tied up in a neat bow, so we’re calling on Doug Robb and the boys to expand the Hoobaverse with a 3rd installment to the series, or preferably a feature-length film. If you’d like to see this happen, make sure to sign our change.org petition below.

261. The Debut Album Mixtape Draft

There are few things as magical as a debut that absolutely takes over the world, whether that’s the literal world with platinum status or the self-centered, tiny bubble of a world we were living in when we were 15. This week we draft our favorite debut albums and state our cases for which song we think represents the album as a whole. Make sure to listen to the playlists on Apple Music and Spotify!

260. When We Were Young Festival Setlist Mixtape Draft

The announcement of the When We Were Young Festival will be one of those moments we look back on in 20 years that are paired with a “where were you when"?" The millisecond that flyer hit Twitter, everyone went nuts. It was pure, unadulterated joy for like, 20 minutes… and then the questions started. And at last, the memes rolled in.

Wait, how many bands? HOW many stages? In 24 hours? Who the hell is Car Seat Headrest and what are they doing on this bill?

After a few minutes of moaning and groaning about festival experiences in the past, we absolutely GUSH about all the bands we love on the bill and we draft which songs we want to hear our favorite artists play at WWWY, even though we aren’t going. Maybe…

259. The Sophomore Album Mixtape Draft (and the songs that defined them)

Everyone loves to talk about bands’ debut albums, but I think it’s about time we give some sophomore releases the credit they deserve. This week we draft our favorite sophomore albums, but there’s a twist… we also have to pick the song we think represents the album best. Not only does it leave a ton of room for debate, but it makes the playlist possible, so make sure to check them out on Apple Music and Spotify.

258. Writing on the Walls by Underøath

As Underøath releases their new album “Voyeurist” today, we take some time to discuss one of their early bangers, Writing on the Wall their album Define the Great Line. But not before we present your 2022 ScorchFest winner, Patrick McDonagh for his FLAMING hot take on Green Day and the listenability of their entire catalog.

In this episode Tom tells a story about trying to hand out demos to bands on national tours, trying to steal a smooch in a hotel room, Pat is haunted by Pamalhorese, and Tom has a story about trap doors. Really we did everything we could to not talk about this music video because it’s horrifying.

257. ScorchFest 2022: Listeners Send Us Their Hottest Takes!

You all listen to us spout our nonsense 51 weeks out of the year, but this week is yours. ScorchFest 2022 is upon us, and you people did not pull any punches. This year feels extra special as we had you all “call-in” to the show to personally tell us your thoughts that are sure to make everyone just absolutely upset, and it’s all done for the coveted golden spatula.

Listen to this year’s contenders and make sure to vote on Twitter and/or Instagram for your desired 2022 winner!

256. The New Year by Death Cab For Cutie

With the new year upon us, we’ve decided to finally discuss the only song that has ever made sense to discuss on the last week of the year, The New Year by Death Cab For Cutie. Gibbard and the boys have an insane way of dragging your entire day into the gutter after just one verse of any of their songs, and The New Year holds no punches. If you’re looking to feel melanchonly and introspective as absolute hell at a New Year’s party that you didn’t want to go to in the first place, this song and video are for you.

255. Live Christmas AMA

For the first time in 5 years, we record an episode LIVE in front of a virtual studio audience! Pat watched a super long documentary about The Beatles, Tom definitely does not, they both start new Christmas traditions with their growing families, and they (we?) take compliments and accept gifts weirdly. How very Irish Catholic…

254. December (again) and again and (again) by Neck Deep

Look, every modern, original Christmas song is terrible. They’re all so bad, in fact, that we had to go out of the decade just to find a remotely wintery song worth talking about. But the emo gods have blessed us with Neck Deep’s December, of which there are THREE VERSIONS!

There seems to be a trend with super depressing Christmas/winter songs coming from the bands we love, and boy does Neck Deep deliver, “Pain is never permanent but tonight it's killing me” and whatnot.

253. Reinventing Your Exit by Underøath

Our first foray into the early 2000’s insanity that was Christian metalcore, Christ-core for short, lands us at the “Reinventing Your Exit” music video by a band that has recently renounced their religious affiliation, Underøath.

They’re Only Chasing Safety walked so that albums like Someday Came Suddenly could sprint at freak-like speeds. Still, there’s something about Underøath’s first effort with new vocalist Spencer Chamberlain that has yet to be replicated by any band since. The screams are brutal, the singing is transcendent, the shirts are tight, and the belts are bright in this masterpiece of a music video. So buckle up and bring a friend because it’s dangerous business walking into this week’s episode.