169: "Shout" vs. "Relax" (w/Justin Lewis)!

It's the mid-'80s and two bands have figured out that what people want is British guys giving commands in two-note chanting choruses. Which is the best more-chorus-than-song song of the mid-'80s, "Shout" by Tears for Fears or "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood? Thank you to special guest Justin Lewis, check out his great book "Into the Groove: The 1980s: The Ultimate Decade in Music History" which you can pre-order in the US here or buy in the UK here! Song vs. Song Patreon here! Please donate, we need you. And as always — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights:Transgender Law CenterTrans LifelineDestination TomorrowGender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMeAlso, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If there's one thing we liked in rock in the 2000s, it was the '90s, and those who managed to survive it. But which band starring former members of grunge bands really made the '00s RAWK and feel emotions. Well we've got pod best friend and '00s rock expert Pat Finnerty to help us decode this mess and help us decide which is THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST between Foo Fighters' "Best of You" and Audioslave's "Best of You"! And as always — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights:Transgender Law CenterTrans LifelineDestination TomorrowGender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMeAlso, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is the best metal song of 1980???? Is Lemmy God? Is he better than the Metal God Rob Halford? Is there a better song to wash your dog to??? Put on your studded metal because we're debating "Breaking the Law" by Judas Priest vs. "Ace of Spades" by Motörhead!And as always — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights:Transgender Law CenterTrans LifelineDestination TomorrowGender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMeAlso, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dale! Party rock is in the house tonight! The year is 2011 and nothing will ever feel bad ever again! But someone in the non-stop party has to be the party king so we're debating the best song about having a good time because we might not have tomorrow. Who will reign supreme, "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO or "Give Me Everything" by Pitbull?And as always — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights:Transgender Law CenterTrans LifelineDestination TomorrowGender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMeAlso, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Two of the greatest, mumbliest songwriters of the '60s decide to write sweet love songs! But only one can succeed between Dylan and Lou Reed, and we've brought star of "Disney's The Kid" and "The Santa Clause" 2 and 3 Spencer Breslin to help us decide which of the rambly hipsters makes the prettier tribute to love, Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" or the Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane"?And as always — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights:Transgender Law CenterTrans LifelineDestination TomorrowGender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMeAlso, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To make up for a minor scheduling snafu, we are unlocking the vault and releasing one of our bonus episodes! We invite Wicked megafan Sarah Z into the studio to talk about the two movies and whether they fix or worsen one of the most popular musicals of all timeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Let us pick the best neo-glam rock song of the mid-00s! Who shall win, the faux-Queen belting of Mika's "Grace Kelly" or the Elton John-approved disco of the Scissor Sisters' "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'"?And as always — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights:Transgender Law CenterTrans LifelineDestination TomorrowGender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMeAlso, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2026! Not as good as last year's Grammys, but what could be? So how did everyone do, and can this trend keep up? Also: Fuck ICE?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the mid-1960s, two bands thought, what if rock and roll could be ART?? And so we got two masterpieces, but only one can stand as the greatest of all time, so who made the greatest rock mini-symphony of all time, And as always — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights:Transgender Law CenterTrans LifelineDestination TomorrowGender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMeAlso, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's 2026 and we're doing our real 2025 in review, with double the Rae. Which of the two dancing hot girl pop stars is gonna be the one to lead us into the new year, do you prefer Tate McRae's "sports car" or Addison Rae's "Fame is a Gun"?And as we say in every one of these GPS podcast posts — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights:Transgender Law CenterTrans LifelineDestination TomorrowGender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMeAlso, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.