The So-Called Vinyl Wars and Other Pop Music News and Notes

Nora and Nathan kick off their "brat summer" by talking about Charli XCX's sixth studio album. They talk about how this album differs from her past, more mainstream pop albums (1:00), the inner monologue that is running through many of the songs on this record (31:49), and the narrow palette of sounds she pulled from for these songs (56:46). Hosts: Nora Princiotti and Nathan Hubbard Producer: Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nora talks about her experience at the Eras Tour in Edinburgh, Scotland (1:00). Then, Nora and Nathan talk about the meteoric rise of Chappell Roan and her 2023 album 'The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.' They discuss how her career took off this summer after opening for Olivia Rodrigo and performing on NPR's 'Tiny Desk Concert' (16:05), what happens when an artist with a really passionate fan base breaks into the mainstream (30:59), and how the specificity of her songs turns them into hits (47:43). Hosts: Nora Princiotti and Nathan Hubbard Producer: Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nora and Nathan cover a grab bag of pop music news, including Sabrina Carpenter's announcement that her next album, 'Short n' Sweet,' is coming in August (1:00), whether or not Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish are feuding over releasing vinyl variants (15:21), and what surprise songs Taylor has been playing at Eras shows recently (38:31). Hosts: Nora Princiotti and Nathan Hubbard Producer: Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At long last, Nora and Nathan cover Ariana Grande's 'Eternal Sunshine,' her seventh studio album. They talk about how this album seems to be lacking the viral hits that 'Sweetener' and 'Thank U, Next' had (1:00), whether this is a divorce album or if it's actually about Grande's relationship with the press (22:38), and the classic Max Martin production that can be found throughout the record (1:07:36). Hosts: Nora Princiotti and Nathan Hubbard Producer: Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nora and Nathan talk about the third studio album from Billie Eilish: 'Hit Me Hard and Soft.' They discuss how Eilish is displaying new vocal ranges in songs like 'The Greatest' and 'Birds of a Feather' (17:32), her continued collaboration with her brother Finneas and whether or not she might branch out in the future (45:14), and how many songs on this album are about her discomfort with celebrity as a young artist (56:03). Hosts: Nora Princiotti and Nathan Hubbard Producer: Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nora and Nathan check in on the newly revamped Eras Tour setlist. They talk about the new 'Tortured Poets Department' section of the show, and which songs Taylor Swift chose to include (1:00), which songs she decided to cut in order to make room (36:12), and why she might have decided to change up the show even though tickets have already been sold out (48:39). Hosts: Nora Princiotti and Nathan Hubbard Producer: Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nora and Nathan are here to review and discuss Dua Lipa’s third album, 'Radical Optimism.' They start by talking about their journey with Dua Lipa (2:13). Then they get into the album, starting with what they think the biggest hit is (18:52). During their breakdown of the album, they talk about the best song, what they are cutting, and much more. They wrap up by discussing the collaborators on this album and what the next album appetizer is (1:00:41). Hosts: Nora Princiotti and Nathan Hubbard Producer: Isaiah Blakely Additional Production Supervision: Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nora and Nathan give a few final thoughts about 'The Tortured Poets Department,' including what the charts can tell us about how people are listening to this album (1:00), and whether Taylor Swift albums can be properly reviewed anymore (34:25). Then, they talk about Sabrina Carpenter's song 'Espresso,' and how she's poised to be one of our next biggest pop stars (48:08). Hosts: Nora Princiotti and Nathan Hubbard Producer: Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Tortured Podcasters Department meets again, this time to open up the mailbag! Nora and Nathan answer a bunch of listener questions about whether their opinion has changed on any songs, what they want to hear next from Taylor, and much more (4:13). Then they answer rapid-fire questions, including one about how they think Taylor will incorporate this album into her tour (59:00). Hosts: Nora Princiotti and Nathan Hubbard Producers: Isaiah Blakely and Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the inaugural meeting of the Tortured Podcasters Department. Nora and Nathan discuss the rollout for this album and how Taylor Swift releasing an entire second album worth of bonus tracks affected it's reception (1:00), whether or not "Fortnight" is going to be the biggest hit off of this album (24:06), how Swift is grappling with her level of fame on a lot of the songs on this record (57:12), and the many, many, many easter eggs that are sprinkled throughout this album (1:17:32). Hosts: Nora Princiotti and Nathan Hubbard Producer: Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices