Holiday Spectacular 2025: Trans-Siberian Orchestra & Kacey Musgraves

Don and Dude return to celebrate the 2025 Holiday Spectacular, sharing Christmas albums that keep things simple, warm, and replayable. The episode leans into storytelling, vibes, and the sweeter side of the season rather than bombast.The albums: Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Christmas Eve and Other Stories (1996) A concept-driven Christmas rock opera about an angel sent to Earth on Christmas Eve to find a single act of kindness, blending classical carols, symphonic arrangements, and heavy rock into a cinematic, front-to-back story.Kacey Musgraves – A Very Kacey Christmas (2016) A cozy, retro-leaning holiday set mixing standards and originals, where Western swing, countrypolitan strings, and loungey jazz touches wrap both playful novelties and bittersweet ballads in warm, vintage glow.Holiday Recommendations from:Jess from Music Notes With Jess: Pentatonix - Christmas in the City (2025)Steve from The New Wave Music Podcast: Billy Idol - Happy Holidays (2006)Dude is Diggin’:James Brown – Hey America (1970): A festive funk Christmas record that turns seasonal messages into horn-driven, groove-heavy celebrations of joy and unity.The Salsoul Orchestra – Christmas Jollies (1976): A glittering disco holiday blast that transforms classics into dance-floor anthems with strings, congas, and Philadelphia soul arrangements.Don is Diggin’:Ray Charles – The Spirit of Christmas (1985): A soulful holiday collection that blends gospel, blues, and jazz into rich, emotional takes on carols and contemporary Christmas songs.The Making of Do They Know It’s Christmas? (2024): A behind-the-scenes documentary built from 1984 studio footage tracing how the Band Aid charity single came together in a single frantic day.Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and Bluesky @albumnerds, and support by subscribing, rating, reviewing, and sharing. .“…soon the bells will start and the thing that will make em’ ring is carol that you sing right within’ your heart” - Meredith Wilson

Don and Dude return to honor two titans lost in 2025, revisiting albums that capture the creative peaks and lasting influence of Brian Wilson with The Beach Boys and Ozzy Osbourne with Black Sabbath. The episode traces how The Beach Boys Today! and Paranoid reshaped pop and heavy music, revealing how these records still echo through everything from chamber pop to modern metal.The Beach Boys – The Beach Boys Today! (1965) Brian Wilson uses Today! as a turning point, steering the band from surf-and-cars singles into a more introspective, studio-crafted pop world that points directly toward Pet Sounds. Side A delivers bright, radio-ready hooks like "Do You Wanna Dance?" and "When I Grow Up (To Be a Man), "while Side B dives into confessional ballads such as "Please Let Me Wonder" and "She Knows Me Too Well," blending chamber pop arrangements with vulnerable, adult themes.Black Sabbath – Paranoid (1970) Paranoid crystallizes the sound and mood of heavy metal, fusing Tony Iommi’s down-tuned riffs, Geezer Butler’s ominous lyrics, Bill Ward’s jazz-schooled drumming, and Ozzy Osbourne’s haunted vocals into a tight, relentless 1970 statement. From the anti-war sprawl of "War Pigs" and the sci-fi tragedy of "Iron Man" to the accidental hit "Paranoid" and the psychedelic "Fairies Wear Boots," the record turns fear, addiction, and apocalypse into riff-driven anthems that defined the genre.Dude is Diggin’:The Macks – Bonanza (2025): A volatile, modern rock blast from a Portland band that smashes garage energy, psychedelic noise, and restless experimentation into a noisy, cathartic portrait of contemporary anxiety.Metallica – Reload (1997): A late-’90s reinvention that leans into groove and atmosphere, where hard rock bruisers like Fuel sit alongside moodier cuts like "The Memory Remains," featuring Marianne Faithfull’s ghostly guest vocal.Don is Diggin’:Just Desserts – Curtains (2025): A reflective, lo-fi-to-full-band set from Larry Fessenden and Tom Laverack that wrestles with post-COVID grief, aging, and small flashes of grace nearly four decades after their debut.The Cure – The Show of a Lost World (2025): A concert film capturing The Cure unveiling Songs of a Lost World in full at London’s Troxy, framing the new material in a single, immersive performance.Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and Bluesky @albumnerds, and support by subscribing, rating, reviewing, and sharing. “What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” – Helen Keller.

Don and Dude return to Classic Casey Countdowns, this time jumping to December 2, 1989, to trace the stories behind two albums tied to Top 10 hits from Casey Kasem’s American Top 40. The episode revisits how Paula Abdul and Alice Cooper helped capture the glossy, hook-heavy sound of the chart’s closing weeks of the 1980s.Paula Abdul – Forever Your Girl (1988) Paula Abdul’s debut, Forever Your Girl, transforms her from superstar choreographer into full-fledged pop icon, blending dance-pop, New Jack Swing, and bright R&B textures across a tightly produced set. Powered by hits like “Straight Up,” “Cold Hearted,” and “(It’s Just) The Way That You Love Me,” the album pairs punchy drum machines and synth hooks with Paula’s charismatic, rhythmic vocals, defining late-’80s MTV and Top 40 radio.Alice Cooper – Trash (1989) With Trash, Alice Cooper stages a late-’80s glam-metal comeback, teaming with hitmaker Desmond Child and an all-star cast from Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Winger, and more to deliver a sleek, hook-loaded hard rock record. From the darkly seductive hit “Poison” to power ballads like “Only My Heart Talkin’” and rockers such as “House of Fire,” the album balances shock-rock attitude with radio-ready choruses for a sharp, 40-minute dose of melodic arena metal.Dude is Diggin’:AVTT/PTTN – AVTT/PTTN (2025): A wild, imaginative collaboration between The Avett Brothers and Mike Patton that fuses Appalachian folk warmth with experimental, fuzzed-out art rock, full of soaring harmonies and left-turn arrangements.Faith No More – The Real Thing (1989): The genre-bending breakthrough that introduced Mike Patton and pushed metal, funk, rap, and alt-rock into a strange, thrilling hybrid that still feels adventurous decades later.Don is Diggin’:De La Soul – Cabin in the Sky (2025): A mature, soulful return that honors Trugoy’s memory while leaning into reflective, optimistic lyricism over warm, eclectic production.Kingfishr – Halcyon (2025): An atmospheric indie-folk debut from an Irish trio that blends big, emotional choruses with cinematic arrangements and nostalgic storytelling rooted in home and landscape.Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and Bluesky @albumnerds, and support by subscribing, rating, reviewing, and sharing. “If you’re going to try to write a hit single, don’t be clever, be obvious. Get to the chorus, get to the hook, get to the meat right away.” – Alice Cooper.

Don and Dude continue honoring Casey Kasem with another Classic Casey Countdowns visit, this time to November 25, 1978, when disco, rock, and pop intertwined on the American Top 40. This episode highlights two albums behind that week’s Top 10 hits, celebrating the sound of a Thanksgiving spent around radios and record players.Chic – C’est Chic (1978) New York studio pros Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards turned Chic into a precision-groove machine on their second LP, fusing disco, funk, and R&B into sleek, minimal arrangements that still feel luxurious. Driven by the monster hit “Le Freak,” the record balances party-starter anthems with emotionally rich cuts like “I Want Your Love,” showcasing airtight rhythm section work, tasteful strings, and a cool, upscale dancefloor vibe.Foreigner – Double Vision (1978) Fresh off their blockbuster debut, Foreigner sharpened their arena-rock formula on Double Vision, pairing Lou Gramm’s powerhouse vocals with Mick Jones’s riff-heavy guitar lines and radio-ready hooks. From the punchy opener “Hot Blooded” to the grinding title track and moodier deep cuts, the album captures a band refining its identity through tight songwriting, dramatic dynamics, and a polished yet muscular late 70s rock sound.Dude is Diggin’:The Pretty Reckless – Taylor Momsen’s Pretty Reckless Christmas (2025): A six-track holiday set where Taylor Momsen blends hard rock crunch with nostalgic seasonal moods, highlighted by a powerful new version of “Where Are You Christmas?”.Various Artists – Saturday Night Fever Original Movie Soundtrack (1977) (vinyl): A landmark disco document packed with Bee Gees smashes and club classics, perfectly channeling the sweaty, cinematic pulse of the late 70s dancefloor.Don is Diggin’:Magic Wands – Cascades (2025): Dreamy, guitar-and-synth-driven pop steeped in gothic and new wave textures, full of shimmering atmospheres and mystical, nocturnal imagery.Vince Gill – 50 Years From Home: Secondhand Smoke (2025): Reflective country storytelling that blends personal memories with social themes, delivered in Gill's warm tenor and supported by a cast of Nashville collaborators.Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and Bluesky @albumnerds, and support by subscribing, rating, reviewing, and sharing. “Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.” – Casey Kasem

Don and Dude keep celebrating Casey Kasem’s legacy, spotlighting the warm spirit of Casey's Top 40. This episode visits the week of November 16, 1991, when radio united pop, rock, and R&B in a dynamic mix. Each host picks an album tied to a defining Top 10 single, featuring two records that shaped early ’90s airwaves and capture the era’s bold musical shift.Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds and Pearls (1991) Minneapolis visionary Prince shook up the game by fusing funk, new jack swing, R&B, and pop with his New Power Generation band. The album features the chart-topping hit "Cream," a sly, empowering funk groove that became Prince’s last solo Number One. From the album’s spiritual opening track “Thunder” to the lush balladry of “Diamonds and Pearls” and the epic closer “Live 4 Love,” Prince’s thirteenth LP marks a creative rebirth and mainstream resurgence. The production mixes real-deal musicianship with slick digital edges and gospel-fired harmonies. Critics and fans alike see it as a dazzling crossroads, where Prince blended past genius with ’90s modernity.Guns N’ Roses – Use Your Illusion I (1991) Axl Rose, Slash, and crew upped the ante with a sprawling double-album era, but Use Your Illusion I is where their ambition truly went wild. Kicking off with the menacing “Right Next Door to Hell” and dialing up the drama with power ballad “Don’t Cry,” the album explores everything from punk-riff rage to epic piano pop. “November Rain,” a nearly nine-minute symphonic epic, ranks among MTV’s most iconic video moments. Meanwhile, “Coma” finishes the set with a genre-bending, ten-minute odyssey. The record’s sound is both raw and over-the-top, capturing a band teetering between chaos and brilliance, a defining entry in hard rock’s history.Dude is Diggin’:Colter Wall – Memories and Empties (2025): Rugged, western country storytelling from a baritone master, full of 1970s honkytonk vibes.Skid Row – Slave to the Grind (1991) (vinyl): Gritty, heavy riffs and soaring metal vocals define this Billboard-topping classic.Don is Diggin’:Mavis Staples – Sad and Beautiful World (2025): Soul rooted in seven decades, with powerful collaborations and timely social gospel.The Mountain Goats – Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan (2025): Indie folk storytelling set on the high seas, with dreamlike production and striking guest artists.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and Bluesky @albumnerds. Support the show by subscribing, rating, reviewing, and sharing."Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars." – Casey Kasem

Don and Dude continue their celebration of Casey Kasem and the enduring legacy of American Top 40. For this installment of Classic Casey Countdowns, the guys turn the dial back to the week of November 10, 1984,  a neon-saturated era when pop, soul, and MTV all collided. Two albums from that chart dominate the discussion, both tied to unforgettable Top 10 singles that defined mid‑Eighty’s radio magic.Billy Ocean – Suddenly (1984) The Trinidad‑born singer’s breakthrough LP fused R&B, post‑disco, and pop into a sleek, heartfelt package. Produced by Keith Diamond, the record launched Ocean into global stardom with “Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)”—the #1 hit that ruled both the Hot 100 and soul charts. Ocean’s smooth tenor, vibrant sax hooks, and narrative flair set the tone for an album balancing dance‑floor confidence (“Loverboy”) and tenderness (“Suddenly”). Musical craftsmanship, rich production, and emotional sincerity make this a quintessential 1984 crossover.Wham! – Make It Big (1984) Recorded mainly in France and crafted by George Michael, this pop‑soul phenomenon redefined chart‑topping polish. “Wake Me Up Before You Go‑Go” kicked off Wham!’s four‑for‑four streak of U.S. #1 singles, pairing Motown bounce with pure 80s exuberance. Deeper cuts like “Everything She Wants” and “Careless Whisper” showcase lyrical weight beneath the brightness—proof of Michael’s emerging genius as writer, producer, and arranger. It’s colorful, confident, and irresistibly hook‑laden pop that still resonates decades later.Dude is Diggin":Whiskey Myers – Whomp Whack Thunder (2025)Pearl Jam – Vs. (1993) (vinyl)Don is Diggin' :Heaven 17 – new album, 2026 (feat. “There’s Something About You”)The New Wave Music Podcast Episode 121 (featuring Don as guest reviewer)Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and Bluesky @albumnerds. Support the show by subscribing, rating, reviewing, and sharing."Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars." – Casey Kasem

Don and Dude begin a series of episodes celebrating Casey Kasem and the American Top 40.Don and Dude time-travel back to this week in 1973 to discuss two albums with songs that appeared in the Top 10 on November 3, 1973. From soulful genre-mashups to rock-star excess, this episode spotlights artists who blended styles, broke rules, and landed hits.Billy Preston – Everybody Likes Some Kind of Music (1973) Keyboard legend’s genre-celebrating LP—funk, gospel, rock, and classical all swirl together featuring the #9 song on November 3, 1973, Space Race." Preston’s experimental spirit and melodic joy define the record’s upbeat, inclusive vibe.The Rolling Stones – Goats Head Soup (1973) The Stones soften swagger for introspection and moody funk. “Angie” had a stop at #2 this week before eventually reaching the top spot with acoustic heartbreak. Musical range, self-reflection, wah, slide guitar, and controversy meet to mark a new era for the band.Diggin’Dude:Mammoth – The End (2025)Stevie Wonder – Innervisions (1973)Don:Depeche Mode M A Film by Fernando Frias (2025)Duran Duran – "Shadows On Your Side"Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and BlueSky at @albumnerds.Support the show by subscribing, rating, reviewing, and sharing“Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.”

Happy Halloween!Don and Dude get into the spirit with a pair of albums by artists who turned makeup, mystery, and myth into musical identity. Some masks conceal, others reveal . These bands prove that image can be as powerful as sound. From glitter-streaked proto-punk to sacred heavy metal pageantry, this episode dives into records that blur the line between costume and self.New York Dolls – New York Dolls (1973) Glam rock’s wildest children crash onto the scene with guitar riffs that swagger and sneer. Produced by Todd Rundgren, this debut revs with glitter, grime, and chaotic charm. David Johansen, Johnny Thunders, and company blend garage grit with lipstick-stained theater, creating the blueprint for punk attitude and glam-metal swagger alike. Songs like "Personality Crisis," "Trash," and "Jet Boy" turn confusion and defiance into style itself.Ghost – Meliora (2015) From Sweden’s cathedrals of doom comes a band that made Satanic spectacle strangely sublime. Led by Tobias Forge under papal disguise, Ghost’s breakthrough record polishes metal into something divine and disturbingly singable. Meliora fuses heavy riffs, orchestral touches, and choirlike harmonies to explore faith, absence, and false salvation. The Grammy-winning "Cirice" leads the sermon, while “He Is” and “Deus in Absentia” bring haunting grandeur to a godless world. It’s as if Queen joined Black Sabbath inside a gothic cathedral of mirrors.Diggin’Dude:Unto Others – I Believe in Halloween II (2025);Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath (1970)Don:The Blow Monkeys – Birdsong (2025)The Sisters of Mercy – Floodland (1987)What album conjures your inner alter ego? Tell us on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and BlueSky at @albumnerds.Support the show by subscribing, rating, reviewing, and sharing the spooky sonic love.

Don and Dude get honest about the records that live in their guilty pleasure zone. These are favorites we rarely admit loving but revisit for comfort, catharsis, and cool-defying joy. Get ready for heartfelt hooks, lush harmonies, and surprising confessions.These are the records we play in private, the ones that keep finding their way back onto the playlist, no matter what critics say. From grungy Buffalo alt-rock to glossy New Jack Swing, this episode is all about celebrating what truly moves us.Goo Goo Dolls – Dizzy Up The Girl (1998)Buffalo band’s sixth album shows John Rzeznik’s transition from punk covers to melodic, alternative rock stardom. Produced by Rob Cavallo, the band delivers earnest lyrics paired with arena-ready production. They found massive success after the breakthrough single “Name”.This record features a blend of punk grit with pop-rock polish. Upbeat riffs, cinematic string arrangements by David Campbell, and vulnerable songwriting all combine to make their sound distinct. Tracks like “Dizzy,” “Black Balloon,” “Broadway,” and “Iris” balance introspection and radio-friendliness. Deep cuts add emotional complexity and raw energy. The album established the Goo Goo Dolls as melodic hit-makers and proved vulnerability and anthems can work together.Color Me Badd – C.M.B. (1991)The breakout debut from this Oklahoma City vocal group became a cornerstone of R&B, pop, and New Jack Swing. Founding members Bryan Abrams, Mark Calderon, Sam Watters, and Kevin Thornton worked with Dr. Freeze, Howie Tee, and Nick Mundy on production. Their blend of doo-wop harmonies, polished synths, and playful sex appeal brought crossover chart success and influenced future vocal groups.This album features slow jams and party anthems with a playful spirit, classic ‘90s radio gold. Signature grooves sample Betty Wright and Lyn Collins, hooks loop through rich harmonies, and the vibe shifts from gospel inspiration to hints of Latin pop. C.M.B. went triple platinum, set a new standard for pop-R&B, and paved the way for a wave of boy bands and vocal groups to follow.Diggin’Dude:Carter Faith – Cherry Valley (2025) This debut blends cinematic country, indie spirit, and strong songwriting, especially on “Sex, Drugs and Country Music.”America – America (1971) A folk-rock classic packed with acoustic warmth, reflective themes, and “A Horse With No Name”.Don:Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl (2025) Upbeat pop and soft rock inspired by Eras Tour moments and high-profile relationships. “The Fate of Ophelia” stands out.Gary Numan – Telekon (1980) A synth-driven, dystopian electronic album that inspired the future of industrial music, highlighted by “We Are Glass”.What album is your secret crush? Tell us on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and BlueSky at @albumnerds or at albumsnerds.com. Support the show by subscribing, rating, reviewing, and sharing those guilty pleasures.

What happens when heavy riffs meet raw emotion? This week, Don and Dude dive into two landmark albums that launched Nu Metal from underground oddity to global phenomenon, blending hip-hop, metal, and vulnerability in ways rock had never witnessed.Born in the late '90s, Nu Metal fused bruising guitar riffs, hip-hop swagger, and electronic experimentation, connecting deeply with fans wrestling alienation, trauma, and identity. These albums didn’t just soundtrack angst, they rewrote heavy music’s rulebook.Korn – Korn (1994)Background: Debut record by Bakersfield’s five-piece, produced by Ross Robinson at Indigo Ranch, captured mostly live for maximum intensity. Jonathan Davis’s anguished vocals, Fieldy’s clacking bass, and down-tuned Ibanez 7-string guitars created Nu Metal’s foundation.Sound/Legacy: A claustrophobic nightmare of sludgy riffs, twisted nursery rhymes, and unfiltered emotion—Korn’s first single “Blind” became a genre’s birth cry, while “Daddy” redefined honesty in heavy music. The album’s “bounce metal” sound, real-time aggression, and confrontational lyrics inspired an army of imitators.Key Tracks: “Blind,” “Shoots and Ladders,” “Faget,” “Clown,” “Helmet in the Bush,” “Daddy.”Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory (2000)Background: Los Angeles band, renamed and reimagined when Chester Bennington joined, fused emotional rock, rap, and DJ effects for a style that stormed radio, MTV, and the hearts of millions. Producer Don Gilmore’s perfectionist approach resulted in a polished sonic punch.Sound/Legacy: Hybrid Theory delivered universally relatable lyrics—paranoia, frustration, failure—through a seamless interplay of Mike Shinoda’s rap and Chester Bennington’s soaring melodies. Every song packs arena-ready hooks and emotional weight, making the album a nu metal, rap-rock, and emo touchstone.Key Tracks: “Papercut,” “One Step Closer,” “Points of Authority,” “Crawling,” “In the End,” “A Place for My Head,” “Pushing Me Away.”Diggin’Dude:Mirador – Mirador (2025)Debut from Greta Van Fleet’s Jake Kiszka and company, recorded live, blending rock, folk, blues, country themes of myth, hope, and identity.“Feels Like Gold”The Go-Go’s – Beauty and the Beat (1981)Punk to new wave classic, hit singles “Our Lips Are Sealed” and “We Got the Beat.”Don:The Pink Stones – Thank the Lord… It’s The Pink Stones (2025)Athens, GA cosmic Americana, rootsy punk, country, and psychedelic mix.“If I Can’t Win (With You)”Andy Bell – Ten Crowns (2025)Erasure frontman’s third solo, produced by Dave Audé, mixes Eurodisco, synth-pop, gospel; features Debbie Harry.“Hearts a Liar”What song helped you survive your angsty years?Connect on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and BlueSky @albumnerds or at albumsnerds.com. Support the show: subscribe, rate, review, and spread the word!