Ep. 99 - Explosions In The Sky - The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place

Episode 99 is here… and this one means everything. After 99 episodes, the new home studio is finally dialed in—and it feels like the perfect moment to sit back, relax, and talk about one of the most important albums of my life. Today, we’re diving into Explosions in the Sky – The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place. If you’ve ever been unsure about instrumental music… if you’ve ever thought, “I need vocals to connect”… I get it. But if you’re going to give one album a chance to change your mind, let it be this one. This record isn’t just music—it’s emotion. It’s memory. It’s life unfolding in sound. In this episode, I talk about: Why this album is in my all-time top 10 The beauty of instrumental storytelling and post-rock How certain songs can hit you so hard… you can’t help but feel everything A personal story about music, nostalgia, and choosing positivity over criticism And why “music lover, not critic” is the energy I want to bring into everything I create There’s something about this album that reminds you…the world isn’t cold and dead—it’s alive, emotional, and worth feeling deeply. If you’ve been riding with me for a while—thank you.If this is your first episode—welcome. You picked a meaningful one. Hit play, lean back, and let’s get into it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Remember when making a mixtape meant something? You didn’t just throw songs together — you crafted a vibe. You built a story. And if you were like me, you probably spent hours deciding which track belonged where.  So that’s exactly what I did here. This episode is Part One of my 90s B-side mixtape, a collection of deep cuts, soundtrack gems, and rare tracks from some of my favorite artists of the era. These are the kinds of songs you only discovered if you hunted down singles, B-sides, and compilation records back in the day — the songs that made you feel like you were in on a secret. Think of this episode like the mixtape I would’ve made for you in the mid-90s… the one I hoped would make you think I had the coolest music taste in the world. If you ever spent hours making a mixtape for a friend — or a crush — this one’s for you. 🎧 Sit back, press play, and then let’s flip the tape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pantera’s Vulgar Display of Power is one of those albums that didn’t just play in the background of my teenage years — it hit me square in the chest. Released on February 25, 1992, this record arrived at a time when I was trying to figure out who I was. I was a young metalhead in Tulsa, Oklahoma, feeling awkward, small, and unsure of where I fit in. Then along came this cassette tape — Vulgar Display of Power on one side and Gish by The Smashing Pumpkins on the other — and it completely reshaped my world. From the opening punch of “Mouth for War” to the swagger and groove of “Walk,” this album felt powerful in a way that was almost overwhelming. Songs like “A New Level” and “F***ing Hostile” gave me a place to put the rage and confusion I didn’t yet know how to articulate. And “This Love” — with its haunting clean intro exploding into sheer sonic violence — remains one of the most dynamic metal songs I’ve ever heard. Produced by Terry Date, the sound of this record is massive. Dimebag Darrell’s guitar tone slices through everything with that unmistakable groove. Vinnie Paul’s drumming is thunderous. Phil Anselmo’s voice moves between bark, growl, and melody in a way that felt alive and unpredictable. It was heavier than anything I had really absorbed up to that point — and I couldn’t get enough. This episode isn’t about controversy or debate. It’s about what this album meant to me in 1992 — how it felt to hear it for the first time on a Walkman, how it carried me through insecurity and bullying, and why it still hits just as hard decades later. Whether you grew up with Pantera or you’re hearing this album for the first time, I’d love to know your experience. Where were you when you first heard Vulgar Display of Power? Let’s talk about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did it take me 96 episodes to finally talk about Dusk by The The?! This album has lived in my heart since I was a teenager, and revisiting it now hit me in a totally different way. In this episode of Waterproof Records, I dive deep into Matt Johnson’s 1993 masterpiece — an album that charted huge in the UK but flew under the radar here in the U.S. We talk about the haunting atmosphere of Dusk, the emotional weight of tracks like “Love Is Stronger Than Death,” “Dogs of Lust,” “This Is the Night,” and “Bluer Than Midnight,” and why this record still feels just as powerful decades later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Waterproof Records, I sit down with the artist known as Two Feet (Bill Dess) for an intimate, honest, and deeply human conversation. Recorded back at Lazy Pickle Studios, this episode dives far beyond the hits. We talk about Two Feet’s rapid rise after “I Feel Like I’m Drowning” went viral, what it’s really like navigating massive success as a DIY artist, and how that moment changed everything. But the heart of this conversation is about sobriety, mental health, and vulnerability—especially as men in the music world. Bill opens up in a powerful way about where he’s been, what he’s learned, and how choosing honesty can literally change lives. This episode is about music, yes—but it’s also about survival, growth, and reminding people they’re not alone. If you’ve ever found comfort in music during hard times, this one’s for you. Thanks for being here, and if you found this episode through Two Feet—welcome. Stick around. We’re just getting started.— Jacob Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy New Year and welcome to 2026. In this episode of Waterproof Records, I’m kicking things off by reflecting on time, age, and how music continues to meet us exactly where we are—and then diving headfirst into my Top 10 Albums of 2025, along with a very necessary list of honorable mentions. This isn’t a critic’s list. There are no rankings, no hype chasing, and no obligation to agree with what anyone else says belongs here. These are simply the albums that found me this year—the records I returned to, lived with, and connected with during specific moments of life. Whether you’re here to discover new music, compare lists, or just hang out and talk records, I’m grateful you’re listening. Thanks for coming back—and if you’re new, welcome to the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Merry Christmas — and welcome to a special holiday episode of Waterproof Records. Whether you’re listening on Christmas Day, sneaking away from family chaos with earbuds in, or finding this episode weeks (or months) later — this one’s meant to feel like a personal Christmas mixtape made just for you. In this special holiday episode, I share 10 Christmas songs that live a little outside the standard holiday playlist. Some are joyful. Some are nostalgic. Some are emotional gut-punches. And some might surprise you. This is less “department store Christmas” and more music that actually meant something to me. We talk about: Why alternative & 90s-leaning Christmas songs deserve more love Building a Christmas mixtape with a Side A / Side B flow The Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, Low, Run-DMC, Chris Cornell, and more Why certain songs hit harder as we get older Christmas memories, belief systems, loss, hope, and finding meaning through music This episode is about what music does to us during the holidays — the joy, the sadness, the reflection, and the kindness we wish lasted all year long. So throw on your headphones, step out of the noise for a bit, and join me for Jacob’s Christmas Mixtape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Primus sucks.…or do they? 😏 If you know, you know. And if you don’t know, this episode is about to bring you fully into the weird, wonderful world of Primus. In this episode of Waterproof Records, I dive deep into Sailing the Seas of Cheese — the 1991 album that introduced a generation to Les Claypool’s alien-level bass playing, bizarre humor, nautical nonsense, and one of the most misunderstood inside jokes in alternative music history. Primus isn’t for everyone — and that’s exactly the point. Whether you grew up with this record or you’re hearing about it for the first time, this episode is a celebration of creativity, risk-taking, and embracing the strange. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Smashing Pumpkins fans — this one’s for YOU.Today we take a deep dive into Machina / The Machines of God, the fifth studio album from the original Smashing Pumpkins era and one of the most fascinating chapters in the band’s entire history. From the chaotic label politics, to D'arcy’s departure, to the abandoned double-album concept, to the mythic story of Glass and the Machines of God — this episode unpacks it ALL. I even pull out my original Machina CDs, concert tickets, and memories from catching the band on the Sacred & Profane Tour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Halloween, and I'm back with a special Waterproof Records bonus episode! This week, I'm setting the mood for your haunted house, late-night drive, or dance floor with ten underrated songs that belong on your Halloween playlist. Forget the same old Monster Mash and pop hits—these tracks go darker, moodier, and way cooler. From Poe’s haunted beauty to Nine Inch Nails’ chilling cover of Joy Division, from Portishead’s eerie orchestration to The Cure’s gothic masterpiece, I've got you covered with deep cuts that sound like Halloween feels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices