Best kexp Podcasts (2025)

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Come As You Are: A Live Finale Episode 1:13:23

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1M ago1:13:23

1:13:23

This episode marks the end of The Cobain 50 and El Cancionero de Kurt. After going through all 50 albums from Kurt’s list, we celebrated with an event in KEXP’s Gathering Space with a packed house of fans of Nirvana and the podcast to reflect on the series, what it’s meant to us, and what we’ve learned going through all of this music. Below find tr…

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Daniel Johnston – Yip/Jump Music (1983) 50:06

1M ago50:06

50:06

On our penultimate episode—and the final album on Kurt Cobain’s list—Martin Douglas dives into Yip/Jump Music by Daniel Johnston. Johnston rose from obscurity by self-recording (and self-dubbing) his own tapes and handing them out at McDonald’s, eventually finding a massive audience after Cobain was repeatedly spotted wearing a t-shirt featuring th…

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Half Japanese – We Are They Who Ache with Amorous Love (1990) 45:43

2M ago45:43

45:43

Janice Headley chats with frontman and co-founder Jad Fair for this in-depth look at the Half Japanese album We Are They Who Ache with Amorous Love. Plus, KEXP presents the world premiere of “Lemonade Sunset,” the first single off the next Half Japanese album coming out this July via Fire Records. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Written & Pro…

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Butthole Surfers – Pee Pee the Sailor (1983) and Locust Abortion Technician (1987) 34:11

2M ago34:11

34:11

On this week’s episode of The Cobain 50, Dusty Henry digs deep into the two Butthole Surfers albums from Kurt’s list – Pee Pee The Sailor (also known as their self-titled debut EP) and Locust Abortion Technician. In one of the more expletive ridden artists on the list, we hear about the band’s story from underground legends to surprising mainstream…

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Swans – Young God (1984) 31:04

2M ago31:04

31:04

In this week’s episode, Dusty Henry digs into one of the more caustic bands on Kurt’s list – Swan’s and their 1984 EP, Young God. The band has one of the more abrasive sounds and stories on the list, making for a release that’s not for the faint of heart but vastly influential on industrial music. Disclaimer: This episode deals with topics includin…

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Bonus: Ray Farrell’s Journey Through Indie and Major Labels 1:06:01

2M ago1:06:01

1:06:01

This week on The Cobain 50, we share one last bonus episode before we hit the final stretch of albums on Kurt Cobain’s top albums list. Ray Farrell may not be a familiar name to most, but he’s worked with many of the artists and labels we’ve talked about on the list: from SST and Rough Trade to Geffen Records, Sonic Youth to Wipers, Farrell has bee…

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Bonus: A Deeper Listen with Matt Cameron 42:25

3M ago42:25

42:25

This week on The Cobain 50, we’re taking a quick break from our regularly scheduled programming to share an interview with another Seattle music icon – Matt Cameron. Cameron is the drummer for legendary groups Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. Before then he played in the influential Seattle bands Bam Bam, Skin Yard, and Temple of the Dog. In this intervi…

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The Frogs - It's Only Right and Natural (1989) 32:54

3M ago32:54

32:54

Roddy Nikpour speaks with Josh Modell about It’s Only Right and Natural by The Frogs. By modern standards, The Frogs created cancel-able album after cancel-able album. Somehow, though, their punk innovation outshined controversy, catching attention from Eddie Vetter of Pearl Jam, Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, and so many others. The Frogs insp…

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What Records? - What Is It. (Compilation) (1982) 37:57

3M ago37:57

37:57

What Records? might not be a household name, but the small Los Angeles-based punk label had a cascading effect on punk-yet-to-come. Dusty Henry digs into this somewhat obscure compilation from Kurt Cobain’s albums list which features deep cuts from L.A.’s punk scene, including bands like The Controllers, KAOS, and The Germs (which featured future N…

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Young Marble Giants – Colossal Youth (1980) 37:29

3M ago37:29

37:29

Janice Headley talks with Stuart Moxham of Young Marble Giants about Colossal Youth. This album from the Welsh post-punk trio may seem like a surprising entry on Kurt's list given its minimalist instrumentation, but these bands shared a similar disdain for the spotlight. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Written & Produced: Janice Headley Mixed…

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The Faith and Void – The Faith/Void Split LP (1982) 37:41

4M ago37:41

37:41

Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas dive into The Faith/Void Split by The Faith and Void. In our last entry from the D.C. punk scene, we relive the youthful spirit that drove these bands to make their mark. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Dusty Henry, Matt Martin, and Roddy Nikpour Special thanks to Isabel Khalili and Larry Mizell…

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Flipper – Album – Generic Flipper (1982) 39:13

4M ago39:13

39:13

Martin Douglas dives into Album – Generic Flipper by Flipper. Despite the name, their debut album is anything but generic. Krist Novoselic (who briefly joined the band in the 2000s) described this Bay Area band as “proto-grunge.” Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Martin Douglas and Roddy Nikpour Special thanks to Isabel Khalili…

1
Bonus: The Gits on Sound & Vision Live 32:08

4M ago32:08

32:08

Following KEXP's recent event celebrating The Gits and Martin Douglas's recent Throwaway Style newsletter, we want to tell you more about these contemporaries of Kurt Cobain. The Gits were an early '90s Seattle band. Sub Pop Records recently launched a campaign to rerelease remastered versions of The Gits’ catalogue. So much of the band’s story has…

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The Saints – Eternally Yours (1978) 39:05

4M ago39:05

39:05

Janice Headley dives into Eternally Yours by The Saints. (In his list, Kurt wrote the name of a single from the album, “Know Your Product.”) This is the story of how The Saints brought punk from “down under,” featuring exclusive insights from founding guitarist Ed Kuepper and Mudhoney’s Mark Arm, who has been filling in for the late Saints frontman…

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Scratch Acid – Scratch Acid (1984) 38:23

4M ago38:23

38:23

Dusty Henry dives into the self-titled debut from Scratch Acid. This vein of — ahem — “alternative music” helped Nirvana in their own quest to balance abrasiveness with structure. (In the outro, Dusty works in a reference to Charli XCX, effectively dubbing this podcast "brat." We also have some special shoutouts.) Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Doug…

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Public Image Ltd. – The Flowers of Romance (1981) 50:52

5M ago50:52

50:52

Martin Douglas dives into The Flowers of Romance by Public Image Ltd. After he left the Sex Pistols in 1978, John Lydon created Public Image Ltd. under the influence of dub, resulting in experimental music that was just about as accessible to mainstream audiences as Kurt Cobain’s Montage of Heck recordings (which is to say, not very accessible at a…

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Rites of Spring – Rites of Spring (1985) 41:03

5M ago41:03

41:03

We're back! This week, Dusty Henry dives into the self-titled debut from Rites of Spring. They represent the earliest iteration of “emo” music, proving that it would never be just a phase. "Emo" still exists in waves that ripple to this day. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel…

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It's Christmas in Seattle: We'll Be Back in 2025! 4:21

6M ago4:21

4:21

The Cobain 50 returns with new episodes January 8, 2025. We’re taking the month to rest with our families and listen to good music. We hope you’ll do the same! In the meantime, let KEXP keep you company through the holidays with our other active podcast series, including: El Cancionero de Kurt, the Spanish-language companion podcast to The Cobain 5…

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Fang – Landshark! (1983) 20:09

6M ago20:09

20:09

Disclaimer: This episode deals with topics including domestic abuse, drug use, and murder. Dusty Henry dives into Landshark! by Fang. Vocalist Sam “Sammytown” McBride murdered his girlfriend Dixie Lee Carney in 1989. Since his release from prison in 1995, Fang has continued as a band, raising questions about the complicated ethics of which artists …

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Saccharine Trust – Paganicons (1981) 27:04

7M ago27:04

27:04

Martin Douglas dives into Paganicons by Saccharine Trust. Written in Kurt’s list as “1st EP,” Saccharine Trust’s debut is one of the most original releases from the SST catalog, which also includes punk classics like Black Flag, Minutemen, Meat Puppets, and many others. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Martin Douglas and Roddy…

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Fear – The Record (1982) 35:36

7M ago35:36

35:36

Roddy Nikpour dives into The Record by Fear. Known for an infamous Saturday Night Live performance littered with slam dancers, Fear sings from a grotesque vantage point to call out injustice through “punk irony.” Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. …

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Tales of Terror – Tales of Terror (1984) 37:56

7M ago37:56

37:56

Dusty Henry dives into Tales of Terror by Tales of Terror. Their run was short and marked with tragedy, but their influence has kept their music alive for generations — from the local Sacramento scene to other bands like Mudhoney and Nirvana. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabe…

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Nirvana's MTV Unplugged Turns 30 39:26

7M ago39:26

39:26

Friday, November 1, 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the release of Nirvana’s live album, MTV Unplugged in New York. This week, Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas set the stage and bring us some of their favorite moments from this iconic stripped-back performance. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Is…

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Bonus: A Deeper Listen with Pedro the Lion 42:26

7M ago42:26

42:26

The Cobain 50 returns October 30 celebrating the 30th anniversary of Nirvana's MTV Unplugged in New York. This week, we're sharing a conversation featured on another KEXP podcast, A Deeper Listen. Dusty Henry spoke with David Bazan about Pedro the Lion's latest album, the third in a five-part series of albums based on places that formed his identit…

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Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation (1988) 1:31:19

8M ago1:31:19

1:31:19

Martin Douglas dives into Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth. When it comes to art punk, indie rock, or alternative rock, there are few bands more widely influential than Sonic Youth, who were also directly involved with Nirvana’s emergence into the mainstream. The bands were signed to both the same record label and the same management company. Hosts: …

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Mazzy Star – She Hangs Brightly (1990) 35:53

8M ago35:53

35:53

Janice Headley dives into She Hangs Brightly by Mazzy Star. Born from California's Paisley Underground scene, the group is distinguished by the languid vocal style of Hope Sandoval, a Mexican-American songwriter who came into the spotlight in the 1990s. This episode is part of KEXP's monthlong Aquí y Ahora programming for Latinx Heritage Month, off…

1
Black Flag – Damaged (1981) 40:53

8M ago40:53

40:53

Dusty Henry dives into Damaged by Black Flag. While we covered their sophomore album My War earlier in this series, Black Flag’s debut album introduces us to one of its most prominent singers: Henry Rollins, who ushered in one of the band’s boldest eras. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour Podcast ma…

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Revisiting Nevermind and In Utero 50:54

8M ago50:54

50:54

During KEXP's fall fund drive, we're celebrating the 33rd anniversary of Nirvana's Nevermind and the 31st anniversary of In Utero. Dusty Henry, Martin Douglas, and Albina Cabrera share a tale of two albums — one polished, one gritty — including the music's impact on them personally and across the world. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Special…

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Gang of Four – Entertainment! (1979) 22:15

9M ago22:15

22:15

Roddy Nikpour dives into the album Entertainment! by Gang of Four. They are the antiheroes of pop music, writing poignant lyrics that denounce the ideals of capitalism, accompanied by guitar riffs that are as choppy as they are danceable. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial d…

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The Breeders – Pod (1990) 41:25

9M ago41:25

41:25

Janice Headley dives into Pod by The Breeders. Their debut album really lets Kim Deal shine outside of her role in The Pixies. The Breeders influenced generations of artists, including Kurt Cobain, who invited the band to open for Nirvana twice during their touring career. Hosts: Dusty Henry & Martin Douglas Written + Produced: Janice Headley Mixed…

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Roundtable: Respect the Classics 42:14

9M ago42:14

42:14

Dusty Henry, Martin Douglas, Albina Cabrera, and Roddy Nikpour dig into Kurt Cobain's relationship with the "classic rock canon" and how he — now getting played on classic rock radio himself — interpreted it through Nirvana. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Special thanks: Albina Cabrera, host of El Cancionero de Kurt Audio producer: Roddy Nik…

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Lead Belly – Last Sessions, Volume One (1953) 33:56

9M ago33:56

33:56

Martin Douglas dives into Lead Belly's Last Sessions. The blues aren’t limited to a specific era or place — if you’ve got the blues and a strong enough voice, you can sing the blues. Kurt Cobain just happened to filter the blues through a muddy strain of punk rock. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Martin Douglas and Roddy Nikp…

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Aerosmith – Rocks (1976) 42:53

10M ago42:53

42:53

Dusty Henry dives into Rocks by Aerosmith. This album might not feature Aerosmith’s most recognized songs, but it demonstrated the power of hard rock to mainstream audiences, solidifying the band’s legacy. This album also represents a cautionary tale: For every high, there's always a comedown. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: …

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Remembering Charles R. Cross, a Legend in Northwest Music Journalism 32:54

10M ago32:54

32:54

In this bonus episode, we remember Seattle music journalist Charles R. Cross, who died on August 9, 2024 at age 67. Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas reflect on Cross’ legacy, we listen back to Cross speaking with former KEXP DJ Marco Collins, and KEXP listeners share personal memories of him. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Special thanks: Emil…

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David Bowie – The Man Who Sold the World (1970) 33:28

10M ago33:28

33:28

Roddy Nikpour dives into The Man Who Sold the World by David Bowie. The album's title track marks a turning point in Bowie’s career toward stardom, which perfectly explains why Nirvana covered it in one of their most iconic final performances. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editor…

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The Beatles – Meet the Beatles! (1964) 38:57

10M ago38:57

38:57

Martin Douglas dives into Meet the Beatles! by The Beatles. In this episode, we pay tribute to the ever-connected thread of musicians across time and space. In essence, the “British Invasion” meant taking American music (largely from Black artists) and selling it back to American audiences. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Mar…

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Roundtable: Kurt <3s Melody 33:25

10M ago33:25

33:25

Dusty Henry, Martin Douglas, Albina Cabrera, Janice Headley, and Roddy Nikpour explore three of the more melodic entries on Kurt’s list. It’s important to remember that, despite their onstage aggression, Nirvana had some pop sensibilities. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Special thanks: Albina Cabrera, host of El Cancionero de Kurt; and Janic…

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Marine Girls – Beach Party (1981) 31:21

11M ago31:21

31:21

Janice Headley dives into Beach Party by Marine Girls. Their lo-fi instrumentation and girlish vulnerability helped set the standard for twee pop. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Janice Headley and Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain See omnys…

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R.E.M. – Green (1988) 1:10:25

11M ago1:10:25

1:10:25

Dusty Henry dives into Green by R.E.M., a band that set the stage for indie rock as this larger idea of staying authentic despite commercial success. The band left a particularly noteworthy impact on Kurt, both professionally and personally. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel…

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The Knack – Get the Knack (1979) 33:38

11M ago33:38

33:38

Roddy Nikpour dives into Get The Knack by The Knack. The album’s catchy lead single came out when Kurt was a preteen. Despite its questionable lyrics, “My Sharona” did for new wave what “Smells Like Teen Spirit” did for punk — brought a genre to the mainstream. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isa…

1
Michael Azerrad, the Man Who (Literally) Wrote the Book on Nirvana 1:04:07

11M ago1:04:07

1:04:07

Michael Azerrad joins us to talk about his relationship with Kurt Cobain, reviving a 30-year-old biography, Nirvana's legacy, and some of the records on Kurt’s list. Michael wrote the 1993 biography "Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana," and he recently released an annotated version titled "The Amplified Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana." Ne…

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Jack Endino on the Northwest Sound and the 35th Anniversary of 'Bleach' 58:05

11M ago58:05

58:05

Seattle's own Jack Endino joins Dusty, Martin, and Albina for this month’s roundtable. June marks the 35th anniversary of Nirvana's debut studio album, Bleach, which Endino produced. They discuss the unmistakable imprint of the Northwest sound. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Special thanks: Jack Endino and Albina Cabrera, host of El Cancione…

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Beat Happening – Jamboree (1988) 57:18

12M ago57:18

57:18

Martin Douglas dives into Jamboree by Beat Happening. Hailing from Olympia, Washington, the trio lived and breathed the punk rock ideology. Cofounder Calvin Johnson released the band’s albums on a label he founded, the iconic K Records, which practically turned indie music into a religion. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Mart…

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Wipers – Is This Real? (1980), Youth of America (1981), and Over the Edge (1983) 42:01

12M ago42:01

42:01

Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas dive into the three albums by the Portland band Wipers, the band with the most entries on Kurt's list (unless you count "anything by Kleenex"). Greg Sage's melodic punk riffs not only inspired Nirvana, but also other Northwest bands before them, including The Melvins and Mudhoney. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas…

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Mudhoney – Superfuzz Bigmuff (1988) 48:14

12M ago48:14

48:14

Dusty Henry dives into Superfuzz Bigmuff by Mudhoney, whose debut represents the culmination of ideas that we now categorize as “grunge.” Nirvana picked up the grunge baton from Mudhoney and carried it to the finish line. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial d…

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Bonus: Hiro Yamamoto on Soundgarden, Forging New Paths, and the Circles of Power 39:12

1y ago39:12

39:12

In this special bonus episode, we break format away from Kurt Cobain and Nirvana and look at the legacy of Soundgarden from the lens of founding member and original bassist Hiro Yamamoto. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Soundgarden’s formation — starting with Yamamoto and Chris Cornell in Yamamoto’s basement. While Yamamoto was there from t…

1
Roundtable: Breaking Punk 45:01

1y ago45:01

45:01

Dusty Henry, Martin Douglas, Albina Cabrera, and Janice Headley discuss the idea of "punk" through the lens of four bands. Each of them provides a distinctive approach to punk both as a genre and as a mindset. Nirvana is named as one of the core bands of 1991, "the year punk broke." Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producer: Roddy Nikpou…

1
Black Flag – My War (1984) 30:49

1y ago30:49

30:49

Larry Mizell Jr. dives into My War by Black Flag. This proto-punk sophomore album upset the fast-paced expectations of hardcore by slowing it down, complete with all-out screams confessing deep-seated emotion. This sound set the precedent for Seattle's famous grunge sound. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Written by: Larry Mizell Jr. Audio pro…

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The Shaggs – Philosophy of the World (1969) 31:48

1y ago31:48

31:48

Martin Douglas dives into Philosophy of the World by The Shaggs. As prophesied by a palm reading, this band of sisters from a small town in New Hampshire would become famous. However, nobody could have predicted the band's "intriguing" sound — or whether they would actually have a fun time performing music. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Aud…

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Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols (1977) 48:00

1y ago48:00

48:00

Dusty Henry dives into Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols by the Sex Pistols. They set the stage for mainstream views of punk in terms of style, substance, and attitude. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. Support the p…

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