NO ENCORE

In the spirit of platonic love, Dave and Craig hand Sonic Architect Adam a live microphone (okay, it's his own microphone) for this week's musical smackdown. We've got a busy news week to contend with, the new Foo Fighters album and a Top 5 all about FRIENDSHIP. Exciting!ACT ONE (2:47): The Weeknd does his Super Bowl thing, The Boss runs afoul of the law, Phoebe Bridgers breaks the Internet, The Cribs recall the MySpace era, Dave Grohl Recommends Corner and #RickRubinInnocent – it's the news.ACT TWO (30:49): Foo Fighters are back with album number ten in the form of Medicine at Midnight, but does it prove a difficult pill to swallow?ACT THREE (46:57): Get your best mate involved, it's Top 5 Songs About Friendship.NO ENCORE is on Patreon and we really do appreciate your support. Get access to bonus episodes, bespoke playlists and our eternal love @ patreon.com/noencore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dave Hanratty and Craig Fitzpatrick return with another possibly irreverent look at the world in music right now, with a busy, difficult week in news, a buzzworthy new album and a tricky top five in the form of the best and worst - that latter focus with a notable twist - debut singles to ever do it.NO ENCORE is on Patreon if you'd like to support the show: patreon.com/noencoreACT ONE (3:27): News. SOPHIE forever, Eurovision is go, an interesting week for Dolly Parton, important Grimes update, Taylor Swift takes on a theme park and some discussion on the Marilyn Manson situation.ACT TWO (27:36): Arlo Parks has caused a critical stir with Collapsed In Sunbeams, but what do Dave and Craig make of it?ACT THREE (39:04): Top 5 Debut Singles. Dave loved this one, honest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's get existential. Dave Hanratty, David Higgins and Norma Howard discuss Pixar's mortality-themed life lesson Soul. Is this really a kid's film? What's the music like? Was that an Under the Skin reference? Is that ending a massive copout? All this and much more on this episode.ACT ONE: What We've Been Watching.ACT TWO (21:00): Soul.Every episode of NO POPCORN is right here: http://spoti.fi/38ZBjOONO ENCORE is on Patreon if you'd like to throw us the price of a cinema ticket: patreon.com/noencore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

January is almost dust but there's still time for a music podcast to throw its scalding hot takes around. Dave Hanratty and Craig Fitzpatrick mine Top 5 gold this week as the best one-and-done albums come into focus. Before that, we chat with Elaine Mai and MayKay as they release the stomping pandemic antidote that is 'No Forever' – WARNING: Not strictly an antidote, just a great song that helps you escape for a few minutes at a time. ACT ONE: A couple of announcements including Dave getting an unlikely shock.ACT TWO (7:25): The role of the critic is up for debate yet again, Wayne Coyne makes it to Morning Ireland, Dolly Parton wants to accompany you on a walk and an old favourite returns – it's the week in music news.ACT THREE (26:34): Elaine Mai and MayKay in conversation. ACT FOUR (48:54): We've teased it once or twice but it's finally time to shine a light on the greatest one-and-done albums to ever do it. High emotions, unsolved mysteries and the tension of possible crossover abound on this week's Top 5. NO ENCORE is on Patreon if you'd like to throw us a pint or a coffee or a copy of Hot Press magazine or something. Your support is invaluable and greatly appreciated: patreon.com/noencore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quick disclaimer – Dave's audio turned out a little hotter than expected, sincere apologies for any listening inconvenience and we'll fix it for next week. The boys are back with the first Top 5 rundown of 2021, running the Best & Worst rule over what happens when an act leaves a successful band to go it alone. Where do Zayn and his third studio album fit in? Only one way to find out, dearest listener...ACT ONE: A new challenger emerges for a defiant Craig. ACT TWO (5:56): Presidential inaugurations. Suspicious celebrations. Bad people. The future of gigs in the wake of Glastonbury's latest cancellation. The gang's all here for this week's news section.ACT THREE (29:57): Zayn has long left his One Direction days behind but has he finally made the solo thing work? Let's check in on the latest long-player effort; the dangerously-titled Nobody Is Listening.ACT FOUR (41:58): Going out on your own is a rite of passage for many musicians. Sometimes, magic happens. Other times, not so much. Top 5 Post-Band Solo Adventures has it all.NO ENCORE is on Patreon if you like what we do and would like to throw us a pint: patreon.com/noencore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for the NO POPCORN 2020 jamboree spectacular in which Dave Hanratty, David Higgins and Norma Howard cast their collective eyes over the cinematic landscape of the past 12 months, doling out awards aplenty. Who had the most bizarre failure of a performance? What film boasted the best needle drop? What was the most obnoxious 'Give me the Oscar!' moment? What film simply didn't need to exist? All this and much, much more on this episode.Quick note – Norma's microphone was ever-so-slightly hot during recording and we didn't notice until afterwards but it hopefully sounds fine overall. Neverending Zoom era, yo! Throw us the price of a pint of Patreon if you like: patreon.com/noencoreEvery episode of NO POPCORN is right here: http://spoti.fi/38ZBjOO Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's get down to quizness. It's the NO ENCORE Quiz of 2020! Six rounds of music-related brain teasers for you to ponder over as you live vicariously through fierce combatants Craig Fitzpatrick and special guest Fionnuala Jones of Bandwagons fame. Dave Hanratty is YOUR quizmaster on an episode that gets rather tense indeed.ACT ONE (5:20): Respects are paid to the late, great hip hop icon that is MF DOOM.ACT TWO (12:03): Get hype, it's the NO ENCORE Quiz of 2020.NO ENCORE is on Patreon and your support means the world to us. Hit up patreon.com/noencore for bonus episodes, playlists and the warm fuzzy feeling of helping out your favourite music show.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year! NO ENCORE returns for 2021 with a preview of the upcoming RTÉ Choice Music Prize, where the best Irish album of 2020 will be officially crowned. Things are a little different this year, though, from both the judging process to the ceremony itself. Dave Hanratty hit up Choice chairman Jim Carroll to get the lowdown on just about everything.NO ENCORE is on Patreon if you'd like to throw us the price of an outlawed takeaway pint. A little goes a long way! patreon.com/noencore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looks like we made it. The final episode of 2020. The very best albums of the year. Dave Hanratty, Craig Fitzpatrick and Zara Hedderman combine and clash over the standout long-players of a strange 12 months.Thank you so much for lending us your ears this year. If you enjoy the show and would like to help support us, please consider hitting up patreon.com/noencore. A little goes an awful long way. See you in 2021. Stay safe! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tis! The! Season! Dave Hanratty, Dave Higgins and Norma Howard celebrate this most festive time of year the only way they know how; by reviewing a pretty wretched yuletide romantic comedy in the form of the completely deranged LAST CHRISTMAS. You caught that twist as early as we did, right?ACT ONE: What We've Been Watching including Netflix sensation MANK. ACT TWO (23:40): 'Last Christmas' sure is an amazing song. George Michael deserves quite a bit better than this film, though.NO ENCORE is on Patreon at patreon.com/noencore if you'd like to support the show.Every NO POPCORN episode is right here: https://spoti.fi/2KaX1Ws Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.