

What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Arctic Monkeys
Adam Scott Glasspool, Steve Murphy, Lucas Way
A podcast that dives deep into discographies - one artist per season. Hosts Adam, Steve, and Lucas go album by album, track by track, exploring how context shapes our experience of music, why fans become obsessed, and what music really is. With three hosts coming from wildly different levels of musical knowledge, expect sharp analysis, wild tangents, hot takes, and more information about the artists (and the hosts) than you ever asked for. Currently exploring the discography of Arctic Monkeys. Previous seasons featured Manic Street Preachers, Muse, Billie Eilish, Radiohead, Lauryn Hill, and R.E.M.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 28, 2022 • 1h 19min
Radiohead Live from a Tent in Dublin Commentary
The Big Mates provide insightful commentary for Radiohead Live from a Tent in Dublin.Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the edited show that was part of the band's tour for Kid A. Head to the Radiohead Public Library to watch along here:https://www.radiohead.com/library#kida/2000-10-07-live-from-a-tent-in-dublinOr don't - the episode works fine either way!You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.comIf you'd like a different way to donate to usYou can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusicAny donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!Join the conversation on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpodE-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.comhttp://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/Support the show

Aug 26, 2022 • 31min
BREAKING MUSE: Will of the People
BONG. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY NEWS BROADCAST. The Big Mates discuss the newly released album Will of the People by Muse. They give their first impressions and pick some standout tracks.You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusic.redbubble.comIf you'd like a different way to donate to usYou can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusicAny donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!Join the conversation on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpodE-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.comhttp://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/Support the show

Aug 21, 2022 • 1h 37min
Who Is Music?: the Bracket Draft
The Big Mates look to the future of the podcast by kicking off a tournament to decide the artist covered in the next season of What Is Music?Having recently solicited suggestions from listeners, Adam, Steve, and Lucas reveal the results and offer up their picks for the forthcoming competition.The artists in each “region” will be paired up to fight, the winners of which will go head-to-head so each region has one champion. Those champions will then duke it out to decide the one, final winner, who we will commit to covering in either the next season, or the one after. The matches will be voted on by you, our listeners via polls on twitter, instagram, and Facebook. They will last 24 hours from midday every Friday starting this week! Follow the links below to our socials!Who have the Big Mates picked? Who have the listeners picked? Who is music? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?Our next episode is out on Monday August 29th and will feature insightful audio commentary for Radiohead Live From a Big Tent. You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.comIf you'd like a different way to donate to usYou can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusicAny donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!Join the conversation on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpodFacebook: https://facebook.com/whatismusicpodE-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.comhttp://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/Support the show

Aug 14, 2022 • 1h 33min
Kid A (Pt. 3)
The Big Mates discuss recaptured youth, indecipherable lyrics, difficult music and Kid A by Radiohead.Adam, Steve, and Lucas conclude their track-by-track deep dive into the divisive fourth album and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between. They also explore how the album was received at the time of release and the incredibly large legacy it has left behind.How will they rate the album? Did rock bands sound like this? Is there a type of hat? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?Our next episode is out on Monday August 22nd and will look to the future of the podcast!You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.comIf you'd like a different way to donate to usYou can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusicAny donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!Join the conversation on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpodE-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.comhttp://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/Support the show

Aug 7, 2022 • 1h 32min
Kid A (Pt. 2)
The Big Mates discuss Sonic, ventriloquists, heads on sticks, and Kid A by Radiohead.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their track-by-track deep dive into this odd, divisive album by beginning their track-by-track exploration. They offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between.They discuss the context, recording process, and reception of the songs, as well as exploring the lyrics, themes, and subtext of everything contained within them.What does the album actually sound like? What is an ondes martenot? What are tree fingers? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?Our next episode is out on Monday August 15th and will conclude our track-by-track analysis of Kid A and examine the legacy of this highly praised record.You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.comIf you'd like a different way to donate to usYou can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusicAny donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!Join the conversation on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpodE-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.comhttp://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/Support the show

Jul 31, 2022 • 1h 48min
Kid A (Pt. 1)
The Big Mates discuss upside-down ducks, left turns, electronic music, and Kid A by Radiohead.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Radiohead by tackling their highly divisive fourth album Kid A. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between.They touch on how the band forced themselves to create music differently, the influences they were taking on board at the time, and the huge pressure that comes with following up an album often described as one of the "greatest of all time."They also find time to discuss the nascent days of Napster, Radiohead's "big tent" tour, and they listen to the scariest song they've yet to encounter!How do you follow enourmous success? Is this album as drastically different as it's made out to be? How do you pronounce 'preface?' Find out on this episode of What Is Music?Our next episode is out on Monday August 8th and will continue the deep-dive into Kid A.You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.comIf you'd like a different way to donate to usYou can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusicAny donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!Join the conversation on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpodE-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.comhttp://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/Support the show

Jul 24, 2022 • 1h 6min
Promoting Radiohead with Caffy St. Luce
Adam sits down with music promoter, writer, and PR manager Caffy St. Luce to discuss her work with Radiohead, Hall or Nothing, and the state of music PR today.There's also some time for Manic Street Preachers chat whilst they explore Caffy's first impressions of Radiohead, how they promoted The Bends and OK Computer, and how they both fit into, and rejected Britpop. Caffy is still doing some amazing things with music, and we think you should check out the following links:The Zine UK: https://linktr.ee/thezineuk Rocklands ArtBeat: https://www.facebook.com/artbeat.stars/The social media tags #FertileEnvironment and #NewerWave.Our next episode is out on Monday August 1st, and will begin our coverage of Radiohead's fourth album, Kid A.You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.comIf you'd like a different way to donate to usYou can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusicAny donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!Join the conversation on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpodE-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.comhttp://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/Support the show

Jul 17, 2022 • 2h 7min
Radiohead Live at Hammerstein Ballroom 1997 Commentary
The Big Mates provide insightful commentary for Radiohead Live at Hammerstein Ballroom.Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the show as filmed for MTV Live at the 10 Spot. They also find time to discuss their expectations for Kid A, play an OK Computer based game, and Lucas finally recounts the terrifying tale of the time he ate mold.Head to the Radiohead Public Library to watch along here:https://www.radiohead.com/library#okc/1997-12-19-live-at-the-10-spotOr don't - the episode works fine either way!You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.comIf you'd like a different way to donate to usYou can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusicAny donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!Join the conversation on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpodE-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.comhttp://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/Support the show

Jul 10, 2022 • 2h 11min
Meeting People Is Easy
The Big Mates discuss tree-based logic questions, art vs. commerce, Half-Life, and Meeting People Is Easy, a film about Radiohead.Adam, Steve, and Lucas remain in the OK Computer era and dissect and explore the film directed by Grant Gee, which follows Radiohead on their 97-98 world tour in support of the album. They also look at what was going on for the band at the time, the ups and downs of being in the world's most hyped band, and the fallout around the release of OK Computer.What happened on tour? How was the film made? How does the film portray the band? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?Our next episode is out on Monday July 18th and will feature insightful commentary for the band's performance at the Hammerstein Ballroom in 1997.You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.comIf you'd like a different way to donate to usYou can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusicAny donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!Join the conversation on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpodE-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.comhttp://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/Support the show

Jul 3, 2022 • 1h 36min
OK Computer (Pt. 3)
The Big Mates discuss murderous cats, musique concrete, ASMR, and OK Computer by Radiohead.Adam, Steve, and Lucas conclude their track-by-track deep dive into the mammoth third album and offer up analysis, opinions, and thoughts from three differing perspectives on music, from being deeply into analysis and music, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between. They also explore how the album was received at the time of release and the incredibly large legacy it has left behind.How will they rate the album? What would John Major think of Radiohead? Is Lucas kissing wrong? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?Our next episode is out on Monday July 11th and will feature an in-depth exploration of the doucmentary Metting People Is Easy, which follows Radiohead on their OK Computer world tour.You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve!What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone cases! Head to https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.comIf you'd like a different way to donate to usYou can do so at https://ko-fi.com/whatismusicAny donations very gratefully received and go towards our running costs!Join the conversation on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatismusicpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpodE-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.comhttp://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/Support the show