In this episode of The New Dad Rock, Steve and Keith are joined by special guest Bryan to dive deep into the transformative year that was 1991. The trio revisits the incredible six-week period that birthed classics from Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and uh Garth Brooks

They take aim at the beginnings of the grunge movement, starting with Temple of the Dog, the supergroup that paid tribute to Mother Love Bone's Andrew Wood and united future legends like Chris Cornell and members of Pearl Jam.

As they revisit key albums like Pearl Jam's Ten, Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger, and Red Hot Chili Peppers' Blood Sugar Sex Magik, they also touch on U2’s Achtung Baby, R.E.M.’s Out of Time, and Smashing Pumpkins’ debut Gish. Bryan shares his unique insights on Temple of the Dog and how 1991 set the stage for what would become a monumental era in music.

Other highlights include discussions on the first-ever Lollapalooza, the dominance of Queensrÿche’s Silent Lucidity, and how A Tribe Called Quest’s Low End Theory redefined hip-hop. The episode also pays tribute to the music legends we lost that year—Steve Clark of Def Leppard and Freddie Mercury of Queen.

Tune in as Keith, Steve, and Bryan reminisce about 1991, when college radio stations like 89.3 WGSU were spinning the sounds of a new generation, and the world witnessed the meteoric rise of Nirvana and Nevermind.

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Get ready for chills, thrills, and a rockin' good time as The New Dad Rock presents its fourth Halloween special, "Every Day Is Halloween!"

In this spooky edition, Steve and Keith dive deep into the art of creating the perfect Halloween playlist. From eerie classics like "Bela Lugosi's Dead" by Bauhaus (or is that Boo-haus?) to the quirky charm of "Monster Mash," they explore the songs that set the mood for your haunted night.

Special Halloween topics include:

• Jimi Hendrix's "If Six Was Nine" and why six was afraid of seven.
• Bauhaus or Boo-Haus? The ultimate goth playlist debate.
• Tom Waits, William Burroughs, and their creepy collab.
• The spooky vibes of The Doors' "People Are Strange" and Donnie Darko’s unforgettable soundtrack.
• Day of the Dead reflections and a look back at 1990’s most supernatural hit movie: Ghost.

Whether you're crafting the ultimate Halloween party playlist or just getting into the seasonal spirit, join Steve and Keith as they discuss eerie tunes from the past, from Tom Waits to The Cure and even some spooky metal picks. Plus, they'll touch on classic horror movie soundtracks and Halloween novelty songs, ensuring your playlist has everything you need for a hauntingly good time.

So turn off the lights, light some candles, and get ready to rock as The New Dad Rock celebrates Halloween in style. Stay spooky!

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Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

In this episode of The New Dad Rock, Steve and Keith dive into the transformative year of 1990, a time when music was in flux, much like Steve’s transition from high school to college. They review new music from The Jesus Lizard, Mercury Rev, and Chappell Roan, but the heart of the episode is a look back at the iconic releases of 1990.

Expect deep discussions about:

• Queensrÿche’s Empire
• Iron Maiden’s No Prayer for the Dying
• Megadeth’s Rust in Peace
• Judas Priest’s Painkiller
• Slayer’s Seasons in the Abyss
• Anthrax’s Persistence of Time
• Jane’s Addiction’s Ritual de lo Habitual
• Primus’ Frizzle Fry

With King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard touring, The Pavements documentary, and Will Sergeant's book in mind, they also reflect on the changing music landscape that paved the way for the upcoming grunge explosion.

The episode touches on key themes like whether metal was running out of steam or just evolving, while also covering some big pop culture moments of 1990, including MTV’s Unplugged debut, The Simpsons series launch, and Pearl Jam’s first live show (then known as Mookie Blaylock).

Steve and Keith reminisce about what they were listening to back then, from N.W.A. on the way to Taco Bell to the inescapable chart-toppers like MC Hammer and The Black Crowes. Tune in for a trip down memory lane and see what music from 1990 still holds up today!

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Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

In this episode of The New Dad Rock, Steve and Keith turn back the clock to explore the rich and diverse musical landscape of 1989—a year that was anything but a blank space. While Taylor Swift might have reimagined "1989" in her own style, we're diving into the original sounds that defined the end of a decade.

The duo kicks off by introducing new music from Joey Valence & Brae, drawing parallels between the fresh sounds of today and the innovative tracks of '89, setting the stage for a deep dive into a pivotal year in music history.

Steve and Keith explore Nirvana's debut album "Bleach", discussing its raw energy and how it laid the groundwork for the grunge movement. They revisit Madonna's "Like a Prayer", examining its controversial themes and undeniable impact on pop culture.

The conversation heats up as they delve into the world of thrash metal with Testament's "Practice What You Preach", Exodus's "Fabulous Disaster", Laaz Rockit's aggressive riffs, and Overkill's "The Years of Decay". They don't miss a beat, touching on King Diamond's haunting "Conspiracy", and discussing the rise of Sepultura and Annihilator's "Alice in Hell".

Switching gears, they celebrate the timeless appeal of Tom Petty's "Full Moon Fever" and the unforgettable soundtrack of Prince's "Batman", which added a musical dimension to the iconic film. The duo reminisces about Chris Isaak's haunting "Wicked Game" and the sultry vibes it brought to the airwaves.

They groove to the alternative beats of Love and Rockets' "So Alive", The B-52s' infectious "Love Shack" and "Roam", and the psychedelic sounds of The Stone Roses. The punk ethos of Fugazi's "13 Songs" and the industrial edge of Nine Inch Nails' "Pretty Hate Machine" and Ministry's "The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste" also make the cut.

Steve and Keith delve into The Cure's melancholic masterpiece "Disintegration" and Depeche Mode's influential "Violator", discussing how these albums shaped the goth and synth-pop scenes. They share their admiration for Faith No More's "The Real Thing", Red Hot Chili Peppers' energetic "Mother's Milk", and Primus's quirky debut "Suck on This".

The episode wouldn't be complete without a nod to the rising stars of the era, including Sick of It All's hardcore anthem "Blood, Sweat, and No Tears", and the Beastie Boys' genre-blending genius on "Paul's Boutique". They also touch upon the phenomenon of Milli Vanilli's "Girl You Know It's True" and the controversy that followed.

Amid the rich musical tapestry, they reflect on The Ramones' "Brain Drain", signaling the endurance of punk rock. They discuss how bands like Metal Church with "Blessing in Disguise" and Skinny Puppy's "Rabies" pushed the boundaries of metal and industrial music.

Join Steve and Keith as they reminisce about 1989—a year of musical diversity and innovation that continues to influence artists today. This is not Taylor Swift's 1989; this is the original soundtrack of a generation.

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In this episode of The New Dad Rock, we dive into the electrifying year of 1988, where the worlds of metal, rock, and synth-pop collided in unexpected ways. We explore the rise of concept albums like Queensrÿche’s Operation: Mindcrime and King Diamond’s Them, which pushed the boundaries of storytelling in metal.

The Big Four of thrash metal—Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax—dominated with releases like ...And Justice for All, South of Heaven, So Far, So Good... So What!, and State of Euphoria. Meanwhile, the second tier of thrash, including bands like Testament, Overkill, and Death Angel, delivered powerful albums that kept the genre’s momentum going.

Synths still reigned supreme in the pop world with bands like Depeche Mode, New Order, and Yaz. At the same time, they began to influence industrial music, leading to groundbreaking releases from Ministry and Skinny Puppy. We also revisit R.E.M.’s Green, which marked a shift in the band’s sound and solidified their place in the alt-rock pantheon.

From the massive success of Def Leppard’s Hysteria to the Monsters of Rock Tour, 1988 was a year where genres collided, new sounds emerged, and nothing was shocking, though Donnie Darko and Fishbone were certainly a bit out there.

Join us as we reminisce about the music that defined 1988 and still resonates with us today.

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Join us as we delve into the transformative year of 1987 in this episode of The New Dad Rock. We'll explore the iconic albums and unforgettable moments that defined the music scene. From U2’s monumental The Joshua Tree to INXS’s Kick and The Cure’s Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, this year was a watershed moment for rock and pop.

We'll reminisce about why Steve spent an entire month listening to just one album—King Diamond’s Abigail—and relive the wild Motley Crue Girls, Girls, Girls tour. We'll also cover the release of Document by R.E.M. and the psychedelic sounds of Echo & the Bunnymen. And we can’t forget Pink Floyd’s A Momentary Lapse of Reason, their first album led by David Gilmour.

We’ll highlight the new music from HARDY and Beak>, with their eclectic, genre-blending sounds. Keith will share memories of truckloads of porta potties heading to Telluride for a Grateful Dead concert and the influence of television shows on music tastes, like the classic "Paint It Black" from Tour of Duty.

Tune in to hear Keith read song titles from our playlist in the outro and play along with Steve in our music trivia game. This episode is a celebration of a pivotal year in music, full of personal anecdotes and musical milestones.

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In a nostalgic twist, we recount the story of Jasper introducing a song in the car, which turned out to be "Your Love" by The Outfield, reflecting on how musical tastes and influences come full circle. We'll also reflect on major global events like the first meeting between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev in Geneva and how they influenced songs like Genesis's "Land of Confusion".

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Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

In this nostalgic dive into 1985, we are joined by special guest Brian Reiss, who you might remember from Episode 14, Van Halen vs. Van Hagar. Together, we explore a year where movie soundtracks spawned hits, metal got more extreme, thrash took over, and flea markets took over rollerskating rinks. Singles and solo artists dominated the airwaves, with new bands hitting the top spot on the charts seemingly every week. Meanwhile, concerned moms finally did something about those explicit pop songs, and alternative rock and college radio began to bubble under, with The Cure hitting their stride.

In this episode, we delve into the themes that defined 1985. New Wave had taken over from rock on the pop airwaves, and rock, via hair metal, leaned into pop in an attempt to fight for their place on the charts. This push toward the bifurcation of genres—guitar-based vs. electronic-based—is something we still see today, but back then, the lines were more blurred. We share what we were listening to in 1985, from A-ha's "Take On Me" to Dio's Sacred Heart, and reminisce about buying albums like Theatre of Pain and World Wide Live on the same day.

We also take a look at what was popular in 1985, from the inaugural WrestleMania and and the debut of Calvin and Hobbes and the release of New Coke. We discuss significant events like the Live Aid benefit concerts, which raised over £50 million for famine relief in Ethiopia, and the disastrous Led Zeppelin reunion with Phil Collins on drums. Lastly, we talk about the old guard artists like Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, and Tina Turner, who continued to make waves in the music scene, and solo acts from earlier bands like Mick Jagger, Glenn Frey, and Phil Collins.

Amidst all this, Tom Waits' Rain Dogs stood alone as a beacon of obfuscation against a sea of mediocrity. Join us as we take a trip back to 1985, a year of musical evolution and unforgettable memories.

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Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.