Marty and Kris are back at it again with a new yearly episode...The next 2 episodes, we're gonna tackle 1967! We start with talking about how 1967 is a "Fulcrum" year for music (2:35) as we transition into an in-depth conversation about the "Summer of Love", it's cultural impact at the time and how it endured and influenced other generations. (14:36). Moving on, Marty unveils his pick for 1967, 13th Floor Elevators second album, "Easter Everywhere". (This one was a lot of fun, we hope you guys enjoy it! Reach out at aotypodcast@gmail.com and check out our Patreon at patreon.com/albumoftheyear

Album of the Year Podcast

Episode 18 - 1967 Part 1

Hello AOTYer's!! Marty and Kris are back after nearly a month respite to talk GUILTY PLEASURES!! We first talk about the topic and how we understand the core concept and go on to explore how it resonates thru different periods and even musical genres. This one was a ton of fun, thanks for listening! Be on the lookout for another yearly episode coming soon! Also drop us an email at aotypodcast@gmail.com and check out patreon.com/albumoftheyear. Thanks again!     

Lunchtime Episode #12 - Guilty Pleasures

Marty and Kris come roaring back with part 2 of the start a new decade, 1980! The guys talk about Marty's birthday (0:33) and Kris berates him for being younger than him for 3 weeks, Pre-COVID recording (2:39) John Lennon's death being a dark shadow hanging over the year (4:55) Marty talks about how Prog Rock was nearly inescapable during the late 70's/early 80's (14:37) We then move into the charts (16:22) What the hell was up with Christopher Cross? (18:58) A mini podcast inside of a podcast about the Police (20:01) Mickey Gilley, gold chains, and Urban Cowboy (28:36) We then dive head first into LA Punk Stalwarts X, and their scorching debut, *Los Angeles*. (51:27). Thanks again for listening, be sure to check out patreon.com/albumoftheyear. Our new episode day has been moved to Wednesdays, so be on the lookout!

Episode 17 - 1980 Part 2

aaaand WE'RE BACK!! Marty and Kris are back in the house to unfurl 1980 and break down the good, the bad, and the ugly. We talk "moanin cat blues" (0:05) Marty talks tectonic plates shifting (4:34) and body shames Vince Neil (11:14). We then have a conversation about the synthesizer and how it influenced the decade and the genres and bands it created (13:00). To cap it off, We get down to Kris' pick, Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders raucous and gritty debut, Pretenders (43:00).  Thanks to everyone sticking it out thru the madness. We're going to start releasing episodes on a more regular basis now that we've made some upgrades to our home recording setups. We've got some fun stuff lined up for upcoming episodes. Hit us up at aotypodcast@gmail.com and, if you feel so inclined, check out our patreon at patreon.com/albumoftheyear. Thanks again!             

Episode 17 - 1980 Part 1

Marty and Kris are back in the game, this time, talking about a couple of obscure albums they've been listening to lately. Marty kicks things off with Albert Ayer's misunderstood neo-soul/free jazz stomper "New Grass" (22:07). Moving on, Kris talks about his pick, "All the Best from Ireland: 40 Irish Drinking songs" (38:24). We hope you enjoyed this episode, we had a really great time talking about these albums! We're also going to start getting back to a more normal schedule and revisiting the yearly format soon! In the mean time, be sure to check out our Patreon-We'll have some new episodes of our sister podcast, How Have I Not Seen Die Hard? up there very shortly! All the details can be found at https://www.patreon.com/albumoftheyear . Thanks for listening!   

Obscure Quarantine Albums

Hello AOTYers....we hope you're all staying safe out there! We're sorry for the lack of recent episodes-we're still doing what we can to figure out a way to get content to you as best we can during lockdown. Lucky for us, we were able to tap friend of the podcast Kevin Moss to all the way in Cincinnati, Ohio-LIVE via satellite! Ok, via the internet, but who's counting! For our newest anthology episode, Marty, Kris, and Kevin tackle one of the most prolific bands of all time-Guided by Voices! We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Also, be sure to check out Kevin's B-Movie podcast, Junk Food Dinner at http://www.junkfooddinner.com/. Thank for listening and stay safe!

Anthology Episode # 3 - Guided by Voices

Hello friends! We are doing our best to bring you content in the midst of everything going on. Here's a lunchtime episode Kris and Marty recorded last week. In this episode they discuss YouTube, and what it means to music in several different ways. Be on the lookout for a new year episode soon! Thanks for listening and be sure to check out patreon.com/albumoftheyear and email us at AOTYPodcast@gmail.com. Thanks as always for listening! 

Lunchtime Episode # 11 - YouTube and Music

Hello friends! In lieu of a regular AOTY Episode, we have Episode 1 of our Patreon only exclusive podcast, How Have I Not Seen Die Hard? In this podcast, Kris and his brother-in-law, Thomas, break down the good, the bad, and the ugly of movies pretty much everyone has seen, except for them. 12-inch and 180 Gram LP Patreon subscribers get this and other exclusive audio content by subscribing! In the first episode, Kris and Thomas break down Sly Stallone's 1982 classic "First Blood". Check out the details at patreon.com/albumoftheyear. Everyone stay safe, wash your hands, and we'll catch you on the flip! Thanks for listening! 

How Have I Not Seen Die Hard? Episode 1

Hey Team, let's kick it for this week's new lunchtime episode! Kris kicks things off pledge drive style (0:20) Introducing Thomas back on AOTY Podcast by recounting a story about him trying to get into the 1997's MTV Sports and Music festival (4:30) Getting marooned at Barton Springs Mall as a result (5:33) Recounting 1-800 Collect (6:42) Thomas's proper intro (12:00) Introducing our Lunctime topic, art and commerce (13:50) (14:57) Shock Jock madness (19:05) Kris reminiscing on his time as "Encyclopedia Brown", and his Monday morning airshift on college radio (19:32) Re-introducing our Patreon and going over patron levels (37:41), and Kris and Thomas introduce their side Podcast, How have I not seen Die Hard? that will be available for the 12-inch LP level Patreon supporters (40:40) Check out our Patreon at Patreon.com/albumoftheyear and email us at aotypodcast@gmail.com! Thanks for listening!

Lunchtime Episode # 10 - Art and Commerce

Let's do this, team...1997 Part 2 is here! Marty talks about his partner, Courtney, seeing Björk at ACL Fest in the early 2000's (0:00) Kris wonders how that show slipped under his radar (1:10) The '97 Beat goes on with Stephen talking about the MTV Sports and Music Festival that took place in Austin (2:56) Kris recounts what some music critics had dubbed "The worst 2 week period in the history of music (7:20) Way more Limp Bizkit talk than any one music podcast should tolerate (14:00) We move to the charts (28:50) Marty doing his best DJ Kool impression (34:55) We move on to Marty's pick, Sleater-Kinney's watershed, "Dig me Out" (46:45). After that, we get to Kris's pick, Radiohead's landmark statement, "Ok Computer". Thanks for listening!

Episode 16 - 1997 Part 2

We're BAAACK with our first year episode of Season 4! Get ready for all things 1997! We cold open with our guest, Stephen Cadena, aka DJ Shoestring (0:00) We then give him a proper introduction (1:51) Marty and Stephen reminisce on growing up with Hip Hop in Ohio and Texas (5:59) We move on by breaking down the state of Hip Hop in 1997 (16:34) Wu-Tang Forever and how it fit into the time contextually (27:54) More seminal Hip Hop albums from '97 (34:00) Master P's "Ghetto D" and how he inexplicably used DIY aesthetic and branding to build an empire (36:50) We then charge forward with Stephen's pick, Björk's lush masterpiece, Homogenic. (48:52) Be on the lookout for 1997 Episode 2 next week!

Episode 16 - 1997 Part 1

It is with heavy hearts that we kick off season 4 with a tribute to the incomparable Neil Peart, who passed away in early 2020. We still manage to get some laughs out breaking down Cold Pizza and commiserating over defunct pizza joints in Leveland, Texas (0:00) Introducing our guest, drummer, professor, and all around great guy Dolf Guardiola, (4:10) Neil Peart's cavernous prowess (18:01) Where we were when we heard the news (19:16) The worlds that Neil's influence permeated (22:08) Neil's Vision for Rush as a lyricist (26:54) Rush pulling out all the stops for 2112 and finding an audience in the process (28:20) Rush being virtuosic players but still being grounded enough to be seen as a band of the people (37:40) We hope that you guys liked this one, be on the lookout for our first year episode of season 4 soon. FOREVER NEIL!

Remembering Neil Peart (1952-2020)

Here it comes-The second annual Holidays Episode from your boys Marty and Kris! We kick things off by popping open a present-what else could be better than another mystery box of .45's! (1:50) Marty tells a story about our last mystery box episode (5:45) Kris picks first (7:05) We come across a mis-labled slab that was credited to Barbara Streisand (11:45) Marty picks out a "Korean Afro" (15:50) Marty reminisces on simpler times when the Bad-Boys era Detroit Pistons ruled the NBA and were introduced to Europe's "The Final Countdown" (23:50) Talking southern Ohio greasy spoon steakhouse buffets (57:54) Some Hot Takes on Kim Carnes (1:00:14) Bringing it back to the "Glory Days" (1:10:16) and we tie it up in a bow with an unforgettable slab. (1:35:42) We had a blast doing season 3! Happy Holidays and be on the lookout for season 4 in 2020! 

Lunchtime Episode # 9 - Christmas Presents

1, 2, 3, 4!!! Marty and Kris locked themselves in the lab for hours and have emerged with our 2nd ANTHOLOGY EPISODE!!! Before we get in to all things Ramones, we break down fall weather in Texas (0:27) Marty going to Levitation fest and seeing the likes of TOBACCO and BEAK> while Kris stayed in Leander to see the best ZZ Top/70's southern buttrock cover band this side of Williamson County (4:19) Our new imaginary German friend, Nils, comes up when talking about how many different drummers KMFDM might've went through (9:56) We then get down to brass tacks and unveil our topic for our second anthology episode: The almighty RAMONES! (10:24) We Blitzkrieg Bop into the conversation (14:40) Marty remembers first hearing "Psychotherapy" on 9.25 WOFX's piece of legacy programming, Jelly Pudding (17:39). We discuss the members of the band, and go through various lineup changes and incarnations that occured through the years (27:03) Pop Sensibilities (35:35) Rocket to Russia and the shimmering brilliance of "Rockaway Beach" (50:52) and the completely bonkers End of the Century recording sessions with Phil Spector (1:13:34). Let us know what you think anytime at aotypodcast@gmail.com and thanks for listening! 

Anthology Episode # 2 - RAMONES

Marty and Kris are BACK talking 1975! Marty kicks things off using his silky smooth NPR voice (0:00) Commiserating the popularity of "My Humps" (1:39) and Kris cruising for new sponsors after trying pickle-flavored beer (2:59. We then move on to the charts ( 4:05) Kris breaks down "Hicksploitation" (7:24) "Chevy Van" and how in the world those lyrics were committed to tape (14:49) Kris breaks out the Trivial Pursuit RPM edition booster pack and we both test our mettle (29:47). After realizing we'll never be the new hosts of Rock 'n' Roll Jeopardy, we get to Kris's pick for 1975, German krautrock stalwarts NEU! and their final tour de force, NEU! '75. (38:25). Don't sleep! 

Episode 15 - 1975 Part 2

Two music nerds taking on music history-one year at a time.