Nevermind the Music

Is this the most “L.A.” band of the 2000s? This week, somewhere between the sacred silence and sleep is System of a Down’s 2001 rock hit “Toxicity.” Nichole talks us through the idea of cognitive dissonance, and ends up aiming her sights in the general direction of this band, while Mark takes us through the cool tempo changes of this song that would make the math nerds proud. The rare NTM debate can be found in the middle of this episode!

Other music heard in this episode: Aerosmith - “Dream On”, Letters to Cleo - “Here and Now”, Dropkick Murphys - “I’m Shipping Up to Boston”, The Macrotones - “Nothing is the Same”, Jan and Dean - “Surf City”, Jackson Browne - “Take it Easy”, Minutemen - “This Ain’t No Picnic”, Cypress Hill - “Insane in the Brain”, System of a Down - “Chop-Suey!”, System of a Down - “Prison Song”, System of a Down - “Spiders”, System of a Down - “Aerials”, System of a Down - “B.Y.O.B.”, System of a Down - “Radio/Video”, Franz Ferdinand - “Take Me Out”, The Beatles - “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”, System of a Down - “Chic ‘n’ Stu”, System of a Down - “Question!”, Taylor Swift - “Tolerate It”, Taylor Swift - “Closure”, Red Hot Chili Peppers - “Veronica”, Paul Simon - “Hurricane Eye”, Elliott Carter - “String Quartet No. 1 (Julliard String Quartet)”

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What motivates an artist to go beyond performative tweets and truly advocate for a cause they care about? This week, we are joined by Jessica Ilyse Kurn and Michael Stewart Foley, co-hosts of Against the Grain: The Farm Aid Podcast. For over forty years, the Farm Aid music festival has brought legendary artists together to support small family farmers. We talk about what brings them to that stage, what these farmers are up against, and how we’re all united by the same need… to EAT! 

Listen to Against the Grain: The Farm Aid Podcast at farmaid.org/podcast and watch for the 2026 festival lineup at farmaid.org/festival! 

Music heard in this episode: Bad Religion - “Grains of Wrath”, John Mellencamp - “Rain on the Scarecrow”

Send us your thoughts at [email protected]

Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com

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Is 47.5 times through a guitar riff enough? This week, we grab a ticket to anywhere with Tracy Chapman’s thoughtful 1988 ballad “Fast Car.” Nichole relates this song to people’s sense of whether they are in control of their lives, and, Here in episode #89, Mark finally starts listening to lyrics, and elaborates on how the song’s repetitiveness is actually the key to its moving storytelling. Just maybe this week it will be Nichole’s turn to secrete salty fluid from her optical sensors!

Other music heard in this episode: Tracy Chapman - “Give Me One Reason”, Tracy Chapman - “Stand By Me”, Tracy Chapman - “Baby Can I Hold You”, Shelly Thunder - “Sorry,” Nicki Minaj - “Sorry (feat. Nas)”, Tracy Chapman - “Behind the Wall”, Tracy Chapman - “For My Love”, Tobtok - “Fast Car”, Luke Combs - “Fast Car”, Bob Dylan - “Hurricane”, Suicidal Tendencies - “Institutionalized”, The Eagles - “Lyin’ Eyes”, Aloe Blacc - “I Need a Dollar” 

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Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com

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Is that episode title just a joke? Mark definitely wishes it was. In this week’s Sidetrack, our hosts give their lists of songs that get the waterworks flowing. Join us for some really awesome music and some major over-sharing! See you next week for a regular, sob-free episode!

Music heard in this episode: Bonnie Raitt - “I Can’t Make You Love”, Earth, Wind & Fire - “September”, Sarah Bareilles - “She Used to Be Mine”, The King’s Singers - “And So It Goes”, Billie Eilish - “The Thirtieth”, Northside Special - “A Place to Call Home”, Taylor Swift - “marjorie”, Tally Hall - “Be Born”, Beck - “The Golden Age”, Say Anything - “Alive With the Glory of Love”

Send us your thoughts at [email protected]

Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com

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When is the right note actually a wrong note? This week, we’re burning down the highway skyline to The Killers’ 2006 anthem “When You Were Young.” Mark shares how this is one of those songs where are the melody seems to almost ignore the chord progression. Nichole connects those broken expectations to the narratives of uniqueness we build in our adolescent minds, and how those might change over time. Join us and dip your feet (every once in a little while).

Other music heard in this episode: Pixies - “Here Comes Your Man”, Aaron Neville - “Tell it Like it Us”, The Beatles - “A Hard Day’s Night”, Green Day - “Nice Guys Finish Last”, Soundgarden - “An Unkind”, Jimmy Eat World - “Clarity”, The Killers - “Somebody Told Me”, The Killers - “Spaceman”, The Killers - “Caution”, Bruce Springsteen - “Born to Run”, The Killers - “Human”, Snow Patrol - “How to Be Dead”, Tears for Fears - “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, Daft Punk - “Lose Yourself to Dance (feat. Pharrell Williams)”, Weezer - “No One Else”, The Killers and Bruce Springsteen - “Born to Run”

Send us your thoughts at [email protected]

Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy