Best XTC Podcasts (2025)

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XTC's Wasp Star at 25 1:31:36

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20d ago1:31:36

1:31:36

Twenty-five years after its release, Wasp Star remains XTC’s final statement. So how does the album stand up? Is it underrated? Is it neglected? Is it eclipsed by Apple Venus? And is it in need of some more love? In this month’s episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, we head to the west of Scotland where Glasgow-based XTC fans Ste…

1
So by Peter Gabriel: How an Avant-Rock Outsider Made a Pop Classic 36:55

23d ago36:55

36:55

Peter Gabriel’s So is one of the most iconic art-pop albums of the 1980s, a record that blends emotional vulnerability, ambitious production, and global musical influences into something both personal and cinematic. After years of being known as the “enigmatic” former Genesis frontman—dabbling in experimental textures, avant-rock, and political the…

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The Jazz Pianist's Perspective, with Peter Martin 1:26:21

27d ago1:26:21

1:26:21

Kirk sits down with jazz piano legend Peter Martin to talk about Peter's musical background, his momentous early encounters with Wynton Marsalis and Kenny Kirkland, the jazz scene of the 1990s, how the Suzuki method works, and why jazz students today should be less shy about talking to their heroes. Check out Peter's online jazz education program O…

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#1 Record by Big Star: The Blueprint for Power Pop 27:18

1M ago27:18

27:18

Released in 1972, #1 Record is the debut album by Big Star, a band from Memphis, Tennessee that blended British Invasion melodies with Southern soul and jangly guitar pop. Though it wasn’t a commercial success upon release, the album became one of the most influential records in rock history — laying the groundwork for what would later be called po…

1
London Calling by The Clash: Punk Rebellion Meets Rock Revolution 37:08

1M ago37:08

37:08

A bass-smashing cover. Nineteen tracks that refuse to sit still. And a city’s pulse pressed into vinyl. We spin The Clash’s London Calling and pull apart why this double album still feels urgent, generous, and wildly playable decades later. From the title track’s warning siren to the upbeat surprise of Train in Vain, we follow the thread that ties …

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The Fearless Fela Kuti, with Jad Abumrad 1:56:37

1M ago1:56:37

1:56:37

Writer, composer, and Peabody Award-winning podcaster Jad Abumrad joins Kirk to talk about Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, his new 12-part series on the life, music, and legacy of Afrobeat superstar Fela Kuti. DISCUSSED/REFERENCED: “Miryea’s Death” by Jack Nitzche from Revenge, 1990 “Prologue” by Alexandre Desplat from Birth, 2004 Excerpt from Port(al), mu…

1
#14 Sir Michael Palin (Monty Python) 42:07

1M ago42:07

42:07

The Without the Beatles project in which famous artists and creatives discuss the direct impact the Fab Four had on their careers, started back in 2012. One of the first people we interviewed was Michael Palin. He found fame in the 60s as a TV presenter, before going on to become a performer and writer with Do Not Adjust Your Set, then Monty Python…

1
Skylarking by XTC: Studio Perfection and Pastoral Pop Genius 35:50

1M ago35:50

35:50

Released in 1986, Skylarking stands as one of XTC’s most celebrated and cohesive works—a shimmering, pastoral pop masterpiece that marries the band’s sharp songwriting with lush, orchestral production. Produced by Todd Rundgren, the album was conceived as a conceptual song cycle tracing the arc of an English summer’s day, paralleling the stages of …

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#13 Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi) 49:38

2M ago49:38

49:38

In 2010 we kicked off the multi-decade Without the Beatles project, and were privileged to be invited out to LA, to Richie Sambora's home, for this interview. A few years later, in 2013, Richie quit Bon Jovi because of the pressures of touring. He said at the time that he couldn't cope with 18 month world tours, but in this interview he is still ve…

1
#12 Andy Partridge (XTC) 43:54

2M ago43:54

43:54

It was such a pleasure to interview Andy Partridge of XTC for Without the Beatles - the documentary back in 2012 - when the world was a very different place. Unfortunately, because of an error on my part the documentary never saw the light of day, but now that podcasts are a thing - ours in particular - it's worth putting out Andy's interview. As u…

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#11 Chris White (The Zombies) 1:05:49

2M ago1:05:49

1:05:49

The Beatles famously paved the way for the British Invasion of America after their success in 1964. One of the bands that followed in their wake was The Zombies. Although they hit in the UK too, America has always been the place they did best, and they are still thought of more highly there to this day. Chris White was the bassist and, with Rod Arg…

1
XTC and the Dukes of Stratosphear with Ian Gregory, aka EIEI Owen 51:23

2M ago51:23

51:23

In this month’s episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast we return to the 2025 XTC Fan Festival to hear Ian Gregory who, under the pseudonym of EIEI Owen, was the drummer in XTC’s psychedelic alter ego the Dukes of Stratosphear. He is also the brother of Dave Gregory. What Do You Call that Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by Burni…

1
Eat a Peach by The Allman Brothers Band: Southern Rock’s Bittersweet Triumph 31:41

2M ago31:41

31:41

The Allman Brothers Band’s Eat a Peach (1972) is both a celebration of their fiery Southern rock sound and a poignant farewell to founding guitarist Duane Allman, who died in a motorcycle accident during its recording. The album is a hybrid of studio tracks, live performances, and unfinished sessions completed after Duane’s passing, making it both …

1
Super Mario Bros: Koji Kondo's 8-Bit Masterpiece [Twenty Thousand Hertz] 33:03

2M ago33:03

33:03

This episode of Twenty Thousand Hertz originally ran in August 2025. Kirk's 2020 episode of Strong Songs about the music of Super Mario TWENTY THOUSAND HERTZ SHOW NOTES: This episode was written & produced by Casey Emmerling. From the springy jump sound to the iconic Overworld Theme, the sound of Super Mario Bros. is instantly recognizable. With ju…

1
Live Through This by Hole: Catharsis and Riot Grrrl Rage 35:10

2M ago35:10

35:10

Live Through This (1994) by Hole is a raw, emotionally charged album that captures the turbulent spirit of the 1990s alternative rock scene. Released just a week after the death of Kurt Cobain and only months before the tragic passing of bassist Kristen Pfaff, the record is both deeply personal and culturally resonant. Courtney Love’s fierce vocals…

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Scum by Napalm Death: Grindcore’s Explosive Genesis 30:32

2M ago30:32

30:32

Scum by Napalm Death is one of the most important and influential extreme metal albums ever released. Put out in 1987 on Earache Records, it’s widely regarded as the birth point of grindcore—a genre that fused the speed and aggression of hardcore punk with the heaviness and brutality of death and thrash metal. The record is notorious for its breakn…

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Our Favorite TV Themes, with Leigh Sales 1:18:05

2M ago1:18:05

1:18:05

It's fun to talk about TV theme songs, so that's what Kirk and special guest Leigh Sales did. Does this episode need any more introduction than that? Probably not. Check out Leigh's wonderful podcast Chat 10 Looks 3 A YouTube Playlist of many of the themes discussed (and some they didn't get to) DISCUSSED/REFERENCED: The Office Theme - “Handbags an…

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Workingman’s Dead by Grateful Dead: Roots Rock Reinvented 33:29

2M ago33:29

33:29

Workingman’s Dead (1970) is one of the Grateful Dead’s most celebrated and influential albums, marking a sharp turn from their earlier, more experimental psychedelic sound toward a rootsier, song-focused approach. Recorded quickly and on a tight budget after years of heavy touring and debt, the record draws heavily from folk, country, and Americana…

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That’s the Way of the World by Earth, Wind & Fire: Soul-Funk & Spiritual Unity 29:34

3M ago29:34

29:34

That’s the Way of the World (1975) is often considered Earth, Wind & Fire’s defining statement, blending soul, funk, jazz, and gospel into a sound that was both deeply spiritual and irresistibly danceable. Released at the height of the band’s creative powers, the album embodies the vision of Maurice White, who sought to create music that was uplift…

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Strong TV Songs: HBO Edition [Recast] 1:08:44

3M ago1:08:44

1:08:44

Originally Aired October 20, 2020 The Wildlings are south of the wall, the robots are rising up, Seventh Kavalry's on the move, and two percent of the world's population has vanished. Time for another edition of Strong TV Songs! This time around the focus is on HBO, a network that has defined much of the broader TV landscape over the past couple of…

1
Hugh Padgham: working with XTC 1:18:04

3M ago1:18:04

1:18:04

In this month’s episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast we return to the 2025 XTC Fan Festival to hear engineer and producer Hugh Padgham remembering his work on Drums and Wires, Black Sea and English Settlement, not to mention his time with Brian Wilson, the Police, Phil Colins and many others. The episode also features a review by…

1
Before and After Science by Brian Eno: Art Rock Meets Ambient Vision 37:00

3M ago37:00

37:00

Before and After Science (1977) by Brian Eno is one of his most acclaimed solo albums, bridging his experimental rock sensibilities with the ambient style he would soon pioneer. The record is structured almost like two different worlds: the first half is energetic, angular, and rhythm-driven, while the second half drifts into ethereal, meditative t…

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A Bob Dylan Beginner's Guide, with Matt Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell 1:54:17

3M ago1:54:17

1:54:17

With so many dozens of albums over so many wildly disparate eras, it can take a lifetime to truly get your arms around Bob Dylan. On this episode, Kirk is joined by two guests who have spent their lifetimes doing exactly that. Matt Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell, in addition to co-hosting the terrific political history podcast Know Your Enemy, are both …

1
Betweters Podcast Is TERUGGG! 51:11

3M ago51:11

51:11

Na 9 maanden radiostilte is Betweters TERUG! In deze comeback-episode vertellen we waarom we tijdelijk waren gestopt, wat we in die 9 maanden hebben gedaan (projecten, lessen, keuzes) en hoe we de podcast vanaf nu gaan aanpakken. YouTube kanaal Jair - @JairEmanuels Youtube kanaal Charif - @studythegreatss…

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#10 Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy) 1:13:48

4M ago1:13:48

1:13:48

Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy popped into our studio to discuss his love of The Beatles, working in Abbey Road, and to reflect on a career that includes 13 solo albums, 2 Duckworth Lewis Method collaborations, the soundtrack to Wonka, and many film and TV Themes including Father Ted and the IT Crowd. Mark Hooper was on summer holidays, so friend…

1
Forever Changes by Love: Psychedelic Elegance in Turbulent Times 29:00

4M ago29:00

29:00

Forever Changes by Love, released in 1967, is a lush, intricate, and hauntingly beautiful blend of psychedelic rock, folk, and baroque pop. Recorded during a turbulent time for the band and for frontman Arthur Lee personally, the album stands apart from the louder, fuzz-driven sounds of the era by embracing a more acoustic, orchestral approach. Gen…

1
Singing and Songwriting, with The Wailin' Jennys 1:11:03

4M ago1:11:03

1:11:03

The Wailin' Jennys have been singing together for more than two decades - recording albums, touring the world, and filling venues large and small. After all these years, the trio—Ruth Moody, Heather Masse, and Nicky Mehta—have reached both a plateau and an inflection point. What's it like for a musical group that's been together for that long; for …

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Stu Rowe: collaborating with XTC 1:03:05

4M ago1:03:05

1:03:05

This episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast features a fascinating conversation with Stu Rowe recorded at the 2025 XTC Fan Festival in Swindon. Stu talks about working with Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, Terry Chambers, Barry Andrews, Peter Blegvad and Jen Olive on everything from the 3 Clubmen to Gonwards. XTC-inspired music come…

1
Talkin' Tower of Power, with Adam Maness and Peter Martin [You'll Hear It] 1:12:30

4M ago1:12:30

1:12:30

Back in May, Kirk joined pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin of the You'll Hear It podcast to talk about what makes Tower of Power great. It was a very fun conversation, so he asked if he could run their episode in the Strong Songs feed. And here we are! Listen to You'll Hear It anywhere you find podcasts, and find both Adam and Peter (and many o…

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Left and Leaving by The Weakerthans: Poetic Indie Reflections 26:03

4M ago26:03

26:03

Left and Leaving is the second album by Canadian indie rock band The Weakerthans, and it’s often regarded as their defining statement. Released in 2000, the record blends literate, introspective lyrics with punk roots and folk-tinged melodies. Frontman John K. Samson, formerly of Propagandhi, brings a poet’s eye for detail and a novelist’s sense of…

1
A Song For My Father 39:33

5M ago39:33

39:33

THE APOCALYPSE WERE: Tony Capuano - Guitar, Lead Vocals John Shorb - Alto Sax Gene Meros - Tenor Sax Greg Novik - Bass, Backing Vocals (guitar on Stormy Monday) Oggie Hamilton - Drums, Backing Vocals Featuring The Apocalypse playing: “Good Good Lovin’” and “Try Me” by James Brown “Hi-Heel Sneakers" by Tommy Tucker “The Shadow of Your Smile” by Mand…

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XTC’s Dave Gregory talks to Thomas Walsh 1:37:12

5M ago1:37:12

1:37:12

This episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast features a highly entertaining conversation between XTC guitarist Dave Gregory and fellow musician Thomas Walsh (Pugwash) recorded at the 2025 XTC Fan Festival in Swindon. The interview covers everything from facial hair to inspirational guitarists. The episode also includes a round-up of…

1
Low by David Bowie: Berlin Shadows & Sonic Reinvention 30:47

5M ago30:47

30:47

Low (1977) is David Bowie’s groundbreaking 11th studio album and the first installment in his celebrated "Berlin Trilogy," produced in collaboration with Brian Eno and Tony Visconti. Marking a radical departure from his previous glam rock sound, Low is split into two distinct halves: the first side features fragmented, experimental art rock and ele…

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#9 Jacob Jeffries (Vulfpeck) 55:01

5M ago55:01

55:01

We always ask this question: can you imagine your life without the Beatles? Today's guest definitely can't. Jacob Jeffries is a member of Vulfpeck, Jack Stratton's collaborator in Vulfmon, and is about to release a solo album in September, made at Theo Katzman's cabin studio. As co-writer and performer on many of the above projects, he's right at t…

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Heavy Weather by Weather Report: Jazz Fusion at Its Peak 35:03

6M ago35:03

35:03

Heavy Weather is the landmark 1977 album by jazz fusion supergroup Weather Report, and one of the genre’s defining records. Blending the virtuosity of jazz with the electricity of rock and the rhythmic sensibilities of funk and Latin music, the album finds the band at their creative peak. Led by keyboardist Joe Zawinul and saxophonist Wayne Shorter…

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"Lean On Me" by Bill Withers 58:45

6M ago58:45

58:45

For the Season Seven finale, Kirk takes a look at Bill Withers' enduring hit "Lean On Me." In the process, he takes a broader look at a bunch of Withers' other most famous songs to better understand how this plainspoken, seemingly ordinary guy managed to write so many extraordinary songs. Written by: Bill Withers Album: Still Bill, 1972 Listen/Buy …