The podcast about the songs you love and why you love them! Join us each week as two friends, one a music professor and one a psychology professor, hang out and deep dive about one iconic song. Laugh and learn with us about songwriting, the brain, and pop culture. Send us your thoughts at <a href="mailto:NeverMusicPod@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">NeverMusicPod@gmail.com</a> and check us out on social media @NeverMusicPodJoin the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting <a href="https://discord.gg/xdN4XCdtxU" rel="nofollow">https://discord.gg/xdN4XCdtxU</a> or <a href="http://thelorehounds.com" rel="nofollow">thelorehounds.com</a> Art by Hearth Agency Nevermind the Music is published by the Lorehounds

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If I would, could you? This week, our hosts do another over-the-top deep dive to close Season 2, this time focusing on the dreary 1992 grunge epic “Would?” by Alice in Chains. Nichole takes us through the stages of the transtheoretical model of change, looking through the lens of recovery from addiction (sadly relevant to both the song’s namesake Andrew Wood and Alice in Chains lead vocalist Layne Staley). Mark offers another tongue-in-cheek term paper, this time deconstructing this song’s odd chord progression with the tools of so-called Neo-Riemannian music theory. A (maybe) helpful tonnetz diagram: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonnetz Other music heard in this episode: Alice in Chains - “Sea of Sorrow”, Alice in Chains - “Angry Chair”, Alice in Chains - “I Stay Away”, Alice in Chains - “Agains”, Alice in Chains - “Down in a Hole”, Alice in Chains - “Hollow”, Alice in Chains - “Heaven Beside You”, Jerry Cantrell - “Leave Me Alone”, Primitive Radio Gods - “Standing By a Broken Phone Booth With Money in My Hand”, Mother Love Bone - “Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns”, Candlebox - “Far Behind”, Donald Crockett - “Whistling in the Dark (performed by Xtet)”, Danny Elfman - “Spider Man Main Title”, Alice in Chains - “Whale &amp; Wasp”, Nirvana - “In Bloom”, Alice in Chains - “Man in a Box”, Pearl Jam - “Black”, Alice in Chains - “Bleed the Freak”, Alice in Chains - “Got Me Wrong”, Soundgarden - “Black Hole Sun” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

‘Would?’ by Alice in Chains and Transtheoretical Neo-Riemannian Model of Change

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/8/19/19/779aa314-5766-4cf9-a15f-b26da1b42668_106_-_sidetrack_-_season_2_mailbag_4.mp3

106 - Sidetrack - Season 2 Mailbag 4Are Alanis Morissette and Lauryn Hill two sides of the same coin? This week, we have one more chance to open the mailbag for Season 2! This batch of inquires hits on such controversial topics as Nichole’s accent, whether we should talk about musicals, mono-cultural tragedies, the new record by The Strokes, and whether the Beatles stole from Batman. We’re always sticking to the hard-hitting journalism here at NTM… Music heard in this episode: Jeremy Jordan - “She Used to be Mine”, Sara Bareilles - “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, Awaken A Cappella - “Gravity”, The Beatles - “Till There Was You”, Linkin Park - “The Little Things Give You Away”, My Bloody Valentine - “When You Sleep”, Coldplay - “Yes”, Club Nouveau - “Lean on Me”, Lauryn Hill - “Everything is Everything”, “Weird Al” Yankovic - “Such a Groovy Guy”, The Beatles - “Taxman”, Jimi Hendrix - “Foxy Lady”, Neal Hefti - “Batman Theme”, The Strokes - “Going Shopping”, fun. - “Some Nights”, The Strokes - “Hard to Explain”, Rage Against the Machine - “Bulls on Parade”, Rage Against the Machine - “Killing in the Name”, Daft Punk - “Instant Crush (feat. Julian Casablancas)” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Sidetrack - Season 2 Mailbag 4

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Were you one of those people who loved group projects back in school? If so, you must be the social loafer! This week we synergize with The Eagles’ 1976 country-rock gem “New Kid in Town.” Nichole talks about creative collaboration in a conversation that ranges widely, from interpersonal conflict to podcast co-host dynamics and classroom assignments. Mark homes in on the brilliant pattern of key changes in this song that shows this band was more than just fist fights and back-stabbing. For visual learners, the key scheme to this song goes like this (the capital letters are major keys and the lower-case letters are minor or dorian keys):E - c# - E - c# - E - G - e - E Other music heard in this episode: Linda Ronstadt - “Rock Me On the Water”, Linda Ronstadt - “In My Reply”, The Eagles - “Ol’ 55”, The Eagles - “Nightingale”, The Eagles - “Is It True?”, The Eagles - “Train Leaves Here This Morning”, The Eagles - “In the City”, The Eagles - “Love Will Keep Us Alive”, The Eagles - “Visions”, The Eagles - “Victim of Love”, Don Felder - “Victim of Love”, The Eagles - “Try and Love Again”, The Eagles - “One of these Nights”, Wolfang Amadeus Mozart - “Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K. 545, I (Ingrid Haebler, piano)”, Joe Walsh - “Life’s Been Good”, The Eagles - “The Last Resort”, Poco - “Bad Weather”, Bobby Darin - “Beyond the Sea”, Taylor Swift - “The Life of a Showgirl (feat. Sabrina Carpenter” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

‘New Kid in Town’ by The Eagles and Collaborative Key Schemes

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Wait, does it need to be either rock or opera to be a rock opera? As Season 2’s final guest, we welcome podcast luminary John Lorehound for a fun conversation about concept albums. Mark’s ready to go with a custom categorization scheme, Nichole comes armed with the required Hozier and Taylor Swift mentions, and John’s ultimately just here to give an angry rant about one of his favorite albums. Tune in for a conversation that gets to some surprisingly deep places. Music heard in this episode: Ian Gillan and Murray Head - “The Last Supper” (from Jesus Christ Superstar), Rage Against the Machine - “Down Rodeo”, Taylor Swift - “The Tortured Poets Department”, Paul Simon - “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes”, Pink Floyd - “Eclipse”, Beyoncé - “Texas Hold ‘Em”, Jessica Darrow - “Surface Pressure” (from Encanto), The Beatles - “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, Frank Sinatra - “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning”, Frank Ocean - “Lost”, Taylor Swift - “August”, The Beach Boys - “Do You Like Worms (Roll Plymouth Rock)”, Queens of the Stone Age - “You Think I Ain’t Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire”, Lauryn Hill - “Doo Wop (That Thing)”, Hozier - “I, Carrion (Icarian)”, The Flaming Lips - “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1”, Mark Popeney - “After the Bomb, Love” (USC Thornton Symphony), Coheed and Cambria - “Blood Red Summer”, My Chemical Romance - “Sing”, NOFX - “The Decline”, De La Soul - “A Roller Skating Jam Named ‘Saturdays’ (feat. Q-Tip &amp; Vinia Mojica)”, Liz Phair - “Never Said”, Radical Face - “Ghost Towns”, Green Day - “Homecoming”, Janelle Monáe - “Tightrope (feat. Big Boi)”, Melanie Martinez - “Soap”, Dana Howell - “Analogamelan”, Muse - “I Belong to You (+Mon Coeur S’Ouvre a Ta Voix)” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Sidetrack - We Need More Concept Albums (with John Lorehound)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/31/12/6badaf2d-bcce-4fa7-a532-bbd6786d87bf_hing__by_lauryn_hill_and_hexaflex_variations.mp3

Is it true that what is meant to be will be? This week, the hosts nod their heads to Lauryn Hill’s 1998 anthem of empowerment “Everything is Everything.” Nichole explains how this song is a great representation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy’s Hexaflex model and… that’s a lot of fancy words, you’ll just need to listen! Mark shows how this song’s catchy chorus keeps changing, never quite settling on its own identity. After winter must come spring… but it’s August now, so slow your roll. Other music heard in this episode: Lauryn Hill - “Joyful, Joyful”, Lauryn Hill - “Who Got the Flo”, Fugees - “Ready or Not”, Lin Manuel Miranda - “Helpless”, Lauryn Hill - “To Zion (feat. Carlos Santana)”, Lauryn Hill - “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”, Lauryn Hill - “Tell Him”, Lauryn Hill - “Freedom Time”, Lauryn Hill - “Mystery of Iniquity”, The Bruce Lee Band - “Gerry is Strong”, U2 - “Where the Streets Have No Name”, Lauryn Hill - “Consumerism” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

‘Everything is Everything’ by Lauryn Hill and Hexaflex Variations

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/25/15/fa379a6b-6a99-4da2-8edb-abc9860d2a27_102_-_sidetrack_-_songs_that_take_you_there.mp3

What better way to travel cheaply than listen to a great song? This week our hosts build one more list for Season 2, this time about their favorite songs about places. Nichole’s list is a little longer than Mark’s this time, but does quantity mean quality? Listen to be transported and find out! Music heard in this episode: Jesse L. Martin - “Santa Fe” from Rent, Jeremy Jordan - “Santa Fe” from Newsies, Journey - “Lights”, Addison Groove Project - “Love and Happiness”, Dropkick Murphys - “I’m Shipping Up to Boston”, Suzanne Vega - “Tom’s Diner (DNA Remix)”, Taylor Swift - “So Long, London”, The Postal Service - “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight”, David Bowie - “Life on Mars”, Ben Folds - “Jesusland”, Belinda Carlisle - “Heaven is a Place on Earth”, Marc Cohn - “Walking in Memphis”, Bruce Springsteen - “Streets of Philadelphia” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Sidetrack - Songs that Take You There

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/29/18/b15f9ada-ec07-45d3-a2ed-0a797a45f782__my_way__by_lenny_kravitz_and_shifting_cults.mp3

What would it take for you to join a cult? What if the leader looked like Lenny Kravitz? This week, we break down the 1993 retro rocker, “Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz. Nichole takes the messiah-energy of the song’s lyrics and describes the methods cults use to control their followers. Mark focuses on the more technical side of the song, observing the cool way the song’s bluesy riffs and melodies shift around by key. Listen if you got to, GOT TO KNOW! Other music heard in this episode: Live - “Lightning Crashes”, Heart - “Barracuda”, Rage Against the Machine - “Killing in the Name”, Steely Dan - “Peg”, Tears for Fears - “Head Over Heels”, The Eagles - “Life in the Fast Lane”, Queen - “Killer Queen”, Lenny Kravitz - “It Ain’t Over ‘til it’s Over”, Lenny Kravitz - “If You Can’t Say No”, Lenny Kravitz - “Always On the Run”, Otis Rush - “All Your Love (I Miss Loving)”, The Beatles - “I Want You (She’s So Heavy”, Lenny Kravitz - “Mr. Cab Driver”, Lenny Kravitz - “American Woman”, Toto - “Rosanna”, Goldfinger - “Here in Your Bedroom”,  Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

‘Are You Gonna Go My Way’ by Lenny Kravitz and Shifting Cults

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/7/15/16/a157f7af-f091-4070-9a40-93966f988cfb_h_episode_extravaganza___with_david_lorehound_.mp3

How are we still doing this thing? To celebrate our 100th(ish) episode, we’ve brought in a heavy hitter: returning guest David from the Lorehounds. David picks our brains about our first two seasons, talking topics like our friendship, what we’ve learned from podcasting, conversations with our listeners, and why musicians always pretend to know albums they’ve never heard. Here’s looking forward to 200! Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Sidetrack - 100th Episode Extravaganza! (with David Lorehound)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/29/10/e016259b-28d9-4b01-8fce-d78d245fa1d1____by_alanis_morissette_and_raging_syncopation.mp3

What did Uncle Joey do to make someone this mad? This week, our hosts tackle Alanis Morissette’s 1995 breakup anthem “You Oughta Know.” Mark tries to draw a straight line between the intensity of Alanis’s emotions and how unhinged the song’s rhythms are… before taking an opportunity to majorly over-share on mic. Nichole takes us through the four levels of anger…. the higher the better? Other music heard in this episode: The Clash - “Should I Stay or Should I Go”, Juice WRLD - “Used To”, Fran Jeffries - “It Had Better Be Tonight”, Bruno Mars - “I Just Might”, Alanis Morissette - “Your House”, Alanis Morissette - “Too Hot”, Alanis Morissette - “All I Really Want”, Alanis Morissette - “Everything”, Alanis Morissette - “Underneath”, Dua Lipa - “IDGAF”, Carole King - “It’s Too Late”, Chappell Roan - “My Kink is Karma”  Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

‘You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette and Raging Syncopation

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/18/12/81b10f02-4ad0-48ab-bc61-dd39f2dc0611_98_-_sidetrack_-_best_artists_._worst_songs.mp3

No Stairway? Denied! In this week’s episode, Mark and Nichole share some artists they really love… by sharing some songs they really don’t love by those artists! Please let us know what we got wrong in the Discord or at nevermusicpod@gmail.com. Music heard in this episode: The Beach Boys - “Please Let Me Wonder”, The Beach Boys - “When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)”, Stockard Channing - “There are Worse Things I Could Do”, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John - “You’re the One That I Want”, Michael Jackson - “Will You Be There”, Michael Jackson - “Heal the World”, Justin Bieber - “Love Yourself”, Luis Fonsi - “Despacito (feat. Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber)”, Dave Matthews Band - “Too Much”, Dave Matthews Band - “Crash Into Me”, Olivia Rodrigo - “All-American Bitch”, Olivia Rodrigo - “drivers license”, R.E.M. - “Orange Crush”, R.E.M. - “Stand”, Queen - “Somebody to Love”, Queen - “Bohemian Rhapsody”, Blink-182 - “Dumpweed”, Blink-182 - “All the Small Things”, Sublime - “Saw Red (feat. Gwen Stefani)” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Sidetrack - Best Artists…. Worst Songs

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/7/1/1/ed47147e-2b2b-4bfc-a89c-eafc5d9f9b30_an_talk_the_new_earth__wind___fire_documentary.mp3

Another Questlove doc? That means another bonus episode! Lorehounds contributor Jean joins Mark to talk about the new documentary, Earth, Wind &amp; Fire (To Be Celestial vs That’s the Weight of the World). They talk about the many sides - good and regrettable - of the band’s mastermind, Maurice White, and all the things that went into making this band one of the best to ever do it. We talk funk, disco, hip-hop, and the 70’s like only this band could tie together. Back on schedule next week! Music heard in this episode: Earth, Wind &amp; Fire - “Serpentine Fire”, Earth, Wind &amp; Fire - “Jupiter”, Earth, Wind &amp; Fire - “Shining Star”, Earth, Wind &amp; Fire - “The Way You Move (feat. Kenny G)”, Earth, Wind &amp; Fire - “The Way I Feel (feat. Kelly Rowland, Big Boi &amp; Sleepy Brown)”, Kool &amp; The Gang - “Celebration”, Kool &amp; The Gang - “Get Down On It”, Earth, Wind &amp; Fire - “Boogie Wonderland (feat. The Emotions)”, Earth, Wind &amp; Fire - “September”, Earth, Wind &amp; Fire - “Sing a Song”, Westside Gunn - “Kitchen Lights (feat. Stove God Cooks)” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Bonus! Mark and Jean Talk the New Earth, Wind & Fire Documentary

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/25/14/cadde6dc-a578-4e92-9212-13155c527bf2__why_memories_and_chord_progressions_are_liars.mp3

Does that love song really remind them of you, or is it actually their previous partner? In this week’s episode, we revel in Toto’s 1982 masterpiece “Africa.” Nichole talks about how our memories play tricks on us, and how different people react to ambiguity. Meanwhile, Mark takes us on another investigation, this time trying to uncover how this song’s iconic riff fits in with the various keys of the song. We dare you to sing along (well) with this chorus! Other music heard in this episode: Green Day - “Whatsername”, The Beach Boys - “In My Room”, Don Henley - “The Boys of Summer”, Sublime - “Wrong Way”, Toto - “Dune (Desert Theme)”, Steely Dan - “Black Friday”, Toto - “Hold the Line”, Toto - “I Won’t Hold You Back”, The Bee Gees - “More Than a Woman”, The Beatles - “Something”, The Cardigans - “Lovefool” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

‘Africa’ by Toto and Why Memories and Chord Progressions are Liars

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/1/10/8e009812-463e-4d54-8e8b-899574695042_ing_you_were_a_knucklehead__with_rob_harvilla_.mp3

Have you ever hated a song or an artist only to change your mind later? This week, we are thrilled to welcome rock critic and host of the 60 Songs That Explain the ‘90s podcast, Rob Harvilla. We reveal those embarrassing times we were dead wrong about an iconic artist… and one of us may have put some of those earlier thoughts in print! This fun conversation touches on the performative aspects of hate, evolving musical taste, and even some legendary artists with some rough live shows. Music heard in this episode: Mike Watt - “Against the ‘70s (feat. Eddie Vedder)”, Guster - “Homecoming King (Meow Mix)” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Sidetrack - Realizing You Were a Knucklehead (with Rob Harvilla)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/17/1/6de4f7a0-1b39-4a54-8bcf-13fffea7addb_t_speak__by_no_doubt_and_the_chameleon_pivot.mp3

Have you ever had that friend who seemed to change their whole personality each time they had a new relationship? No? Then you’re probably that friend! This week, we vibe with No Doubt’s 1995 radio smash “Don’t Speak.” Nichole argues that No Doubt vocalist Gwen Stefani’s changing styles is a great example of the so-called chameleon effect, while Mark thinks this song has a great example of a cool type of key change. It’s not petty if you use a big word to describe it! Other music heard in this episode: No Doubt - “Rock Steady”, No Doubt - “Just a Girl”, No Doubt - “Total Hate”, Matthew Wilder - “Break My Stride”, No Doubt - “Bathwater”, No Doubt - “Trapped in a Box”, No Doubt - “It’s My Life”, J.S. Bach - “Ach Gott, erhör mein Seufzen und Wehklagen,” BWV 254, No Doubt - “Excuse Me Mr.”, No Doubt - “Happy Now?”, No Doubt - “New”, Queen - “We Are the Champions”, Avril Lavigne - “Sk8er Boi” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

‘Don’t Speak’ by No Doubt and the Chameleon Pivot

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/15/21/18fb5c1c-cf77-41fe-a118-c9225f2cb3a7_94_-_sidetrack_-_season_2_mailbag_3.mp3

Why do violinists hate violists? Is Flipper actually evil? We comb through the listeners’ increasingly deranged questions with another Mailbag episode! Hear listeners test Nichole’s rhythm and shill their music in another fun check-in with our audience.  Music heard in this episode: Eight Foot Manchild - “Circle of Salt”, Vultures of Culture - “Catch and Release”, Nice &amp; Smooth - “Sometimes I Rhyme Slow”, Dashboard Confessional - “Me and Mine”, Stereolab - “Diagonals” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Sidetrack - Season 2 Mailbag 3

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Are things getting a bit companionate or maybe just fatuous? In this episode, we swoon to Kendrick Lamar and Sza’s 2024 slow jam “Luther.” Mark goes gaga over the surprising long-term trajectory of this song’s melody. Since we know our listeners always fall for a good classification system, this week Nichole brings us a good one: the triangular theory of love! The music and psychology pieces are certainly locking lips in this episode.  Other music heard in this episode: Dionne Warwick - “I Say a Little Prayer”, Taylor Swift - “End Game (feat. Ed Sheeran)”, Rihanna - “Work (feat. Drake)”, Beyoncé - “Crazy in Love (feat. Jay-Z)”, Ariana Grande - “Side by Side (feat. Nicki Minaj)”, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell - “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell - “If This World Were Mine”, Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn - “If This World Were Mine”, Cheryl Lynn - “Got to be Real”, Luther Vandross - “Never Too Much”, Luther Vandross - “Here and Now”, Kendrick Lamar - “All the Stars (feat. SZA)”, SZA - “Good Days (feat. Jacob Collier)”, Taylor Swift - “Out of the Woods”, David Guetta - “Turn Me On (feat. Nicki Minaj)”, Ariana Grande - “No Tears Left to Cry” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

‘Luther’ by Kendrick Lamar (feat. SZA) and the Triangular Melodies of Love

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What’s the perfect playlist to bring you from rage to bliss? This week, we welcome writer and Tedx speaker Sadie Higgins. Sadie talks to us about how we can use music in our everyday lives to regulate our emotions and find a sense of community. Will Nichole actually sing on-mic? Join us for a fun conversation that proves that [spoiler] music is… good! Music heard in this episode: Harry Styles - “Grapejuice”, Harry Styles - “Fine Line”, Next - “Too Close”, 3 Doors Down - “Kryponite”, Buffalo Springfield - “For What It’s Worth”, Beyoncé - “Crazy in Love (feat. Jay-Z)”, HQ Binaural Beats - “Theta Wave 2.0” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Sidetrack - How Music Can Control Your Emotions (with Sadie Higgins)

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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)” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

‘Toxicity’ by System of a Down and the Changing Tempos of Cognitive Dissonance

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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 <a href="http://farmaid.org/podcast" rel="nofollow">farmaid.org/podcast</a> and watch for the 2026 festival lineup at <a href="http://farmaid.org/festival" rel="nofollow">farmaid.org/festival</a>!  Music heard in this episode: Bad Religion - “Grains of Wrath”, John Mellencamp - “Rain on the Scarecrow” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Sidetrack - When Artists Take Up a Cause (with Jessica Ilyse Kurn and Michael Stewart Foley)

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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”  Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Nevermind the Music is part of The Lorehounds Network. Join the Nevermind the Music Discord channel by visiting thelorehounds.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

‘Fast Car’ by Tracy Chapman and the Locus of Storytelling

The podcast about the songs you love and why you love them! Join us each week as two friends, one a music professor and one a psychology professor, hang out and deep dive about one iconic song. Laugh and learn with us about songwriting, the brain, and pop culture.

Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com and check us out on social media @NeverMusicPod

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Nevermind the Music is published by the Lorehounds