Rose-Colored Headphones

A re-examination of misunderstood, under-appreciated, or forgotten albums by popular artists, focusing on the positive aspects of each. You might think these records missed the mark, but what if the world just wasn’t ready for them?

Lainey Wilson, HARDY, and Today’s Pop-Country (with Clover-Lynn a.k.a hillbillygothic) 09/09/2025

Lainey Wilson, HARDY, and Today’s Pop-Country (with Clover-Lynn a.k.a hillbillygothic) If you’re the sort of person who scoffs at the ever-shifting boogyman of “today’s Country music,” sit down and listen. Clover-Lynn is here to guide Michael and Ralph through two very different examples of contemporary pop-country: Lainey Wilson’s Hillbilly Hippie and HARDY’s The Mockingbird and the Crow. Why are people so opposed to pop-country? Is it a matter of classism? Is “Americana” just gentrified country? Why do bands in vests inspire skepticism? Later, Ralph breaks out the banjo and performs “Smell Like Smoke." Don’t forget to subscribe to hear new episodes every other Tuesday! Find us on Bluesky: Or send us an email: [email protected] Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks (@elaineprints on IG). /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/37956160

Human After All by Daft Punk (with Aaron Carnes) 08/26/2025

Human After All by Daft Punk (with Aaron Carnes) Aaron Carnes is back! For a non-ska episode! What’s the deal with this album? Why is it the one Daft Punk album that people don’t adore? Is this album fun? Is it dark? What was Daft Punk trying to tell us, and were we just not ready to hear it? Later, Ralph performs “Steam Machine” in the style of Incubus. (It’ll make sense once you hear it.) Check out Aaron’s book In Defense of Ska and his podcast of the same name. Don’t forget to subscribe to hear new episodes every other Tuesday! Find us on Bluesky: Or send us an email: [email protected] Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks (@elaineprints on IG). /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/37931240

Doo Bop by Miles Davis 08/12/2025

Doo Bop by Miles Davis Miles Davis made a hip-hop record. This should be an easy episode to do, right? I mean, we like Miles Davis. We like hip-hop. But… we also read Miles Davis’ autobiography. This wasn’t the episode we set out to make, but here we are. We’ve got some stuff to tangle with. And it’s been brewing for some time. Our experience with music is shaped by our ideas about the people who make that music. Your mileage may vary, of course, but we’ve got a lot to unpack here. Bear with us. On a lighter note, Ralph made a beat for Michael to improvise over. You know, like on Doo-Bop. But things went horribly awry. You’ll see. Don’t forget to subscribe to hear new episodes every other Tuesday! Find us on Bluesky: Or send us an email: [email protected] Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks (@elaineprints on IG). /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/37381250

Risk by Megadeth 07/29/2025

Risk by Megadeth Megadeth sure did a thing here. And Megadeth fans sure didn’t like it. But why not? Calibrate your expectations and let us help you find a way to enjoy this thing! Also in this episode: Ralph and Michael attempt to banter like normal podcasters. And they talk about that movie Highlander, for some reason. But it’s more on-topic than you would think. Is Risk the perfect album for a day by the pool? Maybe. And maybe that’s the problem: Megadeth fans don’t go swimming enough. Plus, we read listener mail and Ralph performs “Wanderlust” like you’ve never heard it before! Don’t forget to subscribe to hear new episodes every other Tuesday! Find us on Bluesky: Or send us an email: [email protected] Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks (@elaineprints on IG). /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/37371805

Chalkmark In A Rainstorm by Joni Mitchell (with Ann Powers, author of Travelling: On The Path of Joni Mitchell) 07/15/2025

Chalkmark In A Rainstorm by Joni Mitchell (with Ann Powers, author of Travelling: On The Path of Joni Mitchell) Ann Powers is here to share her insight into the creative life of Joni Mitchell in the 1980s. We delve into the influence of new musical technology, a shifting musical landscape, and Joni’s romantic and creative partner Larry Klein. Don’t you think it’s time you checked out some of those Joni Mitchell albums you haven’t heard yet? Start here. Also, check out Ann’s wonderful book Travelling: On The Path of Joni Mitchell. And welcome back, listener. Thanks for joining us! This is going to be a really good season. We can already tell. Oh, also in this episode: Ralph performs “The Beat of Black Wings.” Don’t forget to subscribe to hear new episodes every other Tuesday! Find us on Bluesky: Or send us an email: [email protected] Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks (@elaineprints on IG). /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/37371780

Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films 01/27/2025

Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films Ralph and Michael have been assigned a Disney tribute album featuring Sun Ra, Tom Waits, Garth Hudson, one of The Beatles, Sinead O'Connor, Bonnie Raitt, Michael Stipe, Herb Alpert, The Replacements, and more. Hear us out. It's... eerie. Later, a response from a Disney Adult and the return of Saucy Walter. Thanks for listening to our second season. We liked making it, and we'll be back soon with our third season. In the meantime, circle back to the episodes you missed and tell your friends about us. This episode was recorded before we heard the sad news of David Lynch's passing. Find us on Bluesky: Or send us an email: Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks (@elaineprints on IG). /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/34734755

Fodder On My Wings by Nina Simone 01/14/2025

Fodder On My Wings by Nina Simone In the eighties, Nina Simone recorded one of her most eclectic and personal albums. It’s also one of her best, and Ralph and Michael are here to tell you all about it, doing our best to understand her as a musician, as a person, and as a political figure. (Michael says this is his favorite album we've covered on this show so far. What do you think, listener?) Later, Ralph performs a Nina Simone original in the style of Radiohead. Find us on Bluesky: Or send us an email: Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks (@elaineprints on IG). /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/34704270

One Hot Minute by the Red Hot Chili Peppers 12/31/2024

One Hot Minute by the Red Hot Chili Peppers This is another one of those episodes where Michael struggles to get into the album, and Ralph has to take the wheel. What is it about the Red Hot Chili Peppers that Michael doesn’t get? Seriously, what crawled up that guy’s butt? First Lil’ Wayne and now this. It’s like he hates fun or something, that Scrooge. Don’t worry, listener; empathy and open-mindedness will win in the end. (In this episode anyway. Not sure about real life.) Remember in the Bob Dylan episode when we promised our podcast wouldn’t be weird anymore? How are we doing with that? Later, Ralph shares a mysterious 78 RPM record that will change the way you think about RHCP and, possibly, the laws of time and space. Find us on Bluesky: Or send us an email: Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks (@elaineprints on IG). /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/34220220

A Twisted Christmas by Twisted Sister (with Dee Snider) 12/17/2024

A Twisted Christmas by Twisted Sister (with Dee Snider) Dee Snider drops by to talk about Christmas music, his time as a choir boy, and the making of a yuletide metal classic on our first annual Holiday Spectacular! Yeah, we do holiday specials now, like Doctor Who! And don't worry, listener; we ask him about that book and he's got news about it. Also in this episode, Michael is visited by ghosts and he and Ralph grapple with complicated feelings about the holidays and uncertainty about the future. But mostly they talk about Twisted Sister. Happy Holidays, everyone! (Even you, Derek.) This episode is dedicated to the memory of our dear friend Rim Headley. Rose-Colored Headphones will return in 2025 with the rest of season two. Find us on Bluesky: Or send us an email: Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks (@elaineprints on IG). /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/34213400

Let’s Face It by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones (with Aaron Carnes, author of In Defense of Ska) 12/03/2024

Let’s Face It by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones (with Aaron Carnes, author of In Defense of Ska) Aaron Carnes drops by to educate Ralph and Michael about the wide world of Ska. Why is “Third Wave Ska” a misleading term? Where do the Bosstones fit into the larger story of the genre? Plus more listener mail from Michael’s arch-nemesis Derek. Ugh. Later, Ralph is joined by drummer Elwood Bond as he brings a Bosstones anthem back to the roots of ska. Be sure to check out the new expanded edition of Aaron’s fantastic book In Defense of Ska. It makes a great gift for ska-enthusiasts and an even better gift for ska-haters. Find us on Bluesky: Or send us an email: Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks (@elaineprints on IG) /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/34213175

Jesus Freak by DC Talk 11/26/2024

Jesus Freak by DC Talk Ralph and Michael dive into the Christian-Rock equivalent of Thriller and weigh DC Talk’s evangelical credentials against DC Talk’s counter-cultural inclinations. To whom is this album speaking? What is being said? Is it more than a collection of 1990s pastiche with religious lyrics? Maybe this album isn’t what you remember. (Well, it probably is in a lot of ways, but there’s more to it than that.) Also, is there a DC Talk group-chat where these guys argue about politics? (We will not find an answer to that question, but if you were once a member of DC Talk, drop us a line and let us know.) Later, we take a call from a listener in distress, Ralph converts “Just Between You and Me” into a delightful slab of reggae, and he and Michael turn that delightful slab of reggae into some spacey dub. Find us on Bluesky: Or send us an email: Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks. /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/33869242

The Diary by J Dilla (with Dan Charnas, author of Dilla Time) 11/12/2024

The Diary by J Dilla (with Dan Charnas, author of Dilla Time) Ralph and Michael are on their best behavior as Dan Charnas stops by to detail the history of J Dilla’s shelved-and-then-resuscitated should-be classic. What happens when a legendary hip-hop producer decides to rap over beats by other producers? More importantly, why would he decide to do this? Plus, Ralph explores the relationship between hip-hop and bossa nova by performing “Diamonds.” If you haven’t already, be sure to get a copy of Dan’s book Dilla Time. Find us on Bluesky: Or send us an email: Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks. /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/33665872

Music From “The Elder” by Kiss 10/24/2024

Music From “The Elder” by Kiss Ralph and Michael put on full KISS makeup (trust us) to contemplate this heady concept album that Michael keeps calling “Music FOR the Elder,” which is not the actual title. (Get it together, Michael.) Turns out there’s more to Gene Simmons than most people realize, and we’re going to convince you of that. Along the way, Ralph tries to define “butt rock,” Michael rethinks his concept of heroism, and they take a call from someone with an unusual proposition. Later, Ralph performs “I.” This episode is dedicated to all of our listeners, except for Derek. Find us on Bluesky: Or send us an email: Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks. /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/33599617

To The 5 Boroughs by Beastie Boys 10/15/2024

To The 5 Boroughs by Beastie Boys Ralph and Michael dive into the Beastie Boys Album That Time Forgot and reminisce about the hostile political climate that surrounded it. The Unhinged Lunatic who forces us to do this podcast likes giving us these trips down Painful Memory Lane. Anyway, how are you? Still profoundly uneasy about everything? Us too. Maybe just forget about it for a while and listen to these knuckleheads talk about some Beastie Boys music. Plus, upsetting listener mail and Ralph’s Tom-Waits-ian cover of “Crawlspace.” This episode was brought to you by The Towel Emporium. Find us on Bluesky: Or send us an email: Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/33324887

Self Portrait by Bob Dylan 10/01/2024

Self Portrait by Bob Dylan Ralph and Michael dig into the original “everybody hates it” album and try to unpack the incredibly negative reaction it received back in 1970. And wouldn’t you know it? It’s actually pretty dope! That’s right, Rose-Colored Headphones is back! Season Two is going to be so good, you guys. We’re definitely not as weird as before. This is a respectable show now. Maybe we’ll even find out why that Unhinged Lunatic is forcing us to do this. But probably not. Anyway, this is a podcast episode about Bob Dylan, which is… maybe something no one’s ever done before? There’s no way to be sure. Later in this episode, Ralph performs “It Hurts Me Too.” Find us on Bluesky: Or send us an email: Our visual art was created by Elaine Banks (@elaineprints on Instagram) /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/33227567

Pure Moods by Various Artists 07/09/2024

Pure Moods by Various Artists Imagine a season finale where time drifts slowly… a world where music carries you away. Experience our episode about Pure Moods: the perfect soundtrack for your way of life. Also, Ralph and Michael talk about Twin Peaks and the Butthole Surfers. Later, they present an original song in the style of Pure Moods and the unhinged lunatic who forces these guys to make this podcast finally breaks his silence. Thanks for listening to our first season; we will return! We don't have a choice! Send us an email: [email protected] /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/30005618

Trans by Neil Young 06/25/2024

Trans by Neil Young You know we couldn’t make a show like this and not talk about Trans, right? So here we go: Ralph and Michael think you should circle back to Neil Young’s synth-heavy early-eighties opus, and they’d like to raise questions about the nature of “folk” music, lycanthropy, and Neil Young’s reaction to Blade Runner. Also, this podcast’s interstitial music has a mind of its own, Michael uses a vocoder to cover a Neil Young classic, and we end on a cliffhanger! Send us an email: [email protected] /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/30005598

Tales From Topographic Oceans by Yes 06/11/2024

Tales From Topographic Oceans by Yes It’s a prog-stravaganza as Ralph and Michael dive into a polarizing double album by Yes. Michael remembers an overheard comment that saved him from music snobbery, while Ralph extols the virtue of being a dork and learns some surprising trivia about The Buggles. Later, Ralph performs some prog-rock! Send us an email: [email protected] /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/30005583

Idlewild by Outkast 05/27/2024

Idlewild by Outkast On this episode of your favorite PodKast, Ralph and Michael daydream about an MF DOOM movie, plan a Stevie Wonder heist, wonder if Andre 3000 likes King Crimson, and eventually get around to making a case for why you should give OutKast’s final album (and the accompanying film) another chance. Also, Michael misremembers dialogue from the Sun Ra movie and Ralph performs “Idlewild Blue.” Send us an email: [email protected] /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/30005543

Path Of Totality by KoRn 05/14/2024

Path Of Totality by KoRn Ralph and Michael think nu-metal and electronic music are a perfect match. With whom should Korn collaborate if they get on this path again? Ralph and Michael have some ideas. Plus, Michael tangles with lyrics he finds profoundly off-putting and Ralph performs “Narcissistic Cannibal.” Send us an email: [email protected] /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/30005528

Ummagumma by Pink Floyd 04/30/2024

Ummagumma by Pink Floyd Learn the (in)correct pronunciation of a Pink Floyd roadie’s term for coitus as we delve into this space-rock opus by a band Michael loved in middle school. Plus, divergent timelines, Shrek, a corny joke about the Alan Parsons Project, and “Grandchester Meadows” like you’ve never heard it before. Send us an email: [email protected] /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/30005483

The Rainbow Children by Prince 04/16/2024

The Rainbow Children by Prince Ralph and Michael can barely contain their enthusiasm as they untangle Prince’s jazz-fusion concept album and talk you through the things about it you might find alienating. Plus, Ralph explains how to perform a 2001 Prince song in the style of 1980s Prince. Find us on Instagram: Or send us an email: /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/30005508

Two Virgins by John Lennon & Yoko Ono 04/02/2024

Two Virgins by John Lennon & Yoko Ono John and Yoko made a recording of the weirdest foreplay ever. All we are saying is give it a chance. And while you’re at it, give it an interpretive dance. Should you listen to this album on a first date? Ralph and Michael will tell you. Plus, the exclusive world premiere of “Let’s Get a Pizza, Yoko” and an improvisation in the spirit of John and Yoko. Send us an email: [email protected] /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/30005468

Rebirth by Lil Wayne 03/19/2024

Rebirth by Lil Wayne Ralph and Michael dive into the Lil’ Wayne version of rock music. (Michael needed a little bit of convincing on this one.) Plus, Ralph plays “Waynes of All Sizes.” Will he win Michael’s voice on his answering machine? You’ll have to listen to find out. Later, Ralph performs “I’d Die for You.” Send us an email: [email protected] /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/30005458

Pop by U2 03/05/2024

Pop by U2 Ralph and Michael are pro-Bono, but they know the world wasn’t ready for Pop in 1997. Is intransigence still all around? Also, Michael models his collection of replica Bono glasses and Ralph performs “Wake Up Dead Man.” send us an email: /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/30005438

St. Anger by Metallica 02/20/2024

St. Anger by Metallica Ralph and Michael listen to St. Anger, watch the making-of documentary (Some Kind of Monster), and try to convince you to give this era of Metallica another chance. Then, after the inaugural installment of “Six Degrees of King Crimson,” they interview Lars Ulrich’s snare drum and Ralph performs “Some Kind of Monster.” Find us on Bluesky: Or send us an email: /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/30005423

Season One Trailer 12/10/2023

Season One Trailer The inagural season of Rose-Colored Headphones premiers in 2024. Join Ralph and Michael as they make a case for much-maligned music that deserves a second chance. /episode/index/show/2e9838ad-1aae-4d72-a889-812196a56c86/id/29010413

Rose-Colored Headphones

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