Nearly perfect albums are a trap and we walked straight into it. We go down a punchy list of 1980s rock staples and actually argue the hard part: what makes a classic rock record feel flawless from top to bottom, and what makes it feel “too polished” even when the songs are huge. From Back In Black to Appetite For Destruction to Purple Rain, we swap favorites, call out the moments where bands start chasing the mainstream, and talk about how producers and the 80s studio sound shaped what we still hear today.

Then we hit the headlines with music news that’s equal parts heartfelt and nerdy. We talk about Dolly Parton stepping away from her Las Vegas residency for health reasons, the growing wave of big releases and comebacks, and the live music trend that sent us spiraling: metal shows inside caves. If you’ve ever wondered how acoustics, reflective surfaces, and a room full of bodies change a mix after soundcheck, we break it down in plain English.

We also bring the community into the driver’s seat with the question of the day: what 70s or 80s artist had a completely unique sound? The crew drops everything from Bowie and Hendrix to Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Run-DMC, and more. Add current country and rock charts, a quick 2001 time capsule on radio and CDs, and a mailbag on branding and “too polished” artists, and you’ve got a full hour of music podcast conversation that feels like hanging with real fans. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review, then tell us your one truly unique artist pick.

Episode Links

• Chris Franz: https://jayfranze.com/episode27/
• Dalila Mya: https://jayfranze.com/episode102/
• Alyxx: https://jayfranze.com/episode123/
• Gina Fritz: https://jayfranze.com/episode137/
• Mark Badolato: https://jayfranze.com/episode140/
• Stephanie Rabus: https://jayfranze.com/episode149/
• MacKenzie Leigh: https://jayfranze.com/episode153/
• Kieran Robertson:

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• Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/
• JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/

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Shout Outs

• High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/
• VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

The ACM Awards are coming, and we’re not treating it like background noise. We lay out what to expect from the show in Las Vegas, how to watch on Amazon Prime, and what it means that Shania Twain is hosting for the first time. Then we make our ACM predictions with zero fluff, debating what “Entertainer of the Year” should actually reward, and why the new-vs-established “rivalry” narrative feels more like marketing than reality.

From there we hit the week’s music news with an eye for what matters: Morgan Wallen teasing a new era, Luke Combs setting huge concert attendance records, and the constant push toward genre blending across country, rock, and everything in between. We also talk about why certain artists thrive right now through touring, streaming, and fan engagement, and how that shifts the industry’s gatekeeping.

Then we dive into our question of the day: who is the best drummer of all time? We explain what to listen for as a non-drummer, read listener picks, and argue our way to a final ranking that’s guaranteed to spark comments. We wrap with charts, birthdays, and a mailbag packed with practical music industry advice, including what to do after a TikTok blow-up, streams vs ticket sales, and how to handle gear failure in a high-pressure studio session.

Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who will argue with our drummer list, and leave a review with your pick for best drummer of all time.

Episode Links

• Jim Cristaldi: https://jayfranze.com/episode27/
• Bob Bullock: https://jayfranze.com/episode28/
• Dalila Mya: https://jayfranze.com/episode102/
• Mark Badolato: https://jayfranze.com/episode140/
• Stephanie Rabus: https://jayfranze.com/episode149/

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Links

• Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/
• JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/

Contact

• Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/

Socials

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranze
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranze
• Everywhere: @jayfranze

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• Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/

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• Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/

Support

• Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/
• Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/

Shout Outs

• High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/
• VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

You know that moment when you realize the thing you’ve worshipped as a fan is now your actual job? That’s where this conversation with guitarist and recording artist Kieran Robinson begins, and it only gets wilder from there. We talk through how a young musician goes from growing up on Queensrÿche and classic rock to performing alongside Geoff Tate, learning songs with serious technical weight, and walking the tightrope between confidence and imposter syndrome.

We get into the real mechanics of making a legacy project work. Kieran explains how he approaches writing and demo-building for Mindcrime III, why the goal is to keep the music in the same sonic universe as Operation: Mindcrime, and what happens when Geoff takes a draft and transforms it with melody, synths, and arrangement choices. If you’re into songwriting, producing, or progressive metal composition, you’ll hear a practical workflow you can steal, plus the mindset required when the fanbase knows every note and expects the music to be played with respect.

Then we shift to the live world: the iconic Viper Room night, the nerves of performing in front of other pros, and why playing Mindcrime feels more like theatre than a standard rock set. Kieran also shares what touring really looks like, from dividing time with Faster Pussycat to the unglamorous truths of backstage riders, band pranks, and recording on the road with portable studios in hotel rooms. We wrap with gratitude, perspective, and the reminder that rock is still a community built on craft, feel, and showing up ready.

Subscribe for more interviews, share this with a friend who loves heavy music, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

Episode Links

• Geoff Tate: https://www.geofftate.com/

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Links

• Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/
• JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/

Contact

• Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/

Socials

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranze
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranze
• Everywhere: @jayfranze

Services

• Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/

Books

• Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/

Merchandise

• Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/

Support

• Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/
• Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/

Shout Outs

• High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/
• VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives