NOTE - THERE WILL BE A SLIGHTLY LONGER GAP BETWEEN THIS EPISODE AND THE NEXT ONE DUE TO STUFF. Don’t worry though we will be back soon. Everybody knows The Beatles, right? Sgt. Pepper, mop tops, yellow submarines, she loves you, yeah yeah yeah. Well believe it or not, me and Sex Neil had never in our lives listened to Abbey Road so we did. Are the …

Brand New Eyes" is the third studio album by Paramore, released on September 29th 2009. It marked a significant moment in the band's career, both musically and personally due to internal tensions that influenced its creation leading to some band members leaving the room and never coming back. Fair play to the kids though, they definitely know how t…

Evil Empire is the second studio album by Rage Against The Machine. Released nearly 4 years after the band’s debut, the album is the expected RATM blend of rap, metal & funk that continues the group’s politically-charged sound and message. On the menu we’ve got tracks about the Zapatista uprising in Mexico, class warfare, racial inequality, politic…

What better way to dive into a conversation about the album No More Idols by Chase & Status than to degenerate into discussions about Darren brown, Lindy Hop & punching girls? It’s the British dream! Stop your family being shamed for all eternity by handing out a high five and rate or review the Personal Jukebox on Spotify, iTunes and all of your p…

"Slave to the Grind", released in 1991, is the second studio album by the American rock band Skid Row & followed their self-titled debut album, which had achieved significant commercial success. "Slave to the Grind" marked a notable evolution in the band's sound, showcasing a heavier and more aggressive style compared to their debut. The album feat…

Call him the American Badass, the Early Morning Stoned Pimp, Bobby Shazam or stick to Kid Rock, whatever name Bob Ritchie goes by, he seems to get embroiled in controversy at some point. After exploding onto the mainstream (in the U.S. anyway) with 98’s “Devil Without A Cause” (15 million sold mofo) the Kid followed that up with his next album offe…

On this episode we head back into the Jukeboxpod A-Z. Artists covered include All Saints, Amy Winehouse, Anthrax, Arianna Grande, Avenged Sevenfold and lots, lots more. Discussions of Onlyfans, teary films, The (apparently) Greatest Guitar Solo of All Time, charity donations, Katy Perry’s dimensions & The Video Man ensue. Stop your family being sha…

On this episode we head back once again to 1996 to look at a band often mentioned on the pod. "Coming Up" is the third album by alternative/indie rock band Suede, released on September 16, 1996. The album marked a significant point in the band's career, following the departure of guitarist Bernard Butler, who had been a key songwriter for their fir…

Ok, we’re back & it’s 2025 so let’s kick off with an album we’ve wanted to cover for a fair while… "Monster" is the ninth studio album by R.E.M., released on September 29, 1994. The album marked a significant departure from the band's previous work, putting forward a somewhat more aggressive sound that combined elements of alternative rock and grun…

Wowzers! More than 3 years after part 1 of our look back through the music of U2 we return to finally conclude the band’s career. Picking up where we left off last time, we take the Zoorapa-shaped baton and slog it through right up to latest 40 track (!!?!) effort. Does mid-late U2 measure up? Are there any bangers? Can Bono and the boys still writ…

"Disintegration" is the eighth studio album by The Cure, released on May 2, 1989. It is widely regarded as one of, if not THE band's most acclaimed works, and is often considered a landmark album in the post-punk and gothic rock genres. The album was produced by Robert Smith, the band's frontman, along with longtime collaborator Mike Hedges. "Disin…

"Different Class" is the fifth (yes, fifth) studio album by Pulp, released on March 30, 1995. It is widely regarded as one of the most significant albums of the Britpop era and played a crucial role in establishing Pulp as one of the biggest British acts of the mid-to-late 1990s. The album features a heady blend of pop, rock, and elements of electr…

Suppose we had to get round to this one at some point, eh? “Korn," released in 1994 to an unsuspecting audience, is the self-titled debut album by the American Nu-Metal band Korn (but don’t tell them they’re Nu-Metal, cause they are). This groundbreaking record is often credited with birthing the nu-metal genre, blending heavy metal with elements o…

Who says we only do guitars? At long, long last this podcast gets round to the megastar rapper, songwriter, producer, record exec, actor? Ol’ Slim Shady himself, Eminem. More specifically, his 2nd big label release (yes all you Stans, I know about Infinite) The Marshall Mathers LP. The album was released when Marshall was right up there as one of t…

I mean… c’mon…. The Red Hot Chili Peppers?? Just how have this band been out there for ages peddling their wares? Every couple of years chucking out a similarly-filled, funk-infused, cheaply lyricised new album, selling buttloads of copies, filling arenas and staying (somewhat)relevant? Plus, who is an admirer and why? With neither of us being fans…

Part 2 of our One Hit Wonders tournament takes in an outright eclectic mix of tunes and spits them out in ascending order. Listen in to this raucous episode and keep your fingers crossed that everybody involved comes to their senses and realises that Babylon Zoo’s Spaceman is a stone cold classic! Blow us a few kisses or hand out a solid handshake …

Who doesn’t love a One Hit Wonder? Songs that hit the charts, got stuck in the musical consciousness, were everywhere for a while and then disappeared, the artists in most cases never to be heard from again, relegated to “oh man, remember that (insert name here ) tune? Well we love them, or at least slightly like some of them and decided to ask a f…

Welcome to the first instalment of the Jukeboxpod A2Z. On these pods we’ll be giving bitesize props or shade to all of the artists who won’t necessarily end up getting their own episodes but deserve a mention for one reason or another. So this time, strap in as 2pac, 50 Cent, AC/DC, ABBA, Adele, Alice Cooper & loads more kick us off. Blow us a few …

Released slap-bang in the throes of Nu-Metal’s commercial peak, Come Clean by Puddle of Mudd lends slightly from the genre but heaps in elements of Grunge, Post-Grunge & dare say ‘Butt-Rock’ to the overall theme. Wes Scantlin and his band of merry men offer up a plate of digestible rock that was lapped up by fans at the time & had hits to boot. ‘Sh…

On this episode we decided to celebrate hitting the big 100 by letting our hair down and asking some of the previous co-hosts to pick their “5 Songs You Can’t Live Without” and it’s yielded some varying, eclectic results. Mr. Stewart Boyd, Courtney G, P.K., Lez, Little Si, Ning & Simon all offer up 5 tracks to the collective masses so expect Alice …

After over 2 1/2 years of mucking around, we finally get back on the Shine compilation trail and take on Shine 3 - 20 new DAZZLING indie hits. Much like the previous instalments in the series, this latest offering includes the big boys such as Oasis, Blur, etc. along with a couple of older tracks from the Roses & Mondays but also features lesser kn…

It’s time for a bumper edition of the PJP takeover as Ning brings onboard Lez & 80’s thrash aficionado Gaz to look at one of the aforementioned genre’s seminal albums, Reign In Blood by cuddly metalheads Slayer. Even the usual Jukeboxpod host would struggle to downplay the reverence of the big hitters ‘Angel of Death’ & ‘Raining Blood’ on this effo…

And now for something a bit different…. The Download Festival is a renowned rock and metal music festival that takes place annually at Donington Park (site of its predecessor “Monsters of Rock”) in the East Midlands and attracts thousands of music fans from around the world. The festival features multiple stages showcasing a diverse lineup of bands…

This episode we take a look at the band nobody in the UK seemed to give two you-know-what’s about, Bush and their debut album Sixteen Stone. We delve into the origin of the band, lead singer Gavin Rossdale’s life & times, question if the band are in fact Day 1 for post-grunge and try to work out how this album sold 6x platinum in the US but barely …

Step back with the Personal Jukebox as we delve into the career and music of the somewhat iconic and definitely influential band INXS. This time we take a dive into the band's rise to fame, their early output, their chart-topping hits, and the tragic loss of their enigmatic frontman, Michael Hutchence by covering the band’s 2011 compilation album “…

July 2006 is the focus of our latest chart analysis episode and this time there’s a lot of people on trial for peddling their wares. Amongst those in the firing line include Lordi, Pink, Razorlight, Muse & The Lost Prophets…. all of your faves. We also discuss cold water therapy, Brit school kids & our co-host falls in love with Paolo Nutini whilst…

The Power Ballad. Loved by many (including our co-host on this ep) but labelled by others as a product of a bygone era. In the vast majority of cases these songs are characterised by emotional and heartfelt lyrics, powerful vocals, and a melodic and dramatic instrumental arrangement. Typically, power ballads feature a slow tempo, allowing the singe…

“Oh yeah” you may say, “I remember Travis, always asking why it was raining, telling us to turn/sing etc”. Well on this episode we focus on the band’s first album, released in late 1997 and spawning 4 top 40 singles, even if you didn’t realise at the time. We’ve mentioned before on the pod that Travis, alongside The Verve (and Embrace lol) were som…

Ning is back to takeover the Personal Jukebox alongside his JifnotCif brethren as they drill down the album ‘Juice’ by Send No Flowers.This was the 1996 debut & ended up as the only album put out by the British five-piece who really distilled their sound on this effort but information on the net in scarce. How good are the songs? Why didn’t the ban…

Ok, this episode is partly due to a listener suggestion following Sex Neil’s love of a big beat & a female vocal so this time we head into the self-titled debut album from Republica. Another record released in that sweet mid-to-late 90s slot that we love here on the Personal Jukebox. Surely EVERYBODY knows the twin big hits from this one but you ev…

Load is the sixth studio album by our old mates Metallica. Released in 1996, this album marked a significant departure from the band's thrash roots, erring way into hard rock, alternative and blues rock territory. With tracks like "Until It Sleeps", “Mama Said” & "Ronnie," Load showcases Metallica's new impetus of versatility and willingness to exp…

Dookie is the third studio album by the American punk rock band Green Day. Released in 1994, this album catapulted Green Day to mainstream success and is considered a cornerstone of the (pop?)punk rock genre. With its catchy melodies, energetic guitar riffs, and rebellious lyrics, Dookie resonated with a generation of youth looking for something a …

We blast off into 2024 with a killer episode focused around the Filthy 15. These are 15 songs that in 1985 were put forward in the US by the PMRC (The Parents Music Resource Centre, a collection set up initially by wives of ‘high-up’ folk in the United States) as the most objectionable and also featured the worst content imaginable to the group’s m…

For the final time this year we step into the Personal Jukebox to discuss The Fat Of The Land by The Prodigy.This album was released in summer 1997 but was preceded by 12 months of singles, hype, publicity (both positive and negative) and ballyhoo enabling The Prodigy to become one of the biggest acts around at the time. We discuss all aspects of t…

It’s a TAKEOVER! Live from Studio 2, Ning steps back into the driving seat of the Personal Jukebox and welcomes in Lee E alongside The Voice in the Background to have a cursory gander across the 1994 album Ill Communication by The Beastie Boys. They also muse over further releases by The Beasties and recount 1998’s Reading festival line-up. Do us a…

The Personal Jukebox belatedly returns! Angel Dust is Faith No More's fourth studio album, released in 1992. It's a genre-defying work that blends alternative rock, metal, and experimental elements. The album showcases the band's musical versatility, featuring unconventional song structures, eclectic instrumentation, and Mike Patton's distinctive v…

On this episode we delve into the rhythmic journey of the 2000s, exploring the sonic landscape shaped by the most downloaded and streamed songs worldwide. From chart-toppers to anthems that defined an era, Hip-Hop to Garage Rock, Alt mega hits to Pure Pop. Let’s hold hands together skip through the melodies that resonated across the globe during th…

Next up to be dissected inside the Personal Jukebox is Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt. With this record, first released in 1995 but not gaining mega popularity until early ‘97, No Doubt hit the big time. Blending ska, pop and punk with Gwen Stefani’s ‘one of the guys’ allure wrote the guys their ticket to a diamond selling disc. Question is… is the alb…

The Personal Jukebox is back with an all-timer episode! This pod we head back to March 1999, a time before sat navs, iPhones & Uber eats. A time where Manchester United were on their way to the treble whilst the noisy neighbours were scraping themselves out of English football’s third tier. A time musically, following Britpop’s fade out but before …

On this episode we cover 1984 by Van Halen. Released as the band’s sixth album, this became a multi seller in their native US shipping over 10 million to be certified diamond. It gave the band their only No.1 on the Billboard chart (guess what that was..) but also signified the end of Diamond Dave Lee Roth’s tenure working with Van Halens Eddie & A…

Following on from previous audience-splitting artists covered on the pod such as Nickelback and Avril Lavigne, this time we take in the second album put out by possibly the ultimate ‘Marmite’ band Coldplay. Released over 20 years ago, Chris Martin and his mates followed up their huge-selling debut by showcasing a more mature sound and cranking up t…

Our old mate Ning is back on the podcast with Simon as they bang on about a whole host of stuff including receiving emails from Motley Crüe, the British class divide, Radio 1 roadshows, green issues, & dad fishing. As if that’s not enough, Everything Must Go ( ) by the Manic Street Preachers is the focus of this episode. We cover the album in depth…

Super Neil returns with Simon to talk all things Limp Bizkit & their 4th album Results May Vary. Recorded at a time when Limp were up there with the big hitters, Fred was apparently rubbing shoulders with peak Britney Spears but minus talismanic guitarist Wes Borland and very definitely following the Nu-Metal boom. The album has been reviled and ri…

Simon and Gaz return to round out our 1980s vs 1990s metal band discussion. This time we put tracks by Exodus, Skid Row, Iron Maiden, Slayer & Poison up against Slipknot, Monster Magnet, Nine Inch Nails, Limp Bizkit & Rage Against The Machine. Which decade’s representatives will reign supreme? Will anybody care? Listen in & find out. Rate and revie…

Welcome back to the latest episode from the Personal Jukebox where this time we pit the finest metal tracks from the 1980s against their 1990s counterparts in a battle to the death where only one decade can reign supreme! Simon is joined by Gaz to pick over the latest album from Metallica, now that they've had a fair bit of time to listen. Then we …

Take our word for it, this episode is an absolute all-timer! Welcome back to the Personal Jukebox where this time, we tackle Only By The Night from Kings of that there Leon. The album was massively successful, spawning KOL’s highest profile singles & made them proper mainstream but is it REALLY any good? Hmmmmm… Simon gets Neil’s (belated, admitted…

Pearl Jam released their debut album in summer 1991 and immediately were flung into the burgeoning alternative/grunge music tidal wave even though on this album they don’t really bear the hallmarks of the Grunge ‘sound’. This is no ‘Grunge’ record. Carried on the collective back of stateside mega-hits Even Flow, Jeremy & Alive, Ten eventually outso…

Come listen to the latest podcast with some good ol’ boys. Released right slap-bang in the sweet spot 1996 heartland of the podcast, Odelay was Beck’s fifth (??!) album, yet most still really just knew him from 1994’s played on MTV all the time mega-hit ‘Loser’. Spurred on by not wanting to be a one hit wonder, Beck blended country, blues, rap, hip…

The UK chart in 1993 was a proper mixed bag. Whilst acts from the late eighties and big established stars were still putting out material, new artists from diverse ends of the music spectrum such as alternative, boy bands, emerging britpop and even the zeitgeist of the time, Ragga were all throwing their hats into the ring to prise money from young…

It’s a TAKEOVER! Ning steps into the driver’s seat and hooks up with Lez to look at the 1990 debut effort from The Quireboys, A bit of what you fancy. The album reviewed favourably at the time, reached top 2 on the UK album charts and led to the band playing to over 50,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome (5 stars from Meltzer) on New Years Eve. Ning and Lez…