What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About R.E.M.
A podcast about discographies. A different artist every season. Currently in Season 6! Join Adam, Steve, and Lucas, as they go album by album, track by track, to find out if context can change your experience of music, how people become obsessed with artists, and to ultimately answer the question 'what is music?' Expect in-depth analysis, tedious tangents, controversial music opinions, and an exhaustive attitude to context. Also expect to find out more about the artists (and the hosts) than anyone could ever want to know! Previous seasons have covered Manic Street Preachers, Muse, Billie Eilish, and Radiohead!
Episodes
244 episodes since 2020
New Adventures in Hi-Fi - Stereophonic on Film Commentary
The Big Mates combat audio issues to provide serene and chaotic audio commentary for New Adventures in Hi-Fi - Stereophonic on Film by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the electronic press kit, as produced in 1996 and ...
September 16, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 44
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1:27:17
New Adventures in Hi-Fi (Pt. 3)
The Big Mates discuss heart, fatigue, goodbyes, and New Adventures in Hi-Fi by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by concluding their analysis of the band's...
September 09, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 43
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1:20:54
New Adventures in Hi-Fi (Pt. 2)
The Big Mates discuss bank holiday weekends, live albums, Danny Boyle, and New Adventures in Hi-Fi by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by continuing their...
September 02, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 42
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1:29:13
New Adventures in Hi-Fi (Pt. 1)
The Big Mates discuss rodents, ticket prices, religious imagery, and New Adventures in Hi-Fi by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their analysi...
August 26, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 41
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1:39:49
Road Movie Commentary
The Big Mates provide breezy and subcutaneous audio commentary for Road Movie by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the live concert film that documented the band's final shows of their 1995 world tour. They also dive in...
August 19, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 40
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1:41:53
Monster (Pt. 2)
The Big Mates discuss Little Britain, Kurt Cobain, You, and Monster by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by continuing and concluding their analysis of the band...
August 12, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 39
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1:45:49
Monster (Pt. 1)
The Big Mates discuss fame, identity, balloons, and Monster by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their analysis of the band's ninth studio albu...
August 05, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 38
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1:57:16
R.E.M. Live at the 40 Watt Club 1992 Commentary
The Big Mates provide truthful and geographical audio commentary for R.E.M.'s performance at the 40 Watt Club in 1992.Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the performance as released on the band's official YouTube page.<...
July 29, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 37
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1:23:03
Automatic for the People (Pt. 3)
The Big Mates discuss death, memory, Emmerdale, and Automatic for the People by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by concluding their analysis of the band's eig...
July 22, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 36
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1:33:59
Automatic for the People (Pt. 2)
The Big Mates discuss record collecting, Andy Kaufman, the Monty Hall Problem, and Automatic for the People by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by continuing t...
July 15, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 35
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1:32:48
Automatic for the People (Pt. 1)
The Big Mates discuss straws, Uncle Tupelo, Frasier, and Automatic for the People by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their analysis of the band's ...
July 08, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 34
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1:56:04
R.E.M. MTV Unplugged 1991 Commentary
The Big Mates provide gentle and celebratory audio commentary for R.E.M.'s performance on MTV Unplugged in1991. Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the performance as originally broadcast on MTV.Dig out thos...
July 01, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 33
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59:22
Out of Time (Pt. 3)
The Big Mates discuss greetings, The Bear, spoken word, and Out of Time by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by wrapping up their analysis of the band's seventh...
June 24, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 32
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1:24:28
Out of Time (Pt. 2)
The Big Mates discuss illicit apples, ribs, Pearl Jam, and Out of Time by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their analysis of the band's seventh stu...
June 17, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 31
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1:36:54
Out of Time (Pt. 1)
The Big Mates discuss violins, harpsichords, flugelhorns, and Out of Time by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their analysis of the band's seventh ...
June 10, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 30
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1:20:52
Writing About R.E.M. with John Hunter
Adam sits down with author John Hunter to discuss his book, Maps and Legends: The Story of R.E.M..Adam and John chat about all things R.E.M., and explore why he wrote the book, what the book encompasses, and the challenges...
June 03, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 29
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1:38:14
Tourfilm Commentary
The Big Mates provide incendiary and probably life-changing audio commentary for Tourfilm, the first live video release by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the film as originally presented on VHS/Laserdisc compilation ...
May 26, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 28
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1:31:52
BONUS: Lifeblood 20 (with Greg Haver)
Adam and Steve discuss the recent reissue of Lifeblood by Manic Street Preachers, a comprehensive set, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the album.They are joined by music producer Greg Haver, who produced the ori...
May 24, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 28
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1:00:56
Green (Pt. 2)
The Big Mates discuss bass strings, 8 Mile, Amanda Lynne, and Green by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by concluding their analysis of the band's sixth studio...
May 20, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 27
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1:39:57
BREAKING NEWS: Billie Eilish - HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
BONG. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY NEWS BROADCAST. The Big Mates discuss the newly released album HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish. They give their first impressions and pick some standout tracks.Join the conversatio...
May 18, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 27
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43:23
Green (Pt. 1)
The Big Mates discuss naughty fishermen, floppy top half, Requiem for a Tuesday, and Green by R.E.M.Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of R.E.M. by starting their analysis of th...
May 13, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 26
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1:49:34
Strange Dance / Jarak Qaribak
The Big Mates discuss olive oil, Christmas, strings, and two side projects from members of Radiohead.Adam, Steve, and Lucas return to the subject of their fourth season in order to catch up the extra-curricular activities ...
May 06, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 25
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1:24:22
R.E.M. 1980 - 1987
The Big Mates slow it down and take a break to discuss ratings, rankings, creasy head holes, and the career of R.E.M. from 1980 - 1987.Adam, Steve, and Lucas talk about their feelings so far on the band, having covered the...
April 29, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 24
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2:43:06
R.E.M. Succumbs Commentary
The Big Mates provide mesmerising and entirely necessary audio commentary for Succumbs, the first video release by R.E.M. Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the VHS/Laserdisc compilation featuring music videos and films from 1...
April 22, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 23
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1:09:51