Music Reviews Episodes

E48 Rock Roundup: Teenage Wrist, Foo Fighters, Rob Zombie, & Serj Tankian
April 12, 2021

E48 Rock Roundup: Teenage Wrist, Foo Fighters, Rob Zombie, & Serj Tankian

It's time to catch up on some recent rock releases! We each came to the mic with a 2021 album that's impressed and tried to sell each other on its merits! Aaron's got Teenage Wrist 's Earth Is a Black Hole , KC brought Foo Fi...
E45 The Unknown Future of Chevelle
March 22, 2021

E45 The Unknown Future of Chevelle

In honor of Chevelle 's winding, space travel-themed new album NIRATIAS , The Itch presents its most unconventionally formatted episode yet! Join us to talk aliens, interludes, inspiration, and awful politicians! And once you...
E42 Death By Rock & Roll: The Pretty Reckless and Life at 27
March 1, 2021

E42 Death By Rock & Roll: The Pretty Reckless and Life at 27

Within a single year, Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless was faced with the deaths of both her rock hero and her musical muse. Her downward spiral and climb back from the brink led to Death By Rock and Roll , one of the fir...
Rock 'n' Rasslin' (Extended)
Feb. 8, 2021

Rock 'n' Rasslin' (Extended)

When Dan went on vacation last year, KC and Aaron found the perfect topic to talk about while their Itch brother was gone: Rock 'n' Rasslin' . In fact, we enjoyed ourselves so much that we had to cut the episode down to keep ...
E40 Season Finale: Top 20 Rock Albums of 2020 (Part 2)
Jan. 25, 2021

E40 Season Finale: Top 20 Rock Albums of 2020 (Part 2)

It's the season 1 finale of Rock Matters! The Itch is ready to reveal our top 10 albums of 2020, as well as the winners of the Itch Awards as voted on by you! We've loved creating this season and we thank you for being part o...
E39 Top 20 Rock Albums of 2020 (Part 1)
Jan. 18, 2021

E39 Top 20 Rock Albums of 2020 (Part 1)

The Itch has been building to this episode all season, and it's finally here! (Well, half of it.) We're counting down our top 20 rock albums of 2020, based on a collective vote. Find out who endorsed what (and who didn't) and...
E38 The Itch Awards: Celebrating the Best Rock of 2020
Jan. 11, 2021

E38 The Itch Awards: Celebrating the Best Rock of 2020

It's time! Since institutions like Pitchfork, the Grammys, and the even the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame struggle to define, much less always honor rock, The Itch has taken it upon ourselves to nominate artists for prestigeless...
E35 Rapid Fire Reviews: Nothing But Thieves, From Ashes to New, Local H, Saul
Dec. 21, 2020

E35 Rapid Fire Reviews: Nothing But Thieves, From Ashes to New, Local H, Saul

In this episode, The Itch catches up on some albums that we couldn't let slip through the cracks. Enjoy FOUR Flavors of the Week as we discuss Nothing But Thieves ' Moral Panic , From Ashes to New 's Panic , Local H 's Lifers...
E34 Building an Empire: Hollywood Undead Bookends the Year
Dec. 14, 2020

E34 Building an Empire: Hollywood Undead Bookends the Year

In this episode, The Itch discusses two 2020 releases from Hollywood Undead , a band that brought in the new year and is now seeing it out (thank goodness). Join us for a discussion about guest rappers, fun band member names,...
E32 Death of an Optimist: Grandson's Grand Debut
Nov. 30, 2020

E32 Death of an Optimist: Grandson's Grand Debut

In this episode, The Itch discusses Death of an Optimist , the upcoming debut album from grandson . We've been snacking on every grandson single, EP, and guest spot for the past few years, and now we're ready to feast on his ...
E28 Humored Condition: Black Stone Cherry and Music That Makes Us Happy
Nov. 9, 2020

E28 Humored Condition: Black Stone Cherry and Music That Makes Us Happy

In a bit of unintentional forward thinking, The Itch knew that, one way or another, people would need some happy music this week. So in this episode, we're checking out Black Stone Cherry 's new album The Human Condition and ...
E26 No Place Like Ohms: How Deftones Redeemed Themselves (and 2020)
Oct. 26, 2020

E26 No Place Like Ohms: How Deftones Redeemed Themselves (and 2020)

In this episode, The Itch dissects one of the most anticipated rock releases of the year: Deftones ' Ohms . Join us to discuss Stephen Carpenter's return to form, how a band can incorporate old sounds into new music, and a qu...
E24 10 Years and Counting: Multi-Instrumentalists and the Numbers Game
Oct. 12, 2020

E24 10 Years and Counting: Multi-Instrumentalists and the Numbers Game

In this episode, The Itch explores the new 10 Years album Violent Allies , touching on how bands can improve over time, the role of instrumental tracks in rock, and how sometimes one man can do it all. And since we love count...
E23 Top 20 Rock Albums of 2019 (Part 2)
Oct. 5, 2020

E23 Top 20 Rock Albums of 2019 (Part 2)

The Itch is back to wrap up our trip to 2019, when the world felt a little less crazy. In this episode, we'll count down our 10 favorite albums of the year. We've got pop punkers, nu metal vets, and even a bit of the blues. B...
E22 Top 20 Rock Albums of 2019 (Part 1)
Sept. 28, 2020

E22 Top 20 Rock Albums of 2019 (Part 1)

In this two-part episode, The Itch revisits our top rock albums from 2019. From veterans to up-and-comers, prog metal to reggae rock, and brooding angst to goofball weirdness, albums 20 through 11 should have something for ev...
E21 Can't Fight the Seether: Finding Inspiration in Anger
Sept. 21, 2020

E21 Can't Fight the Seether: Finding Inspiration in Anger

In this episode, The Itch discusses Seether 's new album Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum . Along the way, the conversation touches on big vs small concert venues, greatest hits albums, and an all-important question: who can cover T...
E20 Rock Like a Pirate: Alestorm and the Arrrt of Commitment
Sept. 14, 2020

E20 Rock Like a Pirate: Alestorm and the Arrrt of Commitment

In this episode, The Itch prepares for Talk Like a Pirate Day by inviting an old friend to discuss Alestorm 's latest release , Curse of the Crystal Coconut ! Along the way, we discover other pirate metal bands, concoct a sur...
E19 Rock 'n' Rasslin': Code Orange and the Best Wrestling Theme Songs
Sept. 7, 2020

E19 Rock 'n' Rasslin': Code Orange and the Best Wrestling Theme Songs

In this episode, two-thirds of The Itch discuss Underneath , the breakout album from Code Orange , and take a trip through wrestling history to identify some of its the most memorable rock theme songs! And since it's only 67%...
E18 Going for Broke: The Growth and Graduation of (Hed) P.E.
Aug. 31, 2020

E18 Going for Broke: The Growth and Graduation of (Hed) P.E.

In this episode, The Itch discusses the ups and downs in the career of G-punkers (Hed) P.E. , from their breakthrough album Broke to their new (and final?) release, Class of 2020 . Join us to decipher the meanings behind thei...
E17 Kingdom Come: Bush, Good Production, and the Ghost in the Machine
Aug. 24, 2020

E17 Kingdom Come: Bush, Good Production, and the Ghost in the Machine

In this episode, The Itch reviews Bush 's new album The Kingdom . Along the way they focus on the role of production in molding an album, and how not all of Gavin Rossdale's guest appearances were good ideas! Plus, Dan's disd...
E15 Regeneration X: Static-X and the Rebirth of Evil Disco
Aug. 10, 2020

E15 Regeneration X: Static-X and the Rebirth of Evil Disco

In this episode, The Itch reviews Project Regeneration, Vol. 1 , the new album from a reincarnated (or possibly reanimated?) Static-X . Along the way they discuss the complicated nature of band harmony, a slew of exciting upc...
E14 HU's the Boss: The Gereg, Guest Stars, and the Language of Music
Aug. 3, 2020

E14 HU's the Boss: The Gereg, Guest Stars, and the Language of Music

In this episode, The Itch reviews the new deluxe edition of The HU 's debut album The Gereg . Along the way they touch on communicating through language barriers, choosing good collaborators, and how quarantine and Mulan don'...
E13 Only in Darkness: Stitched Up Heart and 2020's Top Rock Releases
July 27, 2020

E13 Only in Darkness: Stitched Up Heart and 2020's Top Rock Releases

In this episode, The Itch checks in on some of 2020's top rock releases to date and reviews Stitched Up Heart 's album Darkness . As a bonus, enjoy this adorable supergroup photo of The Itch with Stitched Up Heart (aka Itched...
E12 Making Amends: The Light and Legacy of Chester Bennington
July 20, 2020

E12 Making Amends: The Light and Legacy of Chester Bennington

It's been three years since the world lost Chester Bennington . In this episode, The Itch reflects on his legacy, new music from his former bandmates Grey Daze and Mike Shinoda , and the future of Linkin Park . Check out this...