Long Live the Music

What better time than now to start listening to the 1001 Albums to Listen to Before You Die? That's the journey that Nadia Alves has taken up, and she joins Kiel Hauck on the pod to break down the experience so far. The two discuss the entire process from end-to-end and how one manages to tackle a project this significant. They also chat about what band is in the current frontrunner for the Most Important Rock Band of the 2020s and break down their favorite releases so far in 2026. Take a listen - and start your own 1001 Albums Challenge here: https://1001albumsgenerator.com/

A lot of great music has been released since we launched our site back in 2013. So we compiled our favorite albums over the past 13 years and crammed them into a bracket to decide which album reins supreme! Kiel Hauck is joined by Nadia Alves and old friend Kyle Schultz to break down each match-up on the bracket and argue their way to champion. Go to itsalldead.com to download your own bracket and follow along!

And we're back! On the latest episode of Long Live the Music, Kiel Hauck and Nadia Alves catch-up to round off the year in music for 2025, discussing their top albums, songs, and moments. They then take a look at the year ahead and discuss some of their most anticipated releases for 2026 - both those that we know of and those that have yet to be announced. They also discuss MORE new music from Hayley Williams, take a look back at the Grammys, and more. Take a listen!

Anyone out there able to get tickets to Hayley Williams Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party Tour? We sure weren't. On our latest episode, Kiel Hauck and Nadia Alves lament the impossibility of securing tickets to next spring's biggest tour, while discussing the general frustration of fans who find it harder and harder to get access to their favorite artists' shows. They also share about their respective processes to prep for end of the year lists and how they go about choosing their best albums and songs. Take a listen!

Are Twenty One Pilots the biggest rock band in the world right now? Maybe not, but it's certainly up for debate after the release of their first #1 album Breach. Kiel Hauck is joined by Twenty One Pilots superfan Nadia Alves to break down the closing of a chapter for the band, and perhaps the opening of an exciting new one. Kiel and Nadia also share some of their favorite albums of the year so far as we head into autumn, including a lengthy chat on Hayley Williams' Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party. Listen in!

Did you hear? Some really good music just dropped! Evan Sawdey of PopMatters and Yardbarker joins Kiel Hauck to discuss fantastic new albums from Kesha and Clipse. First, they dig into the new Kesha album . (Period) and discuss this exciting third act of her career. They also do a deep dive on Kesha's discography and rank the albums before sharing some of her best songs. Then they dive into Let God Sort Em Out, the first new album from Clipse in over a decade. Is it the best hip hop album of the year so far? And is this what hip hop looks like at 50? Take a listen!

Well, we're back with another zany topic for a podcast! Kiel Hauck is joined by Nadia Alves to check back in on some of the best new music that's dropped so far this summer and share anticipation for some music that's on the way (including a new album from Twenty One Pilots). Then they discuss some of the best songs from albums that were inexplicably never released as singles and how certain changes to single choices could have single-handedly changed the trajectory of specific bands and albums. Take a listen!

The month of March brought a tidal wave of new metalcore albums from some of the genre's best bands. Kiel Hauck and Nadia Alves break it all down, diving into new albums from Architects, Spiritbox, and Underoath. They debate which album rose to the top and how each album fits into each respective band's discography. Take a listen as they do a deep dive on The Sky, The Earth & All Between, Tsunami Sea, and The Place After This One.

We're just a week away from Tsunami Sea, the new album from Canadian metalcore act Spiritbox. Kiel Hauck and Nadia Alves hop on the pod to share their early impressions of the new singles and the band's new aesthetic, as well as discuss their rise to stardom in the metal world. They also break down vocalist Courtney LaPlante's recent meme-worthy moment on the Grammy's red carpet and she has come to be an icon of sorts. Listen in!

Another year is in the books so Kiel Hauck and Nadia Alves hopped on the pod to break it all down, including their best albums and songs of the year and much more. They also took some time to discuss the music they discovered in 2024 that wasn't necessarily new, but still impacted them nonetheless. Take a listen!

We're back (again)! Kiel Hauck recently made the trip to Las Vegas for When We Were Young 2024. He's joined by Nadia Alves to recap the weekend and the discuss the evolution of the festival and its impact on the scene. They then dive into the return of Vans Warped Tour and all of the complicated feelings that come with it. Do we even need Warped Tour at this point, or has the scene found new ways to create safe and satisfying gathering spaces? Listen in!

He's baaaaAAAAck. Popmatters' Evan Sawdey joins the pod to chat with Kiel about the recent publication of Paste's list of the 300 Greatest Albums and Apple Music's 100 Best Albums. After a breakdown of the lists themselves, Evan and Kiel dig into the concept of these kinds of lists - why we need them and why the evolution of what they represent is important. Next, they examine the possibility of Taylor Swift Fatigue, the rapid rise of Chappell Roan, and make their best bets on 2024's Song of the Summer. Listen in!

Oh baby. The summer music season is in full swing, and Nadia and Kiel are both addicted to different albums. On this episode of the pod, Nadia shares her affinity for Clancy, the new album from Twenty One Pilots, while Kiel breaks down POST HUMAN: NeX GEn, the latest from Bring Me the Horizon. In addition to deep dives on both albums, the duo each rank the releases from each band and share their top 10 songs from both groups. This is a wild one folks - buckle up!

On the latest episode of Long Live the Music, Kiel Hauck and Nadia Alves jump in the scene time machine to travel back to the heyday of Tooth & Nail Records, when the label was pumping out one hot new band after another. But for every Underoath, Emery, and Anberlin, there were bands who, for whatever reason, just never made the big splash we thought they would. Kiel and Nadia recount some of the label's best bands that never took off and examine what may have been the reason. The discussion includes bands like Jonezetta, Waking Ashland, Run Kid Run, Secret & Whisper, and much more. Listen in!

Uh oh, we made a bracket of Spiritbox songs like they were basketball teams and then debated which songs would win in each matchup. That's our bad. But not really, cuz this was a blast. Kiel Hauck and Nadia Alves argue and debate the merits of almost every Spiritbox song to date as they work their way down to the Final Four and eventual champion. If you're a Spiritbox fan, this is a must listen. You can check out our bracket at www.itsalldead.com. Take a listen and join in!

Hey! Spring is kinda sorta almost here! Kiel Hauck is joined by Nadia Alves to discuss the early tracks from 2024 that have them the most excited for the year ahead. They then dive into some of their favorite tracks and albums that help them make the mental shift from winter to spring and define what it is about certain music that just makes you wanna roll down the windows and frolic through the flowers or whatever. Anyway, check it out!

10 years ago, we had the crazy idea to start a music website and podcast to talk about music on our own terms - how it made us feel, how we believed in its power to speak to us and its ability to build community. And here we are a decade later, still rolling. Kiel Hauck is joined by Kyle Schultz to look back on the past 10 years and discuss some of their favorite moments covering the bands they love and discuss how the music scene has evolved since 2013. They also spend some time breaking down One More Time, the new album from blink-182. Take a listen!

Taylor Swift has been at the epicenter of the pop culture zeitgeist for the entirety of the year (and more) and it appears that things won't be slowing down any time soon. Kiel Hauck welcomed Evan Sawdey of PopMatters and Yardbarker to the podcast to talk about Swift's growth from singer/songwriter to music business mogul and how she continues to evolve in ways that push the boundaries of what we've seen from a mega pop star. During the conversation, they seek to pinpoint key moments that have led to the ungodly success of the Eras Tour and discuss what comes next - namely, how long can Taylor ride these heights of fame? Listen in!

We're back, baby! On our return episode of Long Live the Music, Kiel Hauck is joined by Nadia Alves to discuss a wild summer of concert fun, including tours from Fall Out Boy, Jonas Brothers, Yellowcard, Sad Summer Festival, and Nickelback. Um yeah, you read that correctly. The two discuss whether 2023 marks the full return of the concert experience post-pandemic and how setlists and shows have evolved in recent years. Then they break down a full fall slate of fall tours, including The Wonder Years, Bad Omens, Sleep Token, The Used, and much, much more. Listen in!

Hey, have you heard about this band Bad Omens? They're kinda blowing up. Nadia Alves joins Kiel Hauck to discuss the band's rise to fame in the past year since the release of their third album, The Death of Peace of Mind. They break down how TikTok helped elevate the band to a new level, powered by the sudden and unexpected grassroots success of their song "Just Pretend". They also discuss how the internet has evolved over the years in terms of how we discover new music and how bands can find surprise success in the most unlikely of ways. They also gush over how great Bad Omens is and rank some of their favorite songs. Whatevz. Listen in!

The new album from Fall Out Boy has arrived and there's plenty to discuss! Nadia Alves joins Kiel Hauck to break down the band's latest release, So Much (for) Stardust, and discuss how it measures up to the band's best work - both pre- and post-hiatus. The duo also share their favorite Pete Wentz one-liners, their thoughts on the return of Neal Avron as producer, and dig into some of the best songs on the record. Finally, Nadia and Kiel hold a Fall Out Boy album draft and have their respective teams of FOB albums face off in a battle to the death! Okay, it's not that serious, but it is silly and fun. Listen in!

After nearly six long years, Paramore have returned with This is Why, an incredible album that challenges notions of the band's past sonic identity while sounding distinctly in tone like the band we all love. Nadia Alves joins Kiel Hauck to discuss their reactions to the new album and break down some of the standout moments. The duo also discuss "the moment" that Paramore seems to be owning, how crazy it is that the band is thriving in 2023, and what we might expect in the future from the Franklin, Tennesse, trio. Take a listen!

Yesterday was a big day. Fall Out Boy made their triumphant return with a new single, "Love From the Other Side", and the announcement of a new album dropping March 24: So Much (For) Stardust. Nadia Alves joins Kiel Hauck to break down the new song and speculate about the direction the new album might take. They also discuss the breaking news about Joe Trohman stepping away from the band, the general pop culture consensus on the band, and re-rank all of the Fall Out Boy albums. Take a listen!

This year's When We Were Young Festival is officially in the books - and there is no shortage of things to discuss. Kiel Hauck is joined by fellow festival-goer Chris Waflart to break down their trip to Las Vegas for the first weekend of the festival. The two discuss the surprising cancellation of day one (and the unbelievable windstorm that was responsible), the emo vibe in Las Vegas, and the excitement leading up to the festival. They also walk through the entire day - from entry to the grounds to the final headlining sets of the night from Paramore and My Chemical Romance. Take a listen to hear the ins and outs of When We Were Young 2022!

It's official: Tom Delonge is back in blink-182 - again! Here's what we know: Tom is in and Matt Skiba is out. The band will embark on a world tour in 2023-24. There is a new song coming Friday and a new album to follow. Kiel Hauck is joined by Kyle Schultz to break down the news and speculate on what's to follow. The two share their thoughts on the end of the Matt Skiba era, the return of Tom in 2022 vs. the return of Tom in 2008, and where the band's legacy stands today and where things could go from here. One thing's for certain: new blink music is on the way, and that's a good thing. Take a listen!

You may have heard, but a new Taylor Swift album is coming - and fast! Swift announced her new album MIdnights at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards last weekend. Before the album drops on October 21st, Kiel Hauck and Nadia Alves hopped on the podcast to break it all down. Kiel and Nadia discuss the surprise announcement, the fascinating album concept, and what we might expect from this very unexpected release. Take a listen!

We're back! And so are some of our favorite bands! Since we've been gone, Anberlin returned with a new EP titled Silverline, their first new music release in eight years. Nadia Alves joins Kiel Hauck to break down the release and why it feels so surreal to have Anberlin back in our lives. Then the two discuss the upcoming return of Paramore. We know there's a new album coming, but we don't know when. We actually don't know much, at all. But Kiel and Nadia read the tea leaves and speculate about what could be a monumental moment for Hayley Williams and company. Take a listen!

Friday marked the release of Rub Some Dirt On It, the 9th studio album from Emery. Vocalist and bassist Devin Shelton joined Kiel Hauck on the show to talk about the new album and explain how the band's creative process has evolved over the years. Shelton also discusses the band's unique history and trajectory, and how their experiences early in their career set them up for a second act that has involved much more than just making music. Devin also talks scene nostalgia, playing shows post-pandemic, and this summer's upcoming Labeled Fest. Take a listen!

Friday marks the release of Heal My Head, the new album from Massachusetts alt rock trio Valleyheart. Vocalist and guitarist Kevin Klein joined us on the show to chat with our own Nadia Alves about the band's sonic progression on this new record and what inspired them to explore new territory. Klein also shares about his songwriting process and how exploring past trauma allowed himself and the band to tap into new and powerful stories that serve as the heartbeat of Heal My Head. Take a listen, and then go snag the album on Friday!

There was a moment in time, not so long ago, when Katy Perry was not only the biggest pop star on the planet, but one of the biggest pop stars of all time. Kiel Hauck is joined by Nadia Alves as they look back on the illustrious and unexpected career of Katy Perry - from unknown Christian artist to everyone's favorite "bad" girl. The duo discuss the impact of Teenage Dream on pop music at large and debate whether the album is actually her best (spoiler alert: it's not). They also rank every Katy Perry studio album and list their top 10 Katy Perry songs. Listen in!

Remember that time where Scott Pilgrim wanted to date Ramona Flowers, but first he had to defeat her seven deadly exes? Wild stuff. Anyway, we decided to come up with the seven albums you would have to listen to in order to date us. Kiel Hauck is joined by Kyle Schultz and Nadia Alves as they list the seven albums that define their journey, showcase their taste, and tell their story. It's an admittedly weird exercise, but it sure was fun! Listen in.Special thanks to alissaaamay for the inspiration!

Ah yes. The sun is shining. The flowers are blooming. The birds are chirping. Time to roll down the windows and blast some of our favorite music to celebrate the season. On this episode of Long Live the Music, Kiel Hauck is joined by Kyle Schultz and Nadia Alves to discuss the traits that make for the perfect spring album. They then break down their favorite albums to celebrate springtime and talk about why those albums resonate so well this time of year. They also discuss some great new releases, including the new album from Dashboard Confessional. Listen in!

It's been 10 years since fun. released Some Nights, which vaulted the band into stardom when hit single "We Are Young" took over the charts in 2012. On this episode of Long Live the Music, Kiel Hauck is joined by MTV News writer Sam Manzella to look back on the album, the impact it made during a transitional moment in popular music, and the quasi-fallout of the band that resulted in very divergent paths for both Jack Antonoff and Nate Ruess. The two also discuss Antonoff's impact on pop music in the years since the album's release and the chances of a fun. reunion ever taking place. Take a listen!You can read Sam's MTV News retrospective feature on Some Nights here: https://www.mtv.com/news/3184017/fun-we-are-young-new-retro/

On this episode of Long Live the Music, Kiel Hauck is joined by fellow music journalist Evan Sawdey of PopMatters and Yardbarker to discuss a recent article titled, "The Definitive Ranking of Every Visual Album." Sawdey shares the genesis of the piece and the qualifications used to define what a visual album actually is. Evan also breaks down the key elements of a great visual album and what it looked like to consume and then rank each piece of work. Kiel and Evan also dive into several visual albums on the list, including those from Beyonce, Justin Bieber, Fall Out Boy, Kanye West, Halsey and much more. Take a listen!Check out Evan's article here: https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/the_definitive_ranking_of_every_visual_album/s1__37140956

Last week, we were gifted with the festival lineup of every scene kid's dreams. When We Were Young Festival, taking place over two days in October at the Los Vegas Festival Grounds, features a lineup so stacked that it's hard to comprehend. Kyle Schultz and Nadia Alves join Kiel Hauck to breakdown the full lineup and talk through the logistics of what will undeniably be an insane weekend. They also share their short list of "must see bands," discuss some acts that got left off the bill, and debate the potential drawbacks of the weekend. Take a listen!

A new year is here, which means that another 12 months of new music is on its way. Kiel Hauck is joined by Kyle Schultz and Nadia Alves as they look forward to some of their most anticipated albums and events of 2022. But before diving into what's on their wish list, they look back on 2021, discussing some of their favorite albums and a few albums and artists that may have been overlooked. Listen in - and then tell us your most anticipated albums of 2022!

It's been a week since Taylor Swift blessed us with Red (Taylor's Version). And we have thoughts! Kiel Hauck is joined by fellow It's All Dead-ians Kyle Schultz and Nadia Alves to delve into the nooks and crannies of all 30 tracks of this new release. They share takes on the best and most interesting re-recorded songs and weigh in some of the best "From the Vault" tracks that round out the album. Is the 10-minute version of "All Too Well" better than the original? Are there still easter eggs within the album that have yet to be uncovered by Swiftie Sleuths? Who had the best guest appearance on the album? And what album is coming next? All of these questions (and more) are addressed - listen in!

Wildwood Flower: Stories of Women who Built Country Music is back for Season 2!Intro episode will drop on October 1st! Available on all platforms.To find out more about the podcast, listen to the introductory episode here.Subscribe and follow on Instagram at wildwoodflowerpod to stay updated on new episodes and special announcements.

Kacey Musgraves recently returned with a new album, Star-Crossed, which explores her divorce from Ruston Kelly. As it turns out, there's a long history of albums reckoning with the fallout of divorce and they all share some very common threads. Area Code Network's own Richard Clark joins Kiel Hauck on the podcast to discuss the anatomy of a great divorce album and how the concept has evolved over the decades. They also break down the highs and lows of Star-Crossed and how the album stacks up to other recently released albums that explore the concept of leaving (Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish). Take a listen!

Woah! What a new music Friday we just had. Highlighting the release schedule were Halsey's If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power and CHVRCHES' Screen Violence. Kiel Hauck hops on the mic to break down his thoughts on both new albums, keying in on the artistic evolution of Halsey and their journey as one of the most important pop-adjacent artists of the past decade and how CHVRCHES rebounded from their major label debut to re-discover themselves in unexpected ways. Take a listen!

Have you heard? Live music is happening at a venue near you! Our very own Kyle Schultz recently found himself at such an event, and it was a big one. Kyle joins Kiel Hauck to talk about his experience at the recent Chicago stop of the Hella Mega Tour. Kyle shares the general vibe and experience of attending a concert again and gives his full breakdown of the mammoth-sized tour, including standout songs and performances. Who brought the house down the most: Weezer, Fall Out Boy, or Green Day? Take a listen and find out!

What songs do you listen to when you switch Spotify to private mode? We all do it. So let's talk about it! Kiel Hauck is joined by Nadia Alves and Kyle Schultz to share their deepest, darkest music secrets. The songs we love that we don't tell our friends about. The songs that move us that we don't share with the world. And why they mean so much to us. So what are some of our favorite "bad" songs? Take a listen and find out!

Music podcaster extraordinaire Cole Cuchna just wrapped up season 8 of the wildly successful Dissect Podcast and also recently launched Key Notes - an interactive music show that combines full songs with original musical and lyrical analysis. Cole joined Kiel Hauck on Long Live the Music to discuss the complexity of Yeezus and how he approached the album for Dissect. Cole also talks about why some music gives us chills and what it is about Olivia Rodrigo's smash hit "Driver's License" that checks all of the neurological boxes. They also discuss a new generation's fascination with the alternative, guitar-driven music of the 90s and what might come next in the evolution of popular music as a whole. Take a listen!

Welcome back to the Area Code neighborhood: Feel For the Game. Nick and Noah return with a series of (mainly basketball) conversations about nostalgic moments in NBA history, current issues plaguing the league, how coping and mental health play a role in sports, and more.Tune-in as they unprofessionally, but sincerely explore why sports are bigger than just the score of the game. Subscribe now, and follow along to find out how many times Noah makes an unwarranted Kansas Jayhawks basketball reference.Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feelforthegamepod/✌️

The year is half over. How is it possible? Only scientists can explain. But we'll use the opportunity to break down some of the best music that's been released so far this year. Kiel Hauck kicks things off by sharing summertime Warped Tour memories and discussing the return of live music. With tours being announced left and right, we're all making big decisions about when, where, and how we return to concert settings. Then Kiel shares some words about some of the albums that have been impacting the Long Live the Music crew so far in 2021, from Architects to Olivia Rodrigo to J. Cole and more. Listen in!

It's been 10 years since The Wonder Years staked their claim as the flagship band of the 2010's pop punk revival. Suburbia I've Given You All and Now I'm Nothing is officially a decade old but still just as powerful and impactful as the day it was released. Kiel Hauck is joined by Kyle Schultz to discuss their memories of the album's release and how it took the scene by storm. During the discussion, they break down some of the album's best tracks and a few of Dan "Soupy" Campbell's best lines. They also debate where the album stands among the best pop punk releases of all time. Take a listen!

We're back, baby! Brock Benefiel makes his triumphant return to the podcast to discuss everything that went down in the world of hip hop in 2011. Brock and Kiel break down the year's avalanche of debuts (Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Childish Gambino, Mac Miller, etc.) and take a look at the albums that defined the year (Drake, Jay-Z and Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, etc.). They also talk about the changing landscape of hip hop in 2011 and how the genre was about to evolve in more ways than we could have imagined. Finally, they hand out the 2011 Hip Hop Title Belt. Who won? Listen in to find out!

Welcome the newest resident to the Area Code neighborhood:Wildwood Flower: Stories of Women who Built Country Music. Season 1 premiering on June 4th! Available on all platforms.To find out more about the podcast, listen to the introductory episode here.Subscribe and follow on Instagram at wildwoodflowerpod to stay updated on new episodes and special announcements.

Thought we were done talking MxPx? Think again! Mike Herrera stopped by the podcast to talk with Kiel Hauck about the band's current livestream series, Between This World and the Next, and how the band has stayed innovative when it comes to connecting with their fans. Mike also reflects on the upcoming 30th anniversary of MxPx and shares about the experience of exploring the band's deep catalogue across their recent livestream setlists. Finally, he discusses the ebbs and flows of fan response to the band's music over the years and the prospect of a new MxPx album. Take a listen!

This one has been a long time coming, folks. We welcome Jason Tate, founder of Chorus.fm, to the podcast to talk all things MxPx. Jason and Kiel Hauck break down the band's history and legacy before diving into an extensive ranking of the band's 10 studio albums. They also discuss the biggest "What if?" in the band's career, their favorite MxPx concert memories, and why the band is still so vital and relevant almost three decades into their career.It's safe to say that It's All Dead and this podcast wouldn't exist without MxPx and the impact they've made on the scene. We had an absolute blast diving into the band's legacy and discography and we hope you enjoy this (rather long!) episode. Long Live Left Coast Punk Rawk.