Noise Floor

Death Cab For Cutie spent the pandemic lockdown writing exquisite corpse-style and whittled ninety song ideas down into 2022's Asphalt Meadows. It's an album that surprises at every turn, and this week we discuss everything from Ben Gibbard tackling isolation and aging to Troy's least favorite Death Cab song and the acoustic reimagining of the full album. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF094

This week we're covering Death Cab For Cutie's Thank You For Today, the band's ode to middle age and Seattle. There's a lot to talk about in this era of Death Cab, from the process of writing with new band members Zac Rae and Dave Depper to the atmospheric production style to the knockout closing track. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF093

Our Death Cab For Cutie series continues this week with 2015's Kintsugi, as we break down their first time working with an outside producer, guitarist Chris Walla's departure from the band, and role of divorce and Los Angeles in Ben Gibbard's writing. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF092

This week we're covering Death Cab For Cutie's Codes and Keys, an experiment in minimal lyricism and making rock music without focusing on guitars, as well as the band's least fondly remembered era. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF091

This week we're joined by Broken Left Foot frontman Blake Correll to discuss Narrow Stairs, Death Cab For Cutie's dark and adventurous follow-up to Plans. With two of us fresh from a trip to see the band in Milwaukee, we cover Ben Gibbard's Kerouac-inspired lyrics, Chris Walla's hands-off approach to the production, and much more. Broken Left Foot on Bandcamp Blake's work on Northern Transmissions Like What You Like Open Windows: The Making of Narrow Stairs "The Meaning of Life" - Ben Gibbard's Paste essay on writing Narrow Stairs Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF090

Plans was Death Cab For Cutie's major label debut and remains their most enduring mainstream success. This week, we discuss the production process at the legendary Long View Farm studio, Ben Gibbard's heart-wrenching lyrics about love and death, and the album's impact on our lives to this day. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF089

We're back to Death Cab For Cutie this week, digging into their momentous, genre-defining album, Transatlanticism. We discuss the themes of distance and longing, the songs that remain playlist staples to this day, and try not to spoil too much of our upcoming Give Up episode. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF088

We're taking a break from Death Cab For Cutie to recap our favorite albums of the first half of 2026 and look forward to the rest of the year. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF087

Our Death Cab For Cutie series continues this week with The Photo Album. Released in 2001, it serves as the transition point between the early days and the massive success that would follow. We get into the rushed production, the TV show placements, and how we both might have liked this album even more had we heard it in high school. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF086

This week we're discussing Death Cab For Cutie's We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes, a document of post-college life and an "interstitial" time in the band's career. We cover everything from the long process of recording the album at their parents' houses to changing drummers to the follow-up Forbidden Love EP. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF085

This week we're getting into Death Cab For Cutie's Something About Airplanes, their first proper album, their first release on Barsuk Records, and the beginning of their time as a full band. We cover how the highlights from You Can Play These Songs With Chords evolved, vocalist Ben Gibbard's reflections on the album, and more. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF084

Our series on Death Cab For Cutie begins this week with their demo album, You Can Play These Songs With Chords, as we explore the early days of the Pacific Northwest emo pioneers and how their scrappy, self-produced debut formed the foundation of a decades-long career. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF083

This week we're tackling a legendary single-album discography: Operation Ivy. We break down the enduring legacy of Energy, the band's place in punk and ska history, and touch on the EPs and bootlegs, from the pioneering Hectic to the unlistenable Ramones EP. Pick it up! Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF082

Our Mitski series concludes a discussion of her new album, Nothing's About To Happen To Me, from the exploration of a house as a metaphor for the mind to the influence of touring band from The Land on the record's sonic direction. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF081

This week we're joined by Allison Parssi for a discussion of The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, Mitski's 2023 foray into country and Americana and the source of her massive viral hit, "My Love Mine All Mine." We talk about the album's relationship to memory, its nighttime vibes, and the accompanying tour and concert film. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF080

Next up in our Mitski series is Laurel Hell, Mitski's sixth album and her return after a brief hiatus from music in late 2019. We discuss the synth-driven arrangements, how it builds on the success of Be the Cowboy, and its themes of transformation and vulnerability. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF079

We're joined by our friend Emily Csuy this week to discuss Be the Cowboy, Mitski's biggest album to date. We cover everything from our initial reactions (and how the album has grown with us over the years) to the surreal "Nobody" music video to the stunning, cinematic closing track. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF078

Our Mitski series continues this week with Puberty 2, her true breakout album and another visceral exploration of the balance of happiness and sadness. We talk through the songs, including the arguably perfect "Your Best American Girl," and our experiences seeing Mitski shows in the Puberty 2 era. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF077

This week we dig into Mitski's third album, Bury Me At Makeout Creek, and how exhaustion, picking up guitar, and a shift towards playing live informed the production of this modern indie classic. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF076

Mitski's second album, Retired From Sad, New Career In Business, expands on the foundations of Lush with a full orchestra, an accompanying visual album, and even more visceral, emotional songwriting. On this episode, we talk through the songs, the legacy of the album, and the feeling of being on the cusp of life after college. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF075

This week we're beginning a new series on Mitski with Lush, the first of two records made while the singer-songwriter was still in college. We get into the varied approaches to writing and arrangement, similarities to other "figuring it out" albums we've covered, and much more. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF074

DuJour means podcast! We're trying something a little different this week and digging into the soundtrack to the 2001 film Josie and the Pussycats. Produced by Babyface and Adam Schlesinger and featuring vocals by Kay Hanley, it's a treasure trove of power pop bangers. Heads up: We also discuss the movie with some spoilers. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF073

Our Janelle Monáe series comes to a close with The Age of Pleasure. We discuss the album's reggae influence, themes of sex and liberation, and the arc of Monáe's exciting career so far. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF072

We're joined by our friend Jenna Stworzyjanek to discuss Dirty Computer, Janelle Monáe's most personal album yet. We go through the record's sonic evolution, the incisive lyrics, and the companion movie and short story collection. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF071

Our Janelle Monáe series continues with The Electric Lady, suites IV and V of the Metropolis saga and a prequel to The ArchAndroid. With features from the likes of Prince and Miguel, The Electric Lady further refines Monáe's vision of what her music can be, and we're along for every step. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF070

On her proper debut album, The ArchAndroid, Janelle Monáe explores genres from rap to folk to psychedelic funk in a sprawling pair of suites that form the core of her Metropolis saga. Join us as we dig into the songs, the fiction, and Monáe's development as an artist from her early days to her first hits. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF069

This week we begin a new series on the albums of Janelle Monáe, starting with her demo album, The Audition. We explore every genre twist and turn on this accomplished but long out of print debut before jumping into Monáe's sci-fi world-building on Metropolis: The Chase Suite. The Audition on Archive.org Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF068

The Format is back after 20 years with Boycott Heaven, one of the most exciting new releases in years. Join us as we dive into our favorite songs, the band's turn to guitar-centric rock and roll, and rank the Nate Ruess discography. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF067

After the incredible success of Some Nights and the subsequent dissolution of Fun., Nate Ruess returned with his first and only solo album, Grand Romantic. This week, we're breaking down this least celebrated chapter of Ruess's career and the album's place as both a continuation and rejection of his past work. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF066

Nate Ruess's career hit its commercial apex in 2012 with Fun.'s second album, Some Nights. We're joined by City Mouth vocalist Matt Pow for wide-ranging discussion of the mega hits, the influence of its fusion of pop and hip-hop production, and what Fun. meant (and still means) to us. City Mouth on Bandcamp Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF065

The Fun. section of our Nate Ruess series starts today with Aim and Ignite, and we're joined by Violet Crime vocalist Jeff Mills for an enthusiastic discussion of the evolution from The Format to Fun., songs that make us cry ("The Gambler," of course), and everything else about this five star masterpiece of an album. Jeff Mills on TikTok and Instagram Violet Crime on Apple Music Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF064

The Format's sophomore album, Dog Problems, is a triumph in every way, from its expansive pop songwriting to an independent release that defied expectations. This week, we discuss the album's concept and songs, our favorite B-sides, and the legacy of Dog Problems 20 years later. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF063

New year, new series! We're kicking off 2026 with a deep dive into the career of Nate Ruess, starting with The Format's debut album, Interventions and Lullabies. Also discussed: EP, B-sides, and how every song on this album might have the best chorus ever written. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF062

The year is just about over, so it's time for some lists! We're counting down our top ten albums of 2025, talking about the year, and looking forward to what's next. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF061

It's a snowy midwest winter, and we're closing the loop (the wreath?) on our Bright Eyes series with A Christmas Album, released in 2002 as a benefit for the Nebraska AIDS Project. Also, Troy tried to rank the entire Conor Oberst catalogue, and we manifested something awesome. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF060

Our sub-series on Conor Oberst's collaborative side projects concludes this week with Better Oblivion Community Center, which finds Oberst teaming up with Phoebe Bridgers. We talk about the songs, the marketing campaign, and the album's place in their respective careers. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF059

In the mid-aughts, Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis teamed up with Jim James of My Morning Jacket and M. Ward to form the supergroup Monsters of Folk. On this episode, we dive into their lone self-titled album, their collaborative process, and the band's place in the Bright Eyes mythos. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF058

We've come to the end of the Bright Eyes discography with 2024's Five Dice, All Threes. Join us as we dig into the raw, back to basics production approach, contributions from Alex Orange Drink and others, and the album's exploration of chance and fate. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF057

Bright Eyes formally ended an eight-year hiatus with 2020's Down In the Weeds, Where the World Once Was, the band's most grandiose, orchestrated album yet. On this episode, we cover the tribulations that led up to the band's reformation, expanding the Bright Eyes fold with players like Flea and Jon Theodore, and how processing tragedy informs this group of songs. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF056

After a busy few years of solo albums and collaborations, Conor Oberst and his bandmates reconvened for The People's Key. We explore the album's new sonic adventures, its connections to science fiction and Rastafari, and its place as the intended (or maybe not) Bright Eyes swan song. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF055

This week we're retracing our steps all the way to Cassadaga, the follow up to I'm Wide Awake and Digital Ash and another fascinating evolution of the Bright Eyes sound. We cover our favorite lyrics, themes of mysticism and the search for contentment, and the album's critical reception. We went long on this one because Cassadaga is a truly rich text. Also: A brief digression on The Masked Magician. Links Collin Baillio's "A Thick Mist of Change" essay series Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF054

We're back with the other 2005 Bright Eyes album (or maybe the 2005 Bright Eyes album, depending on which side of the band you prefer), Digital Ash In a Digital Urn. We get into our differing experiences with the album over the years, unpack the overarching themes of time, destiny, and death, and heap much deserving praise on Mike Mogis's production work. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF053

On I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, one of two albums released on the same day in 2005, Bright Eyes put their folk influences front and center. We get into our history with this beloved record, the themes of renewal and rebirth, New York City, and the band's most enduring hit, "First Day of My Life." Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF052

Our Bright Eyes series continues with Lifted or The Story Is In the Soil, Keep Your Ear To the Ground, the album catapulted Conor Oberst to stardom. We get into the album's grand ambitions, resonant themes, and explore another era of B-sides and EPs. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF051

It's our 50th episode! We're not doing anything particularly special to celebrate, just continuing our Bright Eyes series with Fevers and Mirrors, the last album before the band found its way to the mainstream. We break down the recurring imagery, the infamous, surreal fake interview, and dip into the EPs and bonus tracks from this remarkably prolific era of Conor Oberst's career. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF050

Our Bright Eyes series continues with the first canonical Bright Eyes album (or is it?). We explore Conor's growth as a songwriter on Letting Off the Happiness, the contributions of producer Mike Mogis, and a slew of B-sides and EPs from this era. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF049

It's fall, which means it's time to break out the acoustic guitar and get emotional with us as we go through the Bright Eyes discography. In this episode, we recount our personal histories with the midwestern emo/folk legends, touch on Conor Oberst's pre-Bright Eyes work, and break down the group's somewhat haphazard first album, A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995-1997. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF048

It's time for a palate cleanser between series, so we're talking about one of the biggest one-album wonders of the pop punk scene: Box Car Racer. We get into the dynamics in Blink-182 and Tom Delonge's life that led to this side project, how 9/11 and existential angst informed the songs, and how the album holds up over two decades later. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF047

Our series on The Armed comes to a close with their latest album, The Future Is Here and Everything Needs To Be Destroyed. We break down the band's return to their aggressive roots and what the album has to say about existing in our present moment. And as always, we rank the discography. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF046

On Perfect Saviors, The Armed shed the aliases and antics in order to "be a reliable narrator." The result is their most expansive, accessible album yet, but it still has plenty of surprises. We get into every turn, from acoustic guitars to jazz fusion to the secret EP hidden inside the vinyl packaging. Find us on the internet: @NoiseFloorPod on Instagram noisefloorpodcast.com Send us mail: [email protected] NF045