PODCAST · music
The Opus
by Consequence Podcast Network
Consequence and Sony bring you an exploration of iconic albums and their ongoing legacy. Join host Adam Unze as he examines how masterpieces continue to evolve: shaping lives, shaking rafters, and ingraining themselves into our culture. Maybe you’re a longtime fan who wants to go deeper. Maybe you’re a first-time listener curious to hear more. Either way, you’re in the right place.
Episodes
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50th Anniversary: Blood on the Tracks: How Dylan Birthed Bootleg Culture
Bob Dylan’s iconic 15th studio album Blood on the Tracks was released on January 20th, 1975. To celebrate the landmark record’s 50th anniversary, we’ve dug into the archives all the way back to 2018 to re-release the very first season of The Opus! Hosted by journalist and author Paula Mejía, The...
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50th Anniversary: Blood on the Tracks: Evaluating Dylan's Cinematic Legacy
Bob Dylan’s iconic 15th studio album Blood on the Tracks was released on January 20th, 1975. To celebrate the landmark record’s 50th anniversary, we’ve dug into the archives all the way back to 2018 to re-release the very first season of The Opus! Hosted by journalist and author Paula Mejía, The...
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50th Anniversary: Blood on the Tracks: Beth Orton and Kevin Morby on Dylan's Songwriting Process
Bob Dylan’s iconic 15th studio album Blood on the Tracks was released on January 20th, 1975. To celebrate the landmark record’s 50th anniversary, we’ve dug into the archives all the way back to 2018 to re-release the very first season of The Opus! Hosted by journalist and author Paula Mejía, The...
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50th Anniversary: Blood on the Tracks: Canonizing Bob Dylan's Human Opus
Bob Dylan’s iconic 15th studio album Blood on the Tracks was released on January 20th, 1975. To celebrate the landmark record’s 50th anniversary, we’ve dug into the archives all the way back to 2018 to re-release the very first season of The Opus! Hosted by journalist and author Paula Mejía, The...
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Hip-Hop 50: Cypress Hill’s Weed Rap Changed Cannabis Culture
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re opening up The Opus podcast archives to re-release seasons focused on some of history's most legendary rap albums. Next up we revisit Cyrus Hills self-title record — a landmark of West Coast hip-hop that pioneered the “weed rap” movement....
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Hip-Hop 50: Cypress Hill Revolutionized Hip-Hop via Hard Rock and Latin Funk
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re opening up The Opus podcast archives to re-release seasons focused on some of history's most legendary rap albums. Next up we revisit Cyrus Hills self-title record — a landmark of West Coast hip-hop that pioneered the “weed rap” movement....
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Hip-Hop 50: Cypress Hill’s Chemistry Made for Explosive Hip-Hop
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re opening up The Opus podcast archives to re-release seasons focused on some of history's most legendary rap albums. Next up we revisit Cyrus Hills self-title record — a landmark of West Coast hip-hop that pioneered the “weed rap” movement....
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Hip-Hop 50: Cypress Hill - Southern California Was a Cultural Powder Keg
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re opening up The Opus podcast archives to re-release seasons focused on some of history's most legendary rap albums. Next up we revisit Cyrus Hills self-title record — a landmark of West Coast hip-hop that pioneered the “weed rap” movement....
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Hip-Hop 50: The Score - Fugees In the Lab
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re opening up The Opus podcast archives to re-release seasons focused on some of history's most legendary rap albums. First up, we revisit Fugees’ classic The Score, which comes in at number 15 on Consequence’s list of the 50 Greatest Hip-Hop...
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Hip-Hop 50: The Score - Fugees In Haiti
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re opening up The Opus podcast archives to re-release seasons focused on some of history's most legendary rap albums. First up, we revisit Fugees’ classic The Score, which comes in at number 15 on Consequence’s list of the 50 Greatest Hip-Hop...
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Hip-Hop 50: The Score - Fugees In the Basement
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re opening up The Opus podcast archives to re-release seasons focused on some of history's most legendary rap albums. First up, we revisit Fugees’ classic The Score, which comes in at number 15 on Consequence’s list of the 50 Greatest Hip-Hop...
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Hip-Hop 50: The Score - Fugees at the Crossroads
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re opening up The Opus podcast archives to re-release seasons focused on some of history's most legendary rap albums. First up, we revisit Fugees’ classic The Score, which comes in at number 15 on Consequence’s list of the 50 Greatest Hip-Hop...
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The Legacy of Billy's The Stranger Lives on at Madison Square Garden
While Billy Joel’s last studio album was released on August 10th, 1993, it was The Stranger that catapulted him to the iconic, internationally renowned venue he is happy to call home: Madison Square Garden. He first played there in 1978 and has since played there a record-shattering 133 times....
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Billy Joel's The Stranger Plays Like a Greatest Hits Album: The Opus
Many classic albums have their share of hits, but Billy Joel’s The Stranger is simply full of them. How did this happen in just about three weeks? The truth is none of the songs' paths overlapped and truths are often stranger than fiction. On Episode 3 of The Opus: The Stranger, we explore each…
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Billy Joel and Producer Phil Ramone Captured Collaborative Magic on The Stranger
The Stranger wasn't only Billy Joel’s critical breakthrough, but it was the start of a decade-long creative partnership with producer Phil Ramone. Together, the two created some of the most lasting songs in music, and it all began with those first sessions in the summer of 1977. Joel had a…
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Billy Joel Reintroduced Himself to the World with The Stranger
The Stranger was Billy Joel's fifth album, but in some ways, it felt like his debut because it’s the album that catapulted him to superstardom. Before its release, he’d had a radio hit with "Piano Man," but his genius was hampered by a string of overly slick producers who didn’t connect with his...
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The Opus: Billy Joel's The Stranger is Coming Soon
The Opus returns this holiday season with a true gift for music fans. Season 19 of the hit music history podcast from Consequence Podcast Network and Sony Legacy is set to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the album that made Billy Joel a world renowned star: The Stranger. The new season…
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The Legacy of Alice in Chains' Dirt Spans Generations
To close out this season of The Opus podcast, we explore how all the reasons Alice in Chains’ Dirt is considered such a classic album -- its place in the '90s Seattle scene, unique sonics, deeply personal lyrics. -- have folded into a lasting legacy for this iconic collection that continues to...
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Alice in Chains’ Dirt Is a Work of Dark, Personal Lyrical Genius: The Opus
This season on The Opus: Alice in Chains' Dirt, we've looked at how the band went against the grain of the Seattle scene and how they set themselves apart with their unique compositional approach. Now we peel back perhaps the most powerful layer of, Dirt: its dark, personal lyricism. Alice in...
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How Alice in Chains' Sonic Alchemy Led to the Unique Sounds of Dirt: The Opus
When you think of the Seattle Sound, certain sonic hallmarks likely come to mind. As we explore in Episode 2 of The Opus: Dirt, however, Alice in Chains occupied a unique space in this musical landscape. The band didn't ease its fans into the sound of Dirt. The opening notes of "Them Bones" jolt...
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Alice in Chains' Dirt Was a Venn Diagram of Grunge, Metal, and Hard Rock: The Opus
Alice in Chains are seen as one of the bands that helped define the hard rock era that arose from early-1990s Seattle. But at a time when the entire music industry was laser focused on the rise of grunge music, Alice in Chains sat both at the epicenter of the global movement and on its periphery....
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The Opus: Alice in Chains' Dirt is Coming Soon
The Opus podcast is rising out of the Dirt for a new season centered on the legacy of Alice in Chains’ sophomore album. Presented by the Consequence Podcast Network and Sony, the hit music history series is back to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the genre-changing classic. Launching on October...
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The Real Riot Behind Sly and the Family Stone's There's a Riot Goin On
The title of There's a Riot Goin On is a reference to an actual riot that broke out during a Sly and the Family Stone concert that never happened. On July 27th, 1970, Sly and his band were set to play a first-of-its-kind concert at the Petrillo Bandshell in Chicago's Grant Park. Before the Family...
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Sly and the Family Stone Really Was a Family Affair
Sly and the Family Stone did more than just write "Family Affair" -- they lived it. On Episode 3 of The Opus: There's a Riot Goin On, we dive into the family dynamics of the band and similar relationships throughout music history. There were actually four Stone relatives in the Family Stone:...
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A Message About The Opus: Sly and the Family Stone
Record scratch! We've loved diving into the story of Sly and the Family Stone's There's a Riot Goin On, but some production delays have us cryin' just like a baby. We'll return with Episode 3 on February 24th, followed by the 4th and final episode on March 3rd. We apologize for the hold up,...
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There's a Riot Goin On: Sly and the Family Stone's Musical Riot Still Rages Through Decades of Sampling
As Season 17 Consequence Podcast Network and Sony’s The Opus, continues, we're exploring how the legacy of Sly and the Family Stone’s masterpiece There’s a Riot Goin On can still be heard today. Sly and the Family Stone are one of the most covered and sampled artists in all of soul music.…
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There's a Riot Goin On: Sly and the Family Stone Kicked Off a Funk Riot in 1971
The Opus is back, kicking off Season 17 of the Consequence Podcast Network and Sony’s music history podcast by exploring how Sly and the Family Stone’s iconic There’s a Riot Goin On was at the vanguard of a soul revolution. Released in 1971, the album ushered in a more mature sound for soul…
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Ten: The Final Show of Pearl Jam's First Tour Heralded Future Stardom
Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament once stated that "essentially Ten was just an excuse to tour." The band clearly just wanted some material to play on the road, as their first tour kicked off just after they'd completed mixing sessions for their debut album; the record wasn't even released yet. The…
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The Best Songs on Pearl Jam's Ten Aren't the Singles
Ten yielded (no pun intended, Pearl Jam fans) three enduring hit singles: "Alive," "Even Flow," and "Jeremy." But here on Consequence Podcast Network and Sony’s The Opus, we focus on the legacy of the entire album -- and the real meat of Ten is on the non-single tracks. The band has opened shows...
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Ten: Jeff Ament's Art Helped Define Pearl Jam
While Season 16 of the Consequence Podcast Network and Sony’s The Opus focuses on the unparalleled musical legacy Ten, it's important to note of Pearl Jam has been defined as much by their visuals as their sound. On Episode 2, we explore how bassist Jeff Ament not only contributed to the band's...
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Ten: Pearl Jam Is Alive Because of an Unlikely Series of Events
The series of events that had to happen to have Ten even exist is wild. Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard were in Green River, but they broke up. Then, they were in a pysch-garage band called Mother Love Bone, whose singer, Andrew Wood, died right before their first album was released. The two of…
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Cypress Hill’s Weed Rap Changed Cannabis Culture
Season 15 of Consequence Podcast Network and Sony’s The Opus comes to its conclusion on a high point as we explore how Cypress Hill put weed rap on the map. Within a few months of its release, the impact of Cypress Hill and the subject matter of some of the raps therein was apparent. Other…
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Cypress Hill Revolutionized Hip-Hop via Hard Rock and Latin Funk
On the previous episode of Consequence Podcast Network and Sony's The Opus Season 15, we explored the chemistry between the voices of Cypress Hill’s B-Real and Sen Dog. In Episode 3, we look at the unique alchemy of their beats. The place where rock and metal meet has always been a part of…
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Cypress Hill’s Chemistry Made for Explosive Hip-Hop
Consequence Podcast Network and Sony’s The Opus Season 15 continues as we explore the unparalleled chemistry between Cypress Hill’s B-Real and Sen Dog. B-Real’s high-pitched, nasal rap style played off the boom of Sen Dog’s authoritative baritone for a sound unlike anyone else. In Episode 2 of…
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Cypress Hill: Southern California Was a Cultural Powder Keg
Season 15 of The Opus, presented by the Consequence Podcast Network and Sony, travels back to the Southern California in which Cypress Hill’s sound exploded onto the scene. The sonic sense of urgency in the hip-hop group's self-titled debut album was a time-and-place thing -- a product of late...
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Just As I Am: Bill Withers’ Songs and Booker T. Jones’ Mind Were a Match Made in Soul Heaven
The production on Just As I Am is just as tight as you’d expect an album made with Booker T Jones to be. Bill Withers may have been a rookie singer/songwriter, but the plates on this album were definitely not. In this episode, we speak to folks who help Withers discover and perfect his signature...
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Just As I Am Episode 3: Bill Withers' Just as I Am Was Populist Soul for Complicated Times
Amir “Questlove” Thompson, in Rolling Stone in 2015, called Bill Withers the “last African-American Everyman … the closest thing black people have to a Bruce Springsteen.” Withers’ Just As I Am was once referred to as “middlebrow soul.” That is to say, it was easily accessible at a time when…
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Just As I Am Episode 2: Bill Withers Remains a Voice of Protest
In September of 1972, after having been nominated for three Grammys and winning one, Bill Withers spoke with The New York Times, and declared that the whole music thing was simply a phase for him. In 1985, Bill Withers, walked away from the music industry, deciding to not record or re-sign to a...
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Just as I Am: Bill Withers Went from Blue-Collar Everyman to Soul Legend
Season 14 of The Opus focuses on Bill Withers' landmark debut album, Just as I Am. In episode one, host Jill Hopkins and special guests Jon Batiste, José James, Aloe Blacc, and Phil Cook discuss how a blue-collar everyman became a soul music legend. Advertising Inquiries:...
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The Score: Fugees In the Lab
So much of hip-hop is built on the notion of creating something from something. Call it covering, call it borrowing, call it sampling, but don't call it unoriginal. For decades, samples have helped musicians turn some of greatest hits into even greater hits. Fugees are no exception to this. They...
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The Score: Fugees In Haiti
The Fugees were culturally unique in myriad ways. They were a trio comprised of one American-born Black woman and yet also two Haitian immigrants, who both took pride in their heritage. Naturally, this pride was weaved into the fabric of 1996's The Score, and the album's success meant that they...
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The Score: Fugees In the Basement
Instead of returning to the studio with outside producers, the Fugees took their $150k advance from Ruffhouse Records and ventured off to … the basement. Specifically, the Booga Basement in East Orange, NJ, where Wyclef Jean’s uncle and his cousin Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis lived. Booga, along with...
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The Score: Fugees at the Crossroads
In the Season 13 premiere, we’ll find out what it took for a group in its own artistic and personal transition to find their place at the top of the charts and on the Grammy stage as the biggest hip-hop act of 1996. Hip-hop had considerably changed from when the Fugees started recording their…
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Pearl: Janis Joplin, The Feminist Icon
The movement was called “Women’s Liberation”, and it pushed the needle of social change more rapidly than mainstream America was ready for in the late '60s and early '70s. The shift was palpable: The need for empowering feminist heroines prompted many Americans to look towards artists, athletes,...
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Pearl: The Last Days of Janis Joplin
In many ways, Pearl was a wake for Janis Joplin, a celebration of the singer-songwriter, whose poetry and energy connected with fans, critics, and the general public alike. In hindsight, though, it also felt like the end of an era -- a fiery footnote to the '60s. But what led to that moment? In...
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Pearl: The Janis Joplin We Never Knew
Janis Joplin left it all on stage. Janis Joplin brought it all to the studio. Janis Joplin put it all on tape. With that exposed vulnerability, however, comes the illusion that the general public actually knew her. That's simply not the case. In this episode, host Jill Hopkins speaks to the late...
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Pearl: Janis Joplin Never Stopped Singing
In the Season 12 premiere, we hop a train heading back to the Summer of 1970, when Joplin and the Full Tilt Boogie Band led the historic Festival Express across Canada. It's a strange and wonderful journey that ends with Joplin's magnum opus. Join host Jill Hopkins as she walks from one carriage…
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Abraxas: The Beats Beyond Santana
Give the drummer some! Over the years, countless session players have shaped the spirit and sound of Santana -- but especially the beats. Many stuck around, but others went on to carve out their own careers, the likes of which are among the most varied and vast in the industry. For the fourth and...
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Abraxas: Charting the Influence of Santana
As we've already learned this season, the members of Santana all came in with their own eclectic perspectives. From the traditional to the avant garde, they dropped a witch’s cauldron of diverse sonic experimentation. For the third episode, The Opus wants to talk about the power of influence. Not...
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Abraxas: The Band Behind Santana
For the second episode of Season 11, The Opus is curious to know the stories behind the liner notes to Abraxas. Sure, Carlos Santana was the face and name of the band, but he wasn’t the voice and he didn’t make up the totality of their signature sound. Of course, a good bandleader knows it’s not...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Consequence and Sony bring you an exploration of iconic albums and their ongoing legacy. Join host Adam Unze as he examines how masterpieces continue to evolve: shaping lives, shaking rafters, and ingraining themselves into our culture. Maybe you’re a longtime fan who wants to go deeper. Maybe you’re a first-time listener curious to hear more. Either way, you’re in the right place.
HOSTED BY
Consequence Podcast Network
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Opus have?
The Opus currently has 93 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Opus about?
Consequence and Sony bring you an exploration of iconic albums and their ongoing legacy. Join host Adam Unze as he examines how masterpieces continue to evolve: shaping lives, shaking rafters, and ingraining themselves into our culture. Maybe you’re a longtime fan who wants to go deeper. Maybe...
How often does The Opus release new episodes?
The Opus has 93 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Opus?
You can listen to The Opus on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Opus?
The Opus is created and hosted by Consequence Podcast Network.
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