We dispense with the niceties this month and discuss an album where we have quite differing opinions. Welcome to Episode 56 of This is Not Happening (TINH), an Album of the Month (AOTM) Podcast.

In Part 1 we deep dive into an Album that one of us has chosen and in Part 2 we play 'Spin it or Bin it'. We pick a theme and each pick a song that represents that theme. We judge the selections by asking the question 'Spin It or Bin It'?

In Part 1, David, resident 'Pop Being', has the pleasure of presenting an album from one of his genuine musical obsessions. 'Saya' the latest release by Saya Gray.

In Part 2, following the theme of 'Saya', break-up and heart-break, we play Spin It or Bin It with the simple theme of 'Heart Break' with no additional rules!

----- Part 1 | Saya Gray | 'Saya' -----

To say David is a Saya Gray fan is something of an understatement. He has been championing the strange sounds of Saya for nearly 3 years. Nobody's really sure if this is her debut album or not but that's not important. It is an album and an artist that has divided opinion on the pod. 2 of us love this album, 1 of us doesn't, and 1 of us has had such a busy month at work that we have no idea what they think pre-recording.

Regardless of how we feel about this album individually, we all think it's an album that deserves a listen. Listen to the album, listen to the pod, tell us what you think.

• Listen to the album ... HERE.
• Watch the World Cafe Podcast / Interview ... HERE.
• Watch the AMAZING Tiny Desk Performance ... HERE.
• Watch some 'Visualisers' (music videos!?!) ... HERE.
• Buy some stuff ... HERE.

----- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | 'Heart-Break -----

Was music originally created to express heart-break? Probably not but it definitely feels like it when you start looking for your favourite tracks that embrace the subject. We've chosen a track each that may not be what you expect.

• Guy chose 'A Little Respect' by Erasure.
• David chose 'Already Dead' by Beck.
• Joey chose 'It's Not Right, But It's Okay' by Whitney Houston.
• Nolan chose 'Shiver' by Lucy Rose.

Here is a link to our 16 track playlist of religion-inspired tracks - with the first 4 tracks being our picks for this month.

We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look - https://thisisnothappening.net/

We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look - https://thisisnothappening.net/

The awesome albums keep coming early in 2025 and we'd love to introduce on to you today. Welcome to Episode 55 of This is Not Happening (TINH), an Album of the Month (AOTM) Podcast.

In Part 1 we deep dive into an Album that one of us has chosen and in Part 2 we play 'Spin it or Bin it'. We pick a theme and each pick a song that represents that theme. We judge the selections by asking the question 'Spin It or Bin It'?

In Part 1, Nolan, resident Hip Hop head stays true to form and brings a new album from a 47 year old artist! Brother Ali's 'Satisfied Soul'.

In Part 2, following Brother Ali's exploration of peace, love, faith and religion, our Spin It or Bin It, our theme this month is 'Religion'.

----- Part 1 | Brother Ali | Satisfied Soul -----

Nolan has been trying to introduce Brother Ali to us for years but ... there's a lot of music and not a lot of time. Previous album releases have not lined up with podcasts but this time they did! Satisfied Soul is an album that is worth any music fan spending some time with. It is not a niche hip hop album for niche hip hop fans. It's soul music. It's pop music. It's Hip Hop. It's intelligent. It's massively thought provoking and massively accessible to anyone with an open mind and an open ear.

Get on it. Please.

• Listen to the albumhere.
• This track is not from this album ... but too good not to share Cadillac.
• Nolan's awesome 'Intro to Brother Ali' playlist can be found here.
• Buy some stuff here.

----- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | 'Religion' -----

Popular music and religion have been uncomfortable bedfellows since ... forever. We agreed to each select a track that 'tackles' the theme of religion in any way shape or form;

• Joey chose Tennessee by Arrested Development.
• David chose Dear God by XTC.
• Guy chose Stand on the Word by The Joubert Singers.
• Nolan chose Name of God by Mustafa.

Here is a link to our 16 track playlist of religion-inspired tracks - with the first 4 tracks being our picks for this month.

We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look - https://thisisnothappening.net/

Another year, another month, another pod. Welcome to Episode 54 of This is Not Happening (TINH), an Album of the Month (AOTM) Podcast. In Part 1 we deep dive into an Album that one of us has chosen and in Part 2 we play 'Spin it or Bin it'. We pick a theme and each pick a song that represents that theme. We judge the selections by asking the question 'Spin It or Bin It'?

In Part 1, Joey hosts a bit of a love-in on The Weather Station's 7th album Humanhood.

In Part 2, Spin It or Bin It, our theme this month is 'New Music', tracks from the past 2-3 months.

----- Part 1 | The Weather Station | Humanhood -----

One of the rare times that we've double dipped on artist, we return to Tamara Linderman and The Weather Station. In 2021 we all (eventually) loved Ignorance. An album focusing largely on nature and the climate crisis. It was an album of global concerns. Humanhood is feels quite different, it feels deeply personal but retains global relevance in different ways.

I think this is going to be a big one for the pod this year. I know Joey and David will love this album but not so sure about Nolan and Guy. We discuss the album in comparison to Ignorance, we talk about production and sound mixing, percussion backing vocals and lovely lovely woodwind.

• Listen to the album here.
• Listen to the essential Sheroes podcast interview with Tamara here.
• Watch a few videos here.
• Buy some stuff here.

----- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | New Music -----

January / February is usually a great time for new tracks. This year is no exception. Let's celebrate that. We each pick a new track and ask each other 'Spin It or Bin It?'

• Guy chose Orlando In Love by Japanese Breakfast.
• Joey chose Ocean Steppin' by John Glacier and Sampha.
• David chose One Foot by Greentea Peng.
• Nolan chose Lalala by Redman and Method Man.

Here is a link to a long list of new tracks that we put together. Enjoy.

Episode Chapters:

1 - Intro - 0:00
2 - Weather Station - Album introduction - 1:48
3 - Weather Station - What did you expect, what did you get? 5:28
4 - Weather Station - The energy of the album - 15:39
5 - Weather Station - Album production - 27:20
6 - Weather Station - Favourite tracks - 36:27
7 - Spin It Or Bin It - 41:53
8 - Outro - 1:05:54

We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look - https://thisisnothappening.net/