84.9K
Downloads
129
Episodes
Finest Worksongs is a music commentary and history podcast hosted by Matt Lail and Matt Stevens. The podcast is dedicated to discussing ”great albums” and delving into the music and history of the artists behind them. The hosts often reminisce about their 80s childhoods, providing a nostalgic lens through which they explore the chosen albums. While the podcast covers a wide range of musical genres and artists, their discussions often center around seminal albums, exploring their impact, production, and the context in which they were created. They also have ”Summer Jamz” episodes where they focus on a single song instead of an entire album. ”Finest Worksongs” has been recognized in local media, being named one of Raleigh’s Top Podcasts by Raleigh Magazine and voted ”Best Local Podcast” in Wake Living Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Awards. The podcast concluded its regular episodes in early 2025 with its 129th episode, a listener’s choice discussion on The Replacements’ ”Let It Be.”
Episodes
Oct 29, 2019
Oct 29, 2019
43 min
Geographic name-dropping, songs about Saabs and golf courses, and of course questions of love and faith. Vampire Weekend’s third album, “Modern Vampires of the City” showcased the band’s songwriting and song content growth – and was considered by many as the best album of 2013. But don’t fret: there’s still plenty of catchy hooks, popped collars and high-fallutin’ themes – the things we all tend to love Vampire Weekend for anyway.
Follow us on social media @finestworksongs
Oct 14, 2019
Oct 14, 2019
41 min
It was an album that record execs and studio heads initially rejected. But “Kick” by INXS would go on to produce a slew of top 10 hits worldwide, turning the band - led by charismatic frontman Michael Hutchence - from Australian heroes to the people’s choice in rock and roll, putting them on par with U2 and R.E.M.
Follow us on social media @finestworksongs
Oct 7, 2019
Oct 7, 2019
45 min
For some, “The Boxer” is The National’s greatest album. However, in this epipod of Finest Worksongs, we take a look at what be their most quintessential album, “Alligator." It’s an album of both confidence and introspection, of colorful characters and average Joes. All sung with a sound unique to The National.
Follow us on social media @finestworksongs
Oct 1, 2019
Oct 1, 2019
38 min
At the time it was released, this album was overshadowed by Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, and even some monsters from Sesame Street. But a dozen years later, “The Reminder” by Feist holds up as an accomplishment of an artist with a clear vision, a bevy of talented friends, and a voice like none other.
Follow us on social media @finestworksongs
Sep 23, 2019
Sep 23, 2019
39 min
It’s a tale as old as time: Man reads Ann Frank’s “The Diary is a Young Girl.” Man weeps for three days straight. Man dreams of building a time machine to go back and save her. Man writes arguably one of the greatest Indy rock albums of all time. Can you say “cliche?”
Follow us on social media @finestworksongs
Sep 17, 2019
Sep 17, 2019
44 min
If you were anywhere near a college campus in the mid-1990s, you were probably going to hear the Dave Matthews Band – either coming out of a dorm stereo, or being played by a guy with an acoustic guitar. Before too long, though, the DMB was everywhere. The mix of guitar, horns, violin, and impeccable drumming – along with Matthews’ unique vocals – was a revolutionary sound in mainstream rock music. But is it still?
Follow us on social media @finestworksongs
Sep 9, 2019
Sep 9, 2019
41 min
The red leather jacket. The single white glove. The “Moonwalk.” The “Thriller” Dance. Of the 9 songs on Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” 7 would be Top 10 hits. The album would go on to sell 66 million copies worldwide — and counting. And music would never be the same again.
Follow us on social media @finestworksongs
Aug 30, 2019
Aug 30, 2019
35 min
For our second epipod we dive into Smashing Pumpkins’ second album, Siamese Dream. This is Billy Corgan’s masterpiece – an album so over-budget and so mind-boggling perfect that it led to drug abuse, infighting and innuendo – and arguably one of the most successful albums of the 1990s.
Follow us on social media @finestworksongs
Aug 24, 2019
Aug 24, 2019
45 min
Welcome to Finest Worksongs! What better way to begin a podcast about great albums than by reviewing this masterpiece by our favorite band?
Join us as we dive into R.E.M.'s iconic album 'Automatic for the People.' Released in 1992, this masterpiece explores themes of mortality, loss, and nostalgia, all wrapped in the band's signature alternative rock sound. We'll dissect the album's standout tracks, discuss its critical acclaim, and reflect on its lasting influence in the music world. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to R.E.M., this epipod offers fresh insights and a deeper appreciation for one of the band's most celebrated works.
Tags: music, albums, R.E.M., Automatic for the People, music appreciation, nostalgia, themes of death, cultural impact, songwriting, michael stipe, Mike Mills, bill berry, peter buck, bertis downs