(previously known as The Monster Shop, previously known as The Doghouse)
Welcome to Riffology, you’re probably wondering what’s going on and why all of this stuff is here? Well, let me tell you a story…
In the beginning there was a local radio show called The Doghouse on Derby Sound Community Radio. Chris and Neil played banging rock and metal tunes that virtually nobody heard but they had a bloody great time doing it all the same. After a while, Chris and Neil decided they wanted to branch out a little and so created a new show on Spotify called The Monster Shop. This didn’t have any of the constraints of local radio, they could play what they liked, the shows could be as long or short as they liked and they didn’t need a music license because of Spotify’s awesome music+talk concept. Happy days…
Just as the boys were settling into their new home on Spotify, the suits in charge at Spotify decided that they needed to make more money and music+talk was too expensive, so they were going to close it down. Bad times…
Undeterred the boys decided to venture into the world of podcasting and setup the Hopeland podcast, which was nothing to do with Music at all and would be a clean break. They got bored of this quite quickly and realised that they could do a podcast show about the Rock albums that they loved. So, that’s what they did and the Monster Shop was born again as a podcast. Happy days…
Until Meta and Google algorithms got confused about what The Monster Shop was, Meta would routinely limit our accounts for going against their community standards by trying to sell people things by deception (we’ve never had a store) and Google never really understood and so didn’t send any traffic. Which mean’t nobody could find the show. Then, one frosty morning, the boys had the idea of Riffology, it would be exactly the same as The Monster Shop but hopefully Meta and Google wouldn’t get so confused. Happy days!
And this dear reader, is where you find us today. What? I didn’t explain why there are hundreds of blog posts about iconic albums here? Well, the story behind those is much simpler. Neil loves facts and has a tiny memory and so way back from the Doghouse days he used to write a sheet about the artists and albums that were being played on each show so he could entertain listeners with interesting facts. This obsession with ‘the sheet’ grew throughout the history of the show until Neil decided it would be easier just to dump them in a blog rather than just write them up and delete them every week. This site is basically that brain-dump of information about albums we’ve either covered on the podcast or have talked about covering.
Who are Chris and Neil?
Neil Johnson – A metalhead at heart, Neil was born in the 70s and loves everything metal has brought with it, from hair to extreme death. By day, he works in IT, but his true passion lies in the music he listens to daily.
Chris Baldwin – An alt rock pop punk fan, Chris was born in the 80s and plays every instrument known to man. He’s been somehow involved with every band within a 100-mile radius of the studio in Swadlincote and has heard things you wouldn’t believe.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to these genres, our podcast offers an engaging and insightful journey through the music that defines generations.
If you liked any of the content on the site, or you’re just curious, the last few podcast episodes are here:
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Remember when payday meant choosing which CD or vinyl you were blowing it on? Standing in HMV doing the mental maths, convincing yourself two albums was basically essential. Riffology is Neil and Chris chasing that feeling again, one classic record at a time.
This is a show about the albums that raised us —
Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Motley Crue, Def Leppard,
Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Pink Floyd, Radiohead,
Skunk Anansie, Gojira, Soulfly and the rest.
If it’s 25+ years old, loud and iconic, we’re in.
Each episode is two Gen X mates diving into studio sessions, producer chaos and band drama plus the joy of taped-over cassettes, dodgy car stereos and sitting on the floor with a record sleeve.
We nerd out when we should: Albini vs Vig, room-miked vs close-miked,
Neve consoles, dynamic-range disasters and those “how did this get approved?” moments.
If you grew up when albums were events, this is your place. Some weeks it’s an old favourite; other weeks it’s something you abandoned in ’94. Either way, Riffology’s here to talk rubbish, tell stories and remind you why these records mattered.
When a Band on the Brink Creates a Masterpiece Against All Odds
Hosts: Neil & Chris
Duration: ~90 minutes
Release: TBC
Episode Description
Neil and Chris dive deep into The Smashing Pumpkins’ 1993 landmark album Siamese Dream, a record that almost didn’t happen. With Billy Corgan having just stepped back from the edge of suicide, Jimmy Chamberlain battling heroin addiction, and bandmates James and Darcy navigating a painful breakup, this dysfunctional group somehow created one of the most sonically ambitious albums of the decade.
The episode explores the intense pressure the band faced following Nirvana’s explosion, with producer Butch Vig caught between his Nevermind success and his loyalty to the Pumpkins. Chris brings a deeply personal connection, revealing how this album shaped his musical development during those formative walks to school with a Walkman, while Neil discovers the fascinating stories behind an album he came to later through his wife’s fandom.
What You’ll Hear:
- Billy Corgan’s accusation that Butch Vig “stole” his guitar sound for Smells Like Teen Spirit
- The story behind the iconic album cover, featuring two girls who weren’t twins and had never met before the photoshoot
- Why the BBC banned the single “Disarm” due to the Jamie Bulger tragedy, and Billy’s refusal to change the lyrics for Top of the Pops
- Jimmy Chamberlain’s extraordinary drum work and how he treats drums as a conversational instrument
- The recent Smashing Pumpkins and YUNGBLUD collaboration on “Zombie” and what it reveals about Billy’s creative process
Featured Tracks & Analysis:
The hosts dissect the phenomenal layering on this analog recording, with Butch and Billy reportedly drawing diagrams to track the countless guitar overdubs. Standout discussions include the emotional weight of “Disarm” (written about Billy’s difficult relationship with his parents), the melotron strings on “Spaceboy” (about his half-brother with developmental disabilities), and the off-the-cuff creation of “Mayonnaise,” a song Billy claims took longer to justify naming than to write.
Tangential Gold:
- A lengthy detour about Craig David, Bo Selecta, and career-destroying comedy
- The hosts’ debate on AI as a tool for visionaries who lack musical skills
- Neil’s frosty morning as park run director at minus 8 degrees
- Chris sharing the download festival lineup where he played on the same bill as the Pumpkins
Why This Matters:
Siamese Dream stands as a testament to creative triumph over personal chaos. The episode unpacks how a band so close to implosion channeled their dysfunction into a 62-minute masterpiece that sold 6 million copies and influenced a generation. Billy Corgan’s obsessive perfectionism, which saw him re-record most guitar and bass parts himself, created something that critics called “overproduced” but fans recognised as visionary.
Perfect for: Pumpkins devotees, shoegaze enthusiasts, anyone fascinated by the creative process under pressure, and listeners who want to understand why some albums become defining moments in rock history.
You can find us here:
- Blog: https://riffology.co
- All Episodes: https://podkit.riffology.co/podcast
- iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-riffology-iconic-rock-alb-176865775
- Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/riffology-iconic-rock-albums-podcast/id1691556696
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1LIU9mein7QMw346q20nyy
- X: https://x.com/RiffologyPod
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/riffology.co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riffology
- Email: [email protected]
