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Riffology: Iconic Rock Albums

Uncover the details behind the most iconic albums ever recorded.

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The Story of Ableton: Revolutionising Music Production and Performance people at concert
5 min read
  • Tech

The Story of Ableton: Revolutionising Music Production and Performance

Chris Baldwin 7 January 2025
Ableton, founded in 1999, revolutionized music production with its software Live and hardware Push. Known for user-friendly...
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JUCE: The Framework Powering Modern Audio Development JUCE_Logo
5 min read
  • Tech

JUCE: The Framework Powering Modern Audio Development

Chris Baldwin 7 January 2025
JUCE is a transformative C++ framework for cross-platform audio application development, created by Jules Storer in 2004....
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The Real Thing: Faith No More’s Genre-Defining Album faith_no_more-the_real_thing
10 min read
  • Album Deep Dive
  • Feature
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The Real Thing: Faith No More’s Genre-Defining Album

Neil Johnson 7 January 2025
Introduction Released on June 20, 1989, The Real Thing by Faith No More marked a pivotal moment...
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Insomniac: Green Day’s Intense Punk Rock Evolution 4553_album_art
9 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

Insomniac: Green Day’s Intense Punk Rock Evolution

Neil Johnson 6 January 2025
Green Day's "Insomniac," released on October 10, 1995, marked a significant evolution in the band's sound, showcasing...
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August and Everything After: Counting Crows’ Timeless Debut 8250_album_art
9 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

August and Everything After: Counting Crows’ Timeless Debut

Neil Johnson 5 January 2025
August and Everything After, released on September 14, 1993, by Counting Crows, significantly impacted alternative rock, merging...
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Cursed by Paleface Swiss – album review album_cover
2 min read
  • Review

Cursed by Paleface Swiss – album review

Neil Johnson 3 January 2025
Paleface Swiss's album Cursed, released on January 3, 2025, scores 85/100, showcasing a blend of deathcore, metalcore,...
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Inside Odelay: Beck’s Innovative 90s Breakthrough 8208_album_art
8 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

Inside Odelay: Beck’s Innovative 90s Breakthrough

Chris Baldwin 1 January 2025
Beck's "Odelay," released on June 18, 1996, is a seminal album in alternative music, known for its...
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Exploring the Impact of Jagged Little Pill 5716_album_art
9 min read
  • Album Deep Dive
  • Podcasts

Exploring the Impact of Jagged Little Pill

Neil Johnson 1 January 2025
Released on June 13, 1995, Alanis Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill" became a cultural milestone, blending alternative rock...
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Getting Started with last.fm and Apple Music on macOS Last.fm-Logo.wine
6 min read
  • Tech

Getting Started with last.fm and Apple Music on macOS

Neil Johnson 1 January 2025
This article guides Apple Music users on macOS to create listening data collages using last.fm. It explains...
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Podcast Episodes

Riffology: Iconic Rock Albums Podcast
Riffology: Iconic Rock Albums Podcast

Welcome to Riffology, where a GenX and a Millennial talk about the albums from their youth. Itโ€™s more fun than it soundsโ€ฆ

RIFF069 – Pixies – Doolittle
byRiffology

RIFF069 – Pixies: Doolittle

Hosts: Neil & Chris
Duration: ~79 minutes
Release: November 2025

Episode Description

Welcome to another episode of Riffology – the podcast where two mates dissect the albums that shaped music history. This week, Neil and Chris tackle the Pixies’ seminal 1989 masterpiece “Doolittle”, an album that bridged the gap between underground rock and the grunge explosion that would follow.

What You’ll Hear:

  • Personal Journeys: Neil’s honest confession about initially not “getting” the Pixies in the late 80s (he was more into Metallica and Slayer at 14), and his eventual conversion through teaching guitar
  • Musical Analysis: Deep dive into Kim Deal’s transformative bass work and backing vocals, the album’s revolutionary dynamics, and Gil Norton’s meticulous production
  • Cultural Impact: Discussion of the Pixies’ influence on Nirvana and the grunge movement, plus insights from David Bowie on what made them special
  • Biblical Themes: Exploration of Charles Thompson’s (Black Francis) Old Testament references and surrealist lyrics
  • Chart Performance: The fascinating contrast between UK success (#8) and initial US commercial failure (#98)

Featured Tracks & Analysis:

The hosts break down key songs including “Debaser,” “Here Comes Your Man,” and “Gouge Away” (with its Samson and Delilah references), examining the album’s signature quiet verse/loud chorus dynamic that would become a template for alternative rock.

Tangential Gold:

True to Riffology form, expect delightful detours into:

  • Terrifying 80s public safety campaigns (ozone layer hairspray demonstrations!)
  • Nuclear war nightmares and bedtime viewing choices
  • Vinyl collecting economics and the pain of ยฃ500 records
  • Boston geography and TV show references
  • The seven-minute AI apocalypse theory

Why This Matters:

“Doolittle” stands as a crucial evolutionary step in rock music – the missing link between 80s alternative and 90s grunge. The hosts make a compelling case for the album as the stepping stone that made Nirvana possible, with its innovative use of dynamics, melody, and controlled chaos.

Perfect for: Music history enthusiasts, Pixies fans, anyone interested in the genetics of alternative rock, and listeners who enjoy thoughtful analysis mixed with genuine friendship and occasional chaos.


You can find us here:

  • Blog: https://riffology.co
  • All Episodes: https://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]

RIFF069 – Pixies – Doolittle
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RIFF069 – Pixies – Doolittle
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RIFF068 – Hole – Live Through This
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RIFF067 – Tool – Undertow
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RIFF066 – A Perfect Circle – Mer De Noms
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RIFF065 – Deftones – White Pony
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RIFF064 – Anthrax – Sound of White Noise
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RIFF063 – Anthrax – Persistence of Time
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RIFF062 – Soulfly – Soulfly
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RIFF061 – Sepultura – Beneath the Remains
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RIFF060 – Foo Fighters – Foo Fighters
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