Skip to content

Riffology: Iconic Rock Albums

Uncover the details behind the most iconic albums ever recorded.

Primary Menu
  • Home
  • About Riffology
  • LastFM Collage Builder
  • Riffology Podcast
  • MP3 Converter
Unveiling Anthrax’s State of Euphoria: A Thrash Metal Classic State Of Euphoria
8 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

Unveiling Anthrax’s State of Euphoria: A Thrash Metal Classic

Neil Johnson 17 September 2024
State of Euphoria, released by Anthrax on September 19, 1988, is their fourth studio album, showcasing their...
Read More Read more about Unveiling Anthrax’s State of Euphoria: A Thrash Metal Classic
Whitesnake: The Album That Defined Glam Metal Whitesnake (30th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition)
10 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

Whitesnake: The Album That Defined Glam Metal

Neil Johnson 17 September 2024
Introduction In the world of rock music, few albums have achieved the iconic status that Whitesnake by...
Read More Read more about Whitesnake: The Album That Defined Glam Metal
St. Anger: Metallica’s Raw Evolution St. Anger
8 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

St. Anger: Metallica’s Raw Evolution

Neil Johnson 17 September 2024
Metallica's 2003 album St. Anger represents a significant departure from their traditional sound, characterized by raw production...
Read More Read more about St. Anger: Metallica’s Raw Evolution
Aerosmith’s Permanent Vacation: The Ultimate Comeback Permanent Vacation
9 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

Aerosmith’s Permanent Vacation: The Ultimate Comeback

Neil Johnson 17 September 2024
Introduction Aerosmith’s Permanent Vacation stands as a landmark in the band’s illustrious career, representing a crucial turning...
Read More Read more about Aerosmith’s Permanent Vacation: The Ultimate Comeback
Exploring Tool’s ร†nima: A Progressive Metal Classic ร†nima
8 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

Exploring Tool’s ร†nima: A Progressive Metal Classic

Neil Johnson 17 September 2024
Tool's 1996 album ร†nima significantly impacted progressive metal with its complex arrangements, profound lyrics, and unique artwork....
Read More Read more about Exploring Tool’s ร†nima: A Progressive Metal Classic
Unraveling Slave to the Grind: Skid Row’s Metal Evolution Slave to the Grind
10 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

Unraveling Slave to the Grind: Skid Row’s Metal Evolution

Neil Johnson 17 September 2024
Introduction In the vibrant tapestry of rock music history, Skid Row’s “Slave to the Grind” stands as...
Read More Read more about Unraveling Slave to the Grind: Skid Row’s Metal Evolution
The Making of Use Your Illusion II – Guns N’ Roses’ Ambitious Classic guns_n_roses-use_your_illusion_ii
9 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

The Making of Use Your Illusion II – Guns N’ Roses’ Ambitious Classic

Neil Johnson 17 September 2024
Introduction In the vibrant and tumultuous landscape of early 1990s rock, Guns N’ Roses emerged as a...
Read More Read more about The Making of Use Your Illusion II – Guns N’ Roses’ Ambitious Classic
The Offspring’s Smash: Punk Rock’s Unstoppable Force the_offspring-smash
13 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

The Offspring’s Smash: Punk Rock’s Unstoppable Force

Neil Johnson 15 September 2024
Introduction In April 1994, The Offspring unleashed “Smash” and rewrote the rules for punk rock. Before this...
Read More Read more about The Offspring’s Smash: Punk Rock’s Unstoppable Force
Unveiling Arise: Sepultura’s Thrash Metal Evolution sepultura-arise
9 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

Unveiling Arise: Sepultura’s Thrash Metal Evolution

Neil Johnson 15 September 2024
Introduction In the early 1990s, amidst the burgeoning thrash and death metal scenes, a Brazilian band emerged...
Read More Read more about Unveiling Arise: Sepultura’s Thrash Metal Evolution

Posts pagination

Previous 1 … 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 … 31 Next

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

Pixies โ€” Doolittle (1994)

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

Mailing List

  • The Making of Rumours by Fleetwood Mac - Monday 27th January 2025

1975 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2024 2025 Alice in Chains Anthrax Entombed Green Day Iron Maiden Korn Led Zeppelin Linkin Park Megadeth Metallica Nirvana Ozzy Osbourne Pantera Pearl Jam Pink Floyd Podcast Queensrรฟche Radiohead Sepultura Slayer Slipknot The Smashing Pumpkins Tool

Archives

  • October 2025
  • September 2025
  • August 2025
  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024

Categories

  • Album Deep Dive
  • Feature
  • News
  • Podcasts
  • Review
  • Tech

You may have missed

Live Through This
8 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

The Making of Live Through This by Hole

Neil Johnson 27 October 2025
61cFjl8EwAL._UF894,1000_QL80_
5 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

A deep dive into Doolittle by Pixies

Neil Johnson 27 October 2025
tmpcn7rfxas
5 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

Para Bellum by Testament – album review

Neil Johnson 13 October 2025
Undertow album cover by Tool
21 min read
  • Album Deep Dive
  • Podcasts

Undertow: Tool’s Breakthrough Album Unveiled

Neil Johnson 5 October 2025
  • X
  • Blue Sky
  • Facebook
  • IG
  • Discord
  • Apple
  • Spotify
Copyright © All rights reserved. | MoreNews by AF themes.