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Riffology: Iconic Rock Albums

Uncover the details behind the most iconic albums ever recorded.

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The Making of Fear of a Blank Planet by Porcupine Tree 2303_album_art
14 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

The Making of Fear of a Blank Planet by Porcupine Tree

Neil Johnson 16 April 2025
Fear of a Blank Planet by Porcupine Tree: A Definitive Guide Some albums define a generation. Few...
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The Making of Pure by 3 Colours Red 8889_album_art
12 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

The Making of Pure by 3 Colours Red

Neil Johnson 16 April 2025
Pure by 3 Colours Red: The Definitive Story of a Britrock Landmark Few albums from the 1990s...
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The Making of www.pitchshifter.com by Pitchshifter 8894_album_art
12 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

The Making of www.pitchshifter.com by Pitchshifter

Neil Johnson 16 April 2025
www.pitchshifter.com by Pitchshifter: The Album That Redefined Industrial Metal Some albums do more than capture a moment...
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The Making of Troublegum by Therapy? 8868_album_art
14 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

The Making of Troublegum by Therapy?

Neil Johnson 16 April 2025
Troublegum by Therapy? โ€“ A Defining Moment in Alternative Rock Few albums capture the restless energy and...
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The Making of Polythene by Feeder 8885_album_art
11 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

The Making of Polythene by Feeder

Neil Johnson 16 April 2025
Polythene by Feeder: The Explosive Debut That Shaped British Rock Every so often, an album arrives at...
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The Making of Formaldehyde by Terrorvision 8849_album_art
13 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

The Making of Formaldehyde by Terrorvision

Neil Johnson 15 April 2025
Introduction Sometimes, an album lands at just the right moment to capture a bandโ€™s essence and signal...
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The Making of Young Gods by Little Angels 143_album_art
13 min read
  • Album Deep Dive

The Making of Young Gods by Little Angels

Neil Johnson 15 April 2025
Young Gods by Little Angels: The Story Behind a Hard Rock Classic Some albums seem to capture...
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The Making of Backstreet Symphony by Thunder Backstreet Symphony
15 min read
  • Album Deep Dive
  • Podcasts

The Making of Backstreet Symphony by Thunder

Neil Johnson 15 April 2025
Backstreet Symphony by Thunder: The Making of a British Hard Rock Classic Thunderโ€™s debut album, Backstreet Symphony,...
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The Making of Ten – Pearl Jam’s Iconic Debut Ten
14 min read
  • Album Deep Dive
  • Podcasts

The Making of Ten – Pearl Jam’s Iconic Debut

Neil Johnson 14 April 2025
Pearl Jam's debut album, Ten, dropped on August 27, 1991, and kicked off the grunge craze. It...
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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

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
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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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