Tune in as The New Dad Rock breaks it all down—one track at a time.

1994 was a year of seismic shifts—both in music and in pop culture. Nirvana’s Unplugged set the tone for the band's tragic final chapter, while Woodstock ‘94 marked the peak (and beginning of the end) of the alternative rock explosion. Meanwhile, the slow-speed chase of O.J. Simpson had the world glued to their TVs, raising the question: What were you listening to that summer?

Steve and Keith dive deep into the unforgettable music of 1994, revisiting the albums, artists, and soundtracks that shaped their listening habits. Was this truly the greatest year in music? Or is that just what a really good YouTube playlist told us? Either way, they explore the grunge, hip-hop, indie, and genre-bending albums that still hold up today.

10 Albums We Talk About in This Episode:

1. Nirvana – MTV Unplugged in New York
2. Weezer – Blue Album
3. Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral
4. Portishead – Dummy
5. Pavement – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
6. Beastie Boys – Ill Communication
7. Soundgarden – Superunknown
8. Built to Spill – There’s Nothing Wrong with Love
9. Nas – Illmatic
10. The Offspring – Smash

Expect deep cuts, hot takes, and wild tangents as Steve and Keith debate whether 1994 was really the greatest year in music history? Or is that just nostalgia talking like when CDs came in longboxes and Pulp Fiction was on repeat.

Tune in as The New Dad Rock breaks it all down—one track at a time.

Let us know what’s up.

Support the show

Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

Oh, the nerve of the season, the audacious charade,
Of this barber shop simulation where reality’s frayed!
I plopped in a chair, unassuming and tame,
In this den of shears and holiday fame.
With old barbers tending, and old carols a-playing,
The sort of tunes that leave your spirit decaying.
Oh, the pomp and the fuss, the ho-ho-humbug so trite,
In a soundtrack that’s anything but merry or bright.
But then came the moment—oh, you wouldn't believe!
A riff so electric, it made me perceive
A fracture! A tear! In the fabric of fate—
It was Halford’s Donner & Blitzen! My confusion was great.
The barbers snipped on, not a soul banged a head,
As the anthem of metal filled me with dread.
Was I the only one who could hear the intrusion?
Was this a glitch in our grand illusion?
And when the song ended, back to yule-tide’s bore,
The hoary old jingles returned once more.
Oh, simulation, you sly, cunning beast,
To slip Rob Halford into this stuffy feast.
So I ask you now, was it code or was it cheer?
Did the matrix hiccup or was my mind unclear?
Either way, dear reader, I’ll cherish this glitch,
For even a Grinch loves a good metal switch. 🎄🤘

Let us know what’s up.

Support the show

Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

EP 2024: The New Dad Rock Forever: A 2024 Mixtape

In this milestone episode, Steve and Keith look back on their favorite music of 2024, celebrating the sounds that defined the year while pondering how their ever-evolving tastes reflect the state of New Dad Rock. From iconic returns to boundary-breaking debuts, this episode is a whirlwind tour through a wildly eclectic musical landscape.

🎵 Their Top 24 of 2024:

1. The Cure - Songs of a Lost World
2. The Osees - SORCS 80
3. The Hard Quartet (Debut Album)
4. Ye - Vultures 1 & 2
5. Beak>>>>
6. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - Flight B741
7. Blood Incantation - Absolute Everywhere
8. 21 Pilots - Clancy
9. Shaboozey - Where I've Been Isn't Where I'm Going
10. Hawkwind - Stories of Time and Space
11. Arab Strap - I Am Totally Fine With It and Don't Give a F&% Anymore*
12. Charli XCX - Brat
13. Joey Valence & Brae - No Hands
14. Tyler the Creator - Chromakopia
15. Kendrick Lamar - GNX
16. HARDY - Quit!
17. Karkara - All Is Dust
18. Oranssi Pazuzu - Muuntautuja
19. Haunted Plasma (Debut Album)
20. Idles - TANGK
21. Jesus Lizard - Rack
22. Post Malone - F1 Trillion
23. ISaintJames - This Could Be
24. Ween - Chocolate & Cheese Deluxe Edition

With the usual banter, tangents, and dad jokes, Steve and Keith tackle the big question: Is The New Dad Rock still evolving, or are we just reliving our glory days in a modern guise?

🎶 Sit back, crank up the volume, and join us for this musical journey through 2024.

Let us know what’s up.

Support the show

Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

1993—The Year Dad Rock Cemented Its Legacy

Steve and Keith crank up the time machine to 1993, revisiting the year where grunge, alt-rock, and indie collided in an explosion of creativity. From late-night dorm radio at WGSU to the first season of Beavis & Butthead, they uncover the cultural threads that tied their formative music experiences together. This episode is packed with tales of Chapel Hill bands like Superchunk and Archers of Loaf, discovering Quicksand’s Slip alongside Helmet and KMFDM, and the unforgettable oddity of Ween performing on MTV Spring Break hosted by Pauly Shore.

The duo also dives into seminal albums from 1993 that continue to hold a special place in their hearts:

• In Utero by Nirvana, a raw and unfiltered masterpiece.
• Vs. by Pearl Jam, where rock met introspection.
• Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins, anthemic and lush.
• Slip by Quicksand, blending post-hardcore and alt-metal.
• Boces by Mercury Rev, a kaleidoscopic psych experiment.

They touch on genre-defining moments like Rage Against the Machine’s politically charged fury, the rise of Beck’s Loser, the enduring mystique of Tom Waits’ The Black Rider, and Phish’s Rift. They also review the latest from The Cure: Songs of a Lost World.

Tune in and take a trip back to 1993, when dad rock was evolving, and The New Dad Rock was just beginning to take shape.

Let us know what’s up.

Support the show

Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

In Episode 92 of The New Dad Rock, Steve and Keith take a deep dive back into 1992, a year that arguably defined the dawn of dad rock. This was the year that grunge hit mainstream radio, MP3s were born, and Lollapalooza was the place to be, with acts like Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Ice Cube, and Ministry. As they journey through memories of late-night concerts and cheap beers in Central Park, they reflect on iconic moments and albums that shaped the era.

Steve and Keith remember wild concerts like GWAR’s chaotic "America Must Be Destroyed" tour and the second Lollapalooza. They relive the sounds of bands like Nirvana, whose rise was unstoppable, and reflect on albums that have become dad-rock staples like Automatic for the People by R.E.M., Eric Clapton’s Unplugged, and Dirt by Alice in Chains. They also touch on lesser-known gems: The Afghan Whigs’ Congregation, PJ Harvey’s Dry, and Sonic Youth’s Dirty.

With their usual banter, Steve and Keith bring the sounds and vibes of ’92 back to life, giving a tour of the soundtrack of their youth—when Pavement, Radiohead, Beck, and Rage Against the Machine were just beginning to shape the musical landscape. So, pop in your earbuds and take a trip back in a time when rock was raw and dad rock was just getting started.

Let us know what’s up.

Support the show

Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

In this episode of The New Dad Rock, Steve and Keith are joined by special guest Bryan to dive deep into the transformative year that was 1991. The trio revisits the incredible six-week period that birthed classics from Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and uh Garth Brooks

They take aim at the beginnings of the grunge movement, starting with Temple of the Dog, the supergroup that paid tribute to Mother Love Bone's Andrew Wood and united future legends like Chris Cornell and members of Pearl Jam.

As they revisit key albums like Pearl Jam's Ten, Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger, and Red Hot Chili Peppers' Blood Sugar Sex Magik, they also touch on U2’s Achtung Baby, R.E.M.’s Out of Time, and Smashing Pumpkins’ debut Gish. Bryan shares his unique insights on Temple of the Dog and how 1991 set the stage for what would become a monumental era in music.

Other highlights include discussions on the first-ever Lollapalooza, the dominance of Queensrÿche’s Silent Lucidity, and how A Tribe Called Quest’s Low End Theory redefined hip-hop. The episode also pays tribute to the music legends we lost that year—Steve Clark of Def Leppard and Freddie Mercury of Queen.

Tune in as Keith, Steve, and Bryan reminisce about 1991, when college radio stations like 89.3 WGSU were spinning the sounds of a new generation, and the world witnessed the meteoric rise of Nirvana and Nevermind.

Let us know what’s up.

Support the show

Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

Get ready for chills, thrills, and a rockin' good time as The New Dad Rock presents its fourth Halloween special, "Every Day Is Halloween!"

In this spooky edition, Steve and Keith dive deep into the art of creating the perfect Halloween playlist. From eerie classics like "Bela Lugosi's Dead" by Bauhaus (or is that Boo-haus?) to the quirky charm of "Monster Mash," they explore the songs that set the mood for your haunted night.

Special Halloween topics include:

• Jimi Hendrix's "If Six Was Nine" and why six was afraid of seven.
• Bauhaus or Boo-Haus? The ultimate goth playlist debate.
• Tom Waits, William Burroughs, and their creepy collab.
• The spooky vibes of The Doors' "People Are Strange" and Donnie Darko’s unforgettable soundtrack.
• Day of the Dead reflections and a look back at 1990’s most supernatural hit movie: Ghost.

Whether you're crafting the ultimate Halloween party playlist or just getting into the seasonal spirit, join Steve and Keith as they discuss eerie tunes from the past, from Tom Waits to The Cure and even some spooky metal picks. Plus, they'll touch on classic horror movie soundtracks and Halloween novelty songs, ensuring your playlist has everything you need for a hauntingly good time.

So turn off the lights, light some candles, and get ready to rock as The New Dad Rock celebrates Halloween in style. Stay spooky!

Let us know what’s up.

Support the show

Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

In this episode of The New Dad Rock, Steve and Keith dive into the transformative year of 1990, a time when music was in flux, much like Steve’s transition from high school to college. They review new music from The Jesus Lizard, Mercury Rev, and Chappell Roan, but the heart of the episode is a look back at the iconic releases of 1990.

Expect deep discussions about:

• Queensrÿche’s Empire
• Iron Maiden’s No Prayer for the Dying
• Megadeth’s Rust in Peace
• Judas Priest’s Painkiller
• Slayer’s Seasons in the Abyss
• Anthrax’s Persistence of Time
• Jane’s Addiction’s Ritual de lo Habitual
• Primus’ Frizzle Fry

With King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard touring, The Pavements documentary, and Will Sergeant's book in mind, they also reflect on the changing music landscape that paved the way for the upcoming grunge explosion.

The episode touches on key themes like whether metal was running out of steam or just evolving, while also covering some big pop culture moments of 1990, including MTV’s Unplugged debut, The Simpsons series launch, and Pearl Jam’s first live show (then known as Mookie Blaylock).

Steve and Keith reminisce about what they were listening to back then, from N.W.A. on the way to Taco Bell to the inescapable chart-toppers like MC Hammer and The Black Crowes. Tune in for a trip down memory lane and see what music from 1990 still holds up today!

Let us know what’s up.

Support the show

Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.