https://simplecast.com Listen in as our four co-hosts take turns trying to defend the artists, albums, and songs that have been given short shrift by musical history. Will they win us over to their argument? Or is this music deserving of its lowly status in the pop culture landscape... 2022 On Loch LLC en Sat, 8 Nov 2025 22:15:19 +0000 Sun, 9 Nov 2025 00:44:27 +0000 https://music-defender.simplecast.com https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/bd13eb36-d224-422f-bdad-6c73da640a40/374936d6-0d4b-4249-9fff-bd1c475bc3fa/3000x3000/md-logo-final.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://music-defender.simplecast.com episodic Listen in as our four co-hosts take turns trying to defend the artists, albums, and songs that have been given short shrift by musical history. Will they win us over to their argument? Or is this music deserving of its lowly status in the pop culture landscape... Music Defender true https://feeds.simplecast.com/WFLo3l58 music commentary, music defender, music history On Loch LLC joe@onlochproductions.com 9d7b6edf-50bc-42ef-ad3c-100f741ef86f Sat, 8 Nov 2025 22:15:19 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (Joe Rosenthal, Kalli Wolf, Mat Bonnette, Michael Blocher, Ari Vais) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/covers-vs-originals-_0EPYyu0 Covers vs. Originals Joe Rosenthal, Kalli Wolf, Mat Bonnette, Michael Blocher, Ari Vais 01:39:46 Our intrepid Music Defender crew rallies around a brand-new concept from Kalli – defending originals versus cover songs (or vice versa). Michael, Joe, Kalli, and special guests Ari and Mat make their cases on this epic double episode. Calling on the Defendherd to debate, laugh, & learn! Our intrepid Music Defender crew rallies around a brand-new concept from Kalli – defending originals versus cover songs (or vice versa). Michael, Joe, Kalli, and special guests Ari and Mat make their cases on this epic double episode. Calling on the Defendherd to debate, laugh, & learn! david bowie and mick jagger, the heavy heavy, bob dylan, mary mary, real love, grateful dead, hanging on the telephone, wings, chryssie hynde, mamas and the papas, everly brothers, mike nesmith, we can work it out, gang green, til tuesday, brooklyn is love, blondie, all along the watchtower, run dmc, van halen, the kinks, soft cell, monkees, if i could fly, bring it on home, mary had a little lamb, coldplay, buddy guy, manfred mann, jimi hendrix, aimee mann, joe satriani, all the songs i didn't write, bruce springsteen, martha reeves, blinded by the light, pretenders, paul mccartney and wings, gloria jones, martha and the vandellas, tainted love, stevie wonder, sarah josepha hale, signed sealed and delivered, father john misty, the nerves, led zeppelin, the beatles, stevie ray vaughan, sha na na, sonny boy williamson, teenager in love, viva la vida, dancing in the street true full 20 3a89c83a-184b-499b-9dfb-6ad05f0368d9 Sun, 31 Aug 2025 05:17:05 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (Joe Rosenthal) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/hootie-and-the-blowfish-pOxUaaz_ Hootie and the Blowfish Joe Rosenthal 00:13:51 Arriving right in the midst of grunge's peak, a hip hop explosion, and edgy alternative rock like Weezer and GBV, the smooth and unoffensive South Carolina group Hootie and the Blowfish were perfectly positioned to become a cultural punching bag. When the unassuming group notched one of the top-selling albums of all time, the criticism only louder and harsher into a deafening roar. In this Mini Defender episode, onetime Hootie hater Joe re-evaluates his opinion. Arriving right in the midst of grunge's peak, a hip hop explosion, and edgy alternative rock like Weezer and GBV, the smooth and unoffensive South Carolina group Hootie and the Blowfish were perfectly positioned to become a cultural punching bag. When the unassuming group notched one of the top-selling albums of all time, the criticism only louder and harsher into a deafening roar. In this Mini Defender episode, onetime Hootie hater Joe re-evaluates his opinion. hold my hand, darius rucker, jim soni sonefeld, let her cry, hootie and the blowfish, only wanna be with you, 90s rock, time true full 19 880c896f-7e1e-4cd6-aa75-a0464e83f367 Sat, 14 Sep 2024 20:25:40 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (Ari Vais, Mat Bonnette, Michael Blocher, Joe Rosenthal, Kalli Wolf) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/the-kinks-are-better-than-the-stones-V9hmoeHK The Kinks Are Better Than The Stones Ari Vais, Mat Bonnette, Michael Blocher, Joe Rosenthal, Kalli Wolf 01:27:11 These two legendary bands came out of the gate at the same time as part of a British Invasion that still resonates today, 60 years later. They both sold countless millions of albums, but took decidedly different paths over the subsequent decades: one to the Village Green and the other to Exile. Guest defender Ari Vais joins the show to make the case that it is The Kinks – not the Rolling Stones – who are in fact the world's greatest rock and roll band. These two legendary bands came out of the gate at the same time as part of a British Invasion that still resonates today, 60 years later. They both sold countless millions of albums, but took decidedly different paths over the subsequent decades: one to the Village Green and the other to Exile. Guest defender Ari Vais joins the show to make the case that it is The Kinks – not the Rolling Stones – who are in fact the world's greatest rock and roll band. dave davies, mick avory, village green preservation society, beast of burden, the rolling stones, lola, ron wood, the kinks, exile on main street, ray davies, some girls, father christmas, sister morphine, pete quaife, bill wyman, all day and all of the night, charlie watts, satisfaction, british invasion, mick taylor, ruby tuesday true full 18 425fe66b-bb97-4c0d-a050-226662432809 Wed, 4 Oct 2023 05:22:52 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (Joe Rosenthal, Michael Blocher, Kalli Wolf) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/defending-the-whos-face-dances-O2Kv4NvE Defending The Who's "Face Dances" Joe Rosenthal, Michael Blocher, Kalli Wolf 00:59:50 In this episode of Music Defender, Joe tries to explain what's great about a non-rocking, slickly produced, soft-Eighties, Keith Moon-less Who. Good luck, say Michael and Kalli, while co-host Max is still studying the American Dream in Germany. In this episode of Music Defender, Joe tries to explain what's great about a non-rocking, slickly produced, soft-Eighties, Keith Moon-less Who. Good luck, say Michael and Kalli, while co-host Max is still studying the American Dream in Germany. pete townshend, john entwistle, kenny jones, keith moon, eminence front, face dances, the who, roger daltrey, you better you bet, another tricky day true full 17 7ea568db-e978-4c01-b48c-c17b5e1953a5 Sat, 27 May 2023 18:11:52 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (Joe Rosenthal) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/mini-defender-greta-van-fleet-c2wyeoXV Mini Defender: Greta Van Fleet Joe Rosenthal 00:06:09 To their fans, Greta Van Fleet are brilliantly carrying the mantle of '70s arena rock into a new era. To their detractors, of which there are many and they are passionate, they are the embodiment of everything wrong in music today. Derivative to a fault and built for algorithms. In this episode, Joe makes the case for their Van Awesomeness. To their fans, Greta Van Fleet are brilliantly carrying the mantle of '70s arena rock into a new era. To their detractors, of which there are many and they are passionate, they are the embodiment of everything wrong in music today. Derivative to a fault and built for algorithms. In this episode, Joe makes the case for their Van Awesomeness. sacred threads, starcatcher, greta van fleet, josh kiszka, meeting the master, insidehook, bonnie stiernberg, sam kiszka, jake kiszka, danny wagner, led zeppelin false full 16 626b8bfe-3eb3-4aed-9fa0-7980315d0a69 Sat, 3 Dec 2022 04:17:45 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (ari vais, joe rosenthal, michael blocher, max mckenna, Kalli Wolf) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/defending-the-stone-roses-second-coming-wAchT3Bq Defending The Stone Roses' "Second Coming" ari vais, joe rosenthal, michael blocher, max mckenna, Kalli Wolf 01:14:39 The Stone Roses were one of the biggest bands in British pop music history, but their second (and final) release "Second Coming" was widely regarded as a massive disappointment. Michael makes the case that it was, in fact, the second coming of awesomeness. The Stone Roses were one of the biggest bands in British pop music history, but their second (and final) release "Second Coming" was widely regarded as a massive disappointment. Michael makes the case that it was, in fact, the second coming of awesomeness. love spreads, the stone roses, reni, begging you, the smiths, ten story love song, fool's gold, i am the resurrection, i wanna be adored, ten storey love song, manchester music, madchester, john squire, ian brown, mani, 10 story love song, baggy sound, second coming true full 15 7565d5bc-ff34-4173-abde-00a03679b712 Sun, 21 Aug 2022 20:34:22 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (Joe Rosenthal, Kalli Wolf, Michael Blocher, Max McKenna) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/defending-coldplay-1C_EgQdd Defending Coldplay Joe Rosenthal, Kalli Wolf, Michael Blocher, Max McKenna 01:10:04 They are one of the biggest groups ever, with hit songs spanning 20-plus years, a Super Bowl appearance, scads of film and TV credits, and armfuls of Grammys. And yet, there is no doubt that people just love to hate Coldplay. Kalli sets out to bring some much needed love for the artistry of Chris Martin and Co. They are one of the biggest groups ever, with hit songs spanning 20-plus years, a Super Bowl appearance, scads of film and TV credits, and armfuls of Grammys. And yet, there is no doubt that people just love to hate Coldplay. Kalli sets out to bring some much needed love for the artistry of Chris Martin and Co. yellow, a rush of blood to the head, music podcast, radiohead, garden state, chris martin, x&y, coldplay, parachutes, music defender, clocks, fix you, zach braff, don't panic, the scientist true full 14 dc3e5646-c4c9-44b4-9fdf-458e19dd0d9e Sun, 1 May 2022 18:34:58 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (On Loch LLC) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/mini-defender-defending-the-firm-vB7dbEnH Mini Defender: Defending The Firm (in 10 minutes or less!) On Loch LLC 00:10:09 We're debuting a new spin on the tried and true Music Defender formula – the "Mini Defender." All you love about Music Defender in 10 minutes or less. For this one, Joe makes the case for the forgotten 1985 supergroup The Firm. Were they super ... or superbly bland and cynically corporate? We're debuting a new spin on the tried and true Music Defender formula – the "Mini Defender." All you love about Music Defender in 10 minutes or less. For this one, Joe makes the case for the forgotten 1985 supergroup The Firm. Were they super ... or superbly bland and cynically corporate? david gilmour, chris slade, bad company, paul rodgers, tony franklin, uriah heep, the firm, led zeppelin, radioactive, badco, classic rock, supergroup true full 13 759019b8-e893-4bf1-941b-b2f098271fde Tue, 18 Jan 2022 01:30:58 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (joe rosenthal, kalli wolf, michael blocher, max mckenna) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/defending-the-rolling-stones-dirty-work-Ajb8E0Hi Defending The Rolling Stones' "Dirty Work" joe rosenthal, kalli wolf, michael blocher, max mckenna 01:16:42 Of all the Rolling Stones' albums, perhaps none is more disliked or apt to be forgotten than 1986's "Dirty Work." Joe tries to make the case for this neon-clad LP and its crisp Steve Lillywhite production. Of all the Rolling Stones' albums, perhaps none is more disliked or apt to be forgotten than 1986's "Dirty Work." Joe tries to make the case for this neon-clad LP and its crisp Steve Lillywhite production. mick jagger, harlem shuffle, music podcast, rolling stones, patty scialfa, ron wood, too rude, keith richards, music history, sleep tonight, dirty work, bill wyman, charlie watts, tom waits, steve lillywhite true full 12 d7b280a0-e2e8-4f1d-9dc2-ffd3547d9800 Wed, 15 Dec 2021 06:09:51 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (michael blocher, kalli wolf, max mckenna, joe rosenthal) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/defending-the-beach-boys-the-beach-boys-love-you-SNuegQhm Defending The Beach Boys' "The Beach Boys Love You" michael blocher, kalli wolf, max mckenna, joe rosenthal 01:12:53 The Beach Boys are known for their sunny surf hits, stadium-filling live shows, the groundbreaking album "Pet Sounds," and the many trials and tribulations of genius bandleader Brian Wilson. What they are not known for is the synth-driven 1977 LP "The Beach Boys Love You." On this episode of Music Defender, Michael sets out to change that. The Beach Boys are known for their sunny surf hits, stadium-filling live shows, the groundbreaking album "Pet Sounds," and the many trials and tribulations of genius bandleader Brian Wilson. What they are not known for is the synth-driven 1977 LP "The Beach Boys Love You." On this episode of Music Defender, Michael sets out to change that. surfin safari, brian wilson, carl wilson, music podcast, al jardine, dennis wilson, mike love, bruce johnston, music history, good vibrations, surfin usa, beach boys love you, the beach boys, pet sounds, classic rock, god only knows true full 11 bed2ab9b-2029-4331-993d-19fae4f0bddf Thu, 5 Aug 2021 12:45:37 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (michael blocher, matty conaghan, joe rosenthal, damon lockett, kalli wolf, max mckenna) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/defending-creeds-human-clay-VLS_zesy Defending Creed's "Human Clay" michael blocher, matty conaghan, joe rosenthal, damon lockett, kalli wolf, max mckenna 01:07:45 Music Defender welcomes its first guest defender, Matty Conaghan, who takes on the formidable task of defending Creed's "Human Clay." It's an album that guest contributor Damon Lockett calls "Wal-Mart Alice In Chains," and the rest of the MD crew put up strong resistance to the idea that there is anything to redeem at all. Can Matty make the case and take us all higher as we look at "Human Clay" from the vantage point of 2021? Music Defender welcomes its first guest defender, Matty Conaghan, who takes on the formidable task of defending Creed's "Human Clay." It's an album that guest contributor Damon Lockett calls "Wal-Mart Alice In Chains," and the rest of the MD crew put up strong resistance to the idea that there is anything to redeem at all. Can Matty make the case and take us all higher as we look at "Human Clay" from the vantage point of 2021? music podcast, music podcasts, grunge, music history, music defender, creed, higher, mark tremonti, alice in chains, scott stapp, human clay true full 10 ae146127-9744-4d92-a737-07391477213e Fri, 16 Jul 2021 22:17:08 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (Michael Blocher, Max McKenna, Kalli Wolf, Joe Rosenthal) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/defending-weezers-red-album-dYiVeDXo Defending Weezer's Red Album Michael Blocher, Max McKenna, Kalli Wolf, Joe Rosenthal 01:02:59 It was considered an experimental album – but many Weezer fans and music critics just thought it sucked, placing it near the bottom of the band's album rankings. In this episode of Music Defender, Kalli explains why the Red Album deserve another spin. It was considered an experimental album – but many Weezer fans and music critics just thought it sucked, placing it near the bottom of the band's album rankings. In this episode of Music Defender, Kalli explains why the Red Album deserve another spin. music podcasts, music defender, weezer, red album, rivers cuomo true full 9 bd7a7da8-a9b7-4942-ae1d-59eeeeb8aefc Tue, 11 May 2021 00:58:28 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (kalli wolf, joe rosenthal, max mckenna, michael blocher) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/defending-smashing-pumpkins-adore-9XHxZIg2 Defending Smashing Pumpkins' "Adore" kalli wolf, joe rosenthal, max mckenna, michael blocher 01:16:22 After the massive success of "Gish," "Siamese Dream," and "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness," Smashing Pumpkins released the (relatively speaking) critical and commercial flop "Adore." Co-host Max makes the case that this under-appreciated Pumpkin is fact the ripest in the patch. After the massive success of "Gish," "Siamese Dream," and "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness," Smashing Pumpkins released the (relatively speaking) critical and commercial flop "Adore." Co-host Max makes the case that this under-appreciated Pumpkin is fact the ripest in the patch. billy corgan, adore, music podcast, gish, alternative rock, smashing pumpkins, guitar god, siamese dream, 1979, grunge, music history, music defender, mellon collie and the infinite sadness, perfect, ava adore true full 8 924d96ba-e645-4cca-901f-da2b4401a5c0 Sat, 13 Mar 2021 22:28:38 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (max mckenna, michael blocher, kalli wolf, joe rosenthal) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/defending-spin-doctors-wyQqbPvO Defending Spin Doctors max mckenna, michael blocher, kalli wolf, joe rosenthal 00:45:18 There are few bands whose public perception has swung so severely from adoration to simmering hatred as '90s pop-jam band Spin Doctors. Music Defender co-host Joe builds his patchouli-scented the defense on this episode. There are few bands whose public perception has swung so severely from adoration to simmering hatred as '90s pop-jam band Spin Doctors. Music Defender co-host Joe builds his patchouli-scented the defense on this episode. music podcast, spin doctors, music history, music defender, music criticism, pocketful of kryptonite true full 7 3b232831-ba61-460d-8692-2f6e0a9e0178 Fri, 26 Feb 2021 21:42:08 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (Michael Blocher, Kalli Wolf, Max McKenna, Joe Rosenthal) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/defending-leonard-cohens-death-of-a-ladies-man-mIkA8Ifo Defending Leonard Cohen's Death of a Ladies Man Michael Blocher, Kalli Wolf, Max McKenna, Joe Rosenthal 00:34:23 On this episode of Music Defender, Max makes the case for Leonard Cohen's 1977 underappreciated, Phil Spector-produced album "Death of a Ladies Man." On this episode of Music Defender, Max makes the case for Leonard Cohen's 1977 underappreciated, Phil Spector-produced album "Death of a Ladies Man." music podcast, music history, music defender, leonard cohen true full 6 216d6e37-9d39-493f-a09d-5d8dd91c8acf Wed, 17 Feb 2021 20:30:51 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (max mckenna, michael blocher, joe rosenthal, kalli wolf) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/defending-paul-mccartneys-1970s-era-solo-work-onfDglnR Defending Paul McCartney's 1970s-Era Solo Work max mckenna, michael blocher, joe rosenthal, kalli wolf 01:16:13 Join us as Michael defends Paul McCartney's solo output (in its various incarnations) between 1969 and 1979. Can he prove Macca was superior to John? (Or George or Ringo, if you favor the Quiet One or the Comical One.) It's always a good time for a Beatle Battle! Join us as Michael defends Paul McCartney's solo output (in its various incarnations) between 1969 and 1979. Can he prove Macca was superior to John? (Or George or Ringo, if you favor the Quiet One or the Comical One.) It's always a good time for a Beatle Battle! george harrison, beatles podcast, sir paul, music podcast, music history, paul mccartney, john lennon, ringo starr, macca, john lennon podcast, the beatles, paul mccartney podcast true full 5 476bca1e-6469-481a-a9d9-fb60cdb79214 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 06:59:25 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (Max, Joe, Kalli, Michael) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/defending-red-hot-chili-peppers-stadium-arcadium-Xppj5kEC Defending Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Stadium Arcadium" Max, Joe, Kalli, Michael 00:38:58 Kalli makes the case for the awesomeness of "Stadium Arcadium," an album that's often bashed by early-era RHCP fans and purists for being overly long, dated, and scattered. Kalli makes the case for the awesomeness of "Stadium Arcadium," an album that's often bashed by early-era RHCP fans and purists for being overly long, dated, and scattered. stadium arcadium, red hot chili peppers, rhcp, music history, music defender true full 4 3252c0e1-d71b-4842-a6ba-eeb7c05f6d74 Wed, 13 Jan 2021 07:25:04 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (Joe, Max, Kalli, Michael) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/defending-boston-wMUV9zeq Defending Boston Joe, Max, Kalli, Michael 00:48:49 They had one of the top-selling debuts of all time, but that couldn't spare them from legions of critics who considered them corporate rock, emotionless radio fodder, and not even a real band. Our co-host Joe explains why, to the contrary, Boston may be one of the greatest American rock bands ever. They had one of the top-selling debuts of all time, but that couldn't spare them from legions of critics who considered them corporate rock, emotionless radio fodder, and not even a real band. Our co-host Joe explains why, to the contrary, Boston may be one of the greatest American rock bands ever. tom scholz, music, boston the band, music history, bred delp true full 3 3ac1d807-32d1-4b01-977a-ab3be0838db7 Wed, 16 Dec 2020 07:56:04 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (Kalli, Joe, Max, Mike) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/music-defender-meat-loafs-bat-out-of-hell-8V1ZWwj4 Defending Meat Loaf's "Bat Out of Hell" Kalli, Joe, Max, Mike 01:02:07 On this episode of Music Defender, Max makes the case for Meat Loaf's much maligned '70s mega-theatrical album "Bat Out of Hell." (2020 Onloch LLC all rights reserved.) On this episode of Music Defender, Max makes the case for Meat Loaf's much maligned '70s mega-theatrical album "Bat Out of Hell." (2020 Onloch LLC all rights reserved.) meat loaf, music history, music defender true full 2 ce08473c-53fa-436b-a483-f0b860e646f5 Fri, 4 Dec 2020 01:08:37 +0000 joe@onlochproductions.com (Max, onloch, Kalli, Michael, Joe) https://music-defender.simplecast.com/episodes/music-defender-phil-collins-no-jacket-required-oo7bwCFh Defending Phil Collins' No Jacket Required Max, onloch, Kalli, Michael, Joe 00:28:42 On this episode of Music Defender Michael does his best to set the record straight on the oft-maligned mid-Eighties Phil Collins release "No Jacket Required." Will he win us – and you, dear listener – over to his way of thinking? Is it a collection of poorly aging synth songs with mediocre lyrics ... or a timeless masterwork? (2020 Onloch LLC all rights reserved.) On this episode of Music Defender Michael does his best to set the record straight on the oft-maligned mid-Eighties Phil Collins release "No Jacket Required." Will he win us – and you, dear listener – over to his way of thinking? Is it a collection of poorly aging synth songs with mediocre lyrics ... or a timeless masterwork? (2020 Onloch LLC all rights reserved.) music history, music defender, music commentary true full 1