• Arctic Monkeys Live at Glastonbury Festival 2023 Commentary
    Mar 23 2026

    The Big Mates provide pointy and muddy audio commentary for Arctic Monkeys Live at Glastonbury Festival 2023.

    Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the 2023 headlining performance as broadcast to television, and as witness with Adam's own two eyes. They also talk about how the band toured The Car.

    Head to YouTube to watch along here:

    https://archive.org/details/arctic-monkeys-glastonbury-2023

    Or don't watch along - the episode works fine either way!

    Our next episode comes out Monday March 30th!

    Join the conversation on:
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    E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com

    Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon!
    Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including an album club and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!

    Support our show when starting your own podcast!
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    1 hr and 57 mins
  • The Car (Pt. 2)
    Mar 16 2026

    The Big Mates discuss Arrested Development, cowboys, J.W. Pepper, and The Car by Arctic Monkeys.

    Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their exploration of the career of Arctic Monkeys and conclude their track-by-track analysis of their seventh studio album.

    They explore the composition, tone, lyrics, meaning, and context for each song in turn - all from three differing perspectives, from being deeply into music and analysis, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between!

    They also look at the legacy of the album, where the band could possibly go from here, and how they wrapped up their most recent tour.

    What do we make of the album? Is it the end of Arctic Monkeys? What is the Benidorm lasagne vending machine? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?

    Our next episode is out next week, Monday March 23rd!

    Join the conversation on:
    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatismusicpod.bsky.social
    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@whatismusicpod
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpod
    E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com

    Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon!
    Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including our album club and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!

    Support our show when starting your own podcast!
    By signing up to Buzzsprout with this link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=780379

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    1 hr and 41 mins
  • The Car (Pt. 1)
    Mar 9 2026

    The Big Mates discuss textual mishaps, DVD technology, Waluigi, and The Car by Arctic Monkeys.

    Adam, Steve, and Lucas begin their dissection of the band's seventh and most recent album by talking about orchestras, pandemics, and how they entered the studio to record a guitar-based rock album.

    They discuss the writing, rehearsal, and recording of what became The Car, explore the overall themes and sound, and begin their track-by-track analysis, exploring the composition, tone, lyrics, meaning, and context for each song in turn - all from three differing perspectives, from being deeply into music and analysis, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between!

    What direction did the band go in this time? What’s the opposite of falsetto? What’s a freaky keypad? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?

    Our next episode is out next week, Monday March 16th, and will continue the deep-dive into The Car!

    Join the conversation on:
    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatismusicpod.bsky.social
    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@whatismusicpod
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    E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com

    Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon!
    Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including our album club and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!

    Support our show when starting your own podcast!
    By signing up to Buzzsprout with this link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=780379

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    1 hr and 47 mins
  • Arctic Monkeys Live at the Royal Albert Hall
    Mar 2 2026

    The Big Mates discuss the Turkish barber experience, winter camping, live documents, and Live at the Royal Albert Hall by Arctic Monkeys.

    Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their exploration of the band's career by examining their one and only live album!

    What do we make of this album? What do we make of live albums in general? What is munge? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?

    Our next episode is out next week, Monday March 9th, and will see us begin the deep-dive into The Car!

    Join the conversation on:
    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatismusicpod.bsky.social
    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@whatismusicpod
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpod
    E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com

    Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon!
    Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including our album club and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!

    Support our show when starting your own podcast!
    By signing up to Buzzsprout with this link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=780379

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    Donate to our podcast!
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Arctic Monkeys Live at Les Nuits de Fourvière 2018 Commentary
    Feb 23 2026

    The Big Mates provide brisk and unwieldy audio commentary for Arctic Monkeys Live at Les Nuits de Fourvière 2018.

    Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the 2018 concert and talk about how Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino divided opinion upon release.

    Head to YouTube to watch along here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9_DFJsNu_0

    Or don't watch along - the episode works fine either way!

    Our next episode comes out Monday March 2nd!

    Join the conversation on:
    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatismusicpod.bsky.social
    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@whatismusicpod
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpod
    E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com

    Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon!
    Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including an album club and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!

    Support our show when starting your own podcast!
    By signing up to Buzzsprout with this link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=780379

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    1 hr and 28 mins
  • Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (Pt. 3)
    Feb 16 2026

    The Big Mates discuss moon firsts, flesh worlds, word symmetry, and Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino by Arctic Monkeys.

    Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their exploration of the career of Arctic Monkeys and conclude their track-by-track analysis of their sixth album.

    They explore the composition, tone, lyrics, meaning, and context for each song in turn - all from three differing perspectives, from being deeply into music and analysis, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between!

    They also look at the legacy of the album, the success of the album, and how it split the fanbase upon arrival.

    What do we think of the album? Did Alex Turner predict the 2020 pandemic? Will Adam’s prediction hold true? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?

    Our next episode is out next week, Monday February 23rd!

    Join the conversation on:
    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatismusicpod.bsky.social
    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@whatismusicpod
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpod
    E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com

    Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon!
    Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including our album club and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!

    Support our show when starting your own podcast!
    By signing up to Buzzsprout with this link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=780379

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    1 hr and 35 mins
  • Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (Pt. 2)
    Feb 9 2026

    The Big Mates discuss automobile mishaps, instagram tacos, virtual reality, and Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino by Arctic Monkeys.

    Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their dissection of the band's sixth album by talking about the musicians involved in creating it, a change in the credits, how much of the creative weight landed on Alex Turner's shoulders.

    They discuss the recording of the album and continue their track-by-track analysis, exploring the composition, tone, lyrics, meaning, and context for each song in turn - all from three differing perspectives, from being deeply into music and analysis, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between!

    Why is Steve such a trite filmmaker? Is Bridgerton a book? What is this, a hotel for ants? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?

    Our next episode is out next week, Monday February 16th, and will continue and conclude our deep-dive into Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino!

    Join the conversation on:
    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatismusicpod.bsky.social
    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@whatismusicpod
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpod
    E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com

    Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon!
    Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including our album club and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!

    Support our show when starting your own podcast!
    By signing up to Buzzsprout with this link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=780379

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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (Pt. 1)
    Feb 2 2026

    The Big Mates discuss Cameron, Kubrick, Fellini, and Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino by Arctic Monkeys.

    Adam, Steve, and Lucas begin their dissection of the band's seixth album by talking about pianos, conspiracy theories, the desire to make a different kind of album, and how Alex overcame writer's block.

    They discuss the writing and initial recording of the album, explore the overall themes and sound, and begin their track-by-track analysis, exploring the composition, tone, lyrics, meaning, and context for each song in turn - all from three differing perspectives, from being deeply into music and analysis, to not caring for art or critique, and everything in between!

    How mean is the album teaser? Were Arctic Monkeys always going to be like that? Is the moon hotel real? Find out on this episode of What Is Music?

    Our next episode is out next week, Monday February 9th, and will continue the deep-dive into Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino!

    Join the conversation on:
    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatismusicpod.bsky.social
    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@whatismusicpod
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatismusicpod
    E-mail: whatismusicpod@gmail.com

    Get access to more shows, exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes of this show, and more music discussion by subscribing to our Patreon!
    Head to patreon.com/whatismusicpod and receive up to two new episodes of our various shows every week (including our album club and monthly themed playlists!), ad-free archives of What Is Music?, and access to our Patron-only Discord server for even more music (and non-music) discussion!

    Support our show when starting your own podcast!
    By signing up to Buzzsprout with this link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=780379

    Check out our merch!
    https://whatismusicpod.redbubble.com
    Donate to our podcast!
    https://ko-fi.com/whatismusic

    http://whatismusic.buzzsprout.com/

    Support the show

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 40 mins