A podcast in which two friends give each other an album to listen to. The caveat: the listener has never heard the album before.
unheardpodcast.substack.com (https://unheardpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
In this episode, Alex looks down the sofa for his punk membership card but can’t find it (perhaps he left it at the Green Day gig back in ‘05?); Tom gets hip to the hop and, as it transpires, can’t stop. We discuss problems surrounding capitalism, identity, and culture, ultimately fixing all of them.
Albums discussed
Tom gave Alex No Dream and Ska Dream, both by Jeff Rosenstock.
Alex gave Tom Illmatic by Nas and To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unheardpodcast.substack.com (https://unheardpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
19 Apr 2026
#14 The Mountain
In this episode, Alex and Tom both listen to the same album: Gorillaz’s The Mountain. We discuss serious philosophical matters of life and death. Goodness. I hope they’ve thrown in some dick jokes.
Next week is a double album special: expect Jeff Rosenstock x2, Nas, and Kendrick Lamar.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unheardpodcast.substack.com (https://unheardpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
15 Mar 2026
#13 The Plastic Sound
In this episode, Alex’s favourite album of the year Greeps up on him and never lets him go; Tom plays Spot the Albarn on a plastic beach drawn by Jamie Hewlett. We discuss singular artistic vision and the power of musical collaboration. And prostitutes. There’s lots about prostitutes.
Albums discussed
Tom gave Alex The New Sound by Geordie Greep.
Alex gave Tom Plastic Beach by Gorillaz.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unheardpodcast.substack.com (https://unheardpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
26 Jan 2026
#11 Tallakissy
In this episode, which was recorded a long time ago 3cm from the surface of the sun, Alex plays marriage counsellor; Tom gets kisses and hugs. We muse about America, broken people, and the fragility of something-or-other. Who knows. It was bloody hot, you know.
Albums discussed
Tom gave Alex Tallahassee by The Mountain Goats.
Alex gave Tom XO by Elliott Smith.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unheardpodcast.substack.com (https://unheardpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
26 Jan 2026
#12 SuperFrank
In this episode, Tom parties like it’s 2008 (he had a lot less hair back then); Alex gets himself on a CIA watchlist. Jazz is criticised in jazz-like discourse. That’s postmodernism for you.
Albums discussed
Alex gave Tom Superabundance by Young Knives.
Tom gave Alex Frank’s Wild Years by Tom Waits.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unheardpodcast.substack.com (https://unheardpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
5 Jul 2025
#10 Sing to the Pastoral
Tom and Alex discuss Laura Mvula's Sing to the Moon and Gazelle Twin's Pastoral, exploring themes of album form, Englishness, and jazz in this episode.
3 May 2025
#9 Broken Alligator Outside, Boxer
In this episode, Tom is punched and bitten by a Boxer and an Alligator respectively, but don’t worry: he enjoyed every second. Alex wonders why so many women are being murdered in Appalachia, but he can’t help but groove to the danse macabre. There’s going to be a hiatus while Tom gets married, but we’ll be back. Promise.
Albums discussed
Alex gave Tom Alligator and Boxer by The National.
Tom gave Alex Broken Hymns, Limbs and Skin and Outside by O’Death.
Next time
We’ve given each other three albums each. You’ll have to wait to find out which we pick for the next episode.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unheardpodcast.substack.com (https://unheardpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
2 Mar 2025
#8 Clarity Is Really Great, Sort Of...
In this episode, Alex decides that poetry is not, after all, for the birds, but is very satisfying when sung by a Bird; Tom wishes some Arizonans would turn the bloody noise up, please, and rather loves it when they do. Alex wrecks the intro; Tom saves it. Sorry we’ve been away so long.
Albums discussed
Tom gave Alex Things Are Really Great Here, Sort Of... by Andrew Bird (2014)
Alex gave Tom Clarity by Jimmy Eat World (1999)
Next time
A double album special, featuring o’death and The National.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unheardpodcast.substack.com (https://unheardpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
28 Dec 2024
#7: O My Super Taranta Heart
In this episode, Tom enjoys a second trip to whimsical, witty Canada; Alex realises he knows nothing about Ukraine. The accent should have been cut. Sorry, Ukrainians. But we’re not saying sorry to Bob Geldof.
Albums discussed:
Alex gave Tom O My Heart by Mother Mother
Tom gave Alex Super Taranta! by Gogol Bordello
Next time:
Clarity by Jimmy Eat World
Things Are Really Great Here, Sort Of by Andrew Bird
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unheardpodcast.substack.com (https://unheardpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
9 Dec 2024
#6: The Reconstruction of Death
Alex and Tom discuss the album form, exploring the Reconstruction of Death through The Scaramanga Six and The Weakerthans, revealing the power of music to transcend mortality.
9 Nov 2024
#5: Peasants Fall Apart
In this episode, Tom gives Alex yet more folk whose opening track’s farty trumpet causes trepidation; Alex gives Tom Jimmy Fallon’s house band before they were Jimmy Fallon’s house band. Tom is ill (not because of the music).
Albums discussed:
* Peasant by Richard Dawson
* Things Fall Apart by The Roots
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unheardpodcast.substack.com (https://unheardpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
21 Sept 2024
#4: The False Fear of False Lankum
In this episode, Tom gives Alex an album that makes him question the very nature of liking things; Alex gives Tom an album that sends Tom down the metal subgenres rabbithole. The introduction is botched.
Albums discussed:
* False Lankum by Lankum
* The Fear of Fear (EP) by Spiritbox
Next week’s albums:
* Peasant by Richard Dawson
* Things Fall Apart by The Roots
Here is the metal website whose name Alex couldn’t remember (https://www.metal-archives.com/)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unheardpodcast.substack.com (https://unheardpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
31 Aug 2024
#3 This Could Be The Holy Texas Bible
In this episode, Tom finds beauty in the horror (and horror in the beauty) much to his delight; Alex realises that whatever he is feeling will be weaponised.
Tom gave Alex This Could Be Texas by English Teacher (2024)
Alex gave Tom The Holy Bible by Manic Street Preachers (1994)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unheardpodcast.substack.com (https://unheardpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
10 Aug 2024
#2: Songs Preserved While Our Mothers Float Up
In our second episode, Tom is surprised by a sweet suite of Mancunian space-rock; Alex is irritated by post-punk edgelords. There is much flailing.
Tom gave Alex: Songs for Our Mothers (https://open.spotify.com/album/1tbCzNTk9hJ8c9pzK62hgd?si=a9s7Mk6KRC6GV3FlXp4Yxg) by Fat White Family (https://open.spotify.com/album/1tbCzNTk9hJ8c9pzK62hgd?si=a9s7Mk6KRC6GV3FlXp4Yxg)
Alex gave Tom: Self-Preserved While the Bodies Float Up (https://oceansize.bandcamp.com/album/self-preserved-while-the-bodies-float-up) by Oceansize (2009)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unheardpodcast.substack.com (https://unheardpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
23 Jul 2024
#1: The Modern Ants Up There Are Rubbish
Alex gets Tom to confront his hatred of Britpop; Tom gets Alex to listen to a punk band let loose in the school music cupboard. This makes both of them lie back and think of England.
Albums featured:
- Modern Life is Rubbish by Blur
- Ants From Up There by Black Country, New Road
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unheardpodcast.substack.com (https://unheardpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
Podcast Authority Score: 6 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
13
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
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