Crack The Record
Do albums still matter in the playlist era? Ben and Nick think so.
On Crack The Record, they break apart classic and not-so-classic albums and build them into unique playlists by discussing what works and what doesn’t work with each tracklist. There’s song analysis, background context, petty disagreements, and mostly great music.
Hosts Ben and Nick have decades of experience in the music and entertainment industries. They’ve also been friends since middle school and spent thousands of hours discussing music. Most importantly for Crack The Record, they still care about albums and think that you should too.
Crack The Record
Latest Episodes
Beck - Odelay
It’s the 30th anniversary of Beck’s landmark album Odelay, so Ben and Nick are cracking the record. Why did this album almost not happen? How did the Dust Brothers aid the creative process? What helps keep Odelay on greatest album lists? Where ...
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
Nick and Ben are cracking the record that inspired the podcast - Red Hot Chili Peppers’ 2006 double album Stadium Arcadium. Can too much good material dull the impact of the individual songs? Why is this album John Frusciante’s masterpiece? Who...
Nada Surf - Let Go
For a traditional 23rd anniversary retrospective, Ben and Nick crack Let Go by Nada Surf. How did the album alter the band’s career trajectory? Why did the band change the tracklist themselves? Does Nada Surf mean anything? How much time can Ni...
Grammy Preview?
Ben and Nick listen to a lot of music, but it doesn’t necessarily overlap with the Grammy awards. Who are the Grammy nominated artists they did listen to in 2025? How do the Oscars and Grammys compare? What is the benefit of award ceremonies fo...
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
In 2025, Bloc Party commemorated the 20th anniversary of their debut album Silent Alarm and now Ben and Nick are going to crack the record. What is indie rock? Where do you find track 0? How does lyrical repetition and refrain drive the impact ...