Get your passports ready! On our mid-season finale we hear from five bands from all across the globe putting their own unique spin on the '70s prog rock sound. We discuss the highs and lows, the context surrounding the albums, even anime themes they may have inspired (?!), and of course our album rankings and top 5 tracks. Albums Discussed: Moving Waves by Focus Sudamérica o el Regreso a la Aurora by Arco Iris MDK by Magma The Cave Down to Earth by Far East Family Band Danger by The Lijadu Sisters   Follow us on twitter @andyhearsit Email us at andyhearsit@gmail.com Show notes and more at actn.wordpress.com

We continue our prog rock mini series with the seven '70s albums of Pink Floyd! A legendary run of albums from a legendary band.  Guitar solos, existential crises, eerie reunions, giant pigs, we cover all that and more along with ranking the albums and picking our top 5 songs! Albums Discussed: Atom Heart Mother Meddle Obscured by Clouds The Dark Side of the Moon Wish You Were Here Animals The Wall   Follow us on twitter @andyhearsit Email us at andyhearsit@gmail.com Show notes and more at actn.wordpress.com

Happy Father's Day! I talk to my Dad about all things Genesis on this very special episode of the podcast. They were one of his favorite bands growing up, one of the defining bands of the prog rock scene that went on to become one of the surprise hit makers of the '80s.Albums Discussed: Trespass Nursery Cryme Foxtrot Selling England By the Pound The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway A Trick of the Tail Wind and Wuthering ...And Then There Were Three...   Follow us on twitter @andyhearsit Email us at andyhearsit@gmail.com Show notes and more at actn.wordpress.com 

We thought it would be fun to follow up our Stevie Wonder episode with the albums of one of his closes collaborators, Syreeta Wright.  Their partnership continued on much of her solo work, but she also made some incredible music without him that cannot be overlooked! Albums Discussed: Syreeta (1972) Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta One to One Rich Love, Poor Love (w/ G.C. Cameron)   Follow us on twitter @andyhearsit Email us at andyhearsit@gmail.com Show notes and more at actn.wordpress.com

Stevie Wonder had an unparalleled run of albums in the 1970s and we are here to talk about them all! From Motown Wünderkind to Grammy Guarantor, few artist have had the arc Stevie had in this decade.  All that plus our album rankings and top 5 songs! Albums Discussed: Signed, Sealed & Delivered Where I'm Coming From Music of My Mind Talking Book Innervisions Fulfillingness' First Finale Songs in the Key of Life Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants   Follow us on twitter @andyhearsit Email us at andyhearsit@gmail.com Show notes and more at actn.wordpress.com  

This week we countdown the top 11 best selling albums from the 1970s, highlighting five of them while using the rest to give a sneak preview of some upcoming episodes this season!   Albums Discussed: Tapestry by Carole King Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John Grease: The Original Soundtrack Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 by Eagles Bat Out of Hell by Meat Loaf   Follow us on twitter @andyhearsit Email us at andyhearsit@gmail.com Show notes and more at actn.wordpress.com

It's the season premiere of Andy Hears the '70s!  As we transition into the new (old) decade, we take a listen to the '70s and '80s albums of THE Bruce Springsteen.  We also discuss his autobiography, rank all 8 albums, and give our picks for the top 5 songs. Albums Discussed: Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle Born to Run Darkness on the Edge of Town The River Nebraska Born in the USA Tunnel of Love   Follow us on twitter @andyhearsit Email us at andyhearsit@gmail.com Show notes and more at actn.wordpress.com  

Aaron got to interview Tommy Stinson of The Replacements!  And not only that, Tommy performed an acoustic set live on WCHL radio in Chapel Hill!  In this special bonus episode, we talk to Aaron about how it came together, as well as take a listen to the interview and some of the performance.   Listen to the full interview here. Listen to the full live performance from both Tommy and Diane Gentile here. Visit TommyStinson.com for everything Tommy Stinson. Follow us on twitter @andyhearsit Email us at andyhearsit@gmail.com  

On this mini-episode, Andy recaps the entire tournament as it played out on Twitter! Thank you to everyone who voted in the many polls to decide the listeners' pick for Best Album of the '80s! What a season! Follow us on twitter @andyhearsit You can find the original bracket along with the methodology and show notes at actn.wordpress.com Email us at andyhearsit@gmail.com

It all comes down to this! Our Final Four albums square off in the thrilling conclusion to this March Madness bracket of Album Absurdity, and the Best Album of the '80s is crowned! Vote on your picks on Twitter @andyhearsit Full bracket and methodology available at actn.wordpress.com

After some agonizing Sweet 16 matchups, the Elite 8 breeze on by!  By the time you finish reading this you could have already listened to the episode! Vote on your picks on Twitter @andyhearsit Full bracket and methodology available at actn.wordpress.com

After two rounds of place-setting, the toughest decisions of the tournament thus far are made in the Sweet 16!  Plus one or two fairly easy decisions.   Vote on your picks on Twitter @andyhearsit Full bracket and methodology available at actn.wordpress.com

The second round of deliberations for the Late '80s Arena and Club divisions get underway including a long overdue defense of Daydream Nation! Vote on your picks on Twitter @andyhearsit Full bracket and methodology available at actn.wordpress.com

The round one winners in the Early '80s Arena and Club divisions fight for survival once more! Which of these incredible albums will move on this time? Vote on your picks on Twitter @andyhearsit Full bracket and methodology available at actn.wordpress.com

Our final set of round 1 competition features such albums as Surfer Rosa, Daydream Nation, Rhyme Pays, Skylarking, and many more!  Which albums will make it through to round 2?  Vote on your picks on Twitter @andyhearsit Full bracket and methodology available at actn.wordpress.com

The beat goes on as the powerhouse competitors in the Late '80s Arena division rock the paint!  Competing albums include The Joshua Tree, Paul's Boutique, Paid in Full, Sign O the Times, Graceland, and many more! Vote on your picks on Twitter @andyhearsit Full bracket and methodology available at actn.wordpress.com

The bracket rages on as Andy and Aaron debate the first round match-ups in the Early '80s Club division, with albums such as Nightclubbing, The Message, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, and Zen Arcade all fighting to advance. Vote on your picks on Twitter @andyhearsit Full bracket and methodology available at actn.wordpress.com

March Madness has brought about Album Absurdity as we take a field of 64 albums and decide the best album of the '80s!  First up, the Early '80s Arena division with competitors such as Thriller, Purple Rain, Born in the USA, Speaking in Tongues, and Murmur! Vote on your picks on twitter @andyhearsit Full bracket and methodology available at actn.wordpress.com

We wrap up season 2 with an episode full of the greatest songs of the '80s!  We look back on all the great music we heard during the show and present our picks for the best tracks in the following categories: Top 5 Opening Tracks Top 5 Cover Songs Top 5 Sax Trax Top 5 Guitar Solos Top 5 Closing Tracks Top 15 Songs of the '80s Show notes for this and every episode available at actn.wordpress.com Follow us on twitter @andyhearsit Email us at andyhearsit@gmail.com

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!  We've got a special episode all about A Very Special Christmas, the 1987 Christmas compilation benefiting the Special Olympics.  We discuss some of our favorite holiday tunes before going track-by-track on the album. Albums Discussed: A Very Special Christmas (1987) Show notes for this and every episode available at actn.wordpress.com Follow us on twitter @andyhearsit Email us at andyhearstheeighties@gmail.com