Sinéad O'Connor - I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got

In Episode 56 of Backwards Beats, Dan and Carl dive into Sinéad O’Connor’s 1990 breakthrough album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, ranked #457 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. The hosts explore O’Connor’s uncompromising artistry, emotional directness, and complex relationship with fame, while unpacking the musical and cultural impact of her most famous recording, “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
Along the way, they examine her vocal technique, production choices, and fearless creative risks, including the album’s striking a cappella title track. The conversation balances historical context, music theory, and personal reflection, highlighting why this record remains both challenging and deeply influential.
Music Referenced
The Lion and the Cobra by Sinéad O'Connor
Nothing Compares to You by Prince
Nothing Compares to You by Chris Cornell
Smooth Criminal by Alien Ant Farm
Live Action by Nate Smith
Layla Hathaway
Christian McBride
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Stone Temple Pilots
Alice in Chains
Plea by Flea
Al Green
Jefferson Airplane
Eddie Vedder
Join us next week when we hop into Al Green's Greatest Hits.

Jason Isbell - Southeastern (#458)

In this episode of the Backwards Beats Podcast, Carl and Dandive into album #458 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list: Jason Isbell’s 2013 masterpiece, Southeastern. The duo explores Isbell’s journey from his roots in Alabama to his tenure with the Drive-By Truckers and his eventual path to sobriety, which served as the catalyst for this deeply personal record. Featuring guest commentary on vocal techniques from director Julia Cowles, the episode breaks down the album’s shifts from haunting folk narratives to gritty Americana.
Music Referenced
Decoration Day by Drive-by Truckers
the Dirty South by Drive-by Truckers
Blessing and a Curse by Drive-by Truckers
outfit by Drive-by Truckers
Chris Stapleton
Brandy Carlisle
John Prine
Sturgill Simpson
The Oak Ridge Boys
Amanda Shires
Kim Richie
All My Life by Foo Fighters
Bob Dylan
Winona Judd
Trisha Yearwood
Brooks and Dunn
Who Wants to Live Forever by Freddie Mercury
Norwegian Wood by The Beatles
Scarecrow by John Mellencamp
Pink Houses by John Mellencamp
Leonard Cohen
Tom Waits
Breakfast in Bed by Dusty Springfield
Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
Yesterday's Wine by Willie Nelson
The 400 Unit
Miranda Lambert
Sheryl Crow
Michael Jackson
Laura Nyro
Richard Thompson
Linda Thompson
Daddy Yankee
Snarky Puppy
Prince
Join us next week as we discuss I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got by Sinead O'Connor.

Kid Cudi - The Man on the Moon: The End of the Day (#459)

In this episode of Backwards Beats, Dan and Carl dive into Kid Cudi’s 2009 debut Man on the Moon: The End of Day, album #459 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums list. They unpack why this record mattered at the time, how Cudi became one of the architects of “emo rap,” and whether the album’s mix of vulnerability, psychedelia, and pop-rap ambition still holds up. Along the way they debate Kanye’s influence, Cudi’s limitations as a vocalist, and whether the album works better as a full narrative arc than as a collection of individual tracks.
Key Points
Kid Cudi’s origin story: from Cleveland to MySpace virality, then getting pulled into Kanye West’s orbit and co-writing on 808s & Heartbreak
The album as a concept record, tracing insecurity, fame, drugs, and identity across a clear narrative arc
“Emo rap” as a turning point in hip-hop, with Cudi as one of its key founders
Genre-bending production with synths, indie influences, and lush soundscapes that often outshine Cudi’s vocals
A split verdict: big ideas and cultural impact versus uneven performances and melodrama
Why the album works best when heard front-to-back, even if not every song stands on its own
Music Referenced
Man on the Moon: The End of Day by Kid Cudi
A Kid Named Cudi by Kid Cudi
Day ’n’ Nite by Kid Cudi
Pursuit of Happiness by Kid Cudi
Heart of a Lion by Kid Cudi
Make Her Say by Kid Cudi
808s & Heartbreak by Kanye West
Graduation by Kanye West
The College Dropout by Kanye West
Donda by Kanye West
Heartless by Kanye West
Paranoid by Kanye West
MGMT
Common
Poker Face by Lady Gaga
Blame It by Jamie Foxx
Blame It by T-Pain
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Chris Martin
Apologize by OneRepublic
Bon Iver
Melodrama by Lorde
Glass Houses by Billy Joel
You May Be Right by Billy Joel
Sometimes a Fantasy by Billy Joel
From Chaos by 311
Aja by Steely Dan
Southeastern by Jason Isbell
Join us next week when we explore Southeastern by Jason Isbell!
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Melodrama by Lorde (#460)

In Episode 53 of Backwards Beats, Dan and Carl kick off Season Three by diving into Lorde’s Melodrama—album #460 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. The conversation frames Melodrama as both a breakup record and a loose concept album, tracing the emotional arc of a single house party from start to finish. Along the way, they unpack Lorde’s rapid rise, her relationship with pop stardom, and how this album cemented her voice as one of the defining sounds of modern pop.
The episode balances context and critique, looking closely at Lorde’s songwriting, vocal choices, and the heavily electronic production shaped by Jack Antonoff. Dan and Carl debate what works, what dates the record, and why Melodrama still holds cultural weight nearly a decade after its release.
Music Referenced
Melodrama by Lorde
Pure Heroine by Lorde
Royals by Lorde
In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins
Sober by Tool
Life on Mars by David Bowie
Taylor Swift
Arcade Fire
Bjork
Ellie Golding
happier than ever by Billie Eilish
Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette
one week by Barenaked Ladies
Walk Off the Earth
The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
The Who
Deep Purple
Yes
Rush
Van Halen
ABBA
James Taylor
James Brown
Bootsie Collins
Marvin Gaye
Black Album by Metallica
Use Your Illusion by Guns N' Roses
Nevermind by Nirvana
Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Pink
Join us next week when we dive into The Man on the Moon: The End of the Day by Kid Cudi