Best Niagara Moon and Thin Lear Podcasts (2024)

1
#103 - Trying to make a new Tool fan. 57:59

2h ago57:59

57:59

Matt tries his darndest to get Thomas more interested in the ultimate prog-metal band. Thomas shares songs he thinks are ideal for "clearing a room" - tunes you'd put on at a bar to get straggling customers to pack up and go home... https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.thinlear.com/ X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/losingmyopinion IG: http…

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#102 - The Best Bowie B-Sides. 59:15

1h ago59:15

59:15

Matt puts forth his favorite hidden gem David Bowie rarities - met with fluctuating levels of enthusiasm from Thomas. Doubling down on the "rarity" angle, Thomas shares some choice tracks from local musicians he met in the Seattle songwriter scene, circa 2017. https://www.thinlear.com/ https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ Twitter ("X"): https://twitte…

1
#101 - The greatest Bob Dylan covers that never were. 1:03:18

2h ago1:03:18

1:03:18

The boys are back in podcast-town! Thomas and Matt join forces on this special themed episode to imagine their favorite hypothetical Dylan covers. https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.thinlear.com/ X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/losingmyopinion IG: https://www.instagram.com/losingmyopinion/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/losingmyopinion…

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The 100th Episode Spectacular! 1:06:31

9d ago1:06:31

1:06:31

100 episodes of Losing My Opinion! Recurring guest Tom Rainey joins to provide an audience for Thomas and Matt's musical show and tell. As a special "assignment", Matt agreed to make a song in the style of Roger Waters, and Thomas in the style of Gaucho-era Steely Dan. Both share specific sources of inspiration that guided their creative journey. h…

1
#99 - Carly Rae Jepsen is secretly a genius, with Basic Printer 1:04:49

23d ago1:04:49

1:04:49

By Niagara Moon and Thin Lear

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#98 - The best PBS Kids theme songs, with Wallace Field 59:31

19d ago59:31

59:31

The superb MA-based indie folk rock artist Wallace Field joins the show today! Thomas initiates the discussion with a shortlist of his favorite theme songs from PBS kids shows he watched growing up (after all, he didn't have cable TV...). Wallace then showcases some of her favorite contemporary artists that hail from Australia/New Zealand. https://…

1
#97 - The 2006 indie songs we left behind... 1:05:38

2M ago1:05:38

1:05:38

Matt doubles down on the Ry Cooder appreciation with a loving retrospective on Buena Vista Social Club. Thomas looks back on some indie bands from 2006 that were hot in the moment, but that he hasn't thought about since... https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.thinlear.com/ X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/losingmyopinion IG: https://www.in…

1
#96 - The amazing legacy of Ry Cooder. 1:07:00

1M ago1:07:00

1:07:00

Matt steers things back to the positive side, delving into all the exquisite musical facets of legendary guitarist & songwriter Ry Cooder. Thomas then piles on the drek with some notoriously tacky and dated rap from movie scenes. https://www.thinlear.com/ https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ Twitter ("X"): https://twitter.com/losingmyopinion IG: https…

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#95 - The Definitive Guide to Citypop, with Greg DePaul 59:51

1M ago59:51

59:51

Playwright, novelist & screenwriter (Bride Wars, Saving Silverman) Greg DePaul joins the show today! Thomas follows up on Matt's request to explain what the "citypop" genre is exactly. Greg guides the boys through a invigorating selection of fresh revivalist Americana tunes from would-be punks. "Punk-icana"? Songs Thomas played: Plastic Love - Mari…

1
#94 - A solo Roger Waters hatefest, apparently... 1:11:02

2M ago1:11:02

1:11:02

Resident badboy Nate Safren is back on the pod! And what timing - Matt finally conducts his "punishment" segment, going over his least favorite songs from Roger Waters' solo discography. Nate then drastically changes the vibe with a deep-dive into the work of pianist/composer Leo Ornstein. https://www.thinlear.com/ https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/…

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#93 - A celebration of Paul Weller, with Chris Ingalls of PopMatters 1:07:56

2M ago1:07:56

1:07:56

Music supporter/champion Chris Ingalls is back! Thomas revs things up with a selection of his favorite tracks by The Who - an appeal to the Who skeptic, if you will. Chris then shares his love for Paul Weller, and the wonderful diverse iterations of his sound that spans decades... https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.thinlear.com/ X / Twit…

1
#92 - Nicholas Krgovich's hidden gems. 1:09:02

2M ago1:09:02

1:09:02

Vancouver songwriter Nicholas Krgovich is back on the show! Thomas starts the episode by finally issuing Matt his "punishment" - part of which consists of subjecting him to a ENTIRE segment dedicated to Paolo Conte and his 1987 album Aguaplano. Nicholas then takes the boys through a wonderful winding journey through the music of several highly obsc…

1
#91 - When the singer starts SCREAMING!!! 56:02

3M ago56:02

56:02

Matt presents a dreaded second installment of The Toddler Playlist. Thomas showcases notable examples of artists screaming their lungs out on otherwise "normal" songs. https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.thinlear.com/ X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/losingmyopinion IG: https://www.instagram.com/losingmyopinion/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok…

1
#90 - Can you open your mind to Dream Theater? with Mike Moran 1:04:29

3M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

Guitarist and podcaster Mike Moran joins the show today! Matt hijacks Thomas's opening segment to talk about the soundtrack from the 1999 Schwarzenegger flick End Of Days, of all things... Mike then shares his lifelong passion for the band Dream Theater, seeing how far he can get the guys over to his side. https://coolkidslunchtable.podbean.com htt…

1
#89 - That was NOT on the lyric sheet, with Abigail Devoe 1:04:58

3M ago1:04:58

1:04:58

Album reviewer sensation Abigail Devoe is back on the pod! Thomas enlists her and Thin Lear to play another round of Guilty or Not Guilty - helping decide if his appreciation of certain "questionable" songs warrants a punishment. Abby shares some of her favorite bizarre yet wonderful vocal ad-lib moments from classic rock stars. https://www.youtube…

1
#88 - Spoken word in pop music... can it work? 58:25

3M ago58:25

58:25

Matt shows off several songs from artists who briefly dabbled in the "spoken word world". Thomas asks a deceptively simple question - what's the best song for a serial killer movie? https://www.thinlear.com/ https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ Twitter ("X"): https://twitter.com/losingmyopinion IG: https://www.instagram.com/losingmyopinion/ Tiktok: ht…

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#87 - What if Phil Spector hadn't been insane? with Matt Farley 1:08:26

3M ago1:08:26

1:08:26

Motern Media mastermind (and writer of over 25,000 songs) Matt Farley is BACK! Thomas starts the discussion with a look at Phil Spector's bizarre yet captivating output post-solo Beatles albums. Matt then shares some of his favorite tunes from a beloved unsung artist Bill Mallonee. https://moternmedia.com/ https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://…

1
#86 - Which Sophisti-pop band is the MOST sophisticated? 59:40

4M ago59:40

59:40

Matt shares his favorite standout performances from The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus. Thomas showcases several so-called sophisti-pop artists from the 1980s in an effort to determine the true sound of sophistication. Click here for the LMO survey! https://www.thinlear.com/ https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ Twitter ("X"): https://twitter.com/…

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#85 - The problem with Yargle (aka the ”Merry Quismoss” effect), with Joseph Shabason 1:11:13

4M ago1:11:13

1:11:13

Acclaimed Canadian composer (and "Saxman Supreme") Joseph Shabason joins the show! Thomas pushes his luck with a naive hot take on jazz - when in doubt, go to Miles Davis. Joseph then woefully discusses the phenomenon of Yargle - also known as "sexy baby voice" - a vocal affectation that far too many singers are guilty of using today. https://josep…

1
#84 - ”If you hate this, I win.” 1:10:17

4M ago1:10:17

1:10:17

Matt and Thomas ring in the new year with a special IRL episode - and a contest! Matt picks 5 songs he enjoys to show to Thomas, in the hopes Thomas will actually hate them. Thomas picks 5 songs he hopes Matt loves (and hasn't heard before). There's points! And winners and losers! Matt's wife Emely graciously joins in to keep score. https://www.thi…

1
#83 - The bizarre world of charity songs, with Adam Kastin of Weegee 1:02:40

5M ago1:02:40

1:02:40

NYC multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire Adam Kastin joins the show today! Thomas gets things cooking with a critical look at songs written for Disney movies that just don't quite... fit. Adam exposes the boys to a slew of increasingly strange songs for charity from the 80's, going far beyond We Are The World... https://linktr.ee/weegeetheband http…

1
#82 - Songs about booze (aka hooch, sauce, giggle juice...) 58:50

5M ago58:50

58:50

Matt pays homage to the blinding talents of Nina Simone and her myriad of soulful & extremely creative cover songs. Thomas cracks open a tallboy and shows off his favorite, nuanced songs about alcohol. https://www.thinlear.com/ https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ Twitter ("X"): https://twitter.com/losingmyopinion IG: https://www.instagram.com/losingm…

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#81 - Hit songs that these artists just gave away... 56:06

6M ago56:06

56:06

Matt plays several hit songs written by famous artists that were given to other bands to cover, begging the question - why not keep em to yourself? Thomas hosts another round of Hollywood Hack or Artiste - blind-listening to the musical projects of notable actor celebrities trying their hand at the singer-songwriter thing. https://www.niagaramoonmu…

1
#80 - Age Of Adz ＞ Illinois, with Mike Farrell (aka Mt. Feral) 1:03:56

6M ago1:03:56

1:03:56

Fantastic NJ musician Mt. Feral (aka Mike) joins the show today! Thomas shares songs from 4 different countries, sung in 4 different languages, with zero clue what they're singing about in the lyrics - and that's ok! Mike then unleashes his piping hot take that Age Of Adz is a better Sufjan Stevens album than Illinois, and somehow doesn't get throw…

1
#79 - Randy Newman is our guardian angel. 57:06

6M ago57:06

57:06

Matt talks about the best songs from fake bands in movies. Yep, we cover Spinal Tap. Thomas then insists on revisiting Randy Newman's legacy and stature as a singer-songwriter (beyond Toy Story) - concluding everything was for the best. https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.thinlear.com/ X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/losingmyopinion IG: …

1
#78 - Songs with the worst album covers of all time 1:03:18

6M ago1:03:18

1:03:18

Tom Rainey's back on the show to hang! Matt starts with a selection of tunes from albums with all-time terrible/distasteful artwork. Can you truly judge a song by its cover? Thomas then explores the topic of songs that focus on the hardships of show business and the music industry itself, and what makes for something poignant (and not just whiny)..…

1
#77 - Ranking the songs you hear at EVERY wedding... 1:05:14

6M ago1:05:14

1:05:14

Matt just went to two weddings in one weekend and has lotsa thoughts on those certain songs you'll inevitably encounter on the dancefloor with grandma. Thomas then tries to untangle the whole Jefferson Airplane / Starship fiasco, and ponders how you go from White Rabbit to We Built This City... Click here for the LMO survey! https://www.niagaramoon…

1
#76 - More cursed songs for Halloween, with Dan Barracuda 1:00:18

7M ago1:00:18

1:00:18

Songwriter/producer Dan Barracuda joins the show to hang today! Matt shows off more spooky tracks for Halloween, and this time it's all horror movie scores. Thomas then unleashes a bizarre collection of "cursed" songs, where the backstory behind the music is more frightening than the music itself. https://www.danbarracuda.com/ https://www.thinlear.…

1
#75 - The Spookiest Halloween Playlist 56:50

7M ago56:50

56:50

Matt unleashes his most horrific, merciless collection of scary songs for the true Halloween aficionado. Thomas didn't get the memo with his segment, and instead celebrates both his love of Hot Rats and his frustration with Frank Zappa... Click here for the LMO survey! https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.thinlear.com/ X / Twitter: https:/…

1
#74 - Zelda’s got the best video game music... 57:01

7M ago57:01

57:01

Matt exposes Thomas to the world of MMA fighter walk-out songs. Thomas shows Matt some of his favorite themes from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild (and ToTK), but has him listen blind and imagine what kind of situation he'd encounter them in... Click here for the LMO survey! https://www.thinlear.com/ https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ Twitte…

1
#73 - Iconic musical moments in film, with Cole Mitchek of smallsongs 55:26

8M ago55:26

55:26

Indie music documentarian Cole Mitchek of smallsongs joins today! Thomas stirs up trouble with a dive into the legendary songwriting partnership of Marr-Morrissey and their band The Smiths. Cole shares some of his favorite scenes in cinema history that feature music front and center. https://www.youtube.com/c/smallsongs https://www.niagaramoonmusic…

1
#72 - What is the sound of 2009? 54:40

8M ago54:40

54:40

Matt sings the praises of Dungen, and proves just how much Tame Impala owes its sound to them. Thomas presents a soundtrack that best represents the late 00's. Hollywood may want to take notes when the inevitable Occupy Wall Street period piece gets green-lit... https://www.thinlear.com/ https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ Twitter ("X"): https://twit…

1
#71 - Unpopular Opinions re: Bob Dylan, with Chris Ingalls of PopMatters 1:05:46

8M ago1:05:46

1:05:46

Music writer Chris Ingalls joins the show this week! Thomas breaks the ice with a futile analysis of the enigma known as Van Morrison - exploring some of the artist's more... unusual moments. Chris then takes the reigns to share some of his more controversial takes on Dylan... https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.thinlear.com/ X / Twitter:…

1
#70 - The Toddler Playlist. 55:24

8M ago55:24

55:24

Matt shares 6 songs that he must listen to with his infant daughter before sunrise every single morning. Thomas showcases transcendent tunes all from artists who never "made it" back in the day - his Beautiful 70's Nobodies. https://www.thinlear.com/ https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ Twitter ("X"): https://twitter.com/losingmyopinion IG: https://ww…

1
#69 - The Disney Legend that never was, with Ali Holder 58:10

9M ago58:10

58:10

The amazing singer-songwriter Ali Holder joins the show today! Thomas opens with another edition of revisionist history, presenting an artist that could have been a Disney Legend - like Elton John or Randy Newman - had things gone another way... Ali then draws on her Texas roots to explore some classic guilty pleasure country songs. https://alihold…

1
#68 - Paul McCartney: lazy songwriter? 57:00

9M ago57:00

57:00

Matt shares his some of his favorite "half-finished" solo McCartney tunes. Thomas looks at the musical output of several Hollywood celebrities - asking whether they're a hack or an artiste... https://www.thinlear.com/ https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ Twitter ("X"): https://twitter.com/losingmyopinion IG: https://www.facebook.com/losingmyopinion/ T…

1
#67 - Ageism in music.. what’s up with that? 1:00:05

9M ago1:00:05

1:00:05

Matt examines the rich legacy of the Elephant 6 Collective and its influence on a new generation of indie artists. Thomas muses about if and how artists can age out of making new music truly worth listening too... Come see Niagara Moon perform at the Fort Hill Brewery in Easthampton, MA - Thu, Sep 7th at 5pm. https://www.thinlear.com/ https://www.n…

1
#66 - Good Songs: Bad Advice, with Mark Kramer 1:05:25

9M ago1:05:25

1:05:25

LA comedy writer (Last Week Tonight, Vulture) and obscure music aficionado Mark Kramer joins on this week! Thomas shares his homespun Train to Rome playlist after returning from his recent trip to Italia. Mark then presents a bizarre, outrageous collection of good tunes with bad/misguided messaging. http://www.markkramercomedy.com/ https://www.thin…

1
#65 Pt. 2 - Joe Pesci made music?! 22:46

9M ago22:46

22:46

Wrapping up the two-parter, Thomas invites Matt to explore the curious recording discography of acting legend Joe Pesci... https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.thinlear.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/losingmyopinion IG: https://www.facebook.com/losingmyopinion/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/losingmyopinion…

1
#65 Pt. 1 - The Most ”Beatlesque” Band. 28:04

10M ago28:04

28:04

A two-parter?! Well, Thomas is away on his Italian honeymoon, after all... Matt covers the first half of the show with a selection of tunes more than a little inspired by the Fab Four. https://www.thinlear.com/ https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ Twitter ("X"): https://twitter.com/losingmyopinion IG: https://www.facebook.com/losingmyopinion/ Tiktok: …

1
#64 - T. Rex deserves more love. 51:34

10M ago51:34

51:34

Matt dedicates his segment to the completely underrated brilliance of Marc Bolan's musical legacy. Thomas explores the topic of long song intros - when they're warranted, and when they just waste your time... https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.thinlear.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/losingmyopinion IG: https://www.facebook.com/losingm…

1
#63 - What is ”chunky” music? 1:01:31

10M ago1:01:31

1:01:31

Tom Rainey joins once again! Matt opens the show with a good hard look at some of the more "unintentionally creepy" songs from the 60s pop canon. Thomas then tries his best to explain his love of The Chunk. https://www.thinlear.com/ https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/losingmyopinion IG: https://www.facebook.com/losingmyo…

1
#62 - Revisiting Dave Barry’s Book of Bad Songs 54:32

10M ago54:32

54:32

Matt shares some choice numbers from renowned humorist Dave Barry's iconic list - and ya, they're pretty bad. Thomas revisits the topic of AI, making several important amendments along the way. https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.thinlear.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/losingmyopinion IG: https://www.facebook.com/losingmyopinion/ Tikto…

1
#61 - The Joy of Twee & Sarah Records, with Sailor Down 1:00:56

11M ago1:00:56

1:00:56

Massachusetts indie folkster Chloe Deeley of Sailor Down is on the show! Thomas leads the first segment by sharing three songs he really doesn't know how to feel about. Are they hidden gems, or just... nuthin? Chloe then educates the hosts on the legacy of Sarah Records, and the fun misunderstood nature of the twee genre in general. https://sailord…

1
#60 - From Tom Verlaine to XTC, we like it angular. 57:51

11M ago57:51

57:51

Matt reveals how important Tom Verlaine and Television were in his own formative years as a guitar player. Thomas then dares Matt to become a fan of UK artpop cult band XTC - and doesn't make it particularly easy for him... https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.thinlear.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/losingmyopinion IG: https://www.faceb…

1
#59 - Weird Al did it better, with Amy Lynne Berger of The Nitro Girls 1:01:31

11M ago1:01:31

1:01:31

Writer / comedian Amy Lynne Berger joins the show today! Thomas get things rolling with a look at music made by comedians, and where the line is drawn between "joke" and genuinely enjoyable. Amy then celebrates her love of Weird Al, and several examples where his version beats the original. http://www.amylynneberger.com/ https://www.thinlear.com/ h…

1
#58 - Weezer doesn’t have a bad album, with Matt Kelly of Geekscape 58:49

11M ago58:49

58:49

Matt Kelly - man of 1000 podcasts (including One Hit Thunder and Weird Al-Gorithm) - joins the show today! Thomas starts the discussion with an argument for Jethro Tull as easily the weirdest classic rock band. Matt (not Thin Lear) then passionately defends Weezer's discography as a whole, controversial though some parts may be... https://www.niaga…

1
#57 - Persuasive rap for the skeptical indie fan, with Basic Printer 59:50

12M ago59:50

59:50

Nashville gloitchpop wunderkind Jesse Gillenwalters aka Basic Printer joins on today! Thomas shares the best TV show theme songs from a very particular category... Jesse then gives the guys an update on what's happening in new alternative hip-hop. Check out all BP activities over at https://www.basicprinter.com/ https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ ht…

1
#56 - Emo: A Naive Retrospective 52:38

12M ago52:38

52:38

Thomas remembers everybody in middle school obsessing over the likes of My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy, but never heard any of the music firsthand - until now! Matt caps it all off with a celebration of the hard-rockin lads known as The Walkmen. https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.thinlear.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/losingmyo…

1
#55 - All-time anthems for graduation. 1:03:25

12M ago1:03:25

1:03:25

Tom Rainey is back once again! Thomas opens the discussion with a selection of songs that are terminally overplayed - is it still possible to enjoy them? Tom then acknowledges this special time of year with a look into the all-too-rare "graduation" song, starting with the obvious choice of Vitamin C. https://www.niagaramoonmusic.com/ https://www.th…

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