Music Sucks and I Want to Die has a new series! It's called the Composer's Toolbox, and it's where Jake and Matt take a specific tool at the composer's/songwriter's disposal, and talk about how to implement it, how it's been used before, specific nuances, etc. The first one is all about the key change. They talk about a few different types of key changes and how they've been used for both good and evil in the past, and how you can avoid putting in a key change that's as bad as Chicago's.

In the third of a recurring series, Jake and Matt review one good song, one bad song, and one ugly song (of which there's still no settled definition of exactly what that means in this context). Kendrick Lamar - Backseat Freestyle is the good, Dua Lipa/Elton John - Cold Heart is the bad (really, really bad). And Owl City - Fireflies is the ugly. Which in this case means they're going to rave on and on about it for an hour, talking about how bad it should be but it just slaps so hard. Prepare for a deep dive into these 3 songs as this episode is well over 2 hours long.

In this episode, special guest Ty Bailie joins Jake and Matt to talk about his music life, from humble beginnings in small-ass town Washington to touring with Katy Perry to Nashville and more!

In this recurring series, Jake and Matt discuss 3 albums, one from pre-2000, one from post-2000, and one randomly selected from Piero Scaruffi's blog through a series of stupid and arbitrary random number generators. Discussed are The Darkness, The Buggles, and Teeth of the Sea.

Time for some clickbait!!!! Jake and Matt discuss what band is possibly the greatest American band of all time. Excluded are solo artists, groups of singers with ringers for a backup band, and more arbitrary garbage. Who do YOU think is the greatest? And please let us know how wrong we are with our choices. Also discussed is the concept of greatness itself, what it means, etc.

Special guest American Federation of Musicians union representative Nate Omdal comes on to talk about his job with the Seattle AFM division, and the role it plays in the Seattle music scene, what it does to support artists, etc. Along the way, he clears up several misconceptions Jake and Matt had about the role of the union in the working musician's life.

In the third of the series, Matt and Jake each pick 2 artists/groups they really enjoy and talk about why. Artists featured are Gyorgy Ligeti, David Fiuczynski, Pixies, and Gentle Giant. What a couple of NERDS

In this episode, Matt and Jake talk about playing music live in a variety of different situations. When to go all out, when to curtail it, when to try and fit in with new people, and when to give the middle finger to the world and play a la Albert Ayler on a cover band gig.

Matt and Jake discuss the "Taylor's Version" of Taylor Swift's albums: the motivation for the re-recordings, any sonic differences between them, and why in general #taysway can SLAP.

Jake and Matt spend an hour and some tax talking about one of the most influential jazz (??) record labels to ever exist and why they're just so damn cool. Wait they like music?

Matt and Jake bring on a special guest (Michael Conklin) to talk about his life and the life in general of a gigging horn player and how it contrasts to being a rhythm section player. Somehow they end up on a discussion of the entire music industry and its lack of money. How they get there no one actually knows.

Matt and Jake take another stab at reviewing the current top Billboard album. In doing so they find out that the album is REALLY BAD! Who would've thought? But perhaps there's more to Morgan Wallen's Dangerous than meets the eye...

Should you go to music school? Do you want to end up doing a terrible podcast that no one listens to? Well you're in the right place I guess. Jake and Matt provide advice for the young budding musician.

Matt and Jake sail the tumultuous seas of the music industry and its relation to piracy throughout the years. They definitely have never done it themselves. WEIGH ANCHORRRRRRRRR! They'll look at The Pirate Bay, Napster, Limewire, and more.

Jake and Matt talk about covers. The worst ones ever and the ones that make you feel GOOOOD.

Jake and Matt discuss the songs that are terrible beyond all reason yet still enjoy because they're stupid. Be warned, you will think less of them (if that's possible) after listening to this episode.

In this episode, Jake and Matt review the year of no music careers and discuss albums by Fionna Apple and Taylor Swift.

Matt and Jake discuss how to talk about melody in theoretical terms and also why not to. In doing so they give examples from what they consider to be some of the greatest melodies of all time and try to nail down exactly what makes each of them tick.

In this episode, Matt and Jake attempt to make esoteric music theory relating to jazz not be boring as all hell. Thye tackle George Russell's Lydian Chromatic Concept, Henry Threadgill's intervallic improvisation, and more. Bring some coffee.

In this episode, Jake and Matt discuss dealing with burnout as an artist. Special guest burnt-out ex-musician Greg Smith.