Free Form Rock Podcast

Episode 515-Counting Crows'-August and Everything After

This Week on America’s Podcast Strap in, folks—this week we're diving headfirst into a swirling pool of flannel, feelings, and post-grunge gloom as we break down Counting Crows' August and Everything After with guests Travis Perrotta and Andy Rodriguez. Is this album a poetic masterpiece or just the sound of someone staring out a rainy window with a journal and a half-smoked cigarette? We ask the tough questions—like: Is this what happens when you quit heroin but keep the angst? And did Adam Duritz invent sad guy core?
Tensions rise, opinions fly, and someone may or may not throw a metaphorical punch over the use of the accordion. No spoilers—but if you thought grunge was dramatic, wait 'til you hear these takes.
Tracks of the Week (a.k.a. The Mixtape You Didn’t Know You Needed):
Jerry brings the Gin Blossoms and their codependent anthem "Hey Jealousy"—because what says love like passive aggression?
Andy serves up Billy Idol's "Flesh for Fantasy"—because nothing says subtlety like leather pants and pelvic thrusts.
Travis goes full night-creature with Blue Öyster Cult's "I Love the Night"—probably recorded under a full moon while making eye contact with a wolf.
Marc gets soulful with "Living for the City" Slash ft. Tash Neal—because nothing’s more punk than Stevie Wonder and civil rights.
And The Mooger Fooger closes it out with "All the Dead Girls" by Dream Car—because apparently we’re ending on a high note… in the goth sense.
So until next week: stay off smack, hug your weird friends, and never trust a man with dreadlocks and a top hat unless he’s holding an acoustic guitar.
#countingcrows #freeformrockpodcast

Episode 514-Coheed And Cambria-Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness

This Week on America's Podcast: Coheed and Cambria 
Strap on your space helmets and tighten your prog-rock seatbelts, because this week on America’s Podcast, we descend into the melodically twisted, comic book-fueled universe of Coheed and Cambria—specifically, their tongue-twisting opus Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness. (Yes, that’s the full title—breathe now.)
We wrangled in the ever-insightful Favio Vegas to help us untangle this prog-rock Rubik’s Cube. Is this album a poetic masterpiece that'll make you grab your 10-speed bike and ride toward destiny? Or does it leave you staring into the void, waiting to be Welcomed Home by better decisions? No spoilers—but expect plenty of interdimensional confusion, some mild existential dread, and a whole lotta guitar wizardry.
Tracks of the Week slap harder than a caffeine crash at 4AM:
Marc goes full nocturnal with “4am T.M.” by Heavy Bones—because nothing says productivity like insomnia and power chords.
Jerry walks the straight and sinister path with “Devils Row” by The Reality of Yourself—spooky, soulful, and possibly cursed.
Favio chooses the narrative path with “The Story” by Envy of None—turns out even envy has layers.
And Mooger closes it out in true Mooger fashion with “I Might Let the Devil Win” by Sevendust—because sometimes, evil just has the better riff.
So until next week: grab that 4am TM, start writing your own prog saga, and if you find yourself on Devil’s Row… maybe just walk really fast.
#coheedandcambria 

Episode 513-U2-The Joshua Tree

This Week on America’s Podcast – we’re heading into the desert with the album that made U2 a household name: The Joshua Tree. Joining us for this sonic pilgrimage are Travis Perrotta and Andy Rodriguez to help decide—does this album “Bullet the Blue Sky” or make you want to “Exit” because you “Still Haven’t Found What You’re Looking For”? No spoilers—but Bono might be lurking in your conscience.
Tracks of the Week:
Jerry picks Giant’s “I’ll See You In My Dreams” – pure 80s power-ballad magic, Aqua Net sold separately.
Andy throws down “Rock Forever” by Judas Priest – because some priests don’t preach, they shred.
Mooger chills things out with “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House – a song so smooth it should come with a hammock.
Travis goes full Zappa with “My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama” – rock, rebellion, and a guitar with unresolved issues.
And we wrap it all up with Marc’s pick: Sammy Hagar’s “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight” – because who doesn’t love a dramatic mic drop?
Until next week, go where the streets have no name, be kind, and as always—be a good human.
#AmericasPodcast #U2 #TheJoshuaTree #StillHaventFound #PodcastVibes #RockTalk #ZappaZone #CrowdedHouseFeels #JudasPriest #SammyHagar #EncoreThankYouGoodnight #BeAGoodHuman

Episode 512-Smith/Kotzen-Black Light/White Noise

This Week on America’s Podcast…We’re flipping the switch and turning on the Black Light as we dive headfirst into Smith/Kotzen’s "Black Light/White Noise"—joined by our special guest Eric Lussier from The French Connection!
Is this album a sonic revelation or just some artsy white noise that makes you want to unplug the stereo and apologize to your ears? No spoilers—but we definitely brought sunglasses for the solos.
Tracks of the Week:
Marc cranks the chaos with “You Gimmie Nothing” – Scumbag Millionaire (and they say romance is dead)
Mooger gets glam and deep with “Theater of the Soul” – Poison
Jerry lights it up with “A Million Suns” – Arch Enemy (because one sun just isn’t metal enough)
Eric drops the mic with “Reach” – Militia Vox (and we’re still trying to catch it)
So until next week—keep your guitar shredding, your amps loud, and don’t stare directly into the black light(unless you're into that).
#BlackLightJamSession #SmithKotzenGlowUp #WhiteNoiseOrWhiteHot #FrenchConnectionRockInvasion #PodcastPowerChords #MillionSunsNoSPF #ScumbagMillionaireMood #MilitiaVoxRising #PoisonInTheTheater #TurnItUpAndFadeToBlackLight
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Episode 511-Heart-Dog And Butterfly

This Week on America’s Podcast…We’re having a high time (in every sense) as we float through Heart’s "Dog and Butterfly" with rock-loving guests Tim Wirasnik and Travis Perrotta!
Is this album a Straight On classic or does it nap like a tired puppy? No spoilers—but expect some passionate opinions and a few musical detours.
Tracks of the Week:
Mooger goes metalcore with “Perfect Soul” – Spiritbox
Marc kicks it old-school MTV with “Goodbye To You” – Scandal
Tim rides the night with “The Sun Goes Down” – Thin Lizzy
Travis brings the powerhouse with “Piece Of My Heart” – Big Brother & the Holding Company
Jerry closes the curtain with glam-fueled heartbreak in “Love Has Taken Its Toll” – Saraya
So buckle up, crank it loud, cook with fire, and glide headfirst into that Mistral Wind.
#HeartsUnleashed #DogAndButterflyVibes #ClassicRockCrusade #SpiritboxSurprise #PieceOfOurPlaylist #ScandalousTunes #ThinLizzyTwilight #SarayaSlays #HighTimeForHeart #MistralGrooves

Episode 510-Depeche Mode-Black Celebration

This week on America’s Podcast, it’s Black Celebration—or Black Condemnation, depending on who you ask! Jerry wanted an album to tear apart, so Marc handed him one he adores. Will Jerry respect the synth gods, or will he spread blasphemous rumors? Can Mooger be the tie-breaker, or will he just sit back with popcorn? And most importantly—will Marc go full Jerry, but not tonight? No spoilers, but let’s just say emotions will be stripped.
Tracks of the Week:▶️ Marc: The Seventh Stranger – Duran Duran (because the ‘80s never die)▶️ Mooger: Everything – Sevendust (because balance is key)▶️ Jerry: Battalions – Metal Church (because, of course)
Until next time, let’s have a Black Celebration and get Stripped—not literally, just emotionally.
#AmericasPodcast #DepecheMode #BlackCelebration #MarcVsJerry #BlasphemousRumors #NotTonightJerry #MoogerTheMediator #SynthVsMetal #LetsGetStripped #MusicHotTakes #AlbumWars

Episode 509-Bon Jovi- These Days

This week on America’s Podcast, we dive These Days (literally) into Bon Jovi’s 1995 album because Mooger missed out last time—so, of course, we’re doing a Redux. #SecondChances #BonJoviOrBust
We bring in special guest Eric Lussier to help us answer the big question: Does this album give you something for the pain, or is it pure Jovi gold? No spoilers, but let’s just say opinions are flying like Richie Sambora solos. #NoPainNoGain #JoviJudgment
Tracks of the Week:🎸 Jerry: “New Girl Now” – Honeymoon Suite #80sGold🎸 Marc: “Times They Change” – Slaughter #HairMetalWisdom🎸 Eric: “American Sex Fiend” – The Mary Tyler Moore Whores (yes, you read that right) #WTF🎸 Mooger: “Get The F@ck Out” – Skid Row #SubtleAsABrick
Until next week—remember, it’s hard these days, but there’s always a bright side. #KeepTheFaith #HardTheseDays

Episode 508-6 Albums That Divided Fanbases

This week on America’s Podcast, we’re diving into six albums that split fanbases like a badly mixed record. Love them or loathe them, these albums had fans either throwing their fists in the air or throwing their CDs out the window.
First up, Queensrÿche – Hear In the Now Frontier—where prog-metal legends decided to strip things down, leaving fans wondering if they’d just wandered into the wrong album. Then, Mötley Crüe – Theater of Pain—the moment the Crüe traded in their sleazy Sunset Strip grit for glam and a whole lot of hairspray.
Next, we take a ride with Judas Priest – Turbo—the album that asked, “What if metal... but synths?” and left fans turbocharged or turbo-disappointed. Then, we dive into Def Leppard – Hysteria—a glossy, arena-rock juggernaut that made some fans ecstatic and others cry “where’s the riffs?!”we dive headfirst into the unexpected turn that was Kiss’s The Elder. Fans were like, “What just happened?” It was a sharp left turn—from arena anthems to concept album theatrics. Buckle up, because this ride gets weird.
Finally, we close with Metallica – The Black Album—the moment Metallica went from thrash titans to global rock gods, sparking endless debates about “selling out” vs. evolution.
Joining us for the ride are Joseph Staub and Tim Wirasnik, ready to break down these divisive records and maybe stir up a little more controversy.
Tracks Of The Week:Mooger – “I Disappear” by MetallicaJoseph – “Roses On White Lace” by Alice CooperJerry – “Tie Your Mother Down” by QueenTim – “Until You Suffer Some (Fire And Ice)” by PoisonMarc – “When I’m Gone (Live)” by Dirty Honey
Until next week, don’t let music divide you. Like what you like, dislike what you like—but we can all get along, right?
#AlbumWars #QueensrycheQuandary #GlamOrSham #TurbochargedOrTurboflop #HysteriaOrHeresy #BlackAlbumDebates #LetsAllGetAlong