Mark Blankenship and Sarah D. Bunting are journalists, friends, and music fans who love talking about pop music of all stripes.
What ARE we gonna do...with it? The inaugural episode of MASTAS gets into it with Heavy D's "Now That We've Found Love" and covers such burning questions as why everyone shot videos in abandoned warehouses and why only one guy got to wear a transparent rain dance suit. Don't forget to hit us on Twitter at TalkSongs to discuss the ep, suggest cuts for future eps, and wonder why Sar so square.
In Episode 2 of MASTAS, Sarah asks us to ponder "Naked Eye" by Luscious Jackson, which leads to tributes to '90s ladyrockers, theories about the career prospects of former drummers, and fond/horrified remembrances of our Clinton-era hairstyles. Tweet us at TalkSongs to get your riot grrrl on, suggest songs for future eps, and tell Mark if he correctly remembered who was in Belly.
In Episode 3, MASTAS FINALLY gets to Madonna. What took us so long?! While celebrating the neo-retro glory of "Get Together," we consider how Madge references her own past material, wonder why American radio hates people over 40, and admit that her weird religious references don’t bother us that much. Tweet us at TalkSongs to praise your favorite forgotten Madonna track, suggest songs for future eps, and share your enthusiasm for Mark's cheapo keychain.
In MASTAS Episode 4, we're riding the sweet wave of Ellie Goulding's "Codes," while also pondering Swedish hitmakers, songs that help us get over terrible boyfriends, and that band from the Buffy soundtrack that Sarah FINALLY remembered. Tweet us at TalkSongs to suggest future songs, share your favorite Max Martin hits, and identify your favorite "old-lady walk."
In Episode 5, we've got a brand-new verzh of our MASTAS theme song -- and lots of thoughts about the dramaturgical rigors of country music (...you heard us), Friends, Junior Brown, Dolly, Dolly-WOOD, noun salads, Garth Brooks's alter egos, and what makes a good driving song. Tweet us at @TalkSongs with your favorite driving songs, and whether you too want to become a mule-skinner.
There’s a little Broadway and a little rage as we talk about “I Don’t Know How To Love Him.” Join us as we consider the anti-feminism of '70s ballads, the political power of musical theater divas, and Mark's dramaturgical dorkiness for Andrew Lloyd Webber. Tweet us at talksongs with your song requests, favorite musicals, and tip for Sarah's performance in Oklahoma!
Special guest Joe Reid joins us as we open the listener mailbag and pluck out Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You," our most-requested song. This sad '90s classic leads us everywhere from emotional trends in pop music to those short songs you put on mix tapes. Oh, and Sarah and Mark continue their ongoing discussion of Candlebox. Tweet us at TalkSongs with your requests, mixtape preferences, and ideal soundtrack cut from My So-Called Life. Special Guest: Joe Reid.
Welcome to Jewel-erdome, where two awful Jewel songs enter and only one leaves. As we decide which single commits the greater crime, we discover Mark's rage for terrible lyrics, Sarah's dark past with a cappella groups, and yet another way that Dawson's Creek is relevant. Tweet us at talksongs to tell us who dies in YOUR Jewel-erdome! (Note: It's acceptable to say that your hopes are what die in Jewel-erdome.)
It's wailin' ladies this week, with Janis Joplin's immortal "Get It While You Can" sharing the docket with "That Year," a cathartically sad song by Brandi Carlile. That leads us to Janis's enduring awesomeness, cover versions that trump the originals, and that time Mark thought he was reincarnated. Tweet us at talksongs to tell us about your Janis memories, your Brandi Carlile favorites, and the songs that make you feel it all.
Joe Reid returns to request "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)", which gets us ALL up in the business of '80s movie songs and their inspirational key changes. Plus, Sarah remembers horrifying high-school traditions and Mark recalls that time he invented a stupid dance. Tweet at us @TalkSongs with our favorite "watch the video instead of the movie" songs.
