Free Form Rock Podcast

This Week on America’s Podcast! We summoned the mathematical wizardry of Ryan T. Russell—armed only with a calculator, a dream, and a list of 50 of our favorite Cheap Trick songs. What did he do? He crunched the numbers, sprinkled some rock 'n' roll sorcery, and conjured up the ultimate Top 25 Cheap Trick songs of all time! Joining this sonic séance are none other than Ross Warner, author of American Standard: Cheap Trick from the Bars to the Budokan and Beyond, and the one and only Eddy Cannistraci, the man, the myth, the alcohol-powered legend. By the end of this marathon, we bid a possibly-tearful, definitely-tipsy Auf Wiedersehen to Mooger and Eddy Alcohol Man, but don’t worry—we rally and bring it home with Marc, Ross, and Ryan still standing (barely). So buckle up, Tricksters—we’re raising hell and counting riffs on this epic episode! Will your favorite make the list? Will someone start singing “Dream Police” off-key? Only one way to find out... Until next week, say it with us: “Elo Kiddies!” And rememb

This Week on America’s Podcast: We slam you harder than a metal riff with the one and only Metal Mike Tyler! Together, we dive headfirst into Metal Church’s The Dark — is it a thrash classic that’ll make your head bang or a total meltdown waiting to happen? Spoiler: no spoilers here… we like to keep you guessing (and slightly confused). Tracks of the Week: Marc rocks out to “Good Day in Hell” by The Eagles — because who doesn’t want a sunny trip to the underworld? Mooger shreds with “Practice What You Preach” by Testament — sermon style, but with guitars. Metal Mike brings the doom with “Never Known Peace” by Doomsday — perfect for when your existential crisis hits hard. And we close out with Jerry jamming “The Nile Song” by Pink Floyd — because nothing says metal like psychedelic chaos. Tune in, turn it up, and remember: get in the pit and try to love someone! Like, subscribe, share, and shower us with love — because this podcast loves you more than your grandma loves bingo night.

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 pelvi

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 

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, 

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 #P

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

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

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:

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, be

This week on America’s Podcast, we hitch a ride down the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road to see if Elton John’s classic still rocks—or if it just blows like a candle in the wind (no spoilers, but we ain’t packing up our bags just yet). Helping us navigate this glitter-covered, piano-fueled journey are Travis Perrotta and Andy Rodriguez, who bring their hot takes and questionable life choices to the table. And of course, we’ve got Tracks of the Week to keep your ears entertained: Marc – Gone (Live) by U2 (Because Bono refuses to be forgotten.) Jerry – Streetlight Serenader by Billy Joel (Deep-cut Joel is the best Joel.) Travis – The Gift by The Velvet Underground (For those who like their rock weird and wonderful.) Andy – Centerfield by John Fogerty (Swing batter, batter, SWING!) Mooger – Green River by CCR (Swamp rock never dies.) So, until next week, don’t say goodbye to the Yellow Brick Road—stay young, stay weird, and for the love of rock ‘n’ roll, subscribe! #AmericasPodcast #EltonJohn #GoodbyeYellowBrickRoad

This week on America’s Podcast, we’ve got an all-star lineup of rock maniacs! Joining us are Chris Czynszak from The Decibel Geek Podcast and Bushy AKA Nate Atchison from The Plug Music and More Podcast. So what happens when four hardcore KISS nerds and one poor soul who just kinda likes KISS sit down to discuss the Asylum era? Well… let’s just say things get louder than Paul Stanley’s stage banter in ‘86! But hey—no spoilers! You’ll have to listen to the madness yourself. Tracks of the Week: Marc kicks things off with Kix—“No Ring Around Rosie” Chris brings the action with “Die Hard” by Nakatomi Plaza Nate gets epic with “Dry County” by Bon Jovi Mooger throws down a classic—“All Along the Watchtower” by Jimi Hendrix Jerry wraps it up with some Slade magic—“My Oh My” Until next week, go Uh! All Night and don’t let ‘em see your Tears Are Falling! Follow, subscribe, and share—or Gene Simmons might charge you for this episode! #kiss #ayslum #rock #80s 

This week on America’s Podcast, we hand over the keys to the Pinto to none other than Eric Lussier—let’s just hope he doesn’t strip the gears before we get to our destination. We’re reviewing Kissin’ Dynamite’s Back With a Bang. Is this album a full-fledged explosion of rock greatness, or does it fizzle out like a damp firecracker? No safety goggles required—we’re giving you our unfiltered opinions. Plus, special guest Travis Perrotta joins the chaos, because what’s a podcast without a little extra mayhem? And of course, we’re bringing the Tracks of the Week: Marc throws down with Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes’ "No Speak No Slave." Mooger brings the boom with The Scorpions’ "Dynamite." Jerry holds nothing back with Survivor’s "I Can’t Hold Back." Travis blasts off with Montrose’s "Space Station #5." Eric shakes things up with Sunday Riot Club’s "Out Of The Sky." Until next time—don’t play with dynamite… unless you’re ready to blow some speakers #kissindynamite #rock #rockpodcast

This week on America’s Podcast, we dive into the self-titled debut of Blue Murder—an album packed with enough guitar wizardry to make even your air guitar feel inadequate. But does it still rock as hard as its reputation, or is it just another relic of hairspray-fueled excess? No spoilers, but let’s just say we have thoughts. We also take a moment to honor the late, great John Sykes, a guitar hero who shredded his way into rock history. His influence is undeniable, but does this album showcase his finest work? Tune in to find out! And of course, our Tracks of the Week bring the heat: Mooger channels the energy of Dreamstate’s "Dayseeker." Marc gets nostalgic with Whitesnake’s "Bad Boys." Jerry introduces us to Blueburst’s "Vanish." Until next time, as Casey Kasem used to say—Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars (and maybe a good distortion pedal while you’re at it! #bluemurder #johnsykes #rockpodcast

This Week on America’s Podcast: Metallica, Flemming Rasmussen, and Pure Mayhem! Buckle up, metalheads, because this week we welcome the mighty Favio Vegas to the show as we dive headfirst into the sonic chaos of Flemming Rasmussen’s legendary trilogy—the three Metallica albums that melted faces, shattered speakers, and arguably set a bar so high even Metallica themselves never quite climbed back over it. Yep, we’re talking about Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and …And Justice for All! Are these truly the best Metallica albums ever? Did the band peak in '88? And is Flemming Rasmussen the most underrated producer in metal history? We’ve got a lot to say, and we’re bringing the riffs to back it up! No more spoilers, you’ll just have to listen. Tracks of the Week:

This week on America’s Podcast, the gang is back with Guest Travis Perrotta to take a deep dive into the slippery world of Saigon Kick’s iconic album The Lizard. Was Matt Kramer the best vocalist for them? Or was he just the lizard king who could do anything? These burning questions are tackled with the kind of wit and wisdom you’d expect from a group who likely argued over the pronunciation of "Saigon" for at least ten minutes before recording. Tracks of the Week brought the heat: Marc shook things up with Shake the Tree by INXS, proving that even Aussie pop-rock can branch out. Mooger got introspective with Rain Will Fall by I Mother Earth—because what’s a podcast without at least one guy going existential? Travis lit it up with Burning Like a Flame—clearly a man who’s ready to burn his way into the power ballad hall of fame. And Jerry blacked out entirely, choosing Black Out In The Red Room by Love/Hate, a song so wild it should come with a warning label. As always, they sign off with a classic gem of wi