History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff
History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff is the show that aims to make grand and often oddball hard rock and heavy metal points through a narrative built upon the tiny idea of a quintet of songs. Buttressed with illustrative clips, Martin argues quickly and succinctly why these songs - and the specific sections of these tracks - support his mad professor premise, from the wobbly invention of an “American” heavy metal, to the influence of Led Zeppelin in hair metal or to more succinct topics like tapping and twin leads. The songs serve as bricks, but Martin slathers plenty of mortar. At the end, hopefully he has a sturdy house in which this week’s theory can reside unbothered by the elements. At approximately 7000, Martin has had published in books more record reviews than anybody in the history of music writing across all genres. Additionally, Martin has penned approximately 85 books on hard rock, heavy metal, classic rock and record collecting. Proud part of Pantheon - the podcast network for music lovers.
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History in Five Songs Episode 304: The Best Rea...
In Episode 304 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin ponders the underrated power and artistry behind the opening track of side two on vinyl albums—“the best real estate” on a record—highlighting how bands like AC/DC, Golden Earring, and Rush use that spot to make bold, surprising, or rewarding musical statements for dedicated listeners.
35 min
2
History in Five Songs Episode 303: The Stealth ...
In Episode 303 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the phenomenon of "stealth platinums" — albums from hard rock and metal bands that unexpectedly went platinum in the U.S. despite being critically dismissed, commercially forgotten, or largely unloved by fans.
28 min
3
History in Five Songs Episode 302: Prog Bands’ ...
In Episode 302 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin relives his favorite top 10-second moments from progressive rock bands, highlighting magical and iconic passages that encapsulate the peak musical achievements of bands like Porcupine Tree and King Crimson.
29 min
4
History in Five Songs Episode 301: There’s no s...
In Episode 301 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin argues that there's no such thing as proto-punk, exploring how bands like The Saints, MC5, and The Stooges challenged the conventional labels by suggesting that many so-called proto-punk acts are better understood as neo-garage or heavy rock bands, rather than direct precursors to punk.
31 min
5
History in Five Songs Episode 300: The Guitar W...
In Episode 300 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin conceptualizes the "guitar weave," a musical interplay between two guitarists, focusing on examples from bands like The Rolling Stones and AC/DC to highlight how intricate and layered guitar parts create a dynamic, conversational sound.
30 min
6
History in Five Songs Episode 299: Punk Albums ...
In Episode 299 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin pontificates on punk albums from 1978 that were released a year later than expected, discussing how these albums reflect a more refined and thoughtful side of punk while still capturing its raw energy.
31 min
7
History in Five Songs Episode 298: The Yes Solo...
In Episode 298 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin delves into the solo projects of Yes members between their albums Relayer and Going for the One, discussing the emotional and musical motivations behind each member's work.
31 min
8
History in Five Songs Episode 297: Lighter but ...
In Episode 297 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores how certain bands like Rush, Cheap Trick, and The Damned, surprised him by becoming more melodic and lighter over time, finding these changes to be more appealing than their earlier, heavier work.
32 min
9
History in Five Songs Episode 296: The Last Gre...
In Episode 296 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the "last great pre-Metallica albums" from 1983, analyzing how bands like Raven and Anvil were on the cusp of pioneering heavy metal innovations just as Metallica's debut Kill 'Em All redefined the genre.
32 min
10
History in Five Songs Episode 295: The Rock Hal...
In Episode 295 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff,, Martin toys with the complexities of individual artists' chances of entering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, discussing how membership with one band, like David Coverdale's induction with Deep Purple or Phil Collins' with Genesis, may affect their solo careers or prospects with other groups.
33 min
11
History in Five Songs Episode 294: Early Kiss S...
In Episode 294 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin plays with early KISS-like sounds from bands such as Slade, Sweet, and April Wine, tracing the influence of UK glam rock and its connection to KISS's pre-Alive era.
32 min
12
History in Five Songs Episode 293: Am I too muc...
In Episode 293, Martin pontificates on his punk snobbery and its impact on his journey into hardcore, reflecting on the punkiest songs, his evolving music tastes, and the roadblocks he faces as a self-identified '77 punk enthusiast.
33 min
13
History in Five Songs Episode 292: The Mack Attack
In Episode 292 of History in Five Songs, Martin delves into the unique production style of Reinhold "Mac" Mack, tracing his early career and distinctive sound, particularly through his work with bands like Queen, Electric Light Orchestra, and Rainbow, while highlighting the influence of his engineering techniques on iconic rock records.
27 min
14
History in Five Songs Episode 291: The Five Gre...
In Episode 291 of History in Five Songs, Martin considers why Aerosmith's "Draw the Line" and other killer songs deserve their places as one of the five greatest rock songs of all time, analyzing their powerful riffs, unique production, and energetic vocal performances.
42 min
15
History in Five Songs Episode 290: Two Songs in...
In Episode 290 of History in Five Songs, Martin has a look at the concept of "two songs in one," highlighting tracks from artists like The Beatles, Yes, and Judas Priest that seamlessly shift between distinct musical sections, often blending different genres or themes within a single song.
28 min
16
History in Five Songs Episode 289: False Endings
In Episode 289 of History in Five Songs, Martin Popoff plays with the concept of "false endings" in music, examining iconic songs that deceive listeners into thinking the track is over, only to resume with additional riffs, reprises, or unexpected shifts.
31 min
17
History in Five Songs Episode 288: Gillan, Rain...
In Episode 288, Martin delves into the influence of bands like Gillan, Rainbow, and Whitesnake on the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), examining their evolution from cult favorites to guilty pleasures, with a focus on how these acts navigated mainstream success while maintaining their heavy metal integrity.
36 min
18
History in Five Songs Episode 287: Where do I s...
In Episode 287, Martin wrestles with the challenging question of "where to start" when diving into a band's extensive catalog, discussing strategies like starting with the latest or best album, while also reflecting on how listener preferences, social media, and music algorithms shape the listening experience.
38 min
19
History in Five Songs Episode 286: A New Theory...
In Episode 286, Martin posits a new theory about the origins of punk, arguing that it was less a reaction to progressive rock or metal and more a result of a growing disillusionment with established UK rock institutions from the 1960s.
28 min
20
History in Five Songs Episode 285: Vocal Intros
In Episode 285, Martin delves into the world of vocal intros, exploring how different artists use unique vocal openings to set the tone for their songs, from crowd participation and bluesy phrases to iconic calls and dramatic showcases of vocal prowess.
32 min
21
History in Five Songs Episode 284: Bands Ruined...
In Episode 284, Martin laments bands that were negatively impacted by the rise of hair metal, examining how their attempts to adapt to the trend led to commercial failure and a shift in their musical identity.
33 min
22
History in Five Songs Episode 283: Totally Inve...
In Episode 283, Martin recognizes bands that take their title tracks seriously, showcasing how these songs often define albums by being the standout tracks, iconic hits, or even the only memorable song from the album.
34 min
23
History in Five Songs Episode 282: Not Big on T...
In Episode 282, Martin explores bands that show little interest in title tracks, who often bypass or subvert traditional title track conventions in favor of other creative approaches.
33 min
24
History in Five Songs Episode 281: Early Rush S...
In Episode 281, Martin explores early Rush songs through the lens of mortality, focusing on lyrics from the band's first five albums that reflect themes of aging, existential reflection, and the inevitability of time passing.
29 min
25
History in Five Songs Episode 280: Heaviest Can...
In Episode 280, Martin probes the heaviest Canadian albums of the 1970s, presenting a ranking based on five impactful songs from ten notable bands, highlighting the unique sound and musical evolution of Canadian rock during that era.
28 min