Hey, hi, and hello, everyone. Anthony Fantano here, the Internet's busiest music nerd. Hope you're doing well.

The monthly call in music talk show that I do over at NTS, Call Me Maybe, we did another episode. So sit back, chill out, relax, and hey, maybe you could even listen live to the next episode and call in if you're around. Either way, without any further ado, here is the Call Me Maybe comp.

AF: Bam. What are we talking about today? Anything Everything you want to, music-wise, like usual, but things that are on the top of my mind, what are they?

Overrated albums. What albums do you think are a little overhyped? They're not that good. People are making a big deal of them. And why are they doing it? They I want to stink. Yeah, let me know what albums you think are overrated.

There's a new Oasis album on the way. You guys are from the UK. Don't you want to talk about that? Don't you have opinions on that? Isn't this the Berlin Wall falling for you guys? What's going on? I want the inside scoop on this. What does this mean culturally at this point, Oasis getting back together and potentially putting out new music?

I would also like to know what your thoughts are on the Taylor Swift, Kamala Harris endorsement. Should we even care what pop stars think about politics in the first place? Should it factor as much as it does? Does it matter to you whether or not your favorite artists agree or disagree with you politically? Does it play into your enjoyment of their music in any way whatsoever?

Again, would love to talk about all of that. And whatever else is on your mind on this new episode of Call Me, Maybe with Anthony Fantano.

AF: Who's on the line? Hello, hello.Hello.

Caller: There, Tony. It's Macher.

AF: It's who?

Caller: It's Macher. You don't mind if I call you Tony?

AF: No, I will allow it just because I find your accent so charming.

Caller: I feel like we've known each other for so long. I can call you Tony.

AF: Do you know what I mean? Yeah. I don't agree, but I'll allow you to feel that way. What's going on?

Caller: So the theme is overrated. Is that right?

AF: I feel like that's one thing that's on my mind. Do you have an overrated album in mind that you feel like is just a little played out or just overhyped that you're tired of hearing about the hype on?

Caller: I think the Beatles are a little bit overrated, don't you?

AF: I don't know if I agree with that. But why exactly, with this novel take that you have given unto me, do you feel like the Beatles are overrated?

Caller: It's just four lads from Liverpool who shook the world.

AF: Just four lads. I mean, there's a lot of bands you could say are four lads, three lads, two lads, one lad.

Caller: I think of all the Beatles, Ringo Starr is by far the most overrated and is the most likely to survive the longest.

AF: Ringo, arguably... I mean, he's arguably the least popular Beatle. You know? I mean, you really think he's the most overrated Beatle?

Caller: I mean, his name's not even Ringo, it's Richard.

AF: Okay. I mean, you're going to begrudge the man a stage name?

Caller: No, it would be wrong of me since I told you my name's Macho, wouldn't it?

AF: Right, exactly. I mean, let's not call the kettle black here. Really, what exactly is your point right now? The Beatles are mid, that's it?

Caller: No, I think just generally, I wanted to talk about the Beatles.

AF: Okay, well, what else do you have to say about them other than Ringo being overrated and having a fake stage name?

Caller: Could it be that Wings were better than the Beatles?

AF: No, I don't think that could be. But you tried. You are fishing. You're reaching for something, the stars, whatever it is. The gutter. But I don't know if I would go as far as to say Wings were better than the Beatles. Well, here's my question to you, and this will be the last thing I ask you. I feel like this is important. If Wings are better than the Beatles, better at what?

Caller: Did I say that Wings were better than the Beatles? I don't think I did.

AF: Let's say, hypothetically, they were better the Beatles. If they were better than the Beatles, what would they be better at?

Caller: Let Paul do what he wanted to do.

AF: You got a point there. That's absolutely positively true.

Caller: That's important, isn't it? Without Paul, John's never getting off the smack. George isn't quitting the band and making All Things Must Pass, Greatest album ever made by a Beatle. And Ringo Starr's still picking his nose. That's why I think we-

AF: We can't sit here and act, though, as if Paul didn't have his sway in the Beatles, though. It's not as if they never let the guy do what he wanted.

, I know, but I think Linda let him do even more.

AF: Sure. No, it's true. All right. Well, thank you very much for calling in. I appreciate you with that very, very on-point argument about what Wings we're better at. Thank you very much for calling in. Cheers.

Caller: Cheers, Tony. Bye, bye.

AF: Beautiful. Hello, hello. You're on Call Me Maybe with Fantano. nts.live/callfantano. Get cued up. Let's have a conversation. Are they there?

Caller: I'm here. My mic was deactivated, but now it is activated.

AF: Okay, totally activated.

Caller: Basically, Machine Girl has done a track with LustSickPuppy. I'm going to go see Lust sick Puppy in November. Then that made me think, Okay, I'm going to go to a couple of concerts and gigs over the next couple of months, so maybe you could rate, do a quick rating of my lineup.

AF: Okay. Well, I mean, if LustSickPuppy is one, I'm very hype about that because I really liked their latest record. I thought that was fire.

Caller: I love it too.

AF: I'd give that at least an eight.

Caller: Good.

AF: So what else do you have lined up as far as live shows?

Caller: So, yeah, then in two weeks, then I'm going to go see Jamie xx.

AF: Okay, fire. I'm really excited for that album. I feel like he has so many dance classics under his belt at this point. I would rate that show at least an eight, too. That's a fire idea, too. That's good on you.

Caller: Good. I got three left. Then in December, I'm going to see Bicep.

AF: Okay. I'd say six or seven. That should be fun.

Caller: In February, I'm going to go see JPEGMafia for the third time.

AF: Wow. Okay. For the third time?

Caller: For the third time.

AF: Okay. All right. I feel like that's a nine. That's at least a nine. That's fire. I mean, so is that it?

Caller: No, there's one more, which is Brian Jonestown Massacre.

AF: Brian Jonestown Massacre? I feel like they're okay. I feel like they're... Yeah, I mean, are they still going to be like... Hold on one second. Brian Jones. What are they even doing at this point, honestly?

Caller: Yeah, I'm not quite sure. I'm not sure they're releasing a new album soon or something like that. But they released a song last year called "Maybe Make It Right", and it was really good. It was really fire.

AF: Okay. I mean, are they still going to be beefing with the Dandy Warhols on stage and stuff?

Caller: I don't know. But if they were, then that would make for a really fun gig. So we'll see.

AF: Okay. I guess we'll see. I'll give it maybe a generous six, possibly. There's a legacy element to it that makes it interesting. I'll say that.

Caller: Will somebody talk about Oasis, the new album?

AF: Please give us some of this content. Yes, please.

Caller: To be honest, I don't really care either. But I did think of something that might be interesting for their new Okay.

AF: What do you think would be interesting for the new Oasis album?

Caller: Might be cool if they did this meta, break the fourth wall, where during the album, they're trying to make a music album, but then they just keep in the middle of each song, then they just get into a fight about the song and just keep disagreeing on different things. It could be trivial things or things about the song. Then that would be a really meta, Oh, they're breaking up on this album.

AF: You know That's what I want? Because the thing is, they've already made the record, and they had this whole tour thing planned out, so they must have been getting along for a little bit. You know what I mean? I want 10 tracks, and in between each track, I want an interlude of the therapy they were doing, either in person or over Zoom, where they're talking about their childhood trauma, where they're talking about just the jealousy, where they're talking about the problems, and they're really working through it. That's what I want. I want all the songs – it should be like TPAB – each therapy session contains a line that goes into the next song and is about what the therapy was about.

Caller: That would be good. That would be good and a good reference to a great album. Or else maybe they could do the Beavis and Butthead skits on speeding to heaven and just start bickering with each other.

AF: Oh, maybe that, too. Thank you.

AF: Thank you very much for calling in. We're talking Oasis. We're talking overrated albums. We're talking about a lot of stuff. We're We're talking about whatever you want at nts.live/callfantano.

Do we have the next caller cued up or are we going into a song? We got Ignacio here who has a hot take. Hi. Hello. Hi. Hello. How are you?

Caller: Doing fine. Thanks.

What would you say the spice level of this take is from zero to 10?

Caller: Well, if I had to give a number, I would say light seven to a strong six, maybe.

AF: Okay, so like a strong six, light seven spice level on this take. All right, I'm going to judge that based on what you are about to say. So what is it?

Caller: I think this is integration in the Cure album. It's not that good. I think it was very boring when I heard it for the first time.

AF: Are there other Cure albums that you gravitate more toward?

Caller: Actually, no. That's the only one I heard because I heard it and I didn't like it. The songs are boring. They're the same thing for six minutes, maybe.

AF: Like, "Pictures of You"? That's a long song. That's a beautiful anthem. That's a beautiful anthem. You don't like "Pictures of you"?

Caller: No, not really.

AF: Okay, listen. I would say to you, as far as The Cure goes, and look, not everybody needs to like Disintegration. They're a very versatile band with a very deep catalog, and all their albums sound very distinctly different for the most part. If you're looking for something that is a bit on the poppier and more accessible side, maybe you want something that is a bit easier on the ears, yeah, sure, you listen to Disintegration. But if you want something maybe more rocky, just has more riffs, is a little bit more rough and punky and straightforward, you could listen to Three Imaginary Boys. If you want something that's a bit gothy or a bit heavier, darker, maybe a bit more tortured, you can listen to Pornography. There's versatility across the Cure catalog.

Listen, I'm not saying you have to like Disintegration, but try out some other albums because they have a lot of different angles and vibes across their catalog. But I would actually say while maybe the take was a bit straightforward, the spice level was high. The chat was not feeling that take. The chat reacted very strongly to that take. I think you underrated the spice level just a little bit. But I appreciate you coming through and talking.

Caller: Thanks. Thanks for having me.

AF: Yeah, no problem. Thanks for coming through.

Caller: I am here. Thank you for having me.

AF: Thank you for coming through. It's Call Me Maybe, nts.live/callfantano. You did it. You got cued up. We're having a conversation. What do you want to talk about? Is there an overrated album on your mind? Do you care Do you care about Taylor Swift? Do you care about Oasis? Kendrick playing the Super Bowl? Any of those things? Are those on your mind or is it something else?

Caller: What is on my mind is not about that. I do love that Jody Grip song, actually.

AF: It's very funny. I like it as well. It gets really ridiculous in the second half.

Caller: Yeah. I just wanted to talk not about an overrated album or band. I wanted to talk about an underrated, if I may.

AF: That's fair game. Let's go.

Caller: Because recently, I just discovered Stereolab. I'm not sure if they're underrated, on your opinion, but I think that they're not commented on too much on music forums on music discussion. I just thought they sound amazing. They have a very interesting sound, not very conventional in terms of indie, jazz and stuff like that. I wanted to ask you if you think if that is because they're described as an electronic project instead of an indie.

AF: Yeah, they are. I think it's a blend. First off, for anybody who's not in the know, Stereolab, I would say, it combined the UKs and France's one of their best contributions to the indie canon, I guess you could say.

Obviously, the band is considered an indie band, that is true. But I feel like a lot of that has to do with the time period in which they cropped up. You know what I mean? If they cropped up earlier, I feel like they would have maybe landed under some different categories.

But with that being said, for sure, as far as underground, lofi, pop music goes, and they most definitely venture into electronic music, too, given a lot of the beats that back their songs and the synthesizers and various electronics that are included in their tracks. Yeah, that categorization is not incorrect. They have numerous classics under their belt, Dots and Loops, Emperor Tomato Ketchup.

Caller: That one is amazing.

AF: Yeah, I mean, those are their most critically acclaimed. Even their recent, almost switched on compilation records that they've been putting out have a lot of interesting tracks on them. I mean, look, in music nerd forums and various hubs like that on the internet, they're very well known and respected. But I will agree with maybe the assessment that when I go on to maybe hip music enclaves that maybe skew a bit younger, on TikTok or something like that, I don't see as much maybe Stereolab discourse.

Caller: They're not very TikTok-able.

AF: I mean, look, there are some hip indie kids on TikTok talking about a lot of cool other bands. I just maybe don't see Stereolab quite as much. Maybe you need to be that guy. Maybe you need to be hopping on social media, on Instagram, on TikTok, and making the case for Stereolab.

Caller: I think that that's me. That's my mission.

AF: I also believe, shout out to Lætitia Sadier. I believe she just came out with a solo album. Yeah, just earlier this year, Rooting for Love. So, I mean, she's still active as well.

Caller: I didn't know that. I will check that out. Talking about music nerd, nerds, if I may, I have another question. Do you think it's part of the culture is more like bragging about your taste or more about the music?

AF: No, this is most definitely an interesting question, and this will be the last thing that I say. I think there's most definitely tendencies among those sorts of crowds, rate your music and so on and so forth, for people to be a little superior. We'll have a superiority complex about their taste in the way they listen to things and the way they prefer things. I've seen it. I've heard it from people who deal with these people on hinge dates and so on and so forth and are like, 'Oh, you don't like what I like the way I like it'. They're just like, explaining it very pretentiously. Unfortunately, these people need to be avoided. They're a very loud and annoying vocal minority. For the most part, I think a lot of people who are sharing their taste on these platforms and on Twitter as well, they're looking for a connection. Because at the end of the day, these are all very niche things that we're into and appreciating at the end of the day. And part of what makes music and music culture so interesting and so gratifying is to be able to get some validation in terms of you experience it with other people. You know what I mean?

Caller: Right.

AF: Kind of experiencing it by yourself can be fulfilling, but it can also be even greater to be able to have that experience with others who are enjoying it as well, maybe in their own way, but enjoying it, too. It can make the world feel a little less lonely to know that something has touched somebody in the same way that it has on some level. I think there are a lot of people-

Caller: You find your people. Yeah, that was something on my mind. I wanted to know your opinion about it because I feel that some of your fan base, including me, I feel like I've observed.

AF: Oh, yeah. No, there's most definitely people like that who follow me, too. But I appreciate you calling in and reminding me. Thank you for having me.

Caller: Thank you.

AF: Sean, do we have somebody who wants to have a conversation on the line? We We got Nolan right here, it looks like. Nolan is on the line. Nolen? You hear Nolen?

Caller: Hello.

AF: Nolan, is it you? Hello.

Caller: Yes, it's me, Fantano.

AF: How are you doing, sir?

Caller: I'm doing Very well. How about you?

AF: I'm doing pretty good. What is on your mind? Anything having to do with any of the topics I have brought up, or is it something else completely different?

Caller: There's two things I wanted to ask if it's with you. One does involve music.

AF: Hit me with the first most important and music-related thing, and then we'll see if you're a good boy, if you deserve to ask a second question.

Caller: Okay. One musical discography before... I'm trying to get into a little bit now is Frank Zappa.

AF: Okay. Yeah.

Caller: Who I know you're very familiar with. You gave Hot Rats a 10. But first up, would you also say Apostrophe as a 10?

AF: I would say Apostrophe ranks around in that vicinity for me. That's an incredible record.

Caller: Would you say any albums that he's made are overrated?

AF: God, he has such a huge catalog. I would say for me, creatively, and this isn't to say he doesn't have good late-era albums, but around Sheik Yerbouti, that's where things, for me, creatively from him start to drop off. I feel the raunchiness of some of those tracks is just a little cringe and hasn't aged super great. I feel like as comedic as his writing tends to skew over the course of his entire career, I feel like he maybe went a little more low-brow than usual around that time period.

The humor and the comedy on previous records was obviously goofy, but a bit more interesting and smarter, especially on We're Only in It for the Money, where you get a lot of social commentary and so on and so forth. I'm not really that into lumpy gravy as far as a prime era Zappa album, as much as experimentalists and tape heads and so on and so forth are into that album. I don't really get a whole lot out of it, personally. I don't know if I would say it's like garbage or anything like that. I think, creatively, as far as process goes, it's an interesting album, but I just don't really get a lot out of listening to it. As far as cultural relevancy and commentary and so on and so forth, you could argue that the '60s and the '70s, he was most definitely at a high.

But when he was more established as a media figure, in the '80s and the '90s as being a rock veteran, he actually did have a lot of important and very significant things to say when it came to to the religious rights push to censor certain artists and censor certain records and so on and so forth. I mean, you could look up on YouTube. There's video of him speaking, I believe, in front of Congress, it is.

Caller: Yeah, I remember that.

AF: Yeah, in defense of anti-censorship stuff and that thing. All of which is vitally important to the history of rock music and pop music and so on and so forth. He never really stopped fighting the good fight or having significant things to say about politics, about music and art, about the music industry, as it were. He had a lot of opinions on how creatively things shifted over time and had his own opinions about maybe record labels were in a better place when those who were throwing out the money didn't really have quite as much say in the creative side of things and just didn't really know what to think about a lot of the stuff that they were putting out. We're taking a lot of chances on a lot of different artists and records, whereas now, A&Rs all think that they have to be tastemakers and think they're really hip and need to have an active role in deciding what is the next big hot thing, whereas it feels less organic in that way.

But again, that was his view, not one that I necessarily 100% disagree with, but he always had interesting thoughts to put out there. But I appreciate you calling up and taking an appreciation for one of the best artists, really, of all time.

AF: Let's have a conversation. My beautiful producer, I believe, has our next caller. Are you there?

Caller: Hello.

AF: Hello. How are you?

Caller: Hello, bald man. I'm doing very well.

AF: What's going on?

Caller: Yeah, nothing much. Reaching out from Montreal, Canada, with the Ares tour poster in the background. Wanted to talk to you about Brat. Okay. As a fellow Brat Summer enthusiast myself, I don't think it was a 10 out of 10. I think it was an eight.

AF: You think it was an eight? What are the three worst tracks on the record that, to you make it a weak record. Obviously, a record that is falling short of a 10, it's got to have weak spots. What are the weak spots?

Caller: I think "Girl, So Confusing", the non-remix version.

AF: That one? The non-remix version. So you feel like it was improved?

Caller: I feel like it was improved a ton with the second vocalist. I also think that "360" is just a shittier version of "365".

AF: Okay. All right. Do you have another hot take here or are those your two biggest weak points on the record?

Caller: Hold on. Let me pull up the tracklist.

AF: Okay. No, never mind. You brought up two. I'm going to I'm going to say "360". While maybe it is not the most thorough track structurally, it does not hit as hard as some of the louder and more thumping songs on the record. It's a very cute, endearing intro to the album. It's a great glitzy, glittery, fun little tone setter for the record. It's very pretty, and I feel like it's a great setup for the album. I'm not expecting the record to just ream me the second that it starts. It's a good start to the record and very fun and very cute and very bouncy.

On top of that, "Girl, So Confusing" is one of the most interesting songs topically on the entire record. I just love the back and forth. I love the internal struggle and drama and questioning and insecurity there. There's a lot of themes of insecurity around the entire record. I feel like that song is pivotal to expressing those. Yeah, I just don't really... Those are two of my favorites on the record. I don't see those as weak points.

Caller: I think the highlight of the album is "I Think About It All the Time" because obviously-

AF: Okay, that's great. But there are some people who would disagree because they feel like maybe it's a little short. Some people didn't really like her talk, singing, and so on and so forth, which maybe I could see a little bit more, but I still think that song is a great emotional moment.

Caller: Twenty-OneIf it's going to be a 10 out of 10, my standards for 10 out of 10 are Vessel by Twenty-One Pilots and TPAB.

AF: It doesn't-Time, time, time, time, time. Okay, time. Hold on. Hold the phone. Hold the phone. Let's go. Let's go. I'm not ready for you. Your standards for a 10 are TPAB. Yes. And also Vessel from Twenty-One Pilots.

Caller: Yes. Actually, no. We'll toss in 1000 gecs and the Tree of Clues into that as well. Those are my top.

AF: Okay. Listen, I did not come on here to be trolled to this depth. Okay? I did not come on here to be trolled to quite this depth. You are not being trolled. This is a level of trolling I did not anticipate today.

Caller: You are not being trolled. This is unironically what I believe.

AF: You're telling me Brat is out of the realm of 10 out of 10 consideration because of a 100 Gecs remix album? Yes. I'm not even sure 100 Gecs themselves would agree with that. I'm not even sure Dylan, who worked with Charli on music multiple times, would I agree with you on that.

Caller: I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It's just the truth. The Fall Out Boy, Nicole Dollanganger, and I forgot who the other person is on that remix of "hand crushed by a mallet", one of the best songs of all time. Also, if you're bringing up Charli, Charli's feature on "Ringtone" improves that song to a level I thought was humanly impossible.

AF: No, that's a great remix. I love that remix. Okay, listen, I'm going to... I feel like you have fought formidable, but I think we're going to have to call it there. Thank you very much for coming through. Listen, I hope you get a lot of really great amazing back-to-back spins out of TPAB and Vessel. Just keep on keeping on. Funny announcement for anybody who's not in on that, but I am trying to squat 365 pounds as a personal goal in celebration of Brat, and I did it. There will be proof of it landing on the internet soon.

And there you have it, a full compilation of calls from our Call Me Maybe show. Shout out to all who participated and once more to NTS for having me on. They're the best. You guys are the best.

Anthony Fantano. Call Me Maybe. Forever.