Desert Island Albums

For this inaugural episode, each of the three hosts picked five albums that they would bring along to a deserted island. This episode reaches almost two hours, but provides an introduction to each of your hosts. Take a journey with them to a deserted island and see which host you agree with the most.

Here's a quick overview of the main topics covered, along with links to the albums so you can grab copies for your own collection. These affiliate links won't cost you any additional money, but will provide some pennies for the hosts to carry on with their new hobby.

Mitch's Desert Island Albums:

GEOGRAPHY by Tom Misch

This debut studio album came out in 2018, but Mitch had already become a fan after being introduced to the artist through his 2014 EP. The album received a Metacritic score of 73/100.

Run the Jewels 2 by Run the Jewels

Run the Jewels is Mitch's favorite artist of all time, and while he struggled to decide on which album, he settled on this one as his desert island pick. This one received a Metacritic score of 89/100. Justin argued that Run the Jewels 3 was better, but overall, this pick was supported by the others. There was also talk of the Kickstarter remix album Meow the Jewels, if you're a cat lover.

Chulahoma by The Black Keys

This might not be one of their most popular albums, but Mitch is a fan of this cover concept album. The band covers songs by Junior Kimbrough. At only 27 minutes, it's one of the shortest albums on the list.

Random Access Memories by Daft Punk

Mitch wanted to include something "dancier" if he's stuck on the island forever, so he went with this vibe. This album won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2014. The Metacritic score is 87/100 and this album is recognized by many industry experts as an excellent piece of work. This album also led to an interesting conversation about favorite robots.

A Sailor's Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson

Mitch didn't grow up with country at all, but is now a huge fan of Sturgill. This 2016 album won the best country album award, so it definitely falls in that category. Everyone was a fan of the Nirvana cover "In Bloom," tucked into this record. The Metacritic score was an 86/100, and the cover is one of the coolest in the bunch.

Fact Check from Production:

Mitch brings up a study about the age you develop your musical taste being 35 years old. I found this article on neuroplasicity of music which says that most of your musical preferences are locked in by age 14. Another article covers the paralysis of your music tastes that happens around age 31. So while I couldn't find the study Mitch was talking about, it is interesting to learn how things shift or don't.

Justin's Desert Island Albums:

Moanin' by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

This jazz album was released in 1958. It's got trumpets, saxophone, and drums, and makes for perfect desert-island listening. This is one of those albums that works for all kinds of scenarios and moods. It's great while doing chores or getting things done with some solid background music. Blakey released dozens of albums throughout his music career, so this is a perfect introduction and there's plenty more where that came from.

All Your Favorite Bands by Dawes

This indie band is one of Justin's favorites. He's seen them in concert multiple times, but this 2015 album is his favorite. The title track is now a song the band plays at almost every show, and while the band has gone through some changes, the two brothers are still together making music today.

Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves

This is the fourth studio album from this country/pop songwriter. It's another choice on the list that won Album of the Year at the Grammys. Justin first heard the songs live when Musgraves opened for Harry Styles and has seen her multiple times since. Justin called this album a masterpiece of emotion from front to back and called Musgraves his favorite current female songwriter.

America, Location 12 by Dispatch

After taking a five-year break from releasing new music, Dispatch put this album out in 2017. This was their 6th album, and it produced one of their only songs to ever hit the mainstream charts, Only the Wild Ones. Mitch puts this band in the jam band category with O.A.R. and Phish, but this vibe works great for Justin's desert island.

The Stranger by Billy Joel

This album was Billy Joel's commercial breakthrough, and it's the one Justin listens to most on his record player. It includes some of his biggest hits, such as Vienna and Only the Good Die Young. He's been listening to Billy Joel since he was a child, and this album just never gets old.

Alex's Desert Island Albums:

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Everyone seemed to agree that this album belongs on everyone's list. It's possibly one of the best albums of all time. Alex remembers hearing this as a kid and becoming an instant fan of Stevie Nicks. This album is still in the top 10 for sales, so it's clearly hitting younger generations as well. It's the highest-scoring album on this list with a 99/100 on Metacritic, so if you somehow haven't listened to this, it should be your first stop.

Girls Can Tell by Spoon

Spoon is Alex's all-time favorite band. This 2001 album was the one he decided on, but it was a tough choice. He almost chose Gimme Fiction instead. The only complaint was that it was short, with only 36 minutes of music, but all the songs were very solid. This was a college favorite for Alex and hasn't lost its appeal.

At Mount Zoomer by Wolf Parade

This 2008 album is classified as post-punk revival. It's one of the more obscure albums on the whole list and wasn't a hit for Mitch or Justin. Alex recommends listening to the second half of the album because the songs are stronger. With two lead singers, there is a bit more variety.

Ultraviolence by Lana Del Ray

Alex called Lana Del Ray his second-favorite voice after Stevie Nicks, but the other guys weren't sold on this album making the cut for a deserted island. It's pretty depressing content. Alex likes to feel the emotion in the music's sound more than in the lyrics, and this album does that. His favorite song is West Coast, so that would be a good place to start if you want to feel some things today.

Swimming by Mac Miller

Alex's final pick was another emotional album. This was Miller's last album before he died, and he was going through a breakup with Ariana Grande. Alex remembers first listening to this album on a long road trip and playing it multiple times through.

Honorable Mentions

Justin also mentioned "Lover" by Taylor Swift and "Bat Out of Hell" by Meat Loaf for something a little more fun, though he admitted he couldn't listen to too much Meat Loaf. Mitch would have added in "Awaken My Soul" by Childish Gambino. Alex would have considered Wilco's "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" or LCD Soundsystem's "Sound of Silver".

Justin and Mitch both agreed that they would choose each other's albums over Alex's, so he received two votes to be booted from the island. Alex chose Mitch's picks over Justin's, so one vote was added to his name. This round, Mitch came out unscathed, but we'll see what happens in the next episode.

Comment and tell us your desert island albums. Also, please comment if you'd wear some merch from Alex's high school band, Sorry We're Not From Canada.