2025 is off to a killer start! We rang in the new year with Operation Ivy's Energy, and I'm positive that any album from this poll will follow it up perfectly.
I've listened carefully to everyone's feedback regarding repeat bands—especially repeat bands for full-album episodes. Please know that I have no issue with repeat artists for the YouTube channel, but since I only do the full-album episodes monthly, I definitely want to space them ou...
2025-01-15 15:00:14 +0000 UTC
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Folks! I've recently introduced the Mixtapes series, and my favorite prospect about it is that it has so much flexibility. There are a number of ways to go about it, and I'd love to get some feedback on how I should go about Volume 3.
Vote away! 😎
2025-01-11 02:37:45 +0000 UTC
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RULES:
1. Song requests will only be considered from comments on these monthly posts.
2. The comment section of each post will be open for five days each month, starting on the 10th and closing on the 15th. After five days, the comments will be disabled in order to tally all votes.
3. Please limit song requests to one per person. We’d like to encourage a single, thoughtful request (versus multiple entries), so p...
2025-01-10 15:00:12 +0000 UTC
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Well, you guys did it. This album sets the tone for 2025, and I certainly ain't mad at it. Holy crap, what a mature bass performance from Matt Freeman (or...McCall?!) at the ripe age of 22. He clearly had a soulful musical upbringing with these funky, punchy, character-ridden bass lines that drove this entire album from beat one. To me, these bass lines were lyrics.
Coincidentally, this episode was recorded the same exact day I filmed (and poste...
2025-01-01 15:00:17 +0000 UTC
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Patreon fam! I'm excited to announce that I've teamed up with Dingwall Guitars as the host of their new podcast, Comfortably Strung. I'll be interviewing bass players from their incredible roster of artists, which includes many of my heroes, peers, and a diverse range of players representing various styles and genres.
Episode One is with Adam "Nolly" Getgood, UK bassist most known for his work with Periphery, but also an acclaimed audio engineer and producer within the modern m...
2024-12-23 16:37:56 +0000 UTC
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Mixtape, Vol. 2 is going to be hard to top! ❄️ I had such a blast and really didn’t want it to be over. Despite a completely random requesting and voting system, this turned out to be such a varied mixtape representing every feeling ever felt about the holidays: grim, happy, philosophical, blissful, hilarious...it was just perfectly paced. You guys always pick 'em flawlessly.
I got to hear a few classics from familiar bands alongside some ...
2024-12-15 19:00:12 +0000 UTC
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Well, what album do we kick off 2025 with?! You guys will set the tone for the whole year, so vote wisely! 😉
While reflecting back on every punk song I've covered throughout 2024, I’ve been meaning to circle back to several albums that haven't made it onto the polls just yet.
Here are a few that I've been wanting to hear—including Rise Against's Siren Song of the Counter Culture—which is back for another chance after landing in second place last mon...
2024-12-15 15:00:16 +0000 UTC
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RULES:
1. Song requests will only be considered from comments on these monthly posts.
2. The comment section of each post will be open for five days each month, starting on the 10th and closing on the 15th. After five days, the comments will be disabled in order to tally all votes.
3. Please limit song requests to one per person. We’d like to encourage a single, thoughtful request (versus multiple entries), so p...
2024-12-10 19:15:59 +0000 UTC
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Well, here's my next idea for Mixtapes that I'd like to try! This will work exactly like our monthly request posts, but the mixtape will become the top fifteen tracks based on your upvotes.
Get in the holiday spirit and request your favorite holiday punk rock songs below. I'm learning that some bands actually have original songs that are "holiday themed", and those are also welcome!
*Our new request rules still apply, s...
2024-12-01 21:00:07 +0000 UTC
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We're back for another round of the indelible BAD RELIGION! I'm grateful to know that I'll gradually be exploring this one-of-a-kind band over time, but Generator is my second pitstop through their discography. I sense a younger, more-willing band ready to lean into the musical stylings that made me fall in love with them, but who are still experimenting with what that actually is. Who cares what I think, though, because they're already six albums in!
<...
2024-12-01 15:00:08 +0000 UTC
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Thanks for your feedback (and votes) regarding a potential Discord server, as well as your experience with the in-house chatroom feature.
At this time, I'm going to hold off on utilizing Discord, but I'm still open to it eventually. It requires a lot of oversight, setup, and will inevitably split the audience. While the Patreon chat is far from perfect, I think we have a good (and fun) thing going for now!
However, I've taken your feedback and have opened some new categorized chat...
2024-11-23 17:13:01 +0000 UTC
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I've hit the punk requests pretty hard on the channel lately, and based on everyone's discussions, I know this will be another tough poll! 😉
Earlier this year, I swear I remember Patreon limiting polls to 5 options, but it appears you can have up to 25 now. I'd still like to keep these shorter and sweeter, but moving forward, I'll use a sixth poll option for any returning second-place albums. Hey—that's 20% more albums!
Speaking of returning albums...Catch 22’s Keasbey ...
2024-11-15 17:00:18 +0000 UTC
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Thank you guys for burning me my first MIXTAPE! Volume 1 features Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, because after my recent YouTube episode on the band, I just wanted more!!
Simply put, these guys have mastered the science of making cover songs shine brightly in all the right ways. They brilliantly straddle how to respect the original, but also how to elevate the original when filtering it through their rough-and-tumble stylings. This is easier ...
2024-11-15 16:30:02 +0000 UTC
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This format has significantly streamlined the process for us, so let's keep it rolling! Before commenting, please review the rules below.
RULES:
1. Song requests will only be considered from comments on these monthly posts.
2. The comment section of each post will be open for five days each month, starting on the 10th and closing on the 15th. After five days, the comments will be disabled, so get 'em in!
3. Ple...
2024-11-10 16:48:00 +0000 UTC
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Folks, I've seen frequent comments and requests for a Low End University Discord server, so I'll run a little poll here to gauge interest...
I originally planned to utilize Discord for this Patreon from day one, but to be honest, I don't know much about it and have only used it a few times in the past. The setup was a little confusing, so I put it off for another time.
When Patreon rolled out their in-house chat feature, it felt like it achieved the same purpose. However, I'd love...
2024-11-09 17:29:46 +0000 UTC
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This belongs to you guys, just as much as it does to me.
I can't thank all of you enough for hanging out with me each week on YouTube, taking time out of your busy days to watch my videos, taking even more time out of your busy days to watch my full-album episodes, and for even considering to spend a single dollar to support Low End University in any way, shape, or form. This Patreon community is extra special to me, and your support to help make this channel poss...
2024-11-08 23:42:47 +0000 UTC
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Introducing Mixtapes...and we're kicking it off with Me First And The Gimme Gimmes for Volume One!
These will work a little differently than other polls, because they will allow multiple choice voting. For this episode, I will listen through the top fifteen tracks based on your votes, and it'll feel just like burning a mix CD back in 1999! I miss those days...
Due to Patreon's entry limit on polls, this will be ...
2024-11-04 20:11:08 +0000 UTC
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Well...third time's the charm?! After its third chance on a poll, A Wilhelm Scream's Career Suicide finally won, and only by 9 votes!
What's crazy about this album is the immense musical overlap with so many technical metal albums I grew up listening to, but it seems to hail from a completely different music scene. It's really odd to think about. All my (best) friends (are metalheads) are going to love this album when they hear it, I guarantee it.
If you ask me, ...
2024-11-01 17:15:41 +0000 UTC
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Well...with ten full-album episodes under my belt, it feels like the perfect time to reflect on these amazing albums you guys voted for throughout 2024!
I originally wasn’t planning to rank these albums or anything…but I've seen a few suggestions for it, so why not?! This was a challenge to do, but here’s where I landed along with my personal thoughts on each album.
What would your ranking be? I’m pretty curious, so let me know in the comments below! ...
2024-10-25 17:37:45 +0000 UTC
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After recently crossing the 10th episode mark, I wanted to mix this next poll up! I shall dub this month’s poll as the Lost, But Not Forgotten poll.
Like you guys, I get a little sad when certain albums lose. I could always just go listen to them on my own, but, what fun would that be? Eventually, I'll have no choice, but I'm giving these another shot for now.
Here are five albums that have previously lost (some more than once), but that I’ve cer...
2024-10-15 14:14:22 +0000 UTC
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Folks! We are now accepting song requests again, but with a few important changes to the process. Ultimately, this will help to streamline things for all of us!
RULES:
1. Requests will now only be considered from comments on these monthly posts.
2. The comment section of each post will be open for five days each month, starting on the 10th and closing on the 15th. After five days, the comments will be disabled, so get 'em in!
2024-10-10 18:00:07 +0000 UTC
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I’m finally going to start posting some “bonus content” around these parts! I technically listed this as a perk included with your Patreon membership, but have massively slacked on it this year…😅🤙🏼
If you’d like to know what albums shaped ME as a musician (and as a bass player), here is a crash course. You guys have turned me on to so much new music, and maybe I can return the favor with a few of these!
2024-10-04 19:51:29 +0000 UTC
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Geez, we’re already at Episode #10?! Prior to this Patreon, I don’t think I’ve sat down and listened to 10 albums in one year, with undivided attention, since I was a teenager. This was my one and only goal with this series, and I feel I’m already better for it. Your votes have truly guided me into some incredible music.
The Shape of Punk to Come by Refused is now my favorite episode I’ve put together - not necessarily my favorite album...
2024-10-01 15:03:45 +0000 UTC
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It's that time! I'm curious to see where these land, because I think these albums would make for interesting episodes in very different ways from each other. We also have Keasbey Nights from Catch 22 getting another chance after coming in second place last month.
The ska-focused albums would be an obvious blast, but I'm intrigued by the "experimental" sound people have mentioned regarding this particular blink-182 album. The albums from The Mars Volta and Ref...
2024-09-15 15:24:30 +0000 UTC
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When I first heard Victory Lap, I immediately had one of those "Where has this band been my whole life?" moments, and hearing Supporting Caste completely drove it home. This album was such a visceral experience both musically and lyrically, and going into this episode with a better understanding of the band granted me the opportunity to appreciate them in a whole different way. These songs (and the messages behind them) have a way of sticking with you even...
2024-09-01 18:38:17 +0000 UTC
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I've covered a lot of punk bassists this year, and would love to interview some of them. Who would you pick? What should I ask them?
I ask this because I'm already a few episodes into a podcast I was hired to host interviewing bass players, but it won't launch until next month. I don't pick the guests, and it doesn't look like it'll include any of the punk players, so I'm considering doing something separate for them on my channel.
I'd love to hear your input! 😎
2024-08-29 23:46:31 +0000 UTC
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It's BONUS EPISODE time! Much like before, I just didn't want to see this album lose again. Plus, this month's poll really needed all five slots open... 😎 - but, in terms of the most standout bass performance on a full-album episode so far? Front to back? This album wins. And, I didn't remotely expect it to. After hearing their track "Hey" on YouTube, I suspected this band had a few tricks up their sleeves, but not like this. Royce Nunley floored me on j...
2024-08-15 16:07:34 +0000 UTC
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I have a slight feeling this might be a pretty tough poll...and that's what makes all of this so fun! 😈
Here's are five more albums I can't wait to hear. Have at it!
As always, please remember that I'm only considering full-album reactions that contain songs I've already covered on YouTube.
This poll will be open through Wednesday, August 28th, and the winning album's episode will be posted on Sunday, September 1st!
2024-08-15 15:30:27 +0000 UTC
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After recently being introduced to Bad Religion with their track "Epiphany", I suspected it was a complete outlier track relative to the band's overall style. I feel I was wrong, because The Process Of Belief had endless nods to the melodic genius of "Epiphany" with a zillion more surprises woven into the rest of the album. I'm still unsure what to make of this band, but what I do know is that they are deep, complex, nuanced, and have endless layers to peel back. And then some. ...
2024-08-01 15:39:41 +0000 UTC
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Dang, we're already in the thick of summer, y'all! But - it's that time again. Here's another round of albums I'd love to break down, with Destruction by Definition by The Suicide Machines getting another chance after coming in second place in last month's poll.
I feel like this poll has quite the variety this 'go round, and am curious to see where they all land! As always, please remember that I'm only considering full-album reactions that contain songs I'v...
2024-07-15 22:45:43 +0000 UTC
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