May Madness reaches its conclusion. But before the bracket chaos resumes, Cort reports back on GOLDSTAR by The Sophs. The album slowly wormed its way into his brain through catchy hooks that took their sweet time arriving, strange charm, and lyrics that demanded he actually pay attention. Brian, meanwhile, continues his campaign to promote emotionally damaged (or damaging) indie bands to the masses.

Which brings us to…

Noah Kahan’s new album The Great Divide, family dysfunction as musical genre, and Cort’s emerging theory that too many modern albums are hiding their best material in the back half like they expect listeners to complete a homework assignment before earning the payoff.

Then there’s the unfortunate return to a certain marriage podcast, which we cannot name because we genuinely do not remember the name even though Brian actually listened to it.

And then: the bracket.

May Madness Part 2 finally crowns the greatest band with a color in its name. The Sweet 16 becomes the Elite Eight, then the Final Four, as Cort makes a series of deeply subjective rulings that are nevertheless final, binding, and entirely within his sole discretion. Some decisions are carefully reasoned. Others may qualify as crimes against music history.

All of it leads to a shocking conclusion that may haunt this podcast forever.

By the end, one band survives. Whether justice was served is another matter entirely.

Theme Song: Cyrus Oh Cyrus by The Flying Scrub Jays https://open.spotify.com/track/3S9T5HUS4cwky1922WhF1J?si=6fcad8771f724492

Brian’s Assignment to Cort: GOLDSTAR by The Sophs https://open.spotify.com/album/7mTtyluyCS8hY97tqZDpoc?si=byI8fTtWSc23BLFvdF-oHA

Cort’s Next Assignment to Brian: American Football (LP4) https://open.spotify.com/album/3fhKJU3nUfduKj9YhEAoGf?si=ATD7kNzIQ5e6N1p4intVXw