Christmas music is weird.

One minute it’s beautiful, nostalgic and comforting - the next it’s novelty songs, metal Santa chaos, and the same track played 47 times in one afternoon.

In the Tracks on Trial Christmas Special, Sam George, Amy Jo and Andy put the courtroom on hold and dive headfirst into the chaotic world of festive music. From indie winter hymns and alternative Christmas tracks to heavy, unhinged holiday songs, this episode celebrates the weird side of Christmas playlists.

The jury explores how cultural differences shape Christmas celebrations around the world, why nostalgia plays such a powerful role in how we experience holiday music and movies, and why modern Christmas culture feels very different from the classics many of us grew up with.

Along the way, there are community shoutouts, ridiculous but enlightening Christmas music trivia, satirical festive news headlines, and strong opinions about which songs should - and definitely shouldn’t - be played every December.

🎄 In this episode:

• Alternative and unconventional Christmas songs
• Indie and metal takes on festive music
• Cultural differences in Christmas traditions
• Nostalgia, Christmas movies, and memory
• Why Christmas music sparks extreme emotional reactions
• Fake Christmas music news
• Fun and surprising Christmas music trivia
• The importance of diversifying your holiday playlist

This isn’t about verdicts or flops - it’s about embracing the full spectrum of Christmas music, from beautiful to baffling.

Grab a drink, avoid the supermarket playlists, and join us for a festive episode that proves Christmas music doesn’t have to be boring.

Rock isn’t dead - it just keeps changing its outfit. In this episode of Tracks on Trial, we dive deep into the world of modern rock from the last five years, exploring how today’s artists blend classic attitude with fresh ideas, new production techniques, and genre-bending creativity.

Sam George, Amy Jo and Andy Smith trade perspectives from three continents as they put a new batch of tracks on trial. From The Fratellis’ unexpected do-wop-leaning reinvention to Dorothy’s powerhouse vocal performances, the jury examines how modern rock continues to evolve while staying emotionally punchy and unapologetically bold.

Along the way, we discuss:

• How vocals carry the emotional core of a track
• When production choices elevate a song - and when they derail it
• Why some songs work without a traditional build or crescendo
• The growing versatility of indie and rock-adjacent genres
• The influence of veterans like Alice Cooper and innovative acts like Royal Blood
• What makes a song a “vibe” vs. a “statement”
• Why lyrics matter more than many listeners realise
• How rock artists borrow from pop, soul, blues, metal and beyond
• The joy of discovering fresh perspectives within the rock community

Plus - a rapid-fire round featuring brand new tracks, hot takes, questionable opinions, and at least one moment where someone rants about production choices (again).

Whether you’re a rock loyalist or a curious explorer, this episode highlights how broad, surprising and emotionally charged the modern rock scene has become.

⚖️ Topper or Flopper? Listen, judge, and share your verdict.

Tracks on Trial - smart, funny, and fiercely international. Follow for new episodes every week.

Punk isn’t a genre, it’s a decision. A decision to be loud, political, chaotic, messy, and completely unmanageable.

In this episode of Tracks on Trial, Sam George, Amy Jo and Andy dive head-first into the world of punk rock and all the gloriously unhinged genres it spawned. From the political fire of Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen” to the razor-sharp bite of Stiff Little Fingers, from early punk innovators like MC5 to the avant-garde meltdown of black midi, this episode explores the entire spectrum of rebellion - past, present, and beautifully unclassifiable.

The jury breaks down the raw power, political rage, distorted chaos, and surprisingly sharp musicianship that has defined punk across decades. They look at how punk evolved into hardcore, pop-punk, emo revival, art-punk, and experimental noise, and why the spirit of the movement still resonates in everything from Sugarcult to modern theatrical punk.

💬 In this episode:

• Why punk music remains one of the most rebellious forces in modern culture
• How “God Save the Queen” became a political grenade

• Stiff Little Fingers and punk’s storytelling backbone
• The chaotic brilliance and genre-breaking energy of black midi
• Punk’s evolution through Green Day, Gallows, Sugarcult and more
• Vocal identity, distortion, and the beauty of musical imperfection
• Why punk refuses to be defined by one sound, one era… or one generation
• The role of nostalgia in early 2000s punk and teen-movie culture
• How contemporary artists keep the punk mindset alive

It’s loud. It’s messy. It’s political. And it proves that punk is less a sound and more a spirit - one that still punches holes in the mainstream today.

⚖️ Topper or Flopper? You decide. Join the global jury, subscribe, and tell us which punk tracks still light the fuse for you.

Tracks on Trial — smart, funny, and gloriously chaotic.

Follow the show and get weekly episodes packed with rebellion, rhythm, and ridiculous opinions.

Robert Plant’s got a flopper.

And that’s not just a punchline. It’s the spark for a deep dive into the chaotic, beautiful world of musical collaboration.

In this episode of Tracks on Trial, hosts Sam George (Spain), Amy Jo (USA), and Andy Smith (Australia) explore the magic that happens when creative worlds collide, and the disasters that sometimes follow. From country and Americana partnerships to unexpected cross-genre duets, they put the art of collaboration under the microscope (and occasionally, on trial).

This week’s discussion includes:

• Why authenticity makes or breaks musical partnerships.
• The African and folk roots that shaped country and Americana.
• When artistic chemistry ignites genius, and when it blows up spectacularly.
• Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: brilliance, balance… and a few flops.
• How collaboration fuels innovation across genres, from Nashville to New Orleans to Newcastle.

Witty, insightful, and occasionally chaotic, this episode celebrates the risk and reward of working together, because sometimes the best collaborations are built on a little bit of chaos.

Tracks on Trial - the global music podcast where every song (and artist) faces judgment.

Subscribe, listen, and tell us your verdict: was it a Topper or a Flopper?

Welcome to the debut episode of Tracks on Trial, the global music podcast where three hosts from three continents bring their most beloved songs into the courtroom of sound.

This week’s theme: Songs We Can’t Live Without.

Join Sam George (Spain), Amy Jo (USA), and Andy Smith (Australia) as they put their personal favourites on the stand. From a-ha’s timeless pop craftsmanship and Oasis’s anthemic energy, to Rage Against the Machine’s revolutionary fire, Alter Bridge’s emotional power, and The Cadillac Three's southern swagger.

In this episode:

• How music shapes identity and life experience across cultures.
• Why authenticity and musicianship still matter in an age of algorithms.
• The emotional power of great production and orchestration.
• The lasting legacy of 80s music and its influence on today’s artists.
• What Rage Against the Machine and Alter Bridge reveal about the evolution of modern rock.
• How country songwriting, pop nostalgia, and heavy riffs can all connect us in different ways.

From viral hits to deep cuts, every song faces cross-examination, and the final verdict: Topper or Flopper.

Tracks on Trial is where global perspectives meet shared passion. Smart, funny, and fiercely musical, it’s the show where no track escapes judgment, and every listener finds something new to love.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell us which songs you can’t live without.

#TracksOnTrial #MusicPodcast #aha #Oasis #RageAgainstTheMachine #AlterBridge #TheCadillacThree #MusicDiscovery #Songwriting #MusicProduction #RockPodcast #PopPodcast #CountryMusic

Welcome back to Tracks on Trial, the global music podcast where three hosts from three continents put songs in the dock and deliver one of two verdicts: Topper or Flopper.

In this episode, we head deep into the underground metal scene, spotlighting underrated bands and tracks that deserve far more attention than they get. From emotionally devastating performances to surgically precise production, this episode is all about the metal that flies under the radar - and why that’s often where the most exciting innovation lives.

Sam George, Amy Jo, and Andy explore what gives metal real emotional weight, why conviction matters as much as technical skill, and how female vocalists are reshaping the genre with power, range, and authenticity. Along the way, the jury faces quickfire rounds, tests their knowledge with a metal quiz, and tackles satirical metal-industry “news” that hits a little too close to home.

The episode builds toward a deeper discussion of Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades”, examining its legacy, influence, and why it still looms so large over modern heavy music.

In this episode:

• Underrated and underground metal bands
• Emotional weight vs technical proficiency
• Female vocalists redefining heavy music
• Quickfire instinct rounds
• A metal quiz to test genre knowledge
• Satirical metal industry news
• Production quality in modern metal
• The lasting influence of Ace of Spades
• Why discovering lesser-known bands matters

Whether you’re a lifelong metalhead or just starting to dig deeper, this episode proves that some of the most vital heavy music lives far away from the mainstream.

Topper or Flopper? Listen, judge, and tell us which underground bands deserve their day in court.