Episodes

  • S1 - Ep 7 - Round 6 – The Most Diverse Round Yet: LL Cool J, U2, The Band, Black Flag & More
    Nov 7 2025

    Shawn and Craig are back with Round 6 of the Vinyl 4 Podcast, and this one might be the wildest yet. The 16-album lineup stretches across genres and generations — from the smooth harmonies of The Carpenters to the hardcore punch of Black Flag, the soulful energy of Jackie Wilson, and the raw garage revival of The White Stripes.

    Throw in LL Cool J, The Band, Bonnie Raitt, and U2, and you’ve got one of the most eclectic brackets to date. Who makes the cut? Who gets left behind? The debates are fierce, the surprises keep coming, and the Vinyl 4 grows stronger.

    📩 Subscribe and follow on your favorite podcast platform to keep up with the brackets.

    🎶 Got your own picks or snubs? Drop us a line at vinylfourpodcast@gmail.com

    📸 Follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes posts, polls, and bracket updates — @vinylfourpodcast.

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    34 mins
  • S1 - Ep 6 – Round 5: From Post-Punk to Roots Reggae, the Police Patrol the Bracket
    Oct 31 2025

    Shawn and Craig are back for Round 5 of the Vinyl 4 Podcast! Another batch of 16 albums, randomly selected from Rolling Stone’s Top 500, go head-to-head as the guys narrow it down to 4 more finalists.

    This week’s bracket spans genres and eras — from Carole King’s timeless songwriting to the country-rock of The Flying Burrito Brothers, the classic charm of Patsy Cline, and the sharp, rhythmic pulse of The Police. Expect plenty of surprises, spirited debated, and a few tough eliminations along the way.

    While they forgot to share their usual “should’ve made the list” picks this round, don’t worry — that tradition picks back up next episode.

    📩 Subscribe and follow on your favorite podcast platform to keep up with the brackets.
    🎶 Got your own picks or snubs? Drop us a line at vinylfourpodcast@gmail.com.
    📸 Follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes posts, polls, and bracket updates — @VinylFourPodcast ​

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    32 mins
  • S1 - Ep 5 - Special Edition: The First Sweet 16 Recap & Round 5 Reveal
    Oct 24 2025

    Shawn and Craig return with a special edition of the Vinyl Four Podcast! This week, the duo revisits the winners from Rounds 1 through 4 — 16 albums that have survived the bracket gauntlet so far. From the soul-shaking power of Aretha Franklin to the clever edge of Elvis Costello, the melodic punch of Big Star to the heavy roar of Black Sabbath, it’s a lineup spanning decades and genres — from folk to new wave and post-punk.

    But that’s not all… there’s a new twist. For the first time ever, Shawn and Craig reveal the next 16 albums for Round 5 ahead of time — giving listeners a chance to play along, make their picks, and see how their bracket stacks up when the episode drops.

    📩 Subscribe and follow on your favorite podcast platform to keep up with the brackets.
    🎶 Got your own picks or snubs? Drop us a line at vinylfourpodcast@gmail.com.

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    33 mins
  • S1 - Ep 4 – Round 4: From Dylan to N.W.A, Heavy Metal to Southern Soul
    Oct 17 2025

    Shawn and Craig return for Round 4 of the Vinyl Four Podcast, pulling another 16 random numbers from Rolling Stone’s Top 500 albums list and battling it out to narrow things down to 4 new finalists.

    This round spans generations and genres — from Bob Dylan’s poetic folk to N.W.A’s raw power, The Byrds’ jangly harmonies to Green Day’s pop-punk punch, with stops along the way for both British heavy metal and Southern soul.

    To close things out, each host once again brings two personal picks they feel were unjustly left off the Top 500 — albums that deserve a second listen and a rightful place in music history.

    📩 Subscribe and follow on your favorite podcast platform to keep up with the brackets.
    🎶 Got your own picks or snubs? Drop us a line at vinylfourpodcast@gmail.com.

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    37 mins
  • S1 - Ep 3 - Round 3: From The Ramones to Radiohead in the Race for the Vinyl Four
    Oct 10 2025

    Shawn and Craig are back for Round 3 of the Vinyl Four Podcast! Another set of 16 random numbers from Rolling Stone’s Top 500 albums sets the stage for fresh matchups and tough decisions, as the bracket narrows toward the next four finalists.

    This week’s musical spread is all over the map — from punk pioneers The Ramones to the soulful brilliance of Lauryn Hill, from timeless Christmas classics to indie-rock gems, and from Randy Newman’s wit to Radiohead’s innovation.

    As always, each host wraps things up by nominating two albums they feel were unjustly left off the Top 500 — deep cuts, overlooked gems, or personal favorites that deserve recognition.

    📩 Subscribe and follow on your favorite podcast platform to keep up with the brackets.
    🎶 Got your own picks or snubs? Drop us a line at vinylfourpodcast@gmail.com.

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    42 mins
  • S1 - Ep 2 - Round 2: Marley to Zeppelin (and Beyond)
    Oct 3 2025

    Shawn and Craig are back for Round 2 of the Vinyl Four Podcast! With the first four finalists locked in from Episode 1, it’s time to build the next half of the bracket.

    This week’s lineup brings the heat — from Bob Marley’s reggae spirit to Hank Williams’ country soul, AC/DC’s hard rock thunder to Eminem’s lyrical fire, plus the genre-bending soundscapes of Massive Attack and the legendary riffs of Led Zeppelin.

    As always, the hosts narrow the 16 contenders down to their Final 4, adding to the official Vinyl Four. To wrap things up, each host spotlights two albums that should have made Rolling Stone’s 500 — personal picks they argue deserve a place in music history.

    📩 Subscribe and follow on your favorite podcast platform to keep up with the brackets.
    🎶 Got your own picks or snubs? Drop us a line at vinylfourpodcast@gmail.com.

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    32 mins
  • S1 - Ep 1 - Round 1: Welcome to the Vinyl 4 Podcast - Let the Games Begin!
    Sep 25 2025

    Shawn and Craig kick off the very first bracket battle with 16 wild card picks pulled straight from Rolling Stone’s Top 500. From the electric fire of Jimi Hendrix and the grit of Bruce Springsteen to the soulful harmonies of The Drifters and the psych-rock of Moby Grape, some matchups feel like slam dunks, while others sting to let go. The playoff runs its course until each host lands on their “Final 4” picks.

    Then, to cap things off, Shawn and Craig each spotlight two albums they believe were unjustly left off the Top 500 list — records that deserve a bracket of their own.

    Tune in for debates, tough calls, and plenty of laughs as the Vinyl 4 Podcast begins its journey.

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    32 mins