Welcome to Episode 69 of This Is Not Happening, an Album of the Month podcast.

In Part 1, we do a deep drive review of our Album of the Month. This month Nolan serves up Lykke Li's new record: 'The Afterparty'.

In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. This month, we pick our favourite new music.

------ Part 1 | Album of the Month | Lykke Li | The Afterparty ------

Lykke Li is an adored and fascinating artist, having been releasing music since 2008. The Swedish artist has ploughed her own furrow of pop distinctly different to last month's Robyn, heavy on melancholy and referencing the 60s as much as the modern world and is a real pod favourite. Breaking out in the late 2000s with I Follow Rivers, she's the artist you never knew you loved.

The Afterparty is the sixth studio album for Li, and reflects the uncertainty of the modern, chaotic work in its svelte 24-minute running time, packing so much emotion and dynamics into that short running time.

The chat takes in her legacy, asks if this truly is her last album, and whether a famously reclusive artist can easily exist in the 'hyper-on' world of the music industry in 2026.

Have a listen, tell us what you think.

• Listen to the original album here.
• Watch some of her videos here , particularly the singles from this album.
• Buy this album or some merch here. And listen to her talk about the album here.

---------------- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | Sad Bangers ----------------

For Spin It or Bin It this month, we return to new music, picking our favourite new tracks from May and June.

The task is simple: pick a track that fits the theme, the objective, get more 'spins' than your friends. We each pick four tracks for a 16 track play list . We then each pick select 1 track and ask the simple question 'Spin It Or Bin It'?

• David chose 'the cure' by Olivia Rodrigo
• Guy chose 'THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE' by Genesis Owusu.
• Nolan chose 'Electric Revival' by Deante' Hitchcock.

What new music would you have chosen? What's missing from our playlist?

We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look - https://thisisnothappening.net/

We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look - https://thisisnothappening.net/

Welcome to Episode 68 of This Is Not Happening, an Album of the Month podcast.

In Part 1, we do a deep drive review of our Album of the Month. This month Guy brings a Robyn's latest release 'Sexisitential'.

In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. This month, the theme is 'Sad Bangers'.

------ Part 1 | Album of the Month | Robyn | Sexistential ------

Robyn is a unique, iconic figure in contemporary music. She's been making and releasing music since 1995, her career spans 4 decades already and she shows no signs of slowing down. Her pop career started when she was 15, she's about to celebrate her 47th birthday, this is insane staying power!

Sexistential is her 9th studio album if you count the Body Talk series as full albums? It's only 29 mins long, it doesn't mess about and no track or the album in full overstays it's welcome.

There is lots to get into in the discussion, has she still got it? Is she doing new things? Is this still relevant and if so who for? How artists change and what we expect from them as they age?

Have a listen, tell us what you think.

• Listen to the original album here.
• Watch some of her videos here , particularly the singles from this album.
• Buy this album or some merch here. And listen to her talk about the album here.

---------------- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | Sad Bangers ----------------

Robyn's biggest track is 'Dancing On My Own' is the archetype of a genre that Guy made up 'Sad Bangers'. This is our theme for Spin It or Bin It this month. It's got to be sad, and it's got to bang. Simple (in theory).

The task is pick a track that fits the theme, the objective, get more 'spins' than your friends. We each pick four tracks for a 16 track play list . We then each pick select 1 track and ask the simple question 'Spin It Or Bin It'?

• David chose Destroy Everything You Touch by Ladytron.
• Joey chose 'Teardrops' by Womack and Womack.
• Guy chose 'Lovesick' by Friendly Fires.
• Nolan chose 'Blue Monday' by New Order.

What would you have chosen? What's missing from our playlist?

We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look - https://thisisnothappening.net/

Welcome to Episode 67 of This Is Not Happening. An Album of the Month podcast.

In Part 1, we do a deep drive review of our Album of the Month. This month Joey brings a slice of sophisticated, R&B tinged pop with Eliza's Jill latest album 'The Darkening Green'.

In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. This month the theme is 'Sophisticated Pop'.

------ Part 1 | Album of the Month | Eliza | The Darkening Green ------

Eliza is an enigma. She has recorded under a different name but has been recording under 'Eliza' for the past 10 years or so.

After 3 long, very complex albums on the pod we take a new direction, 9 tracks and 35 minutes of sophisticated pop, stylish soul driven vibes. Its full of grooves, it's full of tunes and its full of all of the emotions. I have become quite obsessed with this and am recommending it to everyone.

• Listen to the original album here.
• Read some interviews and bits here and here.
• If you love this album like I do ... buy it here.

---------------- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | New Music ----------------

The theme is Sophisticaed Pop ... but we also get a bit confused between this and 'sophisti-pop' and to be honest, Nolan looses his shit.

The task is pick a track that fits the theme, the objective, get more 'spins' than your friends. We each pick four tracks for a 16 track play list . We then each pick select 1 track and ask the simple question 'Spin It Or Bin It'?

• Nolan chose 'Dance Little Sister' by Sanada Maitreya.
• David chose 'Uncertain Smile' by The The.
• Joey chose 'Sweetest Taboo' by Sade.
• Guy chose 'Hold me Now' by Thompson Twins.

We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look - https://thisisnothappening.net/

Welcome to Episode 66 of This Is Not Happening. An Album of the Month podcast.

In Part 1, we do a deep drive review of our Album of the Month. This month David brings Neo-Soul back into focus with Jill Scott and her comeback album 'To Whom This May Concern.

In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. This month the theme is 'Neo-Soul, and it's a belter.

------ Part 1 | Album of the Month | Jill Scott | To Who This May Concern ------

Jill Scott's debut was released in 2000, it played a big part in some of our lives. But most of us lost touch after this release. It's 26 years later and Jill has been through some shit.

This album is big, it's a lot. There is a lot to take in digest and consider. It works big time for some of us ... not so much for others. Have a listen, let's get into this!

• Listen to the original album here.
• Tiny Desk concerts are getting better and better, here is Jill's.
• Watch some videos, interviews and performances here.

---------------- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | New Music ----------------

The theme is Neo-Soul, the task is pick a track that fits the theme, the objective, get more 'spins' than your friends. We each pick for tracks for a 16 track play list (that is fire).

We then each pick select 1 track and ask the simple question 'Spin It Or Bin It'?

• Guy chose 'Heard it all Before' by Sunshine Anderson.
• Nolan chose 'Serve this Royalty' by Cody Chesnutt.
• David chose 'Don't Mess with My Man' by Lucy Pearl.
• Joey chose 'Untitled (How Does It Feel) by D'Angelo.

We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look - https://thisisnothappening.net/

Welcome to Episode 65 of This Is Not Happening. An Album of the Month podcast.

In Part 1, we review our Album of the Month. This month Nolan brings a big chunk of country (or is Heartland Rock?) with Zach Bryan's latest release 'With Heaven On Top'.

In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. This month the theme is 'New Music', tracks released since January 1st.

__________Part 1 | Album of the Month | Zach Bryan | With Heave On Top ____________

Zach Bryan is a relatively divisive, country artist who is HUGE in the states but can his latest album help him become (even more of) a global superstar? At 25 tracks and 1hr 18 mins he's giving the album every chance of making an impact.

This album has genuine, authentic heart. It's length is a big talking point, so is it's genre, is it country? Americana? Something else?

• Listen to the original album here.
• Listen to the acoustic version released 3 days after the original here.
• Watch an interesting conversation with Bryan and Springsteen here.

___________________Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | New Music _____________________

Every 3 months we pick the theme 'New Music' and each pick 4 tracks that have been released in the last 2 month. Listen to our 16 track play list that we created for the New Music theme.

We then each pick select 1 track and ask the simple question 'Spin It Or Bin It'?

• Joey chose 'Aperture' by Harry Styles.
• David chose 'Miami' by Pigeon.
• Nolan chose 'Milk, Blue' by Pem.
• Guy chose 'Out of Phase' by Alexis Taylor and Lola Kirke

We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look - https://thisisnothappening.net/

Welcome to Episode 64 of This Is Not Happening. An Album of the Month podcast.

In Part 1, we review and Album of the Month. This month Joey brings perhaps the most critically acclaimed album of 2025, Rosalia's 'LUX'.

In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. As it's January and everybody is back in the gym or re-starting running program's we've picked 'songs to get injured to'.

_______________________Part 1 | Album of the Month | Rosalia | LUX________________________

This is a big one. Big in many ways. Massively popular, globally. But more importantly MASSIVE in scope, scale and ambition. Rosalia's 4th album takes a major turn from the reggaeton, digital urgency of Motomami. This a symphonic, spiritual, complex and challenging collection of songs presented in 4 movements (if you're on vinyl). It requires you to focus, engage and consume with purpose.

It's undeniable that it is ambitious, its brilliance is clear ... but will any of us actually like it? Does it make you want to listen to it? Are you drawn to come back to it?

• Listen to the album here.
• Watch some of the videos for the tracks here.
• Check out the Zane Lowe interview with Rosalia here.

___________________Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | Songs To Get Injured To _____________________

New Year New Me. The gyms are packed. People are begging to get injured. What should you chose as your soundtrack to that achilles rupture or that rotator cuff tear? The answer is probably in this 16 track play list that we created.

We each pick 4 tracks for the playlist and submit 1 track and ask the simple question 'Spin It Or Bin It'?

• Joey chose 'Baddadan' by Chase & Status et al.
• Guy chose 'Go' by Chemical Brothers.
• David chose 'Kool Thing' by Sonic Youth.
• Nolan chose 'Stop What You're Doing' by Apathy.

We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look - https://thisisnothappening.net/

Festive Greetings from This Is Not Happening and welcome to our year-end, 2025 wrap-up episode. As always we split the pod into Part 1 and Part 2.

Part 1 features our Top 10 favourite albums of 2025. We use a proprietary algorithm to create our list our collective favourite albums, we're talking nascent data-science excellence! Every year it throws up some surprises as our tastes are so different (and in some ways so similar.

Part 2 features a festive Spin It or Bin It. We each bring a candidate for track of the year and ask the age old question 'Spin It or Bin It' ... will anyone really bin anyone elses Track of the Year? Probably.

To retain the tension, I won't share any spoilers here ... other than to share a 40 track playlist of some of our favourite 2025 tracks ... here.

Whatever you do at this time of year, who ever you do it with ... have a good one.

Please join us in January where we will go back to the usual format of Album of the Month + Spin It or Bin It.

We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look - https://thisisnothappening.net/

We are officially 62 months old. Welcome to the latest episode of This Is Not Happening, an album of the month podcast.

In Part 1, we review and Album of the Month. This month Guy brings back an artist that we first featured in early 2022, Joy Crookes. Joy is tackling the tricky 2nd album syndrome with her latest release 'Juniper'.

In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. This month, we stick with theme of 'Joy' and ask each other to brings tracks that bring us joy and happiness.

----- Part 1 | Joy Crookes | Juniper -----

In January 2022 we reviewed Joy's debut Skin. The consensus was that we loved it and it became a very important and deeply album for some of us. In terms of expectations, the bar was raised when Joy released the single 'Pass the Salt' in January of this year.

So what did we get with this sophomore release? Well, a lot is the simple answer! Perhaps not a big leap stylistically but a massive long-jump forwards in terms of song writing and performance. Will that be enough for the pod ... have a listen and tell us what you think.

• Listen to the album ... HERE
• Watch some great videos ... HERE
• Watch a great reaction video from Jakar right ... HERE
• Read a great interview with Joy in Glamour magazine ... HERE
• Listen to a deeply personal and revealing interview ... HERE

----- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | 'Joy' -----

Songs that bring us 'Joy and Happiness' sounds like a simple theme to find music for ... well, not for one of us who revels in the dark and miserable side of music. The selections are predictably brilliant!

• Nolan chose 'Jayou' by Jurassic 5.
• David chose 'Make Me Smile (Come up and see me)' by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel.
• Joey chose 'Superstylin' by Groove Armada.
• Guy went mental and chose 'Josephine' by Chris Rea!

We all chose 4 tracks as a shortlist which we combine into a belter of a 16 track playlist, listen to that bad boy HERE.

We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look - https://thisisnothappening.net/