Bonus Episode: The 10 Greatest Pop-Punk Songs of All-Time

Episode #25: Deep Dive into The Black Album by Metallica

After another long boring break, Dov returns to share the story of his band’s lengthy journey in choosing a goddamn name. He then ranks his top 5 favorite and least favorite band names, which leads him to discuss Metallica, and more specifically, their self-titled record better known as the Black Album. After setting the scene for the gargantuan 1991 release, he shares its defining musical and lyrical themes, as well as the commercial and critical response to the acclaimed and perhaps controversial album.  A jetlagged Ryan Gilman then returns from his tour in Indonesia to co-host and show off that he apparently learned the word “captivated” in Jakarta. After thirty minutes of relishing in their Metallica standom, Ryan and Dov make their respective tier-list of songs from the Black Album in which they agree to disagree more often than not.    Timestamps  Ad Read: (00:00) Introduction: (00:30) Metallica in the Late 80s: (07:39) Making the Black Album: (13:14) Music and Lyrics: (18:45) Commercial and Critical Response: (26:58) Dov’s Take: (31:58) Interview Pt. 1-Dov & Ryan Shoot the Breeze and Talk Metallica: (35:04) Interview Pt. 2-Dov & Ryan Make Tier-Lists for the Black Album: (01:08:00) Outro: (01:38:47)

Episode #24: Sad Boy Music of the 90s

After another decently sized break, Dov returns to Hot Cakes from a 90s Stan to share Bo Burnham’s role in the healing process of his pandemic mental health issues. He then discusses what it means to be a sad boy singer-songwriter before a fairly deep dive into three tremendous 90s albums by three sad boy singer-songwriters; Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel, Elliott Smith, and Jeff Buckley. After his spiel, Dov gives random categories awards to the singer-songwriters, mainly for his own amusement. Following the monologue, Dov is joined by his friend Zach who previously was a guest on the Cranberries episode. The two of them pay tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne and then subsequently fawn over Elliott Smith and Jeff Buckley, but not really Jeff Mangum though. Rude.    Timestamps: Ad read: (00:00) Introduction: (00:28) Dov’s definition of sad boy music: (04:26) In The Aeroplane Over the Sea: (06:50) Either/Or: (15:59) Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk: (28:12) Sad boy Awards: (40:21) Zach and Dov pay tribute to Ozzy: (43:04) Zach gives his definition of sad boy music: (48:32) Zach and Dov talk In The Aeroplane Over the Sea: (54:01) Zach and Dov talk Either/Or: (01:05:49) Zach and Dov talk Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk: (01:17:19) Outro: (01:31:56)

Episode #23: What is Pearl Jam's Signature Song?

On Hot Cakes’ eighth signature song episode, Dov proves why the inclusion of the term “Stan” belongs in his podcast’s title as he repeatedly glazes the Alt Rock icons, Pearl Jam. Before establishing the heart of the band’s sound, he shares the history of the band and contextualizes Pearl Jam’s placement in the 90s zeitgeist. After choosing a signature song some might find questionable but all will agree is a banger, he is joined by his co-host, the now-internet-famous Ryan Gilman. Ryan once again gets nostalgic talking about his goated high school bus driver and the butt-rock radio station he always had on. Ryan then almost basically forces Dov to reveal the true meaning of the second verse of the song, “Alive.”  Time stamps:  Introduction: (00:00) History of Pearl Jam: (03:41) Signature Sound of Pearl Jam: (36:47) Signature Song Runners-up: (39:35) Signature Song revealed: (49:27) Dov and Ryan have a conversation about Pearl Jam: (52:39) Outro: (01:39:22)

Episode #22: Deep Dive into Californication

On the 22nd episode of Hot Cakes from a 90s Stan, Dov takes a close look at what he considers the last great album of the 1990s, Californication by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. After giving a detailed history of the events leading up to the album’s completion as well as the writing/recording process, he discusses the success of the album, its significance to him as a fan, and its legacy as a personal triumph for the individual members of the band. After the monologue, Dov is joined once again by his buddy Alejandro Castillo. In addition to bantering back and forth regarding their many opinions of Californication, the two of them talk a stroll down memory lane as they reminisce on their decades-long tenure as super fans of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The second part of the interview includes Dov and Alejandro grading each song on the album as either Red Hot (really really great), Hot (solid), Lukewarm (meh), and Chilly (not good). While they agree on the grades for most songs, there are certainly moments of bitter contention.    Timestamps: Introduction: (00:00) Turbulence of 1997-1998 (03:38) John Frusicante rejoins the band: (08:44) Writing and recording of Californication (12:08) Music and lyrics of the album: (16:33) Commercial & critical reception: (26:40) Legacy of Californication: (31:16) Interview part 1 (shooting the breeze and talking all things Chili Peppers): (35:08) Interview part 2 (grading each song from Californication): (01:12:45) Outro: (01:46:36)

Bonus Episode: The 10 Greatest Pop-Punk Songs of All-Time

Y'all get a bonus episode! Free baseball! Hooray! In this bonus endeavor, Dov and Ryan are joined by Alex Urbina who was the guest on episode #21. The boys team up to create a draft of the 10 greatest Pop-Punk songs of all time. So the episode functions like a fantasy draft but with choosing Pop-Punk songs instead of grown-ass adults that sweat a lot. The rules of the draft are as follows: 1. No songs can be repeated 2. Each participant can only reuse 1 artist. Therefore, each participant's list will consist of at least 9 different artists. 3. Every song has to be a banger. At the conclusion of the draft, Dov, Ryan, and Alex sort through the list and come together to decide the winner of each round to ultimately compile Hot Cakes from a 90s Stan's official list of the 10 greatest Pop-Punk songs of all time.  Also, whoever of three dudes chose the most songs that ended up on the final list gets crowned winner and gets a mug or something.