Album Mode
Welcome to Album Mode where journalist, Demar Grant and The Cool Table host, Adriel Smiley breakdown and review the latest albums. Each episode features a new album where both hosts dive in-depth about the project and the artist’s path to its release.
Episodes
May 25, 2025 • 50 mins
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Aminé's third studio album '13 Months of Sunshine', Aminé cementing himself as a summer artist and how mortal enemies Drake and Pusha T are his main influences.
Démar’s rating: 8 / 10
Adriel's rating: 8.5 / 10
The Love List: 13MOS, Feels So Good, New Flower!, Cool About It, Temptations
Timcodes:
2:42 - Previous Aminé album rating – surprised how high
5:00 - Feels like an extension of Kaytraminé
8:13 - Dr...
Démar’s rating: 8 / 10
Adriel's rating: 8.5 / 10
The Love List: 13MOS, Feels So Good, New Flower!, Cool About It, Temptations
Timcodes:
2:42 - Previous Aminé album rating – surprised how high
5:00 - Feels like an extension of Kaytraminé
8:13 - Dr...
Mark as Played
May 19, 2025 • 50 mins
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Kali Uchis' latest album 'Sincerely,' how she's tracing her musical lineage throughout the album and whether her reversion is worth it.
Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10
Adriel's rating: 7.5 / 10
The Love List: Illegal, Tonight, Noises, Stateside,
Timecodes:
1:34 - Demar’s favourite women's weekend
5:40 - No Features
6:39 - Song structure
10:40 - thinks it has regressed a little
14:00 - Sunshine and Rain/pocket o...
Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10
Adriel's rating: 7.5 / 10
The Love List: Illegal, Tonight, Noises, Stateside,
Timecodes:
1:34 - Demar’s favourite women's weekend
5:40 - No Features
6:39 - Song structure
10:40 - thinks it has regressed a little
14:00 - Sunshine and Rain/pocket o...
Mark as Played
May 18, 2025 • 39 mins
This week Démar and Adriel discuss PinkPantheress' latest mixtape 'Fancy That', PinkPantheress the producer beginning to outshine PinkPantheress the artist and how PinkPantheress has become the John Wick of music.
Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10
Adriel's rating: 7.5 / 10
The Love List: Illegal, Tonight, Noises, Stateside,
Timecodes:
2:42 - Demar is a superfan
4:56: - Too short because it’s good
5:30 - John Wick of music
7:28 - Doesn’t feel like...
Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10
Adriel's rating: 7.5 / 10
The Love List: Illegal, Tonight, Noises, Stateside,
Timecodes:
2:42 - Demar is a superfan
4:56: - Too short because it’s good
5:30 - John Wick of music
7:28 - Doesn’t feel like...
Mark as Played
May 13, 2025 • 46 mins
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Yung Lean's latest album Jonathan, what he meant to cloud rap, his transition to rock and how his lethargic singing tilts into apathy.
Démar’s rating: 3.5 / 10
Adriel's rating: 4.5 / 10
The Love List: Might Not B, Horses, My Life
Timecodes:
3:30 - How do you feel about reviewing YL
6:25 - The modern swaggy trap white rapper
7:16 - His influences
8:40 - Two stand-out lines - shut the world off
14:45 - Albu...
Démar’s rating: 3.5 / 10
Adriel's rating: 4.5 / 10
The Love List: Might Not B, Horses, My Life
Timecodes:
3:30 - How do you feel about reviewing YL
6:25 - The modern swaggy trap white rapper
7:16 - His influences
8:40 - Two stand-out lines - shut the world off
14:45 - Albu...
Mark as Played
April 27, 2025 • 66 mins
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Wiz Khalifa's latest mixtape Kush + Orange Juice 2 how he was one of the kings of the blog era and how his trademark sound is one step away from becoming cutting edge.
Timecode:
2:34 Freestyles leading up to the project
3:17 Most influential rappers of the last 15 years
4:16 Wiz day to day vlogs
5:46 OKAY Wiz Khalifa Voice
6:46 The cargo shorts
9:12 Say Yeah
9:32 Mixtape buzz
11:41 Kush & Orange Jui...
Timecode:
2:34 Freestyles leading up to the project
3:17 Most influential rappers of the last 15 years
4:16 Wiz day to day vlogs
5:46 OKAY Wiz Khalifa Voice
6:46 The cargo shorts
9:12 Say Yeah
9:32 Mixtape buzz
11:41 Kush & Orange Jui...
Mark as Played
April 21, 2025 • 56 mins
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Bon Iver's fifth studio album SABLE, fABLE how it nears greatness before ultimately shying away and how it feels longer than its 41 minute runtime implies.
Démar’s rating: 4 / 10
Adriel's rating: 4 / 10
The Love List: THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS, S P E Y S I D E, I'll Be There
Timecodes:
1:29 - Thought it was one dude
2:36 - Sampha comparison
04:43 - Adriel’s Doppelganger
6:16 - Best Feature
8:26 ...
Démar’s rating: 4 / 10
Adriel's rating: 4 / 10
The Love List: THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS, S P E Y S I D E, I'll Be There
Timecodes:
1:29 - Thought it was one dude
2:36 - Sampha comparison
04:43 - Adriel’s Doppelganger
6:16 - Best Feature
8:26 ...
Mark as Played
April 13, 2025 • 64 mins
Cue the filler music! Adriel and Démar are taking a look back into the annals of Album Mode history and to find the best debut projects they've ever reviewed. When you've been podcasting for nearly 5 years, you can do that. We're talking Unknown T, Olivia Rodrigo and of course the goddess, PinkPantheress and more!
Timecodes:
5:36 - Framework of the context of the artist
6:28 - The album that is the furthest in their career
7:39 - Arlo ...
Timecodes:
5:36 - Framework of the context of the artist
6:28 - The album that is the furthest in their career
7:39 - Arlo ...
Mark as Played
April 4, 2025 • 55 mins
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Lucy Dacus' fourth studio album “Forever is a Feeling” how the album is a tone setter for her post Boygenuius and how her lyrical longingness escapes being cheesy.
Démar’s rating: 7 / 10
Adriel's rating: 6.5 / 10
The Love List: Ankles, Limerence, Talk, Most Wanted Man
Timecodes:
3:25 - Songwriter-type music
5:23 - The reset button and how that affects their career
8:42 - The origins of this album
9:24 -...
Démar’s rating: 7 / 10
Adriel's rating: 6.5 / 10
The Love List: Ankles, Limerence, Talk, Most Wanted Man
Timecodes:
3:25 - Songwriter-type music
5:23 - The reset button and how that affects their career
8:42 - The origins of this album
9:24 -...
Mark as Played
April 1, 2025 • 37 mins
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Men I Trust's latest studio album “Equus Asinus” how the band's production has shifted in this latest release and how you can get drop a Men I Trust lyric in your relationship to sound poetic.
P.S. Where's the Clairo feature??
Démar’s rating: 8 / 10
Adriel's rating: 8 / 10
The Love List: I Come With Mud, Bethlehem, Paul's Theme, Frost Bite, Girl (2025)
Timecodes:
5:11 - Soft enough for the bedroom but ...
P.S. Where's the Clairo feature??
Démar’s rating: 8 / 10
Adriel's rating: 8 / 10
The Love List: I Come With Mud, Bethlehem, Paul's Theme, Frost Bite, Girl (2025)
Timecodes:
5:11 - Soft enough for the bedroom but ...
Mark as Played
March 20, 2025 • 97 mins
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Playboi Carti’s third studio album “Music”, his new deep voice, the album’s incredible production, and how Carti’s aura and influence is pivotal to his fandom.
P.S. SWAMP IZZO!!!!
Démar’s rating: 7 / 10
Adriel's rating: 4.5 / 10
The Love List: POP OUT, RATHER LIE, MOJO JOJO, WAKE UP F1LTHY, OLYMPIAN, OPM BABI, LIKE WEEZY
Timecodes:
6:00 - Hip-hop Christmas song
9:16 - Features / narrative wise
12:42 - Mo...
P.S. SWAMP IZZO!!!!
Démar’s rating: 7 / 10
Adriel's rating: 4.5 / 10
The Love List: POP OUT, RATHER LIE, MOJO JOJO, WAKE UP F1LTHY, OLYMPIAN, OPM BABI, LIKE WEEZY
Timecodes:
6:00 - Hip-hop Christmas song
9:16 - Features / narrative wise
12:42 - Mo...
Mark as Played
March 16, 2025 • 70 mins
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Lady Gaga's latest studio album 'Mayhem', how she's navigated her fame throughout her career and why this entire project sounds like it got pulled straight out of the 1980s.
P.S. heavy Siouxsie and the Banshees vibes on Abracadabra
Démar’s rating: 7.5 / 10
Adriel's rating: 7.5 / 10
The Love List: Disease, Die With a Smile, Perfect Celebrity, Vanish into You
Timecodes:
2:26 - Bruno Mars
4:13 - A star is...
P.S. heavy Siouxsie and the Banshees vibes on Abracadabra
Démar’s rating: 7.5 / 10
Adriel's rating: 7.5 / 10
The Love List: Disease, Die With a Smile, Perfect Celebrity, Vanish into You
Timecodes:
2:26 - Bruno Mars
4:13 - A star is...
Mark as Played
March 7, 2025 • 57 mins
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Lisa's debut solo studio album 'Alter Ego', how it might be one of the most expensive albums of the year and whether her alter egos are just an excuse for a lack of vision.
Démar’s rating: 2 / 10
Adriel's rating: 5.5 / 10
The Love List: Moonlit Floor, Lifestyle, BADGRRRL, New Woman
Timecodes:
3:03 - Americans don’t listen to K-Pop
4:00 - Gangnam Style
7:32 - What genre is this?
9:30 - Doja cat comparison
...
Démar’s rating: 2 / 10
Adriel's rating: 5.5 / 10
The Love List: Moonlit Floor, Lifestyle, BADGRRRL, New Woman
Timecodes:
3:03 - Americans don’t listen to K-Pop
4:00 - Gangnam Style
7:32 - What genre is this?
9:30 - Doja cat comparison
...
Mark as Played
February 24, 2025 • 95 mins
This week, Démar and Adriel discuss Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR's collab album '$ome $exy $ongs 4 U', how this album is 10 years too late for old-school Drake fans and why this album is just another milestone in Drake's path of late stage mediocrity.
The Love List: NOKIA, DEEPER, SMALL TIME FAME, MOTH BALLS
Timecodes
2:24 A lot of Drake fans wanted a Drake PND album
3:12 Listening experience has changed
6:06 Don’t hear PND enough
14:24 Son...
The Love List: NOKIA, DEEPER, SMALL TIME FAME, MOTH BALLS
Timecodes
2:24 A lot of Drake fans wanted a Drake PND album
3:12 Listening experience has changed
6:06 Don’t hear PND enough
14:24 Son...
Mark as Played
February 17, 2025 • 57 mins
After all the dialogue Demar and Adriel drop their thoughts on the Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl performance. They also discuss whether Not Like Us is getting old and whether we should move on from a beef that is nearly a year running. Also the Duo talk about the Latest AJ Tracey and Jorja Smith song 'Crush' bringing back Demar's hot take on Jorja Smith making the wrong genre of music.
Timecodes
2:23 - Was the setlist real?
3:43 - Compar...
Timecodes
2:23 - Was the setlist real?
3:43 - Compar...
Mark as Played
February 10, 2025 • 104 mins
This week Démar and Adriel discuss The Weeknd's sixth studio album 'Hurry Up Tomorrow', how the album feels like a DJ set instead of an album, whether the name retirement is legit and how he's transitioned from R&B to being an electronic artist.
Timecodes
1:25 Is the End?
3:03 Dawn FM
8:34 Demar explains
18:27 We just wanna hear The Weeknd talk his shit
20:09 Favourite Weeknd songs
24:30 Wake me up - that’s just Thriller
26:05 The n...
Timecodes
1:25 Is the End?
3:03 Dawn FM
8:34 Demar explains
18:27 We just wanna hear The Weeknd talk his shit
20:09 Favourite Weeknd songs
24:30 Wake me up - that’s just Thriller
26:05 The n...
Mark as Played
February 3, 2025 • 88 mins
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Central Cee's debut studio album 'Can't Rush Greatness', how America cares more about his music than the UK and how he's a pop rapper by UK standards but almost a lyricist in America.
P.S. Young Miko just gained two new fans
Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10 Adriel's rating: 7.5 / 10
The Love List: 5 Star, Limitless, Don't Know Anymore, Gen Z Luv, Gata
Timecodes
1:27 Album or mixtape
2:59 I’m not really a newcom...
P.S. Young Miko just gained two new fans
Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10 Adriel's rating: 7.5 / 10
The Love List: 5 Star, Limitless, Don't Know Anymore, Gen Z Luv, Gata
Timecodes
1:27 Album or mixtape
2:59 I’m not really a newcom...
Mark as Played
January 28, 2025 • 29 mins
Drake's beef is no longer with Kendrick Lamar, it's with their mutual label UMG and Drake is suing for defamation. Watch as the dynamic duo of Demar and Adriel breakdown what exactly is in the lawsuit documents and what it could mean for hip hop if Drake actually wins the lawsuit.
Timecodes:
4:02 Upset at UMG for putting out not like us
4:56 UMG is aware these allegations are false
7:18 If Drake wins this, that will forever alter rap ...
Timecodes:
4:02 Upset at UMG for putting out not like us
4:56 UMG is aware these allegations are false
7:18 If Drake wins this, that will forever alter rap ...
Mark as Played
January 27, 2025 • 76 mins
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Mac Miller's secpmd posthumous album 'Balloonerism', how mac was ahead of his time sonically and his eerie, Tupac-like lyrics.
The Love List: Stoned, Mrs. Deborah Downer, 5 Dollar Pony Rides, Rick's Piano, Tomorrow Will Never Know
Timecodes:
4:38 - Saved songs
6:05 - Fav Mac Miller album
7:03 - Westside Gunn comparison
8:36 - Growing up between KIDS & Watching Movies with the Sound Off
13:00 - SZA17:...
The Love List: Stoned, Mrs. Deborah Downer, 5 Dollar Pony Rides, Rick's Piano, Tomorrow Will Never Know
Timecodes:
4:38 - Saved songs
6:05 - Fav Mac Miller album
7:03 - Westside Gunn comparison
8:36 - Growing up between KIDS & Watching Movies with the Sound Off
13:00 - SZA17:...
Mark as Played
January 21, 2025 • 62 mins
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Bad Bunny's sixth studio album 'Debí tirador más fotos', his double entendres to Puerto Rico, the album's varied production maintaining its roots and how he's doing what Drake should've done back in 2020.
The Love List: The Club, TURiSTA, PIToRRO DE COCO, VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR
Timecodes:
4:17 - Not the Highest he peaked on Spotify
7:18 - What are you thinking going into this project
8:09 - The Chairs
10...
The Love List: The Club, TURiSTA, PIToRRO DE COCO, VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR
Timecodes:
4:17 - Not the Highest he peaked on Spotify
7:18 - What are you thinking going into this project
8:09 - The Chairs
10...
Mark as Played
January 16, 2025 • 47 mins
LiAngelo Ball just dropped the song of the year and we're only in the third week! Demar and Adriel break it down and how everyone around them was asking for their approval before admitting they liked it. Also the TikTok ban looks like it'll be heading into full effect the duo discuss what that'll mean for music. Lastly Billboard’s Top Artists of the 21st Century drops and they have a laugh.
Timecodes:
00:53 - Tweaker song of the year...
Timecodes:
00:53 - Tweaker song of the year...
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Have you ever wondered what life might be like if you stopped worrying about being wanted, and focused on understanding what you actually want? That was the question Hope Woodard asked herself after a string of situationships inspired her to take a break from sex and dating. She went "boysober," a personal concept that sparked a global movement among women looking to prioritize themselves over men. Now, Hope is looking to expand the ways we explore our relationship to relationships. Taking a bold, unfiltered look into modern love, romance, and self-discovery, Boysober will dive into messy stories about dating, sex, love, friendship, and breaking generational patterns—all with humor, vulnerability, and a fresh perspective.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!