The Cobain 50 podcast

The Cobain 50

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  KEXP  

Kurt Cobain’s influence went beyond just the music he created with Nirvana. He also put the masses on to some of his own favorite artists. One particular document from his journals has been instructive to many fans – his top 50 albums. Each week, The Cobain 50 podcast digs into albums from this famous list and how they may have influenced Cobain and Nirvana. While learning the individual histories of the different albums on the list, we gain new insights into artists on the fringes as well as some of the biggest groups of all time. The podcast takes us through the legacies of acts like Sonic Youth, Pixies, The Breeders, Public Enemy, PJ Harvey, Black Flag, Mazzy Star, The Shaggs, Shonen Knife, and more. Episodes drop weekly starting January 10, 2024.

Kurt Cobain’s influence went beyond just the music he created with Nirvana. He also put the masses on to some of his own favorite artists. One particular document from his journals has been instructive to many fans – his top 50 albums. Each week, The Cobain 50 podcast digs into albums from this famous list and how they may have influenced Cobain and Nirvana. While learning the individual histories of the different albums on the list, we gain new insights into artists on the fringes as well as some of the biggest groups of all time. The podcast takes us through the legacies of acts like Sonic Youth, Pixies, The Breeders, Public Enemy, PJ Harvey, Black Flag, Mazzy Star, The Shaggs, Shonen Knife, and more. Episodes drop weekly starting January 10, 2024.

 

#100

Come As You Are: A Live Finale Episode

This episode marks the end of The Cobain 50 and El Cancionero de Kurt. After going through... more

02 May 2025

1 HR 13 MINS

1:13:23

02 May 2025


#99

Daniel Johnston – Yip/Jump Music (1983)

On our penultimate episode—and the final album on Kurt Cobain’s list—Mar... more

23 Apr 2025

50 MINS

50:06

23 Apr 2025


#98

Half Japanese – We Are They Who Ache with Amorous Love (1990)

Janice Headley chats with frontman and co-founder Jad Fair for this in-depth look at the H... more

16 Apr 2025

45 MINS

45:43

16 Apr 2025


#97

Butthole Surfers – Pee Pee the Sailor (1983) and Locust Abortion Technician (1987)

On this week’s episode of The Cobain 50, Dusty Henry digs deep into the two Butthole... more

09 Apr 2025

34 MINS

34:11

09 Apr 2025


#96

Swans – Young God (1984)

In this week’s episode, Dusty Henry digs into one of the more caustic bands on Kurt&... more

02 Apr 2025

31 MINS

31:04

02 Apr 2025


#95

Bonus: Ray Farrell’s Journey Through Indie and Major Labels

This week on The Cobain 50, we share one last bonus episode before we hit the final stretc... more

26 Mar 2025

1 HR 06 MINS

1:06:01

26 Mar 2025


#94

Bonus: A Deeper Listen with Matt Cameron

This week on The Cobain 50, we’re taking a quick break from our regularly scheduled ... more

19 Mar 2025

42 MINS

42:25

19 Mar 2025


#93

The Frogs - It's Only Right and Natural (1989)

Roddy Nikpour speaks with Josh Modell about It’s Only Right and Natural by The Frogs... more

12 Mar 2025

32 MINS

32:54

12 Mar 2025


#92

What Records? - What Is It. (Compilation) (1982)

What Records? might not be a household name, but the small Los Angeles-based punk label ha... more

05 Mar 2025

37 MINS

37:57

05 Mar 2025


#91

Young Marble Giants – Colossal Youth (1980)

Janice Headley talks with Stuart Moxham of Young Marble Giants about Colossal Youth. This ... more

26 Feb 2025

37 MINS

37:29

26 Feb 2025


#90

The Faith and Void – The Faith/Void Split LP (1982)

Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas dive into The Faith/Void Split by The Faith and Void. In ou... more

19 Feb 2025

37 MINS

37:41

19 Feb 2025


#89

Flipper – Album – Generic Flipper (1982)

Martin Douglas dives into Album – Generic Flipper by Flipper. Despite the name, thei... more

12 Feb 2025

39 MINS

39:13

12 Feb 2025


#88

Bonus: The Gits on Sound & Vision Live

Following [KEXP's recent event celebrating The Gits] (https://www.kexp.org/events/kexp-eve... more

05 Feb 2025

32 MINS

32:08

05 Feb 2025


#87

The Saints – Eternally Yours (1978)

Janice Headley dives into Eternally Yours by The Saints. (In his list, Kurt wrote the name... more

29 Jan 2025

39 MINS

39:05

29 Jan 2025


#86

Scratch Acid – Scratch Acid (1984)

Dusty Henry dives into the self-titled debut from Scratch Acid. This vein of — ahem ... more

22 Jan 2025

38 MINS

38:23

22 Jan 2025


#85

Public Image Ltd. – The Flowers of Romance (1981)

Martin Douglas dives intoThe Flowers of Romance by Public Image Ltd. After he left the Sex... more

15 Jan 2025

50 MINS

50:52

15 Jan 2025


#84

Rites of Spring – Rites of Spring (1985)

We're back! This week, Dusty Henry dives into the self-titled debut from Rites of Spring. ... more

08 Jan 2025

41 MINS

41:03

08 Jan 2025


#83

It's Christmas in Seattle: We'll Be Back in 2025!

The Cobain 50 returns with new episodes January 8, 2025. We’re taking the month to rest wi... more

04 Dec 2024

04 MINS

04:21

04 Dec 2024


#82

Fang – Landshark! (1983)

Disclaimer: This episode deals with topics including domestic abuse, drug use, and murder.... more

29 Nov 2024

20 MINS

20:09

29 Nov 2024


#81

Saccharine Trust – Paganicons (1981)

Martin Douglas dives into Paganicons by Saccharine Trust. Written in Kurt’s list as “1st E... more

20 Nov 2024

27 MINS

27:04

20 Nov 2024