Live From Mars

• Lady Gaga’s "Mayhem" Album Review & Track-by-Track Breakdown (with Seth Betzler)

  Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Album Review & Track-by-Track BreakdownLady Gaga’s new album Mayhem is here, and we’re breaking it all down! In this episode of Live From Mars, I’m joined by Seth Betzler for a deep dive into Lady Gaga’s 2025 return to pop.We dive into the road to this moment—how Chromatica left its mark, Gaga’s jazz era with Tony Bennett, the fallout from Joker 2, and the unexpected smash success of Die with a Smile. Plus, we unpack the Mayhem rollout: Did Disease truly serve as the “lead” single? How did Abracadabra’s massive Grammy premiere change the game? And why does the album’s grunge-inspired aesthetic not quite match the genre-blending sound Gaga delivered?Then, it’s time for a track-by-track breakdown—analyzing every song, from the industrial grit of Disease and Perfect Celebrity to the euphoric highs of Vanish Into You and Zombie Boy. And of course, we wrap things up with Best, Worst, Fav—choosing the best song, the weakest track, and our personal favorites from Mayhem.Is Mayhem a defining moment in Lady Gaga’s career, or just another unexpected pivot? Let’s talk about it.🎧 Listen now and let us know your thoughts on Mayhem!📲 Follow Alex: @vinylbymars on TikTok | Instagram📲 Follow Seth: @dramakingvinyl on TikTok | Instagram, @dramakingbooks on TikTok | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Tate McRae's "So Close To What" Album Review & Deep Dive (with Amanda Leopizzi)

  In this episode of Live from Mars, I’m joined by my dear friend Amanda (@amandasplaylist) to break down Tate McRae’s new album So Close to What. After my initial reaction stirred up some strong opinions, we’re diving deep into what makes this album work, where it falls short, and how Tate’s evolution as an artist impacts her place in pop music today.We explore:• Tate McRae’s Career Evolution – From You Broke Me First to Greedy and So Close to What, has she finally found her sound?• Best & Worst Songs – Why Sports Car, Two Hands, and Purple Lace Bra stand out, and which tracks miss the mark.• Tate as a Performer First – How her strength in dance and live performance shapes her music choices.• Production & Songwriting – Does So Close to What push pop forward, or does it play it too safe?• Where She Stands Among Pop’s Biggest Names – How Tate compares to Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Dua Lipa, and more.• Hot Takes & Fan Reactions – What the album means to different listeners and why pop music hits differently for everyone.From viral TikTok hits to her future in pop, we’re unpacking it all. Did So Close to What live up to the hype? Or is Tate still searching for her signature sound? Let’s discuss.👉 Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives on the biggest new releases in pop music!📲 Follow me for more:TikTok | Instagram | YouTube → @vinylbymarsAmanda: @amandasplaylist on TikTok & Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• New Music Friday Breakdown: Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, Selena Gomez & More! (with Seth Betzler)

  In this episode of Live from Mars, Alex (@vinylbymars) is joined by Seth Betzler (@dramakingbooks, @dramakingvinyl) to break down the best releases from this week's New Music Friday! With Valentine's Day as the backdrop, we discuss new music filled with love, humor, and surprises.This week, we're diving into Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe)’, analyzing the standout tracks like ‘15 Minutes’, a clever mix of humor and wordplay, and ‘Please Please Please’ featuring Dolly Parton, a fun, yet divisive remix. We also explore the melodic similarities between ‘Couldn’t Make It Any Harder’ and ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You’, Sabrina’s Sandy-inspired aesthetic, and why Busy Woman feels like the clear hit.We also dive into SZA’s ‘LANA’ Deluxe, analyzing her strategy of releasing additional music nearly two years after SOS, and how this creates a "living, breathing" album experience. We contrast this with Sabrina’s six-month deluxe drop and discuss the different purposes deluxe albums serve in today’s streaming era.Plus, we talk about Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s surprise album announcement, the newly released ‘Scared of Loving You’, and Selena’s unexpected return to music despite previously hinting at stepping away. We also break down new singles from Addison Rae (‘High Fashion’), Bon Iver (‘Everything Is Peaceful Love’), and Olivia Dean’s ‘It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be’ for the Bridget Jones soundtrack.🎧 Listen now and let us know your favorite tracks from this week!Topics Covered:Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe)’ – The best new tracks and why ‘15 Minutes’ and Busy Woman stand outSZA’s ‘LANA’ – A breakdown of the four new songs and how this deluxe release strategy differs from Sabrina’sSelena Gomez & Benny Blanco’s album announcement – What ‘Scared of Loving You’ tells us about the projectAddison Rae’s ‘High Fashion’ – Where she fits in today’s pop music landscapeBon Iver’s ‘Everything Is Peaceful Love’ – A rare happy and optimistic Bon Iver trackOlivia Dean’s ‘It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be’ – Why we love her sound but want to see her push into new territoryWhere to Listen:Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major streaming platforms. Don’t forget to rate and review!Follow Us:🎶 @vinylbymars (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube)📚 @dramakingbooks / @dramakingvinyl (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Breaking Down Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show (with WillTalksMusic)

  In this episode of Live from Mars, Alex (@vinylbymars) is joined by Will (@willtalksmusic) to dive into all things Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. They break down Kendrick’s career leading up to this moment, analyze the standout moments from the performance—including his powerful collaboration with SZA—and, most importantly, discuss the explosive impact of Not Like Us being performed in front of 120+ million viewers. This diss track, fresh off winning Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammys, solidified Kendrick’s dominance over Drake in their ongoing feud, and Alex and Will break down why this moment was so monumental.Beyond Kendrick’s performance, they explore the deeper political and artistic messaging behind the set, from Samuel L. Jackson’s role as Uncle Sam to the striking visual storytelling. They also touch on Taylor Swift’s undeniable presence at the Super Bowl and how she continues to be part of the cultural conversation, even when she’s not on the stage.After dissecting the halftime show, Alex and Will shift gears to discuss who should headline the Super Bowl in 2026. They debate potential contenders, from pop icons to hip-hop powerhouses, and throw in some wild card picks. Finally, Will shares his latest music recommendations, giving listeners insight into the albums and songs that have been on repeat for him.Topics Covered:Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show: performance highlights and deeper meaningsThe impact of Not Like Us being performed on such a massive stage and its role in Kendrick vs. DrakeThe artistry and messaging behind Kendrick’s setTaylor Swift’s presence at the Super Bowl and her cultural influenceWho should headline the 2026 Super Bowl?Will’s latest music recommendationsWhere to Listen:Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major streaming platforms. Don’t forget to rate and review!Follow Us:@vinylbymars (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube)@willtalksmusic (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• 2025 Grammys Recap: Biggest Wins, Snubs & Wildest Moments (with Amanda Leopizzi)

  This week, Alex is joined once again by his good friend and fellow #MusicTok creator Amanda Leopizzi to break down everything that went down at the 2025 Grammy Awards. From historic wins to shocking snubs, this episode covers all the biggest moments of music’s biggest night.In this episode:• Biggest wins & surprises – Beyoncé finally wins Album of the Year, Kendrick Lamar sweeps Record & Song of the Year, and Chappell Roan takes Best New Artist.• The biggest snubs of the night – Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish walk away empty-handed.• Best performances of the night – Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, RAYE, Doechii, and the Best New Artist showcase.• The Weeknd’s return to the Grammys – After years of boycotting, what does his performance mean for next year’s awards?• Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra” premiere – Is Fame Monster-era Gaga officially back?• Records broken & major milestones – Bruno Mars extends his Grammy-winning streak, Doechii makes history in rap, and more!Did the Recording Academy get it right? Or did your favorites get snubbed? This episode is filled with bold takes, heated debates, and plenty of Grammy hot takes!Who was your biggest winner of the night? Leave a comment.🔔 Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the NOTIFICATION BELL to stay updated with all things Live From Mars!Follow Alex:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vinylbymarsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinylbymarsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vinylbymarsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/abm0896Follow Amanda:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amandasplaylistInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandasplaylistYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amandasplaylisttt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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