The Hit Shuffle Podcast: Discovering New Music

 There are hundreds of music podcasts out in the audio universe. There are Elvis podcasts, Beatles shows, and even a few Velvet Underground podcasts. The Velvet Underground -- Lou Reed and John Cale among its members -- were one of the most influential rock groups of the 60s.

That's the kind of information a listener would get from The Hit Shuffle podcast. If you are a music lover whose playlist contains the same 30 songs and artists, this podcast is not for you. If you're a one-genre music fan -- like Euro Synth Pop -- this podcast is not your cup of audio tea. 

 These guys -- Matt and Dave -- are serious music devotees. Consider episode eight, when they discussed a group -- Jazz Daredevil -- in which the album concept includes the idea that this musician can't play jazz piano and his attempts are either clumsy catastrophes or inspired finger play.

The Hit Shuffle began in May 2022 and has produced 41 episodes since then.  

Here's Matt and Dave in their own words: "Welcome to The Hit Shuffle podcast with your hosts Matt and Dave! Each episode, we hit shuffle on our music collections and discuss the songs that follow. We break down the impact that the song, album and artist has had on us over the years, while adding in some personal stories. We hope to use this podcast to not only introduce our listeners to new music but to each other as well!"

And that's the key here. These two indie podcasters offer listeners a buffet of music that includes multiple genres and lots of great music you have (I know me) have never heard before, but enjoy once we do.

Here's a theme in their reviews:

Check out two:

So glad I discovered this podcast! The hosts break down music on every episode, including mostly new music (for me). It’s a great way to discover new artists too! Well done.

I had previously heard of… none of the bands on this show when I first listened in, so it was a great doorway to new music! Matt and Dave obviously know music and can talk about different songs in all the things they do and how they make you feel. I like the whole randomization gimmick so they talk about the songs on the fly, giving the show an improv feel.

That's the key to their absurdly good indie podcast. Matt and Dave are your spirit guides to music you probably haven't heard from bands whose existence is unknown to you. 

The co-hosts, Matt and Dave, reveal themselves through their music tastes and tales of how certain music impacted their lives -- where and when. Even their brief instrumental music intro is a 20-second introduction to several music genres.

They also offer this perk: "As always, you can find all the songs we talk about each episode on our Spotify Playlist. Just search "The Hit Shuffle Podcast Playlist," or follow the link to our website, which has a link directly from there."

When you listen to Matt and Dave, I get a retro vibe of 70s FM radio, when the hosts were as cool and chill as ice on a glass of whiskey on the rocks. I love their muted, restrained tone, which only highlights their enthusiasm for all types of music. 

If you want scholarly and informed discussions of popular, high-on-the-charts music, then Switched On Pop is your music podcast of choice. But if you want to hear Front Bottoms, a punk folk group from New Jersey or the Pan Chugaboos, or the Punk-O-Rama compilation albums then The Hit Shuffle podcast should be on your podcast feed. 

Be prepared for music that is strange and wondrous.

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This review is part of an ongoing series of reviews, recommendations, and essays about Indie podcasters -- their craft, their challenges, and the critical role they play in podcasting. These entrepreneurs display skills as disparate as hosting, sound production, graphic design, scriptwriting, interviewing, marketing genius, and financial watchdog. They are the heart and soul of podcasting.