We return after another longer than anticipated gap! We discuss our second favourite albums, our Spotify Unwrapped (and Apple's equivalent) for 2025, the ongoing effects of aging, and some controversial statements. 

Content Warnings: some explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2026/02/06/episode-49-2-a-big-and-complicated-one/.

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We're back! After a long busyness break, we return with out third favourite albums. 

Content Warnings: explicit language, discussions of sexual health, cancer, and drugs in relation to song lyrics.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2025/11/14/episode-48-3-schrodingers-musical/.

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Four: the magic number plus one. Two more albums, and two revisits of earlier bands. 

Content Warnings: some explicit language and adult themes.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2025/08/22/episode-47-4-the-first-time-in-nineteen-years/.

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We're back! After a long illness and holiday-induced delay, we finally get to number five. Glen is invited to wax lyrical, and doesn't hold back. 

Content Warnings: some explicit language and adult themes.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2025/08/01/episode-46-5-the-best-thing-that-i-can-say/.

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Number 6; one before the Top 5. So we obviously love these, but not quite at that elite level. But - as is always the burning question - what do we think of each others' choices?

Content Warnings: some explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2025/06/20/episode-45-6-a-dip-and-a-half/.

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We reach number seven, having been delayed by semi-professional football (Charlton's appearance in the League 1 Playoffs). One album is a staple of easy listening, and the other - if anything - is exactly the opposite.

Content Warnings: some explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2025/05/23/episode-44-7-the-amulet-of-fomo/.

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Number eight! If you didn't enjoy the political bent of one of last episode's bands, hang in there for another episode. We listen to and discuss one of the best loved and best selling albums in history, and James has to listen to metal again. That's the good stuff.

Content Warnings: some explicit language, brief mention of adult themes.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2025/05/09/episode-43-8-about-a-potato/.

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We plough on and reach number nine in the countdown. Apologies for the sound quality in this one, it's not to the usual standard.

Content Warnings: some explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2025/04/18/episode-42-9-there-doesnt-seem-to-be-any-fires/.

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It's Top 10 time! Behold our tenth favourite albums! One of them sold a lot of copies; one of them didn't. You know what I'm saying. Watch out for an incredible bit of editing.

Content Warnings: some explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2025/04/04/episode-41-10-you-can-just-pay-people-for-anything/.

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We break once again from the countdown to explore two special albums, this time compilations. We'll get into the top ten next episode.

Content Warnings: some explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2025/03/14/episode-40-5-compilations-special-im-just-going-to-choose-crying/.

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We keep liking each others' albums, so let's see how this one goes.

Content Warnings: some explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2025/03/07/episode-40-11-something-said-in-the-show-out-of-context/.

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We shine a light into a dark place, and discuss shaving (sort of). Strap in for our longest episode yet!

Content Warnings: some explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2025/02/21/episode-39-12-all-the-juice/.

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In this episode, we discuss two massive albums by two massive acts. Glen shares some of his favourite ever lyrics, and James regales us with tales of heckled tribute acts.

Content Warnings: some explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2025/02/07/episode-38-13-a-very-unfeasible-list-of-things/.

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We catch up on James' visit to see an Oasis-themed musical, and discuss our 14th favourite albums. We work out how to pronounce a name, and Glen has some 80s music for you.

Content Warnings: one minor mention of substance abuse.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2025/01/24/episode-37-14-parkas-and-paul-weller-style-haircuts/.

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We're back for the new year, and bring forth two very different albums that both vaguely fall under the large umbrella of punk. But how much will we hate each others choices? 

Content Warnings: some explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2025/01/10/episode-36-15-a-massive-dragon-appeared/.

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Christmas II, Christmas Harder. Much like last year, we each choose three Christmas songs to make each other listen to. We also get very distracted by other things, as usual.

Content Warnings: some mild explicit language and adult themes. Short discussion about vomiting.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/?p=1329.

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James talks about his school days, and has another artist of public ridicule; Glen double-dips for the first time.

Content Warnings: some explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/?p=1304.

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We explore delayed gratification by discussing one of our most anticipated bands. Glen also puts forward the oldest album in his top fifty..

Content Warnings: some explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/11/15/episode-34-17-the-smell-of-the-peanut-factory/.

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James puts forward a risky choice, and Glen drags up his moody teenage years.

Content Warnings: some explicit language, brief mentions of substance abuse.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/11/01/episode-33-18-the-best-type-of-friend/.

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The Match Klaxon gets a deceptive outing in this episode, and - thanks to some recording problems - one of us gets the opportunity to have a short unimpeded rant.

Content Warnings: explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/?p=1211.

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Most people probably don't have a favourite canal, but one of us talks about ours in this episode. We also break into the Top 20, and revisit an old friend. There's a new theme as well.

Content Warnings: one instance of explicit language in a music clip, but barely audible; discussions about the music of an alleged sex offender.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/10/04/episode-31-20-a-consequence-of-something-that-big/.

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A break from the countdown for another special: we pick three cover versions each and make each other listen to them, for your entertainment. Sometimes we do things just to wind each other up, for your entertainment. We also talk a surprising amount about Strictly Come Dancing, and the 2024 Ballon D'Or nominees. There is literally something for everybody.

Content Warnings: some minor explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/09/20/episode-30-5-cover-versions-special-the-greatest-writer-in-the-world/.

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We're back after a short summer break to delve into our next two albums: one that dabbles with occult practices, and one that very much doesn't. If your favourite band was a pizza, what toppings would it have?

Content Warnings: discussions about both Ouija boards and contemporary Christian music. Spoilers for Red Dwarf season eight.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/09/06/episode-30-21-the-biggest-criminal/.

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We talk a little about wrestling, and a lot about two very different bands, both fronted by strong personalities.

Content Warnings: explicit language; discussions about substance abuse.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/08/09/episode-29-22-weve-got-a-code-two/.

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We accidentally put together something genre-specific. Glen makes a bold claim about his technical ability, as James comes to his niche late in life.

Content Warnings: explicit language; discussions about suicide (including a child committing suicide), depression, murder, and drug abuse.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/07/26/episode-28-23-unless-michael-jackson-comes-back-from-the-dead/.

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James makes a recovery from illness, and we talk about this year's disappointing Glastonbury line-up, the election exit poll, and our 24th favourite albums.

Note: we had some problems with James' recording and also our call connection for this one, so some of the discussion is slightly disjointed. 

Content Warnings: explicit language (although we're mostly quoting).

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/07/12/episode-27-24-make-it-look-like-the-moon/.

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Sometimes we quite like each others albums. Sometimes one likes the other's, but not the other way. And sometimes we absolutely hate what we've made each other listen to. Which one do you think we have this time? Also features some excellent roundabout chat, and some inaccurate memories of the 1990 World Cup. 

Content Warnings: some explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/06/28/episode-26-25-crude-oil-stock-prices/.

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We reach halfway through the series and do something we should have done long ago. 

Content Warnings: some explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/06/14/episode-25-26-i-can-see-michael-parkinson/.

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In Episode 24, we discuss one of history's most reviled bands, and one of rock's most legendary vocalists. Glen teaches everybody how to count, and James is impressed by anger levels.

Content Warnings: some explicit language in music clips.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/05/31/episode-24-27-a-sad-indictment-on-society/.

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James and Glen get into a room together to talk about naming children and their 28th favourite albums. Does James have a new favourite band? And what does Glen think of Marmite?

Content Warnings: none.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/05/17/episode-23-28-a-long-hard-day-of-warhammer/.

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Strange appearances by acclaimed actors on gameshows; the worst kind of PE teacher; celebrity friends; encounters with wildlife; celebrity deaths... all of this (and two albums) on episode 22.

Content Warnings: some explicit language. Discussions about depression, suicide, and suicidal ideation through song writing.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/05/03/episode-22-29-im-not-tainted/.

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We have a new theme tune, and James and Glen discuss iconic moments, iconic fashions, video game frustrations, the final resting place of Disney Princesses, and two albums.

Content Warnings: some explicit language and adult themes.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/04/19/episode-21-30-horses-are-really-expensive/.

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A break from the countdown for another special: live albums are excluded from the series-proper, but we pick one each to make each other listen to and talk about.

Content Warnings: some minor explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/04/05/episode-20-5-live-albums-special-doors-to-other-places/.

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James struggles through another heavy album, and Glen tries to keep the episode length down to adhere to manufacturing restrictions.

Content Warnings: mild explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/03/22/episode-20-31-ten-thousand-guitars/.

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In this episode, Glen drops some hot music theory and searches for a klaxon sound effect, and James asks: "why?"

Content Warnings: minor description of surgery on a baby (at roughly 8-10 minutes).

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/03/08/episode-19-32-more-satisfied-than-others/.

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Would you be a better wrestler or darts player? This one came out longer than planned, but with good reason. We discuss childbirth, Christmas, speeding, hot chocolate, the ins-and-outs of comedy and free speech, and the usual two albums.

Content Warnings: discussion of childbirth and parenthood, some mild adult themes.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at hhttps://50by2.net/2024/02/23/episode-18-33/.

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We tap up two Irish solo artists for this episode. James finds some depressing music not depressing, and Glen is forced to reveal one of his most surprising secrets about his tastes. Over twenty-six hours of this, everybody.

Content Warnings: some explicit language late on.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/02/09/episode-17-34/.

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When is a street corner not the street corner it appears to be? How big is Yorkshire? What does the world's greatest ever squash player have to do with any of this? What if Jarvis Cocker sounded a bit more like Roy Orbison? Where is your Mercury Bingo Card?

Content Warnings: some explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/01/26/episode-16-35-a-girl-named-keith/.

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We start a new year with a special award for James, and - as expected - talk about two albums. One, critically considered one of the best of its decade, the other might not even actually exist. We also return to the question: what is the worst band name ever?

Content Warnings: some explicit language and mild adult themes.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2024/01/12/episode-15-36/.

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Two giants of music history clash in this episode, and one host fails to complete their homework on time. We give mentions to some of our favourite YouTubers, discuss some niche anatomy, and wonder what day it is. 

Content Warnings: some explicit language in music clips.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2023/12/29/episode-14-37-distracted-by-four-men-in-their-seventies/.

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It's Christmas, and we fulfil seasonal obligation (or, as James would have it, celebrate the most wonderful time of the year) by talking about six Christmas songs.

Content Warnings: some mild explicit language.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2023/12/15/episode-13-5-christmas-special-bells-on-a-stick/.

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This episode, we suffer from a short recording turnaround, and would both have liked longer than the four days we had with these albums. We begin what will become an ongoing discussion on the worst band names in history, drop a pen into the abyss, and postpone niceties.

Content Warnings: none.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2023/12/01/episode-13-38-my-favourite-fictional-us-president/.

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On with the countdown, with - as is becoming usual - two very different albums. We also take some time to examine the top fifty albums of all time, according to sales numbers. How many will we talk about in this series?

Content Warnings: spoilers for Titanic.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2023/11/17/episode-12-39-i-was-very-moist/.

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We get into the top forty, bringing very different albums to the discussion. Episōdo o o tanoshimi kudasai! 

Content Warnings: some (difficult to hear) explicit language in song lyrics in the first half; very probably some explicit language in Japanese, but honestly we're not sure.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2023/11/03/episode-11-40-no-one-goes-shopping-any-more/.

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Hotdog. Jumping frog. Albuquerque. A break from the countdown as we share and examine the first albums that we owned. We didn't choose these albums; they chose us.

Content Warnings: minor reference to adult themes (first half); minor drugs reference (second half).

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2023/10/20/episode-10-5-1st-albums-special-quality-assurance-purposes/.

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With the Rumours Coefficient at 10, James and Glen go to war, pulling out the Most Opposite (TM) albums so far. Will either of us survive? 

Content Warnings: some coarse language and adult themes scattered through the second half (we're mostly quoting).

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2023/10/06/episode-10-41-thats-a-cleaning-spray/.

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It's Transfer Deadline Day, and we get distracted for a while lamenting the absence of Harry Redknapp leaning out of a Range Rover. Glen visits an old friend, and James steps outside of his demographic. 

Content Warnings: one pretty early mild expletive. It's "piss". James says "piss".

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2023/09/15/episode-9-42-an-ill-fated-name/.

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This episode, the hosts come in undercooked and end up discussing Waterloo Station, Eurovision, misplaced faeces (not a typo), and Christmas music. As well as two albums, of course.

Content Warnings: none.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2023/09/08/episode-8-43-there-are-worse-places-to-live/.

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In this episode, James and Glen find that talking about albums is less fun when they both like them, so instead explore some tangents and take a shallow dive into Contemporary Christian Music.

Note: the audio quality is not as good as usual this episode – for which we apologise.

Content Warnings: a host swears once, at about 42:30. Discussions about dealing with lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/?p=233.

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Our hosts get out of their depth in an unfamiliar genre; James gets bored, and Glen springs a surprise.

Content Warnings: explicit content in music clips with themes of gang violence and misogyny.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2023/08/25/episode-6-45/.

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Glen attempts to upstage a Subject Artist, while James has a public argument with a chat bot. Plus: what is the point of a Super Group?

Content Warnings: brief discussion of drug taking and drug culture in dance music (second half).

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2023/08/18/episode-5-46-before-it-becomes-stupid/.

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James gets nostalgic, and Glen lowers the mood. An elephant is given no time to settle.

Content Warnings: discussions about depression, drug use, and suicide; and musicians writing from a place of depression (second half).

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2023/08/11/episode-4-47-a-good-sandwich/.

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Contrasting experiences this week, befitting of their differing tastes. Glen Wins the episode.

Content Warnings: some extremely heavy music clips that can be difficult to listen to; brief mild mention of adult themes in relation to a band t-shirt (first half); brief mention of sex trafficking in relation to the conviction of the actress Alison Mack (second half); spoilers for Smallville and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2023/08/04/episode-3-48-he-doesnt-fly-on-purpose/.

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Most people probably don't have a 49th favourite album, but James and Glen discuss theirs, and try to get to grips with what an orchestra does.

Content Warnings: none.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2023/07/28/episode-2-49-your-least-favourite-billionaire/.

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In this episode, James and Glen choose and discuss the first album in the Top 50 count down. One of us had a better experience than the other. 

Content Warnings: some explicit language in music clips used in this episode.

Full show notes, transcript, and content warnings available at https://50by2.net/2023/07/21/episode-01-50-that-peach-is-massive/

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In this pilot episode, James and Glen bring three songs each to the discussion and set the scene for the journey to come.

Content warnings: smoking and drinking (mild, brief); parenthood (infrequent, brief); Game of Thrones spoilers (end of Season 6 - incorrectly identified as Season 7 in the episode).

Full show notes and transcript available at https://50by2.net/2023/07/14/episode-00-pilot-nine-legendary-gingers/.

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