Debating Our Most Controversial Faves of 2026 So Far
The whole HT crew reconvenes for a podcast episode about songs that just might piss some people off.
The concept behind our podcast Waste or Taste is simple: Every episode, a group of Hearing Things founders gets together, with each person bringing a new song to the table. Then we debate whether those songs are “waste” or “taste.” Sometimes we reach a critical consensus; other times there’s fisticuffs, absurdity, or both.
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On this very special episode, all of the Hearing Things founders get together to defend personal faves that everyone else might not like so much because they’re overplayed, kind of dumb, or arguably annoying. Think Drake’s “Shabang.” Or a campy ballad from the TV show The Vampire Lestat. Or a wildly explicit club-rap romp from internet personality Thickney. Or that Tame Impala and Jennie duet clogging up your feed. Or what very well may be the most popular song of the year. Bonus topics include: being sad because you ate all your friends, the inevitable Benson Boone jukebox musical, and the peanut emoji.
Waste or Taste is available to paying subscribers only—so now’s the time to join our ever-growing community of music obsessives! In addition to the podcast, you’ll be able to read our weekly Five Albums roundups, drop in on our Discord listening sessions, and bask in the glory of supporting 100-percent worker-owned music journalism.
