John Kennedy's Track by Track Podcast

After 18 years with Elbow, Guy Garvey released his debut solo album in 2015. He sat down with The Most Trusted Man in Music to explain why he wanted to release solo music alongside his work with Elbow, as well as explaining each and every track on the record.

Just a few hours before the release of Editors' 5th studio album, Tom Smith from the band joined John Kennedy to talk about every track on the record.

The Most Trusted Man in Music was joined by Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig as he spoke in depth about every track on the band's 5th album.

New Order's Bernard Sumner joined JK in the studio to discuss their 10th studio album. Talking about every track on the record, he discussed recent changes to the band's lineup, and explained how they explored using more contemporary elements in their music whilst also keeping true to the iconic New Order sound.

Just a few hours before Foals were set to release their fourth studio album, Yannis and Jimmy from the band joined JK in the studio to him all about it.

Yard Act's James and Ryan joined JK to explain the meaning and inspiration behind every track on their second studio album.

Jack Cochrane from The Snuts joined The Most Trusted Man in Music in the studio to chat about every track on their third studio album. This was the first album to be released on their very own label, and Jack explained why they decided to part ways with their previous label, and what it meant for the band.

Meeting in-person for the first time, Joe Talbot sat down with John Kennedy to discuss IDLES' fifth studio album. Joe spoke about the dynamic of the band, how they create music, and what it was like to work with legendary producer Nigel Godrich.

Speaking in depth about every single track on their sixth studio album, Justin from The Vaccines explained how the departure bandmate Freddie affected the band, and what inspires him as an musician.

Matty Healy talks John Kennedy through every track on The 1975's third studio album, revealing his writing process, difficulties they faced while recording, and the inspirations behind the songs - including everything from John Hopkins to Disney.

Marcus and Winston from Mumford & Sons spoke to John Kennedy about every track on their fourth studio album.

The Prodigy's Liam Howlett joined JK in the studio to talk about every single track on No Tourists. Liam told John which samples and equipment were used in the production of this record to achieve the iconic Prodigy sound.

Back in 2018, John Kennedy was joined in the studio by Suede's Mat and Brett, as they spoke in depth about their eighth studio album.

The Modfather sat down with The Most Trusted Man in Music to explain the meaning and inspiration behind every track on his fourteenth solo studio album.

James and Nick from The Coral explained the story behind every track on their 9th studio album. They also told John how they keep their music sounding fresh after over a decade together as 'The Coral'.

Miles Kane joined The Most Trusted Man in Music back in 2018 to discuss his third studio album, 'Coup De Grace'. Collaborators on this record include Jamie T and Lana Del Ray, and Miles told John about how each track came about.

Florence Welch joined John Kennedy in the studio following the release of Florence + The Machine’s 4th studio album to talk about every single track on the ‘High As Hope’, and explain the process behind how she creates music.

Recorded on the 6th floor of a factory in Stockport, Call The Comet is the third solo album from Johnny Marr. Following its release, JK sat down with Johnny to talk about the meaning and inspiration behind every track on ‘Call The Comet’

In 2018, we heard the first new music from Snow Patrol in over 7 years. On release day, The Most Trusted Man in Music caught up with Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol, who opened up about his sobriety and spoke about how his healing process influenced this record.

Sitting down with The Most Trusted Man in Music to discuss his 7th studio album, Frank Turner explained the meaning behind his lyrics, and revealed which musicians inspired the sound of this album.

All five members of Blossoms squeezed into the studio to tell JK all about their latest album. They spoke in-depth about writing, recording, and producing the record, and explained how they fought to stay original and true to themselves with this new music.

Justin and Freddie from The Vaccines sat down with The Most Trusted Man in Music for a track by track breakdown of their 4th studio album, ‘Combat Sports’. They spoke to John about the process of producing this record, and explained which questions they had to ask themselves as a band before they could even begin putting pen to paper and writing music for the record.

Just a few hours before the release of their 5th studio album ‘Always Ascending’, Alex and Bob from Franz Ferdinand joined John Kennedy in the studio to tell him all about it.

Why Make Sense? It’s a great question, and also the title of the sixth studio album from Hot Chip. Just before its release, John Kennedy sat down with Al and Joe from the band to talk all about it, track by track.

The Most Trusted Man in Music met with self-described ‘Corduroy-infected knob-twiddler’ J. Wilgoose Esq. to discuss his band’s second studio album, ‘The Race For Space’. After talking about two songs he wrote in Dutch for an ice-skating event, he revealed why this record had a space theme, and spoke about the meaning behind every track on the album.

John Kennedy was joined in the studio by Gaz Coombes, following the release of his second solo album, ‘Matador’. As well as speaking in depth about every track on the album, he also touched on what it was like to go solo, after recording and performing with bands for nearly 30 years.

With the release of their third studio album ‘Get To Heaven’, Jonathan and Alex from Everything Everything sat down with The Most Trusted Man in Music to explain their writing process and delve into the meaning behind every track on the record.

Dom and Matt from Muse spoke to John Kennedy about every track on their first conceptual album, ‘Drones’. They explained that on one hand, this record follows a protagonist through their emotional journey to find the light inside themselves, and on the other hand, commentates on the battle between humanity and technology.

Where do The Cribs write their music, and how to they keep their ideas flowing? When John Kennedy spoke to the Wakefield trio about their sixth studio album, they answered both of those questions, as well as revealing the meaning and inspiration behind every track on ‘For All My Sisters’. 

When Weezer frontman Rivers sat down with JK (from across the pond!) to talk about their 9th studio album, he explained how this album marks a return to the iconic ‘Weezer’ sound that we heard in their earlier albums. He also told John how they are trying to use this record to reconnect with their fans.

Serge from Kasabian sat down with the most trusted man in music to discuss the band’s latest album, 48:13.

2012 and 2013 were two very busy years for alt-J. Releasing their hugely successful debut album ‘An Awesome Wave’, winning the Mercury prize, and then touring the album around the world. So, when they released their second album in 2014, it was great to see them in the studio with John Kennedy, talking to him about how they found the past few years, and revealing what went into making this brand new record.

In 2013, for the fifth time in Track by Track history, Arctic Monkeys joined the most trusted man in music for an album playback. This time, the album in question was AM. As well as providing John with some exclusive insights into the album, Alex and Matt told him what it was like to try and stick to their Sheffield roots whilst living in the city of angels.

Ben and Winston from Mumford & Sons sat down with The Most Trusted Man in Music to talk about their third studio album, ‘Wilder Mind’. With the boys living over in New York at the time, they told John about how much time they spent on this side of the pond while writing and recording the album, as well as talking in depth about the production process.

On the day they released their fourth studio album, Mike and Ben from Royal Blood sat down with John Kennedy to explain what it was like to self-produce this record, as well as talking in-depth about each track on the album.

Liam Fray joined the most trusted man in music to talk all about Courteeners’ fourth studio album, Concrete Love. He told JK when they decided to start working on a new album, and why he sung about a Virgin Pendolino train on ‘Small Bones’...

Sitting down with JK to discuss his fifth solo album, Miles Kane explained that 'One Man Band' was all about going back to his roots, and proving to himself that making music is what he does best.

Following the release of their long-awaited fourth album, ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’, the boys over at Bombay Bicycle Club joined John in the studio to talk all about it.

Electronic music duo Jungle went from creating music in their bedroom, to launching their album in front of hundreds of people on a Peckham rooftop. When JK sat down with them to talk about the record, they talked about what it was like to create their first full-length album, and explained the inspiration behind the tracks on the record.

In 2015, Orlando and Felix from The Maccabees spoke to John Kennedy about their fourth and final album, as just over a year after this interview, the band decided to go their separate ways. They went through every track on the album. speaking in-depth about the meaning of their music.

Royal Blood by Royal Blood, the Mercury Prize winning album that birthed cult classics like ‘Figure it Out’ and ‘Out of the Black’. Before they knew how influential their debut album would become, Mike and Ben from Royal Blood joined John Kennedy to talk about the formation of the band, as well as talking about the inspiration behind every track on the album.

The first track by track interview of 2015 saw Tim and Mark from The Charlatans talking to JK about their 12th studio album, ‘Modern Nature’.

Less than a year after the release of their 11th album, ‘Rewind The Film’, we saw the Manics release their 12th album, Futurology. Shortly after its release, James and Nicky from the band joined JK in the studio to talk him through every track on the record.

In 2011, Alex Turner and Matt Helders sat down with The Most Trusted Man in music to talk him through Arctic Monkeys' fourth studio album, track by track. As well as explaining how the album title got them into trouble across the pond, the boys also went in depth about the meaning and inspiration behind every song on the record.

In this episode of the track by track podcast, The Most Trusted Man In Music sat down with Alex Turner and Matt Helders to talk about every track on the album that started it all for the Arctic Monkeys.

Just over a year on from their huge debut, Arctic Monkeys were gearing up to release their highly anticipated second album. It's the record that gave us some of the Monkeys' most iconic tunes, and in this episode of the track by track podcast, The Most Trusted Man in Music sat down with Alex Turner and Nick O'Malley to dissect every song on the album.

After both taking a well-deserved break, Alex and Matt from Arctic Monkeys reunited in 2008 to start working on their highly-anticipated third studio album, Humbug. As well as explaining how they ended up in the middle of the Mojave Desert with Josh Homme, the boys went in-depth about every song on the record in this Track by Track interview.

Noel Gallagher sat down with The Most Trusted Man in Music to discuss the fourth studio album from Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. As well as talking in depth about every track on the record, Noel also spoke about fellow musicians, their music, and the wider issues of the day.

The sixth studio album from Arctic Monkeys marked a switch in style for the band. Moving away from the guitar-heavy music of their previous albums, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino embodies elements of psychedelic pop, lounge pop, glam rock, and jazz. Alex Turner from the band told John about why they made this major change, also explained what Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino is, and what each track means.

The Monkeys have returned! It's their 7th studio album and sees them return down to Earth from their Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino. In this episode, The Most Trusted Man In Music is joined by Alex Turner and Matt Helders to talk about this album, where the inspiration came from for it and how it flirts with sounding like a movie soundtrack. Hear Alex and Matt talk through every track on The Car with John Kennedy.

In 2015, John Kennedy was joined in-studio by the one and only Paul Weller, following the release of his 12th studio album. As well as explaining the inspiration and meaning behind every track on the record, he also told John what his life has been like over the past few years, and revealed who he’d been working with in the music world.

Primal Scream had just released their tenth studio album, More Light, when they joined John Kennedy in the studio for a Track by Track interview. As well as talking John through every track on the record, they also recalled the past few years of promoting, touring, and writing.

Back in 2015, John was joined in the studio by Neil Barnes, one half of electronic music duo Leftfield. Neil spoke about every track on ‘Alternative Light Source’, explaining the meaning and inspiration behind the music, and revealing which member of his family made an appearance on the record.

In an effort to keep things fresh while writing their third studio album, The Vaccines set themselves one rule. To not do anything they’d done before. Speaking with The Most Trusted Man in Music about every track on ‘English Graffiti’, Justin and Arni from the band explained what it was like to step out of their comfort zone while producing this album, and what that meant for the finished product.

With the release of Johnny Marr’s second solo album came another track by track interview with our very own John Kennedy! Talking to JK back in 2014, Johnny spoke about his love of performing live, and even revealed which song on the album was recorded on the back of his tour bus.

Guy and Pete dropped into the studio in 2014 to talk about their latest album, ‘The Take Off and Landing of Everything’. They told JK about how they switched up the writing process on this record, and what that meant for the final product.

Everyone’s favourite Aussie three-piece joined The Most Trusted Man in Music for a track by track breakdown of their fourth studio album.

After the release of Frank Turner’s 6th studio album, came the inevitable 6th track by track interview with The Most Trusted Man in Music. Frank opened up to John about the meaning behind the lyrics of every track on Positive Songs For Negative People.

Returning to Radio X for another track by track interview, Alex and Scott from The Lathums spoke to The Most Trusted Man In Music all about their second studio album. The boys revealed all about each and every track on the record, from the meaning of the lyrics, to what it was like to produce music videos for some of their songs.

American rock trio ‘HAIM’ joined John Kennedy in the studio following the release of their debut album, ‘Days Are Gone’. Talking in depth about the album, they described the process of writing, recording, and releasing it, and talked about what it was like to record their album in a multitude of studios around the world.

Vampire Weekend swung by the studio in 2013 to talk to John about their latest album, ‘Modern Vampires of the City’. Following the success of their last album, ‘Contra’, they told John about their first ever writing retreat as a band, and how it went…

Ritzy, Rhydian, and Matt from The Joy Formidable joined John Kennedy to talk about every track on Wolf’s Law. After they told JK about the time they spent together in an isolated log cabin in America, they revealed why they put so much effort into perfecting their music.

The release of Biffy Clyro’s first album for 4 years called for another of JK’s iconic Track by Track interviews. Simon Neil from the band came in to talk about every track on Opposites; all 20 of them!

After being together for just 18 months, Jehnny Beth and Gemma Thompson from Savages spoke to John Kennedy about what it was like to write and release their debut studio album so quickly. They also got deep into the meaning behind the songs on the record.

After a short break, Courteeners celebrated the release of their third studio album by visiting the studio and having a chat with the most trusted man in music! John found out why this album has more of a dancefloor vibe, and who exactly Anna is…

Back in 2013, the late Scott Hutchinson came in to talk to John Kennedy about Pedestrian Verse, the fourth studio album from Frightened Rabbit. You can find out more about the mental health charity that was set up in his honour at tinychanges.com

John Kennedy kicked off 2013 with this corker of an interview! Michael, Jeremy, Alex, and Jonathan from Everything Everything joined John to talk about their album ‘Arc’. They explained the pressures of writing an album while touring, and how that impacted the sound of the band.

Yannis and Jimmy from Foals swung by the studio to talk to JK about their first number 1 album! They spoke in depth about every song on the record, including their biggest hit, My Number.

James Blake joined John Kennedy in the studio to talk about his Mercury Prize winning album ‘Overgrown’. As he ran through every track on the record, James told John about how this album reflects on the last two years of his life.

It’s the first Suede album for 10 years, and who better to talk with about it than our very own JK! Brett Anderson from the band popped in to the studio to talk about the inspiration behind every track on the album, and explain exactly why Suede got back together after a decade-long hiatus.

Rock Legend Johnny Marr joined the most trusted man in music to talk about his debut solo album! After moving back to the UK to record this album, Johnny told John how surprising it was to work alone after so long…

On the release date of his fifth studio album, Frank Turner popped in to the studio for an in depth conversation about the record with the most trusted man in music. Frank revealed that Tape Deck Heart was ‘difficult’ and ‘uncomfortable’ to write, and that it was inspired by events in his personal life.

The debut album from ‘Peace’ called for a Track by Track playback with the most trusted man in music. Harry and Dom from the band spoke to John about every track on the record, and explained exactly how this album came to be.

Serge is in to talk to John Kennedy about this new era of Kasabian! Recorded in 2022, the band’s frontman talked to John about the story behind the album and who exactly was The Alchemist. Hear Serge talk openly about the band and the recording of this, their 7th studio album.

Wimbledon’s finest is in to talk to JK about his 5th studio album; one that ended up being his first number one! Hear Jamie talk John Kennedy through joining up with Hugo White for this album and what was going on for him when he was creating each track!

It was Foals 7th album and the band faced the task of not only producing another album off the back of their hugely successful Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 1 and 2. But they also had to create an album after being locked down for 2 years! Yannis and Jimmy talked John Kennedy through the whole album on this Track By Track Podcast.

Florence is back! Recorded in 2022 after 4 years away, John got to talk Flo through everything that went into this album and hear what the last 4 years have been like for her! You’ll hear Florence at her most honest and open throughout the whole of this Track By Track Podcast!

A transatlantic album playback with Jack White sat in Nashville and John Kennedy in the Radio X studios in London. The album is full of Jack White-style guitar riffs, as you’d expect from his music, but it’s also got plenty of experimentation and sampling throughout. Throughout this episode you’ll hear Jack talk John through the creation of this, his 4th solo album.

Frank Turner talks The Most Trusted Man In Music through every track on his ninth studio album. As Frank discusses this is a bit of a ‘back to the start’ record, with him producing songs for it that are heavier than previous albums. Enjoy listening to everything that Mr Turner has to say to John about this album!

The Antipodean musical alchemists are in to talk John Kennedy through their third studio album! You can listen to Dave and Tom from the band talk about the raw honest and emotion that is a strong feature of this album! This is a must listen for any Gang Of Youths fans as you can hear the guys from the band in fine form when talking to The Most Trusted Man In Music.

This is their fourth album and you can hear the band talk about their album, what went into it’s creation in a post lockdown world and what the future holds for the band. Listen as they break down every track on the album with John Kennedy.

The start of 2022 saw the return of The Wombats with their fifth album! Hear how the boys from the band talked John through starting pre-covid pandemic and then continuing when the world returned to normal! They talk The Most Trusted Man In Music through every track on the album Fix Yourself, Not the World.

John is joined for a video call with Simon, James & Ben from Biffy Clyro! Hear the band talk about how confusion, frustration and uncertainty was channelled into making this record!

How to follow up a HUGE debut album…with an even bigger second one! Sam Fender chatted to John Kennedy again about his follow up album, the changes his life has had since the first and what this album meant to him. Listen and Sam talks Radio X’s John Kennedy through every track on Seventeen Going Under.

It’s The Lathums debut album and so the first time that Alex from the band talked John Kennedy through it all. Recorded on zoom with the band being on tour currently, John got all the details on how the band went from having regular day jobs, to recording a releasing an album!

This was The Vaccines fifth studio album and it ended up with some epic soundtrack vibes to it! Listen as the band are on Zoom and John is in the studio in London and he breaks down everything that went into the record and what it was like getting back in the studio for another time!

Their first number 1 album and 3rd one from the band! John Kennedy managed to get all of Wolf Alice on a zoom call to talk through creating the album and what went into it. You can hear the Most Trusted Man In Music talk to bands and artists every Friday and Saturday night from 11pm on Radio X.

John Kennedy talks to Ben and Mike about their third number one album Typhoons. This chat happened in 2021 and you can hear about, despite the fragmented nature of the recording, the band were still able to record a stomper of an album.

Declan came in to talk to The Most Trusted Man In Music about his second studio album Zeros. The album debuted at Number 2 in the album charts and Declan talked to John about the difficulties he faced waiting to bring the album out! Hear as he goes through every track on the album with John Kennedy.

Recorded in the midst of lockdown in 2020, John chats to Simon Neil from Biffy Clyro about A Celebration Of Endings. It’s 8th studio album from the band and their first of 2 releases in 12 months.

The first ever Track By Track that the DMA’s did with John. This was a reflection on a record that has plenty of influences and sounds; indie, rock, synthy dance. An album that ended up at the top of the album charts in the UK and in Australia!

Matty Healy talked to John via a Zoom link at the start of the pandemic in 2020. You can hear him open up about the ambitiousness of the record and hear how he talks openly about creating this 5th album.

Blossoms came in to Radio X to talk John through their album Foolish Loving Spaces. The album marked a development in both their writing and musicality! Here’s what happened when Stockport’s finest chatted to The Most Trusted Man In Music!

Jamie and Ed from Bombay Bicycle Club chatting to John about this album! It was the first back after a hiatus and the band were back with a bang! The Most Trusted Man In Music was on hand to dig through every song on the album and talk to the band about it’s creation.

Liam Fray came in Radio X to talk The Most Trusted Man In Music through The Courteeners 6th album! Hear Liam talk openly about what it’s like in the band now, recording an album, compared to what it has been previously! He talks John through the entirety of the record and delves into the meanings behind some of the songs.

The hugely successful third studio album from Michael Kiwanuka saw the man come into Radio X to talk to John Kennedy. Hear how he breaks down all his track and what went into the creation of them with The Most Trusted Man In Music.

If you want to celebrate and dissect an album after 25 years, who do you go to? The Most Trusted Man In Music! Michael and Mike came in to Radio X to discuss and listen back to a fully re-mixed version of Monster! Originally out 1994, the guys from the band joined John Kennedy in October 2019 to discuss the legacy the album has.

The second release from Foals in 2019 and the second time in 6 months that Yannis and Jimmy talked John Kennedy through every track on an album. It’s album full of mythology and moody riffs. Hear everything they’ve got to say to Johnny Kennedy about it, their first ever number 1 album!

The giants of indie Elbow were back in 2019 with their 8th studio album. The band have stepped away slightly with this one from the anthemic love stories, you can hear them talk John Kennedy through what caused this and an honest assessment of the album, as a whole.

An album title that foreshadowed the meteoric rise that this man had. Sam Fender came into Radio X to talk to John Kennedy about his first album Hypersonic Missiles. This chat was in 2019 and you’ll hear Sam talking candidly about his writing process and how he took a snapshot of life in that year and put it into chorus and verse. Enjoy this chat, track by track, with Sam Fender and The Most Trusted Man In Music, John Kennedy

Whilst Kasabian were on a little hiatus, Serge Pizzorno decided to record this debut album and then come in to talk to John about each of the tracks on there. It’s Serge’s first solo record and he came in to talk John through how it came about and what being away from the band allowed him to do.

Released in 2019, this is Frank’s eighth studio album and saw him put out an album telling the stories of 13 different women. Hear John Kennedy get into the background behind the whole album and what made Frank Turner decide to do a record that was unlike any other.

Album number 9 from The Black Keys saw them chat with John Kennedy via video link from their studio in Nashville. This is an album that saw Dan and Patrick step into a studio together after a short time apart and create an album dedicated to a close friend and influence Glen Schwartz. Hear as they break down the album with JK and talk him through each track on there!

Recorded in 2019 when Jack White and Brendon Benson came into Radio X, John Kennedy goes on a trip through the whole of the The Raconteurs - Help Us Stranger album with them. In their own rights the pair of them are musical behemoths and together they created this huge third album that they’ve talked JK through!

Alex from Two Door joined John to dissect this record in 2019. Alex talks in this podcast about the inspiration they took whilst making the record and how other artists played a role in the whole thing! Listen as he talks the Most Trusted Man In Music through the whole thing!

John talks to Ezra Koenig about Vampire Weekend's fourth studio album. This track by track took place in Spring 2019 and you can hear John and Ezra get into a chat about what went into making the album and the meanings behind it's biggest songs.

This is the first album playback that John Kennedy did with Jade Bird as the pair of them delve into her self-titled debut album. Jade opens up with John to talk about what it was like creating the album and what each of the tracks meant to her.

The first of 2 albums that Foals released in 2019! In this episode Yannis and Jimmy talk about self-producing the album and the effort it took to make sure it had a unique sound to not only other Foals albums but also other albums out at the time. Hear the guys from the band talk about every track on the album and talk about inspirations behind it all.