Confusing band names, the MTV aura, and what happens if the comedy/tragedy masks and a keyboard mate: it's the 4th episode of our Best New Artist season, which brings us great winners, indefensible losers, and tracks that are more branding exercise than song. Does Mariah tie a whole Reagan-era room together? Listen now and find out!

Intro and outro by Andrew Byrne; for more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

• • The list of Best New Artist recipients, and nominees
  • The Best New Artist Breakdown season premiere
  • Best New Artist Breakdown 03: 1977-1984
  • Episode 242: Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car"
  • SDB's review of Monsters
  • Beats Around The Bush, Episode 05: The Mystery Of Tone Loc
  • Episode 50: The Indigo Girls' "Indigo Girls," Ranked
  • Beats Around The Bush, Episode 01: Hippie Hop Hooray
  • Episode 164: Milli Vanilli, "Blame It On The Rain"
  • Lisa Stansfield live at The Apollo

Disco, NuRo, and not knowing where to look during "Afternoon Delight" -- it's all part of our third episode, when we're also talking about Starman's dinner party, the mayonnaise filter, the Michael McDonald industrial complex, and Mark's request to dump all the geography-named bands into one planetary supergroup. There's only one way to lift the Best New Artist curse, and that's to listen now.

Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

• The list of Best New Artist recipients, and nominees
• The Best New Artist Breakdown season premiere
• Only Chicken
• Michael and Maeby sing "Afternoon Delight"
• Dig the styling on the Brothers Johnson
• "Hey Deanie" at The Lost Songs Project
• Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 2: 1975-1990
• In My Life's Wikipedia page
• Pop Goes The Actor 3: Comedians
• Episode 107: Bond-Movie Songs, Ranked

We're wading into the '70s in our second ep, which includes ruminations on inessential classic rock; how Karen Carpenter and Judy Garland can take you whenever they are; holding your nose and throwing your vote at the nomination dartboard; and more. We've only just beguuuuuun / to taaaaaaalk -- and to hear your comments! -- so listen now.

Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

• The list of Best New Artist recipients, and nominees
• The Best New Artist Breakdown season premiere
• Episode 62: "Ode To Billie Joe" And "Harper Valley PTA"
• '90s Soundtrack Flashback, Episode 03: Forrest Gump
• Episode 18: Led Zeppelin/Dread Zeppelin/Dolly Parton, "Stairway To Heaven"
• Episode 69: Bryan Adams, "Summer Of '69" (with guest Danny MacEachern!)
• "Lost Grammy Nominee: Chase" at The Lost Songs Project
• "Woman Of The Hour: There are no winners here" at Best Evidence