Welcome to Once Every Two Weeks, the podcast where Mark and Thom escape existential dread by revisiting the music that defined their angsty teenage years—one album at a time.
In this season finale, Mark and Thom regroup after a whirlwind of job chaos, cross-country travels (16 states in two weeks?!), and questionable life choices to dive into Stabbing Westward’s blistering 1996 industrial-rock opus, Wither Blister Burn + Peel. But first, they swap tales of Mark’s newfound “adulting” (ugh, jobs) and Thom’s quest to stay afloat. Plus: updates from Burro Borracho Records, a nod to The Cure’s latest, and a hot take on Counting Crows’ new release (Butter Miracle Sweet 2—why though?).
Then, they work to unpack the raw, scream-your-lungs-out catharsis of Stabbing Westward, discussing how frontman Christopher Hall’s high school musical rejection fueled a rage-filled career, the band’s Nine Inch Nails-adjacent DNA, and their struggle to escape the “Nails Lite” label. Relive the era when Wither Blister Burn + Peel sound-tracked teen despair, from Bride of Chucky cameos to angsty MTV rotations.
Mark and Thom dissect every track, from the explosive singles (“What Do I Have to Do?” and “Shame”) to deep cuts that balance Depeche Mode synthscapes with Stone Temple Pilots grit. They debate the album’s legacy, its Dashboard Confessional-esque lyrical parallels (yes, really), and whether screaming “I NEED SOMETHING MORE!” still holds up. Plus: A chaotic game of “Stabbing Westward or Dashboard Confessional?”—because why not?
Wrap the season with their top three tracks, a nod to existential dread, and a promise that Season 3 won’t take two weeks (we swear).
Once Every Two Weeks is sponsored by Burro Borracho Records. Rate, review, and visit onceeverytwoweeks.com to fuel our midlife crisis—err, creative journey.
