What a terrific idea, well executed. This is my new favorite podcast. Thanks.

Love it

I've always loved music but never been a musician myself and of course I married a musician and wished I could participate in the conversation more. This podcast has taught me to love songs I'd overlooked before and given me the language to talk about music and better appreciate it. 10/10

And other cliches about why this podcast is great. Stop reading reviews and listen.

Love the way this podcast breaks down songs into their elements, and gives you insight into the process behind building a song. Keep up the good work 😊

Just love listening to this. Would love to hear more tv/film explosions 👌🏾

One of my favorite podcasts. Great way to learn about artists and dig deep into the creative process with old favorites. Great work.

I don't understand why this podcast isn't ranked higher. It has the right length, format, and execution.

Artists provide step by step insight into their creative process. I may assign this for my classes at Berklee. Essential listening for musicians.

This podcast has given me

a new respect and appreciation for musicians of all kinds. I love hearing their inspirations and what makes the songs special to them. Especially in genres I wouldn't normally listen to.

I loved Hrishi on West Wing Weekly and so tried Song Exploder. I feel so much more in tune with music after listening. It's almost like figuring out a puzzle. Thanks

Every episode reveals the craft and thoughtfulness of the musicians they feature. I lvoe heairng it broken down and then built back together. One of the most unique and affecting podcasts out there.

So great! It is like being a fly on the wall while your favorite artist writes your favorite song! 10/10 would listen again!

Super awesome way to look inside music, artists, and the process

A fantastic idea, and really well done. How much I like the episodes depends a lot on how much I end up liking the song, but there's never been a song I've liked less after listening. Really awesome.

This is the best music podcast that I've heard. It is fascinating the hear what goes into making a song as told by the creator. I've gained a new appreciation for some songs and musicians that I didn't even like before hearing them talk about their approach.

Really amazing show for music lovers. Once you listen to it, your favorite songs sound even better!

Absolutely love this podcast and the music featured. Thanks!

Really interesting to hear the artist strip down the song. You notice tiny intricacies on sofa you never heard the first time.

If you really love music, and are amazed by the art, appreciate the creative effort, and want to know more how they come together ... subscribe! One of the best podcasts ever!

This is one of my favorite podcasts. I love the chance to see behind the curtain, to understand the thought processes and hear the different layers of great songs keep up the good work!

If you're into music and how it's constructed, Song Exploder is amazing. The host invites artists to deconstruct their songs into their parts, talk about the origins of the songs, and tell stories about their creation. I'm addicted to this podcast.

I recently discovered this podcast and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Obviously, with so much riding on the songwriter/composers, enjoyment depends on how well they break down their experience and any connection (if any) the listener has to the music. Episodes dive right in and move along quickly, so there's not a lot of wasted time. I suspect that I'll be personally selective about which episodes feature an artist/song I enjoy, and I'm okay with that. However, the podcast would be a great way to discover new/different music, so if time allows, I'll go back and listen to others. For those reasons, I really do recommend listening!

Such a great podcast. Delves deeply into how songs are written and records are made. Hirway chooses songs and music across many genres. I've heard so many artists I might never have heard otherwise.

Anyone who likes music should listen to this.

If you like hearing HOW artists wrote songs, stop immediately and listen.

Only 4 stars because i only found a few artists that I was interested in.

As a songwriter, this podcast is invaluable! & as a music fan, this podcast is just legendary. All I can say is thank you for doing this & I can only hope to have the opportunity to be on the show someday soon. If you're reading this, just choose an episode & listen!

Discovered this podcast today, it's so so so good. What a great idea for a podcast. So happy to have discovered it. It's edited so nicely, and I find it so informative, even on songs/artists that I might not be into. Love the length of it, it's not too long.

It’s funny to listen to people talk about music; some songs come about as if an epiphany, others are worked at and changed over time. It just goes to show that every song has a story beyond the lyrical message. I started listening to Song Exploder due to having already fallen in love with the West Wing Weekly. With the professionalism and passion the host presents on that show, I thought I’d try this one. I’m not a huge fan of music as a thing to be obsessed over. This show is perfect for a casual fan or professional in the industry, it gives us insight into how some songs create themselves and find life in the minds of the creators. Even songs I don’t care for, I still love listening to the stories behind them. There are episodes for every genre. Standouts for me are those based in film; especially the recent La La Land and Arrival episodes. Congratulations on 100 episodes!

This podcast is as well produced as the songs that it features. Absolutely fascinating for non-music folks like me.

We want them back!

Subscribing to this podcast will make you listen to music in an entirely new way.

Don't tell Malina but this podcast is better.

Whether you know the songs at all, well or not at all this is a great listen. Always interesting and enjoyable as you hear how artists break down their songs.

Great podcast. I started with three episodes downloaded and subscribed halfway through the Murphys "Blood" episode. Would you consider doing an episode on the Hilltop Hoods?

Can't wait for the next episode!

Wandered over after months of listening to The West Wing Weekly Podcast. Song Exploder is an in-depth look at the creation of music, with lots of behind-the-scenes tidbits that pulled me into the world of some of my favorite songs. Very glad I checked it out! Nice work, Hrishi :)

Perfect focus on the artist and the creative process. Even if you don't know the artist for an episode, totally worth the listen.

Look no further. Love hearing how songs I know & love came together and also songs new to me.

It's helpful to hear new music and understand how a song came together. I appreciate that it takes work. Sometimes I wish there were songs explained that are more mainstream but I appreciate learning about artists and songs that are outside my listening regularity. Keep it up

Song Exploder is one of the shows I refresh pretty regularly, and I'd say it's interesting most of the time. I admit, I genuinely hadn't put a lot of thought into music before it, and I really enjoy their bite-sized pieces that cover an incredible breadth of creative processes.

I'm glad Radiotopia introduced me to this. Outside my normal range of podcasts. Well produced and interesting. Worth the time.

I love this podcast - even episodes about songs I haven't heard. I don't have much of a music background but love hearing about the details and thought process behind each song. Every episode gives unique insight and the podcast is put together really well.

Also, I love Hrishi's Hrecaps on TWWW and want more!

Loved the Postal Service Episode, but I am really here for the Hrinopses.

Song Exploder is gratifying and pleasantly brief. It perfectly scratches my itch to know more background of songs, without veering into paltry Behind the Music territory. Listen.

This is such a great podcast. It has litterally changed the way I hear music. I have found myself listening to songs that I have loved for years with new ears and finding stuff that I never realized was there.

Generally I'm a huge fan of this show, but what's the deal with ignoring the fact that the Dropkick Murphys song "Blood" was note by note identical to Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire"? I get and support the idea of artistic license, but it seems like this stealing/borrowing should at least have been addressed in the interview. Seriously, that's all I hear when I hear this song.

Even with high-energy songs, this podcast has a nice, soothing effect when the artists break down their songs. I like the way it is edited. I really feel like the artist is telling me a personal story. It's also cool way to discover songs, and I have more appreciation of songs I've heard, that I may or may not have liked, after understanding the creative process of one song or just what the artists go through. It's also quite refreshing compared to many other podcasts that have the Q&A talk show format.

I love the breakdown aspect, and the explnations are usually well done by the artist. Hrishikesh knows what to ask and went to leave the door open. I just wish there were more songs I actually liked. So far of over 90 episodes I only like the actual song enough to listen to it again maybe 15% of the time.

It's about creators creating and Song Exploder lets us in on the process in this intimate, sonically fascinating podcast.

I came over from The West Wing Weekly podcast. I had never heard of most of the artists featured, but that didn't take away from how brilliantly each one disected their song and explained why each technical part was necessary. It's a wonderful peek inside the mind of artists -- something so foreign to me it's like another language entirely. Thanks Hrishi!

(Also, do the thing Josh dared you to do on TWWW. C'mon. It'll be fun)

Oh, I love Song Exploder so much. Hrishikesh is clearly an amazing interviewer, as reflected in the way he gets musicians to open up and break down the component parts of music they have made. I love the editing of the show and the way it is both so visceral/sensual and also so highly intellectual. It’s so personal, in the voices and stories, but also so technical, in the incredible artistry, musical mastery, and critical analysis on display. Because of the editing, it often comes out seeming like the artist is just recounting the story in isolation, but I strongly believe that Hrishikesh is too self-effacing and that he's something of an artist himself in the way he engages with the artists and stitches everything together. Also, he has an amazing radio [podcast] voice. I hope he’ll find more ways to be a vocal part of the storytelling at some point that don't feel like compromising on the beautiful format he’s come to thus far. This podcast has turned me on to music I never would have listened to otherwise and given me deep appreciation for songs in genres I usually have no interest in. When the show first began, I wished that there could be more female artists featured, but that’s actually gotten much better in recent months and I think I read that Hrisikesh wants to have gender parity in new episodes going forward, which is GREAT. Basically, this is just a drop-dead amazing podcast/aural and mental experience.

Here are a few standout episodes, although I honestly don't think I've ever heard a bad one:

Daedalus, "Experience"

Jeff Beal, "House of Cards (Main Title Theme)"

The Long Winters, "The Commander Thinks Aloud"

How to Dress Well, "Pour Cyril”

The Magnetic Fields, “Andrew in Drag”

Chet Faker, “Gold”

Natalia Lafourcade, “Hasta La Raiz”

Bjork, “Stonemilker"

What else can be said? Constantly exceeding expectations. (Maybe one of these days I’ll raise them, but I keep thinking I already have…)

Everything about this podcast is perfect. Hrishikesh executes Occham’s Razor to his chosen subject with a fine degree of craft and detail. Song Exploder is the right length, delivers only the best information, without any chaff or filler, and better yet, you’re not dealing with a host who loves the sound of his own voice. In fact, he barely talks during each episode, leaving the listener to an intimate portrayal of songwriting from the perspective of the originating craftspeople. Whether you’re a fan of the music or not, every episode is a ‘must-listen’ with pearls of wisdom in each narrative.

This is a fantastic look at how songs are made by a fantastical host. I've been a fan of Hrishikesh Hirway since he recorded put out weird electronic folk pop songs on a hardcore punk record label under the name "the One AM Radio". That sort of eclecticism is still present in this new show, where he's already dissected pop songs, indie classics, metalcore, and much more. The breadth of his taste is expansive, and the show is impeccably produced.

A new classic. I have heard many podcasts, and this stands out as original and unique. I not only have heard my favorite musicians deconstruct their songs, but have discovered many great artists as well. I suspect this podcast will be going strong years from now and that many others will try to imitate the style in the future.

Heard about this from 99PI. I have never been more blown away by a podcast , and I listen to a LOT of podcasts . Pure genius

I am a musician so hearing the breakdown and background of current artist's songs and stories is fascinating. The host (who I'm not sure how to spell his name) does this podcast so well, he is such a talented, driven, intelligent guy. Much love to Song Exploder, thank you!

I really enjoy how this podcast peels away the curtain to reveal how good music is put together and to have a deeper understanding of artists and the things that inspire their work. Definitely worth subscribing!

What a unique and interesting idea—this is my favorite podcast on iTunes! The Microphones episode totally enraptured me, but they’re all fascinating. I love hearing the piece-by-piece breakdowns of all these incredible songs as told by the creators. Long live Song Exploder!!!

I love The Books, and I love this song, but there are so many interesting/inspiring ideas in his explanation and process on this podcast. Don't know where else we'd possibly hear about them in this unique way.

Then shut up and listen to this podcast you dirty hipster. It's awesome.

The most creative podcast out there, and well executed

Really loved the Microphones episode, but always a treat to listen and get an inside view of how music is made.

It's really interesting to hear songs deconstructed and to learn how certain sounds came to be.

Not only does the show feature some of my favorite artists and songs, but even when I’ve never heard of the song featured, it’s still a great listen.

Hearing directly from the musicians involved is quite powerful. The podcast does such a wonderful job of exposing what really goes into music making.

This podcast is great fun! It’s fascinating to learn about the processes behind some beloved songs; but it’s an even better way to get introduced to some new ones. Listening to this podcast, you can really appreciate the effort and thought that go into songs, and pick up on super cool elements that you might have missed on a first listen (or because you were listening via dollar store headphones). Superb.

While I don’t know much about creating music, this show has pushed me to want to learn. I have only been familiar with a handful of the artists before I heard them on the show, but hearing the creative process explained in such detail has gotten me interested in several new artists and genres. Wonderful show, awesome stuff…!!!

Take a song, one that you love too much or one you’ve never heard, and then tear it apart piece by piece, thought by thought, layer by layer, and choice by choice. I’m not sure how Hrishikesh manages to do this every couple of weeks, but he does. And he wraps up that disassembled examination with the artist’s insight, the singer’s inspiration, and the producer’s technique.

I think this podcast has lead me to purchase more music than any other single influence. For that, I’m grateful.

This is exactly what I needed to hear to progress and understand how my musical process is so similar to others. When you’re making music, you think that you’re the only one who does it a certain way, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a great big grin on my face when I hear the artists describe something and it strikes a chord with how I do things, and then also has sparked ideas on other ways to do things… MAKE MORE MAKE MORE HURRY@!

I’m not even that into music but have found every episode enjoyable. Even when the song itself isn’t my thing, I can appreciate the creative effort that went into the featured song … and the podcast has pointed me towards artists that I would otherwise have overlooked. My song library has grown as a result of this subscription.

A great idea for a show that is near perfect in execution.

Yes, yes, yes. What a great concept. Audio and commentary are excellent. Just heard about this on 99 percent invisible, another amazing podcast. Binge listening right now.

If you are a music maker or a fan of how recorded music gets made, this podcast will knock your socks off! It takes apart parts of songs, looks at the decisions and HOW of music making process and then looks at the song as a whole after tiny, personal aspects have been examined. I am a better musician and a better person having listened to every podcast of this show. In two days too! I LOVE IT! More! MORE!!!!!

Wonderful, unique, informative. I would love it even more if the episodes were five or ten minutes longer.

I'm only 8 episodes in but it is one of the podcasts I can't miss. Maximum Fun has curated another star.

One of the very best music podcasts in Podcast Land. So great.

Excellent for folks who love to know how makers make stuff - even if you're not musically inclined. Of course, if music IS your thing, it's even richer and more rewarding. Short, just frequent enough, and executed at an extraordinarily high level, this is as fine an example as any for what you can do with the medium of podcasting.

I'm not by any means "musical," but this is such a fascinating podcast and has introduced me to a bunch of new artists I love! Can't recommend it enough!

Love, love, love and love this show! As an audio engineer/sound designer/producer I was so in it. Now please make 1000 more episode! This also is pushing me to finally becoming a Max Fun supporter. Respect!

What a cool idea, executed well. While getting insight into a specific song's creation, a window is opened to the artists themselves. With just the right blend of audio technicality and artistic decision exposition, Song Exploder creates a really enjoyable view of music. Hrishikesh is onto something great here. More installments, please!

This is an AMAZING show! The music is rad & I lvoe to hear the musicians thoughts on what went into making their songs!

I loved the bare bones approach to this podcast. Just what you want to know of what went into the making of the song. Very cool. Can't wait to hear more.

Music is a big part of my life, and After starting to get into a lot of podcast, I was incredibly happy ro find out that MaximumFun decided to have Song Exploder join their network. I am incredibly happy when a new episode comes out, thought the wait can be somewhat long, it's incredibly worth it.

🎶💣▶️😍

Also, did I, um, feel a little too much when I heard Jenny Lewis’s isolated vocals from The District Sleeps Alone Tonight? MAYBE

This is a brilliant approach to exploring songs. I love hearing artists tell stories about their own music, and react to hearing it in pieces. It was great to hear YACHT say that their drum sound was disappointing when isolated. Hearing The Album Leaf walk down memory lane when listening to his song was a nice little experience.

I appreciate that it’s a short podcast. With so many other podcasts in the 45 - 90 minute range, it’s nice to have a concise, focused podcast. That being said, I’d be okay stretching it another 5 - 10 minutes if it meant some really insightful commentary on specific choices made by artists.

Stumbled onto this one through another Maximum Fun Network show (MBMBAM) and instantly fell in love with it. I like that it is short and really celebrates the songs with the artist. Only two episodes so far but I cannot wait for the next one. If you are taking requests please talk to Russian Circles or The American Dollar. Keep em coming!

Both episodes were great, both in content and song selection. Nice format, easy to listen to and not too long. Keep it up.

Two shows in and I'm hooked. I love the personal feel and the depth that goes into deconstructing the songs!

I have always wanted a podcast like this, as a music producer myself, hearing other’s inspiration and how they approach their craft is absolutely helpful, and encouraging.

A concept for show that I didn’t even know I wanted! This is so awesome.

Great addition to the Maximum Fun network! I enjoy the complete breakdown! Keep up the fantastic work!

Thank you so much! Great premise, great quality, great show all around. Looking forward to everything you have to offer in the coming episodes.

Also, I have to give credit where it's do. I was driven to your podcast by the NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. Very thankful that they shared.

Only one episode so far. The deconstruction of the song was incredible and Postal Service was an excellent first choice!

I am a sucker for this kind of behind the scenes look into how great music was made. I love the 33 1/3 book series and I used to really enjoy VH1s "clasic Albums" which both went into details on a bands seminal album, and this is like the on-song version. Keep 'em comin!

What a stellar start to an awesome new podcast. I can’t wait to learn more about the artists and songs that will be featured in the future.

Very well done, the sound design is spot on and the intermingling of technical and human story details adds a lot.

I'm always interested to learn about the creative process, craft, and choices made by artists. Looking forward to hearing more!

I listened to Song Exploder’s first episode today. It’s a promising start that I hope will expand a bit as the flow gets going. The show combines interviews with a song’s creator with audio of an individual track or tracks to demonstrate how the song is constructed.

I think this show’s success will depend in large part on whose songs their deconstructing and the ability of the interviewer to explore interesting elements of the construction with the artists. This show is a Maximum Fun podcast, and so it’s certainly got the creative and knowledge background to be great!

Fantastic first episode! I've heard that song a thousand times and now it's new again. Keep up the good work.