This week’s episode started out with a plan — and then immediately ignored it.
The original idea was a deep dive into early pop music and its long arc: the era when pop wasn’t just disposable radio filler, but a cultural force that shaped everything around it. That path would have taken us through Michael Jackson, the boy-band explosion with *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys, and into Justin Timberlake’s solo years — especially FutureSex/LoveSounds, which remains one of the smartest and most confident mainstream pop albums of the 2000s.
The problem wasn’t a lack of material. It was too much of it. Too many angles, too many eras, and no clean way to do the subject justice in a single episode without turning it into a rushed highlight reel.
So instead of forcing it, we pivoted.
The first half of the show leans hard into Flight of the Conchords, a band that lives in the space between parody and genuinely great songwriting. The jokes work because the music underneath them is real — funk, hip-hop, folk, pop, and rock filtered through deadpan delivery and sharp musical instincts. These songs are funny, yes, but they’re also meticulously written and performed. If the music wasn’t solid, the humor wouldn’t land — and that’s exactly why it does.
It’s worth clearing something up here: Mike Portnoy was not involved with Flight of the Conchords. There’s no personnel crossover, no secret prog connection. What does connect them is intent — knowing exactly what kind of music you’re making, and committing to it fully.
From there, the episode takes a sharp left turn into Flying Colors, a band that came together during a major transition point in progressive rock. After stepping away from Dream Theater, Mike Portnoy did what he’s always done best: collaborate. Flying Colors brought together Portnoy, Neal Morse, Steve Morse, Dave LaRue, and Casey McPherson with a very specific goal — write strong, melodic songs first, and let the musicianship serve the material instead of overpowering it.
What makes Flying Colors compelling isn’t technical flash — it’s restraint. These are players who could turn every track into a showcase, but instead chose groove, melody, and emotional weight. The songs breathe. The hooks matter. The arrangements know when to step back.
On paper, Flight of the Conchords and Flying Colors shouldn’t belong in the same episode. One is comedy. The other is progressive rock. But what ties them together is self-awareness. Both understand their lane. Both respect the song. And both prove that you can be clever, complex, or funny without losing musical credibility.
Episode 1328 isn’t about a single genre or a neat historical thesis. It’s about contrast, intention, and trusting the set to tell its own story. Sometimes the best radio happens when you abandon the outline and follow where the music actually wants to go.
Hour 1
Artist – Song – Time – Album – Label
Flight Of The Conchords – Foux Du Fafa – 02:46 – Flight Of The Conchords – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Inner City Pressure – 03:27 – Flight Of The Conchords – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Hiphopopotamus Vs. Rhymenoceros – 02:09 – Flight Of The Conchords – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Think About It – 03:14 – Flight Of The Conchords – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Ladies Of The World – 03:57 – Flight Of The Conchords – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Mutha’uckas – 02:26 – Flight Of The Conchords – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – The Prince Of Parties – 01:48 – Flight Of The Conchords – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – The Prince Of Parties – 01:48 – Flight Of The Conchords – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – The Prince Of Parties – 01:48 – Flight Of The Conchords – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Leggy Blonde – 02:42 – Flight Of The Conchords – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Robots – 03:43 – Flight Of The Conchords – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Boom – 02:17 – Flight Of The Conchords – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – A Kiss Is Not A Contract – 01:55 – Flight Of The Conchords – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – The Most Beautiful Girl (In The Room) – 04:02 – Flight Of The Conchords – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Business Time – 04:05 – Flight Of The Conchords – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Bowie – 03:15 – Flight Of The Conchords – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Au Revoir – 00:21 – Flight Of The Conchords – Sub Pop
Hour 2
Artist – Song – Time – Album – Label
Flight Of The Conchords – Hurt Feelings – 02:38 – I Told You I Was Freaky – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Sugalumps – 02:11 – I Told You I Was Freaky – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – We’re Both In Love With A Sexy Lady – 02:49 – I Told You I Was Freaky – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – I Told You I Was Freaky – 03:14 – I Told You I Was Freaky – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Demon Woman – 01:59 – I Told You I Was Freaky – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Rambling Through The Avenues Of Time – 02:43 – I Told You I Was Freaky – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Fashion Is Danger – 02:20 – I Told You I Was Freaky – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Petrov, Yelyena And Me – 02:28 – I Told You I Was Freaky – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Too Many Dicks (On The Dance Floor) – 02:28 – I Told You I Was Freaky – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – You Don’t Have To Be A Prostitute – 02:49 – I Told You I Was Freaky – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Friends – 02:04 – I Told You I Was Freaky – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Carol Brown – 03:26 – I Told You I Was Freaky – Sub Pop
Flight Of The Conchords – Angels – 02:36 – I Told You I Was Freaky – Sub Pop
Flying Colors – Blue Ocean – 07:03 – Flying Colors – Music Theories Recordings
Flying Colors – Shoulda Coulda Woulda – 04:29 – Flying Colors – Music Theories Recordings
Flying Colors – Kayla – 05:11 – Flying Colors – Music Theories Recordings
Flying Colors – The Storm – 04:43 – Flying Colors – Music Theories Recordings
Flying Colors – Forever In A Daze – 03:51 – Flying Colors – Music Theories Recordings
Hour 3
Artist – Song – Time – Album – Label
Flying Colors – Love Is What I’m Waiting For – 03:30 – Flying Colors – Music Theories Recordings
Flying Colors – Everything Changes – 06:48 – Flying Colors – Music Theories Recordings
Flying Colors – Better Than Walking Away – 04:53 – Flying Colors – Music Theories Recordings
Flying Colors – All Falls Down – 03:20 – Flying Colors – Music Theories Recordings
Flying Colors – Fool In My Heart – 03:47 – Flying Colors – Music Theories Recordings
Flying Colors – Infinite Fire – 12:00 – Flying Colors – Music Theories Recordings
Flying Colors – More – 07:09 – Third Degree – Music Theories Recordings
Flying Colors – Cadence – 07:40 – Third Degree – Music Theories Recordings
Flying Colors – Guardian – 07:10 – Third Degree – Music Theories Recordings
Flying Colors – Last Train Home – 10:31 – Third Degree – Music Theories Recordings
Flying Colors – Geronimo – 05:19 – Third Degree – Music Theories Recordings
Flying Colors – You Are Not Alone – 06:21 – Third Degree – Music Theories Recordings
Flying Colors – Love Letter – 05:09 – Third Degree – Music Theories Recordings
Flying Colors – Crawl – 11:14 – Third Degree – Music Theories Recordings [fade out]
Rolling with Scissors airs live every Tuesday from 2–5 AM on 89.9 FM in Madison and streams at wortfm.org. Missed it? You can catch the episode for two weeks after broadcast at archive.wortfm.org or at rwsradio.com.
While the audio disappears after two weeks, the episode notes and playlists don’t. Every deep dive, rant, and full album breakdown stays right here — so you can revisit the details any time.
Spin the dial — we’re probably on it. Lock onto your frequency. Pick your favorite antenna below and ride the signal back to us.
Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | X (Twitter)
0 Comments