Shawn and Craig arrive at the halfway point of Rolling Stone’s Top 500 with their fourth Sweet 16 recap, revisiting the winners from Rounds 13–16 and taking a deeper look at how each bracket shook out.

From Craig’s corner, this stretch of the bracket showcases the cinematic sprawl of Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain, the psychedelic firepower of The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Axis: Bold as Love, the atmospheric introspection of Echo and the Bunnymen’s Heaven Up Here, and the soulful precision of The O’Jays’ Back Stabbers — four albums that prove range, mood, and risk-taking are just as important as legacy.

From Shawn’s side of the bracket, the road to the Sweet 16 features the stripped-back vulnerability of Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged in New York, the swagger and reinvention of George Michael’s Faith, the reggae resilience of Bob Marley & the Wailers’ Natty Dread, and the timeless cultural landmark that is The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Sixteen albums remain. The debates get sharper. The margins get thinner. And with the halfway mark now behind them, the path to the ultimate Vinyl 4 becomes even more intense.

Next up: the format shifts. Stay tuned.

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🎶 Got your own picks or snubs? Drop us a line at vinylfourpodcast@gmail.com.
📸 Follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes posts, polls, and bracket updates — @vinylfourpodcast.

Shawn and Craig hit the halfway point of Rolling Stone’s Top 500 with Round 16, and the bracket is officially unforgiving. Sixteen albums stepped into the arena — but only four advanced.

This week’s battlefield included landmarks like The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Axis: Bold as Love and The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, alongside heavy hitters such as Paul Simon’s Graceland, Steely Dan’s Aja, Eric B. & Rakim’s Paid in Full, and The Police’s Reggatta de Blanc.

Psychedelic brilliance clashed with hip-hop precision. Polished studio perfection met stripped-down storytelling. By the end, four survived — but you’ll have to tune in to hear how it all shook out.

Next week: Recap #4, revisiting Rounds 13–16 in more detail… and after that, the format shifts.

📩 Subscribe and follow on your favorite podcast platform to keep up with the brackets.
🎶 Got your own picks or snubs? Drop us a line at vinylfourpodcast@gmail.com.
📸 Follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes posts, polls, and bracket updates — @vinylfourpodcast.

Shawn and Craig return for Round 15 of the Vinyl 4 Podcast, squaring off against another deep and emotionally charged set of 16 albums pulled from Rolling Stone’s Top 500. At this stage, every decision feels heavier — and every matchup has consequences.

This round moves effortlessly between raw vulnerability, genre-pushing ambition, and timeless songwriting. Touchstones range from the aching intensity of Loveless to the communal uplift of That’s the Way of the World, with moments of punk defiance, reggae resilience, and art-rock experimentation shaping the conversation.

As always, the fellas debate legacy, influence, and staying power, narrowing the field to four survivors while keeping the surprises intact.

📩 Subscribe and follow on your favorite podcast platform to keep up with the brackets.
🎶 Got your own picks or snubs? Drop us a line at vinylfourpodcast@gmail.com.
📸 Follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes posts, polls, and bracket updates — @vinylfourpodcast.