Waterproof Records with Jacob Givens

Pantera’s Vulgar Display of Power is one of those albums that didn’t just play in the background of my teenage years — it hit me square in the chest.

Released on February 25, 1992, this record arrived at a time when I was trying to figure out who I was. I was a young metalhead in Tulsa, Oklahoma, feeling awkward, small, and unsure of where I fit in. Then along came this cassette tape — Vulgar Display of Power on one side and Gish by The Smashing Pumpkins on the other — and it completely reshaped my world.

From the opening punch of “Mouth for War” to the swagger and groove of “Walk,” this album felt powerful in a way that was almost overwhelming. Songs like “A New Level” and “F***ing Hostile” gave me a place to put the rage and confusion I didn’t yet know how to articulate. And “This Love” — with its haunting clean intro exploding into sheer sonic violence — remains one of the most dynamic metal songs I’ve ever heard.

Produced by Terry Date, the sound of this record is massive. Dimebag Darrell’s guitar tone slices through everything with that unmistakable groove. Vinnie Paul’s drumming is thunderous. Phil Anselmo’s voice moves between bark, growl, and melody in a way that felt alive and unpredictable. It was heavier than anything I had really absorbed up to that point — and I couldn’t get enough.

This episode isn’t about controversy or debate. It’s about what this album meant to me in 1992 — how it felt to hear it for the first time on a Walkman, how it carried me through insecurity and bullying, and why it still hits just as hard decades later.

Whether you grew up with Pantera or you’re hearing this album for the first time, I’d love to know your experience. Where were you when you first heard Vulgar Display of Power?

Let’s talk about it.
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How did it take me 96 episodes to finally talk about Dusk by The The?! This album has lived in my heart since I was a teenager, and revisiting it now hit me in a totally different way.

In this episode of Waterproof Records, I dive deep into Matt Johnson’s 1993 masterpiece — an album that charted huge in the UK but flew under the radar here in the U.S. We talk about the haunting atmosphere of Dusk, the emotional weight of tracks like “Love Is Stronger Than Death,” “Dogs of Lust,” “This Is the Night,” and “Bluer Than Midnight,” and why this record still feels just as powerful decades later.
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On this episode of Waterproof Records, I sit down with the artist known as Two Feet (Bill Dess) for an intimate, honest, and deeply human conversation.

Recorded back at Lazy Pickle Studios, this episode dives far beyond the hits. We talk about Two Feet’s rapid rise after “I Feel Like I’m Drowning” went viral, what it’s really like navigating massive success as a DIY artist, and how that moment changed everything.

But the heart of this conversation is about sobriety, mental health, and vulnerability—especially as men in the music world. Bill opens up in a powerful way about where he’s been, what he’s learned, and how choosing honesty can literally change lives.

This episode is about music, yes—but it’s also about survival, growth, and reminding people they’re not alone. If you’ve ever found comfort in music during hard times, this one’s for you.

Thanks for being here, and if you found this episode through Two Feet—welcome. Stick around. We’re just getting started.— Jacob
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Happy New Year and welcome to 2026. In this episode of Waterproof Records, I’m kicking things off by reflecting on time, age, and how music continues to meet us exactly where we are—and then diving headfirst into my Top 10 Albums of 2025, along with a very necessary list of honorable mentions.

This isn’t a critic’s list. There are no rankings, no hype chasing, and no obligation to agree with what anyone else says belongs here. These are simply the albums that found me this year—the records I returned to, lived with, and connected with during specific moments of life.

Whether you’re here to discover new music, compare lists, or just hang out and talk records, I’m grateful you’re listening. Thanks for coming back—and if you’re new, welcome to the show.
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Merry Christmas — and welcome to a special holiday episode of Waterproof Records.

Whether you’re listening on Christmas Day, sneaking away from family chaos with earbuds in, or finding this episode weeks (or months) later — this one’s meant to feel like a personal Christmas mixtape made just for you.

In this special holiday episode, I share 10 Christmas songs that live a little outside the standard holiday playlist. Some are joyful. Some are nostalgic. Some are emotional gut-punches. And some might surprise you. This is less “department store Christmas” and more music that actually meant something to me.

We talk about:


Why alternative & 90s-leaning Christmas songs deserve more love


Building a Christmas mixtape with a Side A / Side B flow


The Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, Low, Run-DMC, Chris Cornell, and more


Why certain songs hit harder as we get older


Christmas memories, belief systems, loss, hope, and finding meaning through music

This episode is about what music does to us during the holidays — the joy, the sadness, the reflection, and the kindness we wish lasted all year long.

So throw on your headphones, step out of the noise for a bit, and join me for Jacob’s Christmas Mixtape.

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