Alternative music, cult films, and pop culture explored through a Gen X lens — with reviews, interviews, and a deep-dive podcast.
40 Alternative Rock Albums Turning 20 in 2018-Best Albums of 1998: SLIS and contributor Peter Marks look back at landmark albums hitting the two decade mark this year. As the 90s began to wane, there was a cultural shift. Alternative rock, be it grunge or Britpop was winding down. Electronica never really reached past it’s […]
Failure ‘In The Future’ EP Review: space rock trio release 1st of four EP’s (to be compiled for full-length album). For any Failure fans worried that the band’s highly anticipated reunion would be short-lived, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Four years after their critically acclaimed comeback album The Heart is a Monster, the […]
Episode 3: Dave Wyndorf discusses group’s stripped-down politically fuelled album on this week’s podcast. This week on the SLIS podcast we’re talking to a very special guest: Dave Wyndorf, the founding member and frontman of stoner rock icons Monster Magnet. I spoke to Wyndorf about the group’s new album Mindfucker (click here for my review), […]
Monster Magnet ‘Mindfucker’ Review: Dave Wyndorf makes a party record to help survive the Trump era. [rating=4] I had this idea in my head that this would be kind of a “good time” record…But with a real Detroit edge to it….Why not? I’d never done that before. When writing an album of songs, I always […]
Episode 2: Dean Ween Talks New Album Rock2-SLIS Podcast–co-founding member of iconic alternative act discusses his sophomore solo release with The Dean Ween band in lively interview. This week our guest is none other than Dean Ween, a founding member of the cult favorite, multi-genre duo/band Ween. Ween (the alias of Michael Melchiondo Jr.) is […]
Book Review: DC Comics ‘My Girl Power Journal’: Downtown Bookworks new interactive journal helps empower young girls inner superhero. [rating=5] Downtown Bookworks have been on a roll with their excellent series of D.C. Comics related books for young children–in particular, those focused on young girls, which is both timely and extremely important. And their latest […]
The Dean Ween Group ‘Rock2’ Review: sophomore solo release from Dean Ween (aka Mickey Melchiondo) is a funky, quirky delight. It was just 2 years ago that Dean Ween released The Deaner Album, the début release from The Dean Ween Group. His work ethic shows no signs of slowing down: in addition to touring both with […]
Episode 1: Kevin Haskins Talks New Book Bauhaus-Undead-SLIS Podcast founding member and drummer discusses revisiting his Goth roots with his deluxe coffee table book and much more. Very exciting news here at Smells Like Infinite Sadness: we’ve finally launched a podcast! I know, I know. It’s taken awhile for me to get going on this, […]
Ministry ‘AmeriKKKant’ Review: Al Jourgensen wages musical war against Donald Trump on band’s most unusual album to date. [rating=3] Al Jourgensen’s creativity has always thrived during Republican presidencies. It’s his muse, fueling all the best albums from his industrial juggernaut Ministry. The band’s 1992 magnum opus Psalm 69 pilloried George HW Bush’s singular term, and […]
Moby ‘Everything Was Beautiful And Nothing Hurt’ Review: electronic one-man band conjures bleak blues on somber new release. [rating=3] Moby has never been shy in his political opinions, but he’s been particularly vocal during the Trump era. He vented his rage on his cathartic 2016 release These Systems Are Failing, and the 2017 follow-up More […]
