Blu-Ray Review: ‘Cat People’ [Criterion Collection]

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Cat People’ [Criterion Collection]: classic horror film gets a beautiful HD release.  One of the most striking cinematic examples of less is more is Jacques Tourneur’s 1942 horror classic Cat People (released on Blu-ray September 20th via Criterion). A film that plays upon the anxieties that pop up in a new romantic relationship, it […]

The Mission ‘Another Fall From Grace’ Review

The Mission ‘Another Fall From Grace’ Review: influential Goth rockers make their finest album since their 80’s heyday. [rating=5] “This album is the lost link between The Sisters Of Mercy’s First And Last And Always and The Mission’s God’s Own Medicine.” That bold statement comes from The Mission’s frontman Wayne Hussey, regarding the band’s new album Another Fall From […]

Albums Revisited: Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ Turns 25

Albums Revisited: Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ Turns 25: celebrating Nirvana’s generation defining album on its 25th anniversary. I’ll never forget the fall of 1991. I had recently transferred to a new college. It was out-of-state and I didn’t know a soul. It was terrifying, but also liberating: I was far away from my folks and anyone who […]

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Blood Simple’ [Criterion Collection]

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Blood Simple’ [Criterion Collection]: The Coen Brothers début film still packs a cold-hearted punch in this excellent Blu-ray edition.  Before the Coen Brothers became a cottage industry of cult classic cinema of the quirky, neo-noir and black comedy  variety, they made a small film called Blood Simple. Shot on a shoestring budget in and around […]

Albums Revisited: Guns N’ Roses ‘Use Your Illusion’ Turns 25

Albums Revisited: Guns N’ Roses ‘Use Your Illusion’ Turns 25: a reappraisal of Guns N’ Roses overstuffed 1991 albums on their 25th anniversary. We live in a time when everyone’s a critic. Mix tapes are now playlists. Fan fiction doesn’t live on the Internet fringes anymore. And fight as I might to stave off the elements of […]

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez ‘Umbrella Mistress’ Review

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez ‘Umbrella Mistress’ Review: ORL’s solo deluge continues with this pleasing dash of psychedelia. [rating=4] We’re now five releases into Omar Rodriguez-Lopez’s massive twelve album excavation of previously unreleased solo material, and its been a wild and quirky ride thus far. From the esoteric electronica of Sworn Virgins, the somber acoustic Corazones, the bright indie-pop of […]

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds ‘Skeleton Tree’ Review

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds ‘Skeleton Tree’ Review: a dark yet beautiful reflection on tragedy as only Nick Cave could produce.  [rating=5] Last year Nick Cave went through what any parent fears the most: the loss of a child. This happened in the midst of recording Skeleton Tree, his latest album with veteran outfit […]

Richard Christy Talks New Charred Walls of The Damned Album ‘Creatures Watching Over the Dead’

Richard Christy Talks New Charred Walls of The Damned Album ‘Creatures Watching Over the Dead’: veteran metal drummer discusses latest release in exclusive interview. September 23rd will see the release of  Creatures Watching Over The Dead (Metal Blade Records), the third studio album from metal supergroup Charred Walls of The Damned. The group is the brainchild […]

Tyson Meade Announces Live Retrospective

Alternative rock pioneer Tyson Meade is offering fans an intimate gig that will shine a light on his musical history. The singer will revisit his 1990’s output with Defenestration and Chainsaw Kittens in a one night event at Norman, Oklahoma’s The Red Room Event Center on September 24, 2016. Click here for my 2015 interview with […]

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez ‘Arañas en La Sombra’ Review

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez ‘Arañas en La Sombra’ Review: the fourth in a series of twelve previously unreleased solo efforts will thrill fans of The Mars Volta. [rating=4] This summer, the ever chameleonic Omar Rodriguez-Lopez has opened the vaults on a mountain of previously unreleased material (twelve albums in full, released bi-weekly through December). And so far, its been a […]