Alternative music, cult films, and pop culture explored through a Gen X lens — with reviews, interviews, and a deep-dive podcast.
Sophe Lux and The Mystic ‘All Are One’ Review: a truly cosmic début release. [rating=4.5] 2016 has been a brutal year, from tragic world events, to the loss of musical icons, to the ugliest and most divisive presidential race in American history. And Gwynneth Haynes, former vocalist for Oregon art-pop collective Sophe Lux wants to help heal the divide […]
Slipknot, Marilyn Manson Austin360 Amphitheater Concert Review: sweaty heads banged on a simmering August night. [rating=4.5] A muggy, August Texas night seemed about right for a Slipknot concert, and the packed crowd of maggots at Austin’s 360 Amphitheater were ready for some bludgeoning. Things kicked off with serviceable metalcore from openers Of Mice and Men, which […]
Albums Revisited: Pearl Jam’s ‘Ten’ turns 30: our own Diamond Dave Dierksen looks back at the grunge underdog’s iconic debut thirty years on. By David Dierksen On August 27, 1991, Pearl Jam released their début record Ten. And no one really gave a shit. A little under a month later, Nirvana released Nevermind. And still, […]
11 Soundtracks Fans of the ‘Stranger Things’ Score Should Hear: Love the soundtrack to Netflix’s sci-fi/horror hit? Here’s eleven more synth-driven scores you should check out next. It’s safe to say that Stranger Things is the pop-culture phenomenon of the year. The Netflix original series (created by identical twin creative team The Duffer Brothers) is a […]
Watch Music Video For New Placebo Song ‘Jesus’ Son’: video for new track off forthcoming 20th anniversary compilation album. Alternative rock stalwarts Placebo are celebrating their 20th anniversary with ‘A Place For Us To Dream,’ a collection of greatest hits and B-sides. And today they’ve premiered their video for ‘Jesus’ Son,’ a new track that […]
Faith No More ‘We Care A Lot’ (Deluxe Band Edition) Review: FNM’s long out-of-print début gets the reissue it deserves. [rating=4.5] Out of print for 20 years, Faith No More’s début release We Care A Lot is getting a long overdue reissue. Released on Bassist Billy Gould’s Koolarrow Records (due out August 19th),We Care A […]
Billy Corgan Reconciles With D’arcy Wretzky, Fuels Reunion Hopes: Smashing Pumpkins frontman discusses opening line of communication with former bassist. We reported recently that a long-hoped for reunion of the classic Smashing Pumpkins lineup, once thought unthinkable, is gaining traction. And frontman/master contrarian Billy Corgan added more fuel to the reunion fire, as first reported by […]
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez ‘Blind Worms, Pious Swine’ Review: the third (in a series of 12!) solo releases from the ever prolific At The Drive-In, Mars Volta multi-instrumentalist. [rating=5] Omar Rodriguez-Lopez ‘Blind Worms, Pious Swine’ marks his third release of 2016, unloading a catalogue of previously unreleased solo material (twelve releases in total). Whereas the first entry […]
Blu-ray review: ‘Manhunter’ (Collector’s Edition)-Shout! Factory [rating=5] Note: this originally appeared in my Austin Horror Examiner column on May 22, 2016. Given that site is now defunct and Manhunter celebrates its 30th anniversary on August 14th, this deserves a repost! While ‘Silence of The Lambs’ made Hannibal Lecter famous, it wasn’t the first film to feature […]
Albums Revisited: Mr. Bungle’s Self-Titled Debut Turns 25: looking back at one of the strangest albums of a very strange decade on its 25th anniversary. Mr. Bungle changed my life. Mr. Bungle helped me meet my wife. Seriously. Upon meeting her through a friend of a friend, I began my best attempts at making conversation (not […]
