Alternative music, cult films, and pop culture explored through a Gen X lens — with reviews, interviews, and a deep-dive podcast.
Tidalwave ‘1992’ Review Alt-rock revivalists Tidalwave are back with ‘1992’ their latest EP (released May 13th via Bandcamp). The band’s (American transplants now based in Germany) three song assault continues their brand of catchy, economical head nodders that began with their 2015 self-titled album. ‘1992’ is certainly an an appropiate title, as the EP hearkens […]
Swans ‘The Glowing Man’ Review: Michael Gira concludes current Swans lineup with hypnotic results. [rating=4] NYC’s noise rock icons Swans have had an impressive career trajectory this decade. For a band that started in the early 80’s, reforming in 2005 after a 15-year hiatus, they sound as hungry, raw and exploratory as ever. Following 2012’s […]
The Melvins ‘Basses Loaded’ Review: doom metal legends showcase their four-string collaborators on rocking new release. [rating=4] The Melvins continue to be the biggest workaholics in rock and roll. The sludge metal giants are back with Basses Loaded (Ipecac Recordings), their seventh(!) album this decade. Whereas most Melvins’ album titles are gleefully obtuse, Basses Loaded is a […]
Garbage ‘Strange Little Birds’ Review: veteran alt-rockers return with their best album since 2001’s ‘Beautiful Garbage.’ [rating=4] If generic 21st century pop depresses you, Shirley Manson feels your pain. The Garbage vocalist expressed her frustration with modern music in the press statement for the band’s new album Strange Little Birds: “I’m aching for some dark and dismal. […]
Music Videos Revisited: Metallica’s ‘Until It Sleeps’ Turns 20: the horror…oh the horror. This week marks the 20th anniversary of ‘Load,’ Metallica’s polarizing 1996 album that continued their sprint away from thrash metal towards southern style butt rock. Click Here for Albums Revisited: Metallica’s ‘Master of Puppets’ Turns 30 IMHO no album lives up to […]
Albums Revisited: Smashing Pumpkins ‘Gish’ Turns 25–celebrating the Pumpkins indie début album on its 25th anniversary. May 28th marks a Gen-X musical milestone: on that date 25 years ago, The Smashing Pumpkins released their début album Gish, the highest selling indie record at that time (until 1994’s Smash by The Offspring…ewww… let’s keep’em separated). Gish […]
Minor Victories Album Review: alternative supergroup excels on exciting début. [rating=5] Let’s face it: supergroups are usually more exciting in theory than in practice, failing to live up to the grand expectations raised when noted musical personalities collide. But Minor Victories, featuring Slowdive vocalist Rachel Goswell, Mogwai guitarist Stuart Braithwaite and Editors’ Justin and James […]
Daniel Ash Talks New Album Stripped: musician discusses new album featuring fresh takes on classic tracks from Bauhaus, Love and Rockets and Tones on Tail in our exclusive interview. Daniel Ash has kept quiet the past few years. The former guitarist/vocalist/saxophonist from goth icons Bauhaus, post-punk one-offs Tones and Tail and alternative rock pioneers Love and Rockets has […]
Original Misfits Lineup to Reunite For Riotfest 2017: Festival Confirms Reunion via Official Press Release They said it would never happen. They’ve hated each other for years. They even had a Hot Topic lawsuit. But today Riotfest confirmed that the original Misfits lineup, featuring frontman Glenn Danzig, bassist Jerry Only and guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von […]
An Interview with A.R. Kane’s Rudy Tambala The last few years has seen a resurgence of shoegaze and dream pop groups of the 80’s and 90’s. But while bands like My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive and Ride hog the spotlight, there is another group back in action deserving equal attention. That would be A.R. Kane, a band that actually […]
