Alternative music, cult films, and pop culture explored through a Gen X lens — with reviews, interviews, and a deep-dive podcast.
Music Video Premiere: Sounds of Sputnik ‘Light Stream’ Featuring Ummagma–atmospheric video showcases shoegaze collaboration. May 16th will see the re-release of ‘New Born,’ the début album from Russian act Sounds of Sputnik. And to mark the release (via Moon Sounds Records), the group have made a video for ‘Light Stream,’ their collaboration with Ukraine/Canadian shoegaze […]
Levitation 2016 Kickoff Party Review: Chelsea Wolfe, The Veldt: a silver lining to a cancelled festival. Downtown Austin was filled with many sad, bewildered faces last Thursday evening. The unexpected announcement that Levitation 2016 was cancelled due to bad weather reverberated throughout the city. While all festival attendees were guaranteed refunds, for those traveling from […]
It’s been a decade since Tool’s album ‘10,000 Days’. Or should we say 365,000 days since ‘10,000 Days’? May 2nd, 2016 shares a dubious distinction in musical history. On that same date in 2006, Tool released 10,000 Days. their last album to date. That’s right: a full decade with no new music from a band who never broke up. […]
Albums Revisited: Prince’s ‘Around The World In A Day’ Turns 31: a look back on Prince’s underrated psychedelic opus. The world is still reeling from the death of Prince. While the cause of death is still unknown, the loss is a devastating blow to those of us who grew up listening to his music. But […]
‘Controversy’: Remembering Prince’s ‘Darling Nikki’ and The PMRC: how Prince’s struggle of sinner vs. saint inflamed the moral majority during the Reagan era. Like many, I’m still in shock about Prince’s death last week. Only recently I eulogized David Bowie, an artist who changed the face of pop-culture. And Prince, an artist who certainly followed […]
Albums Revisited: Ramones Debut Album Turns 40: the album that ignited the 70’s punk movement on its 40th anniversary. Saturday April 23rd, marks a huge milestone for punk rock: the Ramones self-titled 1976 début will celebrate its 40th anniversary. The album, recorded at Radio City Music Hall (in the band’s native New York City), is rightfully considered […]
Lush ‘Blind Spot’ EP Review: 90’s Shoegazers roar back to life on accomplished EP. [rating=5] The past few years have seen a host of 90’s shoegaze acts reuniting, but Lush’s comeback was one of the most unexpected. The London-based band folded after drummer Chris Acland’s tragic suicide in 1996, with former members Miki Berenyi, Emma […]
‘Surgical Meth Machine’ Album Review: New project from Ministry’s Al Jourgensen acts like a sampler of his varied musical history. [rating=3.5] Al Jourgensen has been involved with many musical projects over the years: in addition to his bread and butter industrial juggernaut Ministry, there’s his rotating supergroup Revolting Cocks, Pailhead, Lard, 1000 Homo DJ’s PTP, […]
Deftones ‘Gore’ Review: alt-metal titan’s latest rewards repeat listens. [rating=4] Sacramento’s Deftones have plugged away valiantly for nearly three decades, eclipsing, obliterating and transcending any affiliation with their late-90’s nu-metal peers. They’ve embraced elements of more experimental musical movements, integrating them into new and unusual shapes within their metal underpinnings. It speaks volumes to the […]
M83 ‘Junk’ Review Anthony Gonzales return with an album that skirts the line between irony and artistic ambition. Or something like that. [rating=3.5] M83 have charted their own unique musical course: be it digital shoegaze (Before The Dawn Heals Us), sublime New Wave (Saturdays=Youth) or their genre straddling double album smash Hurry Up We’re Dreaming. And now the Anthony […]
