Alternative music, cult films, and pop culture explored through a Gen X lens — with reviews, interviews, and a deep-dive podcast.
Concert Review: Depeche Mode at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion; Veteran synth-pop act plays a triumphant set to the welcoming Houston crowd. [rating=5] Depeche Mode played to a sold out crowd at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion this Wednesday in Houston, TX (aka The Woodlands). And while both Depeche Mode and the Houston audience were largely middle-aged (myself included) […]
CHVRCHES ‘The Bones Of What You Believe’ Album Review: Excellent debut for Scottish electronic trio. [rating=5] CHVRCHES (pronounced churches) have had a strong musical ascent for a band who, up until now, haven’t made a full-length release. 2012 singles Lies and The Mother We Share were both shiny, melodic gems, as was 2013’s Recover. So one wondered what the hold up […]
Placebo ‘Loud Like Love’ Review; it ain’t broke so don’t bother fixing it. Placebo does exactly what you expect them too, and it sounds just fine. [rating=4] If there’s ever a band that can comfort Gen-Exers as we muddle through middle-age, it’s Placebo. They’re the musical equivalent of Matthew McConaughey’s quote from Dazed And Confused: One thing […]
ArnoCorps ‘The Fantastic EP’ Review: Goddamn Heroes and Sheroes rejoice! [rating=5] ArnoCorps are a band with a singular musical obsession; the filmography of action star and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. What makes the band so consistently entertaining is their ability to do endless variations on this singular theme, all done with an intense delivery that has […]
Goldfrapp ‘Tales of Us’ Album Review: Goldfrapp leaves 80’s cheese and electro-glam behind with their newest release. [rating=4] Goldfrapp has always been an act prone to extremes. Such about-face sonic changes inevitably become hit or miss. While the electro-sleaze of Black Cherry and the Glam-sheen of Supernature were richly indulgent, Seventh Tree was a bit too hippy-dippy […]
Ministry ‘From Beer To Eternity’ Review: Ministry’s (supposed) swan song is often hit and miss, but the late Mike Scaccia’s guitar work still impresses. [rating=3] If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years about Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen, it’s that he’s often prone to exaggeration. His new tell-all book surely benefits from colorful embellishments when […]
Just like a car crash, Just like a knife, My favorite weapon, Is the look in your eyes. Looking back on an Iconic Industrial classic The Land of Rape And Honey 30 years on. I remember the first time I heard Stigmata, the opening battle-cry of Ministry’s 1988 album The Land Of Rape And Honey. I thought perhaps I’d […]
Albums Revisited: The Cult’s ‘Electric’ Turns 30. a look back at why The Cult’s breakthrough album set the stage for heavy alternative rock and the decline of hair metal. Note: this article was originally published in 2013: it has since been updated. Earlier this week I got a chance to see The Cult at ACL […]
Vista Chino ‘Peace’ Review: Former members of Kyuss rock on as Vista Chino. And they make a pretty good case for stoner rock minus Josh Homme. [rating=3] Unless your name is Josh Homme, being a member of stoner rock legends Kyuss hasn’t been easy lately. The band was continuing as Kyuss Lives, but Homme slapped them […]
The Cult turn in an electrifying ‘Electric 13’ set at ACL Live. [rating=4] The Cult’s ACL Live gig started on a tense note. Opening band White Hill’s meandering psych-rock went over like a lead balloon. The crowd wasn’t having it (although a drunk middle-aged dude kept yelling for the female bassist to “take off your top!” Classy.) After […]
