Alternative music, cult films, and pop culture explored through a Gen X lens — with reviews, interviews, and a deep-dive podcast.
Book Review: ‘Super Heroes Have Feelings Too’: DC Comics characters help children express their emotions in engaging book. In this new, scary and unpredictable era of social distancing, families are all adjusting to a new normal, and a parent’s anxiety can rub off on their children. So it’s vital for kids to be able to […]
Human Impact ‘Human Impact’ Review: industrial noise rock vets make a murky stew of sound. Human Impact is a supergroup of a most specific pedigree, featuring key members from the New York City noise rock and industrial scenes of the late 80’s and early 90’s. The lineup features vocalist/guitarist Chris Spencer [Unsane], bassist Chris Pravdica […]
Body Count ‘Carnivore’ Review: Ice-T’s rap-metal project remain at the top of their game. Body Count made major waves on their 90’s debut album, especially its track Cop Killer, which drew fire from everyone from president George H.W. Bush to Charlton Heston. Hip hop icon Ice-T effortlessly infused his socially conscious lyrics to thrash guitar […]
Caspian ‘On Circles’ Review: Massachusets post rockers widen their sonic palette on richly layered new album. Massachusets post rock collective Caspian have blazed their own distinctive trail in their sub-genre, last heard on 2015’s Dust and Disquiet. And the group return with On Circles (January 24, Triple Crown Records) which adds a subtle evolution to […]
Concert Review: Tool at Frank Erwin Center-prog-metal titans belie their age in a powerful, propulsive set. “Supposedly, Austin…Work on it.” That cryptic yet acerbic comment came from Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan addressing the packed house at Austin’s Frank Irwin Center this Tuesday. But Keenan mostly eschewed chitchat and let the band’s music do the […]
In Appreciation of Neil Peart (remembering the late Rush drummer and songwriter) by David Dierksen I’ve been a Rush fan since probably 7th or 8th grade (approximately 30 years), but I’ve never been a RUSH GUY. Like I didn’t have every record, obsess over the lyrics, or nerd out with other musician types about how […]
Episode 33: Our Picks For the 2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-SLIS Podcast On this week’s episode of the SLIS podcast, co-host Chris Logan and I choose our picks for the 2020 inductees for the RRHOF. It wasn’t easy given next year’s artists for consideration include Soundgarden, Depeche Mode, Motörhead, Judas Priest, Kraftwerk, Nine […]
Concert Review: Melvins and Redd Kross at The Mohawk, Austin: two cult favorites that taste great together warm up a frigid Austin crowd. Not even a miserably cold and rainy tonight could keep away the Melvins faithful. Anticipation was high for yet another blowout set from the sludge/grunge progenitors, and this evening didn’t disappoint. Openers […]
Confrontational ‘Under Cover of Darkness’ Review: Italian synthwave artist honors his 80s influences on inventive covers album. CONFRONTATIONAL (aka Italian musician Massimo Usai) have been at the forefront of the synthwave scene, a musical subgenre that has seen the revival of film-inspired electronic music indebted to soundtracks by the likes of John Carpenter, Tangerine Dream […]
Swans ‘Leaving Meaning’ Review: Michael Gira sheds one musical skin for another on an album full of equal parts doom and hope. Swans are not your typical group. Where most bands start off with youthful verve (1982 to be exact) only to wane with age, Michael Gira’s post-punk outfit has only grown stronger. And longer–with […]