Alternative music, cult films, and pop culture explored through a Gen X lens — with reviews, interviews, and a deep-dive podcast.
Zola Jesus ‘Okovi: Additions’ Review: Goth songstress releases companion piece to 2017’s Okovi, featuring unreleased tracks and remixes . [rating=4] Last year saw Zola Jesus (Nika Roza Danilova) release Okovi, a return to her dark, synth driven roots, after 2014’s more pop-driven Taiga. It was widely well received by critics and fans, showcasing her powerful vocals […]
A Hawk And A Hacksaw’s Jeremy Barnes Talks New Album ‘Forest Bathing’: drummer for folk rock duo discusses evocative new album. Albuquerque, New Mexico based folk duo A Hawk and Hacksaw are back with Forest Bathing, their eighth studio album, (due April 13th via Living Music Duplication). The press release for the new album states that drummer […]
Dr. Octagon ‘Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation’ Review: acclaimed, experimental hip-hop [rating=5] It’s been 22 years since 1996’s Dr. Octagonecologyst, the début album featuring Kool Keith’s extraterrestrial gynecologist persona Dr. Octagon. It was an instant bizarro-hip-hop classic, mixing sci-fi and pornographic imagery, garnering critical acclaim and a devoted cult following in the process. While Keith […]
Failure ‘In The Future’ EP Review: space rock trio release 1st of four EP’s (to be compiled for full-length album). For any Failure fans worried that the band’s highly anticipated reunion would be short-lived, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Four years after their critically acclaimed comeback album The Heart is a Monster, the […]
Episode 3: Dave Wyndorf discusses group’s stripped-down politically fuelled album on this week’s podcast. This week on the SLIS podcast we’re talking to a very special guest: Dave Wyndorf, the founding member and frontman of stoner rock icons Monster Magnet. I spoke to Wyndorf about the group’s new album Mindfucker (click here for my review), […]
Monster Magnet ‘Mindfucker’ Review: Dave Wyndorf makes a party record to help survive the Trump era. [rating=4] I had this idea in my head that this would be kind of a “good time” record…But with a real Detroit edge to it….Why not? I’d never done that before. When writing an album of songs, I always […]
Episode 2: Dean Ween Talks New Album Rock2-SLIS Podcast–co-founding member of iconic alternative act discusses his sophomore solo release with The Dean Ween band in lively interview. This week our guest is none other than Dean Ween, a founding member of the cult favorite, multi-genre duo/band Ween. Ween (the alias of Michael Melchiondo Jr.) is […]
Book Review: DC Comics ‘My Girl Power Journal’: Downtown Bookworks new interactive journal helps empower young girls inner superhero. [rating=5] Downtown Bookworks have been on a roll with their excellent series of D.C. Comics related books for young children–in particular, those focused on young girls, which is both timely and extremely important. And their latest […]
The Dean Ween Group ‘Rock2’ Review: sophomore solo release from Dean Ween (aka Mickey Melchiondo) is a funky, quirky delight. It was just 2 years ago that Dean Ween released The Deaner Album, the début release from The Dean Ween Group. His work ethic shows no signs of slowing down: in addition to touring both with […]
Ministry ‘AmeriKKKant’ Review: Al Jourgensen wages musical war against Donald Trump on band’s most unusual album to date. [rating=3] Al Jourgensen’s creativity has always thrived during Republican presidencies. It’s his muse, fueling all the best albums from his industrial juggernaut Ministry. The band’s 1992 magnum opus Psalm 69 pilloried George HW Bush’s singular term, and […]