Musings on the past and present state of music, film, and pop culture. Get off my lawn.
The Black Queen ‘Infinite Games’ Review: sophomore release from electronic trio fronted by ex-Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist Greg Puciato brings their brand of dark wave to inspired heights. ★★★★ The Black Queen’s 2016 début Fever Daydream was one of the most pleasant musical surprises in recent memory, seeing former The Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist Greg […]
Episode 11: 25 Albums Turning 25 In 2018: The Best Albums of 1993-SLIS Podcast: celebrating a watershed year for alternative music. Following on the heels of our podcast episode ranking the best albums from 1988, co-host Chris Logan and I decided to tackle all the best albums turning 25 this year. To do so, we […]
A Perfect Circle ‘Eat The Elephant’ Review: APC defy expectations with understated, reflective comeback album. [rating=4] The last time A Perfect Circle released an album, it was 2004’s Emotive, a political protest album (featuring unorthodox cover songs), railing against an unpopular republican president and a divided electorate. The group return 14 years later with Eat The […]
Hear Our Call In Everything You Do…The Mighty Lemon Drops ‘World Without End’ Turns 30 By: Peter Marks There are many records out there scattered across my youth but there is none more bittersweet than what these four Wolverhampton residents unleashed on the world in 1988. Oh sure, they weren’t massive here in the US and you […]
Albums Revisited: Depeche Mode’s ‘Music For The Masses’ Turns 30: a look back at the album that turned a gloomy cult electronic act into stadium rock gods. Depeche Mode sure took a strange road to stardom. They started off as a synth-pop act, hitting it big with 1981’s Just Can’t Get Enough. But then their primary […]
Concert Review: Depeche Mode at Austin360 Amphitheater: electronic icons thrill the faithful and devoted on a sultry Texas night. [rating=5] It speaks to Depeche Mode’s enduring popularity that even the wide confines of Austin360 seemed barely able to contain their adoring (mostly black-clad) public last night. It was a humid evening, but the group donned […]
The Horrors ‘V’ Review [rating=4] The Horrors have evolved more distinctly than perhaps any other 21st century band. They started off as horror punks (2007’s Strange House), then went into mad scientist mode, offering a mix of goth, shoegaze, and Britpop on releases like 2009’s Primary Colours and 2011’s Skying that wowed critics and cultivated a devoted following. […]
John Fryer Talks New Black Needle Noise Album ‘Lost in Reflections’: veteran producer discusses new Black Needle Noise album, working with Chrysta Bell and more in our exclusive interview. John Fryer has been a pivotal figure in the evolution of electronic and alternative music. As a producer he’s worked with some of the most pivotal […]
Black Needle Noise ‘Lost in Reflections’ Review: veteran alternative producer John Fryer creates a haunting, narcotic, sonic tapestry on latest release. [rating=4] John Fryer might not be a household name, but if you’re a fan of electronic music you’ve certainly heard him, and owe him a massive debt of gratitude. The musician/producer has worked with some of the […]
Albums Revisited: The Cure’s ‘Wish’ Turns 25: a look back on the band’s best-selling, yet oddly overlooked 1992 album on its 25th anniversary. 1992 saw a musical landscape still basking in the sounds of Seattle. Thanks to Nirvana’s Nevermind, grunge and heavy alt-rock were the flavor of the day, making the alternative college music scene quite […]
