Alternative music, cult films, and pop culture explored through a Gen X lens — with reviews, interviews, and a deep-dive podcast.
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 […]
The 19 Best Rock and Metal Albums of 2019: saying farewell to a great year for music as this decade comes to a close. Welp, it’s hard to believe that we’re not only about to say goodbye to 2019, but also to the decade. It has been a very strange, stressful year (and let’s face […]
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 […]
Episode 32: 25 Albums Turning 25 in 2019-The Best Albums of 1994-SLIS Podcast: tackling the best releases from another amazing year of music. Following our podcast episode ranking the best albums from 1989, co-host Chris Logan and I dive in to the best 25 albums from 1993 turning 25 this year. ’94 was a HUGE […]
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 […]
Episode 31: Medicine’s Brad Laner Talks New Covers Album ‘Scarred For Life’-SLIS Podcast: American shoegaze mastermind discusses new covers album, reuniting with his original vocalist, his creative legacy and more. On this week’s podcast my special guest is Brad Laner, best known as the guitarist and songwriter for Medicine, one of the most interesting and […]
