Alternative music, cult films, and pop culture explored through a Gen X lens — with reviews, interviews, and a deep-dive podcast.
SLIS’s 17 Best Rock Albums of 2017: picking the best alternative and metal albums from a year that tested our sanity. Let’s not mince words. 2017 was pretty shitty (remember when we thought 2016 was bad? Oh those were the days!). From the political landscape to natural disasters, mass shootings and the loss of icons, […]
Black Wail ‘Chromium Homes’ Review: New Jersey metallers concoct a weird and wonderful mix of doom, stoner, psychedelia and classic rock on new EP. [rating=4] Every once in a while, a band emerges with a sound impossible to fully quantify, defying easy classification by genre. Such is the case of Black Wail, a New Jersey […]
Hobosexual ‘Monolith’ Review: Seattle duo make a rock sound as huge as their album title. [rating=5] Let’s face it: there aren’t that many great new hard rock bands anymore. Sure they exist (Royal Thunder is one example), but they’re sorely underrepresented in the 21st century. Well luckily for those of us who like heavy tunes […]
Book Review: DC Comics’ ‘Color Me Powerful’ and ‘Awesome Activities for Super Heroes’: Downtown Bookworks is back with two more excellent kids books based off classic D.C. Comics characters. [rating=5] With the holidays fast approaching, parents are feverishly looking for great gift ideas for kids. And for those with little superheroes-in-the-making Downtown Bookworks has you covered […]
The SLIS 2017 Holiday Gift Guide: Blu-ray and DVD Box Sets: the best superhero, sci-fi, horror, action and TV series Blu-ray gifts of the year. Welcome back to part 2 of the SLIS 2017 Holiday Gift Guide (click here to see part 1: Music Box Sets)! Well 2017 was a year I guess. And that’s […]
The SLIS 2017 Holiday Gift Guide: Music Box Sets–exploring the best deluxe editions, CD Box Sets and Vinyl reissues in alternative, classic rock, soundtracks and more. Well it’s that time again: to stuff yourself with turkey first, and then get prepared for your holiday shopping for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and beyond. And if you’re […]
The Veldt ‘Thanks to the Moth and Areanna Rose’ Review: North American Shoegazers wow on new EP featuring contributions from Cocteau Twins Robin Guthrie and more. “Soulgaze” pioneers The Veldt have had a flurry of activity in 2017, from the worldwide release of their 2016 Ep The Shocking Fuzz of Your Electric Fur: The Drake Equation […]
John Carpenter Talks New Album Anthology, Halloween Sequel and More: iconic filmmaker composer gives the scoop on his new album, recent tour, upcoming Halloween sequel and much more in our exclusive interview. John Carpenter occupies a truly unique place in the pop culture landscape. He’s not just one of the most revered genre filmmakers, but […]
Concert Review: Toadies At Stubb’s: Texas rockers refuse to mellow with age with high energy Austin show. The Toadies set at Stubb’s last Friday proves why they’re still going on strong where so many of their Lone Star State contemporaries have faded into the woodwork. The band’s set pulled from their entire discography, including their […]
Concert Review: The Jesus and Mary Chain at Emo’s, Austin: Scottish noise-pop icons flattened eardrums in fine style. Full admission: I don’t wear earplugs to concerts. I know, I know–I’ll pay for it when I’m older (yes I know I’m already old…shut up), but it takes me out of the moment when I wanna rock […]
