Alternative music, cult films, and pop culture explored through a Gen X lens — with reviews, interviews, and a deep-dive podcast.
Depeche Mode ‘Spirit’ Review: electronic music icons get political on bleak new album. [rating=3.5] We are the bigots, we have not evolved/we have no respect, we have lost control. That’s the opening line to Going Backwards, the brooding first track off Depeche Mode’s 14th studio album Spirit. Even for a band known for moodiness, it’s an especially dour […]
Another Million Dollars Gone… New York’s finest on a goddamned coffee break–James Ray’s Gangwar’s ‘Dios Esta De Nuestro Lado’ hits 25 By: Peter Marks We’d been anxiously awaiting this one well before it arrived; preceded by two singles and on the auspicious (later to become odious) Merciful Release label, this was an album which did […]
Hope and Despair: Reexamining U2’s The Joshua Tree and Pop. March marks the 30th anniversary of U2’s ‘The Joshua Tree’ and 20th anniversary of ‘Pop.’ Our own Dave Dierksen delves into both albums political relevancy and respective legacies. By David Dierksen This month, two records by the rock and roll behemoth we call U2 celebrate […]
Tyson Meade Talks 25th Anniversary of Chainsaw Kittens Flipped Out in Singapore: a look back at a cult classic 90s alternative gem (featured image photo credit: Dylan Johnson) Norman Oklahoma’s Chainsaw Kittens were the best kept secret of 90s alternative rock. The group, led by theatrical frontman Tyson Meade, crafted an infectious mix of glam, […]
Albums Revisited: The Church’s ‘Priest=Aura’ Turns 25: a look back at the group’s underrated masterpiece March 10 marks the 25th anniversary of Priest=Aura, the 8th studio album from Aussie alternative psych-rockers The Church. The released followed on the success of 1988’s Starfish featuring their breakthrough hit Under The Milky Way, and 1990’s Gold Afternoon Fix, […]
30 Best Albums Turning 30 in 2017: The Best Albums of 1987–our list of the greatest releases celebrating 30th anniversaries this year. If you had to choose one year in the Reagan era for the best music, you’d be hard pressed to do better than 1987. Something clicked–the mainstream that had been over saturated with […]
WTF Did Nine Inch Nails Just Send Me In The Mail? The Physical Component Revealed The physical component for NIN’s ‘Not The Actual Events’ is a mess. Literally. So what does it mean? Last December I eagerly snapped up the new Nine Inch Nails EP Not The Actual Events. When I purchased it off the […]
The Feelies ‘In Between’ Review: New Jersey jangle pop pioneers return with their first album in 6 years. [rating=4] The Feelies are one of those groups that remain criminally underrated in the pop culture landscape, yet are revered by diehard fans and have inspired scores of musicians. And while their latest release In-Between may not […]
Remembering Bill Paxton’s New Wave Band Martini Ranch: a look back at the late actor’s little-known musical career. The death of Bill Paxton has sent shock waves through Hollywood and to his legion of fans. His untimely passing has put his memorable career into the spotlight, and a poignant reminder of his impact. Generation X […]
Crystal Fairy ‘Crystal Fairy’ Review: supergroup featuring members of The Melvins, Le Butcherettes and At-The-Drive-In create a beautiful, bruising noise on hallucinatory self-titled début album. [rating=4] When the news that Le Butcherettes Teri Gender Bender, Melvins’ King Buzzo and Dale Crover and At the Drive-In/Mars Volta’s Omar Rodriguez-Lopez were joining forces for the new group […]
