Musings on the past and present state of music, film, and pop culture. Get off my lawn.
10 Best Pete Shelley Songs: remembering the Buzzcocks frontman who brought romanticism and heartache to punk rock. Last week saw the untimely passing of musician Pete Shelley, who died at the age of 63. Shelley (born Peter McNeish) was a founding member and leader of The Buzzcocks, an English punk band that challenged the notion […]
Holygram ‘Modern Cults’ Review: German act conjures classic post-punk and new wave on début full-length release. ★★★★ The musical ghosts of the 80s remain forever in our midst, with new bands drawing upon the sounds of 80’s goth, new wave and post-punk to both interesting and less-interesting results. But German newcomers Holygram have expertly seized […]
Far Out Scenery: The Prescience of Warrior Soul’s ‘Salutations from the Ghetto Nation’ 25 Years Later By Dave Dierksen The goddamn president can go to hell! Imagine being 14 years old in 1991, living in a small, sheltered, conservative town, and hearing those words emerge from your radio. This was my first exposure to the […]
Dälek ‘Endangered Philosophies’ Review: alternative hip-hop act’s dystopian soundscapes and caustic lyrics capture Trump-era angst. [rating=4] Experimental hip-hop act Dälek have always forged their own idiosyncratic path. The group combine elements of industrial and shoegaze with lyrics offering insight in uneasy times. And their latest release, Endangered Philosophies (out September 1st via Ipecac Recordings), is […]
The Foreign Resort ‘She is Lost’ Review: review of Danish neo-post punkers beguiling new single. [rating=4] Denmark’s The Foreign Resort are a 21st century act with an unashamedly retro sound–drawing inspiration from 80’s New Wave, Goth and Post-punk. And they pull it off with aplomb, as witnessed on their new single She is Lost–a heady […]
Peter Hook and The Light Live Album Series Review: former New Order and Joy Division bassist revisits his past in blazing concert releases. [rating=5] When Peter Hook left New Order in 2013, it felt like the end of an era: his melodic, unorthodox bass-playing was in many ways their most definitive element–how could the band […]
Peter Hook and The Light Give Details For Live Album Series: Bassist announces tracklists for four concert albums featuring New Order and Joy Division material. Iconic New Order and Joy Division bassist Peter Hook is set to release four-albums of concert recordings on May 5th. The releases (available on CD and for digital download), features Hook and his […]
Top 21 Best Alternative Rock Compilation Albums: the most essential greatest hits, B-side collection and rarities compilations in alt-rock. This month two classic 1985 compilation albums turn 30: ‘Catching up with Depeche Mode’ (on Nov.11th) and Echo & The Bunnymen’s ‘Songs to Learn and Sing’ (Nov. 15th). That got me thinking: in some cases, greatest hits collections, non-album single comps, and b-side/rarities albums […]
Joy Division’s Closer Turns 35: the band’s gloomy 1980 swan song still packs an emotional wallop. On July 18th, Closer, Joy Division’s sophomore (and final) studio album celebrates its 35th anniversary. It feels strange to think that an album so influential and contemporary has been around for so long. But then again I can’t believe […]
New Order’s ‘Music Complete’ To Feature Iggy Pop and Brandon Flowers: band ready their first studio album since 2005’s ‘When The Sirens’ Call’. New Order’s upcoming release Music Complete may find them minus founding member and bassist Peter Hook, but they’re bringing in reinforcements to bolster fan morale. The new album (set for release September 25th […]
