Musings on the past and present state of music, film, and pop culture. Get off my lawn.
Somebody to Love: A Tribute to Taylor Hawkins. Dave Dierksen discusses the impact Hawkins’ had on his life as well as others, along with a Spotify playlist highlighting his body of work. I heard about Taylor Hawkins’ death in the middle of the night, checking my phone while I let my dog out. While still in […]
Episode 40: Albums Revisited-Celebrating 30 Years of Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’-SLIS Podcast: remembering one of the biggest albums of all time on its 30th anniversary. September 24th marks a sacred date for Gen Xers: Nirvana’s 1991 grunge masterpiece ‘Nevermind’ celebrates its (get ready to feel old) 30th anniversary. Yes, that’s right, the band that was the soundtrack […]
For Generation X, Chris Cornell’s Death Is Infuriatingly Sad: Soundgarden frontman’s death at 52 hits a tragic, yet familiar, nerve. I did not want to wake up hearing that Chris Cornell, one of the best singers of my generation has died. It didn’t seem real at first–but these things never do. It’s become a chilling, […]
Albums Revisited: Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ Turns 25: celebrating Nirvana’s generation defining album on its 25th anniversary. I’ll never forget the fall of 1991. I had recently transferred to a new college. It was out-of-state and I didn’t know a soul. It was terrifying, but also liberating: I was far away from my folks and anyone who […]
Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck Review: director Brett Morgan redefines the rock documentary with stirring results. [rating=4] Most rock documentaries about fallen musicians follow a standard template: talking head interviews on said person’s influence, and torrid stories of decadence and tragic decline. But it often feels incomplete due to second hand accounts. The new HBO documentary Kurt […]
April 5th, 2015 marked the 13th anniversary of the death of Alice in Chains frontman Layne Staley. The singer passed away in 2002 after battling heroin addiction. Eerily, fellow Seattle grunge icon Kurt Cobain would take his own life on that same date in 1994. But while Nirvana are still seen as alternative icons, Alice in […]
Albums Revisited: Nirvana’s ‘Bleach’ Turns 25; Grunge icons début album celebrates 25th anniversary on June 15th. When Nirvana exploded into fame with their break-through 90’s album ‘Nevermind‘, it felt to many like the band came out of nowhere. But in truth they’d been active since the late 80’s. But their first album ‘Bleach‘ was a commercial dud, […]
April 10th is Nirvana Day! Wha?? Nirvana has been defunct since 1994, but 2014 is going to be a busy year for them. Or at least April will be. On April 10th, the Seattle grunge legends will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. And on that same date, Hoquiam, Washington will […]
Its been 23 years since Kurt Cobain’s suicide. Why does it still sting? April 5th, 2017 marked a grim milestone; it’s been 23 years since Kurt Cobain’s suicide. I didn’t think much about it at first. That was a very long time ago and it’s a pretty grim reminder. But then I realize given the […]
Is the concept of selling out past its sell by date? Recently I saw a Gucci ad which uses Depeche Mode’s ‘Strangelove’ in its campaign ad. And during the Super Bowl, millions heard the mash-up of the Cult’s ‘She Sells Sanctuary” and Flo-Rida’s “Good Feeling” during a Miller Lite ad. Most people in my age […]
