Features
Friday, September 30 2011
The Year Alternative Went Massive and Defined a Decade
Above all else, musically 1991 will forever be remembered as the year alterna-rock conquered the masses. PopMatters explores how alternative became the dominant form of rock music in the '90s.
Thursday, June 9 2011
In the Lap of the Gods: The First Five Queen Albums
Consummate showmen and masters of the studio environment, in their first five albums the members of British rock group Queen transformed from ambitious contenders into elite practitioners of the genre.
Thursday, November 5 2009
Nirvana: Bleach
Starting with Nevermind, Kurt Cobain intentionally simplified his compositions in order to emphasize their pop components. Less song-focused than later Nirvana works, Bleach acts as an interesting showcase of the band’s musical chops.
Reviews
Wednesday, May 15 2013
R.E.M.: Green (25th Anniversary Edition)
R.E.M.'s major label debut found the group confronting the realization that it was becoming kind of a big deal, and the impulses to either carry on like normal or address the situation head-on proved to be equally enticing.
Tuesday, March 26 2013
Depeche Mode: Delta Machine
The latest from Depeche Mode is another weighty slab of electro-blues laments dealing with lust and guilt. Doesn't mean it's not a riveting listen.
Tuesday, March 19 2013
Suede: Bloodsports
A hell of a comeback? Most assuredly. One of the best albums Suede has ever made? Well, yeah, actually. The band that ignited Britpop 20 years ago is back, cooler than ever.
Wednesday, March 6 2013
The Cave Singers: Naomi
Once rustic indie folkers, the Cave Singers have finished fusing together their favorite bits of rock, folk, and blues, with pleasing results.
Thursday, February 21 2013
Beach Fossils: Clash the Truth
Beach Fossils' stripped-down lineup speeds up and looks even further back into the post-punk '80s for its second full-length.
My Bloody Valentine: m b v - Counterpoint [6.Feb.13]
Ducktails: The Flower Lane [1.Feb.13]
Green Day: ¡Tré! [11.Dec.12]
Led Zeppelin: Celebration Day [20.Nov.12]
Soundgarden: King Animal [16.Nov.12]
Green Day: ¡Dos! [13.Nov.12]
The Furious Seasons: My Analog Face [7.Nov.12]
Various Artists: Now That’s What I Call British [27.Sep.12]
Green Day: ¡Uno! [25.Sep.12]
Airiel: Kid Games [5.Sep.12]
Bloc Party: Four [20.Aug.12]
Finn Riggins: Benchwarmers [23.Jul.12]
The Offspring: Days Go By [28.Jun.12]
A Place to Bury Strangers: Worship [25.Jun.12]
Metric: Synthetica [12.Jun.12]
The Darcys: Aja [8.Jun.12]
Graham Coxon: A+E [2.May.12]
The Lucy Show: Remembrances [26.Mar.12]
The Diodes: Action/Reaction [22.Mar.12]
The Submarines: The Shoelaces EP [15.Mar.12]
Ceremony: Zoo [7.Mar.12]
The Maccabees: Given to the Wild [27.Feb.12]
Buildings: Melt Cry Sleep [24.Feb.12]
Spectrals: Bad Penny [7.Feb.12]
Kramies: The European [24.Jan.12]
Brett Anderson: Crash About to Happen [20.Jan.12]
Washed Out: Amor Fati EP [16.Jan.12]
U2: Achtung Baby (20th Anniversary Edition) [11.Nov.11]
Jane's Addiction: The Great Escape Artist [28.Oct.11]
Peter Gabriel: New Blood [20.Oct.11]
Brent Cash: How Strange It Seems [19.Oct.11]
Dum Dum Girls: Only in Dreams [28.Sep.11]
Hudson Mohawke: Satin Panthers [2.Sep.11]
Obits: Moody, Standard and Poor [19.Aug.11]
Umpire: Now We're Active [8.Aug.11]
R.E.M.: Lifes Rich Pageant (Deluxe Edition) [15.Jul.11]
Found: Factorycraft [29.Jun.11]
Wax Museums: Eye Times [27.Jun.11]
Davila 666: Tan Bajo [13.May.11]
The Wombats: This Modern Glitch [9.May.11]
Revolver: Parallel Lives EP [15.Apr.11]
Dum Dum Girls: He Gets Me High EP [7.Apr.11]
Loch Lomond: Little Me Will Start a Storm [1.Apr.11]
Tristeza: Paisajes [22.Mar.11]
R.E.M.: Collapse Into Now [7.Mar.11]
Pearl Jam: Live on Ten Legs [4.Mar.11]
Miko: Chandelier [17.Jan.11]
Weekend: Sports [3.Jan.11]
Various Artists: The Reconstruction of Fives [20.Dec.10]
Yazoo: Reconnected Live [3.Dec.10]
Suede: The Best of [1.Dec.10]
The Parting Gifts: Strychnine Dandelion [1.Dec.10]
Wow & Flutter: Equilibrio! [22.Nov.10]
The Beatles: 1962-1966 / 1967-1970 [25.Oct.10]
Blue Water White Death: Blue Water White Death [18.Oct.10]
Soundgarden: Telephantasm [15.Oct.10]
Chromeo: Business Casual [16.Sep.10]
Neverever: Angelic Swells [14.Sep.10]
Interpol: Interpol [9.Sep.10]
Gatorface: Wasted Monuments [17.Aug.10]
Rae Spoon: Love Is a Hunter [15.Aug.10]
Wild Beasts: iTunes Festival London 2010 EP [11.Aug.10]
Thieves Like Us: Again and Again [4.Aug.10]
Jamie Lidell: I Wanna Be Your Telephone EP [28.Jul.10]
The Method Actors: This Is Still It [30.Jun.10]
Monster Movie: Everyone Is a Ghost [17.Jun.10]
Wounded Lion: Wounded Lion [9.Jun.10]
Claps: New Science [7.Jun.10]
900x / Law of the Least Efforts / Casey Foubert/James McAlister - Library Catalog Music: Vol.1, 2, 3 [1.Jun.10]
Gospel Gossip: Drift [26.May.10]
Thrushes: Night Falls [26.May.10]
Lali Puna: Our Inventions [29.Apr.10]
Robin Guthrie: Sunflower Stories [23.Apr.10]
Slash: Slash [13.Apr.10]
Xiu Xiu: Dear God, I Hate Myself [22.Feb.10]
Peter Gabriel: Scratch My Back [16.Feb.10]
Elizabeth Fraser: Moses EP [2.Feb.10]
Githead: Landing [14.Dec.09]
Asobi Seksu: Rewolf [10.Nov.09]
Aerosol: Airborne [2.Nov.09]
Nouvelle Vague: 3 [30.Oct.09]
Hudson Mohawke: Butter [28.Oct.09]
Blogs
Thursday, February 14 2013
The Top 10 Cure Love Songs
From mournful laments to giddy, knees-up swoons and everything in between, in observance of Valentine's Day Sound Affects runs down the choice love songs from post-punk's most capable romantics.
Thursday, January 31 2013
10 Great Comeback Singles
The year 2013 is already setting itself out to be the Year of the Comeback. In acknowledgement, Sound Affects looks at ten fantastic returns by artists who had lost their mojo and/or been away for far too long.
Friday, December 14 2012
Paul McCartney Gets Heavy with Nirvana
On Wednesday, the former Beatle teamed up with the surviving members of Nirvana for charity and debuted a heavy Zeppelin-esque jam live on stage. Kurt Cobain would have been jealous.
Wednesday, December 5 2012
Ranking the Green Day Albums
With the last of three Green Day LPs due out this year arriving next week, Sound Affects takes a look back and ranks the long-lived California punk trio's previous studio efforts.
Thursday, November 8 2012
Five Songs That Would Make Great Bond Themes
With Skyfall hitting theaters in the United States tomorrow, Sound Affects spotlights five songs that in an ideal world would've played over the opening titles to the adventures of Britain's premier spy.
Our 5 Picks for the Rock Hall Class of 2013 (Sound Affects) [10.Oct.12]
This Year's Rock Hall of Fame Ballot Aims to Right Some Wrongs (Sound Affects) [4.Oct.12]
Nice Guys Finish Last: The Top 15 Green Day Songs (Sound Affects) [19.Sep.12]
Sugar - "If I Can't Change Your Mind" (1992) (Mixed Media) [27.Aug.12]
5 Great Bands (Spun Off from Other Great Bands) (Sound Affects) [8.Aug.12]
Knight Music: The Top 10 Batman Music Tracks (Sound Affects) [20.Jul.12]
Uno, Dos, Tre, and We're Off: Green Day - "Oh Love" (Mixed Media) [18.Jul.12]
The Top 10 Epic Smashing Pumpkins Tracks (Sound Affects) [14.Jun.12]
Death Disco: The (Death) Cult's Visit to "God's Zoo" (Sound Affects) [22.May.12]
10 Songs That Will Make You Love U2 (Sound Affects) [26.Jan.12]
AFI’s “Girl’s Not Grey”: One of the Best Rock Songs of the Past Decade? (Sound Affects) [19.Jan.12]
Snubbed!: Why the Cure Deserves to Be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Sound Affects) [13.Dec.11]
All That Glitters: Led Zeppelin - "When the Levee Breaks" (Sound Affects) [5.Dec.11]
All That Glitters: Led Zeppelin - "Going to California" (Sound Affects) [28.Nov.11]
All That Glitters: Led Zeppelin - "Four Sticks" (Sound Affects) [21.Nov.11]
All That Glitters: Led Zeppelin - "Misty Mountain Hop" (Sound Affects) [14.Nov.11]
All That Glitters: Led Zeppelin - "Stairway to Heaven" (Sound Affects) [7.Nov.11]
All That Glitters: Led Zeppelin - "The Battle of Evermore" (Sound Affects) [31.Oct.11]
All That Glitters: Led Zeppelin - "Rock and Roll" (Sound Affects) [25.Oct.11]
All That Glitters: Led Zeppelin - "Black Dog" (Sound Affects) [17.Oct.11]
10 Songs That Will Make You Love R.E.M. (Sound Affects) [28.Sep.11]
The End of R.E.M. (Sound Affects) [23.Sep.11]
The 10 Best Alternative Metal Singles of the 1990s (Sound Affects) [3.Aug.11]
Five Songs About Wizards, Witches, and Other Spellcasters (Sound Affects) [13.Jul.11]
The Top Five I.R.S.-Era R.E.M. Music Videos (Sound Affects) [7.Jul.11]
Retromania Vs. Innovation: An Interview with Simon Reynolds (Sound Affects) [27.Jun.11]
The 10 Best Nirvana Songs Ever (Sound Affects) [9.Jun.11]
AC/DC’s Anti-iTunes Stance and the Cult of the Album (Sound Affects) [17.May.11]
Tremble with a Sigh: Ride's 'Nowhere', Reissued (Sound Affects) [10.May.11]
Are You into Guilt?: Nirvana’s Great Lost Single (Sound Affects) [5.Apr.11]
The 2011 Great Guitar Solo Spotlight (Sound Affects) [9.Mar.11]
No Past Resignations: The First Two Foo Fighters Albums (Sound Affects) [3.Mar.11]
Let Me Be Rocked: Judas Priest's "Breaking the Law" (Sound Affects) [10.Feb.11]
1991: A Landmark Year for Rock Albums (Sound Affects) [4.Feb.11]
Arguing the Merits of Live's "All Over You" (Sound Affects) [20.Jan.11]
Groove Me: Looking Back at New Jack Swing (Sound Affects) [5.Jan.11]
The Beatles: 1962-1966 / 1967-1970 (Consuming Consumables) [14.Dec.10]
Your Ultimate Goth Anthem: The Sisters of Mercy's "Temple of Love" (Sound Affects) [26.Oct.10]
Dandy Pop Highwaymen: Adam and the Ants' "Stand and Deliver" (Sound Affects) [20.Oct.10]
Heroes in the Age of None: The Clash Rock Out with "Tommy Gun" (Sound Affects) [2.Sep.10]
Marcus Miller: Getting Funky with "My Best Friend's Girlfriend" (Sound Affects) [25.Jun.10]
Touched by the Hand of God: Paying Tribute to the Birth of New Order (Sound Affects) [10.Jun.10]
Atmosphere: The Image and Allure of Joy Division (Sound Affects) [28.May.10]
Walked in Line: The Musical Disciples of Joy Division (Sound Affects) [18.May.10]
Remembering Joy Division's Ian Curtis 30 Years Later (videos) (Mixed Media) [18.May.10]
Ronnie James Dio: Saying Goodbye to One of Metal's Greatest Voices (Sound Affects) [17.May.10]
"Love Will Tear Us Apart": The 30th Anniversary of Joy Division's Most Enduring Anthem (Sound Affects) [4.May.10]
Celebrating the Allure of the Almighty Riff (Sound Affects) [27.Apr.10]
Blur - "There's No Other Way" (Sound Affects) [22.Apr.10]
Answering Lady Gaga’s "Telephone" Call (Sound Affects) [2.Apr.10]
The Replacements: In Love with Alex Chilton’s Song (Sound Affects) [23.Mar.10]
Eric Avery Leaves Jane’s Addiction – Reprise (Sound Affects) [5.Mar.10]
Green Day - All About ‘Dookie’: “F.O.D.” and “All by Myself” (Sound Affects) [28.Feb.10]
Green Day - All About ‘Dookie’: “In the End” (Sound Affects) [12.Feb.10]
Green Day - All About ‘Dookie’: “Emenius Sleepus” (Sound Affects) [10.Feb.10]
Green Day - All About ‘Dookie’: “Coming Clean” (Sound Affects) [1.Feb.10]
Your Guide to the 2010 Grammy Nominees for Best Music Video (Sound Affects) [31.Jan.10]
Green Day - All About ‘Dookie’: “When I Come Around” (Sound Affects) [27.Jan.10]
Say Hello to the Popguns (Sound Affects) [22.Jan.10]
Green Day - All About ‘Dookie’: “Sassafras Roots” (Sound Affects) [13.Jan.10]
Green Day - All About ‘Dookie’: “She” (Sound Affects) [12.Jan.10]
Green Day - All About 'Dookie': "Basket Case" (Sound Affects) [30.Dec.09]
Green Day - All About ‘Dookie’: “Pulling Teeth” (Sound Affects) [18.Dec.09]
Green Day - All About ‘Dookie’: “Welcome to Paradise” (Sound Affects) [11.Dec.09]
Green Day - All About ‘Dookie’: “Longview” (Sound Affects) [4.Dec.09]
Green Day - All About 'Dookie': "Chump" (Sound Affects) [29.Nov.09]
Green Day - All About 'Dookie': "Having a Blast" (Sound Affects) [26.Nov.09]
Green Day - All About 'Dookie': "Burnout" (Sound Affects) [24.Nov.09]
Depeche Mode - "Master and Servant" (Sound Affects) [20.Nov.09]
"Bela Lugosi's Dead": 30 Years of Goth, Gloom, and Post-Post-Punk (Sound Affects) [31.Oct.09]
Ultravox - "Vienna" (Sound Affects) [29.Oct.09]
Sonic's Rendezvous Band - "City Slang" (Sound Affects) [28.Oct.09]
In Memoriam: Ian McCulloch’s Voice (Sound Affects) [15.Oct.09]
The Smashing Pumpkins - "Hello Kitty Kat" (Sound Affects) [11.Oct.09]
Some Highlights from the 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ballot (Sound Affects) [30.Sep.09]
The Beatles - "Dear Prudence" (Sound Affects) [23.Sep.09]
Kanye West: No Sign He'll Ever Learn Anything (Sound Affects) [18.Sep.09]
Courtney Love, Ex-Nirvana Members Blast 'Guitar Hero 5' Cobain Avatar (Sound Affects) [17.Sep.09]
Adorable - "Sunshine Smile" (Sound Affects) [15.Sep.09]
Ready for the World - "Oh Sheila" (Sound Affects) [10.Sep.09]
Hüsker Dü: New Day Rising (Sound Affects) [3.Sep.09]
Bad Lieutenant - "Sink or Swim" (Sound Affects) [1.Sep.09]
Noel Gallagher leaves Oasis. Again. (Sound Affects) [29.Aug.09]
Ye Shall Be Entertained, So Sayeth Queen (Sound Affects) [26.Aug.09]
