A.A. Williams’ Vocals and Tragic Persona Shine Brightly
With Solstice, A.A. Williams cements her status as one of her generation’s transcendent singers and further develops her persona as the tragic shero.
hard rock
Foo Fighters’ New LP Shows Dave Grohl Needs to Go Solo
Foo Fighters’ Your Favorite Toy begs the question of why Dave Grohl opted to issue it as a band record when it could just as easily have been a solo album.
UltraBomb’s Punk Legends Deliver a Fiery, Fun Time
There aren’t enough great punk records coming out about the current hellscape, but UltraBomb’s latest is certainly one of them.
UltraBomb on Minnesota, Hard Rock, and Being Unapologetic
UltraBomb’s Greg Norton is unapologetic about his new LP, The Bridges that We Burn: “If you don’t like my politics, you can listen to Kid Rock.”
Nu Metal Anomalies Slipknot, System of a Down, and the Strange Math of Mass Appeal
Nu metal’s ecosystem in the 1990s allowed unexpected forms of extremity to break into mainstream success, and Slipknot and System of a Down exemplify that.
Detroit 1967: From Uprising to Amplification
The 1967 Detroit Uprising did not create the music that followed; it clarified it by stripping away ambiguity, making it harder to ignore what was already there.
Shinedown’s ‘Rock the Country’ Controversy Proves Nothing Is Safe from Politics
Years of kindness and calls for unity from a band like Shinedown, whose very name implies radiant light, warrant a thoughtful, rather than reactive, pause.
Thomas Raggi Rocks Out with ‘Masquerade’
Rebellion, the fuel that raises any artist from amateur to professional, is on full display for all the world to witness on Thomas Raggi’s new album.
Gen X’s Nostalgia for 1980s Music Is a Memory Problem
Gen X nostalgia for 1980s music like Starship’s “We Built This City” and Toto’s “Africa” is built on old forgotten words and ancient melodies – and faulty memory.
Ace Frehley Is Why I Love Music
Ace Frehley is the reason I love music. He is also the reason I was able to say goodbye, not just to him, but to a generation of heroes. I cherish it all.
Bad Company Tribute Brings Back Paul Rodgers
On this Bad Company tribute, Paul Rodgers guests on three different tracks, gently guiding younger artists in their efforts to find truth in his work.
Alice Cooper’s ‘Revenge’ Resurrects a Classic Rock Ensemble
Alice Cooper still possess artistry in spades. As their new album reveals, the band’s musical bond was too strong to be broken by time—or even by death.