The Effect of the Beatles’ White Album on 1988-1995’s US Alt-Rock Explosion
The Beatles’ White Album was the single biggest influence on US alternative rock as it burst into the mainstream in the late ’80s and early ’90s.
rock
Are Weezer’s Songs from the Black Hole the True ‘Pinkerton’?
Why won’t Weezer admit that the “embarrassing” unfinished Songs from the Black Hole rock opera are the rudiments of 1996’s (eventually) critically acclaimed ‘Pinkerton’?
How the Beach Boys Went Political in the Early ’70s
For a brief period in the early ’70s, the Beach Boys went political and gained relevance in the tumult of the “Me Decade”. If only it had lasted.
The ’80s Were No Fun: An Interview with Bob Mould
Bob Mould discusses being gay in the 1980s, the far-right threatening LGBTQ rights, his recent political LP Blue Hearts, and how he still has faith.
Is Billy Idol Still Vital?
Billy Idol’s string of pop-punk hits and unmistakable sneer propelled him to 1980s stardom. Idol sounds more mature than ever on the new EP The Roadside.
Elvis Costello Remakes His Classic ‘This Year’s Model’ in Spanish
Elvis Costello re-imagines his second album This Year’s Model by having Latinx rockers sing his classic songs on Spanish Model.
The Key of Joan: An Interview with Singer-Songwriter Joan Armatrading
The legendary Joan Armatrading discusses her 22nd album Consequences, her songwriting philosophy, and the 40th anniversary of MTV.
Be-Bop Deluxe’s ‘Live! in the Air Age’ Gets the Expanded Treatment
Everybody loves an excellent live album, don’t they? And Be Bop Deluxe’s Live! In the Air Age is one of the best.
U2’s Creative Fire from Inferno to Embers
U2 burned brightest from 1984’s The Unforgettable Fire to the ZooTv Tour’s end in 1993.
Manic Street Preachers Reckon with an Uncertain World on ‘The Ultra Vivid Lament’
Manic Street Preachers’ The Ultra Vivid Lament is as rich, melancholic, and intelligent as ever, but also riddled with doubts and anxieties.
Hell Yeah Rock Is a Regression to Childhood
Rock is id and pent-up aggression and instant gratification put in a blender on high. What pours out is arrested development made glorious.