Not enough people talk about Joy Division’s origin story. Sure, they released one of the most important albums of the 20th Century. But before that was a famed Sex Pistols show, a messy beginning, punk rock ethos, and a cascade of chance events that brought it all together. This is […]
One man gathers what another man spills. Welcome (or welcome back) to Vinyl Monday! This is my series where I give the who/what/when/where/why and how I feel about classic albums in my collection. This week is a little different: here’s an examination of the Grateful Dead in 1969, with my […]
Here it is: my definitive Top 15 rundown of the best albums (and Top 5 vinyl reissues) of 2025. It has been an absolute monster of a year for music: indie darlings dropping career-best records, legends roaring back with fire in their veins, surprise drops that shook the game, and […]
In 2025, a Radiohead song nearly 3 decades old hit the charts. But here’s the catch, back in 1997, Thom Yorke thought it “too pretty” to be on OK Computer, and it nearly tore the band apart. This is the story of “Let Down,” how it defined OK Computer, how […]
The Smiths’ explosive title track “The Queen Is Dead” traces its origins from an impromptu live ad-lib in 1985 to a ferocious six-minute studio masterpiece that opens their 1986 landmark album. Beginning with a subversive sample of a nostalgic World War I music-hall tune smashed by howling feedback and thunderous […]
It’s time to count down my top 25 most played vinyl records of 2025. Here’s the thing about vinyl—it’s not just about collecting pretty records; it’s about living with them, spinning them until the grooves tell your story. Every year I keep meticulous track of my plays, both all-time and […]
“Frankly, Mr. Shankly” is arguably The Smiths’ funniest song, not just on their 1986 masterpiece The Queen is Dead, but in their entire catalog. While the band is renowned for their sharp melancholy and poetic despair, this breezy, music-hall-inspired gem bursts through with pure cheeky comedy: a hilariously passive-aggressive resignation […]
From an incident where frontman Perry Farrell was caught stealing at 5 years old to the now iconic dog barking intro, Jane’s Addiction and their song “Been Caught Stealing” has a story that’s truly wild. Today we dive deep into the wild history behind this iconic song including its creation, […]
Ten years after his passing, it’s time to tackle the ultimate question: Does David Bowie still matter? The answer is a resounding “YES” as we take a look back at his life, music, and legacy in just 30 minutes. From his overlooked beginnings to achieving global icon status, we uncover […]
Before punk rock, there was proto punk. And today we’re looking at one of the earliest proto punk bands, The Sonics out of the Pacific Northwest. We’ll explore the origins of garage rock, The Sonics’ 1965 debut album Here Are The Sonics!!!, and now the band went on to influence […]
