In an uncharacteristic act of act of restraint, Ryan Adams has been relatively quiet on the new album front the past few years. He did put out that weird proto-metal record last year (Orion), but that somehow doesn’t count as a “Ryan Adams” album. The media is assuming the man has developed some kind of […]

[Read more →]

It’s often hard for me to believe it when bands say they have no direct influences on their sound. And when I recently spoke with The Joy Formidable’s bassist, Rhydian Daffyd, I heard a familiar refrain: “Sometimes we feel like we live in a bubble.” Yeah, yeah. Bands always hem and haw when asked to […]

[Read more →]

Despite The Foo Fighters’ semi-bland brand of stadium rock, I don’t mind the band’s energy and tightness one bit. Dave Grohl’s choice of covers over the years has been the hook that keeps me paying attention on any level. Seeing them perform as Roger Waters’ backing band on a classic Pink Floyd track for Jimmy […]

[Read more →]

The Cure has been nominated for induction into the joke that is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Kudos! Except, wait, Robert Smith is pissed about something. Evidently, The Cure’s “current” drummer was left off the name check list on the band’s bio at the official Hall of Fame site. In the Hall of […]

[Read more →]

With the pending 20th anniversary of Nirvana’s Nevermind, Fender has decided to cash in on the festivities by releasing an exact replica of Kurt Cobain’s 1965 Fender Jaguar. The replica comes complete with Cobain’s scuff marks and wear and tear. Besides the creepy factor, what surprises me most is that this hasn’t happened already. If […]

[Read more →]

Battles’ second LP, Gloss Drop, somehow seems to be achieving underrated status when it’s easily one of the best records of the year. Hammering that point home is the band’s new single “My Machines,” which features the one and only Gary Numan on vocals. This is an album highlight for me, as it’s one of […]

[Read more →]