With the stateside release of Control nearly here and word of a Jon Savage Joy Division “documentary” on its way, it’s worth checking out this short documentary from 1988, which includes interviews with New Order, Rob Gretton, Tony Wilson, Alan Erasmus and Paul Morley. (part I,part II ) “I think what has happened now is […]

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I am usually keen on Slate’s perspective on news, sports, politics, culture and such, so I was bemused when contributor Taylor Clark spent 1300 words inexplicably raving about how cool Portland, Ore., is. Clark name drops residents Isaac Brock, James Mercer, Stephen Malkmus, Elliott Smith, Janet Weiss, Britt Daniel, Colin Meloy, Chris Walla, Johnny Marr, […]

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Kanye West needs to be cockslapped for being such a whiny little bitch. His new record is ass. Who wants to listen to him warble awkwardly over a “sample” of someone else’s entire song? And yet he has the gall to complain about not winning awards at an MTV function? “That’s two years in a […]

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In pathetic reunion news, a very loose quotes version of the “Misfits” is kicking off a special anniversary tour. And by special, I mean shitty. This incarnation of the band features only one original member, bassist Jerry Only backed by former Black Flag members Dez Cadena and Robo. Erstwhile vocalist, Glenn Danzig, must have lost an […]

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As bad as rock stars seem to be at living, some simply refuse to die. And in the same report that, uhh, brilliantly concluded that rock stars are more likely to choke on their own vomit than, say, normal folks, it is also duly noted that since 1980: “…the number of pop stars who die within […]

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In the mid-90’s, britpop turned grunge on its ear. Well, in England, anyway. The Oasis vs. Blur war was unfairly represented by the press as a battle between the lager-swilling good ole boys of the working class vs. the arsty and effete privileged lads. Well, it is true on some level that Oasis appeals to the lowest common denominator, while Blur requires […]

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Alan McGee postulates in the Guardian why Echo & the Bunnymen are ever the bridesmaids of rock. I think he nails it pretty well. After the orchestral majesty of Ocean Rain, the band simply dried up creatively. It really took three years to follow-up that masterpiece with an utterly deflated, self-titled throwaway? Even still, “Lips […]

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