May 09, 2022 By Austin Saalman

Behind Southern California’s “orange curtain,” the youthful inhabitants of Orange County’s suburban blocks were no less partial to the spell of punk rock ennui than were their neighbors in San Diego and Los Angeles. From within this temperate tranquility of sun, surf, and straight-laced American living, underrated alt rock outfit Something Corporate emerged with its sophomore album and major-label debut Leaving Through the Window—a warm concoction of guitar-heavy pop-punk and emotive piano rock, charmingly complemented by frontman Andrew McMahon’s naive boy-next-door lyrical sensitivity. More

May 09, 2022 By Austin Saalman

In his twilight, late Los Angeles singer/songwriter Warren Zevon had come to grips with many of the demons which had plagued him throughout much of his nearly 40-year career. A very public battle with addiction, a notorious reputation for being difficult and unpredictable, and frequent commercial failure in the aftermath of his 1978-released breakthrough album Excitable Boy ultimately reduced the artist to a cult act, performing in the shadows of his better-known friends and advocates Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, and Eagles. More

May 04, 2022 By Austin Saalman

By 1982, highly influential English rockers The Cure’s collective wellbeing had entered into a state of disrepair, with each member seemingly engulfed in his own personal Hell. From drug abuse and mental illness to financial struggles and group in-fighting, hard times had befallen the band, leading it to explore far darker themes on its fourth album. More

May 02, 2022 By Austin Saalman

What exactly is The Polyphonic Spree? Over the years, speculation has surrounded the Dallas-founded robed choral ensemble led by ex-Tripping Daisy frontman Tim DeLaughter. Some will claim that The Polyphonic Spree is a way of life and state of mind, others that the organization is some sort of commune or cult. In reality, however, The Polyphonic Spree is a revolving door of skilled musicians with whom DeLaughter collaborates in developing utterly enchanting paisley-patterned neo-psychedelic prog pop hymns as few others can. More

May 02, 2022 By Austin Saalman

Continuing the foray into rock begun on 1971’s Givin’ It Back, The Isley Brothers’ 10th studio album Brother, Brother, Brother serves as yet another advancement in the Cincinnati-founded R&B/soul outfit’s signature sound, which carried it to superstardom on the following year’s 3+3. Though understated and restrained in comparison to their more bombastic masterworks, Brother, Brother, Brother is an important Isley Brothers release, its crisp Midwestern soul backbone providing ample support for the group’s more ambitious rock and funk aspirations. More

May 02, 2022 By Austin Saalman

Underrated Los Angeles rock group Little Feat’s sophomore release Sailin’ Shoes stands among the finest of its decade. With a lineup including Roy Estrada and the late Lowell George—both former members of Frank Zappa’s legendary freak rock outfit The Mothers of Invention—the group continued its unique fusion of rock, country, blues, R&B, and jazz, Estrada and George incorporating the unconventional sonic techniques they had contributed to the Mothers the previous decade. More

Apr 27, 2022 By Austin Saalman

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ seventh album Henry’s Dream, despite its polarized fan reception and Cave’s own vocal disapproval of its production value, is a misunderstood masterpiece, remaining a significant transitional release for the group. The album, which saw Cave and his band officially leaning into the rusted phantasmagoria explored further on the subsequent Let Love In and Murder Ballads, boasts several of their finest tracks and introduced the influential post-punk outfit to a wider American audience. More

Apr 01, 2022 By Austin Saalman

By 2005, rock and roll had since breathed its final breath. Gone were the days of golden gods and spiders from Mars. Kurt Cobain was dead, The Smashing Pumpkins had since disbanded, and Bob Dylan was performing in Victoria’s Secret ads. The bleak reality, we feared, had at last settled in: no longer would we rock. In those frosty Bush-era dawns, the disheartened listener could only place their faith in the hands of fate, trusting that the tides would eventually turn and a revelation would appear from above. More

Apr 01, 2022 By Austin Saalman

Singer/songwriter Jim Croce’s third album, You Don’t Mess Around with Jim, also served as his commercial breakthrough, launching the formerly obscure guitarist from the shadowy confines of dimly lit New York clubs to the stage of American Bandstand, where he performed the record’s title track, his song soon peaking at #8 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. More