Over the years, SideOneDummy has done a yeoman’s job of discovering an eclectic and brilliant collection of indie and punk musicians and bringing them to a larger audience. From Gogol Bordello and Flogging Molly to Gaslight Anthem and the Smith Street Band, the LA-based label has a helluva track record. Add West Virginia’s Rozwell Kid to the list.
Big Star were a tragically underrated band for their time and while they have finally clawed their way up to cult status, thanks in part to a deep love from a slew of influential musicians, sadly there is only one surviving original member of the band left. As this deep cuts-collection from a pre-Big Star Chris Bell shows, the talent was there long before the band was founded.
Simple Minds may best be remembered in this country for their song that played out across the screen during the final shot of The Breakfast Club, but the band has an exhaustively large cannon of music that pre-and post-dates that mid ‘80s gem. And while we may not have fully appreciated the depth of this Scottish band here in the U.S., folks in Europe still hail the band as musical…
There’s not a lot of people that can easily mix influences like Pearl Jam, Prince and Dr. Dre, but Ayron Jones has managed to pull it off impressively with his latest effort, “Audio Paint Job.”
Since the resurgence of vinyl records there seems to be a race to the bottom as labels everywhere cleaned out their vaults to put everything they own on wax in a cynical attempt to cash in on nostalgia. Just consider that some label thought it was a stroke of genius to put out a series of limited edition Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle 7” s (and it likely was as the…
The California punk rock four-piece Bad Cop/Bad Cop have been through a VH1’s Behind The Music’s-worth of living since their 2015 full length debut, Not Sorry. The band has had some amazing highs – turning in a nearly flawless record, touring the globe – and some equally bitter lows – a stint in rehab, thoughts of calling it a day – but they have emerged with another brilliant record and…
Bryan Adams is one of those musicians that just seems to have been around forever. It’s hard to think back to a decade when he wasn’t making music and he’s managed to revive his career countless times, all the while still having one of karaoke’s most go-to songs (“Summer of 69”). His latest live record, “Wembley Live 1996” holds more than a few hints at why he’s still touring today.
Founded by former Starlight Mints frontman Allan Vest and his wife Barb, doubleVee is just as quirky as you’d hoped they would be, based on his track record.
Venice, CA-based band The Dustbowl Revival roll deep; like Arcade Fire deep. But all eight members clearly serve a vital role as the band has managed to turn in one of the most exciting records in years regardless of genre by deftly mixing soul, Americana, swing, bluegrass and the funkiest brass heard outside of the French Quarter.
The likelihood of the full New Order line up getting back together is somewhere between another Replacements reunion (possible, but doubtful) and a Smiths Reunion (Morrissey is just as likely to start eating meat and showing a bit of humility). But this collection of live albums from Peter Hook, founding member of both New Order and their precursor, Joy Division, is bound to serve as some solace to lifelong fans…
It’s been a full decade since The Menzingers put out their debut and while each album since has drawn strong reviews from critics and praise from fans, listening back to that first couple of albums it’s still incredible to see how far this foursome from Scranton have come.
Tackling racism in America via documentary is certainly not a new thing, however directing Raoul Peck manages to put forth one of the most fascinating examples in recent memory.
X Japan may be the biggest band in the world you’ve never heard of. But this brilliant documentary does a fantastic job of making you care about them regardless.
The idea behind this books seems a mix of cynicism and the morbid – running a series of excerpts from rock star bios focusing entirely on their drug stories. In realty, if we’re being honest, it actually makes for a wildly entertaining read.
The bass-less trio, Date Night With Brian, make up for the missing instrument with solid drumming and a brilliant two guitar attack plan. The Seattle group combines a fantastic mix of classic ‘90s alt rocks influences (all the greats like Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth and Meat Puppets) with infectious hooks that keep the songs with you long after you’ve stopped listening.
Hite is the debut of a new band for Georgia native Julia Easterlin and it’s just as intriguing as her earlier efforts (most notable from her work with guitarist Vieux Farka Toure). This new project is a step away from her loop-heavy previous work. This collection finds her powerful voice floating above a quiet trance-like soundtrack for a strikingly powerful affect.
Tempe-based rockers the Gin Blossoms didn’t have a long run with their initial go round – just three albums before breaking up in 1997 – but man, two of those records are now rightly considered classics. UMe is finally putting out 1992’s “New Miserable Experience” and 1996’s “Congratulations, I’m Sorry” out on limited edition colored vinyl just in time for the 25th anniversary of the former.
In a stroke of genius, Pink Floyd Records has dug deep in the archives to pull out rare and oftentimes unreleased music and videos for this stunning Box Set. There are several of these sets that have just been released (including a massive 38 disc set) that chronicle the unpolished moments of one of the most enigmatic art bands to ever step into a recording studio.
“The Final Cut” came at a pivotal time for Pink Floyd. Though it was the band’s 12th album, it was the follow up to the wildly successful musical epic “The Wall.” It would also be the last studio album to feature founding member Roger Waters. Released in 1983, “The Final Cut” was another concept album for the band set against the backdrop of war. Though it failed to live up…
Before he uprooted his life and moved to Austin to make it as a musician, Lawrence Morrill Glass worked as a set designer in LA where he also had a hand in special effects, working on movies and TV ads. I have no idea how good he was at his last job, but if “Neanderthal” is a promise of things to come, he clearly made the right move becoming a…