[Sorry I was unable to write a new “Polarity” this week, but it should be returning next time. This is a piece I wrote recently in honor of the start of another National Hockey League season last night, and my inability to not connect it with music in some way. If you have any other suggestions on top of my five, hit me with them in the comments!] John Buccigross, hockey analyst for ESPN, is…
I’ve given entirely too much thought to the following issue, something that will become abundantly clear as you read this. It seems that while most publications want to name the best of the decade, few – if any – of them want to address a matter of equal (if not more) importance: the album that most defines the decade. Thus the genesis behind this column. Andrew W.K.’s I Get Wet is that defining album. Not…
The other day, I was introduced – via the excellent Kieron Gillen – to a short-lived internet boycott of the Fox Corporation’s various outlets in response to Fox News’ distortion of reality amid the American health service hoopla. All this amounted to for me was a much-needed deletion of my Myspace account, which was useless and rubbish in equal measures. Which actually applies to Myspace as a whole: whatever appeal it held as a social…
Album name: The Great Disruptors EP Artist name: Sweethead Genre: Rock Released: July 13 2009 Label: Strange Addiction ZME Rating: 8/10 Website: sweethead.net With PJ Harvey taking various detours away from her intelli-punk rock of old, Brody Dalle’s Spinerette sounding less like the Distillers than a slightly more modern No Doubt, and Courtney Love continuing to disappear into a putrid puddle of confused irrelevance, there’s a gaping hole in the rock industry, just waiting for…
I think at one point or another, we’ve all wondered what would happen if you took two parts Van Halen, mixed in one part Red Hot Chili Peppers, spiced it up with a little Joe Satriani, and then settled on the most confusingly wrongheaded band name ever (and if you haven’t, what’s wrong with you, guy?!?!) So it’s with a mixture of joy and insomnia-induced hysteria that I present to you this band: Chickenfoot. Joe…
Photo by Kai-Otto Melau A rare and recent media engagement from Wolfmother frontman Andrew Stockdale has brought news of a second album. With their eyes set on a September release, the recently reformed Australian outfit has reportedly been laying down tracks in a L.A. studio, with three new members to replace Chris Moss and Myles Heskett. And a bit of respect must be given to the singer. For so long the lone wolf , he…
What if you were told that there was a slim chance that Soundgarden might reform? Or if Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron and Ben Shepherd actually got up on stage in Seattle earlier this week at a Tom Morello solo show? Well, as reported by Reverb (the Seattle Weekly music blog), what would “probably not happen” according to Chris Cornell in 2005, became a reality at The Crocodile Café last Tuesday evening. It was the trio’s…
If you happen to hear the sounds of a million and three alternative fans whooping and hollering in delight over the next few months, it’s probably something to with the Nine Inch Nails/Jane’s Addiction/Street Sweeper tour that’s sweeping the globe this year. Which, surprisingly, we haven’t covered even once – feel free to slap us about the gums for that oversight, readers! But! We do have important news and gifts to make up for it!…
One of my very favourite things I’ve seen on Youtube over the years was Mike Patton, giving an interview at Lollapalooza. He talks about his upcoming projects – some Italian music, and probably a record consisting solely of him gurgling on some turps, while jabbing a violin into some children’s eyes (although he neglects to mention that one) – before getting distracted by the strains of Wolfmother playing on a stage nearby. He administers a…
Last year I was really sad to hear Wolfmother more or less broke up, since the ’70s-reminiscent hard rock trio became a one man show, after the bassist and drummer left, leaving frontman Andew Stockdale to himself. Well, after some time now, Andrew kept word to his promise and reformed the band under a new lineup – this time as a four piece. Last night, the band played a secret show under the name White…
Tyler Sonic
Steve Lampiris
Al Byrne
Conor O' Brien
Tibi Puiu