college rock 247. GREEN by R.E.M. Having just dropped off my older son to college, I've been thinking a lot about the bands and records that meant a lot to me during my freshman year at university. And, of course, one of the first albums to come to mind was 1988's Green. I can still picture
alternative 237. A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD by Coldplay I hadn't realized until recently that I haven't discussed a Coldplay record here. Thinking about why I came to the conclusion that I just don't listen to them much anymore - at least not much after their Viva La Vida album. I guess they went in one direction and I
goth rock 232. A COMFORTING NOTION - EP by Heartworms So I'm going to recommend you stop what you're doing (including reading this post!) and queue up this just released 2023 EP by UK musician Jojo Orme, who plays under the moniker Heartworms. This is one of those 'stumble upon' posts - that is I just stumbled upon this record
indie rock 228. CUTS AND BRUISES by Inhaler This foursome out of Dublin are just out with this 2023 record, their sophomore effort. Their trajectory has been exponential even with just two albums under their belts. Maybe this has to do with heartthrob lead singer / rhythm guitarist Elijah Hewson's lineage (his dad is Paul Hewson, aka Bono) or
alternative 225. LIFES RICH PAGEANT by R.E.M. Released in 1986, this fourth record by alternative rock band R.E.M (previously covered here) served as somewhat of a transition from their strictly college rock leanings to something more accessible by a wider audience. Lead singer Michael Stipe continues with his cryptic lyrics, but this time they are
indie rock 224. GULP! by Sports Team This 2022 sophomore effort from the UK's indie rock darlings Sports Team does more for me than their debut. I think there's more maturity and control in their writing and playing and, overall, less chaos than the first record. Additionally, the one thing that's guaranteed to pique my interest when
alternative 215. SIAMESE DREAM by Smashing Pumpkins For a short time during late 1992 and early 1993, Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan (previously discussed here) and producer Butch Vig (who had a hand in Nirvana's Nevermind) created a wall of sound in the form of this 1993 record rivaling that of renowned producer Phil Spector's work in the
alternative 210. HOT FUSS by The Killers This 2004 debut album by the Las Vegas natives catapulted them to superstardom on the heels of multiple hit singles and positive critical reviews. The combination of alternative rock vibes mixed with synth heavy grooves gave the record a sound unlike anything else at the time. Couple that with lead
power pop 209. GREEN ALBUM by Weezer Let me preface this by saying that I don't listen to much Weezer anymore. In fact, the only record of theirs I can stand to listen to is this 2001 self-titled one. (Side note - quite a few of their albums are self-titled and go by the color of the
indie rock 206. AM by Arctic Monkeys With all the buzz the last few days of a new Arctic Monkeys record due out in a couple of months, I thought it would be a good idea to cover their best selling album which probably also happens to be their most accessible to the casual fan. Hardcore followers
post punk 204. FLOWERS by Echo And The Bunnymen When one thinks of Echo & the Bunnymen, this 2001 record doesn't immediately come to mind. In fact, it probably doesn't even register on your radar. This is because it was released way past what is considered EATBM's heyday in the early to mid 1980's. It came out after lead singer
grunge 202. NEVERMIND by Nirvana There are several significant historical events that are burned into the psyche of Gen X'ers like myself in that we remember exactly where we were or what we were doing when news of said event broke. For example, the space shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986 and 9/11 in 2001
electropop 199. SURRENDER by Maggie Rogers Here is the long-awaited 2022 follow-up to indie/pop/alt musician Maggie Rogers' first record (previously covered here). She reportedly wrote upwards of 100 songs during the interval between debut and sophomore albums (which, of course, encompassed the pandemic), so hearing what she ended up culling from the collection is
noise pop 198. DARKLANDS by The Jesus and Mary Chain This 1987 record is the sophomore effort by The Jesus and Mary Chain. Whereas their debut album was considered a landmark in the noise pop genre that eventually lead the way to shoegaze, this album toned down the fuzz and distortion and ramped up the melody which, in my opinion,
indie 194. ACT I: ORIGINS by Young The Giant This indie/alternative band from SoCal (previously covered here) are back in 2022 with the first of a series of 4 EPs, this one called Origins. The idea is that all four of the EPs, once released, will encompass a full record titled American Bollywood. The goals here are lofty.
goth rock 193. DISINTEGRATION by The Cure I've set myself up for failure by picking this 1989 record by The Cure (previously covered here) to feature today. Why? Well, how does one choose just 3 to 5 songs off this absolute masterpiece to get the unenlightened started? Conversely, how will the diehard fans ever agree with my
college rock 183. I DO NOT WANT WHAT I HAVEN’T GOT by Sinead O’Connor Powerful. That's the only way to describe this 1990 record. The effect it had on me when it was released in the middle of my college years cannot be overstated. In fact, it is one of my all time favorite albums. I covered O'Connor's controversial position in the music industry
garage rock 171. FEAR OF THE DAWN by Jack White This is the first of two records White has planned for 2022. Today's more avant-garde album will be followed in July by one with slower, acoustic heavy tracks. In terms of Fear Of The Dawn, I don't like it. I don't dislike it either. It's just more of Jack White
indie 167. GEORGIA GOTHIC by Mattiel This 2022 record comes to us from Atlanta, Georgia-based duo Mattiel (named after singer Mattiel Brown). The album is a bit difficult to describe as the tracks span different sounds, from pop to country to blues to folk to even some rap (if defined loosely). Jack White was so impressed
folk punk 159. VIOLENT FEMMES (self-titled) This 1983 debut record by the Violent Femmes presents a dilemma just like several other previously covered debuts in that so many of the songs turned into hits that it's difficult to pick just a few to serve as an introduction to the band and the album. And, this is
alternative 146. BLUNDERBUSS by Jack White With the recent news that upholsterer extraordinaire [https://jackwhiteartanddesign.com/work/furniture-and-upholstery/third-man-upholstery-shop/] Jack White plans on releasing two solo records in 2022, I thought I’d take this opportunity to revisit his debut from 2012. This genre-bending record is alternative to its core, though it’s layered with folk,
alternative 145. NOTHING’S SHOCKING by Jane’s Addiction Landing at the time of hair metal, this 1988 record came out of left field and announced that Jane’s Addiction was not going to follow, but lead. And lead they did - with lead singer Perry Farrell’s wailing vocals and guitar prodigy Dave Navarro’s distortion heavy sound,
alternative 139. DEAD MAN’S POP by The Replacements This gets a bit complicated so bear with me. This 2019 box set includes a fully remixed version of the band’s 1989 record, “Don’t Tell A Soul” which, in this set, is referred to as “Don’t Tell A Soul Redux.” So, the record I’m really covering
singer songwriter 133. FUMBLING TOWARDS ECSTASY by Sarah McLachlan This 1993 record, McLachlan’s third, proved to be her commercial breakthrough despite the pervasive dark themes and generally melancholy arrangements (‘Ice Cream’ is the only upbeat track on the album). I was introduced to this record in medical school and it has stayed with me ever since, frequently revisited
alternative 127. SOBERISH by Liz Phair I wrote about Liz Phair’s third album here [https://auditorymusings.ghost.io/whitechocolatespaceegg-by-liz-phair/] and now I want to tell you about this 2021 record, her seventh. Writing from a more mature viewpoint that 50+ years of living life will bring, this is not going to be a rehash of
