Alternative Rock Nostalgia Buzz

Forgotten Songs of the ‘80s: Suicidal Tendencies It was around 1988 and Suicidal Tendencies were just starting their transformation from a flat-out hardcore punk band to a punk band merging their earlier influences with metal and by that I mean speed metal. This new sounding ST made their debut with 1988’s How Will I Laugh Tomorrow…When I Can’t Even Smile Today . On that record was one of their best forays into the new sound: “Trip at the Brain.” Kicking off with an excellent riff by the always amazing Rocky George, the rest of the band speeds up behind him and Mike Muir comes in with lyrics about drug abuse that really spoke of the times. But as the song goes on, the tempo gets quicker and things start to go rushing by you. As drummer R.J. Herrera and short-lived bassist Bob Heathcote get things kicking down, Mike’s lyrics become quicker and the band begin racing through it all as fast as they can and it all sounds excellent. The band’s speed here is amazing but this song and every ot...

Forgotten Songs of the ‘90s: House of Love While there are some bands that suffer from a lack of material and time, there are some that suffer from an overabundance of both and that can cause a lot of confusion among consumers and also can result in a lot of great songs being lost in the cracks. One of the best examples of this is the House of Love’s 1990 gem “Beatles and the Stones.” The House of Love were a British alt-rock band in a time when Britain was obsessed with dance bands like New Order and Happy Mondays. As a result of basically not enough attention, the band released more than enough singles to keep their fans satisfied. By the time of “Beatles and the Stones’” release in 1990, the band had already released about eight singles and one full-length. The fact that the second album was self-titled as well as the first one caused some fans and critics confusion so in the U.S., the album is referred to as Fontana . In the U.S., their label kept trying to push them throug...

Forgotten Album of the Month: Suicide Machines When Suicide Machines’ major-label debut, Destruction by Definition was released in 1996, it was a gigantic slap in the face to all of the ‘punk’ that was out at the moment. By going back and doing things so quickly and efficiently, the band was able to prove to people that you could still play loud, fast, aggressive punk and it can reach an audience. Opening with the furious double assault of “New Girl” and “S.O.S.,” the band immediately made an impression with how fast and quick the material was. Even better, the melodies were all there and it didn’t matter if you weren’t into punk because you could hear how melodic and powerful the songs were even through the screaming. One of the record and the band’s greatest strengths was drummer Derek Grant; before he toned his style down to suit the music of his new band Alkaline Trio, Grant was an absolute powerhouse who could pound the shit out of everything around him but yet still bring it bac...

Forgotten Songs of the 21st Century: Safetysuit Some songs are bound for greatness but others, while great are destined to slip through the cracks. Such is the case of Safetysuit and their debut single “Someone Like You.” Released in the summer of 2008, the song is pure pop-rock from the ‘90s in the same vein as Gin Blossoms or even early this century with Vertical Horizon. Starting off with a great riff and an excellent hook, the song rises and falls with the vocals of Doug Brown but man does it work well. When the chorus comes crashing down on you, it rings around your head like only a perfect pop song can and for days on end, you will have the hook and the refrain and everything lobbed in your memory unable to jam it out. The song came out but was almost unheard at mainstream rock radio. I can recall in the summer of 2008, they played the 96XFest in Norfolk, VA and were at the bottom of the bill; playing above them: Carolina Liar, whose music is tailor-made for the Gap and Kohl’s an...

Forgotten Songs of the 21st Century: Snow Patrol While everyone thinks about “Chasing Cars,” one of Snow Patrol’s best songs was one released before they became super famous because of “Grey’s Anatomy.” “Run” was released in 2003 on what was expected to be their last album, Final Straw . While of course the band didn’t break up afterwards, the marginal success of “Run” was one of the things that kept them going. The first single off the record, “Spitting Games” wasn’t very interesting but it served to pique the interest of American listeners. When “Run” was released in late ’03, the band didn’t really expect much but once one hears the song, they can’t help but be swept away by its majestic beauty. The song starts off kind of slow but then when Gary’s voice comes in in a sweeping, hushed tone, everything becomes clear that this is a song to remember. By the time the chorus comes in, you’re so swept up in the whole thing that you realize that the song is never going to leave your memory...

Forgotten Songs of the ‘90s: 311 When 311 released Transistor in 1997, it was not as warmly received as its predecessor, 1995’s self-titled disc, but contained on the disc was one of the best songs 311 had ever written: “Prisoner.” Once the song starts, it immediately sweeps you in with a loop that swirls around and piques your interest. Then Nick Hexum begins singing and you can tell that it’s going to be one of the most mellow songs of their entire career and that’s exactly what you get. But that doesn’t mean the song isn’t as good as other 311 songs, rather it’s better because it allows the band to explore a different aspect of their sound that isn’t heard that often. The song has a swirling effect that lasts long after the song’s over and the lyrics, particularly in the coda will stick with you forever. It’s hard to understand why the song didn’t become a massive hit along the lines of “Amber” or “Down,” maybe it’s because the song was a bit slower than what people were used to fr...

Forgotten Album of the Month: Soul Asylum Everybody knows Soul Asylum now but back in 1988, they were just another struggling punk band out of the Midwest who had just stepped into the big time by signing with A&M. When they released their major-label debut and their fourth record overall, Hang Time , there were big hopes for the record and for the band and unfortunately, those hopes were dashed as the record fell into the deepest obscurity any rock record of the ‘80s could. Fortunately though, the record has been rediscovered over the years and people have realized how great they were before “Runaway Train.” The record starts off with “Down on Up to Me” and one of the best opening riffs in recent rock history, with crunch and power behind it, the album begins and immediately one is taken with how catchy it is while being almost devoured by a wall of noise. One of the best songs the band has ever written, “Cartoon” almost stops the record cold with the power and feeling and emotion...

Forgotten Songs of the 21st Century: Chevelle Chevelle released Vena Sera in 2007 and radio jumped all over the first single, “Well Enough Alone,” then cooled a bit on the follow-up, “I Get It” mainly because it had a softer beat and had a bit of a dance feel to it. But when the third single, “The Fad” was released, it hit with all the impact of a rock hitting a pillow. It’s amazing to believe that happened because without a doubt, “The Fad” is probably the best song the band have ever written. Kicking off with the traditional Chevelle riff, the song then dissolves into a pounding, heavy rock track about watching the future of the music industry and basically the future of entertainment in general. The message is excellent and the way the band delivers it makes it all the more compelling. By the time it gets to the chorus, the band is just playing for its life and it results in the hardest and loudest they’ve ever been. But I guess it just wasn’t enough for radio to pay attention to i...

Forgotten Songs of the ‘80s: Dangerous Toys When Dangerous Toys released their self-titled debut in 1989, the band were viewed quite differently than other hair-metal bands, mostly because of Jason McMaster’s voice which sounded like Janis Joplin if she gargled with blood. The best song of the band’s career is “Scared,” which has always been one of my favorites even when I first heard it. The song is supposed to be a tribute to Alice Cooper but the video is more of a tribute than the song because the song is like a power ballad but with balls and electric guitars instead of acoustic. I had forgotten about the song for years until the advent of VH1 Classic which played the video quite a lot and allowed me to remember a song from my youth I had wanted to hear again but had no way to. The song still sounds as good as it did in 1989 and the guitars still come straight at you like it was yesterday. While not everything else on the record stands up like “Scared,” that’s what you expect from ...

Forgotten Songs of the ‘90s: Flight 16 Back in 1998, there were many, many bands trying to hop onto the dying grunge bandwagon, many of them became almost as famous as the bands they were imitating: Creed, Nickelback and Matchbox Twenty while others just withered and faded away: Big Wreck, Athanaeum and the English band Flight 16. Flight 16 were trying to be like Pearl Jam or STP but couldn’t pull it off; the fact that they aren’t even remembered today isn’t really that much of a shame. But there is one thing that should be remembered: one song from their self-titled 1998 debut, “If All the World Hated Me.” While some people may say that the song is derivative and non-original, to me there’s no denying the power of the opening riff and the power that drives the song. Hearing the song for the first time eleven years after it was first released, you know it came from the nineties because it sounds the same as all the alt-rock songs of the decade. But it still sounds so good and interesti...

Forgotten Album of the Month: Saigon Kick From the opening of "New World", one is fully aware that they are listening to a different brand of hair metal. While most people will remember Saigon Kick fully for their hit ballad "Love Is On The Way", the band's self-titled debut is the place to start. This is where Saigon Kick started to develop the sound that they became best known for.While their sophomore album The Lizard is decent as well, it relies too heavily on gimmicks, including loopy instrumentals and sentimental ballads to gain sales. This album has none of that and succeeds in just about everything it tries.Matt Kramer's lyrics, which can veer from serious ("Coming Home" and "Down By The Ocean") to quite silly ("What Do You Do") help to serve the album in more ways than one. The music is eclectic as hell but again, it's only more of a drawing point for the band. And let's not forget the songs, most of which stil...

Material Issue were one of the best, most underrated bands of the last twenty years. The powerful songwriting of singer Jim Ellison helped the band leap years beyond the rest of the pack. Songs like "Everything" and the immortal "Valerie Loves Me" will live on in music lovers' hearts forever. Tragically, Jim committed suicide in June of 1996 and the band split soon afterwards. Their story is a warning for all bands that are dedicated to their music and will let nothing stop them from creating. On the brighter side, the music will forever live on. The following is an interview I did with drummer Mike Zelenko. Read and reminisce! When did you first become interested in music? i got into rock when i saw KISS on TV, i was like 8 yrs old. i got into music in high school when i discovered the Beatles like Junior year. When did you first get together with Ted and Jim? Jim answered an ad i had in the Illinois Entertainer for "drummer looking for band". He call...

Forgotten Songs of the ‘80s: Single Bullet Theory One of the coolest bands to ever come out of Virginia, Single Bullet Theory formed in Richmond, not Norfolk as has been stated in several books. But over the last few years, a small cult following has been building because of the music and in particular, 1982’s “Keep It Tight.” The song is bouncy as hell and though typical of new wave around that time, still sounds great today. That’s a testament to the production and the power of the music, with the band sounding incredibly strong but relaxed. The vocals of Michael Garrett carry the song to its highest point and never drops. The keyboards sound like the organist at a baseball game but help the song to remain bouncy and upbeat. The song never got the full push it totally deserved and only peaked in the seventies on the national singles chart but over the years, the song’s reputation has grown considerably. Upon hearing the song for the first time, people are usually considerably surpris...

Forgotten Songs of the ‘90s: Howlin’ Maggie When one thinks about Howlin’ Maggie, if one thinks of them at all, it’s hard to remember exactly what song they released in 1996. But if one does some looking, they’ll find a song with perhaps one of the coolest titles of the decade: “I’m a Slut.” Kicking off with the immortal opening line “I’m a slut, that’s why you love me, that’s why you hate me to,” the song immediately sticks out from the rest of the alt-rock pack of ’96. The reason why it’s so different is because of the groove that rides throughout. The keyboards and vocals of Harold Chichester are memorable and help the song ride the waves. The rest of the band click and never let go of the groove and flow and bring the song to its crescendo about midway through when the band comes crashing together in what basically amounts to a breakdown of sound. When it all happens, it takes the song to a different groove but one just as good. It’s a shame that the song got ignored, maybe it may ...

Forgotten Album of the Month: Tad Tad are one of the most underrated bands of the whole grunge scene and that’s saying a lot because there were a ton of bands in that same predicament. But Tad were different because not only did they have the sound and the power but they also had the lyrical ability to back up the sound. It’s all clearly demonstrated best on 1991’s 8-Way Santa . The album was produced by Butch Vig, before Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins and he does an amazing job here. The sound is phenomenal and even the weak tracks still hold up almost twenty years later. While Tad Doyle’s vocals are a bit rough and wouldn’t sound totally together until 1993’s Inhaler, you have to give him props because he’s singing with all of his power and it’s only making the songs that much stronger. While songs like “Jinx,” “Giant Killer” and “Flame Tavern” get the blood flowing and the head throbbing, it’s gems like “Jack Pepsi,” which later got the band in a heap of legal problems as well as “3...

Nowadays, David Barbe has become a well-known producer working with artists including R.E.M., Vic Chesnutt and Drive-By Truckers. But back in the mid '90s, he was the bassist for Sugar, a loud, driving alt-rock band fronted by the legendary Bob Mould. Sugar were not around long but in their brief lifetime, they created music that has stood the test of time and is only now beginning to be rediscovered by artists and fans alike. Recently, David took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions. When did you first become interested in music? My parents were both musicians, so it was always in my life. Loved it as far back as I can remember When did Mercyland come together and how was that experience like? Mercyland got going in 1985. I had been in other bands, but none that I thought were really anything special. I knew the other guys from other local bands and kind of bided my time until they were available. The Mercyland album 'Spillage' has some pretty lengthy li...

Forgotten Songs of the ‘80s: The Smithereens The Smithereens are one of the greatest rock/pop bands of the last thirty years and it’s only been recently that they’ve gotten the credit and recognition they fully deserve. The band have been going strong for just about thirty years now and are still kicking as much ass as they did back in their heyday. One of their strongest and least played songs came off their debut album. When Especially for You came out in 1985, it took some time for the band to gather steam but once people heard “Blood & Roses,” everything clicked and from there, the band began to grow with each successive record until hitting their sales peak with 1989’s 11 and their commercial peak with 1991’s Blow Up . But one song off Especially for You became one of the best-known songs while still getting the least amount of play: “In A Lonely Place.” The song gets off to an amazing start with an intro courtesy of dynamo drummer Dennis Diken, then dissolves into a bossa no...

No one expected swing music to make a comeback, especially in the 90's but bands like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Cherry Poppin' Daddies and The Brian Setzer Orchestra proved it could be popular again, at least for a time. One band however, North Carolina's Squirrel Nut Zippers stood above and beyond the rest with their freaked-out sound and interesting take on melody. The band is most known for the 1997 smash "Hell" written by guitarist/co-vocalist Tom Maxwell. As interviewed here, no one had any idea it would go so bad so soon. When did you first become interested in music? At the age of eleven. That's when I got turned on to my older brother's Beatles records, which were revelatory, and started learning how to play the alto saxophone. When did the Squirrel Nut Zippers get started and was there much of a scene to support you when you got started? The Zips formed in the spring of 1993, and I joined in January of '94. There was a very supportive scene--but n...

Forgotten Songs of the ‘90s: Earth to Andy You may have noticed by now that there are more forgotten songs from the ‘90s than in any other decade listed on this blog. That’s because, to me, the ‘90s were the best time for music and a time when the record labels released so many albums that more than a few were bound to be forgotten. In 1999, Giant Records signed Earth To Andy, out of Charlottesville, VA and positioned them to be one of the great white hopes for rock music. They definitely had their chance but the label didn’t push as hard as they should have so now I am trying to rectify that situation by trying to introduce people to the music. “Still After You,” the first single from their major-label debut Chronicle Kings is one of the loudest and coolest rock songs of the last half of the decade. The song kicks off with one of the greatest guitar licks of the century and it just goes from there. When frontman Andy Waldeck comes in with a gravelly tone, you know it’s on. The rhythm...

Forgotten Album of the Month: Infectious Grooves Infectious Grooves will always be known as the kid brother of Suicidal Tendencies but that’s not the way it should be. Infectious should be looked upon as their own separate entity and with the release of 1994’s landmark Groove Family Cyco , this will be entered as the first piece of evidence. The major thing to talk about when mentioning Groove Family Cyco is the rhythm section: Robert Trujillo, also pulling double duty in Suicidal and a teenage Brooks Wackerman, years before he joined Bad Religion. At the time of recording, he was about 16 or 17; once hearing the record, it’s impossible to think that Trujillo had played with any other drummer, the two are in the pocket the whole time and never let up. From the very beginning, with “Violent & Funky,” inexplicably edited when the rest of the record isn’t, the band is at the top of their power and also picking up the weaknesses from the previous albums and strengthens them. Gone fro...

Songs from the Request Line: Thousand Foot Krutch And now something for the big man: Thousand Foot Krutch are a Christian rock band that straddles the line between full on devotion and full out rock. On one of their finest songs, “Phenomenon,” the band throws it out there in a way that catches the listener and allows them to think about a lot of things. Starting off with a miniscule rhythm usually heard in ‘90s alt-rock, the band settle into a pounding groove and never let up. What’s striking about the song is the message that comes along in the chorus, where the ‘phenomenon’ being mentioned is about Jesus and everybody gathering and spreading the word. But they talk about it in a way that’s easy for everyone to understand. Ultimately, one could view Thousand Foot Krutch as just another spoke in the gears of Christian rock bands trying to cross over to a mainstream audience. But TFK were able to stand out and make something different and as a result, people still enjoy the music and th...

Forgotten Songs of the ‘70s: Harry Chapin Most people remember Harry Chapin for his humanitarian efforts and for having two major hits, “Taxi” and “Cat’s in the Cradle.” But Chapin’s best songs are completely forgotten. For his second album, Sniper and Other Love Songs , he dove into recent history to create a nearly ten-minute ‘story song’ about a crazed shooter from Texas. His name was Charles Whitman. Whitman was a University of Texas student who suffered from severe mental difficulties and one day in 1967, he climbed to the top of the University’s clock tower and started shooting people on the ground. By the time the police took him out, he’d killed 15 people and injured many more. If one is not familiar about the case, Harry Chapin decided to take it upon himself to tell the story, but to cloak it to where he didn’t drop Whitman’s name but it’s a story a lot of people now can clearly relate to. In a sick way, Whitman was one of the first of the ‘school shooters’ which became so pr...

Forgotten Songs of the ‘90s: fIREHOSE When fIREHOSE released their fourth album and major-label debut, Flyin’ the Flannel in 1991, the record was a largely scattershot affair. One song, however, stood out from the rest of the pack and remains one of the band’s best and undiscovered songs: a cover of Daniel Johnston’s “Walking The Cow.” The song is basic in its approach, led by the always superb bass playing of Mike Watt with minimal but excellent guitar from Ed Crawford and restrained drumming courtesy of George Hurley. The song’s big draw is Mike’s vocals which take on an approach that had not been heard in quite a while from him. The song is typical of most Daniel Johnston songs but fIREHOSE takes it up a notch; by adding more instruments to the mix and taking the vocals down, the song is able to see its full potential. The otherwise unseen video for the song is along the same lines, very beautiful, kind of creepy but straight to the point. There’s a kid walking through lush fields ...

Forgotten Songs of the ‘90s: emmet swimming Coming out of Arlington, VA, emmet swimming were just a blip on the radar of modern rock in the mid ‘90s, but their moment in the spotlight, 1996’s “Arlington” would go down as one of the most underrated songs of the whole decade. Kicking off with a springy riff, the band kicks in and bounces around like a mini-polka, but without the accordion and such. The music is just swingin’ and then frontman Todd Watts comes in. It takes some getting used to his voice at first, it’s like Brad Roberts of Crash Test Dummies singing with electricity behind him but once one does, it’s the only voice any one could imagine singing the song. The song talks about being a band in Arlington and watching as all the hipsters and industry people weasel their way in to sign the ‘next big thing.’ The only unfortunate thing about the track is that before you know it, the song’s over and you’re left humming the song forever. For the longest time, I wasn’t sure who the a...

Forgotten Album of the Month: Death Angel When the San Francisco-Philippine thrash band Death Angel released their third and first major-label release, Act III in the spring of 1990, it was just one of a slew of great thrash albums out that year from the likes of, Testament, Slayer, Megadeth, Exodus, Anthrax, Suicidal Tendencies, Pantera and others. But one listen to the album blew away any preconceived notions of what this band was capable of and changed the face of thrash forever. The album kicks off with “Seemingly Endless Time” and the sound of waves crashing on a beach. But then drummer Andy Galeon comes in and blows the roof up with the sheer ferocity and power of his drumming. Speeding along, the rest of the band, guitarists Rob Castevany and Gus Pepa, bassist Dennis Pepa and vocalist Mark Osegueda join in and the shit is going down. One listen to just that one song and any metal head will be instantly hooked. What makes the song and the whole album that much more amazing is t...

Bin of Rock: Mary’s Danish If ever there was a band that was cursed with bad luck, it would’ve been Mary’s Danish. Formed in L.A. in 1987, the six piece rock band with two female vocalists immediately started grabbing attention for their genre-bending sound. Managing to mix in funk, soul, rock, blues and punk together in a tasty little dish, the band began attracting major label attention. Having a guitarist, Louis Gutierrez from The Three O’Clock and friends in the Red Hot Chili Peppers didn’t hurt either. Soon the band had signed a deal with Chameleon Records, a subsidiary of Elektra Records. They soon entered the studio and began working on their debut album; There Goes the Wondertruck was released in the fall of 1989 and the band immediately exploded on alternative radio with “Don’t Crash the Car Tonight.” The band were enjoying the fruits of their labor and everything seemed to be paying off for them. But they were soon stuck in a quandary that also struck Dramarama; they were on ...

Forgotten Songs of the ‘60s: Love Love is one of the most underrated rock bands of all time. Not only were they one of the first rock bands led by a black man, but they were also one of the first signed to a major label and one of the first to dabble in psychedelia. Arthur Lee and his cohorts had many highs and lows throughout the decade, including one of the decade’s most influential records, 1967’s Forever Changes . But by the end of the decade, the band was struggling, torn apart by rampant drug use and infighting. After a massive shift which saw Arthur replace everyone in the band, Love returned in 1969 with Four Sail . The band may have been down by this point but Arthur was more than willing to prove that they weren’t out. The best song on Four Sail as well as possibly one of the best songs of the band’s career, “Always See Your Face” starts out slow and melodic before Arthur comes in with the aching, pleading lines “Won’t somebody please, help me with my misery” before the res...

The Ass Ponys were one of the strangest bands to come out in the '90s. Full of songs about people carving 'I Love Bob' into their arms and boys thinking about having their peckers sucked by a guy who only wants a cigarette under a bridge are not normally things you'd hear on the radio. But by God they pulled it off with 1994's memorable "Little Bastard." Life was not very kind to the band in the next few years with lineup shifts, closing labels and the whatnot and ultimately, the band disbanded in 2003. Their legacy exists in the eyes of the those who were there. Chuck has started an excellent new band, Wussy, who just their third record. Mr. Cleaver took some time out to answer some questions and here they are. When did the band get started? Late 1988, early '89...our first show was in Newport, KY at a now defunct club called The Tophat. We made $15.00 cash. What happened with Dan, I remember reading that he left to become a glassblower or something?...

Forgotten Album of the Month: House of Freaks When Richmond, Virginia’s own House of Freaks emerged in 1987 with their blend of drums, guitar and vocals with no bass, it was seen as a different kind of rock music for a different kind of audience. With the release of 1988’s Monkey on a Chain Gang, the band set themselves apart from the rest of the pack with their introspective lyrics and musical approach. The voice of Bryan Harvey is one that is hard to forget, especially with the dynamic drumming of Johnny Hott behind him. From the start of the record, with the double whammy of “Crack in the Sidewalk” and “40 Years,” the lyrics just hit you and won’t let up. “40 Years” in particular is incredibly introspective with its remembrances of the 40th anniversary of WWII as well as time lost and won. When one listens to the music, it’s hard to believe it was created by only two men; “Lonesome Graveyard” stands out in this instance with Bryan’s guitar staccatos all over the place and Johnny’s ...

Forgotten Songs of the ‘70s: Nilsson When Harry Nilsson released Nilsson Schmilsson in 1970, the world was immediately hooked. The success of the Badfinger cover “Without You” broke Nilsson worldwide. But that wasn’t all that the record had to offer. Buried among the first side is “The Moonbeam Song,” one of the most gorgeous, understated ballads ever recorded up until that time. Set against the sparest of accompaniment, Nilsson’s vocals are at their softest and most beautiful. The lyrics, when heard again and again continue to raise the spirits of anyone who hears them. Among the most interesting lyrics heard in the song is the immortal line “And on a fence with bits of crap around its bottom.” Lines like this stick with you and never leave. The words are just so beautifully stated that you will find yourself humming along to the song every time you see a moon. With the success of “Without You” and “Everybody’s Talkin’” the song was bound to be lost to the ages. But luckily, it was u...

Forgotten Songs of the ‘80s: Peter Murphy Nowadays, Peter Murphy is best remembered as the singer of Bauhaus and also for the mega 1990 hit “Cuts You Up,” but without a doubt, his greatest song was relegated to the lost and found aisle. “All Night Long” off 1988’s Love Hysteria is one of the most interesting and fascinating modern rock songs of the whole decade. Beginning with xylophone, the song quickly finds its groove and refuses to let up. But instead of going into a fast, up-tempo mood, everything slows down and it all becomes very moody and atmospheric. Peter’s vocals bring the song to its spookiest peak. But that’s not the end, it just gets creepier from there, as the song reaches its crescendo, his voice becomes lower and lower until it reaches its apex and the song just explodes into a heavenly rich sheen that stays with the listener long after its left the airwaves. Just an absolutely breathtaking song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q__QnW-9ROs&feature=channel_page (All...

Coffin Break hve been viewed as one of the more forgotten bands of the 'grunge' era and that's a pretty apt statement. The band was not just a 'grunge' band but were more of a good 'ol punk band than anything else. The music, especially 1990's "Rupture" still stands up strong today and it's good to see them getting the appreciation they so richly deserved. Frontman/guitarist Peter Litwin was kind enough to take time out to answer some questions. What was it like when you guys got started? The Seattle scene was very small and there were hardily any places to put on all ages shows. Often we would have to go across the water to Bremerton to put on an all ages show or play down at the Community World Theatre in Tacoma. What was it like in Seattle before Nirvana and Pearl Jam broke? It was great actually. The scene was small and most of the bands supported one another. It seemed like when we played a show that 60-70% of the audience were in other b...

Forgotten Songs of the New Millennium: Therapy? Irish rockers Therapy? had been around for over ten years before the release of 2002’s High Anxiety , their third album in three years. They’d been through quite a lot, lineup changes, faulty record deals and audience indifference, but still they persevered. With the release of High Anxiety, the band went back to their roots, driving hard rock and the album’s standout, “If It Kills Me” was one of their best songs and dare I say, one of the best songs of 2002. The song is simple, but that’s the story of Therapy’s? career, they don’t know how to do things any differently, so why bother changing anything. The drumming of dynamo Neil Cooper propels the song to its hard-hitting best. The always reliable Andrew Cairns, a mix of soul and punk, delivers some of his best lyrics here, talking about the same thing he’s always talked about, failed relationships and how to get them restarted. While the band gave it their best shot, it wasn’t enough an...

Forgotten Songs of the ‘70s: Rick Nelson When Rick Nelson released “Gypsy Pilot,” it was before the monumental, career-reviving success of “Garden Party,” he was hoping it would be the song that would relaunch him but it sadly never happened. Which is a damn shame considering that the song is one of the best songs from his later days. The song came off of 1971’s Rudy the Fifth , one of his more scattershot records but the song standing alone is a revelation and is it ever a creepy revelation. The song itself is about a plane crash and what people think of the main victim. Creepy ain’t it? Lyrics like “when they claim my body, they won’t have much to say, except that he lived a good life and he lived everyday” just up the creepy quotient. The song is simply spooky but Rick’s amazing voice carries through and leads the Stone Canyon Band to one of their greatest performances as they’re carrying along behind him in supreme fashion. In what is probably one of the creepiest and eeriest way...

Dustbin of Rock: Jimmie’s Chicken Shack When Jimmie’s Chicken Shack first came out of Maryland in 1997, many people didn’t pay much attention to them. Aside from the fact they were signed to Elton John’s record label, there wasn’t much to distinguish them from the rest of the late ‘90s alt-rock pack. But if one listens to the music now, they will be blown away and amazed by what they are hearing. Their first album, 1997’s pushing the salmanilla envelope is packed to the rafters with great lyrics and memorable hooks. The most memorable would have to be “Hole,” a grindingly quick romp through everyday life with the catchy as hell chorus, “Pull myself up from the hole I dig.” Listen to it again and again and pretty soon you’ll find yourself humming along because it’s irresistible and impossible to escape. The follow-up, 1999’s Bring Your Own Stereo was a bit of a departure, with slower tempos and interesting lyrics. There are still some standouts however, including “Lazy Boy Dash,” a ligh...