An album represents a moment in time where the songs pulse and move with whatever we are doing in our lives. I remember driving my brown 2 door Ford Escort home one day from work at Gosford Police Station and ‘Paradise City’ was blasting from my 80’s car stereo with flashing equalizer, I was banging on the steering wheel singing right along with Axl. I was 18 years old and life reflected this album, which was conflicted. Continue reading Guns N’ Roses ‘Appetite for Destruction’
In the 90’s Marilyn Manson was the bogeyman and public enemy number one. He had the Christian right after him, the PMRC after him and politicians after him. Manson set the rock world on fire and was reveling in the wreckage. The teenage element saw him as their evil outlet, thrilled that their parents didn’t approve whom I’m sure would have preferred posters on their kids walls of Hootie and the Blowfish. Continue reading Marilyn Manson ‘Antichrist Superstar’
I was really excited when I brought this tape. I remember having it at my grandmother’s house, where I would go to after school. I was in the kitchen staring at the front cover, mesmerized by the winged cupid smoking a cigarette, thinking how cool and naughty he was. I was an innocent 14 year old obsessed with sport so smoking, beer or anything ‘out of bounds’ had yet to descend on me. Continue reading Van Halen ‘1984’
This album is abrasive. The parts that aren’t are just beautiful teasers fending off the next head caving distorted guitar or drumbeat. It was released in 1994; Cobain was king, but grunge was about to disappear, more abruptly than anyone could imagine. The disenfranchised and lonely were about to find their new messiah. The Goths were already on board, and over time this album would become a classic. Continue reading Nine Inch Nails ‘The Downward Spiral’