I always thought the Beastie Boys were New York frat boys with way too much energy, a musical mish mash of rap and distorted guitars, they never quite fitted in to any style or created a wave of influence as so many artists in the 90’s seemed to do but apparently that’s just the way they liked it. Continue reading Beastie Boys ‘Ill Communication’
By the early 90’s the musical landscape had changed, the machismo dripping hair metal of the 80’s were a distant memory, ‘grunge’ had exploded, in 91 Nirvana released ‘Nevermind’ and the record companies were drooling for the next big thing. Siamese Dream was the second album for Smashing Pumpkins and Virgin Records expected a monster seller, the problem was the Pumpkins were a band in turmoil. Continue reading Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream
Amongst the vast collection of Kiss albums this one is quickly forgotten, especially by the critics and even a few die-hard fans. Released in 1980 the band had started to decline, the make-up act was wearing thin and it quickly fell out of the US charts. Drummer Peter Criss didn’t play on this record and would soon quit the band. Continue reading Kiss ‘Unmasked’
Nirvana’s Nevermind album may have brought ‘grunge’ to the masses, much to the disdain of Cobain but Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger had an advantage over their Seattle brothers, it’s the dirtiness of this album, its something Nevermind never had, yes it was a classic, but too polished, this album challenges you. Continue reading Soundgarden ‘Badmotorfinger’
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’
This is a record full of mood and atmosphere. Released in 1979 at the back end of the British punk movement, Unknown Pleasures has hooks and melodies that grab you and don’t let go, all intertwined with the haunting voice of Ian Curtis. Continue reading Joy Division ‘Unknown Pleasures’
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’
I don’t exactly remember when I first got into Slayer. I just remember having the ‘South of Heaven” album living amongst my folks record collection. It was nestled alongside Abba and the Village People, strange bedfellows.
I must have been around 17 or 18 years old. I’d put the record on the turntable, sit in the lounge room with these massive headphones on and absorb every Tom Araya scream, every riff from guitarists Hanneman and King and every warp speed drum move from Dave Lombardo. Continue reading Slayer ‘Repentless’