Rock Music
Marianne Moro
Articles
M83-Dead Cities, Red Seas And Lost Ghosts
M83 is a techno dance duo from France with a sound that's fun yet rich in atmosphere and texture. At the other end of the spectrum, there's Brit hard rockers Hurricane Party.
70s Invasion-Web Site Dedicated To Glam And Other Lost Music of the 1960s And 1970s
The most comprehensive website on the Net for info about glam, bubblegum & obscure punk music from the 1970s is 70s Invasion. I recently conducted on e-mail interview with Alan, one of the site's founders.
Interview With Olli Koskela of Finnish Rock Band Valerian
In August, I included a short review of Intimations of Sorrow by Finnish band Valerian in my column. Now the CD has been released in the U.S. by City Canyons Records. Here's an interview I conducted via e-mail with the bands vocalist, Olli Koskela.
The Guys Who Wrote 'Em-Songwriting Geniuses Of Rock And Pop
Sean Egan's The Guys Who Wrote 'Em profiles eleven of the most talented pop/rock songwriters and songwriting teams in rock music history.
Ronnie Montrose- A True Guitar Hero
Ronnie Montrose's career has spanned three decades, from his work as a backing musician for Boz Scaggs and Van Morrison to albums with his bands Montrose and Gamma.
Weird Al Yankovic - 25 Years Of Musical Wackiness
Weird Al Yankovic started his musical career at 13 with a song called "Belvedere Cruising." Since then, both his pop music parodies and originals have entertained countless fans and earned him three Grammys. Also, reviews of CDs by singer-songwriter David Steele and Finnish glam-metal group Valerian.
Prey For Rock And Roll- The Joys And Perils Of Being A Female Rocker In Hollywood
The indie film Prey For Rock & Roll starring Gina Gershon, is based on Cheri Lovedog's real-life
experiences as a female rock & roller getting older, but not necessarily more successful, in the L.A. rock scene.
DVD Reviews- Jewel: Live At Humphrey's By The Bay And Live Forever
Here are brief reviews of two new music DVDs. Jewel Live At Humphrey's By The Bay highlights a concert by the folk-pop siren, and Live Forever:The Rise And Fall of Britpop chronicles the popularity of such bands as Oasis, Blur and Pulp in the mid-1990s.
Indie Label Skipping Discs Puts A New Spin on “Tribute” CDs
Skipping Discs is a new record label out of northern Massachusetts that specializes in unsigned bands doing cover versions of songs by well-known artists. Their latest disc is “ Spiders From Venus: Indie Women Artists and Female-Fronted Bands Cover David Bowie.” Other Compilation CDs are “Love Her Madly: New Women Artists ...
Some Thoughts On The Tenth Anniversary Of Kurt Cobain's Death
April 8th is the 10th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death. Here are some of my thoughts and recollections on Kurt, Nirvana and the grunge era.
Wendy O. Williams-Rock's First Riot Grrrl
The Plasmatics took "shock-rock" and outrageous stage antics to a new level in the early 1980s. Lead vocalist/exhibitionist Wendy O. Williams was the real deal, chainsawing guitars and appearing onstage in little more than electrical tape.
Sparks- 30 Years of Quirky Art Rock
Sparks' creative, intelligent lyrics and catchy keyboard based music has spawned thirty years of albums, videos and other projects. Although they are best known to the causual fan for the song "Cool Places" with Jane Wiedlin, brothers Ron and Russell Mael have produced an impressive catalouge of music over the years. ...
Behind The Scenes, Pt. 2-My First Concert: The Rolling Stones at the Chicago Stadium, 1975
Most fans have fond memories of their first rock concert. In Part 2 of Behind The Scenes, I remember my first foray into concert-going-the Stones at the Chicago Stadium in 1975. Yes, fans do count, too, ya know.
Behind The Scenes, Pt 1- Groupies
Interesting rock 'n' roll characters are not always on the stage. Here is part one of a series on ancillary rock music figures. Part 1 is an intro to groupiedom. Interviews T/K!
Classic Rock Revisited- An Interview With Jeb Wright
Classic Rock Revisited is a great resource for all fans of real hard rock from the '60s to the present. Here is an interview I conducted via e-mail with the site's founder, Jeb Wright.
Three CD Reviews- Serart, Jen Elliot And Domestic Godzilla
Reviews of 3 new CDs- Jen Elliot (blues-rock belter), Domestic Godzilla (Chicago hardcore) and Serart (World Music/jazz) by Serj Tankian and Arto Tunc Boyaciyan.
Dead Men Walking-Old School Punk Supergroup Is Alive And Kicking
If you like the Alarm, the Sex Pistols, the Cult and/or the Stray Cats, here's a "supergroup" you will definitely want to check out.
Speeder Kills--A Faux Punk Rock Documentary
Speeder Kills, a "documentary" tribute to San Antonio punk rock, recently screeened at the L.A. Film Fest.
Reason To Rock-It's All About The Music (Part 2)
Here is part 2 of an interview I conducted with Herb Bowie, the author of the web book Reason To Rock. In it, he addresses the elements that comprise an enduring rock song and discusses some of his favorite lyricists.
Reason To Rock-It's All About The Music
Most of the current books and articles about rock music focus on personality and scandal more than the songs that brought the artists to our attention in the first place. Although thoughtful, no-frills treatises on rock’n’roll are harder to find than fluff, they are well worth the search. One such text ...
Libertines - Up The Bracket /Concrete Blonde Live
Critics have accused UK rockers the Libertines of sloppy playing, monotone vocals & many of their gigs in the US have been cancelled. Love 'em or hate 'em, they capture your attention. Also, a review of Concrete Blonde's Live In Brazil double disc.
Depswa - Two Angels And A Dream
2003 has been a great year for California based band Depswa,as they have just completed a successful tour with Mudvayne, and the release of their new CD Two Angels And A Dream continues their lucky streak.
Cinder, Coloring Outside The Lines, and Pope Syndicate Reviews
Here are reviews of a few CDs – and a rock-oriented book - that have been released recently, with accompanying links and info.
The Professionals - I Didn't See It Coming
The Professionals were a short-lived band that featured the only post Sex Pistols collaborations by Steve Jones and Paul Cook. The recent re-issue I Didn't See It Coming is a must for fans of the Pistols or punk/new wave music in general.
Blondie: From Punk To The Present: A Pictorial History
Blondie's music,image,and message have left an indelible imprint on rock/pop culture.,Blondie's music,image,and message have left an indelible imprint on rock/pop culture
Girlschool - Not That Innocent
One of the most prominent bands during the infamous British "New Wave of Heavy Metal", Girlschool were proteges of Motorhead, opened for bands like Ironmaiden and Saxon, and rocked harder than many all-male bands.
Lennon's 530 Saturday Morning was one of the best - and most overlooked - debuts of 2001
Dragpipe - Music For The Last Day Of Your Life
Dragpipe brings a fresher, real rock sound to the nu-metal craze. Plus, a few unsigned bands to check out
Inland Invasion 2002 - 25 Years Of Punk
On September 14th, a cross-section of "nu-punk" bands and their fiesty predecessors congregated at the Blockbuster Pavilion in Devore, CA. to celebrate the 25th anniversary of punk rock.
Exene is back with new material, via her band Original Sinners, and a new poetry collecton, A Beer On Every Page.
Silverchair - Australia's Grunge Rockers Grow Up
Silverchair, best known in America for their 1995 hit Tomorrow,are a big draw in Europe and their native Australia. With the release of their new album Diorama, will they be able to conquer the U.S. as well?
Otto's Daughter And Firebug - Two Bands On The Verge
Otto's Daughter, an industrial/Goth band out of New Jersey, and Firebug, a regular player on the Hollywood club circuit for the last few years, are ready for bigger and better things.
Jerry Cantrell - Degradation Trip
Degradation Trip,Jerry Cantrell's long-awaited follow-up to his first solo CD, finally arrives. Plus, Monster Magnet live at L.A.'s Troubador
Japan - From Glam To Thoughful Synth-Pop
Japan started out as a slightly artier combination of Roxy Music and the New York Dolls, but their sound matured into experimental, synth-driven pop by the end of their brief career.
From his days as a member of hardcore punk band The Misfits to his long and primal reign as one of Goth metal's favorite sons, Glenn Danzig
has never strayed far from the dark side.
Toilet Boys - Updated Glam/Punk From NYC
The Toilet Boys revived trashy glam rock in the East Village, and are currently bringing their brand of raucous party rock to the rest of the country on their current tour.
Two More Great Hard to Find Hard Rock CDs
Two more great hard rock albums, both featuring Steve Jones (former Sex Pistol).
Sex Pistols - The Filth and The Fury
The Sex Pistols remain one of the most groundbreaking and influential bands ever, 25 years after their dubious formation in England.
A quick review of 2001 shows a few highlights in a basically unremarkable year for hard rock.
Vixen - The Most Popular Female Metal Band From Back In The Day
Vixen were touted as the all-female entry in the hair-band sweepstakes of the 80s & early 90s, and they had the musical chops to accompany all that teased 'n dyed hair..
Bang Tango & Beautiful Creatures -Sunset Strip Rock, Then & Now
Bang Tango, led by vocalist Joe LeSte, hit the airwaves in 1989 with the MTV hit Someone Like You. Now LeSte is back with a new band Beautiful Creatures.
Steve Vai - Rock Guitar Maestro
Steve Vai was one of the premier guitar virtuosos of the late 1980s' and 1990s, and he continues to write release dazzling instrumental CDs today.
Hanoi Rocks & Mother Love Bone - Bands That Disappeared Too Soon
Hanoi Rocks and Mother Love Bone were two great bands cut down by tragedy before they had a chance to shine.
Some great rock albums are mentioned and played constantly; others stay hidden in the archives. Here are some great ones you might not have heard for awhile.
Starz - One of the First Pop-Metal Bands?
Starz were a moderately popular band in the mid-1970s, but their albums are heralded by some of today's hard rock insiders as underplayed classics.
Rob Zombie's Horror Metal With A Twist
Halloween is the perfect time to put the focus on Rob Zombie, rock's main practitioner of schlock-horror metal.
To celebrate the re-release of their first 3 albums, X played two sold-out shows at Los Angeles El Rey Theatre last month.
A Bang, Not A Whimper: A Marilyn Manson Concert Review
A retro review of a 1999 Marilyn Manson concert.
Amanda Thorpe's potent combination of jazz, rock and folk,evident on her new Cropduster release,Mass,gives the listener more ear candy than the normal pop/rock CD.
The Mark Wahlberg - Jennifer Anniston flick, Rock Star opened in theatres last week to little fanfare and even less ticket sales - but the chronicle of a 1980s heavy metal star has its' good points.
UFO - Great English Riff Rock Band of the 1970s
UFO gained their greatest popularity in the mid-70s with arena rock favorites such as Lights Out and Rock Bottom, but they continued to record over the next two decades.
Faster Pussycat- Ten Years Later
Faster Pussycat was one of the glam rock bands that gained notoriety in the post Poison & Motley Crue world "hair band" era. After disappearing for awhile, they're back with a tour and new projects. Plus, the L.A. Guns stage their return with Man In The Moon.
Henry Rollins - Rock's Renaissance Man
From his days as a member of legendary L.A. punk band Black Flag, Henry Rollins has never been at a loss for words. Nearly 20 years into his career, he's more prolific than ever.
Metal Chicks You Don't Bring Home To Mom
Some metal girls cross over to mainstream radio - like Joan and Lita - others, like Anne Boleyn and the Great Kat don't lighten their act for anyone.
Hair Bands Hit The Road for Reunion Tour
The time is ripe for all our fave spandex clad 80s rockers to congregate on a reunion tour.
The Best (And Worst) of "Behind The Music", Rock Style
Behind The Music is one of the most addictive shows on TV today. Here are some key moments from the series, with a focus on rock bands instead of the usual divas in distress. Plus, a look at the websites where rock groupies dish the dirt about their dudes...
The New York Dolls - Glam, Drag And Rock 'N' Roll
The New York Dolls combined ear-blasting rock, a theatrical presence, and costumes that would make Hedwig and the Angry Inch
jealous at a time when mainstream radio doused the airwaves with James Taylor and Harry Chapin.
The Cathouse, L.A.'s Infamous Metal Club Reopens
The Cathouse was the focal point for metal scene hipsters from 1986 to its demise in 1993. Now it's reopened for another go round at metal mayhem.
They dress funny. They've been on Jerry Springer. One of their members set a world record as a human conductor of electricity. And they can actually play rock 'n' roll pretty well, too! Plus, L.A.rockers Bitch.
Switchblade Symphony Breaks Industrial Rock's Gender Barrier
Switchblade Symphony's Susan Wallace and Tina Root explore groundbreaking musical textures on Three Calamities
Jennifer Tefft has opened for Aerosmith, and has been compared to Sarah McLachlan, but may soon be a star in her own right if her new CD Shift is any indication. Plus a retro review of Pat Benatar's In The Heat Of The Night.
Beyond Good and Evil - The Cult
Beyond Good and Evil, the Cult's new CD, Rocks Hard - Ya Got A Problem With That?
Econoline Crush - Brand New History
The newest album from Econoline Crush, Brand New History features their strongest songs to date. Plus, a retro view of Heart's Dreamboat Annie
L.A. bluesman Top Jimmy, who was immortalized in song by Van Halen on their 1984 album, passed away last week in Las Vegas.
Saturday Night Rocks - NYC's Best Hard Rock Radio Show
Although WNEW-FM in New York has an all-talk format, it takes a respite on Saturday night for a few hours for Saturday Night Rocks, a showcase of hard rock, past and present.
Lions is the new album from the Black Crowes, whose up and down career is now hitting the decade mark.
Nu Metal Vs. Old Metal - Which is Better?
There are many genres and subgenres in music - but in today's hard rock, nu metal and the riff-based old school metal. So what's the real difference, and does it matter? Plus a retro review of Kid Rock's Devil Without A Cause.
The Cult: Back And Better Than Ever
The Cult hit the road this summer with their first album since 1994 and prove they can still outrock most of the competition.
Mott The Hoople - British Album Rock Innovators
Mott The Hoople, a British band formed in 1968, achieved only cult success during their tenure together, but their songs remain album rock classics.
A Rundown of the Most Rockin' Sites On The Web
Every day, more web sites devoted to rock music and specific groups hit the web. Here are detailed reviews of some of the best ones.
Time Bomb is the second release from L.A. band Buckcherry.
Rock Movies That Tell It Like It Is
If you liked Almost Famous, there are a handful of other rock-oriented movies that avoid Hollywood whitewash and tell it like it is.
Lucid Nation: Literate Punk From The Heart Of L.A.
Lucid Nation has received kudos from such music industry notables as Keith Richards & Danny Goldberg of Artemis Records. Their new release Suburban Legends is hitting the playlists of rock stations nationwide. Plus, a list of punk rock sites on the web.
Monster Magnet: Psychedelic Rock With A Hard Edge
Monster Magnet hit it big a few years ago with Powertrip. European fans have already heard the follow-up God Says No while stateside fans wait for their first listen.
Napster is going down for the count, with millions of copyrighted files to be removed. Couldn't all the time and effort spent on bickering been used to reach a compromise?
Cheap Trick were combination rock group,clown princes,and teeny-bopper idols in the 1980s and late 1970s, and recently released their 25th anniversary CD
Hidden Hard Rock Treasures From The Early 1990s
From 1988 to 1991, scores of metal bands were signed to major labels. Some of them released great CDs, and then disappeared without a trace;others were great but barely noticed.
And Now For Something Completely Different..
Seattle based Lucy Mongrel treads musical territory very few bands have dared to explore.
Alice Cooper: The Godfather of Shock Rock
Alice Cooper's career has spanned more than 30 years. His stage show and controversial lyrics first shook the rock world at a time when sensitive singer/songwriters were all the rage.
Koko Taylor's first CD in seven years reinforces her status as Chicago blues'most powerful female belter - and as an inspiration to both rockers and R & B musicians alike.
Four Songs That Raised A Ruckus
Many rock songs make you sit up and take notice the first time you hear them, while some songs fuel a cultural phenomenon and give morning DJs lots of good material. Plus, remember the "other" songs from Use Your Illusion I & II?
Runaways - 1970s' Bad Girls With Guitars
In the late '70s, women in hard rock were either fans or groupies - until the Runaways changed all that.
Independent Metal Labels Fill The Void In Rock Releases
While large record companies concentrate on fluffy pop acts, smaller labels take a chance on hard rock acts - and succeed
admirably.
Soulfly Brings Eclectic Beat to Rap-Metal
Max Cavalera's Soulfly isn't your run of the mill rap-metal as CD Primitive demonstrates.
North Mississippi All-Stars Carry On Blues Tradition
The North Mississippi All-Stars honor the blues musicians who've inspired them while adding their own electric touch on the critically acclaimed Shake Hands With Shorty
More Top Hard Rock CDs of 2000
A few more great CDs released in 2000
Top Heavy Rock CDs of The Year
As 2000 draws to a close, here are some of the best hard rock/metal CDs released this year.
Canadian rockers Kittie prove that they are a force to be reckoned with.