It goes without saying that most bands start their careers with an eye on fame and fortune, yet so many bands fall well short of the mark. Still others make it past that mark with one big song, but then burn out and are aptly named “One Hit Wonders.” And of course there are [...]
Happy Hollow (2006) is Cursive’s fifth full-length album, released after an indefinite hiatus by the band and more than three years after the highly acclaimed The Ugly Organ (2003). Happy Hollow was forced into a departure from Cursive’s previous sound, as cellist Greta Cohn had announced her departure from the band about one year before [...]
What makes Rock Moral?
Ever since 1956, when Elvis Presley “gyrated” his lower torso on the Milton Berle Show3, Rock ‘n’ Roll’s reputation has declined from a moral standpoint, according to pundits that is.1 The word moral is in itself ambiguous. According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, morality refers to a code of conduct that [...]
To many, rock ‘n’ roll evokes images of the 60’s. They imagine hippies preaching of peace and love, well intentioned experimentation with marijuana and LSD, and the protest of a terrible war. To others, however, rock is a violent culture full of sex, drug addiction and teen angst. They picture the heavy metal bands of only [...]
“I’m not a name to keep at arm’s length.” Hip-hop artist Aelsop Rock (born Ian Matthias Bavitz)’s 2001 album Labor Days makes apparent this lyric from the otherwise mind-bogglingly cryptic “Coma” - Aesop Rock is an artist with a powerful message, and one who should not be ignored. Regardless of whether you enjoy commercial rap [...]