Smells Like Alternative

How could Beck make 1996’s Odelay any better?
Well, how about giving the classic album a bit of that deluxe edition treatment.
So, what does the deluxe edition add to to the album that already spawned “Devil’s Haircut”, “Where It’s At”, “The New Pollution”, as well as the personal favorites, “Novacane” and “Ramshackle”? How about 19 more tracks of sweetness!
Beck throws in two unreleased tracks onto disc one, “Inferno” and “Gold Chains, before unleashing a second disc full of b-sides and remixes, which many here in the States have never heard before. Probably the coolest gem on this deluxe edition is “Burro”, which …read more

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I recently rediscovered this gem of an album by one of the more unique bands from the 90’s.
You may actually be asking yourself right now “You the bleep is Mr. Bungle?”; which is a fair question.
Mr. Bungle was the first band of former Faith No More frontman Mike Patton. When Patton landed the gig as lead singer for Faith No More, he remained in Mr. Bungle. He is actually wearing a Mr. Bungle t-shirt in the video for “Epic”.
Anyways, California was the third and final major label album from the band released on July 13, 1999; it was supposed to be …read more

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Today is the physical release for the soundtrack to Juno, although it has been available digitally for some time.
Anyways, this soundtrack is great, it fits perfectly with the movie (which is very good and is defiantly worth catching). It’s indie friendly, but manages to squeeze in a couple classic songs and some 90’s alternative tracks, which is why is it is relevant to this blog.
The soundtrack, just like the movie, opens up with the folky “All I Want Is You” by Barry Louis Polisar, which pretty much sets the stage for the rest of the soundtrack and movie.
From there it moves to the Kimya …read more

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Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo just released Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo today.
Basically, this is 18 track compilation of demos by Cuomo from 1992 to like 2005. Most of the material is taken from Weezer’s early days, outtakes/demos from The Blue Album and Pinkerton; which is very good, because Pinkerton is hand’s down Weezer’s best album. Also from around this time are tracks taken from the space-themed concept album, Songs from the Black Hole, which was supposed to follow Weezer’s debut album.
Other tracks worth mentioning are a demo of “Buddy Holly” and a cover of Ice Cube’s “The Bomb”.
The compilation gets stale towards …read more

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AIC released this essential EP back on January 25, 1994.
A lot of people mention 1992’s Dirt as the band’s most definitive album; but Jar of Flies showed us how talented and wonderful AIC were. All seven tracks are so perfectly written and performed, that it left us screaming for more.
That’s why it was no shocker that Jar of Flies hit the number one spot on the Billboard U.S. Chart. The public knew how good this music was.
If you don’t have a copy of Jar of Flies then you’re doing yourself a huge disservice. Seriously, go out or online and snag a copy; you …read more

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The Crow is one of my favorite movies, so it should be no shocker that I love the soundtrack just as much. And since tomorrow is Halloween, mentioning this is even more appropriate.
Released in 1994, the soundtrack features a great blend of alternative, industrial and gothic rock from artists that were just beginning to rise to mainstream success and others that were already known. Besides the great musicians involved, the contributions fit perfectly with the movie. When I just listen to the music I can see a scene from the film in my head.
Some of the stand out tracks include: STP – …read more

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If you haven’t checked American Idiot by now, then you’ve been missing out on a fine piece of musical greatness.
I’m sure almost everyone has heard at least “American Idiot” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”, but the album has so much more, like the 9 minute plus “Jesus of Suburbia/City of the Damned/I Don’t Care/Dearly Beloved/Tales of Another Broken Home” melody.
With the addition of the other great singles “Holiday” and “Wake Me Up When September Ends”, another 9 minute melody and other rockers such as “She’s A Rebel” and “St. Jimmy” the album becomes a thrilling roller coaster ride that tackles all the corporate …read more

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Just a reminder that R.E.M. just released a live disc this past Tuesday.
Live was recorded during two nights in Dublin back in 2005 and is blend of classic and newer R.E.M. tunes. Live is 2 discs and a dvd that should keep every R.E.M. fan occupied.
Here’s the tracklisting:
Disc 1:
1. I Took Your Name
2. So Fast, So Numb
3. Boy In The Well
4. Cuyahoga
5. Everybody Hurts
6. Electron Blue                                                                                                                                7. Bad Day
8. The Ascent Of Man
9. The Great Beyond
10. Leaving New York
11. Orange Crush
12. I Wanted To Be Wrong
13. Final Straw
14. Imitation Of Life
15. The One I Love
16. Walk Unafraid
17. Losing My Religion
Disc …read more

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Maybe by now the hype surrounding Radiohead’s seventh album, In Rainbows, has somewhat died down, which is why I waited to post a review. I even waited until Friday to download it.
After a couple of listens, I would describe In Rainbows as a mellow album, where electronica and reggae perfectly meet. In my opinion, this may be the band’s best work since the masterpiece OK Computer.
So far I’m really digging the hip moving opener “15 Step” and the more rocking second track “Bodysnatchers”. But I’m really enjoying the more slower tracks, which are simple and beautiful, such as “Videotape”, “Nude”, …read more

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I’m not sure why it’s taken me this long to mention Jeff Buckley’s Grace, since it’s one of my favorite albums ever.
Released on August 23, 1994, this was Jeff Buckley’s first and last complete studio album. In 2004, a Legacy edition was released, which includes the long sought after “Forget Her”
At some point you’ve probably heard his cover of “Hallelujah” While it’s a great track, Grace has so much more to offer.
“Lover, You Should Have Come Over” is probably one of the best songs ever written. The lyrics and passion stay with you, like a ”tear that hangs inside my soul forever”. “Eternal …read more

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