Category: Music

We had some fun with this on 1982 albums, so let’s look at 1992. What a difference 10 years makes. For one, every album photo of the 1982 post was from my LP collection, this time all CDs. The 1982 list has a new wave theme, whereas in the early 1990s hard rock is more…

Resist. There could not be a more apt title for a Midnight Oil album. The Aussie activist rockers have continually protested the treatment of indigenous peoples and our planet. Resist is a climate change treatise, a dire warning served up with a little hope. All accompanied by the band’s signature driving acoustic and chiming guitars,…

Full disclosure: I’m a big Pearl Jam fan, so by extension that makes me a big Eddie Vedder fan. His powerful baritone is one of rock’s treasures, from songs like “Black,” “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town,” and “In Hiding” to his energetic and passionate live performances. I’ll never forget him coming…

The early 1980s were an intriguing time in music. Classic rock of the 1970s was still thriving with new releases in 1982 from The Who, Springsteen, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Iron Maiden, Kiss, Rainbow, and more. At the same time, The Damned and Dead Kennedys were punk veterans, and The Clash went commercial with Combat Rock.…

The main purpose of POPTRANSMISSION’s Music section is finding new rock n’ roll amidst the popular dominance of pop and hip-hop. I’ve highlighted new bands (Dry Cleaning, Spyderland), bands that have been around awhile (War on Drugs, Future Islands), and the still-bringing-it veterans (The Who, Pearl Jam). All have released new music recently and continue…

Aah, the good old days of buying a concert ticket the day they went on sale, counting the days until it arrived in the mail, putting it in a safe place until showtime, and leaving the show with a memento of the event. Ticket stubs have been on the way out for some time now…

Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour must be setting records…duration, number of shows, number of cities/countries, and number/duration of postponements. What began on September 8, 2018, in Allentown, PA is scheduled to conclude in summer 2023 after about five years and over 300 concerts. The tour schedule is mind boggling: September 2018 – March…

I’m checking out new music from three bands that I just recently discovered. One band, Turnstile, I mentioned earlier in my top songs of 2021 post (Top Songs of 2021: Rock and Indie Bands Still Making Noise). Two are newer bands exemplified by fuzzy lo-fi sounds, brightened up by vibrant female lead vocals. I thought…

The musical landscape of 2021 continued to be dominated by hip-hop, rap, and pop artists. Sorry regular readers, but here I go again. What’s a rocker to do? I made some nice discoveries, but this is where I need your help. I know there’s more out there. Please share some of your favorite new music…

In December 1971 David Bowie’s career was at a standstill. After his first hit “Space Oddity” in 1969, the follow-up effort didn’t capitalize on that success. The Man Who Sold the World was a darker, hard rock album on the heels of its two folk-psychedelic predecessors. It, along with Hunky Dory, were commercial failures initially…

Simple Minds? “Don’t You Forget About Me.” New Order? “Blue Monday.” The Pretenders? “Brass in Pocket.” Are these the first songs you think of? Did you know that all three bands released new albums recently? Yes, they are still around and not just on the nostalgic tour caravan. They join other noteworthy bands, whose heyday…

Carole King. Jay-Z. Foo Fighters. The 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees represent the broader, evolving sounds of the rock world. The same mix of artists as reflected in recent, updated best albums and songs lists (see my recent post on Rolling Stone’s Updated 100 Greatest Songs of All Time). Add the Go-Go’s,…