Alternative
Noah’s Barks pages relating to the alternative music genre. Combine with other tags for subgenres, e.g. “alternative+rock.”
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American Recordings 1995 CD Sampler (The Comix Zone Bonus CD)
It’s time to rock out with your comic out! Let’s spin the ‘American Recordings 1995 CD Sampler,’ most famous for its inclusion with North American copies of the Sega Genesis game, ‘Comix Zone.’ (read more)
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Killing Joke – “Democracy”
‘Democracy’ isn’t as good as the two Killing Joke albums it’s between. However, it’s high-quality and consistent enough to be worthwhile. (read more)
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Nirvana – “In Utero”
Do people overstate the abrasiveness of ‘In Utero’ to distance themselves from the radio-friendly ‘Nevermind?’ (read more)
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Sonic Youth – “Goo”
Perhaps the apex of Sonic Youth’s output, "Goo" has the band reach equilibrium with listless noise, pop hooks, and their iconic, idiosyncratic style. (read more)
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Foo Fighters – “Saint Cecilia EP” (2015)
After Sonic Highways, you may have been inclined to believe that the riff-generating machine must have finally broken down, but if this EP is any indication it seems back up and running, even though it’s not at full capacity. The title track is Foo Fighters‘ best song to appear since Wasting Light, and the sound… (read more)
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The Melvins – “Hold It In” (2014)
The more the Melvins try to sound young, the older they get. This is true of many artists. Nick Cave immediately comes to mind: whenever he tries to rock nowadays, his first priority is convincing the world he still has sex appeal. But much like his testicles, there’s nothing left to get out. Old people can rock… (read more)
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Refused – “Freedom” (2015)
Finally, post-hardcore goes boogie rock on Freedom. Some The Wall-esque arena rock thrown in for good (bad) measure. But I would be lying if I said I didn’t find a lot of this catchy, if not in the electrifyingly intense way The Shape of Punk to Come. I’m not sure if I’m being too nice to… (read more)
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Swervedriver – “I Wasn’t Born to Lose You” (2015)
Oh, hell yeah. “Autodidact” may be a few miles from reaching a shoegaze classic, but it’s undoubtedly a Swervedriver classic. One track into I Wasn’t Born to Lose You, and we’ve already got another essential song from this once-lost band. Something any fan thought they’d never have again. …But it never gets any easier. I Wasn’t… (read more)
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The Smashing Pumpkins – “Monuments to an Elegy” (2014)
Buh buh buh, time to listen to the new Smashing Pumpkins album, Monuments to an Elegy. I’m a real fan, by the way. To prove it, I think the Machina albums are great alt rock all around, that Adore is actually their greatest, and Zeitgeist had a few great songs. I’m not fuckin’ married to… (read more)
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Foo Fighters Retrospective
(Original publication date unknown) Oh ho, neighboring music nerds. So you want me to apologize for my love of Foo Fighters? Call them a “guilty pleasure?” Say the usual stupid image-preserving apologies like “I like them, but they aren’t objectively good?” Tough luck. Foo Fighters are great. Foo Fighters kick ass. Foo Fighters are possibly… (read more)