The year 1991 marked a significant change in the sound of pop music. The days of bubblegum (Debbie Gibson, Rick Astley, New Kids On The Block) and hair metal (Poison, Warrant, Motley Crue) were suddenly numbered as alternative rock and grunge culture bubbled up to the surface and heavily infiltrated the mainstream. Perhaps sensing the turning tide, veteran acts like U2 and Michael Jackson headed in new directions, musically. Meanwhile, R&B was all about new jack swing, Motownphilly and a whistle-register songbird named Mariah. Flip through our gallery to revisit 10 classic albums that celebrate their 20th anniversaries this year. More »
Kiss, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and LL Cool J lead this year’s roster of first-time nominees for Jann Wenner’s shrine to his concept of “rock and roll,” the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. This year’s nominations total 12, with returnees like the Stooges, ABBA, and Donna Summer competing with the aforementioned newbies. Which nominees are the most likely to pass muster with the shadowy group who decides these sorts of things? Our odds after the jump. More »
The Guardian today reports on the possible end of the double album, as highlighted by Robert Smith’s unwillingness to take a paycut to release a second disc along with this month’s 4:13 Dream. The question that came to mind: Should anyone care?
Many people find it hard to tell the great from the godawful when it comes to 21st-century mainstream rock. To help figure out which is which, here’s “Corporate Rock Still Sells,” where Al “GovernmentNames” Shipley examines what’s good, bad, and ugly in the world of rock and roll. This time around, he celebrates the 20th anniversary of Billboard‘s Modern Rock chart by cherry-picking some of its most oddly notable chart-toppers:
Gary Shaffer, owner of Back-Lite, a company that puts glowing transparencies on the back of jackets (classy!), is being sued for $11 million after wantonly accepting a request to put a Red Hot Chili Peppers logo on one of his jackets. More »
