In which The Curmudgeons continue catching a wave of Britpop and launch into the second part of our five-part series on the joys of the Britpop era. On this episode, we cover the eventful year of 1994, during which Britpop officially solidified as a thing and started its ascension toward the stratosphere. It was during 1994 that Oasis and Blur released seminal, awesome albums that effectively defined the genre. It was also when bands like Elastica, Primal Scream, Pulp and others released fantastic singles that extended Britpop's reach and scope. How good was it? Press play and find out, baby!

Enjoy the Britpop sounds of 1994 by accessing our special Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0gesREv76xGMtXggp2BAvd?si=6462123662b84ffb

Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode.

(00:52 - 04:10) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of Britpop in 1994

(04:18 - 16:16) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of new albums from Golomb and Osees

(17:15 - 43:37) - We breakdown just how monumental of a shift in British culture Britpop represented. We also run through a bunch of great Britpop and Britpop-adjacent singles from 1994. 

(44:38 - 01:01:25) - We discuss and analyze two great albums: Blur's Parklife and Oasis' Definitely Maybe

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Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor

In which The Curmudgeons hop into the phone booth and travel back to the time when Britpop ruled the world during the heart of the 1990s. What was Britpop? Most specifically, it was a call to rock 'n' roll arms by a swath of young, hungry bands peeved at America's cultural imperialism of the era. The music swayed and blasted with confidence, and its pop structures were tight, tuneful--and, as a result, titanic. We start this series of episodes in the early 1990s, in 1992 and 1993. We cover Britpop artists such as Blur, Suede, Pulp, Elastica and The Verve on this episode. Yet we also cover what we call "Britpop adjacent" acts like PJ Harvey, Radiohead and The Cranberries, whose own Britishness seeped its way into groundbreaking music they were making in their own right. 

Enjoy the Britpop and Britpop adjacency from this episode by accessing our special Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/08abNW4XljAQS4ZvJ77Cpp?si=f199dce9a4cc4ab7

Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode.

(00:52 - 02:55) - Arturo sets the parameters for our discussion of early Britpop

(05:44 - 16:56) - The Parallel Universe, featruing reviews of recent albums from Bob Vylan and Sault

(17:55 - 51:54) - We describe the British music of the early 1990s and the forces that shaped Britpop, plus we kick off a lightning round of great Britpop singles from 1992 and 1993

(53:08 - 01:15:11) - We analyze important and vital British records from PJ Harvey, The Verve, Radiohead and Blur

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Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor

In which The Curmudgeons continue their exploration of all the cool and revolutionary sounds blasting out of the City of Angels in the 1990s. By 1995, the music world had been grungified, making things safer, brighter and lovelier for not only hard-rock artists, but folks of the more soul-breaking, confessional variety. And that L.A. satisfied both ends of that spectrum between 1995 and 1999. Rage Against the Machine, Tool, System of a Down and Kyuss all blasted down doors and melted minds. Meanwhile, Beck, eels and Los Lobos soothed the more sensitive souls. We take a run through work by those artists and more on this episode. We begin this episode, though, by discussing the legacies of two recently departed icons, Ozzy Osbourne and Hulk Hogan. 

Enjoy the music that came out of Los Angeles during the latter half of the 1990s by accessing our special Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7KHCvbSIZv6lqVOLW88yTw?si=1f93bf2fb25a48a4

Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode.

(00:52 - 03:40) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of rock in Los Angles during the latter half of the 1990s

(03:43 - 27:31) - The Curmudgeons, both children of the 1980s, discuss the legacies of Ozzy Osbourne and Hulk Hogan

(28:30 - 45:04) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of recent releases by Wet Leg and Orua. 

(46:24 - 01:36:04) - We cover albums by No Doubt, Kyuss, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine, Los Lobos, Beck, Weezer and Sublime

(01:36:04 - 02:19:31) - We cover albums by Tool, System of a Down, Queens of the Stone Age, eels, Beck (again), The Red Hot Chili Peppers (again) and Rage Against the Machine (again)

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Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor

In which the Curmudgeons once again venture to the City of Angels to recapture all the great vibes generated during the 1990s. After a 1980s in which glam metal and punk scenes dominated, what came next for Los Angeles? Well, the trade winds blew in from the Pacific Northwest, and the influence of grunge made the music crunchier and louder, giving us bands like Tool and Weezer. Meanwhile, the longstanding stylings of the L.A. underground found their way into the mainstream, giving us radio-ready glory from Jane's Addiction, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Beck. A lot happened in L.A. during the dawn of the Internet age. We begin to cover those happenings in this episode. 

Listen to all the great sound of Los Angeles in the 1990s by access our special Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/44Gum0MV2jMIMehRa1ja72?si=5a06f9d388d74bac

Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode.

(00:52 - 02:36) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of Los Angeles rocking in the 1990s

(05:15 - 16:10) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of new music from Blondshell and Durand Jones & The Indications

(17:09 - 57:25) - We discuss great L.A. albums from Los Lobos, Guns N' Roses, Jane's Addiction, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine and Kyuss

(58:43 - 01:33:23) - WE discuss great L.A. albums from Los Lobos (again), Tool, Weezer, Beck, Kyuss (again) and Korn

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Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor

In which The Curmudgeons pay loving tribute to one of our favorite bands. Built to Spill is the brainchild of Boise, Idaho, native and guitar maestro Doug Martsch, who's been banging and crunching his way through indie-rock anthems for more than three decades now. As Arturo Andrade likes to say, BTS, as we call them for short, taught indie-rockers everywhere that classic rock and guitar solos were cool. And BTS has served up some remarkable guitar tapestries over the years. We discuss the band's albums and also break down the band's legacy on this episode. 

Enjoy the music of Built to Spill by accessing our special Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/28IWa36crH0h7z5CyzrGay?si=97f1b37037e64956

Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode:

(00:52 - 03:07) - Arturo sets the parameters for our discussion of Built to Spill

(04:33 - 15:12) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of new music from Snapped Ankles and Little Simz

(16:11 - 52:09) - We discuss the origins of Built to Spill and analyze their first five albums, including classics such There's Nothing Wrong With Love, Perfect From Now On and Keep It Like a Secret

(53:33 - 01:15:18) - We analyze Built to Spill's last five albums, including their most recent effort, 2022's terrific When the Wind Forgets Your Name

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Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor

In which The Curmudgeons take a big ol' dukey on that most prominent of rap-metal bands Limp Bizkit. The band is surely one of the worst hard-rock outfits to make it big since cranking up guitars real loud became a thing. Its plodding, uninspired riffage was eclipsed only by its misogynistic, corroded worldview and ultra-dumb lyrics. We dive into the rock's dregs here, analyzing the band's origins as well as its first four albums, all of which are awful. It all begs the question: How the heck did Limp Bizkit get so huge, anyway? We attempt to answer that question. 

Marvel in horror at the awful music of Limp Bizkit by accessing out Spotify plylist for the episode:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5s6kczKDwbpVDYt3DoTiaD?si=f88d0b956bcf4120

Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode.

(00:52 - 06:15) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of Limp Bizkit

(15:04 - 29:52) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of new albums by Ty Segall and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

(30:50 - 38:56) - We discuss the origin story behind Limp Bizkit's improbable rise from the underground of Jacksonville, Fla., to corporate rock's front burner

(40:03 - 1:18:23) - We break down why this band's first four album are, in fact, truly terrible and even offensive. And we ponder why this kind of rap-metal may have been so appealing to so many people.

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Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor

In which The Curmudgeons trip out through outer space and rock out to Hawkwind, one of the most singular psychedelic rock bands of all time. And in which we do it completely sober! This band practically invented what is known as space rock, a jammy, propulsive brand of heavy metal that focuses its gaze firmly on the cosmos and all the alien beings and strange phenomena the Great Beyond can generate. We focus on this longtime, prolific band's most fruitful period, namely the 1970s, when maybe only Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd kinda, sorta counted as peers.  

Enjoy the awesome music of Hawkwind by accessing our special Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2K0qbD4dzEv9XHJj7dBLTm?si=0252e442d42643b7

Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode:

(00:52 - 03:27) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of Hawkwind

(6:05 - 17:24) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of new albums from Lael Neale and Perfume Genius

(18:23 - 01:04:13) - We give five reasons why Hawkwind merits a defense, discuss the band's origin story and analyze five great albums, from In Search of Space (1971) to Warriors on the Edge of Time (1975)

(01:05:16 - 01:23:59) - We analyze four more Hawkwind albums, from Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music (1976) to PXR5 (1979)

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Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor

In which The Curmudgeons give loud, deserved props to one of modern rock's most influential bands. Hûsker Dû started out as a revered hardcore punk band in Minneapolis in 1979, but by the mid-1980s, the band had veered toward a style that became known as punk-pop--loud and abrasive but also unquestionably melodic and heartfelt. During this episode, we extol the virtues of Hûsker Dû and what made them truly great. We discuss their six studio alums plus a rocked-out EP and a sensational live album.

Enjoy the music of Hûsker Dû by accessing our special Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4z536uqdfmR7VVoAkZaCk8?si=a8db8b22da0d4a8e

Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode:

(00:52 - 04:12) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of Hûsker Dû

(06:17 - 16:49) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of new music from Moonchild Sannelly and J.I.D. 

(17:47 - 50:49) - WE discuss Hûsker Dû's origin story and then analyze four full-length albums and one EP the band released on indie label SST. These include Zen Arcade, New Day Rising and Flip Your Wig.

(52:41 - 01:09:04) - We discuss two albums Hûsker Dû relased on Warner Brothers Records and also a live album that hit record-store shelves long after the band broke up. 

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Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor

In which The Curmudgeons continue their exploration of the City of Angels during arguably its most fertile period, namely the decade of the 1980s. Last episode, we established that the glam metal and punk scenes gestated based on a similar us-against-the-world ethos, albeit expressed much differently from one another. By the late '80s, glam metal had become a bona fide global commodity and its punk...hadn't, morphing instead into something wholly original and awe-inspiring. Here, we tell the story of the rest of glam metal, giving particular emphasis on Motley Crue, Poison and Guns N' Roses. We also track the rise and extraordinary influence of The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane's Addiction. 

Enjoy the music of Los Angeles from the late 1980s by accessing our special Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1JXeDNqhrQHMOA5xcxoKhl?si=dee7f0ffbea2413e

Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode:

(00:52-03:50) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of Los Angeles rock in the late 1980s

(05:07 - 17:04) - The Parallel Universe, featuring revies of new music from The Murder Capital and Beach Bunny

(18:02 - 01:09:14) - Christopher O'Connor discusses the explosion of glam metal, runs through a lightning round of some great--and some truly terrible--glam metal singles and discusses the arc of Motley Crue, Poison and Guns N' Roses

(01:10:28 - 01:51:22) - Arturo Andrade discusses the early work and influence of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and then covers the origin story and burning glory of Jane's Addiction 

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Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor

In which The Curmudgeons travel back to sleazy, sweaty streets of Los Angeles to celebrate the music emanating from the City of Angeles. On one end, you had the burgeoning glam metal scene, a parade of excess and depravity in leather, chains and spandex--and some glorious, decadent riffage. On the other end, you had the DIY punk underground, led by hardcore punk stalwarts Black Flag and their SST label. You also had quirkier bands like The Minutemen and X lurking beneath the surface. A rockin' time was had by all. We explore it all intensely. 

Enjoy the music of early '80s L.A. by accessing our special Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/61bZCVO8Mu2WVJE2Q7NyZO?si=3ffe4c45856b48b7

Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode.

(00:52 - 03:59) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of Los Angeles rock in the early '80s

(06:24 - 18:00) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of new music from Zzzahara and Mdou Moctar

(18:59 - 53:02) - Christopher O'Connor covers the glam metal scene of the Sunset Strip, placing emphasis on Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads, Quiet Riot, Motley Crue and Rattt

(54:09 - 01:46:37) - Arturo covers the L.A. punk underground, placing emphasis on Black Flag, The Minutemen, X and The Gun Club

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Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor