The Curmudgeon Rock Report

In which the Curmudgeons agitate more than usual and sing badly a few times in celebration of the rock 'n' roll of 1995. Oasis vs. Blur. Pearl Jam vs. Ticketmaster. The ballad of Layne Staley. And lots of great, enduring songs on the radio.    Songs discussed during this episode include: Bob Vylan, "Health is Wealth" Lucy Dacus, "I Don't Want to Be Funny Anymore" Blur, "Country House" Oasis, "Wond...

In which the Curmudgeons ponder the legacy of 1994, a year known for one of rock's great tragedies which also had its fair share of triumphs. Oasis, Green Day, and Nine Inch Nails became household names. Soundgarden rocked from the mountaintop while Pearl Jam plumbed the valleys of rock-star trappings. And Neil Young and Tom Petty proved that guys in their 40s could once win the hearts and minds o...

In which the Curmudgeons revisit 1993, the year we met and also an extraordinarily compelling time. Nirvana and Pearl Jam ruled the world, and hated it. PJ Harvey, Liz Phair and other female artists stunned the world with stone-cold classic albums. And jam bands like Blues Traveler and Phish jammed their way to ampitheater prominence. Songs discussed during this episode include: Wet Leg, "Wet Leg"...

In which the Curmudgeons revisit perhaps the most special of all the years we cover in this series on rock 'n' roll in the 1990s. Sure, 1992 brought on the grunge, but it also introduced us to Rage Against the Machine, Tori Amos and Zoo TV. And all the people were automatic all the time...   Songs discussed during this episode include: Aldous Harding, "Lawn" Kurt Vile, "Like Exploding Stones" R.E....

In which the Curmudgeons perform a very thorough, and very personal, examination of 1991. It was a year where music fans and impressionable young listeners relearned how to find and demand meaning from the music they explored. We cover the stuff you'd expect (Nirvana, The Red Hot Chili Peppers) and the stuff you might not (Slint?!). Part 1 of 2. Songs discussed in this episode include The Misterin...

In which the Curmudgeons perform a very thorough, and very personal, examination of 1991. It was a year where music fans and impressionable young listeners relearned how to find and demand meaning from the music they explored. We cover the stuff you'd expect (Nirvana, The Red Hot Chili Peppers) and the stuff you might not (Slint?!). Part 2 of 2. Albums discussed in this episode include Slint, "Spi...

In which the Curmudgeons continue their dissection of the movements that served as a prelude to what we call The 4th Golden Age of Rock. Also known as the 1990s, and more specifically 1991 to 1997. This is the first of nine episodes in this epic series. Listen, learn, and hop in the wayback machine--and maybe rock the vote while you're at it.    Songs covered in this episode include:  Yard Act, "D...

In which the Curmudgeons continue their dissection of the movements that served as a prelude to what we call The 4th Golden Age of Rock. Also known as the 1990s, and more specifically 1991 to 1997. This is the first of nine episodes in this epic series. Listen, learn, and hop in the wayback machine--and maybe rock the vote while you're at it.    Songs covered in this episode include:  The Stone Ro...

In which the Curmudgeons revisit the history, catalog and influence of perhaps the greatest of the Grunge Gods. This band took elements from punk, metal, psychedelia and prog and melded them into an extraordinary template and body of work that continue to resonate. And no band of its era improved from beginning to end more than this one. Listen in to what we have to say.    Songs discussed during...

In which the Curmudgeons revisit the decade that perhaps changed everything and gave us gifts like funk, punk and widespread use of the word "groovy." Our list covers artists ranging from Emmylou Harris and Joni Mitchell to Al Green's last great record. Oh, and we love on Steely Dan in a way you might not expect.   Songs discussed during this episode include: Topaz Jones, "D.I.A.L." King Gizzard a...

In which the Curmudgeons extract a truly breathtaking, bruising heavy metal album from its time and place and away from the prejudices that swallowed it upon its release and give it the respect it deserves.    Songs discussed during this episode include: Buffalo Nichols, "Another Man" Jonny Greenwood, "Prelude" Metallica, "Frantic" Metallica, "Some Kind of Monster" Metallica, "The Unnamed Feeling"...

In which the Curmudgeons discuss, contemplate and analyze the work of one of rock's most gifted and criminally underappreciated acts. Richard Thompson is a singular genius. We explain why. Songs discussed on this episode include, Curtis Harding, "Hopeful" Japanese Breakfast, "Kokomo, IN" Richard & Linda Thompson, "The Great Valerio" Richard & Linda Thompson, "Hokey Pokey" Richard & Linda Thompson,...

In which the Curmudgeons complete our epic five-part analysis of two remarkable artists with remarkably similar biographical arcs. The 2000s found Michael Jackson and Prince in very different places in their lives and careers. Yet both of their lives ended suddenly and tragically. Our sense of loss remains profound.  Songs discussed during this episode include: Idles, "The Wheel" Little Simz, "Poi...

In which the Curmudgeons dare to attach a superlative to a specific hip-hop masterpiece that stands above all the others in the canon of essentials. Let's just say the magic is in the beats: funky, in effect, and on point. Listen as we reveal our choice.  Songs discussed during this episode include: Pip Blom, "I Know I'm Not Easy to Like" "Courtney Barnett," "Turning Green" Notorious B.I.G., "Gimm...

STP was pegged as a phony grunge band, and then it was minimized as its lead singer publicly battled drug addiction. The Curmudgeons think that was unfair, and on this episode, we make the case for what we think was one of the best bands of its era. Songs discussed during this episode include: Sturgill Simpson, "Juanita" Calexico, "Quattro (World Drifts In)" Robert Plant & Allison Krauss, "That Do...

In which the Curmudgeons discuss all things Pearl Jam...and do not do it alone. Author Ronen Givony joins us to talk about the band, his book Not For You: Pearl Jam and the Present Tense, fan communities, and more. (Interview starts at 23:57.) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/support

Entering the 1990s, Prince and Michael Jackson were made eccentric pop music men. As the decade unfolded, however, eccentricity devolved into just plain weirdness as the spotlights dimmed and both guys fought for control--and then relevancy. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/support

Money For Nothing. Zappa and John Denver scolding Congress. The First Farm Aid. Michael Jackson screwing over Paul McCartney. It all happened in the same month. The Curmudgeons take you way, way back. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/support

In which the Curmudgeons tear down beloved jewels from the Beastie Boys, Hole, Drake, Jeff Buckley, and others. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/support

In which the Curmudgeons take turns speaking glowingly of eight albums, while the other takes a dump on all eight. Artists covered include David Bowie, Tori Amos, The Flaming Lips and Jay-Z. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/support

Who gets to induct acts into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame anyway? Whoever it is, they sure do whiff a lot. The Curmudgeons make the case for why Joy Division, Soundgarden, the Smiths and 10 others have been criminally ignored by these folks. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/support

What does a megastar do after the whole megastardom thing peaks? It was a quality problem for Michael Jackson and Prince to have in the late 1980s. The Curmudgeons discuss and debate each legend's output during the era. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/support

In which the Curmudgeos continue their reverent revisitation of the careers of Michael Jackson and Prince. Thriller, Purple Rain, and the eccentricities that changed EVERYTHING. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/support

In which the Curmudgeon reveal their list for the 20 best "forgotten" bands in modern music. Starring: Ty Segall, Kurt Vile, Metz--and many Australians. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/support

Nirvana launched a revolution in 1991. By 1997, that revolution had become a trend. A very bad trend. The Curmudgeons hold their noses while examining Creed, Nickelback, Bush and other lousy bands of the post-grunge era. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/curmudgeonly/support