SOUND BITES

(Note: the original post was actually spread out in four parts over a two week span. I've condensed it all into a single, easy to navigate post here. Enjoy!) 20 SMASHING PUMPKINS Zeitgeist Although I’m not nearly as high on this album now as I was when I first heard it,  Zeitgeist  makes the cut based on the shock factor alone. By which I mean, I was shocked by how hard Billy Corgan rocks on this album. Keep in mind that, when I think of the Pumpkins, I can’t seem to shake the steamy, stinky shit pile that is  Adore  out of my head, what with all its non-rocking colossal suckage. On  Zeitgeist , Corgan cranks this bitch to 11 and shreds pretty much nonstop for the album’s duration, which is a feat unheard of since  Gish . And, while the majority of the tracks won’t stand the test of time by any stretch, the pure rock power of “Tarantula”, the driving energy of “That’s the Way (My Love Is)” and the epic sonic attack of “...

All method, no madness.

A new standard bearer for Maritime rock.

The Pearl Jam main man's first solo record is a little too short and a little too sweet.

Who They Were: Paul Murray (vocals) Mike Smith (guitar/vocals) Jason Archibald (guitar/vocals) Scott MacFarlane (bass/vocals) Troy Shanks (drums/piano/vocals) When It Happened: 1995-1998 Why They're Remembered: A variety of reasons, not the least of which is their second album, which is one of the most criminally underappreciated albums of all time.

Five years. If you look at the timelines, study the histories, and do the math, you'll notice that the vast majority of bands don't last longer than five years. It could also be argued that if a band does indeed stay together longer than five years, anything they do from year six on is generally dogshit compared to the magic of the first five. Some bands, however, continue to thrive well over this supposed watermark. - Look at Pearl Jam, who continue to make interesting records and stay relevant over fifteen years into their career. - Green Day almost fell into the five year trap, but then discovered what I was trying to tell you people all along: rock operas are sooooo killer! - Our nation's most beloved, The Tragically Hip, have survived (without so much as a single band member replaced) and thrived for twenty years now. - Of course, a discussion on longevity would be useless without the obvious mention of The Rolling Stones, who maintain superiority in concert rev...