The Amateur Blogger Returns From A Vacation In San Andreas

So, yeah, that happened.

I'm well aware that I've gone ten days without posting in this space, and I'm sure a few of you are concerned I've dropped off the face of the earth and/or been abducted by oil barons and/or checked in to a methadone clinic. I can sure you I'm still here, my car's almost out of gas and my dirty habits are well under control.

There are no good excuses for negligence; you have my apologies for being so quiet recently. However, many of you will understand if I felt compelled to get lost in the rich fantasy world provided by Grand Theft Auto V.

Indeed, this silly little video game has really gotten in the way of my blogging side gig (but more importantly, my real job has gotten in the way of GTA V). I'm sure I'm not the only one, and can only imagine how many employees have torn off their name tags in favour of the (fake money) high paying life of crime offered one so inclined in San Andreas.

Nonetheless, you have my apologies.

The saddest trickle down from my adventures in video game land is that I completely and totally missed this blog's 10,000th page view. Rest assured, this is a big deal to me, and I wholeheartedly appreciate all of you for checking out this dank corner of the internet out. I'd especially like to thank eager Arctic Monkeys fans who flocked to the AM album stream I posted a few weeks back and the Nirvana faithful who turned out last week to commemorate In Utero's 20th anniversary. You guys helped push me into five digits, and I wouldn't have maintained this blog nearly as frequently or with as much passion for music without your views. Seriously, it means a lot to me, so thank you.

With that said, get ready for an increase in content as we hurdle toward year's end. There are still plenty of highly anticipated albums in the pipeline, and I'll be covering them here as we get closer to release dates. There are also reviews of new Kings of Leon and Matthew Good albums in the works for the next few days. Then, there's the upcoming 20th anniversary article for Pearl Jam's sophomore masterpiece Vs., which is coming your way in about three weeks' time.

And, those who've frequented this place since the beginning will know that as we get into November it'll be time for the massive yearly recap blowout I like to call Year in Rock, culminating in my awards for song and album of the year.

So yes, there's still lots to talk about, and I'm still willing to talk about it if you're still willing to read it. And don't forget to like Sound Bites on Facebook to get instant updates and quick tidbits on the fly. Thanks again for visiting!

Year in Rock 2025

Alright, I've got some explaining to do. By now anyone who's visited this blog is well aware of how infrequently I've used this space in recent years; aside from the occasional fertile year of content, I really haven't posted all that often over the last five years or so. There are many reasons for this, which have already been outlined in previous apology posts; but, essentially, it boils down to my own laziness and the cold reality that blogs are, like Refused (again), fucking dead. So, I wouldn't hold my breath for a triumphant return to reviews, or even semi-regular posts, but: a) I feel like Year in Rock posts have always belonged here and, even though I've experimented with different methods of presentation recently and been satisfied, the "blink and you missed it" unveiling via Facebook stories this year was perhaps ultimately a disservice to the records I lauded. After all, cramming the list into short videos isn't too far off from ju...

Year in Rock 2013 Nominee: Arctic Monkeys

ARCTIC MONKEYS Do I Wanna Know? From: AM Released: September 10 That Year in Rock 2012's Single of the Year R U Mine? ended up on this album is pleasing, and it fits the motif well enough. But R U Mine? isn't what makes Arctic Monkeys' fifth album an Album of the Year contender. Sweaty, sultry and pulsing with sexual energy, AM is the kind of record that's just as effective whether you're chilling out after a long day, staring into a mirror prepping yourself for a late night clubbing session or setting the mood for some escapades in the boudoir.

Year in Rock 2023: Album of the Year #10-1

Now we're getting somewhere; the top ten, where there are no duds or mids, only bangers. Also, no more teasing it out; let's wrap this up! What I've learned this year from my ten faves this year is that it is indeed still possible for a dude approaching his fifties to more or less stay up to date on the new school. Of course, there are some listed here that got a boost from playing tribute to the old school, but there is an undercurrent happening in rock that points to the future. But, I'm getting ahead of myself; here come the champs. 10 MILITARIE GUN Life Under the Gun June 23, 2023 • Loma Vista Highlights Very High Will Logic Never Fucked Up Once Rising from the ranks of the still-potent L.A. hardcore scene, the debut record from Militarie Gun (following a trio of EPs) bears a dash of polish that's expected with backing from a larger label; the tension and energy remain, though, resulting in one of the catchiest hardcore albums I can think of in recent years. 9 ...

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