Shows
The Curmudgeon Rock ReportLos Angeles Rocks in the 1990s Part 1 (1990-94)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...2025-07-161h 34The Curmudgeon Rock ReportThe Parallel Universe All-Stars Present...Built to Spill!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.
En...2025-07-021h 16The Curmudgeon Rock ReportWhy Limp Bizkit Are...Shit!!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...2025-06-181h 19The Curmudgeon Rock ReportA Sober Defense Of...HawkwindIn 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.
...2025-06-041h 25The Curmudgeon Rock ReportHûsker Dû…an Underrated LegacyIn 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 accessi...2025-05-201h 10The Curmudgeon Rock ReportLos Angeles Rocks in the 1980s Part 2 (1986-90)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...2025-05-081h 52The Curmudgeon Rock ReportLos Angeles Rocks in the 1980s Part 1 (1981-85)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.
En...2025-04-221h 48The Curmudgeon Rock ReportThe 3rd Golden Age of Rock: 1980 (Turn It On Again)In which The Curmudgeons end their dynamic 3rd Golden Age of Rock series with a loving reexamination of the year 1980. The year stands as crucial pivot point for the development of rock 'n' roll culture. Punk and post-punk were becoming Gothic rock and New Wave. The Clash was serving as a virtual world jukebox. Talking Heads was virtually doing the same. And everyone was serving up their tunes and imagery in the year before MTV changed *everything* in 1981. We give love to these artists and genres and celebrate other artists including Prince, AC/DC, Rush and more.
...2025-04-091h 50The Curmudgeon Rock ReportBig L - Hip-Hop's Lost GeniusIn which The Curmudgeons honor one of hip-hop's most tragic figures. Big L was a hip-hop savant from Harlem whose flows were endlessly inventive, whose lyrics walked a fine line between pathos and shock value and whose professionalism allowed him to dominate any beat and any style. His star was on the rise in early 1999 before disaster struck and Big L was murdered. We'll closely examine his brief career and its astounding output in detail.
Enjoy the music of Big L by accessing our special Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6eUSIvLwmppo3yY...2025-03-241h 09The Curmudgeon Rock ReportCurtis Mayfield - The Most Underrated Artist in Music HistoryIn which The Curmudgeons passionately laud, lavish and defend one of the true gentle giants of popular music--and certainly its most underappreciated. Curtis Mayfield was an absolute pioneer of soul, R&B and funk. Mayfield produced an astonishing body of work, first as the bandleader for soul trio The Impressions in the 1960s, and then as a prolific solo artist in the 1970s. He tempered the anger and rage of Black America with the temperance and observant tenderness of a preacher, and he filtered that emotional tension through rich arrangements laden with strings, horns, fuzzy bass and more than...2025-03-121h 25The Curmudgeon Rock ReportThe 3rd Golden Age of Rock - 1979 (Dawn of a New Era)In which The Curmudgeons honor one of the most important years in all of rock 'n' roll history. Through the greatest albums and songs of 1979, we hear the sound of one decade fading and another decade splashing into full color and light. Post-punk, for instance, reached its most glorious heights, with bands like Public Image Ltd. and Gang of Four offering up a danceable yet jagged concoction. There was also the grandest statement put forth by The Clash, whose London Calling from late in the year was one of the most important rock records ever released. Neil Young, Michael...2025-02-252h 00The Curmudgeon Rock ReportReal Hip-Hop's Last Stand (1999-2008)In which The Curmudgeons examine the last great era for hip-hop, namely the years between 1999 and 2008. After the catastrophe that was the murders of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls, hip-hop could have imploded and or lost its footing--or even its respect as a genre. Instead, the movement throughout the 1990s, in which the hardcore went mainstream, carried over in the new century. In fact, hip-hop as a popular music genre exploded, becoming more successful than ever. In the process, genuine pop superstars like Eminem, DMX, Jay-Z, OutKast and Kanye West rose to glory. We discuss those artists and much...2025-02-122h 31The Curmudgeon Rock ReportElton John (1970-75)…A LegacyIn which the Curmudgeons know it's going to be a long, long time before the heavens produce a young man as preternaturally gifted as a songwriter and performer as Elton John proved to be back in the early 1970s. John's output during the early part of that fabled decade was routinely incredible, possessed with both a swagger and a tenderness that shone through in gorgeous melodies and the often profound lyrics of collaborator Bernie Taupin. We revisit a period when virtually no one else in all of rock n' roll could approach the mastery of Elton John. We analyze...2025-01-271h 30The Curmudgeon Rock ReportThe 3rd Golden Age of Rock - 1978 (Between Punk and Post-Punk)In which the Curmudgeons revisit the underrated yet crucially important year of 1978. Punk rock had gone mainstream in the two years prior to '78, and true to the restlessness that defined the genre, the music was ready to morph into post-punk and New Wave. We marvel at the movement this pivotal year brought in this episode. We cover albums by Elvis Costello, Public Image Ltd., Patti Smith, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Talking Heads, Devo, The Cars and more.
Enjoy all of this great music from 1978 by accessing our Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.c...2025-01-142h 09The Curmudgeon Rock ReportThe Top Ten Albums of 2024In which each of Yours Truly Curmudgeons offers our list of the ten best albums we consumed over the past 12 months. This was a surprisingly strong, deep year for new music releases...something exemplified by the fact that our lists share five entries in common. Here's a sneak peek: The top album on both of our lists is one of the greatest and most beloved superstars of all time. Shocking, but true: A pop goddess delivered a masterpiece. Find out who we're talking about and enjoy the rest of our discussion of Le Grande 2024.
Listen to...2024-12-231h 19The Curmudgeon Rock ReportThe Neil Young Archives Vol. III Tales Album...A Curmudgeonly ReviewIn which the Curmudgeons dive into the little bit of the third installment of Neil Young's Archives that we can. The full 17-CD, five-Blu Ray Archives Vol. III is available for roughly $450, but only for 5,000 lucky customers willing to spend a small fortune. The rest of us get an album Young refers to as "Takes," which contains a 16-song sampling from The Neil Young Archives Vol. III. We describe the individual albums contained within this mammoth boxed set, and Christopher O'Connor, our resident Neil Young-ologist, offers a review of the songs plus additional nuggets from the fuller Archives set...2024-11-121h 33The Curmudgeon Rock ReportLed Zeppelin....The Legacy of All LegaciesIn which The Curmudgeons worship at the altar of the mighty, mighty Led Zeppelin. With scorching guitar licks, torpedo-heavy drumming and sex-god screamer vocals, this band epitomized the sensuality and the swagger of rock 'n' roll, and in presenting their take on the genre, they helped create what we now call heavy metal. During this episode, we counter some unfair myths this band has saddled with over the years and pour over its incredibly rich catalog of music with love and respect.
Enjoy our special Spotify playlist featuring the stylings of Led Zeppelin:
ht...2024-10-302h 14The Curmudgeon Rock ReportThe 3rd Golden Age of Rock: 1976 - Year Zero For PunkIn which The Curmudgeons kick off its latest Golen Age series of episodes by revisiting the seminal year of 1976. It was a year that saw both The Ramones and The Sex Pistols break out. To say punk was the thing that year was an understatement. It was also was vital year for arena rock, as Boston and The Eagles both dropped classic albums. We also pay tribute to work from Bob Dylan, David Bowie and Stevie Wonder, among many others.
Enjoy the awesome music of 1976 by accessing our special Spotify playlist:
https://open.sp...2024-10-142h 12The Curmudgeon Rock ReportA History of DiscoIn which The Curmudgeons shake, shake, shake that booty and revisit one of popular music's most unfairly maligned genres. Disco was essentially funky orchestral music--grand, reverb-heavy, maximal, showy, dramatic. Yet it was also energetic and fun as hell. Here, we explore disco's birth as a movement of freedom and uninhibited expression in Black and Hispanic gay nightclubs and how, once a production house in Philadelphia put an official musical sheen on the proceedings, it erupted into the mainstream. We also lament disco's demise among burnout, derision and plain' ol macho racism, sexism and homophobia.
Check ou...2024-10-022h 54The Curmudgeon Rock ReportKISS In The 1970sIn which The Curmudgeons know you wanted the best so we're giving it to you. Long live KISS, whose live act and meaty, ferocious riffs are both legendary. Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss understood that rock 'n' roll, at the end of the day, is all about the show. And KISS, nearly 50 years ago, put on the greatest show on the rock 'n' roll earth--leather, makeup, fire, blood, explosions, lightning and seven-inch platform boots. It was a show that the world was so fond of it discovered it still longed for it 20 years later. Thus...2024-09-171h 28The Curmudgeon Rock ReportLynyrd Skynyrd...A Checkered LegacyIn which The Curmudgeons discuss the awesome power and influence of one of the innovators of the Southern thing, as The Drive-By Truckers refer to it. Lynyrd Skynyrd remains one of the most underrated rock bands of all time, a condition that is partially its own fault, given how it has tied itself in its most recent form to the worst of old Southern stereotypes. But there's no denying that the band's patented three-guitar assault, soulful songwriting and penchant for being the thinking man's rednecks produced a sterling catalog of work during the 1970s. We revisit the five albums...2024-09-031h 21The Curmudgeon Rock ReportThe 2nd Golden Age of Rock: 1972 - The Real Beginning of the 1970sIn which the Curmudgeons end their epic series of odes to the music of a nine-year period that transformed everything--and then some--in popular music. By 1972, the hangover from the revolutionary vibes of the 1960s had subsided, and that era's outgrowth of freedom and experimentation truly started to blossom. The Rolling Stones filtered American roots music through a dirty, sweaty prism to create a true rock masterpiece. David Bowie perfected glam rock and intergalactic theater to create a masterpiece of his own. And Stevie Wonder, Al Green and Curtis Mayfield set Black music on a wilder, more lush course. We...2024-08-201h 47The Curmudgeon Rock ReportThe Best Songs From 1970s Blaxploitation FilmsIn which The Curmudgeons stand up to the man and deliver the best of the best of a special era for both cinema and music, when African-Americans anti-heroes lit up the screens and imaginations of a generation of young Black people. And also young Black artists, who cranked out stunning funk, soul and disco anthems to accompany these films. Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway and The Staple Singers were among the legends who contributed to this electrifying canon. We enter our wayback machine and revisit some of the best Black music of its time.
...2024-08-061h 10The Curmudgeon Rock ReportWhen Hardcore Hip-Hop Went Mainstream (1992-98)In which The Curmudgeons revisit an era where the streets soared to the top of the charts...and then unleashed their danger on hip-hop's finest artists. The success of Dr. Dre's 1992 album The Chronic ushered in an era where cursing, threatening lyrical opponents with violence, drug use and other chicanery became acceptable fodder for the radio dial. And it gave artists who might not otherwise have enjoyed a broad-based platform an opportunity to shine--including a couple of guys named Tupac Shakur and Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G" Wallace. In this episode, we analyze the tremendous music this period...2024-07-232h 56The Curmudgeon Rock ReportThe 2nd Golden Age of Rock: 1971 - The Greatest Year Ever?In which The Curmudgeons explore one of the most extraordinary years for rock music of all time. We won't call it the greatest, because we don't really believe in such a superlative. But, still, 1971 was pretty freakin' great. Patheon albums from Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and The Who; stone-cold masterpieces from Carole King and Joni Mitchell; and classics by Funkadelic, David Bowie, Santana and many others hit the shelves. We revisit it all with fondness and a romantic sense of history.
Check out our super-long but super-awesome special Spotify playlist dedicated to the music of...2024-07-022h 14The Curmudgeon Rock ReportWhy The Black Keys Are...Great!!In which The Curmudgeons celebrate the music and indelible legacy of one of the 21st Century's smartest, most vital rock bands. When The Black Keys first hit in 2002, comparisons with The White Stripes were inevitable. After all, they were a duo that blasted forth with just a guitar and drums. But that's where the fair comparisons ended. The Black Keys offered up lean, mean, reverent blues rock with dashes of soul and psychedelia. After self-recording their first four albums--and mostly doing so in basements--the band graduated to the majors with the help of storied hip-hop producer Danger Mouse, instantly...2024-06-181h 15The Curmudgeon Rock ReportWhy Arcade Fire...Are Shit!!In which the Curmudgeons hammer one of the most perplexing "it" bands of the entire 21st Century. Arcade Fire stormed out of Montreal in 2004 with Funeral, a debut album that captured the imagination of throngs of unimaginative indie hipster d-bags. Whereas their fans and a whole bunch of fawning rock critics heard glorious art in all the band's maximal grandiosity, we just heard...noise. Lots of it. A pulverizing wave of annoyance after annoyance. And the annoyance has yet to stop. Let us tell you all the ways we think this band is a giant turd burger.
...2024-06-041h 04The Curmudgeon Rock ReportThe 2nd Golden Age of Rock: 1970 - Into the MysticIn which the Curmudgeons continue their romp through rock's second golden age by revisiting perhaps the age's most underrated year. There were a ton of great albums released in 1970, as we discuss at least half-a-ton of those albums during this episode. It was a year when the rock 'n' roll generation started to mature and grow more varied in its tastes and its demands. The Beatles split up that year, and its core members all released solo albums in 1970. There also was the "soft-rock" movement, which made stars out of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and a guy named Neil...2024-05-212h 25The Curmudgeon Rock ReportHip-Hop's Golden Age (1986-1991)In which The Curmudgeons straight cold rock a party and revisit hip-hop's greatest, most electrifying, most unendingly thrilling period, which stretched from 1986 to 1991. We tear through 12 brilliant albums and dozens of awesome singles that taught all the MCs and producers that followed how it should it be done--and how it would be done from here on out. We cover Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, Schooly D, Ice Cube, 2 Live Crew, Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, Gang Starr, A Tribe Called Quest, The Beastie Boys, Queen Latifah and scores of other great and hugely influential artists.
Listen to...2024-05-082h 15The Curmudgeon Rock ReportRod Stewart - WTF Happened?!In which The Curmudgeons marvel at the trainwreck that the career of a pretty fabulous rock 'n' roll singer became. Rod Stewart's gravelly, soulful voice was the engine for a series of great ramped-up yet mostly acoustic albums in the late 1960s and early 1970s, all of which cemented a solid legacy for the singer. And then Stewart became beholden to a rock-star, sexy-man persona that craved relevance more than integrity. Starting in 1975, his career descended into a series of schlocky, cheesy singles that, while they proved to be his biggest hits, must be heard to truly appreciate their...2024-04-231h 22The Curmudgeon Rock ReportThe 2nd Golden Age of Rock: 1969 - Peace, Love and BloodIn which The Curmudgeons meditate on one of rock's most important years. The music of 1969 was as inspiring as the times it was released were tumultuous. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Who all released celebrated masterworks. Southern rock was born, and the newfangled form of funk continued to evolve. And two gigantic festivals hit the United States--one glorious, the other notorious. There would be blood, serving as arguably a perfect prelude to the 1970s.
Read a gripping book we discuss during the episode, Joel Selvin's "Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and th...2024-04-092h 31The Curmudgeon Rock ReportIn Defense Of...The DoorsIn which The Curmudgeons make the case for what we think is one of the most underrated bands of all time: The Doors. Wait. The Doors?! Yup. Once revered and now reviled, The Doors, we believe, are viewed by younger generations as a Baby Boomer fossil that is as pretentious as it is insufferable. But that misses the mark badly. Listen as we discuss the influences and artistic ambition that made Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek and bandmates so compelling, so engaging and so original.
Enjoy each of The Door's six marvelous--or at least marvelously strange--records the...2024-03-251h 48The Curmudgeon Rock ReportBlack Rebel Motorcycle Club - The Most Underrated Band of the 00'sIn which The Curmudgeons introduce you--again--to your new favorite band. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club spliced the neo-psychedelic swagger of bands like The Brian Jonestown Massacre with the rawkin' menace of the Stone Roses, Oasis and other British bands to offer a maximal yet poignant vision of what rock 'n' roll should be. Their five-album output during the first decade of the 21st century is one of the best streaks of releases in recent memory. We analyze each album as a means of explaining why B.R.M.C. was so powerful--and so ultimately meaningful.
Enjoy th...2024-03-051h 03The Curmudgeon Rock ReportThe 2nd Golden Age of Rock: 1968 - Say You Want a Revolution?In which The Curmudgeons explore the dichotomous year that followed 1967's Summer of Love trippiness. The previous year's highs represent a peak creative burst. Well, where to go next? That's where the era's most storied artists diverged. On the one hand, you had bands that went bigger and bolder--The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and The Grateful Dead fall into this category. On the other hand, you had a yearning to return to the simpler roots of rock 'n' roll, and a rush toward softer, warmer hues by The Byrds, The Band, The Kinks and others ensued. We explore both paths...2024-02-212h 06The Curmudgeon Rock ReportHip-Hop Comes of Age (1980-85)In which the Curmudgeons marvel at how quickly, and how well, hip-hop evolved after the Sugar Hill Gang's massive 1979 hit "Rapper's Delight" changed the game completely for everyone. We tell the story of how entrepreneurs, hustlers and visionaries seized the moment to bridge gaps between the streets, the art galleries and the record-label boardrooms. We celebrate a string of amazing singles that grew in sophistication and in pure fun with each volley. And we mark the beginning of the album as a hip-hop artform by discussing two classics, Run-D.M.C.'s self-titled debut and LL Cool J's Radio. 2024-02-061h 38The Curmudgeon Rock ReportOur Top 10 Albums of 2023In which The Curmudgeons each reveal their favorite records of the year. Frankly, it was a mediocre past 12 months for popular music, and there aren't a whole lot of records people will remember a decade from now. Yet there were some gems, and during this moment in time, we're excited to share our picks. Call it a public service.
Enjoy a sampler platter of our selections via our Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1N5hCOovaIYE2uobAgvxVy?si=a80ada2729ab42c8
Here is a handy navigation companion for t...2023-12-271h 30The Curmudgeon Rock ReportThe Curmudgeonly WayIntroducing the maiden voyage of The Curmudgeon Rock Report, wherein Christopher O'Connor and Arturo Andrade, longtime friends and unabashed rock 'n' roll nerds, introduce themselves and introduce the worldview that will govern this podcast. It's a love letter and break-up letter all at once.
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