In 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 r…

In 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 Ha…

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 dia…

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 Mitchel…

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 …

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 ma…

In 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 ta…

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…

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 t…

In 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 Uni…

In 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 …

In 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…

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 fal…

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 boardroo…

In which the Curmudgeons count down our selections for the 50 best B-side songs in rock history. The B-side is something of a lost art as digital music dominates and physical media becomes less prevalent. But there was a time when the other side of the 45 or tracks 2 and 3 of the CD maxi-single mattered. There, you could find songs the artist inten…

In which The Curmudgeons revisit an unbelievably fertile year for popular music during the 20th century. The Beatles dropped Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. James Bown dropped "Cold Sweat." And a staggering number of artists announced their arrival in stunning fashion--Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, the Velvet Underground and others. And, yes…

In 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 pl…

In which The Curmudgeons celebrate an underrated classic album that was Chris's favorite for a stretch when he was 18 years old. Yes, the episode title is a direct assertion about Blind Melon's debut record Chris made once upon a time to Arturo. But was it a warranted statement from a tortured 18-year-old kid? Of course not, but don't we all have a…

In which The Curmudgeons plumb the vast archival releases of one of our favorite artists, Neil Young. Chris, in fact, considers himself a Neil Young-ologist, and he takes the lead in touring ten of the most essential releases in what has seemed, since 2009, like a never-ending torrent of live recordings and unreleased studio material dating all the…

In which the Curmudgeons revisit the year when rock 'n' roll exploded into psychedelic glory. The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde and The Beatles' Revolver greatly expanded rock's vocabulary--with a little help from their friends. All three albums are considered timeless greats, and we discuss the myriad reasons why. We also pa…

In which The Curmudgeons espouse the virtues of Bston's glorious, pioneering arena rock masterpiece. Boston's self-titled debut was the product of the creative mind and engineering talents of a guy who worked by day as an engineer for Polaroid. His use of multiple tracks to layer lead guitar parts and vocals effectively created what became a cliche…

In which the Curmudgeons remember and pay fond tribute to one of our favorite bands of all time, which now unfortunately is masquerading as an emblem for Las Vegas tourism. We give close attention to the hope, grace and sense of wonder that made the band's anthemic brand of rock 'n' roll so magnificent. We focus especially on the period between 198…

In which the Curmudgeons focus their gaze on music that exploded into our cultural consciousness 58 years ago--and is still exploding now. For the second consecutive year, The Beatles and Bob Dylan changed and everything and then some. The Rolling Stones started writing songs and kicking ass. James Brown, The Byrds, The Who and The Beach Boys also …

In which the Curmudgeons wake up in the city that never sleeps once more and offer a countdown of what we think is the definitive list of the greatest 40 rock 'n' roll songs about the Big Apple. We touch on the city's love-hate dichotomies and make the argument that these songs paint the city as an experience more than as a residence. And Arturo re…

In which The Curmudgeons give the origins of hip-hop a serious treatment and contemplate the magical melding of time, place and resources that makes its early history so compelling. The pioneers of the genre stared down the destruction and impoverishment of the South Bronx with the swagger of kings, organically spinning celebration, and positivity,…

In which The Curmudgeons launch their latest "golden age" series, this time on the one that arguably matters the most: the second one. Between 1964 and 1972, everything changed, and then changed again. The whole cultural powderkeg exploded into something thrilling, something indescribable and something that ensured podcasts like ours will always ex…

In which The Curmudgeons marvel at the pure rock 'n' roll glory of what we think is an underappreciated band, The Black Crowes. The band blended the influence of the Rolling Stones, Faces, Humble Pie and dollops of Southern Rock into a blast of audio dynamite that exploded in...1990, when MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice and Paula Abdul otherwise ruled the u…

In which the Curmudgeons follow James Brown into his disco-era slump and his triumphant return to the top of the charts with the shining monument that was "Living in America." We also cover Brown's troubling descent into drug addiction and criminal behavior, which in 1988 culminated with a 2-year-plus prison sentence. There also are sordid allegati…

In which The Curmudgeons get on up, get into it and get very, very involved in talking about one of the most extraordinary stretches of music ever produced by anyone. When James Brown went all in on what he called "The One," emphasizing the first beat in a four-beat measure, he sparked a musical revolution that not only invented funk but also defin…

In which the Curmudgeons get on the good foot and launch a three-part look at the career of a man who may just be rock 'n' roll's truest genius. From jail time in his rough-and-tumble youth to showtime at the Apollo and the chart heights of "I Got You (I Feel Good), we trace the ascension of James Brown as he croons and shuffles his way to supersta…

In which The Curmudgeons are joined by renowned author and R.E.M. biographer Tony Fletcher to fondly analyze the band's musical and cultural legacy, 40 years after the album Murmur changed rock expectations forever. We also discuss why one of the best bands in American history doesn't seem to get its due, despite its obvious influence on the sound …

In which the Curmudgeons are joined by South Korea-based radio DJ Daniel Springer to debunk myths and celebrate the music of Australia's coolest, sexiest--and best--band of the 1980s. INXS was far more than a band with one ubiquitous hit and a gorgeous, tortured lead singer. They took elements of funk, soul and jazz and melded them with New Wave se…

In which the Curmudgeons pulverize one of this century's most revered rock bands. And also perhaps its stupidest. Bandleader Gerard Way claims in interviews he formed My Chemical Romance after witnessing the Twin Towers fall from his native Northern New Jersey on 9/11. That's bad enough. Way and his mates then unleashed a torrent of disgustingly ce…

In which The Curmudgeons mix bewilderment with disdain in discussing the stench-filled star run of The Killers, the Vegas band by way of Utah who have aped a band or two -- or 50 -- you may know and love for nearly 20 years. We hold our noses and analyze a seven-album catalog that finds so-earnest-it-hurts bandleader Brandon Flowers travel a road f…

In which The Curmudgeons embark on a tour of 1970s Germany to discuss and analyze the influence of the artists and bands who invented and innovated the rock genre derisively coined Krautrock by snotty British people. The German musicians and label heads themselves called it "cosmic music." Theirs was a movement designed to distinguish a not-so-admi…

In which the Curmudgeons share our definitive countdown of sublime and powerful covers of rock songs by an array of artists. Some cover artists we know you've heard of before (Led Zeppelin, The Who). Others? Maybe not (Charles Bradley, Urge Overkill). Doesn't matter. After you hear our take on these songs, you'll never need to consume another list …

In which the Curmudgeons muse about the greatness of the rawest, realest Beatle here in the age of cancel culture. Lennon's very public journey from depressive edginess to middle-aged wisdom was inspiring and remains fascinating to study. First, we analyze how the tension between Lennon and Paul McCartney defined The Beatles' legacy. Then we trace …

In which Arturo Andrade rips Dave Grohl's renaissance project turned to unfortunately real band to shreds and does so vigorously...and with plenty of Internet-bred validation from others who hate this band. Chris O'Connor, who counts Grohl as a personal hero, only lightly pushes back. Alas, a turd is a turd. Let us rumble through this (mostly) stea…

In which one of Yours Truly Curmudgeons, Arturo Andrade, flies solo and empties out his vault to share the greatest "extended play" rock albums ever released. It's a list that has Chris O'Connor's endorsement and includes a few treasured classics as well as some obscurities and very bashed-out primitive recordings from beloved artists. Artists disc…

In which the Curmudgeons each count down their picks for the 20 best albums of 2002. There is plenty of overlap, but there is also plenty of disagreement. Is Beyonce awesome or lazy? Is Soul Glo a piece of gold or a piece of garbage? Either way, these are all the titles to snack on as you catch up on all this music we loved--or at least admired. Ch…

In which the Curmudgeons examine the career and the great music of rock 'n' roll's best "brother and sister" act. Okay, so they were really ex-husband and ex-wife, but hammy mythos was small part of what made The White Stripes so compelling. That, and their incredible ability to deconstruct and celebrate the blues, country and folk with explosive g…

In which the Curmudgeons continue their revisitation of rock 'n' roll's magical yet tense rise as the music and attitude of American youth. Last episode, we discussed the parochial influences that shaped the earliest rock and the Black pioneers who introduced it to the world. Now, we discuss what happened when Whites got a load of it. The teens lov…

In which The Curmudgeons celebrate this thing here called rock 'n' roll by going all the way back to the beginning. Actually, we go back to before the beginning and discuss the cultural movements and formative influences that gave our beloved musical form its shapes and colors. We also honor the four men we believe were the foremost pioneers of the…

In which the Curmudgeons counter one of the laziest conventional wisdoms in all of rock 'n' roll: that Muse is a self-serious, ridiculous ripoff of Radiohead that appeals to dumb people with bad taste. No, actually they're one of the most fearless and inventive bands of the 21st century that gets a central rock tenet: ridiculousness is your friend.…

In which the Curmudgeons offer a study of albums from artists whose music and grand ambitions influenced the U.K.'s beloved band Muse. We'll be defending Muse during our next episode. The band's status as a mainstream stadium filler has made them a target for lazy disrespect. We're pushing back, and we're starting now with a journey through the pas…

In which the Curmudgeons offer a public service and guide you through the essentials within Osees' vast catalog of albums. This is a band that changes its name every couple of years, so maybe it's not a surprise they've released more than 20 studio albums since 2007, plus singles collections and the like. That's a lot...but, yo, we got you covered.…

In which Curmudgeons celebrate a cult band from Vermont whose cult became massive by the end of the 1990s. The members of Phish were not noodling descendants of The Grateful Dead. They were virtuoso musicians whose songcraft and studio output--and even their live performances!--are sorely underrated. Well, not anymore. Songs discussed during this e…

In which the Curmudgeons explore the six studio albums the Dead recorded and released between 1973 and 1980. By the time they dropped Wake of the Flood in 1973, the exploding cult following of their live output meant they didn't really need to make good albums to remain successful. And yet they did. Songs discussed during this episode include: Phos…

In which the Curmudgeons begin a two-episode analysis of how The Grateful Dead transitioned from legends of the late '60s psychedelic underground to makers of extraordinary and timeless albums by the beginning of the 1970s. We ride that train as the band journeys through its first five studio albums. Songs discussed during this episode include: Mon…

In which the Curmudgeons express admiration for a band you may have heard a negative word or two about. No, Don Henley must not die! The Eagles were much, much more than the sum of a greatest hits record that sold a boatload of copies. We explain why. Songs discussed during this episode include: Pink Mountaintops, "Lights of the City" Black Midi, "…