Fearless appreciation of rock music since 2012
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There was never really a bad year for rock music or rock set lists; some years were just more exciting than others. 1984 was a turning point in my concert-going career because I turned 16, got my driver’s license, kept…
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17 Great 80s Rock Bands (You Might Have Missed)
It’s hard to find great 1980s rock bands that were overlooked because the market was saturated by MTV and radio. It’s easier to find great bands from the 1970s and the 1990s, too, when the rise of digital recording rocked…
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Rock Genres Beginning with C
Genres of rock music are interesting concepts because some genres are media contrivances, e.g., college rock. Nobody has ever made, nor will anybody ever make “college rock.” It’s a bullshit term to categorize the audience, i.e., the kids who listen…
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Dan Epstein Interview: Co-Author of Now You’re One of Us: The Incredible Story of Redd Kross
I’m old enough to remember a time when rock star memoirs were rare occurrences. The last 20 years have brought an avalanche of memoirs and autobiographies from some of rock’s biggest—and sometimes, not-so-big names. What’s driving the boom is another…
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18 Great 70s Rock Artists (You Might Have Missed)
Great 1970s rock bands have a habit of falling through the cracks. For every Kiss and Led Zeppelin, thousands of overlooked artists were as good, if not better, than the superstars. The bands and artists on this list aren’t one-hit…
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Rock Genres Beginning with B
The second installment of my regrettable rock genres project, Rock Genres Explained, in which I attempt to explain every genre on this list of rock genres (copy-pasted from Wikipedia and doctored with numerous additions). “While strategizing for the 2025 website overhaul, I…
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Weird and Quirky Cover Versions of Great Rock Songs
I’m a sucker for a good cover song, whether sincere or satirical. I’ve spent entire weeks listening to nothing but Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine, the Mike Flowers Pops, and Pat Boone’s In a Metal Mood (2007). I’d…
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10 Great Rock Songs (Surprisingly) Inspired by Books and Literature
Rock music is littered with songs and albums inspired by great literature. Some bands, like Iron Maiden, don’t have much to say if they’re not retelling “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”. The Cure have consistently dropped tracks inspired by…
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Interesting Rock Set Lists of 1975
In 1975, an eight-year-old recalls a typical suburban family life with limited technology. Music dominated leisure time, with iconic television shows like The Midnight Special showcasing famous artists. From concerts to set lists of bands like Kiss and Barry Manilow,…
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Rock Genres Beginning with A
One of our most popular pages on BSM (in terms of organic search traffic) is a barebones list of rock genres from A to Z (copy-pasted from Wikipedia and doctored with numerous additions). It didn’t even have a featured image…
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Top 50 Rock Vocalists of All Time (According to Me)
Part of my job at a Taiwanese publishing company was writing speeches for kids. We followed a customized Rule of Threes for public speaking. The title of this post informs you that I’m going to talk about the best rock…
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Great Rock Set Lists of 1983
My parents started letting me go to concerts with my friends in 1981, but I only went to a couple of shows, mainly because we lived in the suburbs and hence, needed a driver. Our parents weren’t always cooperative. It…
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Great Rock Set Lists of 1974
Progressive rock and art rock slipped into mainstream consciousness in 1974. We received extremely important and, in some cases, watershed records from Brian Eno, Sparks, Steely Dan, King Crimson, Queen, Genesis, Supertramp, Kraftwerk, and Roxy Music. We haven’t exactly moved…
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25 Songs About California
You’ll be disappointed if you clicked on this post expecting to see “Hotel California” by the Eagles anywhere on the list. The best-selling rock hit of 1977–78 isn’t even among my top 50 songs about the Golden State. Why? Of…
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Albums You Must Hear Before You Die…Or Not (1991–1992)
There was one morning I woke up in 1992 and I felt like I’d been asleep for a couple of years. Right here, right now, 1992, I think the 1001 Albums list should end and start over. The book and…
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25 Songs About Going Down to Mexico
Because geography, there are few things more quintessentially American than the concept of “going down to Mexico.” Nobody ever says they’re going up to Mexico—that would be silly. Whether you’re an outlaw in search of refuge or a college kid…
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Van Halen’s Top 10 Under-Appreciated Songs
At this point in life, I don’t begrudge anybody’s appreciation of the Sammy Hagar-era albums. I don’t even care if you happen to love Van Halen III featuring Gary Cherone. Just don’t confuse that music with the true genius of…
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Robert Plant Didn’t Ruin It For Anybody
I used to think that Robert Plant ruined it for everybody. One could argue that rock music does not have a single, universally beloved figure, for lack of a better term. Nobody can agree on The Beatles vs. The Rolling…
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Bill Dolan Interview Part 2
Guitarist Bill Dolan is one of my favorite musicians and one of the most underrated, unsung guitar players of my lifetime. He also happens to be my friend. Twenty years ago, Bill and I—along with Ronnie Kwasman and Matthew Tucker—played…
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Albums You Must Hear Before You Die…Or Not (1989–1990)
Comparatively speaking, we’re going to breeze through this period. There’s a revolution of sorts on the horizon. At this point, recording artists are either making records that sell, or they aren’t making records. There will be fewer suggested alternatives simply…
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Albums You Must Hear Before You Die…Or Not (1987–1988)
If 1985-1986 was a dead zone for Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, then 1987–1988 is a black hole. Mainstream popular music was more about hairspray and pastel colors than artistic achievement. It was Michael Jackson’s Bad. But was…
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Albums You Must Hear Before You Die…Or Not (1985–1986)
1985–86 is a disappointing period of must-hear albums. As I perused the unofficial list of selections from this period, half the time I was thinking, “Christ, nobody should have to listen to that.” 1001 Albums Rating Key: Note: Suggested alternatives…
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Albums You Must Hear Before You Die…Or Not (1983–1984)
The 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die list gets weird and stingy in 1983–1984. The panel ignored more than a handful of must-hear albums, and it’s hard to say why. I have one theory, but it doesn’t answer…
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Albums You Must Hear Before You Die…Or Not (1981–1982)
Every so often, it’s important to stop, take a look around, stare out the window for a while, change the channel, and get up and stretch your legs. The last four years in popular music (1977–1980) have witnessed multiple sea…
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Albums You Must Hear Before You Die…Or Not (1979–1980)
1979-1980 is the first period of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die…Or Not, in which I had heard every record before writing the associated essay. In some cases, I was listening to the album for only the second…
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