Music Features
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An uplifting rock doc, a video of a video game, and a hot sauce to keep you warm By Matt Gerardi, Kyle Ryan, Becca James January 7, 2017 | 6:00am
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How A.V. Club staffers got their offspring to just say no to kids’ music By Nick Wanserski, Gwen Ihnat, Josh Modell, Rick Hamann, Noel Murray, Jesse Hassenger, Eric Munn January 3, 2017 | 6:00am
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Run The Jewels and Japandroids lead the charge of January’s new music releases By kenneth-partridge, Leonardo Adrian Garcia, Matt Williams, Brian Shultz, Philip Cosores, Josh Modell, Annie Zaleski, Nina Corcoran, Clayton Purdom, Kelsey J. Waite, David Anthony, Sean O'Neal, Ryan Bray, Randall Colburn, Marah Eakin, Paula Mejia January 3, 2017 | 6:00am
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From Train to Star Wars electronica, this is 2016’s least essential music By Nick Wanserski, Leonardo Adrian Garcia, Caitlin PenzeyMoog, David Anthony, Sean O'Neal, Alex McLevy, Marah Eakin December 23, 2016 | 6:00am
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Mac DeMarco charms, delights in this new Pickathon clip By Marah Eakin December 22, 2016 | 3:59pm
- Miseducation case file #76: Lauryn Hill’s MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 By Nathan Rabin December 15, 2016 | 6:00am
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The A.V. Club chats about the year’s best records By David Anthony December 12, 2016 | 9:58pm
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The best music of 2016: The ballots By Kevin Warwick, Evan Rytlewski, kenneth-partridge, Leonardo Adrian Garcia, Chris Mincher, Annie Zaleski, Josh Modell, Kelsey J. Waite, Lily Moayeri, J.J. Anselmi, David Anthony, Sean O'Neal, Alex McLevy, Randall Colburn, Zoe Camp, Clayton Purdom, Eric Swedlund December 12, 2016 | 6:00am
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The A.V. Club’s 20 best albums of 2016 By Kevin Warwick, Evan Rytlewski, Annie Zaleski, Leonardo Adrian Garcia, Chris Mincher, Josh Modell, Kelsey J. Waite, David Anthony, Sean O'Neal, Alex McLevy, Randall Colburn, Zoe Camp, Clayton Purdom, Eric Swedlund December 12, 2016 | 6:00am
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Lucy Dacus somehow made the familiar sound new on No Burden By Josh Modell December 9, 2016 | 6:00am
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Isaiah Rashad’s low-key, masterful new album is a Southern rap classic By Clayton Purdom December 8, 2016 | 6:00am
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Bloc Party’s Hymns was a musical exorcism for the band By Danette Chavez December 7, 2016 | 6:00am
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Kanye, Chance, and Bon Iver can’t all be wrong about Francis And The Lights By Erik Adams December 6, 2016 | 6:00am
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Carly Rae Jepsen’s Emotion: Side B is glorious, surprisingly deep pop By Esther Zuckerman December 5, 2016 | 6:00am
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Pissing Match Champions: A Year In Band Names 10-year retrospective By Kyle Ryan December 5, 2016 | 6:00am
- A killer box set, useful role-playing app, and Twitter account that makes poetry from data By Alex McLevy, Nick Wanserski, Laura M. Browning December 3, 2016 | 6:00am
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Contract space madness with the year’s most cosmic (and adventurous) metal album By A.A. Dowd December 2, 2016 | 1:00pm
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What song do you wish you—and the world—could hear again for the first time? By Annie Zaleski, Kyle Ryan, Kevin Pang, Gwen Ihnat, Esther Zuckerman, Joe Blevins, David Anthony, Becca James, Erik Adams, Alex McLevy, Danette Chavez, Brandon Nowalk, Sean O'Neal, William Hughes, Jesse Hassenger, Caitlin PenzeyMoog December 2, 2016 | 6:00am
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Parquet Courts’ raw, animal power evolves into a Human Performance By Laura Adamczyk December 1, 2016 | 1:00pm
- Exploded View’s splintered post-punk debut is a timely call to arms By Kelsey J. Waite November 30, 2016 | 6:00am
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Panting at the threshold of your worst imaginings: The year in band names, 2016 By Kyle Ryan November 30, 2016 | 6:00am
- Vaporwave is no longer a joke on 2814’s Rain Temple By Sean O'Neal November 29, 2016 | 6:00am
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With Outer Heaven, Greys made a subtle, personal protest record By David Anthony November 28, 2016 | 6:00am
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On its 25th anniversary, Achtung Baby remains U2’s defining achievement By Kevin Pang November 28, 2016 | 6:00am
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105 shows, 61 cities, 1 holiday season: How does Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s tour work? By Marah Eakin November 28, 2016 | 6:00am
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Mount Moriah brings the intensity in the latest video from our Pickathon series By Marah Eakin November 23, 2016 | 4:00pm
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Today’s best deals: Robotic vacuum, wireless headphones, and more By Shep McAllister November 22, 2016 | 7:23pm
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Big Star’s swan song captured a band—and a genius—falling apart By Noel Murray November 15, 2016 | 6:00am
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30 years later, how does Beastie Boys’ Licensed To Ill hold up? By Gwen Ihnat, David Anthony, Sean O'Neal November 14, 2016 | 6:00am
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Dancing to the end with Leonard Cohen By Sean O'Neal November 11, 2016 | 8:44pm
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At least Hillary can still win Pick A Choice, thanks to Andrew W.K. By John Teti November 10, 2016 | 6:19pm
- Speedy Ortiz’s Sadie Dupuis on how movies brought her record to life By David Anthony November 10, 2016 | 3:36pm
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November’s new music includes releases from Alicia Keys, Metallica, and (maybe) Beck By Laura Adamczyk, A.A. Dowd, Clayton Purdom, Kelsey J. Waite, David Anthony, Sean O'Neal, Alex McLevy, Matt Gerardi, Marah Eakin, Laura M. Browning November 2, 2016 | 5:00am
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With We Are The Romans, Botch helped redefine hardcore By Kevin Warwick November 1, 2016 | 5:00am
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King Sunny Adé sows sunshine in the first video from our new Pickathon series By Marah Eakin October 26, 2016 | 3:00pm
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Ted Leo on self-documentation and what comes after anger By Danette Chavez October 20, 2016 | 2:00pm
- Going 4 it! case file #72: Corey Feldman’s solo musical career By Nathan Rabin October 20, 2016 | 5:00am
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New-age music lives on as long as our need to disengage does By Eli Zeger October 20, 2016 | 5:00am
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Week 19: It’s the end of the purge as we know it (and I feel fine) By Josh Modell October 18, 2016 | 5:00am
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Gilmore Guys’ Demi Adejuyigbe takes down an inferior “Tonight Tonight” By Marah Eakin October 14, 2016 | 5:00am
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What music do you only listen to in very specific circumstances? By Nathan Rabin, Laura Adamczyk, Kyle Ryan, Nick Wanserski, Gwen Ihnat, A.A. Dowd, Annie Zaleski, Esther Zuckerman, Joe Blevins, Becca James, Sean O'Neal, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, Alex McLevy, Danette Chavez, William Hughes, Jesse Hassenger, Dennis Perkins October 14, 2016 | 5:00am
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The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion hit its freak-rock peak on Now I Got Worry By Ryan Bray October 11, 2016 | 5:00am
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How 3 wildly different perspectives became LVL UP’s newest album By David Anthony October 11, 2016 | 5:00am
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Week 18: Wilco, The Wedding Present, and Yeezy all start with W By Josh Modell October 11, 2016 | 5:00am
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Art-rock band Menomena suffered a brief hiccup before reinventing itself By Alex McLevy October 7, 2016 | 6:00pm
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What song always gives you goosebumps? By Jesse Hassenger, Nathan Rabin, Nick Wanserski, Kyle Ryan, Annie Zaleski, Gwen Ihnat, Esther Zuckerman, Joe Blevins, Zack Handlen, David Anthony, Becca James, Erik Adams, Alex McLevy, Sean O'Neal, Caitlin PenzeyMoog, William Hughes, Matt Gerardi October 7, 2016 | 5:00am
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Lou Reed found his voice again on “Street Hassle” By Sean O'Neal October 6, 2016 | 6:00pm
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Hear the scope of Liz Phair’s underrated career in 58 minutes By Jesse Hassenger October 6, 2016 | 5:00am
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In 2008, R.E.M. had a legacy to defend and something to prove By Josh Modell October 5, 2016 | 6:00pm
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Devo dusts off the old energy dome with “Human Rocket” By Nick Wanserski October 4, 2016 | 6:00pm
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Felt’s caustic, captivating masterpiece cemented a genre By Ignatiy Vishnevetsky October 4, 2016 | 5:00am
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Beef stew, tofu, callaloo: Rapper ShowYouSuck’s foodie lyricism By Leor Galil October 4, 2016 | 5:00am
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“White & Nerdy” planted the seeds for the “Weird Al” renaissance By William Hughes October 3, 2016 | 6:00pm
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Green Day, Lady Gaga, and more: Here’s what’s coming to record stores this October By Kevin Warwick, Matt Williams, Dan Bogosian, Kevin Pang, Brian Shultz, Annie Zaleski, Nina Corcoran, Kelsey J. Waite, Lily Moayeri, David Anthony, John Everhart, Becca James, Alex McLevy, Sean O'Neal, Randall Colburn, Caitlin PenzeyMoog, Matt Gerardi, Scott Heisel, Marah Eakin, Laura M. Browning October 3, 2016 | 5:00am
- Jamila Woods on the experiences that turned Chicago into HEAVN By Ashley Ray-Harris September 30, 2016 | 5:00am
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Watch Anamanaguchi play songs in a moving vehicle though the streets of Chicago By David Anthony September 29, 2016 | 4:01pm
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There’s lots to love in Bruce Springsteen’s post-2000 career By Caitlin PenzeyMoog September 29, 2016 | 5:00am
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The Flaming Lips, Descendents, Pierce The Veil, and others try shots of Malort By David Anthony September 28, 2016 | 2:00pm
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The Flaming Lips, Dee Snider, and more describe this election in 5 words By David Anthony September 27, 2016 | 2:00pm
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Preoccupations’ Matt Flegel on the anxieties that inspired his band’s new record By David Anthony September 27, 2016 | 5:00am
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Week 17: Tortoise and They Might Be Giants both begin with T By Josh Modell September 27, 2016 | 5:00am
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Drunk History’s Derek Waters says American Authors sound like “a hot wings commercial” By Marah Eakin September 27, 2016 | 5:00am
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Andrew W.K., The Falcon, and others tell us about the last meal they loved By David Anthony September 26, 2016 | 4:00pm
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Brian Posehn thinks Sublime fans are “terrible, stinkier” Juggalos By Marah Eakin September 24, 2016 | 5:00am
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A nifty way to avoid library fines and two very different types of music By Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, Kelsey J. Waite, Laura M. Browning September 24, 2016 | 5:00am
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Win a signed copy of Kiefer Sutherland’s debut album, Down In A Hole By Danette Chavez September 23, 2016 | 5:00pm
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Descendents, Diarrhea Planet, and more tell us who they’d cast in the movie of their band By David Anthony September 23, 2016 | 4:00pm
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Andrew W.K., Dan Deacon, and others play a game of word association By David Anthony September 22, 2016 | 5:30pm
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NOFX, Pierce The Veil, and other Riot Fest bands give us their definition of punk By David Anthony September 21, 2016 | 4:00pm
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Sunny Day Real Estate’s Jeremy Enigk on being the reluctant godfather of emo By David Pemberton September 20, 2016 | 5:00am
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Week 16: Stoner sounds, Stone Roses, and the best-worst song you’ve never heard By Josh Modell September 20, 2016 | 5:00am
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Ben Folds knows when to fold ’em on our choice-picking game show By John Teti September 15, 2016 | 5:06pm
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Jeff Rosenstock bombed the music industry, though it took a while to notice By David Anthony September 15, 2016 | 1:00pm
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In Dirty Rocker Boys, video vixen Bobbie Brown dishes the dirt By Nathan Rabin September 15, 2016 | 5:00am
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Screeching tires and busting glass: Defining the teen-tragedy song in 60 minutes By Katie Rife September 14, 2016 | 5:00am
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Week 15: Many best-of-all-time discs, from Smog and Seam to The Smiths By Josh Modell September 13, 2016 | 5:00am
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The reunited Bear Vs. Shark talks reissues and aging bodies By David Anthony September 12, 2016 | 5:00am
- A pink beer, a ludicrously funny Instagram, and a trusted cook By Gwen Ihnat, Sean O'Neal, Laura Adamczyk September 10, 2016 | 5:00am
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Modest Mouse’s “Custom Concern” revels in 9 to 5 claustrophobia By Leonardo Adrian Garcia September 9, 2016 | 6:00pm
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The Clash started out looking for “Career Opportunities” By Gwen Ihnat September 8, 2016 | 6:00pm
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Okkervil River’s “Singer Songwriter” labors in the shadow of an accomplished family By Danette Chavez September 7, 2016 | 6:00pm
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Watch Meat Wave play a round of cornhole with meat By David Anthony September 7, 2016 | 3:00pm
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Huey Lewis And The News doesn’t care how people make ends meet By Annie Zaleski September 6, 2016 | 6:00pm
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The Disco Before The Breakdown was the release that gave away Laura Jane Grace’s secret By Dan Ozzi September 6, 2016 | 5:00am
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Revisit a favorite band, get organized, and play a new mobile game By Gwen Ihnat, Josh Modell, Sam Barsanti September 3, 2016 | 5:00am
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Neurosis’ Through Silver In Blood is still crushing, 20 years later By J.J. Anselmi August 31, 2016 | 5:00am
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Week 14: It’s hard to say goodbye to Radiohead and R.E.M. (so I won’t) By Josh Modell August 30, 2016 | 5:00am
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Bon Iver, Wilco, and much, much more: Here’s what’s coming to record stores in September By Dianca London, Kevin Warwick, kenneth-partridge, Dan Bogosian, Matt Williams, Brian Shultz, Philip Cosores, Annie Zaleski, Nina Corcoran, Kelsey J. Waite, David Anthony, Randall Colburn, Zoe Camp, Jonah Bayer, Scott Heisel, Marah Eakin, Paula Mejia, Dan Caffrey August 30, 2016 | 5:00am
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Why Canadian bands (sometimes) can’t make it in the States By Adam Kovac August 27, 2016 | 5:00am
- Trampled moss and sitars: Pearl Jam’s tricky, transformational No Code By Bart Blasengame August 26, 2016 | 5:00am
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A former VJ on MTV’s videos-only era and wearing Stevie Nicks’ shawls By Annie Zaleski August 25, 2016 | 5:00am
- Why go see Pearl Jam? A diehard and a lapsed fan find out By Sean O'Neal, Josh Modell August 23, 2016 | 2:00pm
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Week 13: Pearl Jam woos me, Pixies remain, and I marry The Promise Ring By Josh Modell August 23, 2016 | 5:00am
- Funny dogs, demolished disco, and a synth soundtrack By Esther Zuckerman, Sean O'Neal, Alex McLevy August 20, 2016 | 5:00am
- Lydia Loveless on the Midwestern dudes who inspired her new album By David Anthony August 17, 2016 | 5:00am
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What does it take to be the organist for the Boston Red Sox? By Marah Eakin August 17, 2016 | 5:00am
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Week 12: I used to have a ponytail, but I still have pretty good taste in N bands By Josh Modell August 16, 2016 | 5:00am
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Speedy Ortiz and Hop Along go head-to-head in our pop-culture name game By David Anthony August 15, 2016 | 4:00pm
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Music from Moog to Muncie Girls By Sean O'Neal, Kelsey J. Waite, Kyle Ryan August 13, 2016 | 5:00am
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“El Scorcho” bridged the gap between Weezer’s Blue and Pink(erton) periods By Danette Chavez August 12, 2016 | 7:00pm
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Rhea Butcher on the depressing reason she hates Magic’s sexist “Rude” By Marah Eakin August 12, 2016 | 5:00am
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Stone Temple Pilots got weirder and better than anyone gives them credit for By Alex McLevy August 11, 2016 | 6:00pm
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Wilco bashed out a modern rock classic with “Outtasite (Outta Mind)” By Noel Murray August 10, 2016 | 6:00pm
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1996 may not have been ready for Aphex Twin By Sean O'Neal August 9, 2016 | 6:00pm
- Rob Thomas reflects on Matchbox Twenty’s debut album 20 years later By Becca James August 9, 2016 | 5:00am
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Fountains Of Wayne’s power-pop gem “Radiation Vibe” found the silver lining in adversity By Annie Zaleski August 8, 2016 | 6:00pm
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Who’s a good boy? PUP’s a good boy! (Because they ate a bunch of dog treats) By David Anthony August 8, 2016 | 4:00pm
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In 1996, alternative rock died a messy, forgettable death By Sean O'Neal August 8, 2016 | 5:00am