Former Contributor, Author at Alan Cross' A Journal of Musical Things

Husband-and-Wife Teams in Alternative Rock

November 28, 2015 Former Contributor Arcade Fire, Besnard Lakes, Dear Rouge, Sonic Youth, Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, White Stripes, Whitehorse

[Another list from frequent contributor Adam Morrison. – AC] Here are eight examples of partners in romance (the kind with contracts) that have also worked as musical partners. Please list

Guest Blog

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is the Smashing Pumpkins’ White Album

November 6, 2015 Former Contributor Beatles, Billy Corgan, Mellon Collie, Pink Floyd, Smashing Pumpkins, The Wall, White Album

By Adam “Rat In A Cage” Morrison The Smashing Pumpkins’ Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness was the first album I ever owned. I was borderline obsessed with the band

Music History Music News Record Collecting

Alanis Morissette’s four-disc Jagged Little Pill: Collector’s Edition details

October 30, 2015 Former Contributor Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill

By Adam Morrison This year marks the 20th anniversary of Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette’s big breakthrough album. How big? It’s sold more than 33 million copies worldwide. It’s one

Guest Blog Lists

Just in Time for Halloween, 10 Songs About Monsters

October 30, 2015 Former Contributor Anthrax, Cramps, Dark Lotus, Goo Goo Muck, Halloween, Liars, Metallica, Nekromantix, Nick Cave, Rob Zombie, Slayer, Twiztid

By Adam “I’ve Come For Your Children” Morrison ‘Tis the season, so let’s do a list of songs about zombies, witches, ghosts, demons, vampires, gargoyles, and… Goo Goo Mucks. 1.

Guest Blog Lists

Seven Songs About Halloween

October 30, 2015 Former Contributor AFI, Dead Kennedys, Halloween, Marilyn Manson, Misfits, Nekromantix, Nightmare Before Christmas, Twiztid

Halloween is a great subject for a song because of the practices, history, and spirit of the holiday that can be used as lyrical inspiration, and the atmosphere that can

Guest Blog Lists

10 Songs to Dead Friends and Loved Ones

October 28, 2015 Former Contributor Bif Naked, Gaslight Anthem, Jane's Addiction, Offspring, Pennywise, R.E.M., Temple Of The Dog, Tori Amos

By Adam Morrison Music can be used to express even the most complicated and darkest of emotions. Here are ten songs whose lyrics are written as a message to cherished

Guest Blog Lists Television

10 Famous TV Theme Songs Performed by Artists You Know

October 22, 2015 Former Contributor Barenaked Ladies, Big Bang Theory, Dr. John, Hazzard, Intervention, King Of The Hill, Malcolm In The Middle, Nerf Herder, Oasis, Orange is the New Black, Ozzy Osbourne, Primus, Regina Spektor, Royle Family, South Park, The Refreshments, They Might Be Giants, Waylon Jennings

By Adam Morrison Over the years, many established artists have been tasked with providing the intro music for TV shows, and many times, it’s worked out perfectly. Here are ten

Guest Blog Lists

Ten of the Best Hidden Tracks of All Time

September 11, 2015 Former Contributor AFI, Atmosphere, Clash, Deftones, Jack Off Jill, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, The Clash, Tool

Whether it’s a separate track not listed on the track list, or it’s tucked away after minutes of silence following the final track, there are some gems hidden at the

Guest Blog Lists

Alt-rock and Punk’s Essential Double andTriple Albums

August 19, 2015 Former Contributor Arcade Fire, Husker Du, Magnetic Fields, Minutemen, Nine Inch Nails, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, The Clash, Wilco, XTC

By Adam Morrison Because sometimes a single album just isn’t big enough to house all of a band’s ideas. *Note that some of these are single albums in their CD

Guest Blog Lists

The Longest Hits in Alt-Rock and metal History

August 2, 2015 Former Contributor Alice in Chains, Longest Alt-Rock Hits, Metallica, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, Tool

By Adam Morrison An unwritten rule is that hit songs should be under four minutes long, but being alternative sometimes means not following the rules. Yes, there are longer songs

Guest Blog Lists

The 14 Best Saxophone Songs in Rock

July 27, 2015 Former Contributor Bob Seger, Bobby Keys, Bruce Springsteen, Clarence Clemons, Creedence Clearwater, Dave Matthews, David Bowie, Dream Theater, George Thorogood, Glueleg, King Crimson, LeRoi Moore, Lou Reed, Pink Floyd, Rock, Rolling Stones, Saxophone, Stooges, Tori Amos

Sometimes the sweet sound of sax is the perfect thing in a rock song. Here are some examples, and please leave more in the comments. 1. King Crimson: “21st Century