Columns

Released fifty-five years ago, the Doors’ Morrison Hotel was primarily seen as a return to form for the band after using brass and string arrangements recommended by producer Paul A. Rothchild on their previous album, The Soft Parade. The fact of the matter is that, the irony of ironies, both records have but a small handful of memorable […]

Have you ever wondered how cannabis can provide relief from anxiety in ways that feel genuinely personalized? What if you could find varieties offering a unique experience tailored to your needs? Whether you’ve tried cannabis before or are just beginning your journey, exotic options might be the key to a unique approach to stress relief. […]

In February of 2000, 25 years ago, an undeniable shift hit hip-hop in the same way terrible news hits your heart. At the time, Wu-Tang was one of the most prominent groups in modern. After dominating the late 90s with classic pieces of Hip-hop, group leader RZA decided it was time for each artist to […]

The first week of February is coming to a close, and the second month of the year is coming in swinging. While January was brimming with new releases that shocked and amazed, the first seven days of the short month delivered equally mesmerizing releases to get lost in. February is a weird month; you have […]

Realistically, it was inevitable New York City’s Ramones would eventually work with famed producer Phil Spector. After all, the progenitors of punk had demonstrated how altogether fond they were of pre-FM radio, an era in which the eccentric mastermind flourished with his grandiose style of studio productions dubbed ‘Wall of Sound’ (for the Ronettes, the […]

Given the vagaries of Bob Dylan’s now sixty-year-plus recording career, it’s hard not to overthink his albums like Shadows In The Night. The temptation is especially significant in the case of this album, one of three LPs devoted to material from the Great American Songbook released in consecutive years beginning in 2015 (Fallen Angels and the deliberately-titled […]

The first month of 2025 is coming to a close, and what a whirlwind it has been. With the cornucopia of new albums already released and the avalanche coming over the horizon, it can be the best kind of overwhelming. January is going out with a bang as we have a classic all-encompassing Caustic to […]

Time Out Take Five is a column comprised of pithy takes on recent jazz releases, spotlighting titles deserving attention that might otherwise go unnoticed. Peter Bernstein/Brad Mehldau/Vicente Archer/Al Foster: Better Angels – Better Angels reaffirms Peter Bernstein’s exquisite sense of taste as a musician and a bandleader. The guitarist acquits himself with great panache on a range of choice material, […]

If you’re an avowed cinephile, 2025 is guaranteed to be a big year for you, as many movies across many different genres will be released this year. Whether you’re a fan of franchises or would like to watch something completely new, there’ll be something for you out there. With that in mind, let’s have a […]

Movies can include popular culture references to add depth and context to the setting and ultimately create a deeper connection with audiences. Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Inglourious Bastards’ is one such film, as it makes ‘70s-heavy pop culture references across various scenes. These range from a Mexican standoff scene with cinematic techniques inspired by the Italian Western […]

Implausible as it may sound, the Guess Who were among the most prominent Canadian artists–including Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and Gordon Lightfoot–who had a sizable influence on the pop/rock music of the early Seventies. With the hindsight of fifty-five years, it’s clear each artist’s impact has, in its way, continued far beyond that era, and the Winnipeg group’s is […]

Oscars, also called the Academy Awards, entail celebrating talents across the film industry. Just like the outcome of playing roulette online is based on your performance plus luck, the nominees and eventual winners follow the same route. Over time, this evaluation body has identified the artistic brilliance of performers, regardless of their age or genre. […]

When it comes to choosing an online casino, seamless and secure banking options often top the list of priorities for players. At Lucky Green Casino, Australian players can look forward to a hassle-free gaming experience supported by a variety of reliable payment methods. Whether you’re spinning the reels on your favorite online pokies or enjoying […]

Described as a classic by the artist, Van Morrison’s Moondance (released 1/27/70) is a sublime pleasure to rediscover, whether in its original 1970 form or the 2013 expanded edition. The relative simplicity of the material and arrangements thereof may very well generate multiple epiphanies from either source.  Not the least of such revelations is how generally different is […]

Having formally adopted Chicago as its band moniker with its sophomore album, Chicago Transit Authority also solidified the commercial breakthrough based on its debut. Unfortunately, the supervision of the project by manager/producer James William Guercio also nurtured the group’s pretensions. As a result, with the hindsight of five and a half decades, Chicago II (released 1/26/70) stands […]

On the cover of Life’ll Kill Ya (released 1/25/00), a hirsute Warren Zevon flashes a wry grin fully in keeping with the wicked glint in his eyes. The facial expressions, however, belie the implicit confrontation of mortality that runs through this, his tenth studio album, and its immediate successors, My Ride’s Here and The Wind.  As the songs often […]

The first month of 2025 is slowly coming to a close, and it has been a busy one at the Caustic Factory. Music nerds from across genres are drowning in new releases from veterans and young hopefuls, giving us a wide range of fantastic releases to work with. The runaway train that is New Music […]

In 1992’s Notes from the Underground and the very next year’s It’s a Jungle in Here, Medeski Martin and Wood worked assiduously to forge their talents. Yet their individual and collective assets were still in the process of crystallizing into a distinctive personal style: echoes of Monk and Mingus were too obvious to ignore in these early LPs. […]

Celebrities have made online gambling their shiny new stage. Stars like Drake and Jay-Z are mixing their entertainment clout with wagers. Drake’s partnership with a crypto-gambling platform has made waves, putting him at the forefront with live-streamed betting moments. These alliances are no empty gestures; They boost visibility, pull fans into casino platforms, and rake […]

Casino heists have long been a cinematic goldmine, offering a potent mix of high stakes, glitz, and adrenaline-fuelled suspense. Whether it’s the allure of immense riches or the intricate planning that draws us in, these daring escapades often feel larger than life. Let’s take a look at some of the most memorable big-screen capers that […]