Archive: 2025

Considering the worldwide influence that the late Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat music has had on everyone from the Talking Heads to Arcade Fire and modern-day funk and hip-hop, it’s perplexing that the small handful of acts waving the torch for the real thing sometimes fall below the radar. This music is energetic and full of life, […]

We’re over here, sweating and shoveling coal into the old Caustic steam engine as we barrel into a fantastic New Music Friday with an open mind and full of steam. As we roll through 2025, the New Music Fridays have only become more exciting, and this week is really kicking it up to the next […]

Much of the character of the modern world—and the source of many modern problems—stems from disparate things bumping together: borders, clashes of civilizations. And toxic pollutants and cleanliness. Such were the ideas that drummer Paul Derricott chose to explore via metaphor in his prog jazz outfit, COAST, on their new album, Ember. He wondered, “What […]

On her third record, and first for the Normaltown Records label, Kristina Murray is steeped in classic country and honky tonk. Leaning into heartache and loneliness, the Nashville-based songstress often falls in the same vein as Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, and George Jones.   Across nine tracks on Little Blue, the Georgia native uses small-town characters as […]

You lost a hand you should’ve won. Your balance drops faster than expected. Before you know it, you’re chasing losses, raising stakes, and clicking in a fog of frustration. That’s tilt. And when it happens online, where no physical cues or pit bosses are watching over your shoulder, it can spiral fast. This guide offers […]

“How much difference does it make,” Eddie Vedder sang during the show-opening “Indifference,” a song usually reserved for a closing slot in a Pearl Jam set, but not tonight. A few moments later Vedder admitted he “made a mistake in the set list” before launching into “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town.” […]

The San Antonio, TX based hardcore freak-punks, Butthole Surfers, were notorious for their live shows and the band’s newest archival release, Live at the Leather Fly, does a good job capturing their mid-career, chaotic noise sound.  The album is not dated or given a specific location where it was recorded, but it sounds like one […]

Last fall, we were gifted with a somewhat unexpected release from a new “supergroup” of sorts called The Hard Quartet. Featuring Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus along with venerable go-to talents Matt Sweeney, Jim White, and Emmett Kelly, the group’s album dabbled in a sort of worship of old Britpop and psych, freak-folk, and garage rock, albeit […]

Michael Sanders is a songwriter, composer, and recording artist based in Austin, Texas. His second full-length album, fuzzer (2025), presents a bold sonic vision. A steady trickle of melodic earworms and vocal harmony complements explosions of fuzzy guitar. Casting a wide net of influences, Sanders has curated a stylized sound where heavy power pop choruses […]

For voracious forward thinkers like Cleveland-based Afrofuturist collective Mourning [A] BLKstar, space is a sacred lifeblood, especially now, as 2025 marks their 10th anniversary as a band. Their forthcoming album Flowers for the Living is defined by a transportive sonic spaciousness, with a palpable trust in themselves and their artistic choices that burns brighter than […]

Today New Zealand alt-pop icon Lorde has announced Ultrasound a fall North American and European headline tour—fans can sign up for Lorde’s pre-sale HERE. Pre-sale begins Wednesday, May 14th at 10am local, and general on sale begins Friday, May 16th at 10am local HERE. The tour kicks off in September, with stops at iconic venues around the world—including Madison Square Garden, The Kia Forum, Red […]

The online gambling industry is more competitive than ever. With hundreds of platforms offering similar games, bonuses, and services, operators are always looking for ways to stand out. One of the most powerful tools they use to gain an edge is data. From understanding player behavior to delivering personalized experiences, data helps online gambling operators […]

Fast-payout online casinos promise instant gratification—wins in your wallet within minutes, not days. But while quick withdrawals sound like a dream, they can also fuel fast losses if you’re not careful. Being “liquid” isn’t the same as being disciplined. Without a smart money plan, easy access to your cash becomes a trap instead of a […]

At first glance, crypto casinos might look just like the regular ones. Same flashy slots. Same blackjack tables. Same promise of quick wins. But under the hood, they run on a very different engine. The currency may be digital, but the shift is deeper than just coins—it’s in how accounts work, how payouts flow, and […]

With thousands of options available at the click of a button, choosing the right online casino can be overwhelming, especially for new players. While flashy graphics, big welcome bonuses, and game variety grab attention, what truly matters is whether a casino feels fair. Fairness isn’t just about winning or losing; it’s about trust, transparency, and […]

The fusion of decentralized finance (DeFi) and online gambling is transforming the way people interact with digital money and games of chance. Imagine a world where you can earn interest on your crypto while also placing bets on your favorite games. That’s the promise of combining staking and gambling — a bold new frontier where […]

The line between casual fun and financial stress blurs fast when your casino fits in your pocket. Online betting makes it easier than ever to place a wager—but also dangerously easy to lose track of what you’re actually spending. Digital bets don’t feel like real money until it’s gone. That’s why you need a clear, […]

For this Golden Age Thursday, we have a special treat for fans of the early hardcore scene. Today, we look at arguably one of the most influential and inarguably one of the most memorable bands from the 80s California hardcore explosion, a band that set trends only to later find them corny and create something […]