A loud-mouth retired rock critic and a cranky expat rock obsessive discuss, analyze and just plain old argue about rock ‘n‘ roll: the old stuff, the new stuff and why it all still matters.
Episodes
Wednesday Dec 10, 2025
Wednesday Dec 10, 2025
In which The Curmudgeons take a gigantic, cathartic dumpola on one of the worst bands of the late 1990s and early 2000s, namely the insufferable post-grunge Christian rock quartet Creed. We'll give the band credit for one thing: They proved there was still a market for grunge well after the luster of Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and other bands had faded. But, see, that was the problem. Creed could do an impression or orthodox grunge band, but they did so without the soul, the spirit or the fire or the depth of the real thing. Instead, they served up bland, safe, corny paeans to self-pity and phony sacrifice. And worse, they did it by shallowly and incompletely evoking Christianity. Here was a Christian band with a lead singer who emoted a lot about shame and related subject matter but never got around to actual redemption of sanctification. What a bunch of cynical nonsense! We hold our noses and dive into this steaming pile to meditate on the sheer crappiness of it all.
Check out, if you dare, the music of Creed by accessing our special Spotify playlist. Why the fuss? Here you go:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1wCfm2Jd0m624rZuuGkxCC?si=4dc779f8ad384e23
Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode:
(00:52 - 04:07) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of Creed
(04:14 - 17:23) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of new albums from Noura Mint Seymali and Die Spitz
(18:23 - 33:59) - Arturo shares the origin story of Creed, while Chris offers a primer of modern Contemporary Christian Music and why Creed fits into its most self-absorbed and misguided wing
(34:40 - 01:07:52) - We marvel at the awfulness to be found in Creed's four-album catalog. Thankfully, they only did four albums.
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-curmudgeon-rock-report/id1551808911
https://open.spotify.com/show/4q7bHKIROH98o0vJbXLamB?si=5ffbdc04d6d44ecb
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5fea16f1-664e-40b7-932e-5fb748cffb1d/the-
Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor
Monday Nov 24, 2025
Monday Nov 24, 2025
In which The Curmudgeons pay homage to one of the most storied--and notorious-indie-rock bands of their era. Starting in 1995, the Brian Jones Massacre unleashed a brand of retro-futuristic trance-rock that expanded the possibilities of the rock idiom. The band, led by enigmatic and perhaps troubled frontman Anton Newcombe, initially dabbled in the shoegazer genre defined by bands like My Bloody Valentine. But The Brian Jonestown Massacre soon embraced 1960s British psychedelia to drive Newcombe's extraordinary gift for finding a song's most meditative center. By the end of the 2000s, the band was exploring European dance music while maintaining that special, incredibly absorbing BJM "thing." We revisit and analyze the band's first 15 years of recorded output in this episode.
Enjoy the best of The Brian Jonestown Massacre's music by accessing our special Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZQ0UA6v4MQZTZJGhWfFPt?si=7c845bee93554ce1
Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode:
(00:52 - 03:11) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of The Brian Jonestown Massacre
(05:33 - 19:21) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of recent albums from Sprints and Geese
(20:20 - 58:43) - We offer thoughts on the complicated nature of Anton Newcombe and analyze The Brian Jonestown Massacre's albums released in the 1990s
(59:43 - 01:26:09) - We analyze BJM's albums released between 2000 and 2010 and explore the band's legacy
Join our Curmudgeonly Community today! facebook.com/groups/curmudgeonrock
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-curmudgeon-rock-report/id1551808911
https://open.spotify.com/show/4q7bHKIROH98o0vJbXLamB?si=5ffbdc04d6d44ecb
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5fea16f1-664e-40b7-932e-5fb748cffb1d/the-
Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor
Wednesday Nov 05, 2025
Wednesday Nov 05, 2025
In which The Curmudgeons take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on ABBA, one of the most endearing pop bands of its era. This Swedish quartet has taken its lumps from critics and snarky scenesters over the years, being labeled cheesy, or inauthentic, or too corny to be taken seriously. We think all of that flak nonsense. We love this band, who lit up the universe with their charming, smile-inducing, dance-up-a-storm hits. ABBA served up something for everyone--empathetic ballads, disco anthems, earnest love songs and way-too-happy-sounding pop nuggets about heartbreak and divorce. We defend them mightily on this episode, and also meditate on their wonderful run of singles over the course of the 1970s.
Enjoy the awesome music of ABBA by accessing our special Spotify playlist"
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4MtuWgQaSSSsunw5nKLDO3?si=68ab2ebe29a847f0
Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode:
(00:52 - 02:53) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for defense of ABBA
(03:07 - 16:48) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of new music from Julia Mestre and Sam Fender
(16:47 - 43:46) - We snicker at lame, misguided critiques of ABBA and dispel five myths that aim to taint their legacy
(45:10 - 01:28:23) - We explore ABBA's origin story as a sort of Swedish supergroup, and then we analyze a string of extraordinary ABBA singles
Join our Curmudgeonly Community today! facebook.com/groups/curmudgeonrock
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-curmudgeon-rock-report/id1551808911
https://open.spotify.com/show/4q7bHKIROH98o0vJbXLamB?si=5ffbdc04d6d44ecb
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5fea16f1-664e-40b7-932e-5fb748cffb1d/the-
Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor
Tuesday Oct 21, 2025
Tuesday Oct 21, 2025
In which The Curmudgeons honor one of the fiercest--and most fiercely independent--rock bands of all time. Fugazi erupted from the Washington, D.C., punk scene in the late 1980s. They fashioned a brand of passionate, politically charged post-hardcore music that deftly weaved two guitars with a dub reggae-inspired rhythm section. Beyond the music, the band was known for an uncompromising vision: the music stayed with the people for good. No major labels. No ticket prices more than ten bucks. No radio singles. No videos. No age restrictions on their audience. Fugazi exerted control, which together with their awesome music, made them thrilling. We meditate on it all during this episode.
Listen to the amazing post-hardcore music of Fugazi by accessing our special Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GfyH9j01AFa16kkWNVOYD?si=ae72ef3b27914455
Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode:
(00:52 - 03:37) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of Fugazi
(09:42 - 22:38) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of new music by Greg Freeman and Wednesday
(23:36 - 01:00:53) - We expound on Fugazi's philosophy. discussing their origins and analyze their first two EPs and first three studio albums, including the amazing Repeater
(01:02:11 - 01:29:56) - We analyze Fugazi's final three studio albums and then also contextualize their rock 'n' roll legacy
Join our Curmudgeonly Community today! facebook.com/groups/curmudgeonrock
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-curmudgeon-rock-report/id1551808911
https://open.spotify.com/show/4q7bHKIROH98o0vJbXLamB?si=5ffbdc04d6d44ecb
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5fea16f1-664e-40b7-932e-5fb748cffb1d/the-
Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor
Tuesday Oct 07, 2025
Tuesday Oct 07, 2025
In which The Curmudgeons wrap up their five-part lookback at the British rock of the 1990s. It was a decade that started with the demised of dance-rock and shoegazer scenes but then saw an absolute cultural revolution explode in their wake via Britpop. By the end of the decade, though, things were dying down a bit and bubblegum pop acts like Robbie Williams and The Spice Girls. Yet there was quite a lot of good Britpop-influenced rock emerging from the U.K. streets in 1998 and 1999. Bands like Belle and Sebastian and The Beta Band scored critical-carling status if not overwhelming commercial success. Bands like Coldplay and Muse, both of whom would dominate the next British decade, made their debut. And Britpop stalwarts Pulp and Blur were still hanging on and producing some grand tunes. We cover it with aplomb during this episode.
Enjoy the British rock of 1998 and 1999 by accessing our special Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5XoRoHiH80oOfYQv9lFdk0?si=c579654c1eb4487f
Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode.
(00:52- 04:08) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of British rock in the late 1990s
(04:25 - 15:54) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of new albims from Margo Price and Geese
(16:53 - 32:00) - We launch into a lightning round to cover a bunch of great singles from 1998 and 1999, including songs from Travis, Coldplay and Earl Brutus
(34:01 - 01:09:41) - WE analyze great albums from Belle and Sebastian, The Beta Band, Pulp,
Join our Curmudgeonly Community today! facebook.com/groups/curmudgeonrock
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-curmudgeon-rock-report/id1551808911
https://open.spotify.com/show/4q7bHKIROH98o0vJbXLamB?si=5ffbdc04d6d44ecb
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5fea16f1-664e-40b7-932e-5fb748cffb1d/the-
Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor
PJ Harvey, Blur and Muse
Tuesday Sep 23, 2025
Tuesday Sep 23, 2025
In which The Curmudgeons lovingly recall the latter edge of the Britpop era, covering the years of 1996 and 1997. Britpop, at this point, had become a defining cultural phenomenon in the U.K., leaving music fans to wonder what might come next. Yet while Oasis attempted to follow the smashing, overwhelming success of its first two albums by going even bigger and grander, other bands veered toward something else entirely--maturity. Oasis's chief Britpop rival Blur changed things up by embracing American indie rock and electronica, and crafted its best album in the process. The Verve toned down their shoegazing psychedelia and turned solemn and gorgeously melodic. And Radiohead portended the future of rock with the first of its two inarguable masterpieces. We discuss these albums and also cover a whole bunch of great, sunny Britpop singles.
Check out the great Britpop music of 1996 and 1997 bu accessing our special Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/515doUnbjJNx40O7kaBy1P?si=07858465088b45a8
Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode.
(00:52 - 03:06) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of Britpop in 1996 and 1997
(03:24 - 14:39) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of new albums from Big Thief and Curtis Harding
(15:38 - 48:32) - We engage in a lightning round discussion of 23 terrific Britpop and Britpop-adjacent singles, from Supergrass, Super Furry Animals. Sleeper and others
(49:57 - 01:23:48) - We analyze classic albums from Blur, Oasis, The Verve and Radiohead
Join our Curmudgeonly Community today! facebook.com/groups/curmudgeonrock
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-curmudgeon-rock-report/id1551808911
https://open.spotify.com/show/4q7bHKIROH98o0vJbXLamB?si=5ffbdc04d6d44ecb
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5fea16f1-664e-40b7-932e-5fb748cffb1d/the-
Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor
Tuesday Sep 09, 2025
Tuesday Sep 09, 2025
In which The Curmudgeons revisit the zenith of the Britpop movement. And by 1995, there definitely was a movement in the U.K. The music defined the style and defined the discussion and defined the culture. The mania was such that the two biggest bands in all of Britpop, Oasis and Blur, ended the year embroiled in a hilariously nasty feud. Here, we discuss albums by those two bands and others by The Verve, PJ Harvey, Elastica, Pulp and Radiohead. Oasis won't look back in anger, and neither will we.
Enjoy the Britpop and Britpop-adjacent music of 1995 by accessing our special Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/71HOiSyG8eJs3Jsrd5sKJb?si=6179b61852834ac6
Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode:
(00:52 - 02:46) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of Britpop in 1995
(03:04 - 14:52) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of new music from Wolf Alice and Lorelle Meets the Obsolete
(15:51 - 43:59) - We discuss the height of the Britpop mania, and we also run through a bunch of great Britpop singles
(45:20 - 01:29:10) - We analyze great albums from PJ Harvey, Radiohead, Elastica, The Verve, Pulp, Blur and Oasis
Join our Curmudgeonly Community today! facebook.com/groups/curmudgeonrock
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-curmudgeon-rock-report/id1551808911
https://open.spotify.com/show/4q7bHKIROH98o0vJbXLamB?si=5ffbdc04d6d44ecb
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5fea16f1-664e-40b7-932e-5fb748cffb1d/the-
Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor
Tuesday Aug 26, 2025
Tuesday Aug 26, 2025
In which The Curmudgeons continue catching a wave of Britpop and launch into the second part of our five-part series on the joys of the Britpop era. On this episode, we cover the eventful year of 1994, during which Britpop officially solidified as a thing and started its ascension toward the stratosphere. It was during 1994 that Oasis and Blur released seminal, awesome albums that effectively defined the genre. It was also when bands like Elastica, Primal Scream, Pulp and others released fantastic singles that extended Britpop's reach and scope. How good was it? Press play and find out, baby!
Enjoy the Britpop sounds of 1994 by accessing our special Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0gesREv76xGMtXggp2BAvd?si=6462123662b84ffb
Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode.
(00:52 - 04:10) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of Britpop in 1994
(04:18 - 16:16) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of new albums from Golomb and Osees
(17:15 - 43:37) - We breakdown just how monumental of a shift in British culture Britpop represented. We also run through a bunch of great Britpop and Britpop-adjacent singles from 1994.
(44:38 - 01:01:25) - We discuss and analyze two great albums: Blur's Parklife and Oasis' Definitely Maybe
Join our Curmudgeonly Community today! facebook.com/groups/curmudgeonrock
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-curmudgeon-rock-report/id1551808911
https://open.spotify.com/show/4q7bHKIROH98o0vJbXLamB?si=5ffbdc04d6d44ecb
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5fea16f1-664e-40b7-932e-5fb748cffb1d/the-
Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor
Monday Aug 11, 2025
Monday Aug 11, 2025
In which The Curmudgeons hop into the phone booth and travel back to the time when Britpop ruled the world during the heart of the 1990s. What was Britpop? Most specifically, it was a call to rock 'n' roll arms by a swath of young, hungry bands peeved at America's cultural imperialism of the era. The music swayed and blasted with confidence, and its pop structures were tight, tuneful--and, as a result, titanic. We start this series of episodes in the early 1990s, in 1992 and 1993. We cover Britpop artists such as Blur, Suede, Pulp, Elastica and The Verve on this episode. Yet we also cover what we call "Britpop adjacent" acts like PJ Harvey, Radiohead and The Cranberries, whose own Britishness seeped its way into groundbreaking music they were making in their own right.
Enjoy the Britpop and Britpop adjacency from this episode by accessing our special Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/08abNW4XljAQS4ZvJ77Cpp?si=f199dce9a4cc4ab7
Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode.
(00:52 - 02:55) - Arturo sets the parameters for our discussion of early Britpop
(05:44 - 16:56) - The Parallel Universe, featruing reviews of recent albums from Bob Vylan and Sault
(17:55 - 51:54) - We describe the British music of the early 1990s and the forces that shaped Britpop, plus we kick off a lightning round of great Britpop singles from 1992 and 1993
(53:08 - 01:15:11) - We analyze important and vital British records from PJ Harvey, The Verve, Radiohead and Blur
Join our Curmudgeonly Community today! facebook.com/groups/curmudgeonrock
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-curmudgeon-rock-report/id1551808911
https://open.spotify.com/show/4q7bHKIROH98o0vJbXLamB?si=5ffbdc04d6d44ecb
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5fea16f1-664e-40b7-932e-5fb748cffb1d/the-
Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor
Wednesday Jul 30, 2025
Wednesday Jul 30, 2025
In which The Curmudgeons continue their exploration of all the cool and revolutionary sounds blasting out of the City of Angels in the 1990s. By 1995, the music world had been grungified, making things safer, brighter and lovelier for not only hard-rock artists, but folks of the more soul-breaking, confessional variety. And that L.A. satisfied both ends of that spectrum between 1995 and 1999. Rage Against the Machine, Tool, System of a Down and Kyuss all blasted down doors and melted minds. Meanwhile, Beck, eels and Los Lobos soothed the more sensitive souls. We take a run through work by those artists and more on this episode. We begin this episode, though, by discussing the legacies of two recently departed icons, Ozzy Osbourne and Hulk Hogan.
Enjoy the music that came out of Los Angeles during the latter half of the 1990s by accessing our special Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7KHCvbSIZv6lqVOLW88yTw?si=1f93bf2fb25a48a4
Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode.
(00:52 - 03:40) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of rock in Los Angles during the latter half of the 1990s
(03:43 - 27:31) - The Curmudgeons, both children of the 1980s, discuss the legacies of Ozzy Osbourne and Hulk Hogan
(28:30 - 45:04) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of recent releases by Wet Leg and Orua.
(46:24 - 01:36:04) - We cover albums by No Doubt, Kyuss, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine, Los Lobos, Beck, Weezer and Sublime
(01:36:04 - 02:19:31) - We cover albums by Tool, System of a Down, Queens of the Stone Age, eels, Beck (again), The Red Hot Chili Peppers (again) and Rage Against the Machine (again)
Join our Curmudgeonly Community today! facebook.com/groups/curmudgeonrock
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-curmudgeon-rock-report/id1551808911
https://open.spotify.com/show/4q7bHKIROH98o0vJbXLamB?si=5ffbdc04d6d44ecb
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5fea16f1-664e-40b7-932e-5fb748cffb1d/the-
Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor