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
Monday Jun 03, 2024
Monday Jun 03, 2024
In which the Curmudgeons hammer one of the most perplexing "it" bands of the entire 21st Century. Arcade Fire stormed out of Montreal in 2004 with Funeral, a debut album that captured the imagination of throngs of unimaginative indie hipster d-bags. Whereas their fans and a whole bunch of fawning rock critics heard glorious art in all the band's maximal grandiosity, we just heard...noise. Lots of it. A pulverizing wave of annoyance after annoyance. And the annoyance has yet to stop. Let us tell you all the ways we think this band is a giant turd burger.
Listen to the abomination and judge for yourself by accessing our Arcade Fire-focused Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1C30jnDsJQySuV4wEPzq5r?si=9bd7c9df43514814
Here's a handy navigation companion for this episode.
(0:52 - 04:50) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our Arcade Fire beatdown
(05:06 - 16:21) - The Paralell Universe, featuring reviews of albums by The baby Seals and Kurt Vile
(17:06 - 36:25) - We goof on maximal grandiosity and discuss Arcade Fire's albums Funeral and Neon Bible
(37:57 - 01:03:09) - We discuss Arcade Fire's albums The Suburbs, Reflektor, Everything Now and We
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://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80M
Co-written and co-produced by Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor - The Curmudgeons
Monday May 20, 2024
Monday May 20, 2024
In which the Curmudgeons continue their romp through rock's second golden age by revisiting perhaps the age's most underrated year. There were a ton of great albums released in 1970, as we discuss at least half-a-ton of those albums during this episode. It was a year when the rock 'n' roll generation started to mature and grow more varied in its tastes and its demands. The Beatles split up that year, and its core members all released solo albums in 1970. There also was the "soft-rock" movement, which made stars out of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and a guy named Neil Young. We soak it all up and pay tribute to that calendar trip around the sun 54 years ago.
Listen to our special Spotify playlist dedicated to the sounds of 1970:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/53S1aHJv6oguRVLUtIszEe?si=22b0dfd685cd433f
Check out a great book about the music of 1970 we discuss - David Browne's "Fire & Rain":
Revisit our discussion of the Grateful Dead's early catalog of albums:
Here's a handy navigation companion for this episode.
(0:52 - 03:48) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of the music of 1970
(03:49 - 30:42) - Our Current Universe, featuring discussion of new music by St. Vincent, Drake and Kendrick Lamar
(31:27 - 01:17:43) - We discuss the explosion of "soft-rock," the first solo albums by The Beatles, James Brown, Black Sabbath and The Stooges
(01:45:18 - 02:24:08) - We discuss 12 more great albums releases in 1970, including releases by The Grateful Dead, Santana, The Velvet Underground and Creedence Clearwater Revival
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://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80M
Co-written and co-produced by Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor - The Curmudgeons
Tuesday May 07, 2024
Tuesday May 07, 2024
In which The Curmudgeons straight cold rock a party and revisit hip-hop's greatest, most electrifying, most unendingly thrilling period, which stretched from 1986 to 1991. We tear through 12 brilliant albums and dozens of awesome singles that taught all the MCs and producers that followed how it should it be done--and how it would be done from here on out. We cover Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, Schooly D, Ice Cube, 2 Live Crew, Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, Gang Starr, A Tribe Called Quest, The Beastie Boys, Queen Latifah and scores of other great and hugely influential artists.
Listen to our special Spotify playlist dedicated to this episode:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4sf98fg4Qr5L4hJTg2uDQS?si=76c9e51cf474410f
Listen to an old episode of our podcast, in which we argue for A Tribe Called Quest's The Low End Theory as the greatest hip-hop album ever made:
Here's a handy navigation companion for this new episode.
(0:52 - 4:43) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of hip-hop's golden age
(5:02 - 18:25) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of new albums from Bodega and Mdou Moctar
(19:10 - 01:16:54) - The Curmudgeons analyze 12 amazing albums that sprung from the golden age of hip-hop
(01:18:15 - 02:14:40) - We celebrate a whole ton of great, mad-fun hip-hop singles from the golden age of hip-hop
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://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80M
Co-written and co-produced by Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor - The Curmudgeons
Monday Apr 22, 2024
Monday Apr 22, 2024
In which The Curmudgeons marvel at the trainwreck that the career of a pretty fabulous rock 'n' roll singer became. Rod Stewart's gravelly, soulful voice was the engine for a series of great ramped-up yet mostly acoustic albums in the late 1960s and early 1970s, all of which cemented a solid legacy for the singer. And then Stewart became beholden to a rock-star, sexy-man persona that craved relevance more than integrity. Starting in 1975, his career descended into a series of schlocky, cheesy singles that, while they proved to be his biggest hits, must be heard to truly appreciate their awfulness. We recount both the good ol' days and the bad ol' days of Rod Stewart during this episode.
Listen to all things Rod Stewart - good, bad and ugly - by accessing our special Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0nXvqAv6Yby0h6pWeDSEG4?si=1ddcbbd651df4677
Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode
(0:52 - 03:31) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of Rod Stewart
(03:50 - 15:25) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of new albums by Sahra Halgan and Khruangbin
(16:09 - 37:33) - Good Rod - a discussion of Stewart's beginnings and analyses of his first five albums, including his masterpiece, 1971's Every Picture Tells a Story
(38:32 - 58:27) - Bad Rod - a discussion of Stewart's nosedive into mediocrity, following him from 1975 through the New Wave days of the early 1980s
(59:25 - 01:21:17) - More Bad Rod - a discussion of the nadir that was Rod Stewart's 1980s and then something of a brief comeback in the early 1990s. We end by contemplating the ultimate legacy of Rod Stewart.
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://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80M
Co-written and co-produced by Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor - The Curmudgeons
Tuesday Apr 09, 2024
Tuesday Apr 09, 2024
In which The Curmudgeons meditate on one of rock's most important years. The music of 1969 was as inspiring as the times it was released were tumultuous. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Who all released celebrated masterworks. Southern rock was born, and the newfangled form of funk continued to evolve. And two gigantic festivals hit the United States--one glorious, the other notorious. There would be blood, serving as arguably a perfect prelude to the 1970s.
Read a gripping book we discuss during the episode, Joel Selvin's "Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock's Darkest Day":
Listen to lots of wonderful music from 1969 by accessing our special Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7fSB03xBvDiODLdA6S1d4V?si=0c6b037284a54d13
Here's a handy navigation companion for this episode
(0:52 to 2:44) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of 1969
(03:06 to 15:21) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of new albums by The Black Crowes and Waxahatchee
(16:06 to 01:14:54) - Discussion of the 1969 output of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin and The Stooges
(01:16:05 to 01:42:49) - Discussion of the 1969 output of Isaac Hayes, Sly & The Family Stone, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Band and The Allman Brothers
(01:43:48 to 02:30:06) - Discussion of a bunch of great albums from 1969, plus a contemplation of the divergent stories that were Woodstock and Altamont
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://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80M
Co-written and co-produced by Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor - The Curmudgeons
Monday Mar 25, 2024
Monday Mar 25, 2024
In which The Curmudgeons make the case for what we think is one of the most underrated bands of all time: The Doors. Wait. The Doors?! Yup. Once revered and now reviled, The Doors, we believe, are viewed by younger generations as a Baby Boomer fossil that is as pretentious as it is insufferable. But that misses the mark badly. Listen as we discuss the influences and artistic ambition that made Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek and bandmates so compelling, so engaging and so original.
Enjoy each of The Door's six marvelous--or at least marvelously strange--records they made with Jim Morrison via our Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6qyqDc06X5gPa2XIK2n4jR?si=01b736f7a6ab40fa
Here's a handy navigation companion for this episode.
(0:52 - 04:05) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of The Doors
(04:22 - 19:48) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of albums by Yard Act and Liquid Mike
(20:33 - 42:02) - We dispel five myths commonly associated with The Doors
(43:32 - 01:08:54) - We discuss the band's origin story. We also analyze the first three Doors albums: the self-titled debut, Strange Days and Waiting For The Sun.
(01:09:53 - 01:46:55) - We analyze the last three records The Doors made with Jim Morrison: The Soft Parade, Morrison Hotel and L.A. Woman. We also discuss the band's considerable influence and undeniable 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://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80M
Co-written and co-produced by Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor - The Curmudgeons
Tuesday Mar 05, 2024
Tuesday Mar 05, 2024
In which The Curmudgeons introduce you--again--to your new favorite band. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club spliced the neo-psychedelic swagger of bands like The Brian Jonestown Massacre with the rawkin' menace of the Stone Roses, Oasis and other British bands to offer a maximal yet poignant vision of what rock 'n' roll should be. Their five-album output during the first decade of the 21st century is one of the best streaks of releases in recent memory. We analyze each album as a means of explaining why B.R.M.C. was so powerful--and so ultimately meaningful.
Enjoy the masterworks of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club using our special Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3POJDOxUGBOkKWVtpvSrQA?si=cd59a5b1d62046f3
Here's a handy navigation companion for this episode.
(0:52 - 03:40) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
(03:58 - 16:03) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of albums by Lime Garden and Little Simz
(16:48 - 37:55) - We cover BRMC's origin story and discuss the albums B.R.M.C. and Take Them On, On Your Own
(39:35 - 01:02:17) - WE cover the albums Howl, Baby 81 and Beat the Devil's Tattoo and contemplate BRMC's ultimate 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://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80M
Co-written and co-produced by Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor - The Curmudgeons
Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
In which The Curmudgeons explore the dichotomous year that followed 1967's Summer of Love trippiness. The previous year's highs represent a peak creative burst. Well, where to go next? That's where the era's most storied artists diverged. On the one hand, you had bands that went bigger and bolder--The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and The Grateful Dead fall into this category. On the other hand, you had a yearning to return to the simpler roots of rock 'n' roll, and a rush toward softer, warmer hues by The Byrds, The Band, The Kinks and others ensued. We explore both paths in depth and with panache.
Enjoy the music we discuss in this episode using our Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/62VxWb48fGleKLmFkRSPF0?si=bc901034b00144ef
Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode.
(0:52 - 02:20) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of 1968
(04:55 - 20:18) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of albums by Sleater-Kinney and Amyl & The Sniffers
(21:03 - 54:15) - WE analyze The Beatles' White Album and The Rolling Stones' Beggars Banquet
(55:28 - 01:19:24) - Christopher O'Connor analyzes 1968 albums by The Band, The Byrds and The Kinks
(01:20:22 - 02:05:22) - We cover a slew of albums, ranging from Van Morrison's Astral Weeks to The Pretty Things' S.F. Sorrow, with Jimi Hendrix and The Grateful Dead and others sandwiched in between
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://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80M
Co-written and co-produced by Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor - The Curmudgeons
Monday Feb 05, 2024
Monday Feb 05, 2024
In which the Curmudgeons marvel at how quickly, and how well, hip-hop evolved after the Sugar Hill Gang's massive 1979 hit "Rapper's Delight" changed the game completely for everyone. We tell the story of how entrepreneurs, hustlers and visionaries seized the moment to bridge gaps between the streets, the art galleries and the record-label boardrooms. We celebrate a string of amazing singles that grew in sophistication and in pure fun with each volley. And we mark the beginning of the album as a hip-hop artform by discussing two classics, Run-D.M.C.'s self-titled debut and LL Cool J's Radio.
Listen to all of this great music by accessing our Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0H0DTcK3EqlQvVXIF4UK7U?si=900ad05efec74d30
Check out these books, which we discuss during the episode:
Jeff Chang's "Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation":
Jonathan Abrams' "The Come Up: An Oral History of the Rise of Hip-Hop":
Here is handy navigation companion to this episode.
(0:52 - 03:50) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion
(03:55 - 18:36) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of albums by Otoboke Beaver and Slift
(19:21 - 44:10) - WE discuss the success of "Rapper's Delight" and its explosive aftermath. We feature Kurits Blow, Fab 5 Freddy, the movie "Wild Style" and other accomplishers and accomplishments.
(45:03 - 01:37:00) - We cover a litany of fantastic singles, plus the albums Run-D.M.C. and Radio.
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://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80M
Co-written and co-produced by Arturo Andrade & Christopher O'Connor - The Curmudgeons
Monday Jan 22, 2024
Monday Jan 22, 2024
In which the Curmudgeons count down our selections for the 50 best B-side songs in rock history. The B-side is something of a lost art as digital music dominates and physical media becomes less prevalent. But there was a time when the other side of the 45 or tracks 2 and 3 of the CD maxi-single mattered. There, you could find songs the artist intentionally withheld from an album to give them their own grand stage. In some instances, those songs were among the greatest ever recorded. Beatles, anyone?
Listen to most of these songs on our Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6l4pcDTnHhjpcVKl7S1bmn?si=a16b63d5e9f64f26
Here is a handy navigation companion for this episode:
(0:52 - 03:06) - Arturo sets the parameters for our discussion
(03:11 - 14:18) - The Parallel Universe, featuring revies of recent albums by Sufjan Stevens and Lil Yachty
(15:03 - 51:09) - We count the down the greatest B-sides from numbers 50 to 26. There's a Kinks song on here Chris particularly likes.
(52:20 - 01:37:14) - We count down the greatest B-sides from number 25 to the top spot at #1. You've probably heard our entire Top Ten more than a few times.
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://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80M
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