Here’s a quick glimpse behind the scenes and Cleanandsoberstoner Headquarters: it’s been busy. Not only did I leave my job in May, I kinda jettisoned my career for a bit and started my own business. Actually, two businesses. In addition, I moved. It’s taken a while to get the HQ set-up, get back on track […]
Read More Late to the Party: Righteous FoolI think this album is going to win Abrams a lot fans, and a few might put In the Dark on their best of the year lists. I won’t argue a bit.
Read More Abrams: In the Dark (review)If one were to pay attention to Gatekeepers like Finn McKenty, and other gatekeepers I’m not gonna mention, Stoner/Doom is repetitive, depressing and not worth paying attention to in any meaningful way. I’ve written that metal should stop criticizing/ disparaging other genres, that we should all take a collective chill pill (or edible) and support […]
Read More Is Stoner/Doom a Boring, Dead Genre?We walked over to a line of chairs near the coffee, which I gladly got a cup of. And then another, because I was shaking so strongly it spilled out of my hand. Joe looked at me, nodded, and held the cup for me.
“You’re in the right place, “ he said.
Read More 30 Years of Heavy Recovery, Chapter One. Week One: Betrayal/ Hallucinations/12-Step Call/You’re in the Right PlaceAll I know for sure is that the alcohol no longer worked, which is a horrifying thing for any addict.
Read More 30 Years of Heavy Recovery: Prologue, Part 2: The Last BingeAs I keep mentioning, music has been the one consistent, reliable ‘tool’ for me in recovery. I think it had at least something to do with following through with the decision to quit. I keep thinking about what it was, musically, that gave me a push to change things up, and I keep coming […]
Read More 30 Years of Heavy Recovery: Prologue, 1992. Helmet, Faith No More and passing out at really good concerts30 years of continuous abstinence. Huh…. Back then, I couldn’t wrap my head around that amount of clean time. And it’s a good thing, ‘cause had I known then what I know now, I wouldn’t have been able to make it. I believe that with absolute certainty. Recovery and treatment can tend to protect newcomers […]
Read More 30 Years of Heavy Recovery: IntroductionMetal review sites have the ability to damage metal as a whole, but sometimes seem bent on taking lazy potshots and bands and genres to score points.
Read More Metal Gatekeepers: a rant30 years ago, before I entered recovery on a long-term basis, I saw Swervedriver, MonsterMagnet and Soundgarden at the Warfield in San Francisco. It was my first time seeing any of these bands, and I’d see Soundgarden a few more times. Rock was seriously changing back then, with the so-called ‘Grunge’ scene which was pitched […]
Read More The humanity of metal at the WarfieldThe Mothers of Invention: Freak Out!. One of THE greatest, most game-changing albums of all time. Give it a listen some time. I’m not gonna tell you why, or admonish you for not giving it the effort. I’m just putting it out there, man, so you can make your own decision, come up with your […]
Read More It Can’t Happen Here…