“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…” In every year that goes by at Alternative Control, we increase both our wisdom and our foolishness! In some ways, it was a rough year for both the nation and our local… Continue reading If You’re Too Old, It’s Too Loud: 2017 in Review
Author: Jessie May
Single Review: Sinoptik’s Standalone Syndrome
Ukrainian indie rockers Sinoptik just released a new single, “Standalone Syndrome.” Says the band, “This story is about the hardship of being yourself in this reality. Reality itself can leave just a tiny ghost in your identity. You did all you possibly can, and still you didn’t get anywhere near your aim. But you will… Continue reading Single Review: Sinoptik’s Standalone Syndrome
EP Review: NYDTyson’s If You’re So Smart, Why Are You So Sad?
The debut EP from garage rock duo NYDTyson is irreverent at times and relaxed at others. If You’re So Smart, Why Are You So Sad? experiments with meter, dynamics, and effects to create a paradox befitting of the album title. My favorite track was “Who Cares?,” a slow number with some nice bass grooves that kick in… Continue reading EP Review: NYDTyson’s If You’re So Smart, Why Are You So Sad?
Album Review: Psychocide’s Alcohol & Bad Decisions
The March 2017 album from Canadian rockers Psychocide, aptly titled Alcohol & Bad Decisions, is surprisingly catchy for being named after a cliche of everyone’s early twenties. (Or mid… Or late… Or early thirties…) But there’s truth in cliche — in “Temporary Friends,” Goldwyn Thandrayen croons, “Seems I could never get this right.” Haven’t we all… Continue reading Album Review: Psychocide’s Alcohol & Bad Decisions
Book Review: Irresistible by Adam Alter
I’m one of those suckers who thinks my life will be ideal as soon as I stop doing everything I like and start doing all these other stupid things, like eating kale at every meal and waking up ten minutes earlier to meditate. Drinking and a pointless social smoking habit are usually on my To-Stop… Continue reading Book Review: Irresistible by Adam Alter
Album Review: Westward’s The Empire of Deception
“Please, please, please, give my work to some machine,” croons vocalist Andrew C. Marshall on “The Last Stand.” Ain’t that the way it goes in the twenty-first century, and Westward has it all figured out on their new album The Empire of Deception. Released on October 14, 2017, Empire features ten tracks of so-called cowboy… Continue reading Album Review: Westward’s The Empire of Deception
EP Review: Michael P. Cullen and The Soul Searchers, Live at Lazybones
Australian singer-songwriter Michael P. Cullen would be right at home at The Fez. In his July EP, Live at Lazybones, he is backed by The Soul Searchers — and the combination sounds great! The five brooding alt-rock tunes are the perfect soundtrack to a glass of chardonnay on Friday evening, when you sit back with… Continue reading EP Review: Michael P. Cullen and The Soul Searchers, Live at Lazybones