To a cynic, 2012 might have looked a lot like the Year Of The Bellyache. With musicians from Jana Hunter to John Mellencamp candidly addressing their personal economic realities in blog posts and articles, Rihanna, Katy Perry and Billy Joel rallying to contest Pandora’s attempt to lower their artist royalty rate, and record stores, pri...

So last night the unthinkable happened: Paulvana, Nirmacca, Nicartney — whatever they’re calling themselves (Abomination is taken) — performed at the 12-12-12 Concert For Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden. It should go without saying that my criticism/cynicism here is strictly musical and cultural: Whatever fres...

Some people might be cynical about AC/DC’s decision to release their own branded pinball machine. We say, “It’s fucking badass, and we want one. We really, really want one.” (more…)

Cynic will release their new EP "Carbon-Based Anatomy" on November 11th in Europe and November 15th in North America

Some Of Us Are In This Together is one of my favorite album titles of 2011 — for nostalgic, depleted, pragmatic, hopeful, cynical, romantic, and otherwise reasons. Sonically, Triumph Of Lethargy Skinned Alive To Death’s sludgy, slow-mo, pained, elegiac, cathartic sixth proper LP isn’t too shabby either. As mentioned when we...