nipplemind

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

After witnessing all sorts of inexplicably abstract idolizing behavior from their fans, I've honestly lost any fondness for this historically significant rock band. Whether it's that one overmentioned prism album, or later when Roger Waters' anti-secessionist comments were extensively highlighted by Chinese state media, nothing about them can spark my interest anymore. And their only "niche" album, which I'd consider their one ... read more

Whenever You Need Somebody
I've always believed that those formulaic, cheap dance tracks were the first nail in new wave's coffin. And the real shame is that, thanks to some internet meme falling out of the sky, their ultimate embodiment—Rick Astley—somehow gets to join the ranks of the so-called "timeless." As if overnight, this major-label puppet singer-songwriter could be mentioned in the same breath as New Order or Depeche Mode.

Alright, one thing has to be ... read more

The “Flag” of punk rock flies in many colors. Black symbolizes "those who take shit but never wiped clean, using punk rock to clean their asses," while the pink flag is more "moderate"—neither red nor black, embodying a greater sense of artistry rather than street-protest shouting.

This album is minimalist—not only in the "punk-style minimalism" of compressing 21 tracks into 39 minutes—but also in simplifying the music itself, ... read more

The Psychedelic Furs

Post-punk is defined by three representative sounds: the icy despair of Joy Division, the gothic grandeur of Siouxsie and the Banshees, and the often-overlooked "dirtier," more street-level, and romantic "New Romantic" voice—one of whose pioneers is The Psychedelic Furs.

This self-titled debut is not perfect; its production is relatively raw and sonically "grungy." Yet this very texture captures the essence of the band’s ... read more