In which The Curmudgeons worship at the altar of the mighty, mighty Led Zeppelin. With scorching guitar licks, torpedo-heavy drumming and sex-god screamer vocals, this band epitomized the sensuality and the swagger of rock 'n' roll, and in presenting their take on the genre, they helped create what we now call heavy metal. During this episode, we c…

In which The Curmudgeons kick off its latest Golen Age series of episodes by revisiting the seminal year of 1976. It was a year that saw both The Ramones and The Sex Pistols break out. To say punk was the thing that year was an understatement. It was also was vital year for arena rock, as Boston and The Eagles both dropped classic albums. We also p…

In which The Curmudgeons shake, shake, shake that booty and revisit one of popular music's most unfairly maligned genres. Disco was essentially funky orchestral music--grand, reverb-heavy, maximal, showy, dramatic. Yet it was also energetic and fun as hell. Here, we explore disco's birth as a movement of freedom and uninhibited expression in Black …

In which The Curmudgeons know you wanted the best so we're giving it to you. Long live KISS, whose live act and meaty, ferocious riffs are both legendary. Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss understood that rock 'n' roll, at the end of the day, is all about the show. And KISS, nearly 50 years ago, put on the greatest show on the…

In which The Curmudgeons discuss the awesome power and influence of one of the innovators of the Southern thing, as The Drive-By Truckers refer to it. Lynyrd Skynyrd remains one of the most underrated rock bands of all time, a condition that is partially its own fault, given how it has tied itself in its most recent form to the worst of old Souther…

In which the Curmudgeons end their epic series of odes to the music of a nine-year period that transformed everything--and then some--in popular music. By 1972, the hangover from the revolutionary vibes of the 1960s had subsided, and that era's outgrowth of freedom and experimentation truly started to blossom. The Rolling Stones filtered American r…

In which The Curmudgeons stand up to the man and deliver the best of the best of a special era for both cinema and music, when African-Americans anti-heroes lit up the screens and imaginations of a generation of young Black people. And also young Black artists, who cranked out stunning funk, soul and disco anthems to accompany these films. Isaac Ha…

In which The Curmudgeons revisit an era where the streets soared to the top of the charts...and then unleashed their danger on hip-hop's finest artists. The success of Dr. Dre's 1992 album The Chronic ushered in an era where cursing, threatening lyrical opponents with violence, drug use and other chicanery became acceptable fodder for the radio dia…

In which The Curmudgeons explore one of the most extraordinary years for rock music of all time. We won't call it the greatest, because we don't really believe in such a superlative. But, still, 1971 was pretty freakin' great. Patheon albums from Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and The Who; stone-cold masterpieces from Carole King and Joni Mitchel…

In which The Curmudgeons celebrate the music and indelible legacy of one of the 21st Century's smartest, most vital rock bands. When The Black Keys first hit in 2002, comparisons with The White Stripes were inevitable. After all, they were a duo that blasted forth with just a guitar and drums. But that's where the fair comparisons ended. The Black …

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 ma…

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 ta…

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…

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 t…

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 Uni…

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 …

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…

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 fal…

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 boardroo…

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 inten…

In which The Curmudgeons revisit an unbelievably fertile year for popular music during the 20th century. The Beatles dropped Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. James Bown dropped "Cold Sweat." And a staggering number of artists announced their arrival in stunning fashion--Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, the Velvet Underground and others. And, yes…

In which The Curmudgeons each reveal their favorite records of the year. Frankly, it was a mediocre past 12 months for popular music, and there aren't a whole lot of records people will remember a decade from now. Yet there were some gems, and during this moment in time, we're excited to share our picks. Call it a public service. Enjoy a sampler pl…

Zyzek Barro is the man behind Paintball Nerd and has been taking over the paintball content world by storm with not only material that is entertaining but informative as well. Enjoy!Autor: Carl Markowski

In which The Curmudgeons celebrate an underrated classic album that was Chris's favorite for a stretch when he was 18 years old. Yes, the episode title is a direct assertion about Blind Melon's debut record Chris made once upon a time to Arturo. But was it a warranted statement from a tortured 18-year-old kid? Of course not, but don't we all have a…

Tyler leads the team that is behind Lumi Gummies, Microdose and Endless Paint Club. Residing in Portland, OR he has made a name for himself by helping people get started on their journey with psychoactive substances for health, performance and creativity. Enjoy!Autor: Carl Markowski

Arturo Andrade had a crazy journey getting to where he is now playing for the best team in the world and winning championships. Enjoy!Autor: Carl Markowski

In which The Curmudgeons plumb the vast archival releases of one of our favorite artists, Neil Young. Chris, in fact, considers himself a Neil Young-ologist, and he takes the lead in touring ten of the most essential releases in what has seemed, since 2009, like a never-ending torrent of live recordings and unreleased studio material dating all the…

In which the Curmudgeons revisit the year when rock 'n' roll exploded into psychedelic glory. The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde and The Beatles' Revolver greatly expanded rock's vocabulary--with a little help from their friends. All three albums are considered timeless greats, and we discuss the myriad reasons why. We also pa…

Kyle Spicka wears many hats, such as entrepreneur with Tiger wear, Professional Paintball player with AC:Diesel, Cohost of the Spick and Span show, along with being a young and hungry coach. Enjoy!Autor: Carl Markowski

In which The Curmudgeons espouse the virtues of Bston's glorious, pioneering arena rock masterpiece. Boston's self-titled debut was the product of the creative mind and engineering talents of a guy who worked by day as an engineer for Polaroid. His use of multiple tracks to layer lead guitar parts and vocals effectively created what became a cliche…

In which the Curmudgeons remember and pay fond tribute to one of our favorite bands of all time, which now unfortunately is masquerading as an emblem for Las Vegas tourism. We give close attention to the hope, grace and sense of wonder that made the band's anthemic brand of rock 'n' roll so magnificent. We focus especially on the period between 198…

Chaz and Jenn Fulk have been playing competitive paintball together for a few years now. Between the playing in the WNXL, running Team Underground and playing for team USA they both are heavily involved in the game with lots of interesting insights and perspectives.Autor: Carl Markowski

In which the Curmudgeons focus their gaze on music that exploded into our cultural consciousness 58 years ago--and is still exploding now. For the second consecutive year, The Beatles and Bob Dylan changed and everything and then some. The Rolling Stones started writing songs and kicking ass. James Brown, The Byrds, The Who and The Beach Boys also …

In which the Curmudgeons wake up in the city that never sleeps once more and offer a countdown of what we think is the definitive list of the greatest 40 rock 'n' roll songs about the Big Apple. We touch on the city's love-hate dichotomies and make the argument that these songs paint the city as an experience more than as a residence. And Arturo re…

In which The Curmudgeons give the origins of hip-hop a serious treatment and contemplate the magical melding of time, place and resources that makes its early history so compelling. The pioneers of the genre stared down the destruction and impoverishment of the South Bronx with the swagger of kings, organically spinning celebration, and positivity,…

In which The Curmudgeons launch their latest "golden age" series, this time on the one that arguably matters the most: the second one. Between 1964 and 1972, everything changed, and then changed again. The whole cultural powderkeg exploded into something thrilling, something indescribable and something that ensured podcasts like ours will always ex…

In which The Curmudgeons marvel at the pure rock 'n' roll glory of what we think is an underappreciated band, The Black Crowes. The band blended the influence of the Rolling Stones, Faces, Humble Pie and dollops of Southern Rock into a blast of audio dynamite that exploded in...1990, when MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice and Paula Abdul otherwise ruled the u…

In which the Curmudgeons follow James Brown into his disco-era slump and his triumphant return to the top of the charts with the shining monument that was "Living in America." We also cover Brown's troubling descent into drug addiction and criminal behavior, which in 1988 culminated with a 2-year-plus prison sentence. There also are sordid allegati…

In which The Curmudgeons get on up, get into it and get very, very involved in talking about one of the most extraordinary stretches of music ever produced by anyone. When James Brown went all in on what he called "The One," emphasizing the first beat in a four-beat measure, he sparked a musical revolution that not only invented funk but also defin…

In which the Curmudgeons get on the good foot and launch a three-part look at the career of a man who may just be rock 'n' roll's truest genius. From jail time in his rough-and-tumble youth to showtime at the Apollo and the chart heights of "I Got You (I Feel Good), we trace the ascension of James Brown as he croons and shuffles his way to supersta…

In which The Curmudgeons are joined by renowned author and R.E.M. biographer Tony Fletcher to fondly analyze the band's musical and cultural legacy, 40 years after the album Murmur changed rock expectations forever. We also discuss why one of the best bands in American history doesn't seem to get its due, despite its obvious influence on the sound …

In which the Curmudgeons are joined by South Korea-based radio DJ Daniel Springer to debunk myths and celebrate the music of Australia's coolest, sexiest--and best--band of the 1980s. INXS was far more than a band with one ubiquitous hit and a gorgeous, tortured lead singer. They took elements of funk, soul and jazz and melded them with New Wave se…

In which the Curmudgeons pulverize one of this century's most revered rock bands. And also perhaps its stupidest. Bandleader Gerard Way claims in interviews he formed My Chemical Romance after witnessing the Twin Towers fall from his native Northern New Jersey on 9/11. That's bad enough. Way and his mates then unleashed a torrent of disgustingly ce…

Drew Templeton is not only an amazing former professional paintball player, but has also blessed the paintball community with a great new platform to buy, sell and trade paintball goods. Download and check out Paintball Vault today! Enjoy!Autor: Carl Markowski

In which The Curmudgeons mix bewilderment with disdain in discussing the stench-filled star run of The Killers, the Vegas band by way of Utah who have aped a band or two -- or 50 -- you may know and love for nearly 20 years. We hold our noses and analyze a seven-album catalog that finds so-earnest-it-hurts bandleader Brandon Flowers travel a road f…

In which The Curmudgeons embark on a tour of 1970s Germany to discuss and analyze the influence of the artists and bands who invented and innovated the rock genre derisively coined Krautrock by snotty British people. The German musicians and label heads themselves called it "cosmic music." Theirs was a movement designed to distinguish a not-so-admi…

In which the Curmudgeons share our definitive countdown of sublime and powerful covers of rock songs by an array of artists. Some cover artists we know you've heard of before (Led Zeppelin, The Who). Others? Maybe not (Charles Bradley, Urge Overkill). Doesn't matter. After you hear our take on these songs, you'll never need to consume another list …

In which the Curmudgeons muse about the greatness of the rawest, realest Beatle here in the age of cancel culture. Lennon's very public journey from depressive edginess to middle-aged wisdom was inspiring and remains fascinating to study. First, we analyze how the tension between Lennon and Paul McCartney defined The Beatles' legacy. Then we trace …

In which Arturo Andrade rips Dave Grohl's renaissance project turned to unfortunately real band to shreds and does so vigorously...and with plenty of Internet-bred validation from others who hate this band. Chris O'Connor, who counts Grohl as a personal hero, only lightly pushes back. Alas, a turd is a turd. Let us rumble through this (mostly) stea…

Tyler Harmon is not only one of the best paintball players in the world but he also is one of the hosts of Play the Game Podcast. He is a remarkable player, human being and many other things. Enjoy!Autor: Carl Markowski