The War On Drugs : Live Drugs Again

The live album really came into prominence in the 70s. Kiss Alive, Frampton Comes Alive, and Cheap Trick At Budokan were some of the biggest albums of the decade of decadence. While selling millions, they were merely chum thrown into the waters for hungry fans to nibble on while the bands went back into the […]

Crapper Broke, Long Weekend, New Creative Space…

As a homeowner I do feel a certain amount of pride in the place I call home. It’s not an extravagant home, just a little under 1,200 square feet. Three bedrooms, two baths, with a living and dining room plus a kitchen. Not quite enough closets, and just a couple square feet short in the […]

Bright Frights, Big City

Nearly two weeks ago my wife and I made the trek to Chicago and saw our first concert together in a very long time. I was trying to remember the last live show we saw and I think it might have been Steve Vai in October of 2016. We used to go to concerts on […]

Complex Distractions Presents Top 30 Albums Of 2021 : 10-1

It’s been a year, hasn’t it? I mean if we’re being honest it’s been quite a couple of years; pandemic, nearly a million deaths from Covid in the US alone, protests, science deniers, attempted insurrection, fascism disguised as nationalism disguised as patriotism, and of course the return of the McRib. But besides all of that, […]

The War On Drugs : I Don’t Live Here Anymore

Adam Granduciel’s musical career path as The War On Drugs has been a pretty interesting one. Musically starting out in an almost place of experimentation with touches of pop elements on Wagonwheel Blues. His Dylan-esque vocals coalescing with his space-y folk strumming was a hint of great things to come. But with Slave Ambient in […]

The War On Drugs’ “I Don’t Live Here Anymore”

The War On Drugs have become one of the best rock and roll bands working today. In fact, the ensemble rock band seems to be a fading thing. With the exception of a handful of bands, The War On Drugs seem to be a dying breed. They make earnest, blue collar music that feels both […]

The War On Drugs Return With ‘I Don’t Live Here Anymore’, Out 10/29; Listen To “Living Proof”

The War On Drugs are a band that have always sounded big. Even when it was just frontman/songwriter Adam Granduciel alone in a dilapidated Philly house writing anthemic rock and roll and experimental sound collages, albums like Slave Ambient and Lost in the Dream felt and sounded like products of big studios and veteran musicians. […]

The War On Drugs : Live Drugs

I never thought I’d look back on live shows as if they’re something from the past. Something that doesn’t exist anymore, so we have to live those experiences through live albums. Well if 2020 has taught me anything it’s that nothing is forever, folks. Thankfully there are some truly great live albums that exist. Albums […]

The War on Drugs : A Deeper Understanding

I don’t think a songwriter has excited me more about the future of music in the last few years more than The War on Drugs’ Adam Granduciel. It’s ironic, too, given that his music feels more like looking back into the past than forward into some unknown future. I guess I’ve been known to wallow […]

Record Store Daze

Maybe I’m getting old. Well I know I’m getting old, but that’s beside the point. The reason I say that at this juncture is because this past Saturday was Record Store Day 2017 and I was still in bed when the festivities started. Years past(well at least since 2012) I was up and out the […]