Most Popular

  • The Hard Lie
    How former Ticket host Greg Williams destroyed the most dynamic duo in Dallas talk radio through drugs, deceit and disaffection
  • American Girls
    Crossing between American and Egyptian cultures, he Said girls made one deadly misstep: They fell in love
  • Bless Us, Oh Lard
    Damn fajitas and health-conscious eaters. They're killing traditional Tex-Mex.
  • The Dirt Doctor
    How radio show host Howard Garrett pushed Dallas to the center of the organic gardening movement through passion, principle and molasses
  • For Whom the Bell Tolls
    Electronic monitoring may dramatically curb truancy. So why isn't DISD interested?

Recent Articles

Recent Articles by Mikael Wood

National Features >

  • Houston Press

    A Dirty Picture

    What mainstream publishers don't want you to know about door-to-door magazine sales.

    By Craig Malisow

  • Riverfront Times

    Welcome to Cougar Heaven

    When these huntresses on are on the prowl, the prey very much wants to be caught.

    By Unreal

  • Broward-Palm Beach New Times

    Sweet Deal

    How rumored McCain veep choice Charlie Crist wants to bail out Big Sugar.

    By Bob Norman

  • SF Weekly

    All-American Girls

    Are Asian women getting their jawbones cut to look whiter?

    By Lauren Smiley

Various artists

Rock Against Bush Vol. 1 (Fat Wreck Chords)

By Mikael Wood

Published on April 29, 2004

Who knew Gavin Rossdale inspired such animosity within the punk community? Sure, Bush's flashy grunge fluff refigured Kurt Cobain's hard-won angst into product for junior high mall stalkers, and, yeah, getting militant noisenik Steve Albini to produce 1996's Razorblade Suitcase was kind of a coup. But 26 tracks dedicated to their dismissal? Talk about teen spirit. Um, ha ha. The real question this anti-Dubya compilation asks is: When was the last time the Get Up Kids and Ministry rubbed elbows? Here the Kids improve on the wan emo-rock they've been making lately with "Lion and the Lamb," a pretty little plea for peace with room for both slashing guitars and tinkling pianos; two tracks later, Al Jourgensen observes that "half the world is down the toilet" over grinding synth-metal that proves it. And how do the Descendents not suck yet? Their "Sad State of Affairs" is a satisfying blast of taut pop-punk with skank in its step and compelling ambivalence in its spiel; it's followed by Authority Zero's younger, dumber "Revolution." Elsewhere, (relative) variety rules: Against Me!'s punkabilly blues, Strike Anywhere's clean-cut hardcore, the Ataris' acoustic pop, Denali's post-Portishead art-rock. All that's missing? Gavin Rossdale's hunky yelp.



Dallas Observer Insiders

  • Local food, music and news blasts
  • Free Stuff
Backpage.com