Alan Ritch
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Simply Living: A Perfect 10 by Tim Barry
Tim Barry is a folk singer/songwriter from Richmond, Virginia. For many years he fronted the band Avail, who is also worth checking out if you appreciate ballsy, melodic punk rock. Tim’s songs are simple but powerful. He doesn’t consider himself a good guitar player (though I disagree). He focuses on how a song feels, and […] More
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in Music
Under the Lights Where Pantera Stands Tall
It’s December 2004. I’m standing in a driveway next to a puddle of my puke. The whiskey isn’t getting along with my stomach. It’s numbing my pain though, so I pour another blacktooth grin and smile. The cement is littered with broken bottles and shattered souls. I hear my friend shout, “Watch it go!” seconds […] More
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My Favorite Guitar Solos: An Epic List of Tasty Licks
The keyword here is “favorite.” I’m not saying these are the best guitar solos ever written. That would be ridiculous. These are just the ones that move me the most. I’ve been caught numerous times playing air guitar to most of these. So it goes. I usually appreciate solos more for their emotional impact than […] More
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in Music
Reading Between the Lines of Stone Temple Pilots
The year was 2010. The date was today. The record was simply titled, Stone Temple Pilots. After nine long years, it was beyond exciting to have a new record from these ’90s rock pioneers in my hands. Little did I know it would be Scott Weiland’s final recording with the band. Although, unfortunately, neither his […] More
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in Music
Pearl Jam’s Binaural Was Light Years Ahead of Its Time
Twenty years after the release of Pearl Jam’s Binaural (May 16, 2000), I still think the album suffers a bit due to Tchad Blake’s muddy production. Punkier songs, such as “Breakerfall” and “Grievance,” feel bogged down and muffled by the heavy bass tone. It’s a shame you can’t always hear Mike McCready well in the […] More
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in Music
Motörhead Is Still Kicking Our Asses
We Are Motörhead was unleashed upon the world 20 years ago, on May 15, 2000. It holds its ground as one of the absolute best from the last half of their career. The first thing worth mentioning is the outstanding production. Motörhead was such a deafening band, who played with so much ferociousness, that this […] More
