Stabbing Westward "What Do I Have to Do?"

Stabbing Westward WITHER BLISTER BURN + PEEL

The early-to-mid 90s were a hell of a time. Thanks to Lollapalooza and the rise of Industrial (NIN) and Industrial Metal bands (Ministry), there was a sudden influx of similar acts that appeared on the scene, such as Stabbing Westward.

I remember first hearing them in college and liked them enough to be excited to hear that they would be opening for Depeche Mode on their 1994 tour.

Then in 1996 Wither Blister Burn + Peel came out. With tracks like "Shame" and "What Do I Have to Do" Stabbing Westward vaulted into the limelight.

As such, I saw them again in 1998, and again, opening for Depeche Mode during The Singles tour. More often than not I skip the opening act, unless they are someone I already know or scoped out ahead of time, but Stabbing Westward was a band that I happily showed up to see.

Despite seeing them twice open for my favorite band of all time, I have never seen Stabbing Westward on tour in their own right. That is, until tonight.

They're playing a small, local venue in my hometown and the price ($25) was too good for me not to say "Fuck it, why not?"

Honestly, I'd see just about any band for $20-30. Just about.

While I liked their album Ungod, it was this track on their second album that really made me stand up and pay attention.

How couldn't I? This track is fire!

Enjoy!

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Nine Inch Nails "Closer" (B Stage Remix w/Boys Noize)

Updated (04.24.26): since NIN/Boys Noize have since released Nine Inch Noize I have updated this post with the official version of the track below. At 30+ years old I think we can all agree that "Closer" was a hit that was about as perfect as it could have been, and has since become a classic. But ever since I saw NIN in Detroit, and even before, thanks to YouTube, I have been obsessed with this remix of the track. I thought maybe that would fade, but here we are weeks later and I am still impressed with not only the audacity to rework such a well-known, iconic song, but I'm equally astounding as to how well it works. And now, with the Coachella lineup announced (see above as well), it's obvious that this NIN/Boys Noize collaboration is going to continue as Nine Inch Noize. Personally, I love it, and am hopeful to get an official release of this version so I can buy it and listen to it to my heart's content. Welcome to Monday! Enjoy!

Elbow "Sober"

Look, I realize that I just posted a song by Elbow on Friday , and to be clear, this isn't an Elbow fanatic blog now. That said, I was anticipating hearing "My Sad Captains" over the weekend, but Elbow changed their setlist and, sadly, I did not get to hear it peformed live. It is what it is, the show was still amazing! I fully admit that I had only taken a cursory listen to their new album Audio Vertigo before the show, but "Sober" was definitely a live standout. I've listened to this song multiple times since hearing it live on Sunday night and am currently obsessed. So yeah, you got some Elbow on Friday, and now you get some more today because this song is now an earworm for me. It's so damn good! (FYI: this song is technically from the Audio Vertigo: Echo EP, but it is now included on the deluxe version of Audio Vertigo, as are the other EP tracks.) Enjoy!

Cigarettes After Sex "Keep On Loving You"

Like a hazy, lush, cannibis-fueled haze, Cigarettes After Sex have put a new spin on REO Speedwagon's "Keep On Loving You," and I'm here for it. Listen, I appreciate a good cover, but I do not want to hear another artist try to recreate a song almost note-for-note like the original, especially if the latter was a hit. I want to hear a different take, an alternative approach to a song that I already know. Perhaps the most powerful example of this is what Johnny Cash did with NIN's "Hurt." I'm not saying that the key to a good cover is to slow things down, sure, sometimes that is true, but the important aspect is to bring something new to the song, make the audience consider it from another perspective, and that's exactly what Cigarettes After Sex did here. Happy Monday! Affection by Cigarettes After Sex

This Track Is Fire!

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