Michael Azerrad
@michaelazerrad.bsky.social
Author of _The Amplified Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana_ and _Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991_.
Bylines: the New Yorker, the Yale Review, the New York Times, etc.
Bylines: the New Yorker, the Yale Review, the New York Times, etc.
A very happy 55th birthday to one of the more perfect albums, Carole King's _Tapestry_. Such great songs, such impeccable musicianship. And what a fitting title for a collection of music that's woven itself so deeply into the fabric of popular music.
February 10, 2026 at 10:13 PM
A very happy 55th birthday to one of the more perfect albums, Carole King's _Tapestry_. Such great songs, such impeccable musicianship. And what a fitting title for a collection of music that's woven itself so deeply into the fabric of popular music.
As yesterday's _New York Times_ "Connection" puzzle so compellingly demonstrates, the B-52s' legacy is deep and abiding.
December 21, 2025 at 1:15 PM
As yesterday's _New York Times_ "Connection" puzzle so compellingly demonstrates, the B-52s' legacy is deep and abiding.
Happy 82nd birthday to Keith Richards, who has been struggling to be free ever since.
December 18, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Happy 82nd birthday to Keith Richards, who has been struggling to be free ever since.
Today is the 32nd anniversary of Nirvana's epochal appearance on "Unplugged." Here's one of the passages about that show from my book _The Amplified Come as You Are_.
November 18, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Today is the 32nd anniversary of Nirvana's epochal appearance on "Unplugged." Here's one of the passages about that show from my book _The Amplified Come as You Are_.
It is truly a testament to the integrity of Joyful Noise Recordings that their beautiful new Daniel Johnston _In the 20th Century_ cassette box set is actually a box.
(It's 16 albums, mastered by longtime collaborator Kramer, in a limited edition of 999.)
(It's 16 albums, mastered by longtime collaborator Kramer, in a limited edition of 999.)
November 13, 2025 at 4:20 PM
It is truly a testament to the integrity of Joyful Noise Recordings that their beautiful new Daniel Johnston _In the 20th Century_ cassette box set is actually a box.
(It's 16 albums, mastered by longtime collaborator Kramer, in a limited edition of 999.)
(It's 16 albums, mastered by longtime collaborator Kramer, in a limited edition of 999.)
Today is the 35th anniversary of the release of My Bloody Valentine's _Loveless_, which is as good a reason as any to spin one of the 20th century's greatest works of art in any genre.
November 4, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Today is the 35th anniversary of the release of My Bloody Valentine's _Loveless_, which is as good a reason as any to spin one of the 20th century's greatest works of art in any genre.
It's the 34th anniversary of Nirvana's triumphant homecoming show at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle.
Here's a passage about it from _The Amplified Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana_, a new, vastly expanded edition of _Come as You Are_.
Here's a passage about it from _The Amplified Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana_, a new, vastly expanded edition of _Come as You Are_.
October 31, 2025 at 11:21 PM
It's the 34th anniversary of Nirvana's triumphant homecoming show at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle.
Here's a passage about it from _The Amplified Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana_, a new, vastly expanded edition of _Come as You Are_.
Here's a passage about it from _The Amplified Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana_, a new, vastly expanded edition of _Come as You Are_.
This tends to become an observation car — for some reason, passengers tear the roof off the sucker.
October 14, 2025 at 2:31 PM
This tends to become an observation car — for some reason, passengers tear the roof off the sucker.
It's John Coltrane's birthday so here's a super-cool 1960 photo of him with a Robert Motherwell painting at the Guggenheim Museum.
You can hear Coltrane's life-affirming music all day long on Columbia U.'s beloved WKCR here: www.cc-seas.columbia.edu/wkcr/
(Photo: William Claxton)
You can hear Coltrane's life-affirming music all day long on Columbia U.'s beloved WKCR here: www.cc-seas.columbia.edu/wkcr/
(Photo: William Claxton)
September 23, 2025 at 2:36 PM
It's John Coltrane's birthday so here's a super-cool 1960 photo of him with a Robert Motherwell painting at the Guggenheim Museum.
You can hear Coltrane's life-affirming music all day long on Columbia U.'s beloved WKCR here: www.cc-seas.columbia.edu/wkcr/
(Photo: William Claxton)
You can hear Coltrane's life-affirming music all day long on Columbia U.'s beloved WKCR here: www.cc-seas.columbia.edu/wkcr/
(Photo: William Claxton)
You know those 21 little symbols on the back of _In Utero_? They actually mean something. I revealed their fascinating secret in _The Amplified Come as You Are_, the deeply annotated version of _Come as You Are: the Story of Nirvana_.
September 22, 2025 at 3:49 PM
You know those 21 little symbols on the back of _In Utero_? They actually mean something. I revealed their fascinating secret in _The Amplified Come as You Are_, the deeply annotated version of _Come as You Are: the Story of Nirvana_.
Well, since it's Labor Day, you're probably looking for some funky-kinetic West African music to play at your barbecue. May I recommend _African Scream Contest: Raw and Psychedelic Afro Sounds from Benin and Togo '70s_. (Note: there is very little actual screaming on this album.)
September 1, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Well, since it's Labor Day, you're probably looking for some funky-kinetic West African music to play at your barbecue. May I recommend _African Scream Contest: Raw and Psychedelic Afro Sounds from Benin and Togo '70s_. (Note: there is very little actual screaming on this album.)
Nominate Minutemen singer-guitarist D. Boon for the 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize: it just makes a whole lot of sense.
August 15, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Nominate Minutemen singer-guitarist D. Boon for the 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize: it just makes a whole lot of sense.
One of the more aptly titled albums in pop music history.
July 21, 2025 at 9:26 PM
One of the more aptly titled albums in pop music history.
I hereby plug _Gabba Gabba We Accept You: The Wondrous Tale of Joey Ramone_ (Drag City), a children's book about the trials and tribulations of young Joey and the lessons punk can teach about being your own person. Charming text: Jay Ruttenberg, lovely illustrations: Lucinda Schreiber.
June 30, 2025 at 2:43 PM
I hereby plug _Gabba Gabba We Accept You: The Wondrous Tale of Joey Ramone_ (Drag City), a children's book about the trials and tribulations of young Joey and the lessons punk can teach about being your own person. Charming text: Jay Ruttenberg, lovely illustrations: Lucinda Schreiber.
Happy 37th birthday, @subpop.bsky.social!
April 1, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Happy 37th birthday, @subpop.bsky.social!
From punk legend Legs McNeil, the author of the quintessential _Please Kill Me_, this is the best piece of writing advice I ever received. He told it to me in person but also declared it in an interview — I just have this stray clipping and don't know where it appeared or who JS is.
March 20, 2025 at 6:10 PM
From punk legend Legs McNeil, the author of the quintessential _Please Kill Me_, this is the best piece of writing advice I ever received. He told it to me in person but also declared it in an interview — I just have this stray clipping and don't know where it appeared or who JS is.
RIP the Youngbloods' Jesse Colin Young, who sang the hit version of "Get Together," the '60s hippie anthem that Krist Novoselic later lampooned on the intro to _Nevermind_'s "Territorial Pissings." Here's the annotation about the song in _The Amplified Come as You Are_.
March 18, 2025 at 11:35 AM
RIP the Youngbloods' Jesse Colin Young, who sang the hit version of "Get Together," the '60s hippie anthem that Krist Novoselic later lampooned on the intro to _Nevermind_'s "Territorial Pissings." Here's the annotation about the song in _The Amplified Come as You Are_.
It's Kurt Cobain's birthday. He would have been 58. Kurt loved Chim-Chim from _Speed Racer_ so here's a Chim-Chim in his honor.
February 20, 2025 at 9:20 PM
It's Kurt Cobain's birthday. He would have been 58. Kurt loved Chim-Chim from _Speed Racer_ so here's a Chim-Chim in his honor.
Happy 92nd birthday to the brilliant artist @yokoono.bsky.social!
February 18, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Happy 92nd birthday to the brilliant artist @yokoono.bsky.social!
I don’t give a hoot about people’s ranked lists but this, from the excellent Tom Scharpling of @bestshow4life.bsky.social is interesting: _Lulu_ is #8. Quite a leap up from its early scorn. Maybe @davidbowiereal.bsky.social will be proven correct: _Lulu_ will be rated among Lou Reed's greatest work.
February 14, 2025 at 6:47 PM
I don’t give a hoot about people’s ranked lists but this, from the excellent Tom Scharpling of @bestshow4life.bsky.social is interesting: _Lulu_ is #8. Quite a leap up from its early scorn. Maybe @davidbowiereal.bsky.social will be proven correct: _Lulu_ will be rated among Lou Reed's greatest work.
The Brooklyn band Bodega explains why they called their catchy and provocative new-ish album _Our Brand Could Be Yr Life_.
January 28, 2025 at 10:27 PM
The Brooklyn band Bodega explains why they called their catchy and provocative new-ish album _Our Brand Could Be Yr Life_.
