The Brian Jonestown Massacre

The Brian Jonestown Massacre is one of those bands that should be a household name, thanks to its incredibly catchy and powerful songs, its compelling backstory and a mythology that’s second to none in the modern era. Some would blame bandleader Anton Newcombe for sabotaging a promising career, but in the realm of maintaining artistic integrity and balancing a modest level of commercial success with the freedom to create where and how he will, Newcombe has done well for himself. These days, Newcombe could probably make whatever kind of music he’d like and still find an audience. Fortunately, he has always aimed for writing interesting and emotionally stirring material. Much has been made of Newcombe’s sometimes turbulent and troubled past, but his impressively varied body of work, including the soon-to-be released Aufheben, speaks for itself.