For Nirvana, putting out their first major-label record was like getting into a new car. But the runaway success was like suddenly discovering that t…

- Michael Azerrad

Back in the day, in '91 or so, I tried to interview Fugazi for Rolling Stone, which the band felt stood for everything they detested about corporate …

- Michael Azerrad

Ten percent of the American population thinks that Barack Obama is a Muslim. Those are the people that have not learned the skill of filtering inform…

- Michael Azerrad

Now that the generation that grew up on '80s indie-rock has attained influential positions in the culture, that music is the new yardstick. And that …

- Michael Azerrad

You didn't have to be a huge rock star; you just had to do well enough to continue doing what you wanted to do. It wasn't about hitting the jackpot, …

- Michael Azerrad

I'm always very careful to make the distinction between music criticism and music journalism. A lot of people don't. But criticism doesn't require re…

- Michael Azerrad

A lot of music fans are still interested in insightful perspectives on music - maybe even more interested than ever, since everyone needs help making…

- Michael Azerrad

The online musical universe has become Balkanized, with many sites focusing on minute niches. That works well for reaching very specific demographics…

- Michael Azerrad

To begin with, the key principle of American indie rock wasn't a circumscribed musical style; it was the punk ethos of DIY, or do-it-yourself. The e…

- Michael Azerrad