Quinn Mercer articles

There’s something sacred about a roadhouse jukebox, the way it sets a mood, tells a story, or even settles an argument. These are the songs that lived in those glowing machines, the ones you’d hear over the clink of bottles, the scrape of bar stools, and the low hum of highway traffic outside. They weren’t just hits; they were atmosphere.

Frank Vincent was one of the big screen's most convincing and unforgettable character actors.

Post-grunge is one of those genres people love to roast… right up until one of its biggest songs comes on and they suddenly know every word. At its best, post-grunge delivered the kind of songs that felt like emotional release valves, built for blasting in the car, screaming at a concert, or surviving your early-2000s heartbreak with dignity (or at least volume). These are the tracks that defined that sound.

Every artist on this list reached a moment where momentum stalled and the future felt uncertain. These albums arrived at critical points when another misstep could have completely ended things. Instead, they reconnected artists with audiences, and ushered in some of music's best comebacks.

Hank Williams made a huge splash in the early country music scene. His life behind the music is equally as tragic as the subjects he wrote about, plagued with substance use and the highs and lows of fame. Many details come as a great surprise considering his immense legacy.

Is there another star who defines the idea of an Old Hollywood screen siren better than Lauren Bacall? Doubtful. With her femme fatale looks and iconic low voice, Bacall was a staple of Golden Age cinema. Her life is practically a checklist of Tinsel Town achievements and scandal, including on-set affairs, a tumultuous private life, and 1940s Presidential selfies. During most of her life, Bacall was remarkably private—but secrets never stay buried forever.

Rock ballads often get dismissed as overdramatic or too sentimental but the best ones survive because they’re rooted in real emotion, personal stories, or moments bigger than the bands themselves. These songs became emotional reference points, shaped by heartbreak, ambition, loss, and lived experience, and they only hit harder as years the pass.

Alternative rock has never been about fitting in. It’s the sound of bands ignoring the rulebook, pulling from punk, pop, noise, emotion, and experimentation, and somehow turning all that mess into something unforgettable. Here are the albums that helped alternative rock become one of the most influential movements in modern music.