Jack White and Conan O’Brien Have Surprise Date Tomorrow

If there are two people in the entertainment world who know how to get folks talking, it’s Jack White and Conan O’Brien. Both are kings of the lost art of the whisper campaign, getting word of mouth buzzing both in real life and virtually whenever they make even the slightest…

Rihanna Downsizes from Phoenix to Tucson

Rihanna’s July 22 stop at Phoenix’s Cricket Wireless Pavilion has been moved to Tucson, reports media down south.Before you get your panties in a bunch about SB 1070 boycotts remember that Tucson is actually still part of Arizona (it’s convenient to forget sometimes, I know) and that the venue she’s…

Band Of Horses: Compliments

Song: Band of Horses, “Compliments”Context: Nearly a month after Band Of Horses was last Today’s Soundtrack Infinite Arms is still getting some spins in my car. What a great record. Compliments by bandofhorses…

Your Guide to Navigating Blogger-Created Genre Names

“What the fuck is chillwave?????” Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast tweeted back in April, when MTVU blogger Lindsay Hood described her band as “chillwave,” after dismissing genres like “lo-fi,” “glo-fi” and “Gorillavsbearcore” in her blurb advancing the video for the band’s single “When I’m With You.”  To be fair to…

Against Me!: White Crosses

Artist: Against Me!Title: White CrossesRelease date: June 8Label: SireAs a longtime fan of punk music (I made the leap from Styx and ELO to Buzzcocks, The Dictators, and The Sex Pistols in 1982, when I was 13), I’m usually curious about what punk bands the kids are being force-fed by…

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti: Before Today

What I have noticed about Before Today is that it is an absolute grower of an album — a piece of music that gets right under your skin in all the best ways after repeated listens. Ariel Pink’s genius — and yes, I mean genius — is splattered all over…

Blitzen Trapper: Destroyer of the Void

Artist: Blitzen TrapperTitle: Destroyer of the VoidRelease date: June 8Label: Sub PopDon’t be surprised if Blitzen Trapper starts another Grateful Dead revival. We’re probably overdue for another one, anyway. It’s not that BT is a proper jam band, but they have that same dry, folky country rock that the Dead…

Jimmy Eat World: Sweetness (Double ‘n’ mix)

Song: Jimmy Eat World, “Sweetness (Double ‘n’ mix)”Context: There’s never a bad time to listen to the Best Local Band in Phoenix (according to The Arizona Republic). Jimmy eat world – Sweetness (Double ‘n’ mix) by new now…

The Melvins: The Bride Screamed Murder

Artist: The MelvinsTitle: The Bride Screamed MurderRelease date: June 1Label: IpecacTo me, The Melvins have always been one of those bands that more people say they like than actually listen to. Could be wrong, but that’s my perception. I certainly respect their longevity (they’ve been around damn near 30 years),…

Juggalo Science Fair This Weekend, My Ninjas

The fine people at San Francisco non-profit Noisebridge — described as “an infrastructure provider for technical-creative projects, collaboratively run by its members” — are dedicating their Saturday evening to tackle some of the more stymying concepts described in the greatest song ever recorded, Insane Clown Posse’s “Miracles.” Their science fair…

William S. Burroughs Documentary to Be Released by a Beastie Boy

We all know that people are multi-dimensional, and cannot be defined by one singular act or piece of art that they produce. Having said this, it’s hard to imagine that the same guy who sings “Hey Ladies” would be interested in a documentary on William S. Burroughs. Adam Yauch, the…

Tim McGraw Brings the Sexy to Cricket Wireless Pavilion

Who cares if you can sing as long as you’re as hot as Tim McGraw, right? That seemed to be the sentiment of most of the fans at the McGraw/Lady Antebellum show last night at Cricket Wireless Pavilion, as comments about the man’s good looks were just as prevalent as…

Katrina and the Waves: Walking On Sunshine

Song: Katrina and the Waves, “Walking On Sunshine”Context: A press release reminds me of the song, a delightful of little 80’s pop ditty made even better by a memorable appearance in High Fidelity. Listening in from the current milieu, much of K&tW’s work really seems to anticipate indie rock in…