To refresh your memory, almost exactly two months ago I got into a spat with AT&T regarding a protective case for my then-new cell phone. According to the manager of the retail outlet I visited, the company did not accept returned accessories. They were, in effect, completely free from blame if one of their products [...]

Surely by now you are aware of Comets On Fire. They’re a psychedelic rock band from northern California. Their lineup features Six Organs Of Admittance creator Ben Chasney on electric guitar, and they one band member (Noel von Harmonson) whose main instrument is an Echoplex. They’ve recorded for Alternative Tentacles and Sub Pop. Bong Voyage [...]

After a nice dinner last night at the new Michaelangelo’s location in Silver Lake last night, I realized that I didn’t have enough time to compile a mix tape and put together the White Hills review. White Hills gets preferential treatment over mix tapes, so that’s why I’m posting the mix now, on Monday. I [...]

After a long day of work yesterday, I planned for a relaxing evening with friends, maybe playing a board game or two, and drinking a bottle or two of wine. It would have been peaceful, cheap, and best of all I would be able to go to sleep at a reasonable hour (note: I work [...]

“If Hammerhead’s debut was to alternative rock what Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer was to independent film — a harrowing glimpse into the cold, hard heart of darkness — Into the Vortex is more like Quentin Tarantino’s equally violent, but more sophisticated Reservoir Dogs. On their sophomore release (not counting the live EP, Evil [...]

Good Saturday, everybody! I hope you’re weekends are all filled with joy and relaxation. I’ll be…uh…working. All day. It sucks, I know. Don’t worry, one of these days I’ll get a proper job with free weekends, like the rest of you. Hell, I might even make a few more bucks while I’m at it. In [...]

“Charalambides is the Greek surname that Houston musicians Christina Carter, Tom Carter, and Heather Leigh Murray use when they perform and record. It’s a word I never feel quite comfortable pronouncing; I’ve heard it spoken aloud any number of ways and the only phonetic spelling I’ve encountered – Char-a-lam-ba-deez – is still rather oblique, denying [...]