December is was list-making season. And for us music journalists, it is a time to look back on scores of albums, reflect upon the music and recapitulate our favorites. But this year, just like the last, we took this opportunity to flip that tradition upside down, asking the artists that influenced us what influenced them. The prompt was not limited to albums that came out in 2008. more ›

Earlier this month, local band The Sweet Hurt (MySpace) celebrated the release of their EP with a release party at Pehrspace (MySpace) in Echo Park, with Evan Slamka from Marjorie Fair (MySpace), Liz Pappademas (MySpace), and Alex Lilly from Obi Best (MySpace), formerly known as Colorforms (MySpace). more ›