December is 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 ›

Tonight Weezer front man Rivers Cuomo will be stopping by Fingerprints in Long Beach. And on the earlier side of things, David Lynch will either be preaching Transcendental Meditation baloney or pumping out ambient noise at Amoeba Records in Hollywood. We're not entirely sure which activity he'll partake in yet. Atlanta's own noise rockers Deerhunter are slated to wreak havoc on eardrums at the El Rey Theatre with the equally abrasive act Times New Viking. And, lastly, Brooklyn-based rock band the Hold Steady are headlining the Wiltern. But we recommend checking into the Echoplex for Check One Twosday. This week Raleigh-based indie pop duo the Rosebuds will be performing with LA locals Lemon Sun. more ›

I've always been intrigued by other "best of" lists, but this year I decided to take it to a whole new level. I e-mailed a handful of bands that I've seen this past year in order to unearth what exactly captivated them in '07. As music listeners, it is our duty to take a keen interest in our favorite musician's influences. After all, they rocked our little world, might as well see what rocked their... more ›

I've always dreamed of attending the CMJ, the annual New York gathering of pretty much every band in the entire universe. The people over at Fader are saying CMJ should be an acronym for Conquering Many Jams. I'm just not sure if I'll be doing the conquering. With thousands of bands to choose from, It's more than likely that the music will be conquering me. As I arrive at the Puck building on Lafayette... more ›