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 little world. Therefore, this is an act of paying it forward to those hardworking, underpaid musicians who truly made a difference within the music scene this year. more ›

You might recall that right around Labor Day we celebrated KCRW's 30th anniversary of Morning Becomes Eclectic with a series of interviews with a handful of their on-air personalities. Today we are lucky enough to get the Top 10 list of Nic Harcourt's top albums of 2007. We are very happy to see that he's just as down with local kids Sea Wolf and Great Northern as we are. Not only that, but atop his list is another local girl, Jesca Hoop! more ›

New Releases May 15, 2007 Wilco - Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch) Rufus Wainwright - Release the Stars (Geffen) Pink Martini - Hey Eugene! (Heinz) Great Northern - Trading Twilight for Daylight (Eenie Meenie) The Horrors - Strange House [Bonus Tracks] (Stolen Transmission) The Fall - World Bewitched: Best of 1990 - 2000 (Artful) Blacktop Mourning - No Regret (Mega Force) Dungen - Tio Bitar (Kemado) Barry & the Remains - Remains [Epic/Legacy 2007] (Epic)... more ›