First off, apologies for the lack of original content on my part. It’s been getting hectic like Guru and The Brand New Heavies. There was an East Coast sojourn, a flurry of deadlines, and a hair-brained scheme to build the world’s first mind-reading machine–which failed miserably (see photo evidence here). Thankfully, like free lunches, Sach […]

You better believe they serve Pepsi at Medieval Times.   30. Los Campesinos–Hold On Now, Youngster (Wichita/Arts & Crafts) Gareth Campesinos and Co. clearly grew up not just liking music but being obsessed by bands, and they’ve done the only honourable thing you can in that position: they’ve created the first band both worthy of and […]

I have a web-only piece in LA Weekly today on Glen E. Friedman, whose name you might not recognize, but whose photos you most certainly would–even if only because he was the guy who shot the cover of Check Your Head.  He’s also well known in musical circles for his seminal shots of Dogtown and […]

Between the listening party preview and my eventual LA Weekly review of the Kanye record, I think I’ve said my peace. As predicted, it seems to be a love-it or hate-it proposition. So now that you’ve heard it, which one is it? Download: MP3: Kanye West-“Love Lockdown” MP3: Kanye West-“Heartless”

Re-reading my review, I briefly blanched at the easy potshot lambasting “stale, corporate local radio” for ignoring the Knux–then I checked out Power 106’s playlist. “Krazy” by Pitbull and Lil Jon?” “So Fly” by Slim and Young Joc?” You’re trying to tell me that neither “Cappuccino” nor “Bang Bang” is better than that gruesome twosome? […]

Thomas Friedman opined that “drill baby drill,” is the dumbest bumper sticker in history, the energy equivalent of being on the verge of the PC/Internet-era and pounding the table for America to make more IBM typewriters and carbon paper. ” I’m inclined to agree. Though to be fair, who doesn’t feel just a bit brighter […]

Q: What was it like for you growing up in Los Angeles during the 80s? A: It was the LA of the Reagan administration. Drugs were really heavy in the streets at that time…more crack addicts…crack babies. It was a good time simultaneously because there was more creativity within the music and it showed. You […]

  In advance of his show Saturday night at the Greek Theater, I interviewed Al Green for LA Weekly. Needless to say, I’ve experienced few things more surreal than talking to Al Green on the phone and hearing him spontaneously break into song. It was rather awesome. In addition, I wrote a shorter Wu-centric piece […]

Don’t really know what to say about this piece that it’s title doesn’t already hint at. It felt like it took an eternity to write, partially due to personal lethargy, partially because it’s a long story and the reporting and organization took forever. If you have any interest in Lil Wayne, the song “I Feel […]

It’s early in the morning, I’m catatonically exhausted, several beers deep and certainly in no state to express anything remotely resembling coherence. Bear with me. So I wrote this big hip-hop genealogy thing for Rock the Bells, a sort-of primer guide to the acts and their chief influences. Along with it, I penned a hip-hop […]