Van Dyke Parks

Recordings

Critics' Choice

A year-end recap of the albums that made it worthwhile to own a stereo in 1997

The Thrills

Let's Bottle Bohemia
(Virgin)

Over the Rhine

Let's Bottle Bohemia
(Virgin)

Joanna Newsom

Ys
(Drag City/Caroline)

Overlooked in '05

Ten great discs that were, shall we say, underserved by the media but are more than worthy of your money and close attention

Cactus Flower

Known as much for her multiple sclerosis as for her songwriting gift, Victoria Williams finds Water to Drink under the wild desert sun

Winter Hawks

Athens, Georgia's Elf Power takes a slightly dark turn with its latest

A Brand-New Case

With the New Wave Plimsouls (and Plimsouls reunion) behind him, Peter Case is returning to his folk roots

The Forever Frown

More than 30 years later, Smile remains the subject of so much mystery

Cracked Actor

With new album, Vic Chesnutt moves from lonely troubadour to pop-art master

Recordings

With new album, Vic Chesnutt moves from lonely troubadour to pop-art master

Top Ten of 2009: Jason P. Woodbury

Up on the Sun is counting down the days until the unveiling of music editor Martin Cizmar's personal Best of 2009 list with some other lists from Phoenix New Times' stable of excellent freelancers. Today we bring you a list from Jason P. Woodbury, a New Times contributor, a staff writer at Tiny Mix ... More >>

Locals ROAR do Daytrotter Session

Johnnie Cluney for Daytrotter​Daytrotter, the taste-making blog featuring performances by up-and-coming acts, is offering a leg up to another Phoenix act.ROAR, the new project by Asleep in the Sea singer Owen Evans, did four tracks for the site, scoring one of their signature portraits and a pleas ... More >>

Serge Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life and Seven More Music Flicks That Don't Suck

A scene from A Heroic Life​I didn't make it out to the French pop spectacular at FilmBar on Saturday night, but the pics posted on Facebook got me super-pumped to catch Serge Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life. Non-documentary or concert films are tough to pull off (those are, too) but when a movie ... More >>

Timothy B. Schmit @ The Compound Grill

A scene from A Heroic Life​I didn't make it out to the French pop spectacular at FilmBar on Saturday night, but the pics posted on Facebook got me super-pumped to catch Serge Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life. Non-documentary or concert films are tough to pull off (those are, too) but when a movie ... More >>