Gemma Ray: It’s a Shame About Gemma Ray

Artist: Gemma RayTitle: It’s a Shame About Gemma RayRelease date: June 1Label: BronzeratThe best part of writing “Nothing Not New” is hearing an artist that, under nearly any other circumstance, would probably escape my attention. Back in the day, when I was more attuned to new music, I probably would’ve…

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti: Before Today

Artist: Ariel Pink’s Haunted GraffitiTitle: Before TodayRelease date: June 8Label: 4ADWith an audacious mouthful of a name like Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, how could this band’s debut record be anything but entertaining and occasionally thrilling yet also showy, confounding, and just plain weird?Apparently, Ariel Pink is a cult favorite who’s…

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our 6/10 Issue

This week, New Times ran a box in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts. Why should Arizonans boycott the band Stars? What’s up with whipped cream wrestling at Cream Stereo…

Jack White and Conan O’Brien Have Surprise Date Tomorrow

If there are two people in the entertainment world who know how to get folks talking, it’s Jack White and Conan O’Brien. Both are kings of the lost art of the whisper campaign, getting word of mouth buzzing both in real life and virtually whenever they make even the slightest…

Rihanna Downsizes from Phoenix to Tucson

Rihanna’s July 22 stop at Phoenix’s Cricket Wireless Pavilion has been moved to Tucson, reports media down south.Before you get your panties in a bunch about SB 1070 boycotts remember that Tucson is actually still part of Arizona (it’s convenient to forget sometimes, I know) and that the venue she’s…

Band Of Horses: Compliments

Song: Band of Horses, “Compliments”Context: Nearly a month after Band Of Horses was last Today’s Soundtrack Infinite Arms is still getting some spins in my car. What a great record. Compliments by bandofhorses…

Your Guide to Navigating Blogger-Created Genre Names

“What the fuck is chillwave?????” Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast tweeted back in April, when MTVU blogger Lindsay Hood described her band as “chillwave,” after dismissing genres like “lo-fi,” “glo-fi” and “Gorillavsbearcore” in her blurb advancing the video for the band’s single “When I’m With You.”  To be fair to…

Against Me!: White Crosses

Artist: Against Me!Title: White CrossesRelease date: June 8Label: SireAs a longtime fan of punk music (I made the leap from Styx and ELO to Buzzcocks, The Dictators, and The Sex Pistols in 1982, when I was 13), I’m usually curious about what punk bands the kids are being force-fed by…