In brief

I'll have one of my long rants for you to read later, but for now, here are some other notable stories:

Something else for M.I.A. to "rap" about.

Epitonic is back and has relaunched with a new look. I've added it to my links section for your convenience. This site, dormant for a little over a year as of late, was key for me (and will be key once more) to discovering good, new music. Highly reccommended.

New FADER is here. I got it yesterday afternoon. You can check it out online, too (massive PDF download here). The issue is awesome so far. It has a particularly moving story, written by the L.A. Weekly's John Albert, on Greg Dulli (ex-Afghan Whigs) currently of the Twilight Singers, which, according to the article, has encompassed artists from Ani DiFranco to Bob Mould at one time or another. His soulful new album, "Powder Burns," is like the best of U2, the Whigs (duh) and... let's say... Sonic Youth in one. It's a slow grower, but ultimately a big shower.

Sonic Youth performed at CBGB for the first time in over a decade (that's where they started, folks!), and that's pretty cool of them. It proves that they remember their roots (like R.E.M.) and don't abandon where they came from, and that's righteous. It also proves they're musically irrelevant and have been for some time. If your only major publicity ploy for your new album is to play the same venue you did when you were in college, it spells "l-a-m-e" not "s-a-l-e-s." I would gladly exchange the breakup of Sonic Youth for another alternative band's reunion-- like Soundgarden.