RAYMOND CHALMÉ, editorial contributor: All Tomorrow's Parties New York 2009 was the concert(s) that I base all concerts on. The festival is any music lover's dream. The line between band and fan is blurred to the point of nonexistence. Everyone is so nice and accepting, the ambiance is unparalleled, the lineups are innovative and surprising...I could go on for hours about the experiences I've had there, which...  [continue reading]


MAT LINDENBERG, editorial contributor: My favorites change pretty constantly, and there’s been so much genre mashing going on for so long that I’m not even sure if I could name one without drowning in adjectives—but I am liking this whole chill-wave thing, and all the various permutations of shoe gaze that seem to be going on. As long...  [continue reading]



LUKAS CLARK-MEMLER, editorial contributor: Ariel Pink is the definition of a post-modern rock-star. With a cult like following and an elusive persona, anything Pink would have released would have been embraced. But Before Today, not only satisfied Pink fans, but actually bridged the gap between lo-fi/alternative music and folks with less broad horizons...  [continue reading]



SEAN MURPHY, editorial contributor: Additionally, many music journalists (Nat Hentoff, Greil Marcus, Nick Tosches, Vince Aletti, Kurt Loder, Nelson George, Toure, Chuck Klosterman) have transitioned to careers as bona fide cultural/political commentators, TV personalities, and novelists, so I would be lying if I said that I didn’t intend to follow...  [continue reading]



LYNN SHER, editorial contributor: I am a musician. I have a band and write music. People don't know who I am, but I want them to listen to me, and give me a chance. Well, I realized that I was a hypocrite, because I used to be really 'bad' about seeking out new, up and coming musicians and bands... I tended to just listen to what I new I liked. Writing about music, enables me to give back to the music community...  [continue reading]