Some albums simply cannot be judged on an initial listen. The last album that really embodied this was Tool’s 2001 release, “Lateralus.” Its song structure was bizarre, with an opening track, “The Grudge,” written in 10/8 time and an overall structure that leaned more toward progressive rock than ever before. Read more...

Forget the typical rock trio. Forget the basic guitar, keyboard and drums set-up. With operatic vocal-lines and a chorus made up of “meows,” eight members including a cellist, a trumpet player, and two percussionists, Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s are bending the rules of folk-rock. Read more...

On April 30, 1975, Saigon fell to the Northern Communist forces and forever changed the lives of millions of South Vietnam citizens. One such individual was Quang X. Read more...

It happened between Anders and Woods and Comets on Fire, in the lull between sets as roadies set up for the next act. On Friday night at a reunion show by pre-grunge pioneers Dinosaur Jr., I stood in the middle of the Troubadour, one of the most intimate venues in all of music. Read more...

In my free time, I browse random topics on Wikipedia to amuse myself. It kills two birds with one stone: It wastes time and sometimes I learn something ““ though the things I learn usually end up being completely inconsequential (such as the topography of Tatooine, a fictional planet from “Star Wars”). Read more...

Some might think of this upcoming weekend’s Los Angeles Times Festival of Books as a sanctuary for independent booksellers, a two-day respite from stressful competition from large chains such as Borders or Barnes & Noble ““ in short, a time when the independents can finally get the exposure they are mostly denied. Read more...

“Somersault” Directed by Cate Shortland Magnolia pictures Despite its title, the only actions that come close to acrobatic stunts in Cate Shortland’s debut film, “Somersault,” are sexual tumblings. Read more...