One of the most savvy lines from The Runaways movie starring Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, and Michael Shannon sums up publicity in the music business: “It’s press, not prestige. Get used to it.” This was a reference from Kim Fowley to Cherie Currie as she was upset at a magazine interview that was anything but flattering.

Very basically put, coffeehouses or coffee places are cafés that enable social interaction and a comfortable working environment. Several years ago, before Starbucks became as common place as McDonalds, a friend introduced me to the idea. We visited his favorite hang-out, a place surrounded by your usual strip mall inhabitants; however, this coffehouse was a little different. It was filled with artists, musicians, and furniture not unlike that which you may find at a friend’s house. The whole atmosphere felt like you were visiting a friend’s home with the added …

Portland, Oregon, fall 2008. Club Satyricon, the revered punk venue which throughout its lengthy history has played host to some of the greatest alternative, punk and metal acts of the 80s and 90s, is currently getting down to a hybrid of hip-hop, electronica and inhuman screaming courtesy of BrokeNCYDE, four neon-clad young men whose excess of hair product is melting under the stage lights.
The Great Rock & Roll Swindle, Part 2 – Is BroNCYDE for real?

“Love Is Proximity” [Sweet Goodness] is the latest release by Essex Chanel [pronounced Cha-NELL], the most recent project for Chicago multi-hyphenate Travis Lee Wiggins, formerly of bands such as The Salts, Dolphins Swimming and The Personal FX, and whose non-musical activities range from conceptual art to his newly-formed Sweet Goodness record label and management company.

So, a few days ago, I think I mentioned the difficulty I experienced compiling my 20 Best Singles of 2009 list. I would like to formally retract that complaint; the 2009 list was a walk in the park compared to the task of identifying 20 of my favourite singles of the entire decade.