Aug 18, 2009 Comic Books Web Exclusive

North 40's Conover County seems like any of the multitude of podunk American towns. There's nothing much to do except drink, fight and gossip in any order possible. That static cycle forever shifts into the horrific realm after two stupid high school kids open what looks like a Necronomicon, or book of the dead, at the town library. After reciting an ancient incantation, night falls, people black out for several hours and all hell literally breaks loose. More

Aug 18, 2009 Music Web Exclusive

Cale Parks, the well-coiffed percussionist (and keyboardist) from the post-rock outfit Aloha and electro-pop group White Williams doesn't seem to rest. Did I mention he also has his hand in the recordings and/or tours of Cex, Chin Up Chin Up, Joan of Arc, Love of Everything, Owen, Pit Er Pat, and Passion Pit? The man's talented at time management, if nothing else. To Swift Mars EP, is Park's third, and best release, after last year's middling drum circle experiment/sophomore effort, Sparklace. More

Aug 17, 2009 Live Web Exclusive

Depeche Mode played the first of its two nights at the Hollywood Bowl Sunday night, the British band's first ever performances at the iconic venue. The months leading up to the concert were plagued with show cancellations, due to frontman Dave Gahan's health problems, but Depeche Mode were in fine form, playing a set of crowd-pleasing favorites sprinkled with a few more recent songs, including some from this year's Sounds of the Universe. More

Aug 17, 2009 Music Web Exclusive

From the start of Elizabeth & the Catapult's debut LP, Taller Children, frontwoman Elizabeth Ziman makes a strong impression with two charming, straightforward pop tracks carrying the message that adults just don't want to—or can't—grow up. In "Momma's Boy," she taunts, "Don't expect the world to clean up for you, 'cause they don't have to," and in the playful title track she sings, "In the end we're all just taller children." The theme doesn't stick so well throughout the rest of the record and, unfortunately, neither does the strength of her songs. More

Aug 14, 2009 DVDs Web Exclusive

In the middle of 2008, when most of the country was caught up in presidential politics and new episodes of So You Think You Can Dance, Joss Whedon launched the year's most inventive piece of television—on the Internet. Whedon, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly, among others, debuted Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog on Hulu, offering the three-act superhero musical comedy for free in one-act installments over the course of a week. More

Aug 14, 2009 Cinema Web Exclusive

When a movie that is called The Time Traveler's Wife begins by depicting a traumatic event from the childhood of said time traveler Henry DeTamble (Eric Bana), you might begin to wonder why it's not simply called The Time Traveler. Get used to the wondering. More

Aug 14, 2009 Music Web Exclusive

Fact: there are enough Black Mountain side projects to make Black Mountain seem like a side project. Other fact: said side projects are consistently worthwhile. More

Aug 14, 2009 Books Web Exclusive

With the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair taking place this August, there has been a rash of books, music, and video released to celebrate the event. The Road to Woodstock is a detailed account of the festival from the man who organized it. More

Aug 14, 2009 Comic Books Web Exclusive

In his first graphic novel—the result of his university thesis—Niklas Asker has created a colorless but emotionally vivid world existing somewhere between the real world and the authorial machinations of one Jess (no last name). More