ADVERTISERS & RETAILERS

Hymns

With the twang of Gram, the drive of Spoon, and the
seamless fusion of Pavement and Neil Young, Hymns
create an unmistakable sound hinged on honest country and
earnest vintage rock‘n‘roll, as seen in their latest release,
Travel in Herds. Hymns are: Brian Harding, Jason Roberts, Tony
Kent, and Matt Shaw. For exclusive tracks, visit

www.hymnsband.com/freesongs
Where Independent Artists Win

Exposure. Fans. Gigs. $20,000 payouts. Compete for cash and
career-making opportunities with FameCast. Upload your band
or solo video for free today at FameCast.com. The Austin City
Limits Music Festival, Lollapalooza, and MTV have discovered
artists here. Who will discover you?

www.famecast.com
Flight of the Conchords

The boys from New Zealand are back...to Business Time!
HBO’s Flight of the Conchords returns with an all-new season.
Premieres Sunday, January 18 at 10 p.m. Only on HBO.
Want to show your love for Flight of the Conchords?
Become a part of Conchords history at

www.flightlipdub.com
Afro Samurai

Nothing personal, it’s just revenge. One samurai roams
the land with a mission of revenge, and he will never rest until
his father’s blood is vindicated. Text AFRO to 77812 and get
a message from Samuel L. Jackson himself, the man behind
the afro! Video game in stores 1/27/09. For more info visit

www.afrosamuraigame.com

editor’s letter

the first punk album I ever became completely obsessed with was not recorded by the Sex Pistols or Ramones or Buzzcocks, or any other of the big-name first-gen acts. It belonged to the Vibrators, whose 1977 debut, Pure Mania, helped soundtrack my adolescence with pogo-perfect tracks like “Stiff Little Fingers” and “Yeah Yeah Yeah.” A great Irish band took their name from the former song title, and I’d like to imagine the latter inspired our current cover stars. But that would be too much to ask for; introductory paragraphs are rarely that sublime.

I first caught the nascent Yeah Yeah Yeahs in 2002, when they had but one five-song EP in their discography. They were supporting veteran Detroit garage rockers the Dirtbombs at a packed CMJ festival showcase in New York, and as is sometimes the case with buzz-heavy bands, after the hometown openers finished, the place starting clearing out, leaving the headliners with a much smaller crowd. I have to admit that my initial reaction to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs was one of skepticism—too rough and shambolic for my tastes—but a few songs in, I started to get what the fuss was about. Simply put, in Karen O, they had a Tasmanian devil, a thrift-store superhero, and—okay—a crazy-sexy-drunk chick rolled up in one striking singer. That they have since evolved into one of our most creatively audacious bands speaks volumes about their singular talents, not to mention my unreliable gun-jumping.

This is the third time Yeah Yeah Yeahs have appeared on the
cover of this magazine, a fairly spectacular batting average for
a band with only three full-length albums. And just see if you
don’t become completely obsessed with their latest.

DOug BROD