Top 5 Buddy HollyHe inspired generations of musical nerds from Elvis Costello to Kanye, not to mention most of the current-day NBA. You know you’ve arrived when Weezer writes a song about you. Ray    More

Top 5 Vancouver, B.C.Bass music is huge. The audiences are smart. Activism/politics in art aren’t considered taboo like in the states.Yogyakarta, IndonesiaAn autonomous city-state sultanate, where the sul   More

Top 5 Anya’s Ghost (First Second)A great coming-of-age tale with bonus spookiness and excitement. Sleeper (Wildstorm)An early work by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips who later took the comics world by storm   More

Top 5 Soul’d Out Music Festival, April 12-25We’re excited about: Dr. Lonnie Smith, who absolutely killed last year’s fest; the mighty Maze; French electro-geniuses Justice.Waterfront Blues Festival, J   More

Top 5 C.J. WatsonHe’s an ex-Warrior, and when I say “Watson,” I’m imitating Arsenio Hall introducing Mr. Randy Watson in Coming to America. Derrick RoseBecause he subs in for C.J. Watson sometime   More

Top 5 “Salty Dog Blues,” Morris BrothersGoogle “salty dog” while keeping in mind that this song is from the late ’30s. There is something just so filthy about the term.“Rye Whiskey,” Tex Ritte   More

Top 5 Jazz Conversation: Roy Nathanson & Curtis Fowlkes with Marty Hughley, Sunday, Feb. 19, at The Art BarThese Jazz Passengers know an awful lot about the New York scene, and hopefully they’ve got   More

Top 5 1. Black Keys, El Camino The Akron, Ohio, outfit—which headlines the Rose Garden in May—has gone from baby-faced blues-rock duo to total rock and roll juggernaut. 2. Kathleen Edwards, Voyage   More

Top 5 A new Trail Blazers rap songBecause “Bust a Bucket” is finally getting old and I want to hear Kurt Thomas’ legendary skills on the mic. Come on, Santa, I know you can make this happen.A Ki   More

Top 5 5. “MY PRESENCE WILL BE COMMMANDING. MY REPERTOIRE SENSITIVE AND FULL OF GOODNESS. MY ARRANGEMENTS PRACTICALLY ILLEGAL. MY VOICE OF REASON RIGHT ON.” 4. “my new seamstress from portland o   More