Growing Up (Epitaph). Review by Bob Pomeroy.

To make illuminati hotties for your gathering, splash melody and harsh noise into a tumbler, drop in some production trickery, and shake until you hear a dizzying howl emerge

Power (New West Records). Review by May Terry.

Sweet Candy Power (Good Charamel Records). Review by Carl F. Gauze.

3 (Topshelf Records). Review by Bob Pomeroy.

Shonen Knife play their first show in Tampa. If their fans have their way, it won’t be Shonen Knife’s last visit. Bob Pomeroy fills in the details.

Adventure (Good Charamel Records). Review by Bob Pomeroy.

Shonen Knife’s performance at NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge is a Pop-Rocks fizz of Jap-punk distortions and colorful kitsch. May Terry indulged in the Shonen Knife experience with sushi, Pocky, and some great wok-and-roll music.

Pop Tune (Good Charamel Records). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Super Group (Good Charamel Records). Review by Laura Pontillo.

Golden Black (Narnack). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Splurge (Tofu Records). Review by Andrew Ellis.

Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi (Epic). Review by Bob Pomeroy.

Burning Farm/Yama-no Attchan/Pretty Little Baka Guy/712 [Reissues] (Oglio). Review by Aaron Shaul.

This year, Matt Cibula will try to get over one of the biggest hurdles of music geekdom – selective listening.

Event Review by David Lee Beowülf