When The Walkmen arrived on the scene with their debut, Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me Is Gone, they amassed an indie following in relatively no time at all. more ›

Ian Ball has a voice that calls to mind a more chipper Jeff Mangum. The veteran musician, best known for his work with Gomezn, tends towards the rich orchestration of Leonard Cohen's lushest work. Ball's solo work sound may owe a debt to the college radio all stars that came before, but the impulse towards low-fi is muted if at all present. Ian Ball United States* Latest Release: How We Operate (with Gomez), 2006... more ›

The 2007 ACL Fest lineup came into focus a bit earlier than expected this afternoon. Much like last year's online scavenger hunt, the folks at Charles Attal have decided to whet appetites with an ACL Crossword puzzle in this Thursday's Chronicle. The two big names revealed today: The White Stripes and Björk. Well played, ACL. The crossword reveal: The White Stripes, Björk, The Decemberists, Peter, Bjorn, and John, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Robert Earl Keen,... more ›

THURSDAY [21] books • Chuck Klosterman presents Chuck Klosterman IV: A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas at BookPeople (7pm) ® books • David Oshinsky presents Polio: An American Story at Barnes & Noble, 701 Capital of TX Hwy (7pm) ® books • Ayun Halliday presents Dirty Sugar Cookies: Culinary Observations, Questionable Taste at BookWoman (7pm) music • French Kicks, The Little Ones, The Lemurs at Emo's ® music • The Yellow Umbrella... more ›