Email Author John Payne

2003 Stories by John Payne

• The Other Music A-Z

  published December 25, 2003

  It was a staggering year in sounds, far too much to get a handle on — assuming, that is, that you wanted to hear something different... More >>

• The Agony and the Ecstasy

  published December 11, 2003

  It’d be difficult to pinpoint when exactly it occurred to me that a kind of musical sea change was in the, uh, air in Los Angeles — but ... More >>

• All Tomorrow’s Parties Today

  published November 13, 2003

  Photo courtesy of FOX You may or may not know that the famous Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, Futurama and our own Life in... More >>

• Come On Feel the Strokes

  published November 6, 2003

  The little girls understand that the Strokes’ brand of rock isn’t revolutionary; they know that’s entirely moot. For them — and poss... More >>

• Lost, Indeed

  published September 18, 2003

  In order to give emotional heft to a lot of theoretically humorous stereotypes about the Japanese, Sofia Coppola and company chose to use the... More >>

• Feel Better

  published August 28, 2003

  Photo by Syd Kato Among the more interesting phenomena you’ll find as you slop about in the cultural muck of Los Angeles is that of th... More >>

• Pander's Box

  published August 21, 2003

  Photo by Alexei Hay Sometimes the hype, you just can’t resist it. Jane’s Addiction are back, oh yeah, with their first studio album ... More >>

• Inspired by Dullness

  published August 14, 2003

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• L.A. Weekly Music Awards 03

  published July 10, 2003

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• Ear of the Beholder

  published July 3, 2003

  Photo by Kaaren Johnson “There’s the rub/Shakespeare once wrote/you can’t mend a hole in the boat.” —... More >>

• Pink Flag Burning

  published July 3, 2003

  Photos by Wild Don Lewis WIRE at Spaceland, June 21 The collapse of the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival seemed more ... More >>

• Rhyme of the Century

  published June 26, 2003

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• Fever Pitch

  published June 19, 2003

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• Let It Be Beautiful

  published June 5, 2003

  Wayne Coyne’s on a roll, and apparently enjoying the hell out of it. The choirboyish singer and guiding light behind the Flaming Lips... More >>

• L.A. Weekly Music Awards 2003

  published May 29, 2003

  For this year’s edition of our annual music awards, to be held at the Henry Fonda Theater on Thursday, June 26, 30 local music writers wer... More >>

• American Heart

  published May 15, 2003

  First of all, you have to understand that a superstar can’t get a break. We build ’em up to bust ’em back down, and we delight in watch... More >>

• Red and White All Over

  published April 17, 2003

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• The Queen of Sadcore

  published February 20, 2003

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• The Tell-Tale Tone

  published February 6, 2003

  Skinny but muscular, Lou Reed‘s looking good these days, and I’m telling you, close-up, that crosshatched, open-minded face reeks experienc... More >>