info THE <strong>FILTER</strong> MAILBAG We get a lot of mail here at the Filter offices—some good, some bad, some…well, completely unclassifiable. Send us something strange and you might see it here. We were tickled rosy to receive a bottle of “Bong Vodka,” imported direct from the most inebriated country we know, Holland. While the bottle seems less shaped like a bong and more like a large phallus— neither of which are pleasant to drink from—in the course of some very austere research, we discovered that the liquor was “smooth,” “warming” and “wingly tingly.” IN THE GUIDE You can download the Filter Good Music Guide at filter-mag.com. While there, be sure to check out our back-issues (formerly Filter Mini), the latest of which features the Mars Volta, Oasis, the Decemberists, TV on the Radio, and more. In honor of the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, Filter has given this issue of the Guide a cinematic slant. If you’re planning on braving those snow-covered lines in Park City, Utah, be sure to keep an eye out for us. We’ll be there. ON THE WEB Go to filter-mag.com for music news, downloads, contests and exclusives, and visit the Filter Blog (blog.filtermag.com) for all the rest (interviews, opinions, insider information, and an all-around good time). To stay abreast of news and events, sign up for the Filter Newsletter, delivered weekly to your inbox with the latest info specific to your locale. Cities serviced: Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Philadelphia, Dallas, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco, Denver, Boston, Portland, Austin, Washington D.C., and London. AT THE STANDS Out now: Filter Issue 23. Hilarity ensues as The Office’s leading man, John Krasinski, teams up with pop-rock sweethearts the Shins in sunny Hollywood, California. Filter takes a seat next to these wise guys to discuss the transformation from indie to international, what it means to be funny, and the Shins’ latest release, Wincing the Night Away. Also, we’re set straight on robots and artistic spontaneity by Brian Eno; John Lurie takes us fishing with a few of entertainment’s most notable characters; Lily Allen strikes a pose; Elvis Perkins grants us his first interview; and Stones Throw Records throws a barbeque. Plus: Silver Jews, Cold War Kids, Catherine Wheel, Jeremy Enigk, Fast Food Nation, Of Montreal, Sondre Lerche, Subtle, Fields, and Bootsy Collins, and special appearances from David Cross, SNL’s Fred Armisen, Jim Jarmusch, Willem Dafoe and Dennis Hopper. CONTACT US guide@filter-mag.com or 5908 Barton Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90038 OOPS: The awesome Sonic Youth photo in Filter Mini 13 was provided by felixfotography.com. We regret the error. Publishers Alan Miller & Alan Sartirana Editors Chris Martins & Pat McGuire Art Director Eric Almendral Editorial Assistant Colin Stutz Design Assistant Christopher Saltzman Scribes Ewan Anderson, Bryan Chenault, Phil Eastman, Benjy Eisen, Dan Frazier, Kevin Friedman, Paul Gaita, Patrick James, Nevin Martell, Richard Martins, Jeremy Moehlmann, Jonathan Pruett, Anthony Rayborn, Max Read, Sam Roudman, Ken Scrudato, Colin Stutz, Carrie Tucker, Louis Vlack, Mark von Pfeiffer Marketing Samantha Barnes, Mike Bell, Samantha Feld, Penny Hewson, Eric “Vizion” Jones, Torr Leonard, Gur Rashal, Jenna Starr, Jose Vargas Thank You Heather Bleemers, John Brown, Rene Carranza, Adam Drucker, Eric Frederic, Mom and Dad, Martins and Vlacks, Marc McAlpin, Marcel Merriwether, the Oakland Bay Area, Baillie Parker, McGuire family, Bagavagabonds, Andrea LaBarge, Adrian Martinez, Wendy and Sebastian Sartirana, Momma Sartirana, the Ragsdales, SC/PR Sartiranas, the Masons, Pete-O, Rey, the Paikos family, Chelsea & the Rifkins, Shaynee, Wig/Tamo and the SF crew, Shappsy, Phamster, Pipe, Dana Dynamite, Christian P, Lisa O’Hara, Arianne Ayers, Madelyn Hammond, Philip Rivers, Terrance Kiel, Robb Nansel, Daniela Barone, Jennie Boddy, Pam Ribbeck, Asher Miller, Rachel Weissman, Brill Bundy, Julie Almendral Advertising Inquiries advertising@filter-mag.com West Coast Sales: 323.464.4775 East Coast Sales: 646.202.1683 Filter Good Music Guide is published by Filter <strong>Magazine</strong> LLC, 5908 Barton Ave., Los Angeles CA 90038. Vol. 1, No. 15, January/February 2007. Filter Good Music Guide is not responsible for anything, including the return or loss of submissions, or for any damage or other injury to unsolicited manuscripts or artwork. Any submission of a manuscript or artwork should include a selfaddressed envelope or package of appropriate size, bearing adequate return postage. © 2007 by Filter <strong>Magazine</strong> LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED <strong>FILTER</strong> IS PRINTED IN THE USA filter-mag.com COVER PHOTO: SOREN STARBIRD