Say what you will about Nikita Khrushchev, but the man knew how to make the poignant-songs-about-cosmonauts train run on time. April 12 marks Yuri's Night 2013 -- a chance to party on an even larger and more scientific scale than Earth Day -- and the 52nd anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's famous manned space flight, in which he became the first human to ever kill a dog while in orbit, I think.

It's a great idea. But it's also new enough, holiday-wise, that there isn't yet a stable source of Yuri's Night songs and Space Day-related song listicles. That's where we come in. Here are five banging party jams about dying alone in the unspeakable emptiness of outer space!

More »

Happy New Year, readers.

Thanks for hanging out with us in 2012. Stick around -- 2013 is going to be even better.

See also:

-10 Favorite Local Hip-Hop Tracks of 2012
- 12 Favorite Local EDM Mixes of 2012
- New Year's Eve Guide 2013
- Top 10 Phoenix Albums of 2012
- Top 10 Reissues and Compilations of 2012
- Jason Woodbury's 10 Best Things I Heard in 2012

---

Follow Up on the Sun on Twitter and friend us on Facebook

Dapper Gatsby

DJentrification is scheduled to perform at the Compound in Tempe.

If it ain't one apocalypse, it's another, right? First December 21 rolls on by with nary an earthquake or a giant dragon emerging from the sky and burning us all to death with his flaming volcano mouth, and now we're perched on the edge of the dreaded fiscal cliff.

But chances are things will probably be pretty normal on January 1, 2013: you'll wake up with a wicked hangover (or just really tired), and try to remember how much fun you had the night before (which, if you go to any of these events, will be a lot).

See also:

-13 Phoenix Bands You Need to Know in 2013: The Complete List
-12 Favorite Local EDM Mixes of 2012
-New Year's Eve Guide 2013
-Top 10 Phoenix Albums of 2012
Top 10 Reissues and Compilations of 2012
-Jason Woodbury's 10 Best Things I Heard in 2012

More »

Merry Christmas, dear readers.

We're taking the day off to enjoy our holiday, and we hope you're having a great one. We'll resume our blogging activities tomorrow, with leftover cookies in tow.

See Also:

-Emby Alexander Wishes You A Blue Christmas (And Doesn't Want To Fight Tonight)
-Clay Aiken on Christmas, American Idol, and Donald Trump
-Zero Zero Wishes You A Merry Christmas
-Being Cool is Lonely Wishes You A Happy Xmas
-Top 10 Reissues and Compilations of 2012
-The 10 Most WTF Moments of 2012
-The Biggest Music-Related News Stories of 2012

More »

We're taking the day off to do the Thanksgiving thing: give thanks, eat too much, and pass out watching football.

Hope you enjoy your day. We'll be back tomorrow, but in the meantime, turn up this funky Thanksgiving cut from Vince Guaraldi's 1973 soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. If you didn't have something to be thankful for before, now you do.

Best,

The Up on the Sun Crew

---

Follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook

Dexy's Midnight Runner

Just in case you didn't know, Tuesday, September 25, is National One-Hit Wonder Day. It's the day the nation has carefully selected (or something) to celebrate musical splashes that never go beyond that big single (at least in the ears of most listeners).

One-hit wonders are tricky things. They can annoy you and pester their way into your brain, or be something more lasting: a classic song that defines a moment in pop culture history. Let's cue the flash-backs with 10 of the worst one-hit wonders, and 10 of the best. I'm sorry if they get stuck in your brain. (No, I'm not.)

More »

"What the hell is wrong with freedom? That's what it's all about." "Oh, yeah, that's right. That's what's it's all about, all right. But talkin' about it and bein' it, that's two different things. I mean, it's real hard to be free when you are bought and sold in the marketplace."

Happy Independence Day, Up on the Sun readers.

Check out our review of last night's '90s nostalgia-festival Summerland (featuring Gin Blossoms, Lit, Sugar Ray, Marcy's Playground, and Everclear), then hit the pool, drink some cold American beers (or one of these), eat whatever the hell you want to eat, and watch the fireworks.

We'll be doing the same. See you bright and early tomorrow morning.

More »

Marine Ira Hamilton Hayes (left) of the Gila River Indian Community in Sacaton, Arizona, raising the flag Iwo Jima.

Hey, friends, we're taking it easy today in honor of Memorial Day. Enjoy our weekend wrap-up and our favorite May party shots (you write the caption). We'll be back in full force tomorrow. Enjoy your day and try and reflect a little on what exactly earned us the day off in between beers and brats. We'll be doing the same.

Follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook