Ray Boley & Ed Lee Natay (featured in our 100 songs list)

​We knew the daunting (impossible, really) task of picking 100 songs that define the sound of Arizona was going to be tough, but lucky for us, we had a lot of help, from you, our readers.

We opened up a Gmail account and took submissions from you, reading through liner notes and consulting unofficial experts along the way. The resulting list, 100 Years of Music That Defined Arizona, is published in this week's issue, bolstered by insightful commentary by John "Johnny D" Dixon, Sara Cina of Long Wong's, Kimber Lanning of Stinkweeds and Local First, Eric Swedlund of Catfish Vegas, and Howe Gelb of Giant Sand.

It's part of our Centennial feature, which features a timeline of some of our states wackiest, most intense, and unbelievable moments, the search for Arizona's state food, a look at our art, and our architecture.

In our music section, our main feature is about hip-hop hybridist Moe'Z Art, with short features about wordplay obsessed rapper One Be Lo and vintage soulster Raphael Saadiq, and show previews about Kenny G (for real), Parenthetical Girls, American Standards, and Children of Bodom.

​This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week.

Here are links to those posts.

How does Sweetbleeders handle performing PJ Harvey songs?

Will Noel Gallagher play any Oasis songs at his upcoming show?

What's going on with Boys and Frogs latest video?

Dr. Dog

​Philadelphia indie-rockers Dr. Dog are an interesting bunch. Able to appeal as much to granola crunching jam-banders and Urban Outiftted indie kids, the band's new record Be The Void (due out on ANTI Records on Tuesday, February, 7) finds them returning to the freewheeling looseness of their early work, aided in no small part by the work of new band member and Tucson native Dimitri Manos, of Golden Boots.

In our feature about Twin Cities hip-hop collective Doomtree, we speak with Dessa, whose vocal on "Dixon's Girl" is a highlight of the group's new LP, No Kings. "Getting better and more confident as solo artists makes collaborating easier," Dessa says. "You're worried less about creating an impression or staving off that panic of the impression that you're the weakest link."

Then there's Evan Dando, who's coming to down with The Lemonheads to perform his classic album It's a Shame About Ray. Dando is the kind of performer who misses nearly often as he hits, but we argue that seeing shows is a gamble: "You pay a club for admission, and whatever happens after you're inside happens. You take a chance." With Dando, the bet might even pay off.

We've also got short previews on the Black Cactus Presents series, Frank Turner, The Jealous Sound, Factories, and The Shop's seventh anniversary at Hidden House.

​This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week.

Here are links to those posts.

What does James Fella of Gilgongo Records think of songs from Nathaniel Nichols, Seas Will Rise, and Jimmy Pines & Washboard Jere?

What is Arizona Spa Girls founder Lisa Kasanicky listening to?

What Beatles song does Tucson's Roll Acosta cover exclusively at Up on the Sun?

Mouse Powell

​In this week's issue, we take a look at the rise of Phoenix rapper Mouse Powell. He's new on the scene, only releasing his debut full-length Where It's Cloudy late last November, but he's quickly made a mark on the scene. This weekend he brings his laidback, jazzy sound to Tempe Tavern, where he'll perform with Brad B. and The Foundation, who will be performing the classic Drifter album in full.

We've also got shorter features about Dengue Fever, a band with a unique, Cambodian pop-meets-psychedelic rock sound, and They Might Be Giants, who despite having been at it for nearly 30 years and successfully breaking into the children's music market, are still cranking out tuneful, energetic pop tunes.

Then there's show previews about World/Inferno Friendship Society, Sundown Showdown IV, Twin Sister, Turbid North, and the Powersurge Music Festival.

​This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week.

Here are links to those posts.

What happens when a good show is ruined by asshole audiences?

Who is playing New Times' Soundcheck at Club Red?

What Coachella 2012 star is making a Valley performance?

​This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week.

Here are links to those posts.

• What's up with MY103.9's format?

• Why did Red Hot Chili Peppers cancel their tour?

• What does Wilco have to say about The Whole Love?

Youth Brigade

​In this week's issue of Phoenix New Times, Melissa Fossum asks an important (well, important to us at least) question: What keeps old punks going?

Who better to ask than The Adolescents and Youth Brigade, bands easing into middle age despite youthful names? The bands are hitting The Clubhouse on Saturday, January 21, and Fossum spoke with Adolescents frontman Tony Cadena and Youth Brigade's Shawn Stern about punk's enduring legacy and why they've kept at it. (Spoiler alert: It has a lot to do with stubbornness.)

In our Shrapnel section, Lauren Wise brings us a Q&A with Anthrax's Scott Ian, discussing how 2011 -- which found the band issuing an excellent new record and sharing the stage with Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth as part of the "Big 4" shows -- was the best year of his life.

In my profile of Emperor X, I use C.R. Matheny's excellent album, Western Teleport, to determine (not very scientifically, to my chagrin) what makes the perfect "bummer jam." Matheny is an interesting case. Not only does he craft sublime indie pop, but then he literally buries it around the country and sends out GPS coordinates to his fans to dig up the treats.

Then there are shorter previews about The Toasters, Matt Hopper, White Denim, Boondox, and the Dead Meat Tour with Steve Aoki.

Dana Armstrong

​The brand new issue of Phoenix New Times is on stands and online now. Here's what we've got for your this week:

Serene Dominic sits down at Harvey's Wineburger with Snow Songs, one of Phoenix's "most evocative and engaging bands" to discuss how bands will get their music out in the future. Ideas floated? "T-shirts, thongs, feather earrings, tampons..." Read more in Snow Songs: Cool Music for the Valley of the Sun.

M.T. Richards brings us a look at the opulent style of rapper Rick Ross in Ross is Boss. Richards examines Ross' discography, noting that despite some of the crudest lyrics on wax, Ross sits at the top of the rap game.

In Mystery Achievement, I look at the music of Cass McCombs, a singer/songwriter who's more content to let his music do the talking than parade his personality in public. The approach has made for a stellar couple albums -- last year's Wit's End and Humor Risk were both examples of how an American songwriter can make album's exciting, fresh, and traditional.

We've also got shorter previews on The Mighty Sphincter, Handsome Furs, Avicii, Pat Travers, and Zedd.

​This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week.

Here are links to those posts.

What albums sold the most copies at Hoodlums Music in 2011?

What songs are easing our wait for Coachella 2012?

What downtown Phoenix club has shuttered its doors?