Spring appears to have, er, sprung, at least temporarily, in most of the Ist-A-Verse, so naturally, we're all feeling pretty good. (Yes, we know that spring doesn't officially start till later this month. Just let us enjoy our weather!) And that makes us that much more eager to share all of the nifty things we're up to... Over at Sampaist, spring has more than sprung: it's sweltering! But, as everyone knows, museums are an ideal......

Coming into a Monday after a long weekend feels so wrong. Friday's off are usually arranged through vacation time or, cough, a sick day. Last week the veterans made us do it. But it's back to work and it's raining buckets with no sun in sight for the first part of the week. Luckily we've got some great music to keep us going this week. From enduring jazz superstars to indie rockers you might......

On Tuesday, the American -ists will be celebrating democracy and hitting the polls, letting politicians know what they really think. It just made us wonder: if it were up to the -ist-a-verse, what would we be voting for? Londonist votes for better skincare, alternative spaces for art, cute little birds and the men who keep them, and concrete. Lots of concrete. Shanghaiist votes for one of the Bee Gees and Air Supply (it's a double-ticket),......

All we can say is at least it's not raining. The humidity, not so much the heat, has got everyone running on a pretty sluggish pace today. Perhaps after another TurboIce things will pick up. Or some sweet nerdy action in the way of the IT Band Bash – you know the guy sitting in the cube across from you who's a rocker at night? Oh, you don't, well he might be. If you're......

Animal Collective, Avalon, 2.21.06 Avoiding misnomers and labels and subverting expectations, Animal Collective performed a mix of sounds and songs that were incredibly familiar to Boston fans in attendance. Last year at the Middle East downstairs, the foursome worked through material that would become one of the finest albums of the year, Feels, as well as a choice or two from Sung Tongs. That show was veiled in a blanket of shadows and sweat, with......

There are all sorts of celebrations going on this week. One year anniversaries, EP releases and, well, we threw in some alt-country just to spice it up a little bit. Bostonist is looking forward to to warmer weather, but until then we know where they might be heating things up on stages around the Hub. Some of the great shows you might find a pair or two of Bostonist's ears this week. Monday 2/20: The......

Forecast is for sun to out during the day most days this week. The temperature may be dipping a bit. Clear skies in February usually mean cold nights. Bostonist will be keeping warm with other music fans at some great shows this week. Phil (the groundhog) may have seen his shadow, making for 6 more weeks of winter, but these six weeks should sizzle with sound. More good shows coming up from now through March.......

We live in an iTunes nation. It's easy to pull a track down to your pod for under a buck. Bostonist still longs for cover art, liner notes, and that masterwork that is a multi-track collection of songs we call an album. Listed here is our much discussed, unbiased by payola, top 25 albums of 2005. After the jump you'll find where some of us stand individually on the subject of the years best. (Apparently......

Bostonist will check out the much-hyped (UK: festival appearances/ US: The OC appearance), small-town band The Subways from Britain trying to make the world their garage in the young group’s first stateside tour. Forgoing current angular, dance rock motifs (Franz Ferdinand) and pre-empting the American arrival of their debut album Young for Eternity with a live serving of one-foot-in-the-gutter three-piece pop in Allston, The Subways will face the gauntlet set by a city ravenously devouring......

Back in early August, Bostonist advised the timely purchase of tickets to see Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, performing at TT the Bears on September 14. Clearly someone was listening because the show has long sold out and a frenzy of desperate Craigslist posts (buying, not selling) has since ensued. The story follows suit for Sufjan Stevens, playing with Laura Veirs at the Somerville Theatre on September 8. Fortunately, the lineup of highly lauded bands......

Stars deserve an award for Most Improved Band. This year’s Set Yourself On Fire is easily going on Bostonist’s own personal top 5 of the year, at least, and you could do as well to get yourself a copy. Bostonist remembers, however, the twee weakness of Stars’ 2000 debut, Nightsongs, but around 2003’s Heart (which, uh, Bostonist missed) they got good. Perhaps it was the addition of Amy Millan and her sweet, clear voice......