May 2003 (overseas)

YEAH YEAH YEAHS - The Yeah Yeah Yeahs were crowned kings and queen of indieland based on two EPs and a tornado of a live show. On the eve of their first full-length, Fever To Tell, they've climbed to the top of the world and found it to be dangerously tipsy. Bill Werde holds steady. Also features IDLEWILD, ...AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD, PREFUSE 73, Damone, Damien Rice, Hot Hot Heat, the Decemberists. LOCALZINE: San Diego, California has its share of fake plastic people—but it also has really kickass burritos.

ON THE CD: Turin Brakes, Norah Jones, Grand Drive, Starlight Mints, Gob, Tomahawk, Gang Starr, Garage A Trois, Maktub, Wayne Shorter, Venus Hum, Kaki King, Serart, Placebo, Stagger Stagger Crawl, Andrew Bird, the Decemberists, Prefuse 73.