From the Intercom

Six years ago, I reviewed Hades on the site. It was the first video game reviewed on the site and it’s hard not to think about how much gaming trends, the gaming industry, and my gaming habits have and haven’t changed since. Of the things that have grown is the appetite for Supergiant Games’ very first sequel after a career of original, upwardly ambitious indie games. But does the sequel do enough to justify itself to new and old players? Or does it fade into safe, same, monotony?

As always, some ground rules: These songs are listed in no particular order. Basically these blurbs are our rough first impressions of these tracks, so our reviews will be a lot more relaxed! Anything released from the past 3 weeks/month is eligible for a bullet review. Songs with new, recent music video releases will also be considered for a weekly bullet review. Milk Talk – “The Bay” Mya: Fun opening. Glitzy. Devolves into a washing machine swirl filled with glitter.

As always, some ground rules: These songs are listed in no particular order. Basically these blurbs are our rough first impressions of these tracks, so our reviews will be a lot more relaxed! Anything released from the past 3 weeks/month is eligible for a bullet review. Songs with new, recent music video releases will also be considered for a weekly bullet review. Ruru – “memries that stay” Justin: Garage gargled indie rock equal parts off-kilter riffs and bright melodies with a splash of shoegaze.

Name some dream venues to perform at. There’s no shortage of prestigious stages, large and small in Los Angeles, but maybe none as quirky or one-of-a-kind as the North American Mammal Hall with embalmed buffalo, moose, and sea lions. And very few artists are as appropriately attuned to this environment as Thao Nguyen. Thao Nguyen performing with Jason Slota. Photo by Justin Ricafort.

Have a great Lunar New Year? Make it greater with these tunes… As always, some ground rules: These songs are listed in no particular order. Basically these blurbs are our rough first impressions of these tracks, so our reviews will be a lot more relaxed! Anything released from the past 3 weeks/month is eligible for a bullet review. Songs with new, recent music video releases will also be considered for a weekly bullet review. Omega Sapien – “Krapow” Justin: Suuuuuuuuuu.

We’re back with the first Weekly Bullet Review column of the new year! Hope you’re looking for some new tunes… As always, some ground rules: These songs are listed in no particular order. Basically these blurbs are our rough first impressions of these tracks, so our reviews will be a lot more relaxed! Anything released from the past 3 weeks/month is eligible for a bullet review. Songs with new, recent music video releases will also be considered for a weekly bullet review.

What were the best albums of the year? As time goes by, it only gets harder and harder to answer that question. With an audience of listeners with shorter attention spans and a seemingly infinite amount of music released to compete for that attention, finding a favorite album that you can truly sink your teeth into became no easy task. When I personally asked a lot of my peers about their favorite albums (including our staff), it definitely took some time to get some definitive answers.

In the chaotic and confusing world that was 2025, I couldn’t help but find solace in music. While the world was burning around us (quite literally for us Southern Californians), it became a necessary escape from what felt like the apocalypse that was happening at that moment. As I’m writing this in 2026, it doesn’t feel like much has changed since then. But though the horrors persist, finding a temporary reprieve in music is what kept me sane throughout the year.

A little preamble here. Melina Duterte is a lore figure at From the Intercom. We often cite a prophetic 2018 show at The Glass House Pomona featuring Jay Som and headliner Japanese Breakfast pre-Jubilee, pre-NYT Best Selling author as a foundational reason for the FTI’s existence; in no small part to founder Li-Wei Chu living in proximity to the area during a time when the indie Asian American scene was maturing. The thing is, I was also at that show before I even wrote for the site.

Halfway through Rosemead, Irene (Lucy Liu) overhears some of her fellow immigrant mothers gossiping about her teenage son at a party. She confronts them in a slight and curt way, insisting that there’s nothing wrong with her son before angrily storming away – much to the shock of the two women on the receiving end of the outburst. Meanwhile, it’s clear that her son Joe’s (Lawrence Shou) mental health is deteriorating.