Cover story: Epic Expectations by JB Anderton From what Tori has said in recent interviews, I expect her to continue exploring two central themes: the discovery of love, joy and passion with her husband and child, and the culture of violence...we all have our expectations of what we want to hear from her, and what we'll actually get will most likely be a surprise; a pleasant one for some and maybe an unpleasant one for others. Epic Tori by Lydia Simon Tori talked briefly about Epic (which she did not name at the time) and the new album, which will probably be released in October. When asked why she chose a major label over an independent, she likened the way labels deal with record stores to a chess match, with major and independent labels employing different strategies in playing the game.

Feature Article: Reverberating Earthquakes by Kenya McCullum Over the years, Tori has expressed the thoughts and feelings behind penning Little Earthquakes during concerts and interviews, further creating a context of her life and artistry...[it] is the story of a bloomed flower, a woman in her late twenties finally beginning to feel comfortable with herself no matter what.

Tori Story: From Iconer to EWF< by Peter Cardenas, Jr After witnessing Tori's display of care and appreciation towards her fans I have more respect for her as an artist and as a human being. Meeting Tori reinforced those feelings I have about her and I know that her music comes from the heart...

Ask the Expert: Ask the Expert by Nadyne Mielke In this month's issue, our Expert answers the following questions: What is the value of the Under the Pink snowglobe? Is my YKTR vinyl real or fake? How do I get to a meet'n'greet? Where was the 'Past the Mission' video filmed?

Multimedia: Album reviews: Ben Kweller Pronounced "Good" by Mom by Cheryl LaFountain Ben Kweller writes songs both catchy and hip. He's just a simple rock star, without any pretenses of alt-rock glory or sophisticated arrangements. What he does offer are seemingly simplistic melodies accompanied by guitars, keyboards, and lyrics that are sometimes sappy and sometimes absurd.