AND ONE MORE THING: Music journalists have...

AND ONE MORE THING: Music journalists have learned to be a little cautious opening packages sent by Def American, the record company owned by maverick Rick Rubin, who delights in being a bit perverse and controversial. Last year the company mailed out knives made of a material that will get through metal detectors unnoticed (though the company insisted that the items were “letter openers”).

The latest gift: an ominous-looking set of brass knuckles--described in an accompanying note as a “paperweight.” Across the business end it has “Def American” written in reverse relief, so that should you slip while adjusting a stack of paper and accidentally strike someone with it, you would imprint the company name on their face. How thoughtful.

One can only wonder what will come next . . .