August 12, 2002 Archive

Books

• A Brief History of the Flood

  I'm a city boy, raised under the brilliant glow of success and possibility which I saw everywhere around me. This is a novel about someone who grew up in a place where possibility was barely a faint glimmer on the horizon.

  in Books — by Armed Liberal — on Aug 12, 2002

• The Birthday Of The World and Other Stories - Ursula K. LeGuin

  Of course, it's more than just sex.

  in Books — by Phillip Winn — on Aug 12, 2002

• Fouad Ajami: Dream Palace of the Arabs

  Dream Palace of the Arabs, says Glenn Frazier, is a fascinating, sad look at a lost generation of Arab intellectuals. It's not for everyone, but maybe it's for you.

  in Books — by Glenn M. Frazier — on Aug 12, 2002

Music

• Hot Rod Circuit: Sorry About Tomorrow

  Part of what is so cool about music is that it evokes place so well.

  in Music — by Armed Liberal — on Aug 12, 2002

• Ballad of Johnny Taliban: Steve Earle Picks Another Dumb Fight

  He was the barely known opener at a six-act country concert in the sticks south of San Diego. I can't remember exactly how he insulted that afternoon crowd of cowboy hats -- maybe it was just his long greasy hair and lack of Nashville sparkle -- but it was interesting enough to lure me behind the outdoor stage to his ugly tour bus.

  in Music — by Ken Layne — on Aug 12, 2002

• A Song You'll Probably Never Hear

  I heard a song this week that made me interested in listening to music again. Unfortunately, you'll probably never hear it.

  in Music — by John Simmons — on Aug 12, 2002

• Review: Rollerball soundtrack

  Elegiac.

  Review in Music — by Ed Driscoll — on Aug 12, 2002

• Elaine Stritch: At Liberty

  I don't want to suffer for my art, but I'm awfully glad Elaine Stritch did.

  in Music — by Dan Rosenbaum — on Aug 12, 2002

• Avril Lavigne: Let Go

  in Music — by Eric Lindholm — on Aug 12, 2002

• Hearing of, and then Hearing Patti Smith's Horses for the First Time

  "Her influence today is undeniable," said Michael Stipe of REM, "There' s not anybody I know in a band anywhere who not revere the records that she put out. There was a rawness and energy to Horses that I had not heard in any other music. From then on, my life was changed."

  in Music — by Marc Robinson — on Aug 12, 2002

• Ben Kweller: Sha Sha

  in Music — by Stephen Silver — on Aug 12, 2002

• The Buddhacrush

  Rock and Roll needs more saxophones.

  in Music — by Michael Croft — on Aug 12, 2002

• Luna: Romantica

  Can sadness be more sweet?

  in Music — by Jen Rajkowski — on Aug 12, 2002

• I Luciferi

  in Music — by Chris Puzak — on Aug 12, 2002

• Bluff City Backsliders

  in Music — by Jennie Rose — on Aug 12, 2002

• Wild Billy Childish & The Buff Medways: Steady The Buffs

  in Music — by Lennat Mak — on Aug 12, 2002

• Big Smith: Gig

  Big Smith is a self-described hillbilly band out of Springfield, Missouri. The band is all family, consisting of brothers Mark and Jody Bilyeu, their cousins Jay and Mike Williamson, and cousin Rik Thomas. These guys have been playing together their whole lives, and it shows in their musical ability.

  in Music — by Ryan Olson — on Aug 12, 2002

• Frank Lenz - The Hot Stuff

  If you ask Frank Lenz what his music sounds like he'll tell you "It sounds like 'S.W.A.T.' on dope." It sounds better than that.

  in Music — by Jason Rubenstein — on Aug 12, 2002

• As You Like It

  In his first post, Paul Palubicki examined what's wrong with the record industry. In this installment, he gives some ideas about how to make things right.

  Opinion in Music — by Paul Palubicki — on Aug 12, 2002

• The Consumer is Always Right

  The Compact Disc is dead, the age of Digital Music has arrived and the Record Companies are scared to death. The first in a series by Paul Palubicki.

  Opinion in Music — by Paul Palubicki — on Aug 12, 2002

• Pixies

  In 1987, I first heard an advance cassette of "Come On Pilgrim" from 4AD. The songs blew me away, and I was able to meet with the band on their tour dates in Canada. They are now hailed as a hugely influential band, but when I went on a roller coaster with Charles "Black Francis / Frank Black" they were living in "who knew?" territory.

  in Music — by Jim Carruthers — on Aug 12, 2002

• Iron Maiden - Rock In Rio

  I'm not fully sure why I bought this, to be honest, other than the fact that I snagged a used...

  in Music — by Jim Schwab — on Aug 12, 2002

• Rollins Band - The Only Way To Know For Sure

  I was looking forward to this one for a few reasons. First, the last live CD he released, an internet-only...

  in Music — by Jim Schwab — on Aug 12, 2002

• Dorman: When I Come to You

  Review in Music — by John Scalzi — on Aug 12, 2002

Culture

• Announcing Blogcritics.com!

  Eric Olsen and a consortium of over 100 of the web's best writers are excited to announce the launch of an innovative new music/book review site, Blogcritics.com. Kicking off the launch, we are honored to welcome RIAA President Cary Sherman to a live chat.

  News in Culture — by Eric Olsen — on Aug 12, 2002