Our multi-faceted writers take on just about everything this week.  

We're still saying goodbye to Tower Records (and listening to lots of good music while we're at it), the book reviewers are reading plenty these days, and the political writers look at everything from the role of Christianity in modern-day American politics to the insanity of our current marijuana laws.

If there's something you missed, this is what the editors liked best. Start here, but don't feel compelled to stop here... there's lots more where this came from.

MUSIC

In Why Tower Matters (To Me, At Least), Stephen V Funk added his fond memories of Tower Records and analysis of what the loss of this icon means to the way music is made available to us.

Adam Hoff shared his insight and thoughtfully explained and predicted the future of hip-hop in Hip-Hop Regional Report: Who's Got Next in NYC?

DJRadiohead lets the reader know how repeated listens helped this CD grow on him in Music Review: Robert Randolph & The Family Band - Colorblind. Mark Saleski also shared a noteworthy review of the same album, telling our readers all about the album in his own classic style.

In Music Review: Eric Clapton - Live at Montreux 1986, El Bicho shared every nuance of the DVD/CD set.

From Asst. Music Editor A.L. Harper:

Mistress La Spliffe hates the Scissor sisters with all the love in her heart. She explains everything in Scissor Sisters, I Don't Feel Like Smilin'.

You must attend the Big Geez's master class on crooners entitled From Sinatra To Rod Stewart - The Crooner Conundrum. This is required reading for your music devotee degree and there will be a test afterwards.

BOOKS

I haven't read The Road by Cormac McCarthy, but having perused Hugh Ruppersburg's review, I want to. This is a review that paints a clear, strong picture of what is obviously a hugely powerful, if depressing text. And Hugh asks a highly pertinent question: after this, what next for McCarthy?

With a more direct take on the modern world, The Mission Song also sounds like powerful exploration of the issues of today. Richard Marcus reviews Le Carré's latest, providing not just an excellent explanation of this book, but of the author's lifetime progress in line with the changing shape of the international political world.

From Asst. Books Editor Gordon Hauptfleisch:

In her very first piece for Blogritics, CChen makes an expressive declaration in support of her subject matter and shows a depth and breadth of expertise in Confession of a Closet Science Fiction Fan. The genre, she states, allows for "more experimentation, and it often makes for a more intriguing read than some of literary fiction that is out there."

In his interview with Frank Kogan, Scott Butki didn't just come up with interesting questions such as "Which is more rare: a great album or a great review of an album?" These were questions that triggered some visceral, expect-the-unexpected responses and articulate elaboration.