Thursday , March 28 2024
The best of the week all over again.

Blogcritics Editors’ Picks: May 24 through May 30

The music section turns political this week while the music editor prowls the corridors of General Hospital. You can can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant, but you won't be able to view a certain art exhibit at a London museum. As usual, if it's happening somewhere, Blogcritics are covering it. If you're interested in reading about it, we've probably written about it, so whatever your interests, you're sure to find something here.

Let me remind those of you who are chosen that you are invited to submit your own pick for next week (due to space considerations, please limit it to one). Please feel free to email me your picks (including the URL) by next Tuesday.

MUSIC

From Music Editor Connie Phillips:
In Sharp, Pointy Things: Angular Music, Edward Dunn's first contribution to Blogcritics, he takes an interesting and entertaining look at the adjective angular and how it's applied across the genres.

John Owen's CD Review: Bobby Previte's Coalition of the Willing explores what is new music to him and gives us his in-depth perspective with a style and voice all his own.

Right Wing Mag Names Top 50 Conservative Songs is Pete Blackwell's critical look at the list generated by the National Review. Take the time to read this one and join the growing conversation in the comments. 

BOOKS

From Books Editor Natalie Bennett:

One of the great things about reading a new Blogcritics' book review is learning about the contributor's enthusiasms. So often the writers' passion for the subjects of the books they are presenting to the world shine through.

Two reviews this week certainly fitted this description.

Dan Traeger introduced Little White Mouse, "the best comic book you're not reading". Dan entertainingly weaved together a plea to support the author with an account of his meetings with him and an enticing description of the text.

Thomas M. Sipos reviewed Ten Years of Terror: British Horror Films of the Seventies. Personally, the first sign of blood in a movie has me diving behind the sofa, but Thomas is obviously made of sterner stuff: "There's meat – and blood and guts and gore. This is a beautiful book."

TV/FILM

From TV Editor Joan Hunt:

AlbertaLife's TV: A Bag Of Goodies — Or Is It? should hit the networks where it hurts — in the family jewels. A no-holds-barred look at programming mistakes and a bit of a tongue lashing echoing my sentiments left me smiling and nodding my head.

Connie Phillips makes the rounds at General Hospital — Breaking Up Is Not So Hard To Do and gets me all caught up on the drama and heartache. Forget what anyone else says, GH remains a cornerstone of daytime television and deserves far more attention than it gets.

From Film Editor Erin McMaster:

Writing a negative review is something that many people have difficulty with. Others, like El Bicho, are able to do so without being mean. He does a great job explaining why Alice's Restaurant just isn't a great film, and perhaps what might have made it better.

Jules Alder has a way with words. Hopefully The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada is really as good as Jules' review paints it.

CULTURE

From Culture Editor Diana Hartman:

A timely and much needed focus on the worlds of artistic freedom and religious terrorism is brought to light in Art Exhibition in London Closed After Attack by Religious Extremists by Natalie Bennett.

From Editor Gordon Hauptfleisch:

Al Barger’s intriguing comparison of a trio of outspoken Country Smugsters and a renowned and still-dead comedic provocateur and prick prompted a modulated, intelligent discourse on the issues entailed, marshalling the discerning insights of detractors and defenders alike…ah, who am I trying to kid? The comparison in The Dixie Chicks as Andy Kaufman was as forced as hell but it was a lot of free-for-all fun and pissed off a lot of people. Any article that can incite diverse comments from both the “record sales always equals artistic integrity” crowd and the “Bush is Hitler” crackpots has my vote for Editors' Pick.

POLITICS

From Politics Editor Dave Nalle:

Congress Votes to Limit Hate Speech by Mark Adams
The title isn't entirely accurate, but the subject is important and it's a tidbit of news which many missed. Good to see we were on top of it on BC.

Al Gore and MySpace Ahead of the Curve Again by Eric Berlin
I may not like Al Gore all that much, but this is some interesting stuff nonetheless.

From Adjunct Editor El Bicho:

For Al Gore and MySpace Ahead of the Curve Again, I nominate Eric Berlin, Blogcritics' version of Sisyphus, whose idealism and continual struggle to have rational discussions about politics are regularly sabotaged by both sides of the aisle. Keep pushing that rock, EB. 

SPORTS

From Sports Editor Matthew T. Sussman:

Is Barbaro Being Saved by Love or Greed? by Purple Tigress
The outpouring of support for the Derby winning horse has been tremendous, but our violet feline cuts through the emotion and struck a chord with the truth. Why, she claims, does everyone care about this horse's life and not the thousands of others who went through the same fatal injury?

World Cup Themed Vibrators Upset Oliver Kahn, Michael Ballack by Flash Warner
Further proof that sometimes the subject makes the story, Ms. Warner takes the imagery of vibrators that look like soccer players and somehow ratchets up the humor. As part of our continuing World Cup preview coverage, to appreciate the wit of this article you (thankfully) don't need rechargeable batteries.

Leandro Barbosa and "The Iverson Factor" by Adam Hoff
What can I say — we've missed Adam. He's been busy lately but came strong this week with some quality stuff. Or, in terms of "The Iverson Factor" — he came strong, missed the shot and someone else put it back in. For anyone who relies on stats too much, check out this closer look at the game of Phoenix's Leandro Barbosa.

From Assistant Sports Editor Sal Marinello:

Adam Hoff does a great job of pointing out how the pitcher who gave up Barry
Bonds' 715th home run – Byung-Hyun Kim, A Man For All Homers – has given up more than his fair share of big home runs during his major league career and his career in international play. He also has helped me to spell Byung-Hyun Kim's name without looking it up, which is a service in itself.

GAMING

From Gaming Editor Ken Edwards:

PS2 Review: Kingdom Hearts II by Jonathan Zabel
If I had a nickel for every time someone said "Sora, Donald, Goofy" in this game…

PS2 Review: Tomb Raider – Legend by Jeliel
It took them six sequels to get it right, but this is the best chapter of the series.

Rainbow Six: From Book to Game to Movie by Mark Buckingham
The past, present, and future of one of entertainment's thriving cross-media franchises. 

SCI/TECH

From Sci/Tech Editor Lisa McKay:

If you've ever wanted to deposit your entire genome into a databank, you'll want to read DrPat's article on biologist J. Craig Venter, who is making his available to researchers later this year.

Turning a critical eye toward therapies that aren't based in science, Nukapai dissects holistic health practices in Homeopathy Hocus Pocus.

About Lisa McKay

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