Friday , March 29 2024
The best of the week past, post-Halloween sugar high edition.

Blogcritics Editors’ Picks: October 25 through October 31

The end of Halloween marks the official beginning of the holiday season for many of us. Before the real craziness starts, take a break and catch up on everything newsy and opinionated here at BC. If you've just finished polishing off a Halloween candy bar, wipe the chocolate from your fingers and settle down to read the best of our week.

MUSIC

From Music Editor Connie Phillips:

Who knew it could be so easy? Jon Sobel delightfully lets women readers know how to decode a man's mystique in All I Really Need to Know I Learned from John Hiatt Lyrics. Oh, and I'm sure the guys will find it an interesting read, too.

John Owen's review of Solomon Burke's Nashville comprehensively explores every angle and niche of the album with all his usual style and grace.

In his review of John Prine's album Fair & Square, Richard Marcus explains the familiarity and intimacy of the CD in his own personal way.

From Asst. Music Editor DJRadiohead:

Zach Hoskins of The Modern Pea Pod took on the KISS Army with his review of Paul Stanley's solo album.

It goes about 50/50 on whether or not I will know who Mark Saleski is talking about in his Friday Morning Listen column. This past week, it was John Zorn, and no, I had not heard of him.

From Asst. Music Editor A.L. Harper:

Mat Brewster
had a head cold but still enjoyed Tea Leaf Green in concert.

MTV tickles the Big Geez's nostalgia bone and he share with us his one daddy's fight against MTV in Dads And Daughters – Nat And Natalie Cole.

BOOKS

From Books Editor Natalie Bennett:

Three picks in one this week: Tim Gebhart's The Atheist Manifestos series. Books do tend to come along in waves — witness the recent tsunami of boy wizards in boarding schools — but sometimes the authors are surfing the zeitgeist. This particular wave, Tim suggests, reflects a high degree of societal concern about religion's impact. He set out to examine three of the lead surfers: Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins and, from the quirky side, William Hopper. Read these reviews and you'll be on the wave.

From Asst. Books Editor Gordon Hauptfleisch:

Calling it one of the best books she's read all year, Bonnie's compelling review of a true and harrowing account perfectly conveys its emotional and historical depths. The "miscommunications, the bad timing, and the fuzzy procedures" detailed in Curse of the Narrows prompted the urge "to shout at the book, wanting to prevent the inevitable." Which prompted my decision to buy the book so I'd have my own copy to shout at.

But it's a good kind of fear and loathing: Adam Jusko, in his review of The Joke's Over, succinctly expresses the "bizarre trip" that comprised the relationship between Hunter S. Thompson and Ralph Steadman, and makes articulately clear just how "Steadman's garish art was the perfect complement to Thompson's caustic words."

TV/FILM

From TV Editor Jackie:

It's television and beyond when you take a gander at Anna Creech's latest Blogcritics Goodie Bag article. Always something new, always something cool. She rocks!

And how could I not so enjoy the tag team of the Woolstencrofts as they covered Torchwood, the first two episodes, within one day? Ian Woolstencroft wrote about the first episode and was soon followed by nephew Daniel Woolstencroft with the second episode. Both articles were well-written and entertaining, and both writers have contributed so much to the site they deserve the shout-out. Yes, they rock, too.

From TV Editor TV and Film Guy:

Looking for some old school horror? Well, that's not quite what this is. How about some B-level matinee fare that is the sequel to a series of horror films? Yup, that's more what we have here. Not quite a horror movie, not quite a good movie, but it is a good review. A little bit of history, a little bit of more current films. Let's all give Bill Sherman a hand for this one.

Frankly, I'm getting a little tired of this season of The Amazing Race. I have no one to root for, every episode they all bunch together. It's enough to make me want to give up on the whole series. I'll be honest, sometimes I gaze away from the lovely, embracing light of my television when it's been on this season. I can take solace when this happens however, knowing that my fellow editor Jackie, will always be there to catch me up.

From Film Editor Lisa McKay:

There are so many movies suitable for Halloween viewing that it's no wonder the film writers had horror on their minds this week.

Iloz Zoc
writes a sharp review (under great duress!) of Saw III, a movie not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. Fortunately, this review is suitable for everyone. Mind the bloody chunks.

Sit on the couch and share some popcorn with Ian Woolstencroft as he grows up discovering the wonderful world of classic horror cinema in How I Learned To Love Being Scared

 

CULTURE

From Culture Editor Diana Hartman:

Glen Boyd writes a sincere tribute/review in Sirius-ly Funny: Now I Remember Why I Miss Howard Stern.

Christopher Soden taps on our hearts and steals the show with his Theater Review: Bernard Pomerance's The Elephant Man at Woodrow Wilson High School, Dallas.

From Asst. Culture Editor Melita Teale:

In Ryan Seacrest is an Undercover CIA Operative, Dr. Blogstein reminds us nobody will care about our supremely uninspirational celebrities after they die, no matter who they're spying for now. And he thinks up a title that could catch your eye even on the cover of the most rabid tabloid. Nice.

From Asst. Music Editor DJRadiohead:

Mat Brewster's
Halloween Party was cooler than yours.

POLITICS

From Politics Editor Dave Nalle:

Religious Conservatives Righteously Indignant Over Apparently Gay-Friendly Old Party
by Margaret Romao Toigo.

From Asst. Politics Editor Mark Schannon:

Leaving Iraq: Will History Give Us A Way Out? by Stan Denham takes a much deeper look into how history's mistakes in the Mideast have led to the morass we're struggling in now.

SPORTS

From Sports Editor Matthew T. Sussman:

Quite honestly, talking and frowning is rather fun. Then again shutting up and smiling has its benefits too, as resident hockey chick Mad Cow gave a few reasons why the second option works best when supporting the home team. Booo!

GAMING

From Gaming Editor Ken Edwards:

Mac Game Review: Legion Arena by Marty Dodge. Another great Mac release from Freeverse.

PS2 Review: Marvel Ultimate Alliance
by Mel Odom. Heads up, True Believer! Marvel Superheroes Are Comin' At Ya!

SCI/TECH

No picks this week.

About Lisa McKay

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