We can never get that groundhog thing straight. Does the shadow mean an early spring or six more weeks of winter? In either case, you'll be wanting to stay in touch with what's going on in the world, and this is the right place to do that. No matter your taste, you'll find something here to pass the time while you're dreaming of spring.
MUSIC
From Music Editor Connie Phillips:
In Nik Dirga's review of of Montreal's Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?, he explains why the album is a grower and makes me want to give a new band a listen.
El Bicho's review of Tony Trischka's Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular is a well written look at a very unique album and an enjoyable take on the banjo and its effect on a song.
In Music Review: Nanci Griffith - Ruby's Torch, Mat Brewster entertains as he looks at this album and torch songs in general.
BOOKS
From Books Editor Natalie Bennett:
You don't have to start a book review by stating the title and author, then starting into a description of the book - in fact it will almost certainly be a better review if you don't; if you come at the reader from a different angle.
That's certainly what Brandon Daviet did with his review of Spider Kiss by Harlan Ellison. Brandon also adopted a delightful informal, conversational style in the review, yet that doesn't mean it was casually thrown together. The craft is evident in every sentence.
Diane Kristine also takes the indirect approach in her review of Zoë Heller's Everything You Know. "Willy Muller is an ass," it begins. Who could resist reading on after that?
From Asst. Books Editor Gordon Hauptfleisch:
"A little philosophy can be a dangerous thing, especially when rattling around in a head like his with nothing to cushion its impact against the inside of his thick skull." I tried not to take too much offense, but Iloz Zoc's review of The Undead and Philosophy: Chicken Soup for the Soulless was so distinctively good, and I got such a taste of zombie lore in the process, that I don't really have any bones to pick with him.
"...the issues that John Cornwell raises in The Pontiff in Winter were not buried with John Paul in his tomb." James Carson, in his review, does more than just touch upon a few of these topics, he brings an incisive critical analysis to seamlessly yet succinctly spell out many of them in the realized effort to give a fuller portrait of the Pope, and a convincing appraisal of the biography.
TV/FILM
From TV Editor TV and Film Guy:
Article comments
1 - Mat Brewster
Thanks for the pick.