Musical education is very much on the menu this week, whether your tastes run to jazz, indie rock, or the blues. The Books section runs the gamut from so-bad-it's-good to the smartly amusing, and hits the intellectually solid in between. The Fourth of July holiday brought out the patriotic and the pyrotechnic, and the Culture section celebrates triumph over adversity. As always, we have news and opinion on everything you're interested in.
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:Thank you Tara Clark for A Conversation With Bogie Bowles of the Joe Bonamassa Band. It was an insightful and fascinating interview examining a long and rich career.
DJ Freq voices his dissent against The Black Eyed Peas and musicians selling out in general in a very entertaining manner in It's Official: The Black Eyed Peas Have Killed Hip-Hop! Or Did They Just Sell It?
From Asst. Music Editor A.L. Harper:
Michael J West explores his, and your, must-have jazz albums from Impulse! records. A great way to start your jazz education.
Getting a musical education is important and Connie Phillips helps you along your way by giving you a good grounding in Soul Asylum, one of the leaders in the transition between garage alt.rock and today's indie rock.
BOOKS
From Books Editor Natalie Bennett:
So bad it is good: Maybe a book of really, really bad sex doesn't appeal to you , but we can all enjoy a good laugh, so don't miss A.L. Harper's review of Summer Liaison. Could this be the first cult classic created by Blogcritics?
But since it is not yet quite the silly season, I'll go serious for this week's second choice—an excellent, intellectually solid review of Ron Sider's The Scandal Of The Evangelical Conscience. The reviewer, Jordan J. Ballor, says: "Freed from the pervasive distortions of leftist economic ideology, Sider's corresponding message becomes even more clear and powerful."
From Editor Gordon Hauptfleisch:
Warren Kelly, in his deft and well-crafted review of the breezy and accessible language book Far From the Madding Gerund not only tells us where we can stick our “anarthrous occupational nominal premodifier,” he also aptly conveys the book’s amusing and thought-provoking qualities. That is something up with which I can put.
TV/FILM
From TV Editor Jackie:
Al Barger cracked me up when spoke up about what he feels are The Ten Worst Sitcoms Ever. He's not shy when it comes to talking sitcoms, is he?
Don Baiocchi reviewed The Devil Wears Prada . Don's reviews always bring about a smile; he has a way with words. "Get over it, you fashion snobs!"
From Editor Justene Adamec:
Golden Girl Rue McClanahan Accused of Slander, Malicious Conduct, and Other Calamitous Piercings of the Soul. Eric Berlin dishes the dirt on the '70s sitcom star and the lawsuit brought by her former business partner.
Article comments
1 - Don Baiocchi
Thanks, Jackie! What a kind thing to say. I'm flattered.
2 - chantal stone
Thanks Diana!....congrats to everyone
3 - Connie Phillips
Thank you, A. L. the nod means a lot to me.
4 - Al Barger
Thank you. Thankyouverymuch.
5 - Howard Dratch
Thank you. I love recognition.
In this case there is also recognition for women heroes of American history and the heroic women who continue to serve in one way or another.
Please check out the Amputee Coalition of America as well. There are more, real stories there about and for amputees and for those who care about them.
6 - Scott Butki
Congrats to those picked