Once again, a wide array of the best of what Blogcritics had to offer this past week, so that regardless of your bent, you'll find something here that will entertain and educate. There are splendid music reviews, and something different from the week in books. There are personal essays, some of the best television writing you'll find anywhere, and plenty of politics. In between, there's fantasy baseball, video gaming, and much, much more. So while you're waiting for those daffodils to bloom, read on!
Let me take a moment to 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 by next Tuesday.
MUSIC
Music Editor Connie Phillips chose:
CD Review: Cheap Trick - Dream Police by John Owen
In his review of Dream Police John shares his memories of the music, discusses how it stacks up to other Cheap Trick releases, and gives us a history lesson on the band.
CD Review: Wolf Tracks - The Best Of Los Lobos by Nik Dirga
Nik takes a look at both Los Lobos and this CD, giving us a comprehensive and entertaining look at both of them. It's an enjoyable read.
CD Review: nearLY - Reminder by Merlinfmct87
Merlinfmct87 takes a look at not only the music but interprets the underlying emotion. I was able to feel and almost hear the music, which isn't an easy task.
CD Review: Irakere - Bacalao Con Pan by El Bicho
Written by Fantasma el Rey, this review of the Cuban jazz CD is entertaining and informative. He takes a band and a genre that is probably unfamiliar and successfully gives the reader a good feel for what they are in store for.
Film Editor Erin McMaster chose:
CD Review: Wolf Tracks - The Best of Los Lobos by Nik Dirga
A poetic look at the 'best of' album of a great band. I can't decide what is better writing, the songs of Los Lobos or the review from Nik Dirga.
BOOKS
Books Editor Natalie Bennett writes:
Rather than reviews, I've chosen to highlight a couple of different posts this week.
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Article comments
1 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Mark, thank you! I feels honored.
Reuven
2 - Richard Marcus
While its always a pleasure to receive the recognition of my peers and editors for my writing, these two instances are especially nice, because a)neither escaped contreversy which always makes for, how shall we say, lively comments, and b)since the first was fiction and the second very heartfelt, I had more personal attachement than usual to both.
So thank you Scott and thank you Diana.
Ruvy, Does Honored have something to do with your email address?
Cheers Richard Marcus
3 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Richard,
LOL - You have a sick mind...
4 - Amrita
hey, wow! thanks natalie, joan and lisa. its an honor.
5 - Brian Sorrell
Thanks Dave :) I thought for sure there'd be controversy....
6 - John Owen
WOOOO!!! I AM THE GREATEST!! I AM THE REVIEW MASTER!!!
(Nooo... be humble... gracious.)
I AM TEH KING OF THE INTERNETS!!!!
(Dang it John, how is that humble? This is an honor. You act like it.)
WOO THANKS NATALIE JOAN AND LISA FOR RECOGNIZING MY GREATNESS!!!111! SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RULES!!!!!1
(...You are an idiot.)
Ok, ok. Serious this time. Kidding aside.
Editors, I really can't tell you how much I appreciate the attention and recognition you gave my Cheap Trick review. Still, I'll try. I'm a prolix little bastid.
Ten years ago one of my life's goals (I think modestly) was to be a record reviewer for some publication that people I know would actually pick up and read. At the time, such a publication was the Cleveland Scene, the local free weekly rag in the land of the burning river.
Now, ten years and many other goals down the line, I find myself writing record reviews for an outlet which lets me do exactly that, on a national level. Moreover, the Cheap Trick review in this week's Picks, as well as a number of my other pieces, have been syndicated to the Advance.net network, which includes the online presence of none other than... The Cleveland Scene.
Mission accomplished!!
Another thought on that same note. A little while ago I wrote an obituary of Ali Farka Toure, the African guitarist, which included some very personal thoughts about the man, his importance, and what it felt like to meet him in person and see him play live.
Later that week I met some friends for dinner, and one of them told me a funny story. You see, she found out that Ali had died through a headline feed on Google News. She clicked on the obituary, read it, was touched by it, and thought that it was something that other people ought to read. She was all ready to send the link to the obit she found my way, thinking it was the perfect piece to break the sad news to me, when she read the byline at the bottom.... my byline.
I can say with confidence that this means that I rock.
It really is an honor and a pleasure to have BC as an outlet for my periodic brain drippings.
7 - Scott Butki
Richard, it took me a second to remember that you are Gyspyman. I'm still getting used to your "new"
identity.
8 - El Bicho
The Masked Movie Snobs appreciate the dual recognition on their path towards global domination.
9 - Deano
Thanks gang! And such illustrious company too...!
10 - Richard Marcus
Before I get to the serious business at hand, offering a choice for the next round of awards, a responce.
Ruvy: I'd hoped you'd see that, and thank you sir, I've worked long and hard to find my spot in the gutter.
Scott: Yeah, I'm having problems with it too, as gypsyman keeps popping in places all over the web, and I'm left wondering who I am.
Seiously now, I would like to pick John Spivey's latest piece "On Writing: The Truth of Why I Write" as my pick of the week for the week ending on Tues. March 21.
As usual John efortlessly talks about matters like grace without affectation and with humility. He seems to have an inate ability to go where most writers fear to tread and walks with assuarance through those topics. It is always a pleasure to read his thoughtful and heartfelt prose, and in this case poetry as well.
Richard Marcus (The writer formally known as Gypsyman aka beady eyed (registerd trademark Al Bargar 2006))
11 - John Owen
Ah well Jeez, Richard. Gypsyman. Whatever. Thanks for the kind words. 's funny... if I come across on the page as thoughtful or heartfelt or witty or whatever, it means that I have managed to completely obscure the raging infantile a-hole that I really am. If I can scrape together the money for Vega$ in August, you'll see proof that in real life I'm about as functional, witty and urbane as the first meeting of the Iraqi Parliament.
In other news, I thought Dan Baiocchi's review of Julie & Julia, a book I enjoyed almost as much as his review, was worthy of much more attention.
12 - Nik
Thanks also for your kind recognition!
I hate to do a "me too" for my pick, but Dan Baiocchi's Julie & Julia review is indeed quite excellent and worth noting. I've been meaning to check that book out.
13 - Lisa McKay
I completely love it that you guys are getting into the spirit of things and making picks! It would help me no end if you could please email them to me, so they don't get lost in the shuffle! My email is the clickable link at the end of the second intro paragraph. Thank you kindly!
14 - RogerMDillon
"if I come across on the page as thoughtful or heartfelt or witty or whatever, it means that I have managed to completely obscure the raging infantile a-hole that I really am."
You haven't. Richard was talking about John Spivey.
15 - John Owen
In which case, if you meet me ever, you'll find that I can also be a bit... dense.
16 - Joanie
Whoa, I had no idea that Erin chose my First Love article. Thank you, Erin!
17 - Scott Butki
For what it's worth, this is still the linkyou go to when you click on editor's pick from the leaderboard page.
It made me have flashbacks
18 - Scott Butki
Not that flashbacks are bad, of course
19 - Scott Butki
Incidentally you list the I Write Romance item twice in a row.
20 - Lisa McKay
That's because it was chosen by two different editors.
21 - Scott Butki
I knew that.
:)