Blogcritics Editors' Picks: May 10 through May 16

There's music in the books section, a conversation amongst friends (minus the beer) in the music section, and some opining on the news of the day in the politics section. If that's not enough for you, we've got concert reviews, movie reviews, sports news, a humorous look at what those Hummer drivers are compensating for, and much more.

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:

Stephen V Funk delivers once again with CD Reviews: The Music of Jon Gibson. In his own charismatic way he takes a detailed look at three hard-to-find releases from this artist both individually and collectively.

In CD/DVD Review: Red Hot + Blue—Various Artists, Richard Marcus looks both at this original CD, the awareness and money it raised for HIV/AIDS research, and the current reissue with the extras contained here-in. It's not only a well-told review but also an enlightening look at the charity involved.

Delivered by Lisa McKay, The Roundtable Weighs In On The Seeger Sessions is another entertaining discussion delivered by three of our most knowledgeable when it comes to Springsteen. Lisa McKay, Mark Saleski and DJRadiohead all give their independent reviews and then continue to discuss and debate the album in question in the comments along with the readers.

BOOKS

From Books Editor Natalie Bennett:

It was a musical week in the Books' section, with two classy reviews that looked both back to the past, and into the future.

Gordon Hauptfleisch reviewed Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan, reflecting on the "mildly ill-mannered folkies" of 1966, who objected to the turn to the electric, and saying that in that concert, and this book, Dylan always hits the right note. The memoir, Gordon says, is "as meandering and roundabout as it might get, nevertheless imparts a reassuring sense as Dylan paints a masterpiece on page."

Ray Ellis looked back of 1000 issues of Rolling Stone magazine, presenting a lively and affectionate portrait of its early revolutionary place in the music world, and its current strength. "Not only is she relevant, she' kickin' it, baby."

From Editor Gordon Hauptfleisch:

I’ve always been fascinated by the way the seemingly disparate is and can be reconciled or associated. Jeliel’s expressive and enthusiastic book review of The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference articulately explains how “little things…give birth to an epidemic; these little things are what constitute the tipping point, the point where localized phenomena spreads... Quickly.” Furthermore, Jeliel makes a convincing case for a book that “would give us all a better insight into human behavior.”

"Ghost films have been too often overlooked by film historians and critics," according to Cinematic Hauntings. Thomas M. Sipos brings his considerable expertise and critical admonitions to his review of this book, a collection of essays devoted to various horror films. Though Thomas takes issue with some of the selections and some of the analysis, he nevertheless contends that this fascinating but flawed book, “more often than not,” helps fill a gap in "the subtle side of horror.”

Article Author: Lisa McKay

Lisa McKay is Blogcritics' Executive Editor. At BC she can usually be found hanging out in the film section. She recently started food blogging at Will Kill for Food.

In her spare time, she watches movies, listens to music, reads, and caters to the whims of two spoiled cats. …

Visit Lisa McKay's author page — Lisa McKay's Blog