We're changing things up this week a little bit, and stay tuned and stay strapped in as the changes keep on a-changing for the next few editions. For now, we're allowing editors to "float" and pick outside of their own sections. We've also combining the Editors' Picking Editors and Writers Picking Writers sections of yore into the regular swing.
We hope you like it, and trust you'll tell us what you think any which way!
So now that everyone's relaxed, let's let the good times flow. And if you're up for it, get down with it and read and respond to the best stone groove pieces Blogcritics has to float this week.
Music
Music Editor Connie Phillips chose:
CD Review: Head Wound City - Head Wound City by Yohan Brohamsky
Yohan uses straight forward, albeit vibrant language to call this one as he sees it. Giving the reader everything they need to know in order to make an informed choice, never once losing their attention in the process.
CD Review: Jon Yeager - Truth & Volume by Matt Largo
New to Blogcritics, Matt comes out of the gate with a very impressive and insightful review. He is also very expressive in the way he describes the music.
Blogcritics.org Writer John Owen chose:
CD Review: American Primitive Vol. II by Stephen V Funk
As Elvis Costello once (apocryphally) said, "writing about music is like dancing about architecture." In his review, Funk in his way resorts to a tactic I myself have used in the past, abandoning reason, wit, and urbane deployment of metaphor and analogy in favor of wild hand-waving and interpretive Alvin Ailey acrobatics on the page. Of course, this tactic only works when the music you are writing about has touched you so deeply that mere words cannot do justice to the occasion.
Although Funk, being a more together cat than I am, never actually loses his mind. Instead, his review encapsulates as best it can the electrifying and completely indescribable energy of the very old and strange 78s collected on American Primitive, Vol. II. Moreover, his review made me really, really want to listen to the set, and that's the ultimate test.
Books
Editor Justene Adamec chose:
Book Review: The Conjurer's Bird by Martin Davies by Bill Wallo
"Only years later did others realize that the bird was the only specimen of its kind . . . ." When you enjoy a mystery, it is hard to recommend it without giving away the best parts. Bill Wallo, a Blogcritics author par excellence, walks that fine line better than most.
Article comments
1 - John Spivey
Thanks, Lisa. I really appreciate your acknowledgement.
2 - Stephen V Funk
Many thanks for the kind kudos... two in one week! I'm flattered and honored. Cheers
3 - Scott C. Smith
Thanks, Joan, for selecting my review of "Hostel" as an editors' pick. Sorry if the review caused a temporary loss in bladder control.
4 - Trinket
Thank you so much for even noticing my prescence. I'm flattered & you've honestly made my day!
5 - T
Joan, thanks for your pick of Love Monkey!
(psst...I sent the "thank you" to the paypal account you listed in that email you sent....)
6 - gypsyman
Thanks Natalie, I was thinking of the bombing in Pakastan when I wrote this piece, but the recognistion makes me red all over anway...although according to my site meter you'd never know...
thanks again, I liked writing that one a lot...
gypsyman
7 - gypysman
Not to sound like a whiner or anything, but what happened to our nice little banners that we used to get to put on our sites to link back to B.C. for the winning post...
I know Temple used to host them, but maybe we could figure out some way to host something from the site, they are good publicity and look spiffy on your blog.
8 - gypsyman
My pick of the week for Jan. 18th to 24th would be Bonnie's Book Review: Race Against Time by Stephen Lewis .
Not only does Bonnie do an excellent job of letting the reader know what's in store for them when they read this series of lectures, but she manages to very accurately describe the passion and integrity that have made Stephen Lewis so credible.
A great review of a book that would be a surprise coming from someone within the U.N. for its honesty, if it hadn't been written by Mr. Lewis. There was a movement to try and get rid of him because of that honesty. Thankfully for the people of Africa he's managed to keep his job. Bonnie's review tells us how this book shows how important he is for that almost abandoned continent
gypsyman
9 - Stephen V Funk
I'm not totally sure how this works, but I think I get to submit picks of the week for 1/17-1/24 since I was selected last time around?
If so, I'd like to nominate two:
1. Opinion: AA -- Threat or Menace... A brutally honest and compellingly written first person account that will encourage you to reexamine your preconceptions about AA and 12-step programs in general.
2. CD Review: Vulnerable by Marvin Gaye... a well-written overview of the story behind this "lost" album and of course the album itself. This introduced me to a Marvin Gaye album I never even knew about and, most importantly, made me want to hear it.
Thanks!
10 - Scott Butki
Congrats to those picked.
11 - Elvira Black
Thank you Natalie and Alpha (aka Howard!) for making a newbie feel right at home. I'm also very flattered because of the superb quality of all the BC posts I've had the pleasure to read thus far. I love this place!
And Steven: thanks and congrats to you as well! It just now occurred to me to check the comments section here (duh!) and thus I just saw your pick, and will likewise check out your previously picked post! (Say ten times fast...)
I'm preping my pick right now, and will post it this eve, though it's a tough job to choose from such a plethora of great offerings. Again, many thanks, and mazel tov to all those picked this week.
12 - Elvira Black
To Stephen V. Funk:
Two brain spasms I must now correct (I'll just blame 'em on Elvira being a ditz):
Stephen, not Steven (kicks self in head).
And...congrats on your TWO picked pieces this week! I'll be coming by and a-commenting for sure on both. And thanks again for your pick for this week!
13 - John Spivey
I would nominate "In Defense of Bill Cosby."
14 - Elvira Black
John:
Yes, I agree--I had Robert's essay in mind ever since I saw it last January 18th. I'm e-mailing this pick to Eric now.
15 - Eric Berlin
Congrats to all picks again, new column up very shortly!
To answer a g-man question, and sorry about the delay: we'd love to have some help sprucing up all kinds of things on this column.
Ken -- Anything happening with that template you were working on?