Sleep was rare for me this week – a shimmering oasis on a sea of sand paper, ready to cut my very eyes with its slashful fury at any unwatchful moment. Luckily I had, as always, some truly outstanding articles by the best and brightest Blogcritics to keep me up, perked, poised, and prepared to pontificate on moment's notice.
Be careful, for what lies below is bound to keep you awake!
Music
Music Editor Connie Phillips chose:
Interview: The Gossip by Modern Pea Pod
Zach Hoskins represents his Modern Pea Pod well this week with this in-depth and comprehensive interview with The Gossip. He asks provocative questions and provides a bit of a history to make the article a truly interesting read.
Concert Review: Reel Big Fish, Goldfinger Burn Up Hollywood's Avalon by Eric Berlin
Thanks, Eric, for giving all your readers a front row seat at this show and for writing a colorful and detailed review!
TV/Film Editor Joan Hunt chose:
CD Review: Bob Brozman - Blues Reflex by gypsyman
Very persuasive, respectful review of a CD that's now on its way into my collection.
SciTech Editor Lisa McKay chose:
CD Review: Klezmer Travels The World - David Glukh International Ensemble by gypsyman
Any assessment of a work of art is always enhanced by the cultural context that the reviewer brings to the table. The intrepid (and learned) gypsyman lays out a review that is noteworthy for the historical framework within which it places its subject matter. I learned a lot about the history and evolution of klezmer, and now I want to hear this CD.
Blogcritic Stephen V Funk chose:
CD Review: Vulnerable - Marvin Gaye by Robert Lashley
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.
Books
Books Editor Warren Kelly chose:
Book Review: The Thousandfold Thought by R. Scott Bakker by gypsyman
I love it when a book review goes into characterizations, showing how the way the author writes his characters contributes to the book as a whole. It sounds like this book is deep in characterization anyway, and gypsyman really shows how that makes the book better.
Frustration: Being With a Small Publisher by Ray Wong
Congratulate Ray on having his book published! And congratulate him even more because he took a tough road to publication — small press. This piece should be required in every creative writing class, so that people know what to expect.
Article comments
1 - Elvira Black
Thanks so much, Lisa and Stephen, for the picks!
NOTE TO ERIC!
I e-mailed my pick to you yesterday for In "Defense of Bill Cosby" but it's not here! Can it be added? I had a couple of paragraphs about it??
Many thanks--
2 - Elvira Black
Well, either I'm a bigger ditz than I thought, or you've just added my recc in now. Either way, many thanks!
3 - Lisa McKay
Not ditzy, Elvira - EB just mailed me your copy and I added it in. You're welcome!
4 - Elvira Black
Whew! Thanks, Lisa--good to know I wasn't having a "senior moment"--at least not this time!
5 - Zach
Thanks a lot - glad you guys liked the interview! Their new album's great too...
6 - gypsyman
So that everybody knows, no money has changed hands between myself and the editorial staff on this site...Thank you Lisa, Joan and Warren. It's funny all three items you selected were three of my favourite pices that I've read and listened to in a while...I guess that came through in the reviews...again thanks.
Oh by the way, Temple, if you read this, I've stolen your design for the little banner and have been using it for making myself little banners on my site leading back here any time I win this award...how to fit three links into one banner may be a trick...What I've done if anyone's interested is just hosted it over at flickr and put them in each post as apropriate, and into the template of my blog permanetly.
gypsyman
7 - Joanie
excellent picks from all the editors and extraordinary work by the writers!
kudos to Eric Berlin on the pick section, too!
8 - SonnyD
Eric: About that intro paragraph. "...perked, poised, and prepared to pontificate" have you perchance been bitten by the barbarous gonzo bug? Reference to the opening of his post, "analogies, allegory and algorithms" which, by the way, all commentors should be required to read...twice...before being allowed to participate. They can, however, skip the comment section. Praise heaped upon praise will only go to his head.
9 - Scott Butki
Good picks. I'm especially pleased to see Michael Heuman recognized since I'm the reason he joined this place.
10 - gypsyman
I would humbly offer up Ms. Chelsea Snyder's "My Emo Is Bigger Than Your Emo" at http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/01/29/001238.php for my pick of the week Jan.25-Jan31/06. It is perfect in it's denouncing of using stupid little phrases expressing pseudo emotions.
Thank you Chelsea for making my morning and may anybody offering to share with you, be offering a chocolate bar...
gypsyman
11 - Chelsea Snyder
Thanks for the props, gypsyman! Loved your piece as well! And thanks for the chocolate. Much needed this week! :)