AltWeeklies Wire
Haunted by High Expectations, Wilco Produces a Minor Ghostnew
Ghost is far from awful -- in fact, it's often painfully lovely -- and, if you can get past the occasional proggish pretense, the interminable stretches of pure noise, and some embarrassing lyrical missteps, you'll find much to admire.
Illinois Times |
René Spencer Saller |
07-08-2004 |
Reviews
The Spoilers: Nader and the Greens Go Their Separate Waysnew
After the Green Party narrowly selected political unknown David Cobb as its presidential candidate, Ralph Nader berated the party as "strange," said it was run by a "cabal," and predicted that it would be a "big loser" in the November election.
Illinois Times |
Todd Spivak |
07-08-2004 |
Politics
Springfield Gets Serious about Recruiting Black Firefightersnew
When Cecil Taborn Jr. was hired to join the Springfield Fire Department, it was the first time in almost 15 years a black had been hired. The department, which has only three blacks out of 211
firefighters, is now making a greater effort to hire minorities.
Illinois Times |
Dusty Rhodes |
07-02-2004 |
Race & Class
Remembering What It Means to Be Humannew
No one who reads the remarkable new poems by John Knoepfle can fail to be touched by their penetrating strength.
Illinois Times |
Theodore Haddin |
07-02-2004 |
Poetry
Sound Patrolnew
AltWeeklies Award - Music Criticism
Illinois Times |
Rene Spencer Saller |
07-02-2004 |
Media
Remain the Same, or Reinventnew
Most artists survive by reinventing themselves. But rock star Patti Smith, like God and Edith Piaf, is eternal. Also reviewed is "Uh Huh Her" by PJ Harvey, who is in some ways Smith's heir and in others her opposite.
Illinois Times |
René Spencer Saller |
07-02-2004 |
Reviews
Dishonoring Lincoln, Big-Timenew
Springfield's city fathers have inflicted two deep scars on the showcase Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum before its doors are even opened to the public. The first is the forced removal of 1,600 black people from a nearby housing project, and the second is the disappearance of a large African-American-created mural.
Illinois Times |
Mike Townsend |
07-01-2004 |
Commentary
Chicago Indy Label Marks a Decade of Exceeding Expectationsnew
Bloodshot Records is highly regarded throughout the music world for its important role in delivering alternative country or roots rock from underground obscurity to glossy-magazine covers.
Illinois Times |
Danté Dominick |
06-18-2004 |
Profiles & Interviews
Outright Confessions, Fevered Dreamsnew
Like its predecessors, "i" is organized on the basis of a conceit (both definitions of the word might apply): All of the song titles begin with the ninth letter of the alphabet and appear in alphabetical sequence.
Illinois Times |
Rene Spencer Saller |
06-18-2004 |
Reviews
A Murmur That's Sexy and Compellingnew
Although Sam is no longer pigeonholed as a religious songwriter, she still sings about the state of her soul, the temptation to succumb to despair or hedonism, the need to glean meaning and hope from the dispiriting vastness. A second review is of Jay Farrar's "Stone, Steel & Bright Lights."
Illinois Times |
René Spencer Saller |
06-14-2004 |
Reviews
