AltWeeklies Wire
Implausible Story Reaps Ill-Conceived Birthnew
Co-written by one-time Luis Buñuel collaborator Jean-Claude Carriére, Birth aims for the somnambulist surreality and social critique of Belle de Jour or Diary of a Chambermaid, but achieves only spookiness for spookiness' sake.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Felicia Feaster |
10-28-2004 |
Reviews
Tags: birth, Jonathan Glazer
Ominous Primer Goes Back to the Futurenew

Primer explores how two would-be businessmen stumble across an invention with unthinkable consequences for their futures -- and possibly the very concept of "the future" itself. Director Shane Carruth stays just far enough ahead of the audience to keep us intrigued.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Curt Holman |
10-28-2004 |
Reviews
Tags: Primer, Shane Carruth
Ray shines light on R&B legendnew
Ray proves bracingly earthy and candid, with none of the soft edges of an "authorized" biography. The film presents the groundbreaking R&B singer in flesh and blood, not gold and platinum, and argues that Charles' steely determination fed both his musical achievements and personality flaws.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Curt Holman |
10-28-2004 |
Reviews
Tags: Ray, Taylor Hackford
Electronic Voting Problems Not As Bad As They Saynew
For some reason, Republicans aren't worked up about Georgia's 2002 switch to electronic voting. Instead, it's left-leaning activists, in Georgia and across the country, who are howling loudest against the new balloting system.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Ken Edelstein |
10-28-2004 |
Politics
Karma Cleanser: How Will the Election Affect My Karma?new
A daughter's persuasion has resulted in a vote for Bush and a "no" on the amendment banning gay marriage in Ohio. Will the karma cancel out?
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Tray Butler |
10-28-2004 |
Advice
Tags: advice columns
Don't Panic: The Status of the International Coalition Working in Iraqnew
The president is right about it being wrong to denigrate the contributions of the courageous soldiers who've joined us in Iraq. I just wish he'd quit denigrating our intelligence by trying to convince us that the coalition is anything more than what it is: symbolic.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Andisheh Nouraee |
10-28-2004 |
Commentary
Green Nominee Asks for Kerry Votenew
Because pollsters predict an overwhelming Bush victory in Georgia, Green Party nominee David Cobb hopes left-leaning voters will write in him and running mate Patricia LaMarche rather than vote for Democrats John Kerry and John Edwards.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Doug Monroe |
10-28-2004 |
Politics
EPA Finds Fetuses at Cleanup Site; Origins a Mysterynew
After spending months trying to identify the contents of unmarked barrels -- some of which were leaking hazardous liquids -- an EPA agent found something unnerving in one five-gallon plastic bucket: two fetuses and a placenta, mainly intact and preserved in glass jars.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Michael Wall |
10-28-2004 |
Environment
Tags: environment
State Official May Have Used Public Post to Promote Private Businessnew
Critics contend Bruce Cook has blurred the line between public service and private commerce. Last week, he seemed oblivious to the implications of using his position as chairman of Georgia's Department of Human Resources to drum up business for his company's abstinence-education products.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Scott Henry |
10-28-2004 |
Politics
Voices of the South on Jobs, Politics, and Oh Yeah, Footballnew
Senior editor John Sugg and staff photographer Jim Stawniak took a 7,500-mile trip across the Southeast to find out what people are saying about jobs, unemployment, God, football and the election.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
John Sugg |
10-28-2004 |
Children & Families
Not a Single Note Rings Superfluousnew
Despite the sinister history behind "Abaddon" -- a Hebrew word for a destructive hell (and as easily a play on abandon) -- Pinback's third full-length is the duo's most assured and plotted.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Tony Ware |
10-21-2004 |
Reviews
Tags: Pinback, Summer in Abaddon
DJ Has Come Into His Own With New Albumnew
Put the name aside, however, because Jaku is still fraught with delicious tension. Live shakuhachi flute, Kodo drums, turntable jabs and free jazz piano all punctuate his melancholic, melodic laments.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Tony Ware |
10-21-2004 |
Reviews
Siblings Overcome Rivalriesnew
For the past few years, Eleanor Friedberger and her brother Matt have recorded together as the Fiery Furnaces, making whimsical, shape-shifting music that has won many critical raves. But recently when Spin released its annual "Cool List," Eleanor ranked No. 39, all by her lonesome. Matt was nowhere to be found.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Nikhil Swaminathan |
10-21-2004 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Fiery Furnaces, Blueberry Boat
Composer Explores our Collective Recollectionsnew
Such early musical encounters are the launching pad for Harbison's newest composition for the Atlanta Chamber Players, Songs America Loves to Sing, scored for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Mark Gresham |
10-21-2004 |
Profiles & Interviews
Why Morrissey's Solo Albums are Better Than What He Did With the Smithsnew
Morrissey isn't trading on the legacy he created with the Smiths' between 1983 and 1987 because he doesn't need to. The cream of Morrissey's solo output is every bit as good -- if not better -- than what he recorded with the Smiths. But to believe or disbelieve, you have to listen to the records themselves.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Andisheh Nouraee |
10-21-2004 |
Reviews
Tags: Morrissey, You Are the Quarry