AltWeeklies Wire
Miss O'Dell Dishes on Music Legendsnew
A new book by tour manager Chris O'Dell tells behind-the-scenes details of the '60s/'70s music world.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
12-02-2009 |
Nonfiction
Passion and Power Explores Pleasure Technew
The vibrator's colorful, controversial history gets documented in Passion and Power.
Tucson Weekly |
Erica Nannini |
12-02-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
John Woo's Extravagant Historical Epic, Red Cliffnew
Red Cliff represents not only Woo's first Chinese film (meaning mainland and Mandarin-speaking), but also his first full-blown foray into historical epics. It turns out to be a mode of storytelling that suits him perfectly.
Imperial Beers for Plucky Palatesnew
Modern American craft brewers, being partial to supersized approaches to brewing, have embraced the imperial stout style. And an interesting shift has occurred in terminology: "Imperial" has ceased to mean royal and now refers to an outsized interpretation of a traditional beer style.
INDY Week |
Julie Johnson |
12-02-2009 |
Food+Drink
One Couple Questions the Legality of Straight Marriagenew
If the New York State Senate does not address, or votes down, same-sex marriage before the end of this year, Matthew D'Olimpio and Rachel Murch D'Olimpio, a Brooklyn couple, will seek to have their marriage officially annulled on the grounds that it is "discriminatory and unconstitutional."
Boston Phoenix |
Deirdre Fulton |
12-02-2009 |
Children & Families
Meet the Boston-area Soccer Mom who Grows and Sells her own Weednew
Mary Jones is your typical suburban soccer mom, except that her kids don’t play soccer — and she grows and sells her own pot. How did this woman, who was once rabidly anti-drug, become not only a dealer but also a champion of a global pro-pot, anti-pharmaceutical movement?
Boston Phoenix |
Valerie Vande Panne |
12-02-2009 |
Culture
Lincoln Brought Politics into the War? Really?new
Poor Abraham Lincoln. Even in his 200th birthday year, the guy is still being sliced and diced, his every action scrutinized in an estimated 100 new books that have hit the shelves since the Lincoln Bicentennial festivities kicked off two years ago.
Illinois Times |
Julie Cellini |
12-01-2009 |
Books
War, More War, or Morer War
The amazing part is how far we've traveled down the path towards all war, all the time: Obama didn't even have to pretend to consider pulling out of Afghanistan. He didn't even have to appoint a token peacenik to his cabinet. He didn't even have to talk to one. Which perfectly mirrors the media.
Everybody's Fine, but What About Bob?
Everybody’s Fine, but America’s once-greatest actor ain’t what he used to be.
Salt Lake City Weekly |
Scott Renshaw |
12-01-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Everybody's Fine, Kirk Jones
Half Baked Comic Jim Breuer Finally Grows Upnew
Jim Breuer has always rocked. The New Jersey comic hangs with Metallica, screeches AC/DC versions of "The Hokey Pokey" during his standup act, and wears Jerry Garcia's ashes around his neck in Half Baked. But in recent years, he's been rocking something else -- cradles.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Scott Yorko |
12-01-2009 |
Performance
A Screwball Crew of Gearheads Retool the Outlaw Cross-Country Car Racenew
Just like the madcap Cannonball Run races of three decades ago, the idea is to go as fast as you fucking can. And if that means doing 115 mph in a junky old police cruiser, rigging up auxiliary gasoline tanks, subsisting on beef jerky and peeing into plastic bags to save time, well, so be it. Welcome to the "twenny-nine-oh-four."
Riverfront Times |
Nicholas Phillips |
12-01-2009 |
Recreation
Evol Intent Ruptures the Walls of Drum 'n' Bassnew
These three guys originally from Atlanta produce and play galvanic, kinetically de-tuning, glitch-hop-tinged drum 'n' bass, influenced by everyone from N.W.A. to Squarepusher. And they are popular in a genre that doesn't get much press but that is loyal and long-running.
Baltimore City Paper |
Tony Ware |
12-01-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Vanilla Ice Talks About Madonna, Wallaroos and What's Nextnew
After a quick rise, Vanilla Ice quickly became America's favorite joke. But with time, the vitriol has worn off. Now, the name Vanilla Ice evokes the sweet charm, the unknowing innocence of another time.
New Times Broward-Palm Beach |
Michael J. Mooney |
12-01-2009 |
Culture
The World's Greatest Dysfunctional Body: Why the U.S. Senate Can't Governnew
Ever wonder why the federal government can't get anything done -- like health care or immigration reform -- despite one party's control of Congress and the presidency? It's because of a procedure that allows the threat of a filibuster to obstruct action more easily than a real filibuster.
Reno News & Review |
Dennis Myers |
11-30-2009 |
Politics
Unemployment Gets a Lift in 'Up in the Air'
George Clooney's intentionally ambiguous character Ryan Bingham is a poster boy for America's lack of ethical direction in this thought-provoking satire about America's unemployment epidemic.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
11-30-2009 |
Reviews
