AltWeeklies Wire
Where Illinois' Sidewalks Endnew
Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama blew into Springfield to outline all the money the city's getting from the new federal transportation bill, but none of that pork will fix the streets in poor, black neighborhoods.
Illinois Times |
R.L. Nave |
08-17-2005 |
Politics
If Terrorists Target Springfield...new
Springfield is no London or New York City, but that’s no reason not to have an $800,000 anti-terrorism drill.
Illinois Times |
R.L. Nave |
08-05-2005 |
Policy Issues
A Final Passagenew
The retired man knew his wife would be devastated if he went through with it, but he thought she would understand how much he wished to escape a life of medical procedures and forgetfulness.
Illinois Times |
Doug Bybee |
08-05-2005 |
Original Work
A Bit of a Pillnew
Swedish chanteuse Stina Noderstam's so good, you'll forget she's annoying.
Illinois Times |
Rene Spencer Saller |
08-05-2005 |
Reviews
The Real Dealnew
Dwight Yoakam is a purist and a
reactionary, but that doesn’t make him any less of a rebel.
Illinois Times |
Rene Spencer Saller |
08-05-2005 |
Reviews
Balancing Contrary Forcesnew
If Joe Pernice's Discover isn’t a radical departure, it’s a highly enjoyable variation, proof that some artists are just plain good enough that they don’t need to reinvent themselves with every new release.
Illinois Times |
Rene Spencer Saller |
07-25-2005 |
Reviews
You Can't 'Nuke' Global Warmingnew
New studies add evidence that nuclear power
causes more problems than it solves. One of them is the health risks caused by even low-level doses of radiation.
Illinois Times |
Fletcher Farrar |
07-15-2005 |
Commentary
SV Mach-IInew
The first new Son Volt full-length in seven years boasts exactly one original member: Jay Farrar, the band’s founder, frontman, and songwriter. Still, the album rocks like a rock band, sounding more like vintage Son Volt than solo Farrar.
Illinois Times |
Rene Spencer Saller |
07-15-2005 |
Reviews
Meditation Frustrationnew
Shining a light on inner demons proves hard work at a course at the Illinois Vipassana Meditation Center. But this method -- sometimes used to reform hardened criminals -- is said to be capable of alleviating all addictions and anxieties.
Illinois Times |
Karen Fitzgerald |
07-11-2005 |
Science
Liberty and Health Care for Allnew
Emergency physician David Gill deplores the fact that more than 45 million Americans have no health-insurance coverage. He's running for Congress, pushing for a single-payer plan.
Illinois Times |
Mary Rickard |
07-11-2005 |
Science
Party Like It's 1964new
Originality is in short supply these days, so ripping off the Beatles -- especially when a band does it as competently and as pleasurably as the Redwalls do -- is no worse than ripping off any number of currently fashionable influences.
Illinois Times |
Rene Spencer Saller |
07-11-2005 |
Reviews
Tags: The Redwalls, De Nova
Cut and Pastenew
Embellished with clarinet, trumpet, cello, and saxophone, these 13 tracks vacillate between effervescent chamber-pop and rattletrap free jazz, folktronic freakouts and luminous art songs, skittish beat pastiches and free-association ramblings.
Illinois Times |
Rene Spencer Saller |
07-11-2005 |
Reviews
Torturous Truthnew
Senator Richard Durbin was not misunderstood. It wasn't the Nazi reference that got him in trouble -- it was telling the truth.
Illinois Times |
Fletcher Farrar |
07-11-2005 |
Commentary
Hard to Hatenew
If you turn off your brain and your conscience, it’s possible to enjoy the burbly bass line and urgent whisper that Kaine and D-Roc use to deliver their heinous message.
Illinois Times |
Rene Spencer Saller |
07-08-2005 |
Reviews
A Risky Band's Radical Departurenew
Although any one of the 10 tracks would have been a highlight on any other album, the overall quality is so consistent, the sequencing so inevitable, the juxtapositions so compelling, that singling out a particular track does a disservice to the others.
Illinois Times |
Rene Spencer Saller |
06-21-2005 |
Reviews
Tags: Sleater-Kinney, The Woods
