AltWeeklies Wire
Eliza Rickman Creates Haunting Melodies with a Big Voice and Tiny Instrumentnew
Eliza Rickman just might be a ghost, or, at the very least, a medium channeling vibes from days of yore. That’s not to say the chanteuse is only slanging rehashed classics in the vein of Madeleine Peyroux, it’s just that there’s a decidedly old-timey, almost spooky, air to what she’s doing.
San Diego CityBeat |
Paul Saitowitz |
12-16-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Ben Foster is Painfully Good in 'The Messenger'new
In Foster's first leading role, he plays a character who has just returned from Iraq and is completely cut off from his emotions, even as he's assigned the most emotional job of all, that of a casualty-notification officer.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
11-18-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
San Diego Pot-Raid Search-Warrant Affidavits Reveal Dubious Undercover Opsnew
California's medical-pot organizations operate in a largely untested gray area of law. Yet, the only clear crime throughout a four-month sting in San Diego was perpetrated by the police.
San Diego CityBeat |
Dave Maass |
10-29-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Violence Begets Violence and Terrific Performances in 'Five Minutes of Heaven'new
Oliver Hirschbiegel has created a small movie with an interesting premise, a film that wouldn't stand out at all were it not for the tremendous performances from its two leading actors, Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
10-28-2009 |
Reviews
Wal-Mart Lowers the Guillotine on Authors and Independent Bookstoresnew
The devaluation of work is a brutal injustice to the Kingsolvers and the Grishams and the Pattersons (though, for the record, the latter two aren't exactly wading in the same talent pool as Kingsolver). Even -- and I cannot believe I am going to say this -- even Dan Brown and his formulaic prose deserve better than $8.99 on new releases.
San Diego CityBeat |
Aaryn Belfer |
10-28-2009 |
Books
Daniel Johnston Returns with a Clear Head and a Big Soundnew
Jason Falkner, a self-described "one-man house band" producer, has turned Johnston's typically crude but sweetly personal demos into full-blown pop productions on Is and Always Was.
San Diego CityBeat |
Will K. Shilling |
10-21-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
San Diego Sues Navy, Shipbuilders and Port District to Pay for Bay Cleanupnew
For nearly 30 years after the end of World War II, Naval personnel hosed down trucks and heavy machinery with diesel fuel, then dunked them in a tributary of San Diego Bay. It was all done in the name of "decontamination" -- ironic, because a new suit alleges this is one of dozens of practices cited as primary causes of sediment contamination in the bay.
San Diego CityBeat |
Dave Maass |
10-21-2009 |
Environment
Lauded Prison Drug-Treatment Services are the Latest Victim of California's Budget Cutsnew
The Amity Foundation's highly regarded Right Turn program, held up as a national model for effective prisoner rehabilitation, is being closed down at Donovan State Prison, making Donovan one of eight prisons statewide that won't provide any sort of professional in-custody substance-abuse treatment.
San Diego CityBeat |
Kelly Davis |
10-14-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Sprial Stairs Dishes on His New Album and Pavement's Hyped Reunionnew
Five years after the last Preston School of Industry album was released, Scott Kannberg is ready to present his fans with an album full of material that sounds nothing like his previous bands' output. He's back to being Spiral Stairs, but this time, there's not as much to joke about.
San Diego CityBeat |
Dryw Keltz |
10-14-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
While Their Peers Rake in Reunion Tour Cash, The Jesus Lizard Says It'll Be One and Outnew
While the rekindled friendships and passions have been something the entire band has thrived on, frontman David Yow warns that those hoping for more shouldn't expect a prolonged presence.
San Diego CityBeat |
Paul Saitowitz |
10-07-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Coen Brothers Make Their Most Personal, Most Maddening Film Yetnew
The Coens have never made a movie like A Serious Man before, combining the screwball sensibilities of O Brother with the larger issues of No Country. But this isn’t an existential film -- far from it.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
10-07-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: A Serious Man, The Coen Brothers
How Today's Pot Debate is Like the Fall of Prohibitionnew
Law-enforcement maverick Norm Stamper noted "striking" parallels between Prohibition of a bygone era and today's drug debate. "Major difference? It took us only 13 years to end the former" over "essentially identical" reasons: violence, overdose deaths on bad "bathtub gin," public health and revenue.
San Diego CityBeat |
John R. Lamb |
10-07-2009 |
Drugs
Jane Campion Creates Period Poetry With 'Bright Star'new
Sure, this one could be considered a chick flick. It's set in the early 1800s in England, after all. But it's made by Campion, who's best known for The Piano, so it's real label should actually be "art-house." Regardless, you don't need to be a chick or an art-house geek to enjoy Abbie Cornish's performance.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
09-23-2009 |
Reviews
Border Agent Who Shot Immigrant Sues Gov't Over Invasion of Privacynew
Border Patrol agent Arturo Lorenzo and his wife are suing the U.S. government, saying that releasing the video of him shooting 20-year-old Ramiro Gamez Acosta invaded Lorenzo's privacy and destroyed his reputation, exposing him and his family to death threats.
San Diego CityBeat |
Justin McLachlan |
09-16-2009 |
Immigration
Despite Shoegaze Sound and Forlorn Name, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are a Joy to the Earsnew
Stifle your groans and suppress that grimace. Sure, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart may be the most emo-ish band name in history. And, yeah, their Belle & Sebastian-esque cover art and cutesy band members are as twee as kittens sliding down rainbows. So, what does that make them -- tweemo? Thankfully, no.
San Diego CityBeat |
AnnaMaria Stephens |
09-16-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
