AltWeeklies Wire
The Occidental Brothers Share Their Love of West African Musicnew
To say the Occidental Brothers Dance Band International plays African music is accurate, but rather vague. Considering that Africa is the world's second-largest continent and contains dozens of countries and countless musical styles, that's a broad generalization.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
06-17-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Eddie Murphy Stinks Yet Again in the Poorly Made 'Imagine That'new
For the last 10 years, Murphy has been appearing in junky films (with the exception of Dreamgirls) in a misguided attempt to be more of a "family man" at the movies. The resultant films have ranged from mildly amusing (Life) to deplorable (Norbit).
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
06-17-2009 |
Reviews
'Pelham' Works as a Lowbrow Thriller, but Travolta is Just Awfulnew
John Travolta is a lousy actor. Let's just be honest about this: I mean, he has an act, but he's not acting. He just spits back the shtick he memorized in Pulp Fiction while quietly praying to Xenu that no one notices.
Tucson Weekly |
James DiGiovanna |
06-17-2009 |
Reviews
Conor Oberst's Latest Is Unfocused and Bloatednew
Conor Oberst is chasing a new muse, and while he and his Mystic Valley Band find some success along the way, Outer South mostly plays against his strengths.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
06-11-2009 |
Reviews
Leonard Cohen Is a Balladeer for the End Timesnew
Leonard Cohen's new two-disc set, recorded in London in 2008 with a nine-member band, sounds as beautifully apocalyptic as anything he's ever done.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
06-11-2009 |
Reviews
Bela Fleck Honors the Banjo's African Originsnew
Ever since banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck discovered many years ago that his instrument has origins in Africa, he has longed to make an album of traditional African folk music.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
06-11-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
White Rabbits' Sophomore Album Is Frighteningly Goodnew
It's Frightening is the kind of mature, monumental release that succeeds where many sophomore releases fail.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
06-11-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
'The Hangover' Will Leave You Laughing—and Perhaps Feeling Guiltynew
Some unlucky bastards rue the sins of male celebratory debauchery in The Hangover, a bachelor-party film that really doesn't focus on the party itself.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
06-11-2009 |
Reviews
'Easy Virtue' Neither Delights nor Disappointsnew
Easy Virtue does a few amusing things with the British manor-house comedy, but mostly it sticks politely to form and, in the manner of a good Englishman, neither excels beyond its station nor falls into disgrace.
Tucson Weekly |
James DiGiovanna |
06-11-2009 |
Reviews
The Strange Saga of Geronimo's Skullnew
Out there somewhere, lost for 146 years, there really is the head of a great Apache leader, taken in the most violent and ignominious means imaginable. With the exception of his family and a few historians, no one knows a thing about him.
Tucson Weekly |
Leo W. Banks |
06-11-2009 |
History
Eminem's Latest Shows Lots of Talent and Lots of Gaynew
Eminem delivers a strong new record that reminds us of his incredible talent--while also reminding us that gay people exist.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
06-04-2009 |
Reviews
Get Out the Neck Brace for Warbringer's Latestnew
Warbringer nails another pure thrash-metal bull's-eye that evokes the classic '80s sound pioneered by bands like Metallica.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
06-04-2009 |
Reviews
Two Brooklyn-Based Trios Head for Tucson in a Quest for Catharsisnew
On their respective new albums, Au Revoir Simone and The Antlers—a pair of New York bands now on tour together—address coping with emotional upheaval in different, yet equally successful ways.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
06-04-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Pixar Again Tops Itself with the Hilarious, Powerful 'Up'new
Up is a monumental achievement; every frame bursts with supreme ingenuity. It also manages to pack a huge emotional punch; in that respect, no live-action film in recent years can match it.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
06-04-2009 |
Reviews
'Drag Me to Hell' Is Drive-In Funnew
Sam Raimi stops playing with his cash long enough to spin a hilarious horror-movie yarn.
Tucson Weekly |
James DiGiovanna |
06-04-2009 |
Reviews
