AltWeeklies Wire
Michael Moore Sells the Same Old Shtick in 'Capitalism'new
I wish that more of the contradictions of late capitalism had made it into this scattershot, lazy slice of agitprop, which recycles Moore's usual slice-and-dice job on corporations, while bobbing a curtsey to the current crisis.
L.A. Weekly |
Ella Taylor |
09-24-2009 |
Reviews
New Push for Labor Rights for Domestic Workers Gives Nannies Hopenew
Domestic workers are guaranteed the federal minimum wage, but there are no guidelines for working conditions and rights, and few avenues to complain.
New York Press |
Dan Rivoli |
09-24-2009 |
Business & Labor
After Mentally Ill Prisoner Dies in Illinois 'Supermax' Prison, Reforms Are Promisednew
As human rights organizations stepped forward to speak for Robert Foor, a 33-year-old who died in June after nearly 11 years in isolation at the Tamms Closed Maximum Security Unit, the Illinois Department of Corrections announced its plans to reform the southern Illinois “supermax” prison.
Illinois Times |
Amanda Robert |
09-24-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Pearl Jam's 'Backspacer' is Most Impressive for Not Making Concessionsnew
With Pearl Jam experiencing a renaissance of late -- aided by 2006's eponymous return to form and a well-deserved live reputation -- the group is moving forward with its loosest album to date.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
09-23-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Backspacer, Pearl Jam
Phonograph Straddles the Americana/Post-Rock Fencenew
Bands that escape being pigeonholed are often fun and interesting, but in the case of Brooklyn's Phonograph, perhaps only the latter is true.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
09-23-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Okno, Phonograph
The Dodos' Latest Album is Light and Wickednew
Time to Die sounds careful and calculated, pleasant enough to draw in the listener, but sadly not delivering much else once you're inside.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
09-23-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: The Dodos, Time to Die
Pink Martini Seeks to Meld World Influences With the Beauty of Old-School American Culturenew
Of his 12-piece band Pink Martini, Thomas M. Lauderdale likes to say, "If the United Nations had a band in 1962, we would be that band."
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
09-23-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
'The Informant!' Cleverly Treats Whistleblower Story Like a Comedynew
Leave it to Steven Soderbergh and Matt Damon to find the wicked humor in something that resulted in the largest antitrust fine in U.S. history at the time, and a lot of bilked international consumers.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
09-23-2009 |
Reviews
Jimmy Page Charms in 'It Might Get Loud'new
While The Edge hates and Jack White poses, Page just revels in music. His face continually lights up as he spins old discs; his 64-year-old body slides into recurring boogie mode; and he shakes and grooves with his guitar like he was still the lean young man in Led Zeppelin.
Tucson Weekly |
James DiGiovanna |
09-23-2009 |
Reviews
You Should Be Hoping That The U.S. Doesn't Win The Bid To Host The 2016 Olympicsnew
As the International Olympic Committee prepares to unveil next Friday the name of the host city for the 2016 Olympics -- and as Americans root for Chicago to win -- some experts note that hosting the games can actually devastate local economies.
Boston Phoenix |
Anne Elizabeth Moore |
09-23-2009 |
Sports
Harvey Silverglate Dissects Federal Prosecutors' Corrupt Justicenew
In Three Felonies A Day, the civil liberties watchdog's thesis is as provocative as it is simple: justice has become sufficiently perverted in this nation that federal prosecutors, if they put their minds to it, could find a way to indict almost any one of us for almost anything.
Boston Phoenix |
Peter Kadzis |
09-23-2009 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
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
The Bay Area's Wonderful Women of BDSM Aren't Bound by Conventionnew
In San Francisco, the old Rousseauian adage "Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains," could easily be rephrased as: "Woman is born free, and everywhere she uses chains to get off."
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Juliette Tang |
09-23-2009 |
Culture
'Bright Star' is the Tasteful Older Sibling of 'Twilight'new
The film is likely to be fairly admired by English professors and Oscar voters, but mark my words: It is going to become the unequaled favorite movie of homeschoolers in the girls' dormitories of evangelical colleges nationwide.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
09-23-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Bright Star, Jane Campion
Mason Jennings Releases His Most Intense Record Yetnew
With the release of Blood of Man, longtime fans can breathe easy once again. In a dramatic shift, Jennings has returned to a more free-spirited form, recording all of the songs on his own, leaving them unfinished and raw, and (OMG!) plugging in an electric guitar.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Andrea Swensson |
09-23-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Blood of Man, Mason Jennings
