An Education
It’s been said many times that 50 percent of a movie director’s job is casting... read more
Good Hair
With director Jeff Stilson, Chris Rock delves into the... read more
Mason Jennings: Blood of Man
This wiry haired, plaid-clad Minnesota musician has established himself as... read more
Califone: All My Friends Are Funeral Singers
Califone’s music sounds like it’s perpetually in the process of... read more
The Jesus Lizard: Touch and Go Reissues
In certain shadowy circles of the rock ’n’ roll universe... read more
Volcano Choir: Unmap
At least a year prior to retiring to the remote Wisconsin cabin... read more
Mercy Review: "Hope You're Good, Smiley Face" (Episode 1.3)
Well, you've got to give them points for trying. New show Mercy has been testing out some different techniques and new styles in an attempt to find its rhythm and a much-needed niche that will draw in viewers.... read more
Rosanne Cash: The List
Rosanne Cash has always proven too unruly for mainstream country... read more
Monsters of Folk: Monsters of Folk
There’s no way Monsters of Folk could ever... read more
How I Met Your Mother Review: "Robin 101" (Episode 5.03)
How I Met Your Mother's attempts to reintroduce Robin as a girlfriend have been rather unsettling. Five years after we saw her spend Thanksgiving at a strip club, we cringed last week when she told Barney she was "not okay" with him being a regular. Last night's episode, "Robin 101," attempted to explain her jealousy in depth, though without any new information, it failed.... read more
Built to Spill: There Is No Enemy
The implications of Built to Spill's seventh studio album are obvious... read more
The Office Review: "The Promotion" (Episode 6.03)
Last week's "The Promotion" turned out to be a celebration of new and old Office traditions. Jim's promotion as the branch's co-manager both enflamed a very Season Two-esque rivalry with Dwight and refreshingly tainted the Tuna's typical nonchalant, inhuman chivalry that has likely decimated as much real-life romance as it has created. Go ahead, you can say it. It's kind of nice to see Jim have a bad day, held over the flame of disgruntled and raise-hungry coworkers.... read more
Brandi Carlile: Give Up the Ghost
Brandi Carlile is a woman out of time... read more
House Review: "The Tyrant" (Episode 6.3)
House returns to Princeton, where Taub has quit and Foreman has fired Thirteen. So the old regulars -- Chase and Cameron -- come back to their jobs and are under Foreman's supervision. (As House says, "It's three years ago! Does that mean I'm still crazy?") The difference is that now that House is no longer licensed to practice medicine, he too has become Foreman's employee. Unsurprisingly, he does not take well to the change and makes Foreman's job difficult. What is surprising is that Foreman, frustrated over his problems with Thirteen, refuses to humor House and eventually, satisfyingly, stands up to him.... read more
Victor LaValle: Big Machine
Former heroin addict Ricky Rice has resigned himself to a... read more
Remember Niagara: Mad Men, Bad Choices & The National Parks
Whatever I might've been planning to write about Mad Men last week, Ken Burns messed it all up.... read more
The Very Best: Warm Heart of Africa
While I never needed to hear the... read more
Dollhouse Review: "Instinct" (Episode 2.2)
Dollhouse continues to move in jerks and sputters, but in the right direction nonetheless... read more
Capitalism: A Love Story
The title of Michael Moore’s newest documentary is a red herring... read more
Chelsea on the Rocks
In 2007, the longtime manager of New York’s Chelsea Hotel, Stanley Bard, was forced from his position... read more

