Mar 12th, 2010 · When Tammy Wynette died in 1998, she was known as the First Lady of Country Music. Her music expressed drama and, judging by Jimmy McDonough's new biography, there was no shortage of it in her own life. Read an excerpt from his book, Tammy Wynette: Tragic Country Queen, here.
Jan 1st, 2010 · The New Orleans native has taken up an artist residency in the Twin Cities. But judging from his prodigious trumpet technique — and his zealous entreaties — Mayfield seemed determined to imbue his second home with the spirit of its downriver cousin.
Dec 16th, 2009 · The best cover songs are those that take an old gem and make the listener rethink it, or discover parts that might have been missed in the original. They can pay tribute to an icon, introduce an artist's own musical tastes or expose an unknown influence worth discovering and delving into further.
Jun 18th, 2009 · The film Bruno, which is opening in a few weeks, is a satire about an over-the-top gay fashion victim starring Sacha Baron Cohen. The studio has been pre-screening Bruno for gay activists and writers, hoping to derail charges of homophobia. Judging from the trailer, however, there is a huge list of people this new movie could offend.
Jun 12th, 2009 · Italian import Daniela Schaechter is a brilliant young pianist and singer, taking the jazz scene by storm. Judging by her list of awards and the number of jazz luminaries she's played with, one might think she'd been gigging professionally for dozens of years. Schaechter performs her own tune "Dark Blue," and McPartland joins in for "It Could Happen to You."
Apr 21st, 2009 · Worn-out books often just get tossed in the trash. But artist Caitlin Phillips recycles some unwanted books by cutting out the pages and using the covers to make unusual purses. Turning classic books into fashion items, however, poses challenges that are both aesthetic and ethical.
Sep 29th, 2008 · Sen. Obama's campaign is criticizing Sen. McCain for never using the words "middle class" in Friday's debate. The McCain campaign is criticizing Obama for never using the word "victory." When voters begin judging their candidates by what they didn't say, things become quickly overwhelming says our resident humorist.
Jun 3rd, 2008 · The title of British Sea Power's new album (Do You Like Rock Music?) feels like an invitation rather than a question: Judging from the album's contents, the answer had better not be no. "Lights Out for Darker Skies" dispenses anthemic power chords without skimping on the complexities.