A Power Unseen
Billy Q. Effinger has never been to Lawrence. But this "fantastic vocal stylist" has left an enduring stamp on our hearts with his unsolicited CD mailer
Billy Q. entered into our lives casually in the virgin days of September. He arrived in a nondescript manila CD mailer, accompanied by a letter from the Duluth Musician's Association (AFL-CIO) informing us that Billy has proven himself to be "a fantastic vocal stylist." According to the letter, the enclosed CD would offer us two songs that were "infectious ... yet wear well upon repeated listening."
Review :: A. Graham and the Moment Band, "The Tyrant is Free"
Graham's most visible influences are Pavement and The Cars, though his crack-prone voice bears a striking resemblance to Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse. Graham's lyrical and melodic sensibilities can best be described as "quirky," which can be either charming or obnoxious, depending on your tastes.
Voices in the Dark
Local watering holes are opening their doors to poetry. But who's listening?
As any poet knows, the best reward for a good performance is silence. The kind of silence where you can hear paper crinkling ... the toilet flushing ... the door guy asking incoming patrons for IDs. Most of all, the kind of silence where you can hear what the FREAKING POET IS SAYING.
Review: Vietcong: Purple Haze - PS2, Xbox
Wake me up when you travel 12 feet.
Vietcong: Purple Haze should be reserved for Vietnam buffs only. (Are there any?) It doesn't do anything that hasn't been done five times better by someone else.
Review: Star Wars: Battlefront - PS2, Xbox
Is the Force strong with this one?
The single-player game seems like an afterthought, and really hurts what could have been the defining game in the Star Wars universe. However, Battlefront is an extremely fun online experience.
Roberts, Pelosi named in interrogation briefings
A story in The Washington Post this weekend describes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., as two members of Congress who received secret CIA briefings in 2002 that included a description of what is called waterboarding.
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