The Doors Examined by Jim Cherry / Bennion Kearny Limited / paperback / 978-1909125124 / 240 pages Journalist and author Jim Cherry has a long history with rock 'n' roll journalism, and currently writes the column, "The Doors Examiner." The Doors … [Read more...]
Book Review – Horse Latitudes by Chris Wilson
Horse Latitudes by Chris Wilson / Sorika / 978-0957557307 / 92 pages Horse Latitudes is a small gem of a book, bound in white covers illustrated with a painting. It is strikingly beautiful, with a very clean, minimalist design. But much of its … [Read more...]
Music Review – Amelita by Court Yard Hounds
Probably Emily Robison and Martie Maguire have been best known as two-thirds of The Dixie Chicks. But as Court Yard Hounds, the duo has created a very different sound, one which has something for their longtime country music fans, and also for … [Read more...]
Review – An Invisible Flower by Yoko Ono
An Invisible Flower by Yoko Ono / Chronicle Books / 52 pages / 978-1452109114 An Invisible Flower was written and illustrated by nineteeen-year-old Yoko Ono, years before she met John Lennon, or became a public figure. It is the tale of a girl who … [Read more...]
splake’s Magic Box
splake fishing in america. Rockford: Presa Press, 2013 only in my dreams. Springfield: Gage, 2012. Beyond Campfire Ashes. Battle Creeek: Gage, 2012. Backwater Bard Loft Musings. Fort Wayne: The Moon, 2009. Le Metrop 2012. Ed Gray dir. … [Read more...]
Love That Loves Us: The Two Loves of To the Wonder
note: Here there be spoilers By now it is cliche to label a Terrence Malick film a "visual poem," but in the case of To The Wonder, that is what it is. Malick's cinematic eye defers to poetry more strongly than that of cinema and though I'm certain … [Read more...]
Film Review – Searching for Sugar Man
Searching For Sugarman (2012) 4 stars A documentary about the mysterious Rodriguez, the singer/songwriter who released the album Cold Fact in 1970. Directed by Swedish-British filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul, this is a well told underdog story that left … [Read more...]
Music Review – Son Volt’s new Honky Tonk delivers a fresh take on old-school country
There's continuity between Son Volt's last album, American Central Dust, and Honky Tonk: … [Read more...]
Book Review – Beatitude: A Novel by Larry Closs
Beatitude by Larry Closs / Rebel Satori Press / 2011 / 978-1608640294 / 272 pages Empty Mirror received a copy of Beatitude from the author, with no obligation. ] Larry Closs' debut novel focuses on Harry Charity, who is gay, and his relationship … [Read more...]
An Essay on the Arcana Series
I sat down to write this as a commentary on the series of books edited by John Zorn, all of which are entitled Arcana. The series comes in six parts, including hundreds of essays written by musicians, artists, on their creative process, technique, … [Read more...]
Music Review — Sentimental Journey by Emmy Rossum – A Musical Calendar
Emmy Rossum is a multi-talented performer. As an actress, she currently stars in Showtime's Shameless, and the forthcoming film, Beautiful Creatures. Her new CD, Sentimental Journey, is her second. Its twelve songs, each an American classic, correspond at … [Read more...]
Music Review – Ringo 2012
Ringo Starr has been on a roll the past several years with the well-reviewed 2010 release "Y Not," a successful tour, and now a lively new album called "RINGO 2012". This marks Ringo's 17th solo outing as well as his first self-produced effort, and is an … [Read more...]
Music Review – Robbie Robertson’s How to Become Clairvoyant
When I finally got my hands on How To Become Clairvoyant, I could hardly wait to take it home and play it. I had to hear what Robbie Robertson had created, and was convinced that anything Robbie Robertson did with Eric Clapton would be good. And it … [Read more...]