REVIEWS

What are you reading? "The Obama Hate Machine"

Some say the conservative hate industry began when Lee Atwater and Newt Gingrich urged Republicans to ALWAYS use derogatory terms — whether deserved or not — when speaking of their opponents.

May 27, 2012

Movie review: 'Men in Black' is back, better than ever

“Men in Black III” comes 15 years after the entertaining original and 10 years after the sequel laid an egg, and the surprise is it’s better than the first one.

By Roger Ebert , May 25, 2012

CD review: Live disc does justice to Rogers’ original material

Canadian singer-songwriter Garnet Rogers is just a troubadour’s troubadour.

By John Ziegler , May 24, 2012

Review: DSSO ends 80th season on strong note

The Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra ended its 80th concert season at Symphony Hall on Saturday night, and music director Markand Thakar was on the podium for the second time this season.

By Samuel Black , May 21, 2012

Movie review: ‘Battleship’ entertains with interesting plot, characters — and plenty of action

“This could be like Columbus and the Indians,” a nerdy radio astronomer worries. “Except we’re the Indians.”

By Roger Ebert , May 18, 2012

CD review: Rivera’s violin skill hasn’t aged a bit

When you think back to that mid-1970s era and Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue and the accompanying albums like “Desire” and “Hard Rain,” almost as captivating as Dylan’s writing or singing voice were the searing violin lines of an unknown crimson-haired beauty named Scarlet Rivera.

By John Ziegler , May 17, 2012

Review: Arrowhead Chorale shares music from around the world

Saturday night’s concert by the Arrowhead Chorale contained nearly as many surprises as the number of pieces on the program.

By Samuel Black , May 14, 2012

What are you reading? "Spilled Blood" by Brian Freeman

Synopsis: Olivia Hawk, a high school student, has been accused of murdering Ashlynn, the daughter of the founder of Mondamin Corp., a secretive research facility. Olivia’s father, Christopher, a big-city lawyer, is summoned to the small rural Minnesota town where Olivia and her mother, Hannah, live to help prove Olivia’s innocence. Although Olivia admits to being there and even bringing the murder weapon with her, she swears that she has killed no one. While searching for the truth, other issues are brought to light, including a feud between the towns of St. Croix and Barron, a cluster of young cancer victims, which could somehow be tied to Mondamin, a psychopath named Aquarius who sends notes to many of the key players and other unsavory happenings.

May 13, 2012

Review: ‘Baby’ starts comic and turns poignant

Lawrance Bernabo reviews “Baby,” the musical that opened at the Play Ground on Thursday night.

By Lawrance Bernabo , May 11, 2012

If you go to "Baby"

May 11, 2012

Book review: “Fifty Shades of Grey”

Anastasia Steele is a literature major about to graduate from college when she offers to interview mysterious billionaire businessman Christian Grey in place of her ill roommate.

By Tamara Gruhot , May 10, 2012

CD review: Steinman’s skill shines in mastery of songwriting

The disc’s interior photo shows Kevin Steinman in a snappy vest and bow tie holding an egg and looking like an eager amateur magician who’s about to use impressive magic trickery to make the white sphere disappear before our very eyes.

By John Ziegler , May 10, 2012

What are you reading? "The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery that Holds the Secret of America's Future"

Although this book is a work of fiction, it points to a higher truth of the future of America. According to the author, the events of Sept. 11, 2001, were a judgment from God in the exact same way that God judged the Israelites for their sin and failure to follow His ways.

May 06, 2012

Review: Quirky and captivating ‘Quidam’ hits Duluth

I finally got my chance to run away to the circus on Friday night when Cirque du Soleil’s quirky and captivating “Quidam” opened with the first of four shows at Amsoil Arena.

By Lawrance Bernabo , May 05, 2012

CD review: Klein’s ‘Behind a Veil’ stands out

I remember hearing the all-star quartet of women singer-songwriters called Voices on the Verge about a decade ago. The clearest recollection I have is that, as good as all four women were, Jess Klein stood out as something really special.

By John Ziegler , May 03, 2012