Wednesday news and reviews
Here's a look at what stories are making headlines...
Books
Varied subplots all lead to assassination
- Tom Zelman, Star Tribune
Create a More Connected Minnesota
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Author Keith Elliot Greenberg uses a number of devices to keep us interested in the day John Lennon died. Unfortunately, he only partially succeeds.
Music
Despite cuts in giving, SPCO balances budget
- Graydon Royce, Star Tribune
Strict cost controls kept expenses in line while fundraising and attendance dropped slightly.
SPCO draws from endowment to keep budget balanced
- Rob Hubbard, Pioneer Press
That rainy day is here, and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra was prepared for it.
Who is the real Jeremy Messersmith?
- Matt Beachey, Examiner.com
Jeremy Messersmith used to just be that guy with the loop pedal who tapped out a beat on the body of his acoustic guitar, played some chords over it, then layered voice upon voice upon voice to create an eerie choir backed by gentle rapping and strumming.
M.anifest, Jon Davis, Pete Hennig selected as MECA winners
- Andrea Swensson, City Pages
It's always reassuring when an organization recognizes the time and resources required for a musician to devote any significant portion of time to their art.
2011 album trainspotting: Why not start now?
- Ray Cummings, City Pages
Here's a little free, unsolicited, pre-Christmas advice from Gimme Noise: Do let the iTunes gift cards Santa leaves behind burn a metaphorical hole in your stocking.
Lupe Fiasco's Modest Mouse-cribbed single 'The Show Goes On'
- Andrew Flanagan, City Pages
Fiasco's long-anticipated, label-delayed third record, Laser, has been attached a release date, with a Modest Mouse-cribbing single in tow.
High notes out of reach, Judds still touched hearts
- Jon Bream, Star Tribune
Wynonna sounded all stuffed up, but she and Naomi managed to put on a memorable show at Mystic Lake.
El DeBarge, '80s popstar, releases first album in 16 years
- Jen Boyles, City Pages
If you're under 30, you can feel free to just move right along.
Television
2010 British Television Advertising Awards to make a somber impression at the Walker Art Center
- Jay Gabler, TC Daily Planet
If the advertising firms of the United Kingdom have done their jobs well this year, after the Walker Art Center's sold-out run of screenings of winners of the 2010 British Television Advertising Awards, there will be several thousand Minnesotans slightly less likely to do cocaine, drive after doing cocaine, smoke cigarettes, get into an unmarked cab, tolerate being the victims of domestic violence, drive over the speed limit, take an airline flight, carry a knife, or drink and drive--though slightly more likely to drink in general, though slightly less likely to drink to drunkenness.
Theater
- Betsy Gabler, TC Daily Planet
Sedaris fans won't go wrong with either show.
- Kathy Berdan, Pioneer Press
Marley was dead: to begin with. So intoned a 78-rpm record of Lionel Barrymore reading the part of Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol." Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail. Jon Cranney was hooked.