Sep 22, 2011
Music
Soft Metals
Hypnotic. It’s an easy starting point to describe what Soft Metals vocalist Patricia Hall and keyboardist Ian Hicks accomplish with their self-titled debut.
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DC
Written by Brian Azzarello; Art by Cliff Chiang
Sep 21, 2011
Comic Books
Web Exclusive
For those who appreciate a book that’s immediately accessible, yet rewards a close read, Wonder Woman #1 is the best-in-class of DC’s New 52 relaunch initiative to date.
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ABC, Wednesdays 10/9 Central
Sep 21, 2011
TV
Web Exclusive
Revenge has never looked so sweet. Emily VanKamp (Brothers and Sisters, Everwood) as Emily Thorne and Amanda Clark is the face of Revenge. The reason for revenge is told in disconnected flashbacks where Emily’s story is pieced together.
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DC
Written by Kyle Higgins; Artist by Eddy Barrows
Sep 21, 2011
Comic Books
Web Exclusive
A few days ago, I proclaimed that Deathstroke #1 was the dog at the bottom of DC’s “New 52” pile. Kyle Higgins, who wrote that questionable use of paper and ink, is also the writer on the new Nightwing #1. I’m very happy to say that Nightwing is much, much better.
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Sep 21, 2011
Music
CANT
In late 2009, Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor made his solo debut under the moniker CANT with the single “Ghosts.” Unsurprisingly, it sounded exactly like a Grizzly Bear outtake. Thankfully, CANT’s debut LP, Dreams Come True (a collaboration with Twin Shadow’s George Lewis Jr.), is a dizzying departure for both artists.
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New Girl (Fox, Tuesdays 9/8 Central)
Sep 20, 2011
TV
Web Exclusive
Okay, so you know how pilots usually kind of suck? (Let’s just be honest here). The premiere episode of New Girl very much breaks that mold. Zooey Deschanel justifiably gets most of the hype surrounding the show—and she’s great, selling her dorky chick act more than you’d believe a cool beauty like that should be able to (okay, there’s a little ham, but it’s forgivable).
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Drawn & Quarterly
Written and drawn by Anders Nilsen
Sep 20, 2011
Comic Books
Web Exclusive
With a main story that’s more than 550 pages (enclosed in an absolutely beautiful hardcover, though there’s a softcover edition too), Big Questions may at first seem a bit daunting. Then you start reading it…and it’s cute. And funny. Little birds, pondering philosophical dilemmas. And then Anders Nilsen drops a bomb into it. Literally.
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CBS, Tuesdays 10/9 Central
Sep 20, 2011
TV
Web Exclusive
The number of angles procedural cop and crime programs can have is limited. Enter dramas such as The Mentalist, one that feature an unconventional character oddity to refresh the detective-by-numbers format.
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Sep 20, 2011
Music
Teen Daze
Drawing inspiration from C.S. Lewis’ Out of the Silent Planet, nameless musician Teen Daze has created an EP of six glow-pop tracks. While his means (multiple layers, floating synths, echo-filled vocals low in the mix) are the same as don’t-call-em-chillwave contemporaries Washed Out, Memory Tapes, and Toro Y Moi, the ends are significantly different.
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DC
Written by Scott Lobdell; Art by R.B. Silva (pencils), Rob Lean (inks), Eric Canete (cover)
Sep 20, 2011
Comic Books
Web Exclusive
Is Superboy a clone? An experiment? Half-Kryptonian, half-human? A ticking time bomb? A creature totally lacking human empathy? All of the above? Superboy #1 introduces all of these elements in a truly surprising first issue—surprising in that it’s quite good.
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