P.S. Hepburn

Leisure

Critical Voices: Frog Eyes

The return of Frog Eyes, the most difficult—though occasionally thrilling—Canadian indie rock band of the last decade, is cause for some celebration. As with most things Frog Eyes, it’s also cause for some head scratching. Tears of the Valedictorian, the band’s first album since 2004 and fourth overall, is an amplification of the band’s best traits, and an unexpected leap forward.

By April 26, 2007

Leisure

Critical Voices: Andrew Bird

Album number seven from Andrew Bird finds the midwestern singer-songwriter returning to many of the elements that made his last few albums beloved by his fans. It makes for a good album, and while Armchair Apocrypha can’t quite match 2005’s excellent Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs, it nonetheless stands as another remarkable entry in an increasingly varied and impressive oeuvre.

By March 22, 2007

Leisure

Critical Voices

Album number seven from Andrew Bird finds the midwestern singer-songwriter returning to many of the elements that made his last few albums beloved by his fans. It makes for a good album, and while Armchair Apocrypha can’t quite match 2005’s excellent Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs, it nonetheless stands as another remarkable entry in an increasingly varied and impressive oeuvre.

By March 15, 2007

Leisure

Scorsese’s cinematic genius has Departed

It appears that in his old age Martin Scorsese, one of the great American directors of the 20th century, has gone soft.

By October 5, 2006

Leisure

Critical Voices

Built on a complex series of metaphors and semi-autobiographical characters, the album is anything but background music.

By September 28, 2006

Leisure

Jesus Camp saves

core evangelical Christianity. Ewing and Grady manage the controversial subject with delicacy and keen observational skill, and while the film may fall short of its lofty ambitions, it nonetheless raises important questions about home-grown fundamentalism.

By September 28, 2006

Leisure

Sleep just a disjointed series of dreams

The film is, ultimately, a case of the parts exceeding the sum of the whole.

By September 21, 2006

Leisure

Nelson displays acting strength

The good news is that Half Nelson is a fine film; while clichéd at points, the level of acting talent from Ryan Gosling, Shareeka Epps and Anthony Mackie puts it a step above its peers.

By August 31, 2006