That’s right, a brave little toaster. Not a knight, or a prince, not even a kindly witch, but a toaster — the old-fashioned kind your mom had — chrome sides, two slides, no room for bagels. Sure the concept is nonsensical, but this is primarily for kids: Since when do they need stuff to make sense? Nevertheless, this enchanting adventure of five ordinary electrical household appliances and their quest for companionship surely is one of the stranger story lines ever written for children. Read More...
The Byrds’ 4 reissued albums The reissue of the band’s first four albums (plus rare bonus tracks) illustrates why the best Byrds music still inspires musicians. Roger (Jim) McGuinn was arguably the first to play a guitar just like a-ringin’ a bell, as attested to by the oft-imitated, seldom duplicated ”chiming” on Mr. Tambourine Man‘s ”I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better.” And while time hasn’t enhanced the group’s forays into psychedelia (Younger‘s ”Mind Gardens”), there are enough keepers to make you forgive their occasional tendency to fly into walls. Read More...
Chris Colfer is a busy man. Between making movies and playing Kurt Hummel on Glee, it’s a wonder he’s found any time at all to pursue a writing career. And yet, the 22-year-old is getting ready to release his second novel of the year next week. Struck by Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal follows Carson Phillips, a high school outcast who blackmails his peers into participating in his literary magazine. It’s already been filmed as a movie starring Christina Hendricks, Rebel Wilson and Colfer himself. Read More...
