Music
Feist
The Reminder
Canadian Leslie Feist is known for her airy vocals that bring edge to others' work. For her third album, however, she plays it safe. Tweeting birds, spare guitars, and seductive crooning are sweet but a little too soccer-mom.
— Rachel Swaby
Battles
Mirrored
Prog metal, disco-funk, and Tex Avery sound effects... this New York band tackles them all — and wins. Tyondai Braxton's R. Kelly — like warble over a bucking groove will have even Dirty South DJs doffing their headphones with respect.
— Sean Cooper
The Boggs
Forts
From the shambling punk-folk flash of the title track to the blaring horns and twisted big-band beats of "Arm in Arm," this indie quartet draws more from the Pogues than the Pixies, but with Brooklyn brio over Irish swagger.
— Jake Swearingen
Screen
Theaters
Paprika
Fiendish geisha dolls, giant robots, and pavement-pounding freezers seek to take over the dream world! Japanese director Satoshi Kon's vivid anime nightmare follows a psychotherapist as she delves into her patients' subconscious (via her avatar, Paprika) after an experimental treatment goes awry.
— Jennifer Hillner
Theaters
Fay Grim
We wanted to like Hal Hartley's sequel to 1998's Henry Fool. After all, it stars Parker Posey as a single mom at the center of a James Bond-style global espionage plot. But while Hartley's ear for dialog remains keen, the story is so flat you wish 007 would drop by to shake things up.
— Jason Silverman
DVD
Graveyard Alive: A Zombie Nurse in Love*
Schlock horror fans will love this low-budget, underground film-fest fave. After being bitten by an undead patient, a homely nurse transforms into a comely ghoul. The men can't get enough of her; she can't get enough of their delectable flesh.
— Jake Swearingen
Games
Wii
Super Paper Mario
Who knew those old-school 2-D Mario worlds could be so deep? One button-press flips the flat worlds sideways, revealing secret pathways and hidden power-ups. The action that ensues isn't as tight as New Super Mario Bros., but the story and dialog are hilarious. Nifty feature: If you need help, point the Wiimote at the screen and click on items of interest to get hints.
— Chris Kohler
Mac/Windows/Linux
Samorost2
This surreal browser-based title is a fun, if fleeting, point-and-click adventure. Visuals are a charming blend of mushroom-and-moss naturalism and retro sci-fi, and the ambient soundtrack is good enough to rip to your iPod. Like any good drug dealer, Czech studio Amanita Design gives you the first taste for free, but you gotta pay up (seven bucks) for the whole game.
— Jake Swearingen
The Canon
Natalie Angier
New York Times science columnist Natalie Angier explains the basics of physics, astronomy, geology, chemistry, and more in language anyone can follow. She's like a great high school biology teacher: smart, witty, and occasionally long-winded.
— Erin Biba
The Yiddish Policemen's Union
Michael Chabon
Kavalier & Clay fans will delight in the alternate universe of this novel, in which Jews flee fascism to Alaska. But the narrow, Raymond Chandler-esque plot may disappoint.
— Mark Horowitz
The Sushi Economy
Sasha Issenberg
To chart a global culinary craze, the author follows maguro — the deep red tuna that's a fixture on every sushi menu — from Australian fish ranches to Texan tables and beyond. Will satisfy picky eaters (and readers).
— Adrienne So
* Correction, Thurs May 10 12:00:00 EST 2007
The wrong image appeared with this review in the print magazine; the correct image is shown here. (Return to the corrected image)
Play Playlist Reviews Music: Parsons Project Rebooted Screen: Spidey vs. Sandman Games: Get Us Out of Beta! Print: Memory Lane Print: The Science of Pop-Ups Motor: Motor City, AUS Arts: Super Mario Mall Home: Condominimum Fetish Test: Hybrid Family Sedans Test: Webcams Test: From the Gadget Lab Test: Multifunction Printers
