Most Popular
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Pentecostal Preacher Sherman Allen Turns Out to Be Reverend Spanky
The Fort Worth preacher is accused of beating, threatening and assaulting women for more than 20 years
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Obama and Me
It was the year 2000, and I was a young, hungry reporter in Chicago with a young, hungry state legislator on my speed dial
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Texas' Peyote Hunters Struggle to Find a Vanishing, Holy Crop
Harvesting peyote is legal for only three people, and all of them live in Texas
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Why is Hillary Neglecting Delegate-Rich Dallas County?
While Obama has events going on throughout the city, Clinton is nowhere to be found
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Obama and Me (62)
It was the year 2000, and I was a young, hungry reporter in Chicago with a young, hungry state legislator on my speed dial
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Melodica Festival Self-Indulgent, But Still Positive for Dallas (51)
If a festival happens in Exposition Park and only the built-in crowd shows, does it make a sound?
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Ole Oops (58)
Popular prosperity preacher sues ABC and Trinity Foundation
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Pentecostal Preacher Sherman Allen Turns Out to Be Reverend Spanky (21)
The Fort Worth preacher is accused of beating, threatening and assaulting women for more than 20 years
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Why is Hillary Neglecting Delegate-Rich Dallas County? (18)
While Obama has events going on throughout the city, Clinton is nowhere to be found
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Melodica Festival Self-Indulgent, But Still Positive for Dallas
If a festival happens in Exposition Park and only the built-in crowd shows, does it make a sound?
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MySpace Stalking Dallas Music
There are things you can learn on MySpace, and there are things you can't
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Remembering DJ Frantic
The turntablist's friends and collaborators will remember him for his love of the craft
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Dallas Music Finally Getting National Attention
It may not be Austin-level love, but we'll take it
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Erykah Badu Has Returned
The songstress burst through her stuggles with writer's block and created a solid record
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And This Glimpse of Jessica Simpson Will Not Cost You $75
06:28PM 03/09/08 -
Meet the Woman Who Has Royally Pissed Off Tom Hicks
05:44PM 03/09/08 -
Yeah, But, Like, Where's Tony?
03:07PM 03/07/08 -
Over The Weekend: Centro-matic, All-Con, Texas Guitar Competition
01:10AM 03/10/08 -
Good Friday: Centro-matic, Beach House, Pleasant Grove, Sean Kirkpatrick
04:22PM 03/07/08 -
Video: Paul Thorn at Granada
08:11AM 03/07/08
What we are writing about
- $30,000 millionaires
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Recent Articles By Michael Roberts
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Jay-Z
American Gangster (Roc-A-Fella)
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Puscifer
"V" Is for Vagina (Puscifer Entertainment)
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Northern State Helps the Woman Rapper Comeback
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The Eagles
Long Road Out of Eden (Universal Music Group)
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Bettye LaVette|Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
The Scene of the Crime (Anti- Records)|100 Days, 100 Nights (Daptone)
National Features
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Houston Press
"It Was Like an Armageddon Movie"
For days after Hurricane Rita, a Texas prison was hell on earth.
By Chris Vogel -
SF Weekly
The Candidate
Our columnist knows Ralph Nader's running mate all too well.
By Matt Smith -
The Pitch
How Not To Be a Rap Star
First of all, lay off the Ecstasy.
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Village Voice
Project Runaway
What becomes a gossip columnist most?
By Michael Musto
Subject(s): Bruce Springsteen
Magic is being hyped as Springsteen's rocking return to his classic period, and that's understandable: The album contains lots of familiar musical totems, not to mention lyrics about driving a highway until the road turns black, and a diner on the edge of town (bet it's dark there). But while Boss buffs will scarf down tunes such as "Livin' in the Future" like Jersey Shore comfort food, the more interesting cuts tweak the formula in unexpectedly effective ways.
The disc opens disappointingly with "Radio Nowhere," built upon tedious why-isn't-my-type-of-music-on-the-airwaves-anymore words. But the recording opens up from there, with strings playing a major role. "Your Own Worst Enemy" and "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" incorporate sweeping orchestration and broad melodies inspired by Pet Sounds mini-symphonies, and Soozie Tyrell's violin, fused to a synth-keyboard line, compensates beautifully for the lyrical heaviness of "Last to Die."
At a time when many of his contemporaries are phoning it in, Springsteen's working hard to make music that matters, and his efforts have paid off. It's no trick. It's Magic.
