Most Popular
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Death in the Inner Circle
Apparent murder-suicide cuts to the heart of the mayor's southern Dallas advisors
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Battle Against Teaching Evolution in Texas Begins
Should creationism win out, textbooks throughout the country–not just Texas–will challenge the theory of evolution in science curricula
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After Their Murder-Suicide, Questions About Rufus and Lynn Flint Shaw's Shady Dealings Haunt Dallas
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Life Without Debt Leaves Jimmy Phipps Owing Society
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Fight Over New Apartments Shows Dallas' Growing Pains
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Obama and Me (69)
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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Murder at the Howard Johnson's Serves Up Flavorful Fare (27)
Also: Collin College kicks up heels with Li'l Abner and unfunny Nipples at Hub
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Death in the Inner Circle (21)
Apparent murder-suicide cuts to the heart of the mayor's southern Dallas advisors
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Battle Against Teaching Evolution in Texas Begins (15)
Should creationism win out, textbooks throughout the country–not just Texas–will challenge the theory of evolution in science curricula
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10 Artists We'd Resurrect for Easter
Included: Freddie Mercury, Hank Williams and Patsy Cline
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Vampire Weekend Backlash at SXSW
The hype factory had everyone ready to hate on Vampire Weekend before the band arrived in Austin
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You Don't Have to Head to SXSW to Find a Festival This Week
Dallas has something for all tastes in town
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South by Southwest Bounty Overflows to Benefit Dallas
This and next week are full of big-name acts making their ways to or from the Austin festival
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Four Clubs Closed in Deep Ellum and Exposition Park in the Past Month
So where's the outcry?
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Dallas' "Delusional" 15-Year-Old Author
12:49PM 03/28/08 -
Hicks and Gillett Do Not Appear to Have a "Rational Relationship"
11:54AM 03/28/08 -
Found Your Beef
11:01AM 03/28/08 -
Last Night: Neil Hamburger at Rubber Gloves
11:53AM 03/28/08 -
New Matthew and the Arrogant Sea Songs
08:42AM 03/28/08 -
Q&A with The Orange
12:43AM 03/28/08
What we are writing about
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- Avi Adelman
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- creationism
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Recent Articles By Ben Westhoff
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While Trent Reznor Broods, Saul Williams Celebrates Their Music Download Experiment
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The N-Word Still Alive and Well in Hip-Hop
Eight month after the hip-hop community gave the word a funeral, it hasn't died
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Rapper's Caviar Dreams
Are the latest boastful rappers billionaires or boobs?
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Mary J. Blige
Growing Pains (Geffen)
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Wu-Tang Clan
8 Diagrams (Loud/SRC/Universal)
National Features
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Miami New Times
Perez Hilton: Exposed!
Can a "crazy, flamboyant dork" from Miami find happiness as a Hollywood mudslinger?
By Francisco Alvarado -
Nashville Scene
Chip Off the Old Rock
Songwriter Justin Townes Earle has struggled with addiction--just like his proud papa.
By Michael McCall -
Phoenix New Times
"Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy"
Have they become the magic words when a state wants to terminate parental rights?
By Megan Irwin -
SF Weekly
Out of the Woodwork
Union carpenters describe a little slice of Jim Crow smack dab in the middle of America's most PC city.
By Lauren Smiley
Subject(s): Why?
The press release for Alopecia claims that Why? ringleader Yoni Wolf was inspired "as much by MF Doom and Lil' Wayne as J. Newsom and Big Dylan." I don't hear any of that, although the disc recalls the beat weirdness of Beck's Mellow Gold, minus the zeitgeist-capturing spirit and clever allusions. "Jerking off in an art museum john until my dick hurts, the kind of shit I won't admit to my head shrinker," Wolf imparts on "Good Friday." Huh? Why tell us, then?
That said, the CD boasts a monster leadoff track, "The Vowels Pt. 2," which creeps up on you like a beautiful woman in a dark alley and is perhaps the best tune ever from the Anticon camp. Beatwise, the album includes plenty of simple and often-danceable, winsome melodies. But lyrically, it's a crapshoot. "These Few Presidents" offers both truly touching moments ("And if you're in heaven waiting, you made it there fighting, the tightest kite string in a bad storm with lightning") and clumsy, revolting jokes ("Even though I haven't seen you in years, yours is a funeral I'd fly to from anywhere"). Like Sage Francis, Wolf is a talented musician full of ideas who badly needs to focus on expressing sincere, honest emotion.
