Book critic John Leonard reviews the fourth, and final installment in John Updike's Rabbit novels, Rabbit at Rest. Leonard says the first book was nearly perfect; this one is too concerned with capturing every aspect of the 1980s -- whether or not those references serve the story.
On the occasion of what would have been the Beatle's 50th birthday, rock historian Ed Ward considers what bands and song may have influenced Lennon before he started his legendary group with Paul McCartney.
Steve O'Donnell, the head writer for Late Night with David Letterman, writes many of the program's top ten lists. A new book compiles the best of these, called, simply, The Late Night with David Letterman Book of Top Ten Lists.
Harden was the bureau chief for the Washington Post in sub-Saharan Africa from 1985-1989. His new book, called Africa, talks about the continent's growing population, strong man rule, and how tribal and familial communities fill needs neglected by the government.
Television Critic critic David Bianculli is thrilled that, after months of reruns, the animated sitcom has returned with new episodes. He has this review.
Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says some of the best parts of classic songs like "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" and "A Foggy Day" are the half-sung, almost-spoken introductions. But many singers skip them, opting to begin with the chorus. Whitehead remembers some of these forgotten intros.
Kaye played guitar in the Patti Smith Group and has recorded albums with his own band. He produced Suzanne Vega's first two albums, and more recently worked with Soul Asylum and Michelle Malone. Kaye compiled the 1960s garage rock anthology, Nuggets, and was the executive producer for the Elektra Records 40th anniversary compilation, Rubaiyat.
Critic Owen Gleiberman reviews the new, NC-17 rated film about the relationship between writers Henry Miller and Anais Nin, and Miller's wife, June. Gleiberman says the director Philip Kaufman fails to capture the authors' talent and passion -- but Uma Thurman shines as June.
The Fresh Air poet-in-residence reads a new work, "The Ivory Novel," in which he dreams of writing a novel about saving African elephants from poachers.
World music critic Milo Miles says no rock group has successfully integrated world music sounds into their music. But, in their latest album, The Royal Macadamian come close.
Unlike other blues musicians whose sound is rooted in a particular place, Cray moved around the country throughout his youth. His hits include such songs as "Smoking Gun" and "I Guess I Showed Her." He's got a new album now, Midnight Stroll, which revives the the style of 1960s soul.
Eno has released several albums of ambient music, which were inspired by the classical avant-garde. His new album, a collaboration with John Cale called Wrong Way Up, is a more conventional rock record. He has produced albums for many new wave and pop bands, including Devo, Talking Heads and the Penguin Cafe Orchestra.
Kaurismaki's films draw on European literature, American pop culture and Scandinavian culture. A prolific director, he may be best known in the United States for his 1989 film Leningrad Cowboys Go America, about a failing rock band. Kaurismaki and his brother are responsible for half the Finnish film industry's output.
Rock critic Ken Tucker respects the the role the premiere African American rock band plays in popular culture -- he only wishes they wouldn't re-appropriate so much bad heavy metal. Lyrically, Living Colour's new album, Time's Up, critiques the racism prevalent in rock music.
Commentator Maureen Corrigan talks about her admiration of Erich Auerbach, Leon Trotsky, and Fernand Braudel, writers who were somehow able to write expansive, well-researched books while in prison or exile -- without notes or access to other texts and documents.
Carradine comes from a family of actors: his father is John Carradine; his brothers are Bruce and David Carradine. Keith Carradine's films include Nashville, Pretty Baby, Choose Me, and a new HBO movie called Judgment
Kevin Whitehead doesn't like to admit liking new anthologies by Lester Lanin, whom he calls the king of blandness, and "crass and lowbrow" singer Jerry Lewis.
Wolff's new book, The Final Club, is about Princeton students in the late 1950's. His memoir, The Duke of Deception, was about his father, who conned his way through his life and career. Wolff's brother is writer Tobias Wolff, who has his own childhood memoir, This Boy's Life.
Maceo Parker was a member of James Brown's horn section. Parker was hired along with his brother, but soon made a name for himself. His new album is a straightforward jazz record, called Roots Revisited.
