Catherine Halaby
Catherine Halaby
Recent Stories
Big Kids, foreign TV and radio influence Lil' Sis
"Tween" -- a youngster between the ages of 11 and 14 -- currently represents the most obnoxious commercial demographic since post-feminist chauvinism gave us "The Man Show." In other words, what is the world coming to? I need to preface this column by...
Canada: love-huggable, endemically bland (sorry, kids)
Welcome back me! Thanks, really, thanks, it's nice to be missed. I am indeed returned from foreign lands, having spent spring term delightfully ensconced in an Orientalist fantasy world known as the Western ex-pat experience in Fez, Morocco.
Home for Christmas? Make every day Thanksgiving -- Catherine does
Unless you're an Osbourne, the quirks of your family life don't get marketed as a sitcom to television audiences nationwide. Your father might indeed be a living reminder to never, ever down barbiturates with Jack Daniels, but your drunken rampages are...
Christina rhymes 'off' with 'off'
Uh oh. I think I might have some nice things to say about Christina Aguilera. It's not the butt floss in her video or the guitar-aided cleavage on the cover of Rolling Stone. The new Christina who was so cleverly mocked in an SNL "Making the Video"...
Fear not: You can hold your four horsemen
The Anaheim Angels' World Series victory probably seems like the 400th sign of the oncoming apocalypse to many of you (and rightly so). We see lots of these "horsemen" heralding certain doom for the near future. Examples: a Star Trek spinoff series...
Latest Stuart effort cold, unenergetic
Peter Stuart starts off his debut solo album with a cheerful bang. On "Take me Back" he is at once catchy and nostalgic, like a movie about high school. If he were a character in said teen flick, he'd be the sweet sidekick guy that has a big crush on...
'Voyage to India' blazes trails but lacks depth
Music
What you need to know about India.Arie's new album: the songs are catchy, the lyrics may beat you about the head with her message, and after the first five you'll realize all the songs sound pretty much the same, with a few notable exceptions.
Complex, profound: DuRuz's album engages
Music
It's very difficult to place James DuRuz's '03 music in a genre or category. It would be easy to say 'later Radiohead (Amnesiac) with some jazz experimentation and Tom Waits...perhaps?' Whatever it is DuRuz wishes to express on his second...
Monotone and gospel unite as R Kelly, Jay Z collaborate
Music
Hell hath frozen over. At least that's what R. Kelly and Jay-Z would have you believe. The soul singer and rapper have collaborated to produce The Best of Both Worlds, a full length album release that aims to present just that. Largely uninventive...
Relevant Liz Phair stands tall with raw lyrics
Music
In the tradition of under-appreciated female guitarists, most of you have probably never heard of Liz Phair. She lacks the cult following and folky lyrics of Ani DiFranco or the politicized agenda of Michelle Shocked. In influence, talent and hipness...