The Pixies “Indie Cindy” Pixiesmusic There are two ways to look at “Indie Cindy.” You can compare it to the other alt-rock albums being released today, or you can compare it to The Pixies, an iconic American band that last released an album 23 years ago. If you choose to
Read More →
April 23, 2014 by justin
in Sound Check
April 23, 2014 by justin
in Center Stage
‘Extremities’ raises questions of violence and victim blaming
Lately, downtown theater has broken through to a new level at the Social Club, but some of this year’s most exciting work took place out west. The Tallgrass Theater Company near Valley Junction has brought two radical challenges: “True West” was an edgy drama that alternated different actors in the
Read More →
April 23, 2014 by justin
in Sore Thumbs
‘KINECT SPORTS RIVALS’ (E10+) *** Microsoft Game Studios Xbox One A showcase for the Xbox One’s newest version of Kinect, “Sports Rivals” is a hodgepodge of different motion-controlled activities. As always, Kinect is an impressive piece of technology when it works, but in every collection of mini-games built for it,
Read More →
April 23, 2014 by justin
in The Sound
Children of the corn reunite
Read some of the out-of-town interviews with The Faint’s Todd Fink — and he’s recently done plenty of promoting of the band’s newest album, “Doom Abuse” — and you’ll quickly notice that they all start the same way: with a pleasant surprise that good music could come out of a
Read More →
April 23, 2014 by justin
in Your View
All I want to know is…
When does Terry Branstad go on television and talk about his dog “Checkers” and the Republican cloth coat? Bob Runge –Des Moines Gov’s hear no evil/see no evil response fails Branstad has stained the reputation of Iowa good government with the secret hush money payments scandal. He has failed
Read More →
April 23, 2014 by justin
in Film Review
Artificial intelligence by degree
“Transcendence” 3 stars Rated PG-13 119 minutes Drama Starring: Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Morgan Freeman In spite of its many and assorted plot-holes, “Transcendence” is a captivating sci-fi movie thanks to strong performances from a stable of reliable actors and a romantic hook at the heart of its high-concept trappings.
Read More →
April 23, 2014 by justin
in Food Dude
Eatery-A, the new star on Ingersoll
When I began writing about the Des Moines’ food scene in the 1980s, Ingersoll was dominated, west of Noah’s, by fast-food franchises and dive bars. A comeback began with the opening of Corner Café and accelerated with Zanzibar’s, Art House, Stam’s, Bistro Montage, Star Bar and Gusto. This week’s debut
Read More →
April 23, 2014 by justin
in News of the Weird
DOWN ON THE DEER FARM The billion-dollar deer-farming industry in America produces generations of bucks growing progressively larger racks of antlers mainly for eventual bragging rights by the so-called “hunters” who will pay large fees to kill them in fenced-in fields just so they can hang the grotesque antlers in
Read More →
April 23, 2014 by justin
in On the Move
Adding that Floral Touch
Floral Touch owner Nancy Nelson has been in business more than 20 years in Valley Junction. But she’s moved Floral Touch, a one-stop shop for silk flower arrangements, to Clive at 8421 University Blvd., Suite L. Nelson cut the ribbon at her new location during an April 17 open house.
Read More →
April 23, 2014 by justin
in Your Money
Paid for by taxpayers in… Des Moines.
Amount: $384.28 To: Menards – Des Moines For: The purchase of two scoop shovels, an electric water heater and 12 fire hose nozzles with grips. Amount: $89.98 To: Midwest Tape For: Purchase of two copies of the eighth season of “Psych” on DVD in widescreen for the Des Moines
Read More →