Chris Azzopardi
Resurrection road
Lucinda Williams drives "West," her latest confessional opus, through a path paved in ditches and dead ends. She could've stalled. Instead, the musician cruises down a road resurfaced with optimism. "A lot of positive changes happened to me out [...]
Straight up - and down
There was a time when Paula Abdul rushed, rushed sonic shock waves through me. Her catchy and quasi-corny grooves became twirling anthems as I imitated double axles (and an occasional triple) on my roller blades in my best girlfriend's driveway, [...]
Will the real Xtina please stand up?
Christina Aguilera is joining the circus on her "Back to Basics Tour," which hits The Palace of Auburn Hills on April 9. But, really, isn't the powerful-piped diva a one-woman show? She's the Cher of pop music, undergoing as many professional [...]
Worth traveling 'West'
Toss the knives out the window. Lucinda Williams' ninth album swells with an escalating surplus of sadness as she mourns her mother's passing and a grinding break-up that could drive anyone over the edge. To some, the water rising motif won't be a [...]
Mika, Amy Winehouse go for gold in States
Mika "Life In Cartoon Motion" A- Available now Mika could be the most flamboyant musical act since the Scissor Sisters. Though he refuses to answer the million-dollar question (are you gay?), the traces of musical-esque seasoning on "Happy [...]
Hope hounds
"Dog Years" Mark Doty HarperCollins Mark Doty's dogs kept him going. Even as he was losing his partner, Wally Roberts, to AIDS, the author's golden and black retrievers lit a little light that guided him through his darkest days. "They demonstrated [...]
Gay-geared trivia game based on uncle
Homogenius $34.99 Ten percent of proceeds go to GLAAD. In June, the game will be discounted to $24.95 in recognition of Gay Pride Month. http://www.homogeniusthegame.com Uncle Chuck's closet became the muse for Homogenius – a tricky trivia [...]
Plants, yard accessories pop up at Royal Oak In Bloom
ROYAL OAK – After breakfast in bed or before being taken out to dinner, mothers can celebrate by picking out flowers, plants and yard art at the 14th annual Royal Oak in Bloom sale from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 13 in the city's Williams Street parking [...]
Reno' explodes with finger-licking fun
"Reno 911!" 10:30 p.m. April 1 Comedy Central As if the Reno Sheriff's Department needed another distraction. The season premiere of "Reno 911!" boasts a sponsorship from, get this, Hooters-like chicks. Clad in ass-tight, bright pink hot pants the [...]
A born star
As a former New York bartender, Swati learned something from watching bands fumble through cringe-worthy performances. She realized what to avoid. Each night she witnessed lead singers trying to soar, but often stumbling, over a too-ambitious octave [...]
Karate kids
Micaela Kingslight's crossed-eyes make it difficult to avoid stumbling into the microphone stand. But when she's jamming alongside a drummer with a compulsive twitch, a bass player with a hangnail and a multiple personality keyboardist, she can't [...]