VARIOUS ARTISTS: NINE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK (GEFFEN) *** The movie (which opened here last week) is getting so-so reviews, but the soundtrack - featuring vocals by the musical's star-studded cast that includes Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson and Marion Cotillard - is sheer fun. No surprise Day-Lewis (who plays a Federico Fellini-like director in the film) can sing, because what can't he do? Cruz (as the mistress) is reasonable sultry on "A Call From the Vatican" and Cotillard (as the wife) is sadly beautiful on "My Husband Makes Movies." The disc also contains Kate Hudson's Golden Globe-nominated turn on "Cinema Italiano." ...more

January 1, 2010

Even those among us who love to shop will start running out of steam and ideas at some point this month. ...more

December 6, 2009

WHITE DENIM: FITS (DOWNTOWN) *** There's all over the place and then there's all over the place with GPS. "Fits" starts out in a post-punk alleyway and glides through breezy pop and white soul among other stops on its 12-song journey. ...more

October 29, 2009

MODERN SKIRTS: ALL OF US IN OUR NIGHT (MODERN SKIRTS) **½ This sophomore effort from Athens, Ga.-based Modern Skirts is promising for the first five tracks, at which point things suddenly turn less-than-inspired. But what a promising first five tracks. "Chanel" opens the disc with a nice hook (located in the verse, no less) and an easy groove worthy of a 1973 AM radio hit. That's followed by "Soft Petals," an atmospheric gem awash with various electronic keyboard elements that provide the disc's finest moment, peaking with a giddy minute of overlapping vocals. ...more

January 22, 2009

Epiphany is a perfect time to visit Tarpon Springs and soak up Greek culture like a sponge. ...more

January 2, 2009

Hollywood bestows a bumper crop on movie fans this weekend. ...more

December 24, 2008

Most overrated Bond: Roger Moore, although he was funny. Of course, by the time "Moonraker" (1979) came out, he was kind of unintentionally funny. ...more

November 13, 2008

"The Forgery of Venus," by Michael Gruber (William Morrow, $25) ...more

May 25, 2008

The best thing about being a book editor: the hundreds of new books that arrive in the mail every week. ...more

January 27, 2008

This year, the Tribune had two book editors. Kevin Walker held the job until September, when Karen Haymon Long took over. ...more

December 29, 2007