By James Baggett
Read "On The Road: The Original Scroll," by Jack Kerouac. September marks the 50th anniversary of Kerouac's road narrative that defined the Beat generation of the 1950s and became a timeless cult classic for young travelers. To commemorate, Viking has published an unedited version of Kerouac's self-autobiographical novel that chronicles the adventures of friends Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty all over the U.S. and into Mexico. This unedited version includes all the writing of Kerouac's original 120-foot long scroll, written in 1951 on a typewriter in a three-week flurry.
Listen to Chamillionaire. This Houston rapper had a hit last year with "Ridin'," a collaboration with Krayzie Bone, that helped his major-label debut, "The Sound of Revenge," become so successful. His new album is "Ultimate Victory" and came out last Thursday. Interestingly, the rapper decided not to curse on the album, a change from the profane flows in his prior work. The new album features a host of guest rappers including Bun B and Lil Wayne, and features songs produced by Dr. Dre and Kanye West.
See Built to Spill at McMenamins Crystal Ballroom. This Boise, Idaho, based group looks to impress its fans in the Pacific Northwest by playing tonight and Friday night while supporting its 2006 album "You in Reverse." Known for blazing guitar riffs, catchy vocals and unpredictable variances in song timing and speed, Built to Spill promises to wow.
Watch "Shoot 'Em Up." This movie opens with a bang and never slows down. It begins when star Clive Owen delivers a woman's baby in the middle of a shootout and consequently protects the newborn from an army of gunmen. As his own past is slowly revealed and the forces behind the gunmen are unfolded, this movie keeps audiences wanting more and repeatedly gives it to them. Unlike most movies in this genre of bullets, blood and car chases, "Shoot 'Em Up" delivers a strong plot that keeps it from going the way of the typical action movie.
Rent "The Lives of Others" on DVD. Set in 1980s East Germany, the story follows Capt. Weisler, a wiretapping expert with the East German Secret Police (Stasi) through a gently funny and brilliant story about the power of government and the human condition.
As the captain monitors a couple, we see the life of a famous playwright and his actress lover through his spying. As he becomes mildly obsessed with the life of the playwright, he begins to question his own views of the socialist totalitarian state that he works to protect.
