reviews
BOOK: Jan Burke, The Messengers
Despite a lot of positive hype and customer reviews, I must tell you the truth, Jan Burke's The Messengers is hardly the "supernatural romantic thriller" readers may have previously read. Are there elements of the supernatural and romance? Yes. Are there many thrills? No.
Many of us have finished Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series and are suffering supernatural love withdrawal. For some, The Messengers might cut it. A wounded captain left for死 at the battle of Waterloo. Tyler Hawthorne accepts a magical ring that renders him immortal and grants him the power to live. In exchange, he must communicate the almost-dead's final wishes to those left behind. Fast-forward 200 years and meet the wealthy, if haunted, Amanda Clarke.
Neighbor to the mysterious Hawthorne, Clarke quickly becomes drawn into Hawthorne's shadowy world as her terminally ill best friend and a series of catastrophes force them together. Battling against Hawthorne's old enemy, the previous owner of his ring, Clarke and Hawthorne become inseparable in ways readers may predict. Add some fluffy, anthropomorphized canines, the token henchmen and some snobby millionaire
relatives and you've got this 305-page novel.
Pages of seemingly uninterrupted dialogue left me tired and confused. Though bestseller Burke is touted for her superb characterization, the characters' vague motivations may leave readers wanting more.
Meghan Nuckolls
MUSIC:Derek Trucks Band,Already Free
At age 12, Derek Trucks was touring with the Allman Brothers Band. Nearly two decades later, the slide guitar child prodigy has grown into one of our generation's best guitarists and is the driving force behind the Derek Trucks Band.
For the group's sixth studio album, Trucks and company wanted to get back to their roots with a more homegrown sound. To do so, they recorded Already Free at Trucks' home studio in Jacksonville, Florida. With a sound similar to The Black Crowes and Widespread Panic, the DTB manages to create its own unique blend of blues, rock and jam-oriented music on Already Free.
The album's opening track features a soulful cover of Bob Dylan's "Down in the Flood."
A smooth, fingerpicked acoustic guitar begins the tune, as Trucks' tawny slide guitar comes in powerfully. The deep and raspy voice of lead vocalist Mike Mattison flows nicely over Trucks' melodic guitar work throughout the tune. Several spectacular guitar solos are sprinkled over the track and set the tone for the rest of the album.
"Sweet Inspiration" is another great tune with a catchy and rhythmic guitar riff that will make everyone tap their feet to the music. Also excellent are the guest vocals by Trucks' wife Susan Tedeschi on "Back Where I Started.' Tranquil, yet expressive, Tedeschi's voice is beautiful with Trucks' mellow acoustic guitar.
"I Know" is a bluesy gem with some excellent rhythm guitar and great steel pedal work. Mattison's vocals are featured, highlighted by Trucks' complementing guitar solos.
Overall the album is excellent Music fans in search of the next Jerry Garcia or Jimmy Hendrix, look no further. Derek Trucks has made a lasting impression on the music world with his latest release, Already Free.
— Danny Nordstrom
16
January 22, 2009