Tuesday, May 21, 2013

My Shame is True


My Shame is True
by Alkaline Trio
Sycamore Public Library call number: CD ROCK/POP ALKALINE MY

Alkaline Trio's eighth studio album--tenth overall--is both a continuation of what makes them terrific and a launch of something newly wonderful, confident and unique. It is true to their punk roots. However, there is also an undeniably open, accessible sound that makes this a great disc for first-time listeners.

"For a journeyman punk-pop band like Alkaline Trio, who have been making melodic, angst-ridden, infectious rock since the late '90s, the band's 2013 album, My Shame Is True, is something of a revelation. Primarily, that revelation is that a band whose songcraft and musicianship might easily have plateaued by now is still bounding ever upward. To put it simply, this album is bonkers good. ... It's as if Alkaline Trio have packed over a decade's worth of experience, passion, and heartache into one disc, and in the process, figured out a way to balance the sprawling, open-wound emotionality of their early punk albums with their mid-career discovery of pristine songwriting craftsmanship."--Matt Collar, Allmusic.com

There are a couple of standout tracks, "Kiss You To Death" and "Until Death Do Us Part". Highly recommended for fans of the band and anyone who likes thinking lyrics in music that rocks.

REVIEWED BY: Amy
AGE GROUP: Adult
CLASS: Music (Rock)

Rating: A

Monday, May 20, 2013

Death Comes to Pemberley

Death Comes to Pemberley
by P.D. James
Sycamore Public Library call number: MYS FIC JAM
in large type--LP FIC JAM
on disc--CD FIC JAM
 

Tell us about it: This book is a mystery. Pemberley is THE estate of Mr. Darcy--THE Mr. Darcy of Austen fame. On the night of the ball held on the estate, someone is killed. Thus the story begins....

Why did you pick it up? I picked it up because I like the author. Also because it is being promoted as the sequel to Pride and Prejudice, so I HAD to check it out.

  • “The greatest pleasure of this novel is its unforced, effortless, effective voice . . . Not infrequently...one succumbs to the impression that it is Austen herself at the keyboard.”--The New York Times Book Review
  • “A pleasing and agreeable sequel . . . Historical mystery buffs and Jane Austen fans alike will welcome this homage . . . Attentive readers will eagerly seek out clues to the delightfully complex mystery, which involves many hidden motives and dark secrets.”--Publishers Weekly

Would you recommend this? Why or why not? Would MOST definitely recommend it. It is great fast read.

Name: Megan
Age group: Adult
Classification: Fiction (Mystery)

Rating: A+++

Friday, May 17, 2013

Underwater Welder


Underwater Welder
by Jeff Lemire
Sycamore Public Library call number:
GRAPHIC UNDERWATER LEM

Tell us about it: Jack is married, with a baby soon to arrive. To say that he is ambivalent, though, is an understatement. The underwater welder after whom the book gains its title, he works on an offshore rig near his hometown in Nova Scotia. Jack seems to find it difficult to relate to people, even as one can see his affection for his wife and child; he is simply more at home beneath the water. When he goes through a surreal experience down there, his uncertainty will either be clarified or rendered moot.

Why did you pick it up? The art was what struck me first. Though I am not a regular graphic novel reader, now and then one will jump out and grab me, and this one definitely did. The pictures are gorgeous and the story is engrossing, melancholy, beautiful, and totally rewarding.

Would you recommend this? Why or why not? Jeff Lemire created a wonderfully inventive world here, both on land and in the ocean, and I was sad to leave it after the final page was turned. I loved Underwater Welder, which reminded me a great deal of Blue Pills (reviewed here).

Age Group: Adult
Classification: Fiction (graphic novel)
Reviewed by: Amy

Grade: A+

Thursday, May 16, 2013

AARP Genealogy Online


AARP Genealogy Online
by Matthew Helm
Sycamore Public Library call number: LP 929.1 HEL

Tell us about it: If you've ever wanted to search your family tree to prove that family legend true, but would pick up a small-print book to do it, this AARP Genealogy Online is perfect for you.

This book will guide you step by step to starting your tree and using all the online sources.

There are great pictures to show you what the web page should look like and what you need to do on that page.

This is Genealogy 101 in Large Print thanks to AARP.

Why did you pick it up? As a genealogist, I like to read the new publications to see if there is some item or website I've missed in my search.

This Large Print version covered everything a beginner should start with and websites that should be added to their Favorites tab.

Would you recommend this? Why or why not? AARP Genealogy Online is a great guide for starting your family tree, whether or not you read large print.

The screen captures of websites, the clear instructions on where to click and how to word search terms are excellent.

This book will help anyone wishing to trace their family history.

Name: Katie D.
Age group: Adult
Classification: Nonfiction (genealogy)

Rating: 4 Stars

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Ghost Reveries


Ghost Reveries
by Opeth
Sycamore Public Library call number:
CD HEAVY METAL OPETH GHOST

Tell us about it: Opeth has seen a steady evolution in their sound since their debut Orchid in 1995. Said album being a relatively violent (albeit poorly-mixed) death metal album with black metal influence, each album after would begin to include more and more clean vocals, psychedelic influence, progressive influence, less death metal and more melody, eventually all coming together and reaching a recently done prog. rock sound that had been established on 2011's Heritage. There were two albums that had flagged this coming new sound; Ghost Reveries, released in 2005, and Watershed, released in 2008--Ghost Reveries being the more death metal-esque and popular among long-term fans of the two albums.

So, first off, the sound done on the previous album to be released before this, Damnation (a sound similar to Heritage, containing no death metal influence and going for a much more prog. rock style) is abandoned in place of a softer version of the style done on the album Deliverence, an album considered to be one of the band's heaviest and most violent. This album embraces a lot of styles done by the prog. rock bands of the 70's. Many riffs, drums patterns, and vocal styles as well as the heavier use of organ and keyboards showcase this.

Starting off with what has always been my favorite aspect about Opeth's music: the vocals. Mikael Akerfeldt is an awesome vocalist and I have yet to get tired of either his fluidy death growls or his very gothic-esque clean singing. While his growls keep the same tone of aggression that has always worked for this band, his clean vocals have improved vastly. On the previous album, Damnation, Mikael had put much more emotion into his voice, something very clear when you compare it to the somewhat pale clean vocals of some previous albums. Here, he builds upon that further and adds much more sorrow and depression to his singing, making for genuinely heartfelt-sounding singing. The vocals on the song "Hours of Wealth" have some very powerful depressed emotion behind them.

Next comes the guitars. Repetition is a staple of Opeth's style. Riffs are often repeated for minutes on end (remember that the typical song length is between seven and ten minutes) so naturally songs end up being longer and more drawn-out--not something that bothers me, since most songs tend to keep from getting boring. "The Baying of the Hounds" is the second longest track on the album, yet it is my favorite. And of course there is the style done in melodic yet violent death metal, broken into sections by various acoustic interludes and periods of clean singing, making the songs sound varied, which also helps them from getting boring. Two songs don't sit well with me. The first is "Reverie - Harlequin Forest". Although I overall do like this song, I feel like there just isn't enough beef in it to justify its length (it clocks in at 11:39). It goes on longer than seems appropriate. The other song, though, "Atonement," has nothing redeeming about it. The song feels like a complete filler track, and when it comes to Opeth, ''filler track'' is not a term that is not usually associated with this band. There is little to nothing about the song that is very interesting, just starts off and repeats for most of it, and just kind of ends. Nothing remotely interesting or engrossing about the whole song, by far the worst on the album.

Last, we have the drums. This is the final album to have long-time drummer Martin Lopez, who left the band a year later for mental health reasons. His style has changed a lot over the years. Don't go into this expecting the pummeling violence of My Arms, Your Hearse or Damnation. Like in everything else, the power is reduced, favoring instead a more melodic and slower sound, but it still holds a good deal of force behind them.

In closing, did I like this album? Yes. Yes, quite a bit. I would be lying if I said it's their best (that title goes to My Arms, Your Hearse and Blackwater Park), but it's definitely a great album. Great sense of emotion and force behind the whole thing.

Why did you pick it up? Random selection

Would you recommend this? Why or why not? Definitely. I would even say that this might be a good gateway album for someone who is new to this band, and it creates a good mix of their softer and heavier side.

Name: Tony
Age group: Adult

Rating: 9/10
Other Comments: Recommended songs: "The Baying of the Hounds", "Ghost of Perdition", "Hours of Wealth", "The Grand Conjuration"

Thursday, April 25, 2013

The Windham series: The Duke's Obsession trilogy


The Heir
The Soldier
The Virtuoso

by Grace Burrowes
Sycamore Public Library call number: ROM FIC BUR
available as ebooks (and as a 3-in-one 'bundle') via OMNI Libraries

Three very good books in series by Grace Burrowes, a skilled author who is becoming one to watch. These must be read in order to get the full value of each book.

  • The Heir: The first book, for the Gayle Windham, Earl of Westhaven, the Duke of Moreland's heir. Frustrated with his father's meddling in his marital status, he chooses to stay in London while the rest of his family and friends leave for the country. Without the distractions that the ton provides, he has the chance to get to know Anna, his lovely and mysterious housekeeper. Romance ensues.
    As their affections grow, Westhaven believes he's found a candidate for marriage who would please him and satisfy his father, but Anna refuses Westhaven's proposal. Her hidden background contains ugly obligations, and she's determined to keep outrunning them even as he tries to change her mind. Burrowes turns familiar tropes into a refreshing and captivating love story that will have readers eagerly awaiting the planned sequels.--Publishers Weekly *Starred Review*

    Burrowes’ outstanding debut is a witty, sensual, Regency romance featuring complex characters who ring true to the time period, leaving readers saying huzzah!--Patty Engelmann, Booklist
  • The Soldier: The second book is actually about the firstborn son of the Duke, before he was married to Esther, the Duchess. Colonel Devlin St. Just came back from the war against Napoleon battered but not beaten, and was rewarded for his bravery with an earldom which included an estate. Upon arrival at his new, isolated home, he discovers that it is also occupied by the former owner's illegitimate daughter and her lovely and mysterious aunt Emmaline. Romance ensues.
    Burrowes's straightforward, sensual love story is intelligent and tender, rising above the crowd with deft dialogue and delightful characters.--Publishers Weekly 
  • The Virtuoso: The final book in The Duke's Obsession series is about the youngest son, Lord Valentine. Always glib and playful, Val is a pianist and composer hiding a desperate secret: having injured his hand, he must stop playing. Faced with the need to make a new life for himself, he sets to the goal of restoring an estate he won in a card game. Ellen, his lovely and mysterious neighbor, complicates both the renovation and his state of mind. Danger threatens; romance ensues.
    Though the chemistry isn’t volcanic and the mystery’s solution is overly foreshadowed, Burrowes’s exceptional writing and originality catch the reader and keep the story moving.--Publishers Weekly

The Heir is an excellent launch to a series, particularly one that is either three books or ten books long, depending upon how you look at it. The Soldier has a very serious tone and is definitely not the average romance. It was my favorite of these three books (which is saying something!) and stuck with me long after I turned the last page. The Virtuoso reveals a depth to a character that had appeared to be somewhat superficial in the prior entries, justifying the affection the reader develops for him. In addition, these books provide an excellent launch position for the rest of the family members' stories without requiring that they be read to feel a sense of completion.

The Windham series continues with the sisters' stories, in "The Duke's Daughters" sub-series, which are read in the following order:
  1. Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish
  2. Lady Maggie's Secret Scandal
  3. Lady Louisa's Christmas Knight
  4. Lady Eve's Indiscretion
  5. Lady Jenny's Christmas Portrait (forthcoming)
In addition, there are two supplemental books in the Windham series which can be read (in this order) at any time, which are The Duke and his Duchess sub-series:
  • The Courtship
  • The Duke and His Duchess
Reviewed by: Grace
Age Group: Adult
Class: Fiction (romance, series)

Rating: A

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

New Music at Sycamore Public Library

Below are some of our music CDs acquired within the past few weeks.

COUNTRY
Based on a True Story by Blake Shelton
In the Ranch by Keith Urban
In Time by the Mavericks
Just Feels Good by Thompson Square

EASY LISTENING
Mythology by Celtic Thunder
Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai, Vol. 4 by Kitaro

HEAVY METAL
Connection by Papa Roach

HIP HOP/R&B
I Am Not a Human Being II by Lil Wayne

JAZZ/BLUES
8 Classic Albums by Stan Kenton

OTHER
Beyond the Pale by Jim Gaffigan
Class Clown by George Carlin
Greatest Hits by Dane Cook

ROCK/POP
8 Classic Albums by Elvis Presley
Almeria by Lifehouse
Chasing Daylight by Sister Hazel
Clouds Taste Metallic by Flaming Lips
Everyday by Dave Matthews Band
Have a Nice Day Super Hits of the '70s v. 18
Live 2 by Avett Brothers
Living in the Past by Jethro Tull
My Shame is True by Alkaline Trio
Permanent Waves by Rush
Presto by Rush
Rio by Duran Duran
Snakes & Arrows by Rush
State by Nickelback
Thick as a Brick by Jethro Tull
Warriors Code by Dropkick Murphys
Workbook by Bob Mould

STAGE/SCREEN
Girls Soundtrack Volume 1
Glee: The Music presents The Warblers

If you would like to check out these or any other compact discs, browse our music collection at the top of the stairs. Talk to an Adult Services staff member for assistance in placing a hold for a specific title.