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Music review: The Album (Teyana Taylor album)- Teyana Taylor

American singer Teyana Taylor debuted her new album in June.
Posted by Fred Steiner on Wednesday, July 22, 2020

The Album (Teyana Taylor album)- Teyana Taylor
American singer Teyana Taylor debuted her new album in June. 
Reviewed by Craig Hoffman
She stars in the VH1 reality television show Teyana and Iman, with her husband, NBA player Iman Shumpert. Taylor got an early start in the music business at age 15 as the choreographer on Beyoncé’s popular single, “Ring the Alarm.”

She is credited on this current work as a producer along with several others, including Timbaland and Kayne West. 

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Book review: Read this book and never look at a tree in the same old way again

This Pulitzer Prize winning novel will plant seeds long after it's over
Posted by Fred Steiner on Monday, July 20, 2020

Review by Robert McCool
Richard Powers' (Gain, The Goldbug Variations) 11th novel is titled “The Overstory”, ISBN 978393635522, and it displays his powerful storytelling in  his best effort to date.

Barbara Kingsolver (The Poison Bible; Unsheltered,a Novel) has called the book, “Monumental.... A gigantic fable of genuine truths.”

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Movie review: Almost Famous

When the credits roll it might make you want to take a stroll down your own memory lane for a time that made you laugh, cry, and taught you a lot about life
Posted by Fred Steiner on Saturday, July 11, 2020

Almost Famous
Will: So Russell, what do you love about music?
Russell: To begin with… everything.

ALMOST FAMOUS is the coming-of-age story of William Miller (PATRICK FUGIT), a 15-year old aspiring music journalist who goes on tour to cover an up-and-coming band for Rolling Stone magazine (note: Rolling Stone doesn’t know he’s 15). The film turns 20 years old this year, which is as good an excuse as any to pack up and hit the road with Stillwater.

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Music review: Pick Me Up Off The Floor - Norah Jones

The album is a testament to the creativity, style and musicianship
Posted by Fred Steiner on Thursday, July 9, 2020

Pick Me Up Off The Floor - Norah Jones
Reviewer: Craig Hoffman

American singer and songwriter Norah Jones is out with Pick Me Up Off The Floor. It’s her eighth album. Jones has won multiple music awards in her career including nine Grammys for her previous work. It is hard to believe that she has been pumping out amazing music for more than twenty years.

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Book reviews: NY Times best-selling author David Baldacci doesn't disappoint

Baldacci is a grandmaster of character building, and getting to know FBI agent Pine is a delight, leaving you turning pages
Posted by Fred Steiner on Friday, June 26, 2020

The Icon introduces our newest column of book reviews. Robert McCool of Ada is our reviewer.

Reviews by Robert McCool
Who says that summer reading has to be as bubbly and frothy as the foam on top of your iced latte? 

I find it better to immerse myself in a good story, like my toes being buried in warm beach sand. But with the current covid-19 restrictions on all of us I have to depend on curbside service from my local library, and recommendations from my favorite librarians. 

Which brings me to the point of these reviews on two books that I really enjoyed.

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Movie review: Just Mercy

The story is very powerful and the film is very effective. Have tissues on hand.
Posted by Fred Steiner on Thursday, June 25, 2020

Icon movie review "Just Mercy"
Reviewed by Wilson
JUST MERCY tells the story of civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson (MICHAEL B. JORDAN), who travels to Alabama fresh out of law school to defend a number of prisoners on death row. His most notable client Walter McMillian (JAMIE FOXX), who is on death row for a murder he did not commit. 

Stevenson’s investigation and defense of McMillian uncovers and exposes the corruption and racism that runs rampant through Monroe County’s justice system.

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