Jack Clement, "For Once and For All" (I.R.S. Nashville)   Jack Clement was a court jester who emphasized the joy and camaraderie of making music. A member of the Country Music Hall...

He was South Africa's last white president, overshadowed by Nelson Mandela when they plotted the historic transition to a multi-racial democracy for which both men won the Nobel Peace Prize in...

"The Bone Orchard" (Minotaur Books), by Paul Doiron   Mike Bowditch's recklessness and insubordination, along with his struggle with a series of personal tragedies, seemed to...

Drenge, "Drenge" (Infectious Music)   British rock duo Drenge's self-titled debut is pretty much perfect.   That's not a word critics of any kind should throw...

The high-concept comedies spawned by "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" need to start using birth control.   Judd Apatow's landmark film rightfully ushered in a new era in comedy, but it...

"Karachi, You're Killing Me!" (Random House India), by Sabaz Imtiaz   The blurb on the back of Saba Imtiaz's debut novel "Karachi, You're Killing Me!"...

Kitten, "Kitten" (Elektra)   The debut album from rising band Kitten will have you purring.   The Los Angeles-based group's self-titled release is full of synth pop...

There’s a lot more purging going on in this inevitable sequel to last summer’s surprise horror hit “The Purge.”   Expanding the parameters of the low-budget original...

"Hounded" (Minotaur), by David Rosenfelt   David Rosenfelt deftly works in wry humor, a love of dogs and New Jersey gangsters in "Hounded," his highly entertaining 12th...

For Eric Clapton, the early 1970s were filled with drug addiction, personal difficulties and growing dissatisfaction with music.   Singer-songwriter JJ Cale rescued him and gave him a...