CD -- Feels: Our favorite indie-rock furries, Animal Collective, return with more songs that roost somewhere between acoustic world jams and bizarro electronic loops. Chants, childlike sing-alongs, and nature-boy philosophizing fill the Brooklyn collective's seventh album, an amalgamation of N.Y.C. noise and freak folk. Creature comforts, indeed.
BOOK -- Jinxed: Baseball Superstitions From Around the League: Just in time for the World Series comes this fascinating look at pregame rituals in the big leagues. Among them: Curt Schilling leaves a ticket at the gate for his deceased dad; Hall of Fame pitcher Big Ed Walsh had to lick every ball before he hurled it; and Cincinnati southpaw Rob Murphy had a penchant for wearing women's black silk panties on the mound. Backdoor slider just took on a brand-new meaning.
TV -- Man vs. Vegas: A few years ago, venture capitalist Daren Leverenz lost $3 million in Vegas. In this eight-episode series (premiering at 10 p.m. Friday on CMT), he's determined to win it back, one game of chance at a time. Along the way, he helps amateur gamblers beat the house, often getting them started with his own cash. One question: If he's so damn good, how'd he manage to lose $3 million in the first place?
MOVIE -- North Country: Yeah, it's pretty much Norma Rae set in Minnesota mining country. And, yeah, there are lots of I-am-woman-watch-me-excavate proclamations in this fact-based story of the events that led to the nation's first class-action sexual harassment suit. But Charlize Theron shines as the beleaguered heroine. Hopefully, she'll spare us the "You like me. You really like me" speech, come award time.
DVD -- The Wizard of Oz: Three-Disc Collector's Edition: One of the best movies of all time has never looked more fab -- the Emerald City is truly a splendid sight in this restored version of the 1939 classic about a tornado-swept girl and her quest down the Yellow Brick Road. Best among the tons of bonus material is a disc filled with five earlier Oz films, including a 1910 short, a 1933 cartoon, and a 1925 silent starring Oliver Hardy. Revisit the movie that inspired gay men everywhere to long for a pair of ruby slippers.
COURTESY FLUSH, PLEASE -- House of Wax: Remake-in-name-only of 1953 Vincent Price shocker follows a group of teens who get lost in the sticks. One by one, the pretty (and pretty vacant) kids are knocked off in this unimaginative horror flick (now out on DVD). Paris Hilton stars as a waxy, lifeless character -- a role she's undoubtedly familiar with.
