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Hark!
Looking for some x-cellent x-mas tunes? Look no further. [2]
Michael Henningsen

Broadcast Time Bomb
Web broadcasting is finally coming of age. [3]
Frank Beacham

Small Change
Shania Twain and Mindy McCready are waving a new feminist banner over Music Row. Yeah, right. [4]
Beverly Keel

Minty-Fresh Web
One more reason to fear the Internet: Mentos is out there and they're coming for you. [5]
Bill Frost

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Sea Chantey-Town
Just like James Joyce had his Dublin, Mike Watt has San Pedro. [6]
Roni Sarig

Relaxed Vibes
Catching up with jazz legends Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. [7]
Ron Wynn

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Mood Food
Rhino's six-CD set "Beg, Scream & Shout: The Big Ol' Box of '60s Soul" is more fun that any other classic pop anthology. [8]
Tristram Lozaw

Brotherly Love
A compilation CD harvests the best Philly soul from writers/producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. [9]
Stephanie Zacharek

From the 'Hood
Rhino's three-CD collection "Brown-Eyed Soul: The Sound of East L.A.," offers 48 songs representing the taste of three generations of Mexican-Americans. [10]
Michael Freedberg

Bush League
Bush's "Deconstructed" doesn't work as rock, it doesn't work as dance music, and it especially doesn't work as remixes. [11]
Douglas Wolk

From the Heart
Imagine getting your driver's license and the keys to a '76 Corvette on the same day. That's the kind of introduction to soul music that "No.1 Soul Hits of the '60s" provides. [12]
Ted Drozdowski

Fa la la la la, whatever. I hate Christmas music. Other than "A Very Brady Christmas" and that song where the dogs bark "Jingle Bells," I think all Christmas albums should be used as fireplace kindling. And if I have to listen to another second of that maudlin Mannheim Steamroller holiday album my parents play every year, I'm going to kill an elf. Fortunately, salvation is around the corner in the form of this article about bearable Christmas CDs. Whew. (If you're in the mood for even more holiday cheer, head over to the Arts section for some splendid shopping suggestions.)

Let's see, what else... Oh yeah, this is the Internet, right? And you like music, right? And the Internet and music ought to be partners, right? Then let me give you some advice: read this article if you want to feel good, and this article if you want to feel bad. That's all I'm going to say on that. Otherwise, enjoy this here Music section, and be sure to read all the album reviews of collections and rereleases and, um, Bush. Bye now!

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Boston Phoenix CD Reviews

• Bentley Rhythm Ace
• Anson Funderburgh and Sam Myers
• KMFDM
• Patty Larkin
• Master P
• John McLaughlin
• The Slackers
• Spice Girls
• Subrosa

Turn Up That Noise!

• Jackie Terrasson & Cassandra Wilson
• Yes

Record Reviews

• Dee Dee Bridgewater
• The Delta 72
• David Garza
• Half Japanese
• Butch Hancock
• Kronos Quartet
• The Pixies
• Salt 'N' Pepa

Tiny Tunes

• Spice Girls
• Various - Lounge-A-Palooza

Now What?
If you go gaga over the sultry smoothness of a symphonic glissando, just wait till you experience our transitions to cool and useful music links on the Web. [17]

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