Read it!

James Dean The Mutant King
David Dalton
A Cappella Books, $25.95
In this detailed calendar of the life and death of James Dean, Dalton claims that Dean was not only both a star and anti-establishment figure, but that he was the first Pop Star - the first celebrity to be revered as a pop person. He may well be right, owing to the fame still attached to Dean almost 50 years after his tragic death.
- Gerry Young




TV North: Everything you wanted to know about Canadian television
By Peter Kenter with notes by Martin Levin
Whitecap Books, $29.95
Peter Kenter celebrates the history of prime time Canadian television with this authoritative guide to the best and worst of Canadian television. Many entries are accompanied by pithy, sometimes hilarious and often contradictory rants and raves from critics.


Wear it!

Retro is back in a big way thanks to Skechers 4 Wheelers. Combining roller skates with athletic shoes gives this old school style a fresh new look. Don't worry guys - a men's version is coming soon.

Time it!
Gearing up for the Olympics? The Roots Equipment Athletic Sports
Timer will keep you on track with all the timing functions a profes-
sional or recreational athlete could need. The watch, designed by the Cosmoda Corporation, has a start, stop and lap reset up to 1/100th
of a second. And for the non-sporting types among us, it tells time in
hours, minutes and seconds, as well as the day of the week and the
month. There is also an alarm and chime function to get you going
and keep you on schedule.


Hear it!

Ali
Interscope/Universal
This soundtrack for the biopic starring Will Smith can easily be described as smooth as silk - much like the man the film portrays. Especially fitting are R. Kelly cuts "The World's Greatest" and "Hold On," Al Green's "A Change Is Gonna Come," featuring Booker T. and the MGs, and Aretha Franklin's "Ain't No Way."



The Royal Tenenbaums
Hollywood/Universal
With original music by Mark Mothersburgh and tunes from The Velvet Underground, Nico, Bob Dylan, The Ramones and The Clash, you know the listener is in for a good time. Best cut of the bunch, though, is Nick Drake’s “Fly.”



Vanilla Sky
Reprise/Warner
Smart set featuring R.E.M., Radiohead, Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Todd Rundgren, Bob Dylan and Jeff Buckley, among others. Key cuts include McCartney's "Vanilla Sky," Josh Rouse's "Directions" and the late Jeff Buckley's "Last Goodbye."

- Gerry Young