Suzanne Vega Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles (Cooking Vinyl) ⋆⋆⋆ ⋆⋆⋆
The appealing sliver of ice in Suzanne Vega's voice has long distinguished her among alternative-folk singers, so it's perhaps unsurprising that her 1987 hit Tom's Diner has been sampled ad infinitum by the hip-hop fraternity. Now, finally, comes the switcheroo. On Don't Cork What You Can't Contain – a gripping, eastern strings-infused meditation on Pandora and other receptacle openers – Vega samples 50 Cent's Candy Shop. Listening to her first LP in seven years is a bit like twiddling the tuning dial on an old radio. There's gritty garage-pop, some lush orchestral moments and more of the highly literate folk for which Vega is best known. The album's esoteric-sounding title is not be feared. Turns out it's just a frame for story songs and parables, hence the rolling-folk opener Crack in the Wall warns against blind materialism and the raucous I Never Wear White finds Vega explaining why this is so. With a slew of heavyweight friends helping out (David Bowie's current rhythm section, Gail Ann Dorsey and Zachary Alford) the arrangements are as reliable as Vega's lyrics, but the album lacks a killer tune or two.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
The%20Specs
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now