The James Logan Courier

By Glenn Gamboa
Newsday (MCT)

The push to turn 15-year-old Miley Cyrus into an adult verges on ridiculous these days. She's at that awkward age, where she's part kid and part adult and not really sure she wants to act as either all the time — a problem magnified by her superstar status and the current drought of big new talent — and, generally, she handles it all pretty well.

Her new album "Breakout" (Hollywood), however, captures her awkward in-betweenness and puts it on display. "Breakout" is supposed to be her debut as a "serious" artist, the album that shows she's ready to match up with the adults. Truth is, she's not.

Apple Computer Inc. (MCT)

Top 10 albums on iTunes Music Store for July 23:
1. "Breakout," Miley Cyrus
2. "Love on the Inside (Bonus Track Version)," Sugarland
3. "Mamma Mia! (The Movie Soundtrack)," Various Artists
4. "Viva la Vida," Coldplay
5. "Live from Paris," U2
6. "iTunes Live from Soho," Counting Crows
7. "The Dark Knight (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)," Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard
8. "One Day As a Lion – EP," One Day As a Lion
9. "Nas," Nas
10. "Tha Carter III," Lil Wayne

For more information, please visit the iTunes Web site at www.apple.com/itunes/.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

PopMatters.com (MCT)

Amy Ray talks the talk her lyrics fearlessly nail issues of violence, environmental issues and other pressing topics; her Indigo Girls concerts often serve as fundraisers for various deserving organizations. And she walks the walk as a human rights activist on many fronts, including co-founder of the human rights / environmental organization, Honor the Earth. While on a flight from New York to her hometown in Georgia, she penned these sometimes poignant, sometimes playful responses to "PopMatters 20 Questions."

Her third solo album, "Didn't It Feel Kinder," with Led Zeppelin, The Shins, and Judy Garland influences, releases August 5th on Daemon Records.

1. The latest book or movie that made you cry?
Actually, it's a song, "Top of The World" by Patty Griffin.

By Rick LaPlante, New Haven Schools Public Information Officer

Intent on maintaining continuity and assuring a smooth opening to the school year, the Board of Education tonight appointed David Pava as Interim Superintendent of the New Haven Unified School District, effective Sept. 1.

Mr. Pava, 59, who grew up in what became New Haven Unified and has spent more than 30 years as an educator in the District, will replace Dr. Pat Jaurequi, who has accepted an offer to become superintendent in another district. The Board of Education in her new district will vote formally to approve her hiring Thursday, but she will remain in New Haven through Aug. 31.