|
|
|
|
|
|
Best Week Ever
|
Saturday, 13 September 2008 |
 (ED NOTE: "Soundtrack" is a new recurring feature in which we tell you more about the music heard in each episode of Best Week Ever. This week, we're talkin' about Partie Traumatic, the debut album from the adorable indie rock band Black Kids.)
Black Kids originate from Jacksonville, Florida, and no, they're not all black kids. Well, on the outside at least. I cannot vouch for what's in their hearts. Anyway, the band formed in 2006 and they have been following the fast track to success since. After making a big splash at CMJ Marathon 2007, they were profiled in The New York Times, Rolling Stone called them an "Artist To Watch" in November 2007, and their debut album, Partie Traumatic, was released in July 2008. Now, I'm writing about them, which basically means they've MADE IT!!! And, they have the coolest names: Reggie Youngblood, Owen Holmes, Kevin Snow  (is he related to the genius behind Informer?), Dawn Watley (also related to a genius?), and Reggie's sister Ali Youngblood. And can we just talk briefly about this amazing picture on the album cover, of the band wearing white bunny ears and horns and stuff? Ali, the one wearing the unicorn horn, TOTALLY looks like scary girl from Japanese version of The Ring (the original, called Ringu, with one scary eye peeping out from her hair?). Still cute though.
Read about their actual music, and what I have to say to Pitchfork's review of their album, after the jump!
 Okay, so about the music: the immediate comparison made by a lot of people is that they sound a lot like The Cure. So if you like The Cure (but not obsessively, because we all know that obsessed fans are incapable of liking anyone else), you will enjoy the Kids. They're like The Cure with less whine, a dash of funk, and cute girly backup vocals (I guess the way to put it is: if you're a fan of C.S.S. + The Cure - you will LOVE this band!). For me, anything with an undercurrent of synthesizers pretty much melts my heart (I particularly love the single "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You," see video below), but there are also some pretty solid rock tracks as well, such as "Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo)." My favorite track is "I'm Making Eyes At You" which would work perfectly during the "falling in love and driving by the seaside in a convertible" scene from my upcoming film starring me and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.*
*Premiering this Christmas, in the imaginary movie theatre in my mind!
Even though my taste is IMPECCABLE, Black Kids have not escaped the wrath of certain critics. Pitchfork Media gave Partie Traumatic a 3.3 and posted a picture of two adorable pug puppies instead of a written review:
Why? BECAUSE P-FORK IS JUST SOOOOO CLEVER. Apparently the pug picture was an "apology" to their readership for previously hyping the band. Um, well, Pitchfork, last time I checked, the Kids are doing JUST FINE without your stupid numbers and reviews. And even though I certainly am no expert in music, I don't need your uppity reviews to decide what music I like. Also, I've written a review of Pitchfork's review:
Aaaaanyway, I recommend checking Black Kids out - add some to your next party mix, play for a lady/man friend of yours, or nonchalantly flash them playing on your iPod in plain view of that cute hipster next to you on the train...you won't be sorry.
Black Kids Myspace
Black Kids Website
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Friday, 12 September 2008 |
 |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Friday, 12 September 2008 |
Yesterday marked the 7th Anniversary of one of the nation's greatest tragedy's, September 11. And in years past, I've usually taken 9/11 as a day to remain low key, humble, go to the office and head home afterwards. It's just not the kind of day that inspires one to party in New York and spend a night on the town.
But when a friend called me up at the last minute, telling me he had two tickets to see a Broadway show, well... I just couldn't turn him down. Even though my Mother always told me that singing and light tapping while people are in mourning is considered "uncouth", lord also knows I love a free show. Which is how, on September 11, 2008, I spent my evening...
At Legally Blonde: The Musical.
(If it helps, I was wearing black... it doesn't, I know.)
The strangest thing? I HAD A GREAT TIME. That's the true insult. (No, really, the show is great. No, I know you don't believe... frankly, I sort of don't believe me. But it's surprisingly irreverent!)
Up ahead, find out which American Idol contestant we caught giving autographs!
After the tragic festivities ended, we headed West for dinner and drinks... where we saw a commotion outside of the Grease backdoor. I elbowed a few teenagers out of the way to discover American Idol rejectee with a posh bob Ace Young signing autographs. Here is a blurry rendering of said event:
Turns out... he's playing Kenekie!
Ace seemed like a very nice young man, but we noticed that he autographed people's Playbills with the date and his name, so that they read "9/11/08 Ace Young". Which makes one wonder... does he autograph the programs each evening with the date of the show? In which case, perhaps he should have refrained from that practice on 9/11? Or was that his little Sharpie tribute to our national tragedy? Who knew Ace Young would inspire so many questions?
Finally, we ended our night on a rooftop in Hell's Kitchen, an appropriately named part of town that features what restaurants will look like in hell. It was here that I wanted to capture the mood of the skyline, replete with the two spotlights pointing towards the sky where the Twin Towers once stood.
And without realizing it... I actually captured possibly the most moving Stella Artois ad of all time:
I don't even like beer, and I love this photo. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Friday, 12 September 2008 |
Happy Friday everybody!!! Good luck sleeping!
(Gettyimages, via Socialitelife) |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Friday, 12 September 2008 |
|
This is what happens when athletes get endorsement deals that make absolutely NO sense. What do Shawn Johnson, Paul Hamm, and Morgan Hamm have in common? Not being Olympic gymnasts, not having chipmunk voices...no, it's GREAT TASTE! This Ortega Taco Sauce makes Shawn Johnson's taco really POP!
(via Buzzfeed) |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Friday, 12 September 2008 |
 |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Friday, 12 September 2008 |
 When I was 5 years old, I had a dream for adulthood, I dreamed that I would grow up to be a ventriloquist who owned a pet shop. Then, at around 13, it dawned on me that ventriloquist's were f*cking terrifying. (And thanks to Oprah, so are pet shops.) This sentiment was only further justified on this morning's episode of Rachael Ray, where the show had it's very own America's Got Talent segment, replete with guest judge Jerry Springer. The show welcomed April, a lippy young blonde with a muppet on her arm. In the following segment, April teaches the world a very important lesson: If you have terrible comedic timing, never EVER make a Scott Peterson joke on morning television.
Because you know when Jerry Springer buzzes you off the stage for being too tasteless, you've got real problems on your felt hands.
UPDATE: One of the BWE writers just sent this to me: "I did a show once with that girl at Beauty Bar, she stripped down to her bra and panties onstage." So there's that. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Friday, 12 September 2008 |
I love the Outer Banks, but some of the places to eat down here try to attract customers by outright offending them. I guess they figure that you're on vacation and you've decided to leave all sense of decency and politeness at home! And they would be right. I'M DRUNK ON ZANY IRREVERENCE! WAAAHOOOOO!!!
DIRTY DICKS' CRAB HOUSE
BOB'S GRILL
My favorite, after the jump.
TRY MY NUTS
I'm totally opening an all-you-can-eat salad bar joint called TOSSED SALADS! It's so good, you'll be lickin' the rim of your bowl!
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Friday, 12 September 2008 |
|
A friend just sent this music video of sorts along to me, and I gotta admit: Jesus sounds like a pretty awesome friend. And "Jesus Is My Friend" sounds like a pretty awesome song. No, really, it's addictive, and my new official Autumn Jam of '09. One listen, and you won't be able to get it out of your head.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Friday, 12 September 2008 |
According to EW.com, Lost has added two more cast members for the upcoming season -- Saïd Taghmaoui, who will play "Caesar", and Zuleikha Robinson, who will play "Ilana". Executive producer Damon Lindelof wouldn't comment specifically about their roles, but he did mention that the characters would play "an important part of the setup for the final act of the show in season 6."
Because we're a bunch of shameless whores when it comes to Lost, we're not going to sit idly by without wildly speculating about how these two characters are going to factor into the show's eventual conclusion. Here are five possible roles for the two new cast members that would tie up a few of the show's thousand loose ends:
1. Caesar and Ilana are Polar Bears
Caesar and Ilana come out of their polar bear suits and reveal themselves as secret agents working for Charles Widmore. Desmond proclaims "Wait -- so you're unstuck in time too?" Caesar says "Yup, you got it." Abrupt cut to Lost titler.
2. Jack and Kate were really Caesar and Ilana the whole time
Jack and Kate each dramatically remove their masks and Mission Impossible-style voice-changing thingies, and reveal that they were these other people the whole time. They both agree this is surprising. Abrupt cut to Lost titler.
3. Caesar and Ilana are Olde Timey Hunters looking for the Smoke Monster
Caesar cries "By Jove, there it is!" and nails the smoke monster with buckshot. The smoke monster falls to the ground, dead. Ben says directly into the camera "I guess we'll never know what it was or where it came from." He stares into the camera silently for ten more seconds. Cut to Lost titler.
4. The Deus Ex Machina ending
Caesar and Ilana are Gods who descend from the sky on wires suspended from a wooden scaffold, explain each character's human faults, then snap their fingers and everyone ends up back on the mainland, each having learned a valuable lesson about morality. Except Sawyer. Slow fade into Lost titler.
5. It Was All A Dream
Ceasar just fell asleep with his island-themed sleep mask on, wakes up, explains the story to his girlfriend Ilana, she says "a lot of that doesn't make any sense," he replies, "I know -- weird, right?" and they both have breakfast and get on with the rest of their lives. The show moves to CBS and becomes a wacky comedy about the trials and tribulations of everyday life. Miles Straume guest stars as the wacky neighbor. |
|
Read more...
|
|
| << Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next > End >>
| | Results 1 - 10 of 1316 |
|
| |
|
|
|
