No this is not how I will spend my weekend: watching vampire theme movies (Bram Stoker's Dracula, one of my many favs) nor, waiting in some cave for bats to come and bite. This is about a band from NY, NY. I myself would call it "polite punk"... if there is such a thing.
Vampire Weekend - Campus Poor quality video and sound... but you feel the good vibe
"Vampire Weekend’s not what you’d expect from New York rock. That’s part of the point. Hear it in groups like Dirty Projectors, Animal Collective, and High Places—the city’s best independent bands are less and less serious (Interpol), less fashion conscious (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), less hatefully avant-garde (Liars) and, crucially, less concerned with rock’s rhythmic predictability (the Strokes). No terrible beauties being born, no purple verse rising up from the cracks in concrete." Last Plane to Jakarta
ALL FOUR SONGS ARE A MUST LISTEN IN THEIRMySpace, especially A-Punk (my fav) and for you always grammatically correct scholars, listen to "Oxford Comma".
I’m not sure why I’m writing about this just yet, sometimes I like to think of myself as Alejandro González Iñárritu[1]. As my write-as-I-discover seems more gratifying to me, I never know where some of my posts will take me. At times I have an idea before I sit in front of my monitor and listen to my favorite satellite radio station[2] (playing Belle & Sebastian’sDirty Dream Number Two). Music is indeed my inspiration for all things that matter to me and all things that matter to me eventually will evolve in some soundtrack chosen by yours truly as I drive, jog, read… and yes work and sometimes waltzing off when the conversation just seems to go nowhere. But I digress; let me start on the subject on hand…
Though I myself I’m not a smoker, but at the same time I’m not oppose to other people blowing a cloud, today I find myself pondering this needy habit. I really don’t have a lot of friends and families jump starting one another’s boggys. I do have co-workers and acquainted personalities that would probably, if giving the time, become good amigos. To them and others I now will officially vouch for the book The Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr. I know I know… if I don’t smoke… why have I chosen to commend so called self-help book? Like I said, I’m not sure yet. (Satellite radio playing Vampire Weekend’s A Punk)
As much as I find it sexy-cool to see someone with a ciggie in hand[3], especially if you're Mia Wallace, Kate Moss or Rita Hayworth[4], plus have the correct perfume that is well balanced for your skin type and can engage with your particular smoke and manage to light me up. Consequently hypnotizing me to reach out for a candle or matches, or go through the embarrassing trouble to ask the other mesmerized gent for his square to jump start yours… in spite of everything, I will wish that at the end of our conversation you’d rather not smoke, even if you have also figured out the correct chewing gum[5] to blend with your breath of death. Yes, your aura and stance beaming through the dark pub full of smog will guide me through your runway and at times will seem like a bumpy landing, but I have never been afraid of flying, therefore will encourage all to step away from your sabotaging comfort zone and read this book. This book allows you to keep smoking while reading and promises that you will stop once finished, not gain weight and you will not feel deprived.
I’m now realizing I have other intentions to promote this two-hundred-fifty-six page book (other then smoking is bad for you and that it could kill you). See; I have become addicted (going four years straight) to a local small cozy bar in South Beach. A bar in which some giant God surgically removed a heart from a London Pub and reincarnated a piece of New York’s East Village soul and have supplied it with the tunes as if it was selected from some music Goddess, add to its immune system fine beer selections from all worlds that are some way compatible with all who enter this heaven and you have yourself a true magnet for smokers[6]. Well, occasionally friends and Ms. Ξ will resist on going out to this bar due to the smoke and smell, as some are allergic, therefore making all of us end up at the same old trendy South Beach places[7]. So in my efforts to somehow convey all The Room[8] followers to stop smoking I have chosen to post this. I'm not really sure how it’s going to get to them, and if it does reach them, how will this effect these cloud puffing cool cats AND if by some miracle they do happen to quit, oh... will heaven ever be the same?
Editors - Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors
[1]Alejandro González Iñárritu does not have a fully set picture when starting to film. Director of Amores Perros (Love’s a Bitch), 21 Grams and Babel.
[2] Sirius’ Left of Center… can’t live with out it.
[3] Nothing sexier than to see someone in the correct cigarette stance. One of the main reasons that teenagers smoke… to look “cool”.
[4] Names have been changed to preserve identity.
[5] I personally prefer mints. The site of any fe[male] chewing gum is not atttractive.
[6] At times the magnet pulls some obscure objects, although heaven is a place for all. I at times want it all to myself!
[7] I refuse to name these trendy-purgatories (hopefully they will stay there) known as the “it” place to be and be seen… please. [8] Going strong since 2003! Crowd has changed a bit, but still faithfull. Early weekdays or latenights are the best times to beat the crowd.
FLY DVD, a cutting-edge media publication dedicated to the world of fashion. Each issue is absolutely packed with incredible high-definition visual footage in the form of more than a dozen short films that serve to capture the essence of fashion lines by designers such as Yohji Yamamoto, Zac Posen, Yves Saint Laurent, Cloak and Marc Jacobs. I've seen FLY DVD's Zero Issue and was totally blown away to say the least.
Let it play through mid way... color + music = eye candy
FLY is the product of love for film, photography, music, fashion, art and culture. It is a platform for collaboration between established and emerging talent from all creative fields.
PS: Sorry to Sam Fogarino (drummer) for the non video interview coverage. Did not want to over do it with videos. But I do think he is the best dresser of the band. He wears the best vintage custom made suits made by Sinner/Saint.
The funny thing about some of my research is that I discover things that are one way another related. I’m aware that this post has a lot going on, but I assure you that everything is tied into a minimal degree of separation…
I’m motivated to post for a garçon brillant who has a vision unlike any other. From Collections Director at Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Homme in 1997 to being the Chief Designer at Dior from 2000 – 2007 and having a great ear for music taste[1] and a keen eye for photography[2], plus creating the costumes for Daft Punk. This lean design machine is on his own now and venturing into his exhibits[3]. Soon after he left Dior, he joined his friend Gus Van sant and started an amazing project called “Young American”. Recently (Sept. 13th) Hedi joined forces with Wallpaper*, he will be guest editing the well-put-together art magazine[4].
If you love music + fashion + art, a must visit awaits you to Mr. Slimane’s site. Hedi Slimane.com check out ROCK DAIRY PROJECTS and PLAYLIST. Listen in particular to These New Puritans (watch the video). Also his Diary, great b/w pics!
PS: Another unexpected discovery is that Hedi Slimane does not smoke, do drugs or drink. As I once commented on Sanddancer’s blog as well disneyrollergirl’s blog; it comes to show you that we do not have to be under the influence of anything besides your mind to be artistic, imaginative and inventive. Slimane channels his creativity through the diverse art forms and truly expresses it in the most successful way… Pathos + Ξthos = Logos!
To be continued…
I’ll leave you with a nice tune from These New Puritans
A couple of months ago one of my favorite artists performed in Boca Raton, FL. You might have heard of him... unfortunately I did not get to see Morrissey. Due to work I could not make it to Boca. I was devastated, as I was when Interpol released their first tour dates and did not include Miami. I was planning to see him in New York in October and I just discovered that MORRISSEY WILL BE PERFORMING IN MIAMI @ http://www.livenation.com/venue/getVenue/venueId/263/on NOVEMBER 8th. His final tour date in the US.
I have to thank Live Nation for going all out and bringing music artists to the people. The Fillmore Miami Beach is a great venue brought to us by the world’s largest music company. Hopefully now Miami will see more class live acts!
"Gothic in its detailing but jaunty in its execution, Boxer is something far richer than orch-pop". (translation: rock 'n' roll topped with violins)
I know... not the best dressers...
Yes... their album Boxer is better then the rest, but you will not regret listening to their prior albums, in particular their 2005 release Alligator... one word: BEAUTIFUL!
The National - Apartment Story get ready to dance @ 2:25 thru the video
Goes to show you that all you need is a good beat and guitars and you are ready for a good dance... oh, and someone who has the guts to brake the ice and start it all... such as the lady with the nice patent red mary janes... she also knows when to stop.
I’ve been researching my latest book[1] to read and I came across some posters on books we’ve always heard were banned. Seeing them on these two posters reminded of matters that I was more conscious about when I was more of a free-spirit[2]. All of these books are classics! It amazes me of how censorship does no good, and if anything, it makes us desire the undesirable more! It makes me believe that the ban theory is a hoax just to sell the banned product itself (i.e. Harry Potter). Some way or another, the people behind these so called committees and organizations to band books have to feel some guilt as their constricted mind works on telling authors what they can write; and readers and students what they can read. To ban books such as Ulysses, Leaves of Grass, The Catcher in the Rye, AND come to find out… James and the Giant Peach[3]!!!??? And so many others have been unlawfully vetoed that this, in its own way should be a crime. Looking back to all banned books, it probably held us back literally for years. Who knows what and how many books would have been written. Imagine how many other inspirational songs Morrissey[4] could have written and not to mention the movies that Hollywood would have made. Nonetheless, banned or not, good literature will always prevail, as well as any art form that is scrutinized by censorship and suppression[5].
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.Evelyn Beatrice Hall(not Voltaire)
The posters above were designed by the artist Chuck Close, used and posted around New York for the famous Freedom Concert in New York. You can download high resolution PDFs here and here. [1] Junot Diaz, Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. More on him soon!
[2] Still free-spirited. But belonging to another free-spirit and hoping one day that my little one will encompass mine into her own free-spirit ways.
[3] One of my favorite authors and books, Roald Dahl and his book James and the Giant Peach. I just cannot believe this was banned!
Even though the books above were not banned, I assure you that enough material in some was sufficient to submit for censorship, i.e. The Well of Loneliness and Trainspotting.Morrissey REALLY didn't need any banned books to inspire him... it just so happened that I remembered Le petit prince and decided to mention Suedehead. [5] Don’t let me get started in the art and music industry!
This past Sunday I started to read an interesting article on Rick Rubin, mega producer and founder of the now defunked Def Jam. Supposedly he is the savior of the troubled record industry. I'm not sure what to think about Rick Rubin anymore. Well, the article started great, but really, the only thing I can conclude is that he got a great deal, his contract conditions with Columbia is a dream and how he loves the Gossip. Sony and Columbia has replaced well-knowledge music staff with high-paid executives and have tried to compensate it by Rubin’s hippie-spiritual-rub-my-ears and belly persona.
What I found the most interesting: “This summer, Columbia Records began a program called Big Red. The company invited 20 college students from Harvard, Penn State and the University of Miami to work on various music projects”, one being a focus group.
"The kids all said that: [which we all know]
a) no one listens to the radio anymore b) they mostly steal music, but they don't consider it stealing c) they get most of their music from iTunes on their iPod.
They also said that MySpace is over, it's just not cool anymore; Facebook is still cool, but that might not last much longer; and the biggest thing in their life is word of mouth. That's how they hear about music, bands, everything."
Honestly, I just don’t see how this guy is our savior… Talking about some common opera singer from London that was discovered in the British version of American Idol, and him wanting to create a buzz on him before the album drops in the states. I don’t know, I understand there is a market for this, maybe I'm not in any way into popular shit as much. But I'm thinking longevity, Rubin is thinking about...? You tell me. Reviving the Chili Peppers, Cash and Diamond. Next up, Phish? Creed? Hootie? The Offspring? Look, I respect what he's done, especially with Def Jam... Let's see what he'll do at Columbia. As for the Gossip, hopefully he will not let them down.
Must reads on this: Stereogum on Rick Rubin You can also see the video of the opera singing dude!
Local post... Staying local, for once! ALL ABOOOOARD!
Even though the now existing Miami Metrorail system is limited to certain areas, I’m sure everyone can find a way to reap the benefits, other than commuting to work. Last week on my day off I decided to take the Miami Metrorail. I hopped in my car with three things that we cannot live without these days: cellular, camera and iPod. I felt excited and liberated as I drove towards the Metro Station. Even though it was a one day adventure, I felt I was going on vacation… by myself. I mean… I packed a bag, paid for a parking space, bought a ticket and went through a gate. How could I not feel I was on holiday? Honestly, the journey was sort of an out-of-Miami experience. Maybe it had to do with the nonchalant day I decided to have, maybe it was the people coming in and out of the train. Possibly not being stuck in traffic and deciding to head to Sunset Place to catch a movie was a good one-day vacation to take! Just not being in my car and not listening to wind whooshing between my songs AND having a chauffeur for a day was definitely a feeling of carpe diem. I felt tranquility listening to yet another self-made soundtrack chosen by my iPod (shuffle mode). The music synchronizing itself with the movement of the metro and the visual affects beaming through each window, was a positive indication that it was going to be no ordinary day. Ah, and is it not nice just to listen to the sound of the railroad tracks as the music fades away or as it abruptly stops, just to start shortly after, keeping me in my own recording studio.
Art in Public Places Above: Inspired by the orientation of the Palmetto Metrorail Station, Miami artist Robert Huff conceived East/West to harmonize with the busy lifestyle of passengers on their daily commute. The hand glazed ceramic tiles provide a visual system linked to the change of light and color throughout the day. Upon entering the platform, the variations of color on the support system reflect the warm colors of the rising sun. As passengers return to the station, they are greeted by colors reminiscent of the setting sun that progress from the hot colors of the late afternoon to the cool blues of the evening.
Perhaps I sound too enthuse about my metro experience. Compared to New York, London, France and other model cities, this encounter with my local transportation system doesn’t seem significant. But it did have me thinking. For one, Miami public transit is not as bad as I thought. Especially with gas prices as high as they are we should be using the metro more. I’m sure none of this is innovative, but my next date: not telling Ms. Ξthos where we are headed, park the car and hop on the metro. Also, next concert? Gather everyone and metro-bound it is! Next theatre play? Yes, the metro! Next amusement ride with my daughter? You guessed it, the metro! Actually, as I’m writing this, the next metro ride will be to see Interpol at The Bank United Center at the University of Miami, which is Wednesday, Sept. 19th. Can’t wait!
I also can’t wait for The MIC (Miami Intermodal Center) to be completed in 2011. Although the MIC will not put Miami next to those other advanced transportation cities, it will take a leap into making Miami a more developed multi-cultural destination. The MIC Program consists of a Rental Car Center, the Miami Central Station, major roadway improvements, the MIA Mover, and a joint development component. It will provide connectivity for residents and visitors of Miami-Dade County and the South Florida region, where none existed, between the transportation systems in the Palm Beaches, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and the Florida Keys, as well as decongest the streets in and around the busy airport.
Connectivity and decongestion... just what Miami needs!
Take a STANCΞ! This blog will be diverse and open to all sorts of media-culture, music, art and anything worth inspiring others to see points of views other than what we hear and see in our daily routines... including mine! "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment". Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ξthos should be achieved only by what the speaker says, not by what people think of his character before he begins to speak. This position is often disputed and other writers on rhetoric state that ethos is connected to the overall moral character and history of the speaker.
Pathos
Pathos is the use of emotional appeals to alter the audience's judgment. A common use of pathos in argument is creating a sense of rejection if the audience doesn't agree. Creating a fear of rejection is in essence, creating a pathos argument.
rything, I will wish that at the end of our conversation you’d rather not smoke, even if you have also figured out the correct chewing gum
