(To our Tumblr followers: we read you on the feed side b/c Cindy really loathes using the Tumblr interface for reading posts.)
Tennessee Williams, louche. In dressing gown.
I was just writing a brief for a meeting I went to yesterday in Washington and needed to see a visual reference to get to the heart of the matter concerning certain issues. “The Tennessee Williams of Public Diplomacy” is how I usually describe the federal official who I (with great affection and a whole lot of respect) nevertheless love to hate. This photo is pretty damned exemplary. It was a good trip, even though Northeast Regional made a mess out of a deer between Baltimore and Wilmington.
<3 pvb, international educator and program officer
At its best, Wii Music draws you into the conventions of music while simultaneously allowing, even daring you to break them. Putting a cheerleader, a black-belt karate master, and a cat in the “instrument” section goes a long way toward helping you find music and melody in the commonplace and where it’s least expected. But the game doesn’t go far enough; despite exalting creativity, you still feel more like an audience member than a band member—on the sidelines, watching yourself on-screen, where it seems like you’re having more fun. The game shows you a fantastical sonic world but falls short of letting you invent your own. Instead, one’s enjoyment of Wii Music must exist in the mock creation, in the augmenting of your own imagination. Wii Music elevates the scope of music video games by moving beyond commentary on what music is—as Rock Band and Guitar Hero do—to suggesting what it could be. Yet I’m still left wondering: Couldn’t it be more?
Sleater-Kinney’s guitarist tries out Wii Music. - By Carrie Brownstein - Slate Magazine
A rather smart review of Wii Music — Brownstein walks us through the process of playing the game, pulling away the layers of bizzaro artifice to get to the heart of the matter — this game just sounds creepy and detached and ultimately, too controlling of an experience (playing music) that should, by its very nature, encourage spontaneity.
the crabby, c. hotpoint
Robert Mann Gallery - Holly Andres (via NYMag Vulture)
Vulture cites Nancy Drew and Lewis Carroll (and the gallery’s PR name checks Hitchcock, too), but to me, Holly Andres’ Sparrow Lane photos drip with a fantastic nostalgia for suburban Cold War terror. This photo, in particular (“The Red Purse”) marries the atomic paranoia of The Big Heat with the aesthetics of The Virgin Suicides. Love it.
xoxo c. hotpoint
Oh, love this delightfully creepy, trippy video for Secret Machines’ “Atomic Heels,” directed by Brantley Gutierrez
The show last night was really, really fantastic, btw, especially when the bouncers kept kicking people out of the venue for smoking out during the show. Classic!
lurve, c. hotpoint
While I was at lunch, the temperature dropped like 10 degrees, and everyone in my office has that dazed barometric pressure drop look about them. All the more reason to trek out to the Williamshall of Musicburg tonight to see the Secret Machines (with the ALWAYS VERY LOUD Dragons of Zynth and charmers The Sugar Report, fronted by one of our our lovely K&T models, the sweet-voiced long drink of water Curtis Williams).
After the past few weeks that I’ve had, I’m in serious need of a Secret Machines-induced drone-coma tonight. I’ll be the girl surrounded by “hipster” frat boys who looks like she’s about to pass out because she’s actually teleporting to Texas via a portal carved out by the Machines’ big fat feedback and reverb. Yessssss!
the headachey, c. hotpoint
He attends meetings at a local Kingdom Hall, and, like his fellow-witnesses, he leaves his gated community from time to time to knock on doors and proselytize. “Sometimes people act surprised, but mostly they’re really cool about it,” he said.
Home Visit: Soup With Prince: The Talk of the Town: The New Yorker
Prince Rogers Nelson, just a guy who might stop by your door with the new issue of Watchtower. Somehow his new conservative viewpoints don’t bother me, even though I disagree with them.
<3 pvb
Well, that pretty much cements that I’m too freakin’ busy, or that the internet is too full of tiresome gunk for me to hear about anything that I’m actually interested in any more — this new Mike Jones track surfaced a few weeks ago; his new album is out tomorrow (!!??!!).
That being said, is this good? Is it terrible? Depends on how you feel about Mike Jones’ … “futuristic flow”, Lil’ Wayne’s shtick, and guitar riffs floating on top of extremely minimal beats, courtesy of Cory Mo.
“Everything you’re trying to do, I done did it before.”
Well, Mike Jones, I think I feel you there.
indeed, c. hotpoint
ps — his new phone number is (281) 206-4336
The world’s most expensive hobby just got a little more affordable for NYC thanks to Lion Brand. Sure, Lion’s store will stock the requisite icky acrylics, but you’ll also be able to touch some of the notable new blends which include newer not-so-icky acrylics, wool blends, and some exotic fibers. (BTW, cashmere comes from goats.) Lion offers decent quality craft yarns and a few heirloom/garment quality yarns at wholesale-esque and craft store prices, and you just can’t get that here without venturing to Queens or Long Island…or Smiley’s, which is its own circle of hell (complete with crocheted cozy).
Our filthy garment-knitting secret remains JaggerSpun commercial yarn, but you can bet we’ll stop in at Lion, and not just because our friend Tracey works there.
Also, if you want to learn to knit (even something dorky), please feel free to contact us.
<3 pvb
![Pat Graham Photography | best of | Marr’s Guitar
Also: from +1 Magazine, tidbits from Graham’s photographs of more beloved instruments from the forthcoming book Instruments [pdf] (via Johnny Marr’s site) Extra: all of Mr. Marr’s guitars … he still regularly plays the Rickenbacker used throughtout his tenure with The Smiths.
jangle, jangle c. hotpoint](http://www.patgraham.org/photos/best_of/_MM00081.jpg.html)
Pat Graham Photography | best of | Marr’s Guitar
Also: from +1 Magazine, tidbits from Graham’s photographs of more beloved instruments from the forthcoming book Instruments [pdf] (via Johnny Marr’s site) Extra: all of Mr. Marr’s guitars … he still regularly plays the Rickenbacker used throughtout his tenure with The Smiths.
jangle, jangle c. hotpoint