Rihanna!

No, the reason that I put this video up is not because Rihanna looks good in a garter belt (Rihanna LOOKS GOOD IN A GARTER BELT!!!). I'm trying to put the fact that I think Jay Z is boring has been aside; I'm trying to put all the criticism I have about his coming out of retirement to save hip-hop (yawn!) aside and keep this focused on one thing: Yeezy.
My belief is pretty easily suspended and that means that I like a lot of things, things that maybe I shouldn't like. Something has to offend the rules of taste I've arbitrarily set up for myself in order to get me to critically think about it so that I might rip it to shreds and belittle all those who like it (hip hop is little more than a commodity and Jay Z is merely trying to cash in on the fact that people still think of it as a culture because Beyonce don't wanna have no broke-ass kids with no broke-ass man). I don't think there's anything wrong with this mode of criticism (sorry Northrop Frye), and it allows me to sound smart when I tell you what you like is silly (just kidding I don't so that I'm a Socialist).
That being said: there's something about this video which I love...I mean LOVVE!!! It plays to the innate fascination people have with mob mentality and militarism. It also evokes the themes of Apocalypse and post-Apocalyptic society. I don't know what it is but I got chills. My only problem is the fact that even in a song about taking over a society that they're not satisfied with, KANYE USES HIS SIXTEEN FUCKING BARS TO BRAG ABOUT HOW MUCH HE FUCKING LOVES CHAMPAGNE!!! Hella faggoty, blood.

Somesaj Thing

Nosaj Thing Visual Show Compilation from Adam Guzman on Vimeo.

This is what you can expect, visually, when Nosaj Thing Drifts through your town this fall. Punned! I prefer the view from backstage.

Lurker Benvenuto!

(or handy Italian phrases for the young American traveler.)

So I guess there's no word in Italian for lurker?

I asked a neighbor of mine (Guisepe) to translate some common phrases from English to Italian. Just in case you need them. He said that most of these were not very common and would probably end up getting you in trouble. At least I think that's what he said: his accent is very thick and he has a mustache. Anyway here are some phrases that might come in handy. Thanks Guisepe!

Where is the beach?

Dove è la spiaggia?

I have a knife!

Ho un coltello!

What time is it?

A che ora è?

Can I use your bathroom?

potere uso la sua bagno?

Do you have any beer?

Lei ha birra?

Do you have any wine?

Lei ha il vino?

Do you have any cocaine?

Lei ha la cocaina?

How much?

Quanto?

Can I have a cigarette?

Potrei avere una sigaretta?

Is there another way out of here?

C'è un'altra maniera fuori di qui?

I'm an American diplomat.

Sono un diplomatico americano.

Where is the airport?

Dove è l'aeroporto?

Do you like Bat for Lashes?

Lei ama Bat for Lashes?

Bonus: (for my personal edification)

What is the age of consent in Vatican City?

Che è l'età di consenso in Città del Vaticano?

remember: italian is phonetic. Be safe!

Are you a cop?

New Wavves!!!
from nathan's blog Ghost Ramp, which usually is a platform for him talking about old Hip-hop. He put up a demo of a song called Mickey Mouse way back in July. But this new song Cool Jumper is just 6 minutes of heaven with a broken fussy wrist.

(Via Stereogum who also gave Nosaj some love today)

Good n' Plenti (a tale of 2 Julian's)

A lot of people have been talking jive about the new Paul Banks solo record, Is...Skyscraper. Personally I like it and so does Emily Haines, and that's enough for me. It's not really Interpol sounding except for the fact that the solo record of the lead singer of the band. The music is different, and the lyrical content is pretty radically different as well (read: no laying grease inside my hand or putting shards under the belly). He is calling himself Julian Plenti and apparently from 1998-2003 Julian made more than a few appearances in the NYC area with just an acoustic guitar. The music on his album is way more lush and filled in. Luxurious almost. Here's a video for one of the more up-tempo songs on the album.



In other Julian news, Julian Casablancas is also putting out a new album. This is weird because the Strokes are already working on a new album, which is also the reason that Little Joy was Fab-less when they opened for Jarvis Cocker at the Wiltern a few weeks back. I think Julian (Casablancas) was tired of all the side projects his band mates have going on and decided to wrangle the fillies back to the stable and make a new record. But not before letting them know who the stud in the coral is. (More equine metaphors please!). Whatev, here's a "trailer" for his album Phrazes for the Young. I think I'm going to skip this despite the fact that Jules had my fave track on the Dark Night of the Soul album that Dangermouse and Sparklehorse did. Especially when heard right next to the god awful Frank Black track. So bad. Anyway, trailer:



Don't forget that Julian quit drinking and started smoking lots of weed and the result was First Impressions of Earth. From the looks of the trailer he hasn't come to his senses.

Is...Skyscraper is out now on Matador.
Phrazes for the Young is coming soon.

absence

I have tried to stay away from the personal type posts on this blog, but some things are inevitable. My phone died a few weeks ago and i have just recently gotten a replacement...or should I say "replacement". Right before my birthday, like 2 days before, the screen on my Shine (Isla) went black. I had been having problems with the screen for months but it would go black and a quick reset would fix the problem. Not so this time, when my screen went from this

to this:

Screen images not simulated. As far as I can tell the phone is fine and the problem is with the screen. I couldn't tell what text messages I was getting or who was calling me, so i just decided to stop answering (sorry). Thanks to anyone who called/ texted me on my birthday. This is why i didn't answer. Sorry Mom. So, my cousin got me a replacement phone (don't ask don't tell) and it looks like this:

only instead of a mountain it has a shot of two sticks rubbing together. There's no charger for it so i have to use my aunts universal car charger with the different adapters you can change to fit your phone. Trying indeed. but at least I can be in contact with the world again. Also if you try and call me please leave a message so i can get your number. Oh yeah I lost all my numbers except for the ones i was able to figure out from the text messages i got. :(