Tuesday, February 09, 2010
But Not For Me
Tomorrow's a likely snow holiday for much of greater New York. Schools are closed, JP is off.. But I suspect Cantor Fitzgerald will be open except in the unlikely event that the subways go out of service...
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Monday, February 08, 2010
Forward Backward Forward
Tugging forward while looking backward for inspiration, UK neo-synth-pop duo La Roux feel like the second coming of the legendary Yaz, even though that group dissolved half a decade before the La Roux-some twosome were born. Yaz, you may recall, was synthmeister Vince Clarke and husky vocalist Alison Moyet, before Moyet retired into happy multiple maternity and Clarke teamed with Andy Bell to form the extremely successful duo Erasure.
Flash forward 25 years, and La Roux's Eleanor Jackson sings in Moyet's raw wail of a voice while Ben Langmaid's knob-twisting wizardy out-Clarkes Clarke himself. The result is La Roux's astonishing debut, which in the UK has churned out hit after hit after hit.. well, four hits. Picking just one for Song of the Week was a challenge, as they are all memorable - and similar - but I settled on 'In For The Kill..' Their label blocks their videos, but here they are live at the Mercury Awards ceremony back in September..
Here's their biggest hit, Bulletproof, live on GMTV...
Their final single 'Quicksand,' sounds lovely in this acoustic by singer Elly Jackson...
One more: "I'm Not Your Toy" live at Abbey Road, with an spoken intro by Elly Jackson...
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Sunday, February 07, 2010
Birthday Party People
Scenes from a birthday party, just 8 days back.. Starting with just me and my baby....
Karen & Donna..
Barbara Bain in 1966! (via Mission: Impossible Season 1 on DVD)..
Sinophile summit to the left; Andrew and that other guy born on January 30, 1960, to the right...
Aaron, rear view, with David & Paul..
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Saturday, February 06, 2010
Ter Ra Ra Rific!
I missed Vampire Weekend 3 weeks back, but I had the pleasure of seeing that other squeaky-clean collegiate band, Ra Ra Riot, at Brooklyn Academy of Music last night. They're from Syracuse University, and not Columbia grads, as I had thought, but the two bands were hailed by critics in 2007 as 'the next big collegiate thing.'
Besides your four guy vocal-guitar-bass-drum core, there are two classical violinist adding melodicism and refinement to the mix. Wes Miles provides lead vocals that soar, crystal clear, into the rafters, accentuating the tight punch of their tight compositions. A true joy that kept my sleepy head bopping with delight... At left, the third of their three ra-ra-radiant videos...
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Friday, February 05, 2010
Dancing Flames Of Water
On Lexington Ave & 57th Street, this is where I get my Starbucks Latte every day; it looked so lovely en route to see our friend Andrew's class' terrific Serizawa-inspired textile exhibition...
What a long week! Happily, tonight I'm seeing the world-music-inflected grad rock of Ra Ra Riot at BAM with JP, David & Paul, preceded by dinner at 7, which is advertising Cinnamon Raisin Shrimp Toast for their $85 Valentine's Day menu...
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Thursday, February 04, 2010
Land Of 1,000 Side Dishes
My baby's Mom can do the mashed potato... and the mashed squash.. and the pearl onions... and, yes, three-berry pie.... These delectable side courses were served up in Maine on Thanksgiving...
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Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Happy Birthday David!
...and many many many more... Best wishes to the original Original and his own drummer's beat...
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You Shall Not Pass
About 10 days ago it was 6am and I had just landed at JFK. A town car was bringing us home, thanks to our client. Alas, the driver hadn't refilled his EZ-Pass and the TriBoro bridge toll booth gate crashed down, bringing him - and us - to a dead stop...
We pulled over to the side and waited, waited, waited for a policeman to come give our driver a ticket.. Ten minutes later we were on our merry way...
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Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Guitar Star
My favorite toddler, Bruno Bencsko, is enjoying the toy guitar I gifted him from my Halloween costume. It plays a dozen different riffs, which I suspect are becoming very familiar to Bruno's parents... : - )
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