polloxniner

Slooooow Down

Wow. Long time, no blog. For real. Where've I been? What have I been doing? Where has all the time gone? I guess the short answer is that I've been wicked busy. So on Saturday night, I let myself have some much-deserved fun. It's not very often I cut myself loose like that but considering how hard I've been working, I'm sure even my mother would have sat me down and poured me a tall stiff drink. Predictably, Sunday looked like that photo above.
*
*
At the office, I have a small mason jar on my desk with a small sign scotch-taped to it that reads: "Please donate to the J.S.L Foundation. All proceeds of your generous donation goes directly to the J.S.L Foundation." Way below in the very, very fine print reads: "The J.S.L Foundation is otherwise known as the Julian & Sunny Liquor Foundation. Please give generously." My boss was the first one to put in a $20 bill. So we bought a bottle of vodka...
*
*
So what've we learned here? Apparently, I've got a raging drinking problem? Not quite. I need to learn how to work less and play more? Maybe. That begging for liquor money is less pathetic when it's thinly-veiled in humor? Very possible. Or perhaps that blogging needs to find a place back into my daily routine? Right-o.

*
*
*
All Good Funk Alliance - "The One"
(for CC)

*
Brian Eno & David Byrne - "Mea Culpa"
(for M)
*
*
*
In the next few days...
*
My buddy Howie is going to launch a new series on PolloxNiner -- details to come. And Pharrell has a new European Summer Rave / Sunny Mixtape for me to post. Plus, a big warm congratulations to Luke (The Rapture's singer) who just had a baby a few days ago. Must run now... gah!

Is It Tuesday Today?

I'm losing track of my days.
*
*
Gah.
*
*
What a lovely weekend. It was warm and beautiful and relaxing by the ocean. For lunch, I sat in front of a big juicy steak bigger than my head. And lobster. Oh that lobster. Topping it off was Sunday night's bumrush where I was soaked in water (thanks bunches, guys). Nothing hurts more than water up your nose.
*
*
But back at work, it's busy and I love it that way. Though I feel bad for Julian, my trusty sidekick at the office, since he seems to bear the brunt of my stress and frustration. Usually, he just buys chocolate and leaves it on my desk with nice cheery notes. Poor guy.
*
*
It seems everyone has soccer fever and admittedly, I do too a little. Not enough to actually care who wins but enough to want to watch it. Okay fine, I just like watching people go down on their backs. I'm a big fan of people falling and tripping, perhaps because I do so much of it myself. Some of the falls I've witnessed during these games look entirely fake, like they're just attention whores looking for some sympathy. Others look painful and brutal -- I can almost hear the sound of crushing bones on TV. This may be why I'm such a big fan of badminton.

*
*
 

Meanwhile, Andy made a mixtape and sent it over my way last week. It's a fun collective of tunz and I'm just tickled pink that he'd send this along to me. Here's the tracklisting:
*
1) William Fields - Colors / 10cc I'm Not In Love (Andres Re-edit) GABBA
CC / Lackluster Slice 13 Subvert / Paul Blackford - Intro To The Nuclear
Dawn / Saxon Shore - Luck Will Not Save Us From a Jackpot of Nothing /
Stockfinster - All Becomes Music / John Bonham - Drum outtakes 22 /
Damn! - Leaving This Planet
2) Damn! - Leaving This Planet
3) G Svend and Marmaluke - Hej Piper
4) Grandadbob - Hide Me (Al Usher 12 Remix)
5) The Nostalgia 77 Octet - Freedom
6) Dsico - Morning City Stirs
7) The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (vocal)
8) Andy Caldwell - Warrior
9) The Fallout Trust - Before the light goes (Simian Mobile Disco remix)
10) Nately - Mr Pope (Matt_Cole Remix)
11) The Knife - Silent Shout (Williams Acidic Circuits Remix)
12) Swat Squad - 7/7
13) Monokle - God Phone 0
14) Akan - Las Vegas
15) Hrdvsion - Beside
16) Gene Doners Inc - Rockin in Boerlin
17) Pappas Sugar
18) TTC - Dancingbox (Modeselektor remix)
19) Normablock - Shocks in Blocks
20) Downliners Sekt - Weather Underground
21) One Self - Bluebird

Download here.
*
*
*

Also, some Cut Chemist tracks from his debut album The Audience's Listening (Warner Bros, July 11) sent to me weeks ago though I'm only getting around to it now:
*
"The Garden"
"Storm (feat. Edan and Mr. Lif)"

Video of Cut Chemist in Brazil working on "The Garden"
:: Quicktime Hi :: Windows Hi

*
*
*
Last but definitely not least, this next tune is an homage to that '90s Bay Area hip-hop vibe that we've all but forgotten sadly. Feel it out because somethings you just need to own.
*
Rappin' 4-Tay - "Playaz Club"
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
you're rubbing off on me

Home Is Where The Toothbrush Is

To say that I've been busy would be the understatement of the year. And I realize it's been quite some time since my last proper post. Meh. Sorry. I've been... elsewhere. Sometimes I don't actually make it home after a really long night but I figure that if I have my toothbrush there, then I can call it home.
*
*
So Sunday's benefit Rapture show at Crash Mansion -- pretty gangbuster, if I say so myself, and people were packed in like sardines. They played a few new songs which sounded really ace despite the venue's crappy acoustics. The guys came by the office yesterday and secretly I was hoping that they'd play something impromptu but no such luck. Meh. Next time. Then I caught Be Your Own Pet at the Knitting Factory on Monday with a whole mess of people from work. Hells yeah, they completely rocked. The guys did a couple of stage dives, Jemina jumped into the crowd and started making out with this random guy, and the band pulled up a bunch of kids onstage to dance like the lunatics they are. Caught Thurston/Sonic Youth playing at CBGB's the next day on Tuesday. Not only is Thurston just an all-around good guy but God almighty, he's so immaculate onstage. They played the entirety of their new album Rather Ripped with new bassist Mark Ibold (from Pavement). Magic. And Radiohead was supposed to be last night but, um, something suddenly came up.
*
*

Gosh, that seems like ages ago. And that was just yesterday. Somewhere in between all the work and shows, I did manage to carve out some time to work it out at the studio and catch a band at rehearsal... and to balance a personal life for myself but alas, it's left me little time for blogging and writing people back which brings us back here. So...
*
*
Last week, among all the other music I was sent was this little gem: FabricLive 28: Evil Nine. Evil Nine is a collaborative effort between Tom Beaufoy and Pat Pardy, who take a cohesive approach to techno, breakbeats, and indie rock roots. Frankly, I've already heard much of the material on this mix CD before (i.e., Uffie, Riton, Justice) but some I haven't (Bassbin Twins, Paul Woolford, John Starlight). Buy here. Here's a taster:
*
Will Saul Ft. Ursula Rucker - "Where Is It (Evil Nine Remix)"
*
*
Elsewhere...
*

Mos Def - "Umi Says (Zero 7 Mix)"
Such a clever track. I dig.
*
*
Finally...

*
*
Cassandra Wilson - "Time After Time (Leo Zero Re-work)"
This is one of my favorite Cyndi Lauper songs, and then Cassandra Wilson singing it breaks my heart, but then Leo Zero re-working this classic is just stunningly beautiful. I've been listening to it a lot.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

the last song is for you

The Rapture is Back

Click here.
*
*
*
The awesome song on this video clip is called "Pieces of the People We Love" from their forthcoming album due out in the fall. I've been listening to the entire album for the past few weeks and honestly, there's hardly a song on this album not worth falling in love with. That's all I can say for now but perhaps I'll have some early music for you soon. Stay tuned.
*
*
*
And if you go to Crash Mansion tonight, you might catch this.

 

Go to Crash Mansion on Sunday...

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Gotta run now.

I...

Tired. More tomorrow. Until then, one of my favorites. Enjoy...
*
*
Mai Lan - "Gentiment"
*
*
*
*
*

Throw Out Those Old Pair of Jeans

Breaking up is a bitch.
*
*
*
We all stood back and quietly watched it happen. But after two years of being her boyfriend's emotional plaything, my friend finally mustered up the gumption to finally break up with him. There's infinitely better just around the corner. I promise.
*
*
Fatboy Slim - "That Old Pair Of Jeans"
Fatboy Slim a.k.a. Norman Cook releases The Greatest Hits: Why Try Harder (Astralwerks) in two weeks here in the states which includes this brand new single. I really like it. It's soulful, inspired, and unabashedly catchy. And the video is damn brilliant in itself. watch here :: video
*
*
*
*
Tonight is Chamillionaire's Platinum Celebration party. It'll be a craaazy night, and I doubt I'll be sober tomorrow morning when I crawl into work. Speaking of tomorrow, I'm going to catch the Tapes 'n Tapes/Cold War Kids/The Figurines show at Bowery Ballroom with my boss AK and some guys from work (yes, we actually see shows together). I'm pretty excited about this one as I've yet to see The Figurines and what all the buzz is about. Will report back. Must dash now.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
see james... a post!
where's yours?