Art within Art
There is no artist more productive than the toddler finger painter. They crank out masterpieces by the dozens and before you know it, you have more than enough art for every wall of your home (not to mention 95% of the pieces are giant smears of multicolored goo, these are toddler artists after all). It just doesn't feel right to toss all of the excess art into the recycling once your fridge is covered and the baby books are full....so I looked around for an alternative.I heard from the teacher of the toddler art classes at the library that she uses the surplus of her kids' paintings as wrapping paper for the relatives. Another helpful friend suggested making gift tags and mailing labels from the extras. My favorite idea came via the blog sarahjanestudios.com/blog...the blogger, an artist herself, took some of the paintings her children had done and using simple templates (of her own design), created art for their rooms.
I think this is such a fantastic idea. What could be better than the miniature artists in your own home contributing to the design of their rooms?I love the versatility of this project. The templates could be the simple outlines of train cars, bugs, any variety of animals.....whatever is most suited to the child and the room. Sarah Jane was generous enough to supply the templates from the gallery on her blog, but if you want to try something different you can do a search for clip art or silhouettes and come up with many fun options. At last, the proper showcase for finger paints!
Electric Eye: A Chat with Ross Halfin
To make a splendid photographer, there has to be an element of trust between the subject and the photographer. Ross Halfin has it in ten-folds. Beginning with landmark British publications like Sounds, Melody Maker, and NME in the Seventies, Ross has since grown into a giant of his field. His list of photographic conquests is extensive, but it includes regular sessions with Jimmy Page, Aerosmith, Jeff Beck, and the Who. Ross has also gained a bit of notoriety for penning a titillatingly frank diary, documenting his everyday life and work. As such, he has obtained a reputation as a brutally honest, no-nonsense kind of guy. Getting to know him, he is also revealed to be an incredibly kind, generous, and intelligent man. After all, taking a chance on an inexperienced journalist and treating her to a dazzling evening is generous, is it not? (He introduced me to Jimmy Page, for fuck's sake.) After sitting in on a photoshoot that he did with Chris Cornell of Soundgarden/Audioslave fame with a cameo by Slash, we commenced our conversation on the patio at the Sunset Marquis. He was gracious, interesting, and of course, honest.To begin with, what impresses you, in general?
Nothing musically. Well I enjoy shooting someone like Chris Cornell who pays attention to what you ask him, and Slash. They know and they appreciate what I do for them, and I like them as people. I've known them a long time. And I see people like Chris Cornell, who has been through a lot, and he still has a very good sense of humor about it. I find that impressive. A lot of musicians don't have a sense of humor about themselves. Since the business has got more corporate, everyone takes it far too seriously. You know, at the end of the day, it's only about someone playing a piece of wood with strings attached. When you look at what goes on in the world, and really, its bullshit. So generally, I like dealing with people who respect what you do. Like Jeff Beck does, and Jimmy Page moans about it all the time, but I think he does in the long run. People like Chris Cornell do.
Who doesn't?
Um, a lot of American acts. Mostly American acts take themselves far too seriously. Since the age of the internet, particularly my website seems to upset a lot of people. Half the things I'm saying are tongue-in-cheek, and half are serious. A lot of people don't work with me purely over my website, but it shows you how shallow and pathetic they really are. If you read my website and you take it literally, you know, it shows you have no education, I think.
Would you say it's an accurate depiction of whom you are writing about though?
Yeah! I think my website is toned down! If actually wrote the truth, I wouldn't be able to work at all. Now everyone says to me, "Why don't you do a book?" People only want to read extreme fawning, or they want to read dirt in a book. If I wrote the truth, people wouldn't believe it -- because fans don't want to believe it. They have this kind of fake idea of who people are. Also, I would just be cut off completely. I have a hard enough time as it is! You know, I quite enjoyed Ginger Baker's book [Hellraiser, John Blake Publishing], but it was like memoirs of a grumpy old man. That's why I wanted to have it signed because I thought he'd die soon, and it'd be nice to have a signed book. The beginning of the book is really good, but then the later part -- all he's interested in is which cars he had and who he slept with.
You were talking about how your website gets you in trouble...
You make a joke, and the problem is, people cut and paste it and take it as literal fact. It goes everywhere, that's the problem with the internet.
Your website, specifically your diary, has helped make your name a bit well-known. Was the point of your website to amp your profile? If not, what is your motive behind the diary -- if any?
In this day and age, to sell photos.
So did you get into photography because you loved music?
Yes. I was an art college student, getting a Bachelor's art degree and I hated it, because it was full of Americans. I have a particular hatred for modern art, like Jackson Pollock. I went to art college and I thought it was rubbish! I became a photographer because I was a big Who fan. I'd see pictures of the Who and I'd think, "I can take a better picture than that." And that was what I did. I basically dropped out of art college, worked in a guitar store selling guitars, and I used to go to concerts and just take cameras in. Basically, I became a photographer like that. In a nutshell.
What is it that you loved about music that drew you into photography?
Just when you're young, when you're teenager, you think that's all that matters. I'd go and see the Who and think that was really what counted in the world -- which isn't, of course, true. But at the time, you really believe that, and you think that's of world importance. There was this thing that was "Name your top ten albums" and Pete Makowski over there said to me, "You should think about what you liked when you were sixteen, because when you were sixteen, you really thought that was important. You believed it was as important as life." At the time, I really loved the Who, I loved Led Zeppelin, the Faces -- they were like the Oasis of their day. I loved Mott the Hoople, Deep Purple, Nazareth, all those sorts of bands. I shot the punk scene, which was hugely overrated. Basically, a lot of it was rubbish. There were only two great bands and that was probably the Pistols and the Clash. It was just average. I listen to a far wider range of music now than I did when I was young. I like listening to soundtracks, which I would never listen to when I was young. My favorite soundtrack is The Thin Red Line or The Man Who Wasn't There. Both of them are very dark.
Who scored them?
I can't remember who did The Man Who Wasn't There, it was a friend of Billy Bob Thorton. [Carter Burwell.] Hans Zimmer was nominated for an Oscar for The Thin Red Line.
You helped start up Kerrang!, which remains a massive publication. Was that sort of thing ever an aspiration for you, and does it have any high regard to you now?
Its rubbish. It has no regard to me now. I think its embarrassing now, it's a child's magazine. I don't care about it, and at the time, really... They would pay me twice as much for a color picture as a black and white. But you know, I used to enjoy the bands at the time like UFO, Aerosmith, and Rush, all those sort of bands. But what it morphed into, when you start adding later bands like Gallows... No.
Right. I'm not into remotely new music at all, which is probably why I haven't gotten into Soundgarden.
Well you should go and play Soundgarden, Badmotorfinger. And even those last three Soundgarden albums are great. My favorite song is on The Basketball Diaries album, which is called "Blind Dogs."
So would you say you actively pursue rock photography or did you just kind of fall into it?
Fell into it, that's what I ended up doing when I left college. I was actually a painter originally.
How old were you when all of that started happening?
When I became eighteen and nineteen, not when I was fourteen. Like, Neil Zlozower -- he's a photographer, he was like fourteen. But he's slightly older than me.
When you see a band now -- whether it be an act you've seen plenty of times, or someone new -- do you find yourself floored by a live performance?
Yeah, but its been a long time since I saw a new band that I think are great. I think the Kings of Leon are great, I like them a lot. But actual brand new bands? I don't really see many. I don't really go to clubs. Why do I want to go to a club full of sixteen year olds? So I haven't seen a brand new band that I thought were amazing for years.
Then what bands that aren't brand new are still prominent live?
I like the Mars Volta a lot, I think they're very interesting as a band. I think they take it elsewhere, and they're really good, and I like working with them.
But I'm saying... Old people, come on!
Jeff Beck, Chris Cornell if you classify him as an old person, Mott the Hoople I think were amazing recently, Kings of Leon, Aerosmith are good when they're together -- without saying too much [laughs]. I saw Depeche Mode a few years ago, I'd never seen them, and I was surprised by how good they were. Rammstein, I really like live, just as a visual thing for entertainment. KISS, I enjoy as long as you aren't expecting too much and don't take it seriously, it's actually very enjoyable. I'll tell you who are great, Prodigy. They're amazing live.
What was the last album you listened to in its entirety?
Steve Miller, I bought an album called Rock Love, I can't work out whether it's a bootleg or not. One side is live and one side is studio, it's from '70, I think. [1971.] I thought that was really good for the time, I played it the other night all the way through -- twice!
What are your top five favorite albums of all time?
The Who, Live at Leeds; Led Zeppelin II; Badmotorfinger, Soundgarden; The Thin Red Line soundtrack... Its hard because the albums you really like you don't play all the time, because you're sick of them, you've heard them too much. But when you hear them, you really like them.
Right. Its like your favorite song, you can only listen to it so often, or it would lose that splendor.
Splendor, right. That's the word. Who's Next, I'd have to include in that. Loudon Wainwright III, Album II; The Who, Live at Leeds; Who's Next; Led Zeppelin II; The Thin Red Line. That's five. [Earlier I had asked Ross what one deceased person he would like to meet, but he couldn't conjure up an answer.] But if I could, not meet, but photograph someone is who is dead... I'd either like to do Jimi Hendrix, which is a bit obvious, or Jeff Buckley.
Where is your favorite place in the world?
I like Asia a lot, like Cambodia, Laos, Bali -- I like those places, I like the atmosphere and the light, and its very exotic. Strangely, I was talking to an Australian, and they don't find Asia exotic at all! They all want to come to Europe, and they find Europe exotic. The only thing wrong with America, I used to find it exciting, but the thing that is truly wrong with it is that you can go from Hawaii to Puerto Rico to Miami, and it all looks the same. Its the same shops, the same coffee shops, the same restaurants, the same stores. When you went to Hawaii in the early Eighties, when I went, it was really exotic. And now, it could be anywhere. Whereas you go to Asia, and they're all completely different cultures. I find that nice, and I like it because its warm, and I grew up in the damp climate.
What are you listening to currently?
Steve Miller CD. "Megalomania", Black Sabbath, which I think is an underrated track.
What is your favorite book?
The Book Thief, Markus Zusak; Diary of a Rock and Roll Star, Ian Hunter -- one of the best rock books written; The Dark Stuff, Nick Kent -- for his chapter on the Rolling Stones; Shipwrecks, Akira Yoshimura; An Iliad: A Story Of War and Silk although the film version is awful [both by Alessandro Baricco]; Chroma, Derek Jarman.
What were your aspirations as a young man?
To travel, which I've done. I think, you know, when you look at whether what I do is good or bad, at least I've traveled. And I think travel is a great thing. Its like when you travel on a plane, and people want to close the windows. I like the windows open, because you're seeing the world as you would never see it. That's why I really like Asia, because it's really hot, you've got these wonderful thunder clouds. You've got this really powerful light coming through. The sky is quite electric looking, which I rather like.
What goals do you have for yourself now?
I would actually love to retire from music photography and just shoot travel.
You can't do that?
Not to make a living, I still have to make a living. If I was wealthy enough, I wouldn't care if I never shot another band again.
But when you were talking earlier about getting into it because you love music...
Well, you know, when I haven't done it for a while, I enjoy it. Kings of Leon, I enjoy. The Mars Volta, I enjoy. I enjoyed doing Chris Cornell.
Did you not enjoy Aerosmith? [Ross recently shot Aerosmith in Abu Dhabi.]
I do enjoy Aerosmith, I don't enjoy the politics of Aerosmith. Let's put it that way. And there's a lot of politics in Aerosmith. The politics of Aerosmith are annoying.
You seem adamant that in the general scheme of things music isn't important. What is important to you?
When I was younger I was told by a teacher that you get BORED of music. I didn't think it could be true. It is... Maybe it's my job. Important, the last light of the day. Daylight is important.
Is there anyone you wish you would've known, or known better?
That's a good question. Uh...
You said earlier that you would shoot Jimi Hendrix.
Nah, only because I didn't. Nah, I don't care whether I shot Jimi Hendrix. I was wrong saying that.
[In an email, Ross' final answer was "Elvis in the 50's or Gong Li now."]
You've said The Who Christmas Show was the best show you've ever seen. So what's the worst show you've ever seen?
I once saw Genesis with Peter Gabriel, in the day. I thought, "This will never happen." That was probably one of the worst, I just didn't get it.
Yeah, that's when they were wearing masks and stuff? I was asked the other day if I've ever gotten into that, and no, that has never intrigued me at all.
Yeah, never intrigued me in the slightest.
Is there any band whom you feel you can always get good shots of?
Chris Cornell, he always looks good. The Mars Volta always look good to me. Joe Perry looks good, when he looks great, he looks really great.
Really? He is one of the people who I saw and thought, "You don't look as good in person."
Oh no, okay. That was probably wrong then. I think someone like Rod Stewart always looks like a rock star. The problem with a lot of bands now is that they don't have it. They could be anyone.
So you don't have a favorite, most pleasant, always photogenic subject?
Well, I like bands for different reasons. Like the Black Crowes, a lot of people don't like them. I get on with them because I like them as people.
Then is this easier? Who has been the absolute worst, biggest mess of a subject?
Well, a lot of bands when they get older, it's never their fault they look old. It's yours. They blame you for the picture. Particularly women, because once they go past a certain point, they become... You know, one thing I don't like in American magazines, I have nothing against retouching, but it's so airbrushed. Look at Fleetwood Mac, it looks ridiculous. Looking at them, they just look stupid. You know, terrible.
How often do you shoot bands that you don't enjoy musically?
90 percent of the time.
Who DO you enjoy?
No, I'm joking. I shoot 50/50. But if you only shot people you thought were culturally cool, you wouldn't work! I tend to shoot people I like.
I saw you shot 50 Cent, I'm doubting that's your thing.
Yeah, well he was nice enough. But I couldn't listen to it. You know, Eminem, D12. Its just not my thing.
Your website boasts that you were a tour photographer for both Paul McCartney and George Harrison...
I was, but I was never a Beatles fan. So I wasn't intimidated by them, and I wasn't in awe of them.
What was your impression of each?
McCartney was very friendly and very professional, and George Harrison was very... They're very much in a bubble, in a world of their own. Linda McCartney was alive at the time, and I expected her to be a nightmare, but she was super, super nice and super helpful. Because she was a photographer, she could see what I actually had to get. She had a way to help you, rather than be obstructive.
When was this, that you were shooting them?
McCartney is the Flowers in the Dirt tour, you'll have to look that up. [1989-1990.] George Harrison was when he toured Japan with Eric Clapton. [1991.] It was okay, but I never particularly liked the Beatles.
At the end of the day, who is your favorite band ever?
The Who!
Why?
Because you have to look at what counted when you were sixteen, and what you liked when you were sixteen, and they counted for me.
Do they still count?
I think the thing is, as band gets older... If you liked them originally, you convince yourself they're still good, even though they're not good. But the Who on a good day, can still be exciting. Even for a bunch of oldies.
Yeah, sometimes I think, "Hmm.. In Through the Out Door wasn't so hot."
Yeah, well he [Jimmy Page] had nothing to do with that. He doesn't even like that record.
Because he was a junkie?
Yeah.
How would you sum the Who up for someone who had never heard of them?
Go listen to Live at Leeds, and realize its four guys playing. Or Who's Next, that's a great songwriting album. With their later albums, Quadrophenia is okay.
When do you feel they took the dive?
Probably with It's Hard and Face Dances. The spark had gone out of them. That's a better word, isn't it? Spark.
That's when they began to 'farewell'.
Right. Too many farewells. Too many farewell tours. Or like, I listen to Page & Plant, and I don't like it at all. Outrider is not a bad record for an Eighties record.
Or the Firm...
The first album is okay, the second one is horrible.
My dad saw the Firm, and he saw the ARMS show.
But he was out of his mind.
I know, there's videos of him drooling!
He was fucking junkied out.
Who would make up your dream band?
I think its rubbish, I hate dream bands. Its like, whenever you see people jam, it's always horrible. Its unrehearsed and everyone is trying to show off and play better than the other person. That's why I always think jamming is terrible.
Okay then, they're not a band. Who is your favorite with each respective instrument?
John Bonham or Keith Moon on drums. Jimmy Page or Pete Townshend on guitar. Robert Plant, in his day, or Paul Rodgers, or Rod Stewart. John Entwistle on bass. And Loudon Wainwright III acoustically, I like.
So basically, you like Led Zeppelin and the Who!
Exactly!
What is your greatest fear?
You should fear nothing.
(All photos by Ross Halfin.)
Shirley and her girl
I bookmarked this picture of Shirley MacClaine with her daughter on A Cup of Jo because I just thought it was so incredibly fun and goofy and just the kind of relationship I'd want to one day have with my children. Turns out that there are plenty of other pictures of Shirl and her girl, Sachi, hamming in it up in front of the camera which I adore just as much. Speaking as someone who has none, I know that having kids is hard and stressful and not always easy, but it also looks like some of the most fun you can ever have too. Maybe I'm being a little too romantic about one day being a mother, but these two make motherhood look so darn joyful.
Be thankful.
If you are reading this blog, you're probably one of the 60% whom grapple with none of the above, and live with what we don't consider luxuries, but accept as normalcy. Its nearly Thanksgiving here in America, but hey, here's a novelty: be thankful everyday. I have SO much to be thankful for. This past year (and just this past month!) has been a crazy whirlwind -- good and bad, but I feel so alive! And the year isn't even over yet! In a world this exciting, we should be thankful every moment! So whether you're in America or elsewhere, let tomorrow simply be a reminder to do the following every single day: Chase life! Make it exciting! Live your dream life -- its not impossible. Hello, you fucking DREAMED it! Say please and thank you. Simply be a nice person! Make sure everyone you love has zero doubt that you truly do. Make it evident, make it beyond evident. Pick your battles, yes, but also pick your tantrums. Assess what is worth the stress! Guess what? Not much usually is. But most of all, do things that you love. This is your life, and you have no time for bullshit! So do yourself, and everyone else, a favor and surround yourself with nothing but good. See life how you WANT to see it. Its all in your hands.
xo.
Neil Young sings 'Fresh Prince' theme song
Speaking of covers...
... Just kidding. It's Jimmy Fallon.
... Just kidding. It's Jimmy Fallon.
Wednesday Covers
Let's try a new semi-regular feature shall we. What we're gonna do is trace the lineage of popular tunes that have been covered by other artists. Oh man, this is gonna be fun. Yay.
The first one is "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone", originally recorded by The Monkees. OK here we go.
The Monkees (1967)
The Sex Pistols (1980)
Minor Threat (1981?)
The first one is "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone", originally recorded by The Monkees. OK here we go.
The Monkees (1967)
The Sex Pistols (1980)
Minor Threat (1981?)
Gimmee Gimmee
Hey - Bonjay just released their first official ep and it features a remix by Smalltown Romeo which is described on the release as "tuff dubby disco". The original is a great weirdo-dancehall tune, these guys are one of our favorite new Canadian acts.
You can buy the original along with our remix and others by Ghislain Poirier and Grahmzilla of Thunderheist on iTunes: HERE.
Also they have released their own remix of the track for free download here on XLR8R.
Anyways, Big up Alanna & Pho on the first of many more to come!
Happy Thanksgiving!
The ladies of "Hiving Out" are out for the week. We are taking a holiday break from posting this week in order cook a couple of turkeys, grade a number of papers, keep a few kids swine flu-free, and rest up for the rest of the year. Hope you have a great holiday too!
(Vintage pictures of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade courtesy of straatis. Aren't they neat?)
1930
1937
1948
1964
(Vintage pictures of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade courtesy of straatis. Aren't they neat?)
1930
1937
1948
1964One sweet dream. Pick up the bags and get in the limousine. Soon we'll be away from here, step on the gas and wipe that tear away.
As I scrolled through my expansive iTunes library the other day, I noticed a few Beatles song had no play count. I was amazed! That is, until I looked at which songs they were: "Long Tall Sally", "What Goes On", "Yellow Submarine", "I Am the Walrus", "The Long and Winding Road", "Dig It", "Honey Don't", "She Loves You"... Either overrated, not very good, or covers. Though I was surprised that "The Night Before" had no plays, so I quickly changed that!
I used to reset my play counts every month, so I could document my favorites per month. I stopped doing that a few months ago, hence why some play counts are at zero. The Beatles songs with the highest counts are "Two of Us", "No Reply", and "Wait" -- a strange reflection of Beatles songs I've re-phased on in the last few months. Except "Wait", I really didn't realize I listen to it so frequently.
Looking at the entire Beatles catalog with personalized numbers beside it made me wonder, "What are my favorite Beatles songs, really?" I occasionally toss around that argument. So, without further adieu, here are my top five favorite (Favorite, not BEST -- in alphabetical order) Beatles songs. Eeep!
1.) "And Your Bird Can Sing", Revolver, written by John Lennon.
John Lennon referred to it as "another of my throwaways...fancy paper around an empty box." And I've never met anyone else who quite grasped my love, but hey, its one of my absolute favorites! Its happiness in the form of a two minute pop song -- including delicious George Harrison licks and jaunty and chipper back-up vocals! I give so much love to back-up vocals, and its well deserved. Revolver may be my favorite Beatles album -- if not, its way up there. That's because you just want to bop your head around exuberantly throughout the entire record. "And Your Bird Can Sing" is far from a 'throwaway' and I'm just giving it an inkling of the credit it deserves.
2.) "Hey Bulldog", Yellow Submarine, written by John Lennon.
I fucking love "Hey Bulldog". Its been cited numerous times as the last time the Beatles had that spark in the studio -- and you can hear it! How did I ever live without "Hey Bulldog"? This may be my favorite Beatles song EVER. Actually, it is! I'm deeming it as such right now. With a bouncy and hypnotic piano riff, a singalong-worthy guitar solo, and Paul McCartney fucking barking, why isn't "Hey Bulldog" everyone's favorite Beatles song? I'm really surprised that the majority of my top five favorite Beatles songs are penned by John. George is my favorite, and I feel like a traitor. "Hey Bulldog" is the best song to feel like a traitor to. I used to watch the following video a whole lot. Its a super sexy time for George Harrison, and I pity men because they can't appreciate that. Paul and John are happy and together, and Ringo is Ringo.
3.) "I'm So Tired", The White Album, written by John Lennon.
Look at you, John Lennon! Three songs in the top five, I never realized... "I'm So Tired" is awesome because its moody. I was once a temperamental child, and I got in a fight with my parents. I locked myself in my room and played "I'm So Tired" really loud. Not because the lyrics paralleled my predicament at all, but because the delivery did. "I wonder should I call you, but I KNOW what you would do." I don't give JL enough credit. Because it just gets better: "You'd say I'm putting you on, but it's no joke, it's doing me harm. You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain. You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane! You know I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind." The lyrics mean nothing to me, at all. I don't really care about John Lennon's insomnia, or his apparent longing for Yoko Ono, but that build-up is everything. And, on top of ALL of that, John Lennon taught me the word 'git'. So when it confuses my sister in London -- I'm not confused. All thanks to John Lennon!
4. "Two of Us", Let It Be, written by Paul McCartney.
Another one that prompts people to say, "Really? That's one of your favorites?" Its so exquisite and charming, of course it is! Whether it be about Linda McCartney or John Lennon, it always makes me happy. Once, I was returning home after a late night adventure. The sun was coming up as a friend and I drove home, and "Two of Us" came on my iPod. A shuffling, inspiring little ditty, it was perfect then and its perfect now. When I first discovered it, I played it over and over again. Discovering the Beatles is such a treat. Paul McCartney vocals getting tangled up with John Lennon's are delectably sincere. If only for nearly four minutes, you forget that they loathed each other at this time. Let It Be, the film, is depressing and my only memories of it are the Paul/George duel and "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" with the hammer. But after consulting Wikipedia, apparently the duel is because of "Two of Us" and they perform it too! I don't recall. I've really been craving the deliciously awful Magical Mystery Tour film, and now I even want to watch Let It Be. I wish I had a friend who owned them, and might as well throw in A Hard Day's Night, Help!, and Yellow Submarine. Lets have a Beatles movie marathon? Sounds glorious.
5. "You Never Give Me Your Money", Abbey Road, written by Paul McCartney.
Maybe Abbey Road is my favorite Beatles album? Oh, who knows, who cares. I love them all. Abbey Road is as joyfully uplifting as it is broody and weary. I don't even know what "You Never Give Me Your Money" is about, but it embodies everything the Beatles and particularly Abbey Road are about. It begins as this forlorn ballad, but it progresses into a jangly show tune type. "But oh, that magic feeling, nowhere to go-ah." As a tiny thing just discovering the Beatles, I hoped that one day I would have that magic feeling of being utterly directionless and free. The entire last verse is perfection epitomized.
Look at you, John Lennon! Three songs in the top five, I never realized... "I'm So Tired" is awesome because its moody. I was once a temperamental child, and I got in a fight with my parents. I locked myself in my room and played "I'm So Tired" really loud. Not because the lyrics paralleled my predicament at all, but because the delivery did. "I wonder should I call you, but I KNOW what you would do." I don't give JL enough credit. Because it just gets better: "You'd say I'm putting you on, but it's no joke, it's doing me harm. You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain. You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane! You know I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind." The lyrics mean nothing to me, at all. I don't really care about John Lennon's insomnia, or his apparent longing for Yoko Ono, but that build-up is everything. And, on top of ALL of that, John Lennon taught me the word 'git'. So when it confuses my sister in London -- I'm not confused. All thanks to John Lennon!
4. "Two of Us", Let It Be, written by Paul McCartney.
Another one that prompts people to say, "Really? That's one of your favorites?" Its so exquisite and charming, of course it is! Whether it be about Linda McCartney or John Lennon, it always makes me happy. Once, I was returning home after a late night adventure. The sun was coming up as a friend and I drove home, and "Two of Us" came on my iPod. A shuffling, inspiring little ditty, it was perfect then and its perfect now. When I first discovered it, I played it over and over again. Discovering the Beatles is such a treat. Paul McCartney vocals getting tangled up with John Lennon's are delectably sincere. If only for nearly four minutes, you forget that they loathed each other at this time. Let It Be, the film, is depressing and my only memories of it are the Paul/George duel and "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" with the hammer. But after consulting Wikipedia, apparently the duel is because of "Two of Us" and they perform it too! I don't recall. I've really been craving the deliciously awful Magical Mystery Tour film, and now I even want to watch Let It Be. I wish I had a friend who owned them, and might as well throw in A Hard Day's Night, Help!, and Yellow Submarine. Lets have a Beatles movie marathon? Sounds glorious.
5. "You Never Give Me Your Money", Abbey Road, written by Paul McCartney.
Maybe Abbey Road is my favorite Beatles album? Oh, who knows, who cares. I love them all. Abbey Road is as joyfully uplifting as it is broody and weary. I don't even know what "You Never Give Me Your Money" is about, but it embodies everything the Beatles and particularly Abbey Road are about. It begins as this forlorn ballad, but it progresses into a jangly show tune type. "But oh, that magic feeling, nowhere to go-ah." As a tiny thing just discovering the Beatles, I hoped that one day I would have that magic feeling of being utterly directionless and free. The entire last verse is perfection epitomized.
Oh and, I should mention "Michelle" did not cut it close, not even a little. Also, nobody EVER calls me "Michelle, my belle" truly. I'm so glad. I probably get asked, "So do people call you Michelle my belle a lot?" more often than I actually get called it. Though, my cousin occasionally calls me "Michelle, age twelve" purely because it rhymes.
Manon Gignoux
There is such a dreamy and other-worldly quality to Manon Gignoux's aesthetic that I just adore. If you haven't heard of her - she's a French stylist, designer, and artist and everything she creates from jewelry to surreal fabric statues to her own workspace seems to reflect a meeting of reality and fantasy. She sees her own work as existing "between art and fashion" and I love how she explains her influences:
"The origins of my work can be traced back to my last year of study at France’s Duperré School of Applied Arts when I carried out a photographic study of the clothes worn by workers in the early 20th century and explored the "traces of wear and tear" on clothes. Starting with details of a hundred or so photographs taken from books, I filled research notebooks and ended up with four themes: the "carpenter" or the traces of alteration, the "washerwoman" or the imprint of repeated movements, the "inside-out suit" or the dynamics of (de)construction, and the "woman shopkeeper" or the encounter between work clothes and everyday life and the way an object that is worn fits the body."
- from Manon Gignoux's "creative approach" statement
via sam's notebook
via Facteur Céleste
via pia jane bijkerkTo see more of Gignoux's work go to her blog: Manon Gignoux
To see more pictures of her amazing studio go to: pia jane bijkerk
To see more pictures of her amazing studio go to: pia jane bijkerk
EURO MINI-TOUR MIX
Hey we are kicking off tonight in Paris at Nouveau Casino and made a mix to celebrate the trip overseas. It'f full of some of our latest club favorites. So enjoy!
SMALLTOWN DJS EURO MINI-TOUR 09 MIX
Smalltown Djs Euro Mini-Tour Mix 09 Tracklist:
Boom (Meterhead Remix) - Smalltown Romeo
Night by Night (Smalltown Djs Remix) - Chromeo
Put Your Hands on Me (Jesse Rose Remix) - Crookers
Gipsy Kings feat. Analogik - Malente
I Think I Like it - Fake Blood
I Like It (Riva Starr remix) - Malente
Dj Saved My Life (Tom De Neef Club Mix) - Crispin Glover
Disco Disco Disco - Mowgli
Kingstonlogic - Terri Lynn
The Lock Shot - Goshi Goshi
Blau (La Riots Remix) - Laidback Luke & Lee Mortimer
Turn That Shit Up (Diplo Remix) [Smalltown Edit] - Tom Stephan
Chillin (Top Billin UK Mix) - Wale feat Lady Gaga
Lions feat New Kidz - Malente & Dex
Bangkok - Boris Dlugosh
Bang Bang (U-Tern's Calvin Harris Blend) - Rye Rye
Vocal Chords - Claude Von Stroke
Tour Dates:
Friday Nov. 20
Paris, FR
Nouveau Casino
w/ DJ Ayres
Saturday Nov. 21
Helsinki, FIN
Siltanen
w/ Top Billin
Friday Nov. 27
London, UK
Fabric
W/ Mat The Alien & Ali B
Saturday Nov. 28
London, UK
Funk, Soul & Disco Set
Paradise
Thursday, a living room tent, and Etsy
It's getting too cold for outdoor camping, but the weather is perfect for setting up a tent in the living room. So gather your blankets and sheets and use this and this to inspire your construction, but leave it to Etsy for all the indoor camping extras the whole family is going to need...
Yes, even indoor campers need fire and food (but know that not all of it needs to be real):
"basic campfire package" by mysticwill
"portable smores" by katystinykitchen
"The Campout" handpainted glass plates by nunostudioAnd don't forget that every camper needs his or her own personal light to keep the night time creatures and shadows away...
...unless, of course, the campers are the ones making the scary shadows and cuddling with the night time creatures....
And let's not forget the importance of classic camping games...
And with the dying embers of the fire, there is always so much to record and so much to write "home" about...
"Teeny Tiny Camping Trip Stamps Set" by Tresijas
And once the little ones are sound asleep and dreaming under a night sky of their own making - the following items are just the things grown-up indoor campers need...
"Log, Soft Sculpture" by sallyenglanddesign
"Log, Soft Sculpture" by sallyenglanddesignWith indoor plumbing and only imaginary mosquitoes - this is, without a doubt, my kind of roughing it...
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