Well, it’s officially over, and Jinkx Monsoon won. Oh, you wanted spoilers? It’s been a week. Get with the program. Let’s talk about the finale party after the jump. [Read more…] about RuPaul’s Drag Race Post Mortem
Album Review: Savages – Silence Yourself
Savages: Silence Yourself
Similar Artists: Siouxsie Sioux, The Fall, Bauhaus
Genre: Post-Punk
Label: Matador
It seems like every year the term “fully-formed” is appropriated to a new band, and this year it seems the title is being given to London’s “Savages”. It’s a term that’s previously been applied to groups such as Brooklyn’s “Grizzly Bear” and co-Londoners “The xx”, but what exactly does this title mean? With “Grizzly Bear” it was a reference to how each member was an equal and essential component to the band’s overall sound, and with “The xx” the term was a relation to the band’s sleek distinctiveness and style. However, with Savages, the term is more representative of the band’s revolving ethos rather than the music itself. It’s the kind of warning that makes you wary that the hype is just hype…
The much talked about manifesto that accompanies Silence Yourself is the band’s way of advocating for a better, purer world – which calls to mind The Knife’s concept heavy “Shaking the Habitual”. This isn’t quite a concept album, but the Buddhist leaning principles of the band’s declaration pop up constantly throughout the album. Many of the lyrical themes are based around freeing yourself from distractions and deepening your focus on more personal matters. No better is this described than on “No Face”, where Jenny Beth condemns those who lack intrapersonal skills.
While Savages do have a face, it certainly isn’t one they could call their own. For a band that isn’t doing anything new in terms of music, they are making some incredibly bold statements – statements that could have easily backfired if they didn’t prove to have the proper credentials. When it comes down to it, Savages are mere Post-Punk revivalists, but what makes them thrive within the flooded genre is their unshakeable authenticity.
So yes, Savages are the people they say they are – this is not a hoax. While it is tempting to relate this female four piece to Riot Grrrl greats like “Sleater-Kinney”, or more recent female lead groups like “Screaming Females”, Savages have much more in common with “Siouxsie and the Banshees” or even “The Fall”. Lead vocalist Jenny Beth has a French tinged delivery that is commanding in its force; often building in intensity every few measures until the song cuts out with her screaming at the top of her lungs. Some of the best moments arise when she is singing/yelling the same words ad-infitum as the guitars pummel out fastidious riffs and splatter us with noisy violence.
The album as a whole is pretty full throttle in the energy department, but the sequencing is flat out excellent so as not to overwhelm. For instance, there are slower, more gothic songs such as “Waiting for a Sign” that show off the artists’ songwriting strengths, and there is even an ambient interlude to break up side A/B. Each song provides a slightly different angle than the last to create an experience that feels well rounded to the talents of the musicians. The reason the band released so little in the way of ep’s/singles is likely because of their dedication to the album format, and their ambition shows off in strides here.
Manifesto or none, this is a great rock record. It may not be revolutionary enough to cause us to change our lifestyles the way the band wants it to, but it’s an affecting experience nonetheless. At its best, such as the rollicking opener “Shut Up”, the guitar, bass, vocals, and drums mesh to create a sound that is at once enraged, distraught, and beautiful – quite a rare feat for a simple punk band.
Track Listing:
1.) Shut up*
2.) I Am Here
3.) City’s Full*
4.) Strife
5.) Waiting For A Sign*
6.) Dead Nature
7.) She Will
8.) No Face*
9.) Hit Me
10.) Husbands*
11.) Marshal Dear
* – Album Highlight
Upfronts Roundup: Tuesday ABC and CBS
ABC did a moderate amount of shuffling of their upcoming schedule, but generally maintained their broader picture of female and family-friendly TV.
The big news, at least for me is the paring back of veteran competition show Dancing with the Stars to one night and scrapping the Tuesday results show. This has a number of repercussions on the rest of the schedule, and the Monday show will remain two hours in length.
The compression of Stars leaves the Alphabet with an all new Tuesday lineup which will be anchored with the much anticipated Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. This show has high expectations from both Disney (who is using it to fill in the back story of its’ broader Marvel Properties) and the usual fans of the genre (who demand perfection). The rest of the night is a mixed bag of comedy and drama, as this is followed by a 1hr comedy block (with family comedy The Goldbergs and more sudsy comedy Trophy Wife) and the drama Lucky 7, about gas station owners who put their money in a lottery pool.
Wednesdays continue to be built around Modern Family, though oddly fellow hit Suburgatory has yet to be placed on the schedule. Similarly Thursdays seem to be fairly soapy, with a Once Upon a Time spin-off joining hit dramas Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal.
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays do not experience much of a change from last year, with the only exception being Betrayal slotting in at 10 p.m. Sundays.
CBS, on the other hand has generally elected to stay the course, with the exception of shifting Person of Interest into Tuesdays to allow for an expansion of Thursday’s comedy block to two hours. Of course if there was a year for CBS to expand its’ comedy offerings this would be it, as tent-pole shows How I Met Your Mother (9th Season), Two and a Half Men (11th Season), and Big Bang Theory (7th Season) are all starting to age in a genre where no live action show has gone longer than 12 years.
In other news, America’s number four network Univision is now making a Spanish language adaptation of From Dusk til Dawn, the network has been aggressively pursuing major properties, having acquired the rights to Breaking Bad and Gossip Girl earlier in the week.
Glam on the Go NY; My Interview
This week I had the pleasure of talking to an amazing business owner and glamour specialist, Miriam. Miriam is an owner of a beauty on the go service, Glam on the Go NY. Glam on the Go NY is a mobile beauty provider who will make a house call for your hair, make up, on even a little Botox. Miriam is a registered nurse and started the company a year ago. Over the past year the company has expanded and now provides almost any beauty service you can dream up. You can check the website out at http://www.glamonthegony.com/.
Glam on the Go provides services to men and women of all ages and backgrounds. This service is especially helpful for those single working moms who barely have a minute to get to a salon.
When did you start glam on the go?
Glam on the Go NY was started a year ago.
What services do you provide?
GOGNY provides any and all beauty services and treatments including, but not limited to: Botox and fillers, makeup application, hair extensions, eyelash extensions, permanent makeup, all facials, massage, velashape, personal training, spray tan, manicures, pedicures, fat burning aides, laser hair removal, beauty products, etc.
What is the best part of having a business like this, a mobile beauty company?
The best part of having this business is being able to bring these services at clients’ convenience and location. I love meeting new and interesting people and I love that any beauty service or treatment can be serviced by one company.
What is your background in this industry?
I am a registered nurse, certified in Botox and fillers. I have worked with several plastic surgeons in the NY area. I have a love and passion for helping women in particular improve their self esteem.
What kind of clients have you done work with?
I have worked with all kinds of clients, all ages, both men and women, all professions, from housewives to lawyers to car salesmen to Ford models.
What is your favorite service that the company provides?
My favorite service is the Botox and fillers.
What are your goals for Glam on the Go?
My goals for GOGNY is to franchise and have GOG in different states. I would also like to have a mobile bus to provide all services literally on the go.
What are some of the beauty trends for this Summer season?
Beauty trends for the summer season include rejuvenation, fresh glowing skin, sexy effortless chic!
Monday Upfronts Update: NBC and FOX
NBC’s primetime schedule for next year featured a ton of shuffling, as every surviving series except for flagship The Voice and Friday night mainstay Grimm ended up at new timeslots.
Amongst the moves, we see:
The Thursday night lineup maintains its 2 hours of comedy to 1 hour of drama ratio, however the block seems to be considerably less focused on workplace comedies. Parks and Recreation now bats leadoff instead of its 9:30pm slot for this year while 10pm becomes the new home of fifth-season network darling Parenthood.
Chicago Fire gains a Voice lead in slot (Tuesdays at 10pm), while Revolution loses its’ moving to Wednesdays at 8pm.
Speaking of The Voice, its’ one hour Tuesday episode will switch spots with The Biggest Loser, occupying the 9pm hour.
NBC seems to be taking a page from Fox’s book, creating a fantasy oriented night on Fridays, with Grimm and Dracula back-to-back. If Hannibal gets a second season, I would not be surprised to see it parked into this lineup.
Finally, in the late night front, it’s been confirmed that Seth Meyers will be taking Jimmy Fallon’s Late Night chair when the latter becomes host of the tonight show in 2014.
Fox on the other hand, while ordering a large number of new shows seems to have stuck fairly well to it’s guns with no real changes to its’ core schedule of Sunday Cartoons, Monday Drama, Tuesday Comedy and Wednesday/Thursday Idol.
The big news coming from the Fox camp however is the return of hit drama series 24, which ran for nine seasons from 2001-2010. I think such a move is an overreaction as Fox desperately tries to cling to its’ stronger years, where it built its entire lineup around The Simpsons, Family Guy, Idol and 24.
Album Review: Colin Stetson – New History Warfare Volume III
Colin Stetson: New History Warfare Volume III – To See More Light
Genre: System Error
Similar Artists: Does Not Compute
Label: Constellation Records
If the goal of an artist is to be distinctive and inimitable, then few artists have succeeded to the degree that Colin Stetson has. Within the last decade, he has become renowned for taking the saxophone to previously unknown timbres – and with little use of effects at that! With his instrument, he has founded a style that draws equally from classical minimalism, black metal, noise and jazz; each style combining to make a mood that is completely of its own. Still, with all the squealing, moaning and clicking, he meets the music with a sense of adventurousness that makes for a much more accessible listening experience than it should be.
Before Colin’s 2011 breakthrough, his sax work had been featured on albums by high profile artists such as Tom Waits, Arcade Fire, and TV on the Radio – but his Constellation Records debut, Judges, turned out to be the best yet statement of his talents. All the music on the album was recorded live in one take sessions with no overdubs…which seems entirely impossible until you realize that everything from the inside of the sax to his throat are mic’d. The success of that record led him on a tour alongside post rock titans Godspeed You! Black Emperor where he was allowed to display his individual talents in tremendous live settings. These shows established Colin as a musical force to be reckoned with. Even if you weren’t a fan of avant-garde – this was a sound that could not be ignored.
Ever since 2011, Colin Stetson has been popping up everywhere in music. Most notably, he has been a touring member with Bon Iver, who in return is featured prominently on this release. Justin Vernon’s vocals take the place of Laurie Anderson’s so-so voice overs on Judges. This turns out to be the main difference on this third volume of the New History Warfare series. Overall, the decision turns out to be a great pairing, as Justin Vernon’s voice is an instrument as powerful and distinctive as Colin’s sax. While the two occasionally come off as disconnected, all doubts are cast aside on “Who the Waves Are Roaring For”, which sees both expressing their talents in unison without blocking each other out.
While the bulk of To See More Light stays true to Colin’s previous aesthetics, there are a handful of tracks that stand out as bold new directions. For instance, “Brute”, contains grunting male vocals alongside Colin’s most bursting at the seams sax. It should be seen as an ode to death metal bands such as Liturgy (a band which Colin has previously stated his admiration for). On the other hand, “Among the Sef” is one of the most ingeniously melodic pieces he has yet constructed, even bordering on techno with its inconspicuous backdrop 2/3rds in. While “In Mirrors” is a quick glimpse into a horror film he will likely be sound tracking in the near future, the final Bon Iver Track, “What Are You Doing In Heaven Today” is so soulful it could probably get away with being played in a church. Still, everything seems to pale in comparison to the stirring title track, “To See More Light”, which combines the artist’s definitive traits over its impressive 15 minute runtime. On an album with some not so representative material, this is the track you will want to play when showing this artist to an interested companion.
Honestly, if there’s one complaint, it’s that the rest of these songs should be a lot longer. Of course, seeing how this music is recorded, it would be impossible to have the lung capacity to carry these songs on for too much longer. However, The Those Who Didn’t Run EP contained two 10 minute long tracks that worked perfectly alongside each other, so I’m not sure why so many of these tracks had to be cut off at the 2-3 minute mark; especially when the thematic elements here are stronger than they ever have been. B+
Track Listing
1.) And in Truth
2.) Hunted
3.) High Above a Grey Green Sea
4.) In Mirrors
5.) Brute*
6.) Among the Sef (Righteous II)*
7.) Who the Waves are Roaring For (Hunted II)*
8.) To See More Light*
9.) What are they doing in Heaven Today?
10.) This Bed of Shattered Bone
11.) Part of me apart from You
* – Album Highlight
Game of Thrones Recap: And We’re Back Edition
Previously, on Game of Thrones, a bunch of people were stabbed, but in Beric Dondarrion’s case, it didn’t stick. [Read more…] about Game of Thrones Recap: And We’re Back Edition
Family Tree is a Breath of Fresh Air on Sundays
Family Tree: Sundays at 10:30 Eastern on HBO
Anyone familiar with the mockumentary subgenre is likely familiar with the work of Christopher Guest, who wrote and directed such critically successful films as This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, and A Mighty Wind. His latest project, Family Tree takes this style of wit and applies it to the small screen.
Family Tree follows 30 year old Tom Chadwick (Chris O’Dowd), whom after receiving an inheritance from his family, decides to look into his genealogical background. Ultimately this leads to Chadwick discovering a number of interesting stories from throughout his families past.
Our episode opens with Tom checking in at his father’s house (his father played by Christopher Guest regular Michael McKean) after losing his job and his girlfriend. He describes his job as an insurance adjuster (that he recently lost), before looking for a new position risk assessing bouncy houses. We also meet Tom’s sister Bea (Nina Conti), whom can only communicate her true thoughts through a puppet of a monkey. He then goes through the chest, only to find out about an ancestor whom held a military position and inquire about it with a local curiosities dealer.
We also meet his best friend Pete (Tom Bennett), whom befriended him at a young age. They are sent to a historian and antiques dealer by the name of Neville St. Aubrey, who is described completely nuts and focuses as much on a tangent about a turn of the 20th century photo studio as on Tom’s actual quest. Unfulfilled, Tom is sent home where he is set up on a date with one of Pete’s coworkers whom is obsessed with dinosaurs. Neville then calls him back later with the results of his study, only for Tom to find out that everything was not as it seemed in the photo.
Overall, the show paces itself at a nice relaxed clip and is incredibly light, while maintaining the esoteric nature that one would expect from most of Guest’s other work. The slow clip is a boon, as tonight’s episode “Boxes” needed to cram a large amount of exposition in 27 minutes, introducing us not only to our main characters, but also to our premise and the dubious historical authorities that Tom relies on to find his identity. Additionally, Family Tree benefits from its’ London setting, as the show is fearlessly dry and understated in its’ sense of humor.
In terms of acting, O’ Dowd thrives playing the perpetually mopey Tom, whom is not interested in a relationship because it would “get in the way of his wallowing”. Similarly, Bennett’s Pete has potential to be a scene-stealer, in his introduction he reminded me a lot of Ricky Gervais’ portrayal of David Brent: An awkward man with a heightened sense of self-importance whom can find humor in any situation.
That being said, this show definitively feels British (it is a co-production with BBC2 after all), so do expect a number of references to sail right over your head if you’re not very well versed in British television (I’m admittedly not). In this episode this was particularly apparent, as at least three times during the show we see snippets of fake BBC shows that rely on one knowing the source material to get the joke, and hopefully later episodes will translate better on this side of the pond.
The Final Verdict: Family Tree is absolutely delightful. While most Sunday cable offerings are often their most heavy dramatic offerings (see: Mad Men, Game of Thrones, Homeland etc.), it’s nice to have a show like Tree to unwind you as you prepare for the weak ahead. As a whole the show is superbly written, well acted, incredibly subtle, and most importantly: funny. If you liked any of Guest’s movie work it’s the highest of recommendations, and even for those unfamiliar with his prior work, I recommend checking it out.
Chatty Talk with Elise
Hellooooo & Welcome Back!!
The Today Show’s Savannah Guthrie is getting married!! Her boyfriend of 4 years, political consultant, Mike Feldman just became engaged over the weekend! Congratulations to the beautiful couple!!
Barbara Walters is RETIRING!! After spending over 50 years on the air, she is ready to sit back & watch all the other talents female & male anchors work their magic. They all have awfully large shoes to fill but something tells me, Barbara will definitely enjoy her long overdue retirement!
Jennifer Nettles released the first pictures of her baby boy & goodness, he is GORGEOUS! She gave birth back in December to Magnus Hamilton & kept him a secret until now! Happy 1st Mother’s Day to you, pretty lady!
New York City Photography- The High Line
The High Line Park is like New York City in many ways. It has a strong, blue collar past. It has fallen on hard times but also has had a glorious resurrection. It blends breathtaking views with a trendy, artistic atmosphere.
The area around the park is still being developed and when combined with the eclectic energy of the people in the neighborhood it makes for classic New York scenes.