I was actually going to make a post on depressing Russian movies, and why American movies on the same subjects never manage to be quite as hopeless and bleak, but instead decided to post on the more upbeat movies today ( Read more... )

Yesterday I went to see Patrick Wolf at Le Poisson Rouge, which was a nice night up until I got caught in the rain again and stuck in Penn Station overnight. I also just found out that Patrick is shooting a video in Manhattan today, and he invited fans to audition for extras, but I am too a) old for that sorta thing, b) broke, c) tired to brave ( Read more... )

I've been spending most of my time in NY in different places lately--Brooklyn, NYU area and Chinatown, uptown and Central Park--and at the same time noting how I seem less enamored of it then I used to be. The other week, I had a pretty active social calendar around here, and I thought "this is good, maybe I'm just over NY and I can save money and ( Read more... )

The recent return of kitschy-quirky old-fashioned pop is making me quite happy. There's Mika, of course, there's stuff like Lily Allen (not a huge fan, but she goes in this category), but the latest thing I listened to that I really enjoyed was "We Are The Pipettes," by, well, The Pipettes. Hook-crazy songs that recall the girl groups of the 60s ( Read more... )

So I am finally home! Or at my parents', whichever. Left just after midnight, and arrived at 3:45 am. At least the roads were clear ( Read more... )

I said before that I didn't want to relegate Patrick's opening act, Bishi, to a footnote, so I'm going to talk a bit more about her here. Anyway, she was rather extremely terrific. She came on in a killer silver space dress with traditional embroidery and a gleaming sitar and proceeded to play a champagne mix of folk and disco pop. She has a ( Read more... )

Patrick Wolf was phenomenal. I now want to see him again and again and again. If his DC and NY shows were in reverse order, I think I would now be making preparations to drive down immediately. I have to say it’s a ridiculous shame that his show wasn’t sold out. If any of you have the chance to see him, go and be blown away, because he’s ( Read more... )

Sometimes teaching ancient philosophy that you know nothing about can be quite difficult ( Read more... )

Marc Bolan dead 30 years ago today.

A few songs for Marc, then.

Child Star
Travelling Tragition
A Day Laye
Diamond Meadows
Cosmic Dancer
Life's a Gas
Spaceball Ricochet
Main Man
Life is Strange
Teenage Dream
Pain and Love
Dandy in the Underworld

Listen here.


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Listen! 14 year old Mika singing the Woodcutter's Boy part in the Pilgrim's Progress opera. And people think he sings high notes now.

And on a completely different... um... note...

Click to view

If any of you haven't seen this masterpiece of David Bowie's and Mick Jagger's, you must.

My favorite comment about this video:

"i can now rest easily knowing ( Read more... )