Literature to Cinema: True Grit

source: here

who else is excited?!?!

Band of Outsiders

source: here

finding inspiration/something vaguely interesting to write about while not doing anything particularly interesting with your day is proving rather difficult . . . I'll try to remedy that.

Notes on a Thursday

This week has been relatively hectic, but I wanted to mention that a) I went to a Jackson Browne concert last Sunday, and it was quite quite good. He played my favorite song, "Late for the Sky," which made me ecstatic to the point where tears welled up in my eyes (which I thought was a rather odd reaction). He also played one of my mom's favorite songs, "Fountain of Sorrow," which he apparently doesn't play very often. Jackson Browne's music came into my life when I really needed it, at the risk of sounding sappy. I'm not sure if I'd be at the same point in my life, right now, had it not been for his music. "Doctor My Eyes," "These Days" and "Our Lady of the Well" were kind of what opened the doors to 70s music and the more "country" sound and everything that I love right now.

And I certainly wouldn't be getting into Bonnie Raitt's old stuff, like I have been today.

photo by Gary Smaby, found here

 Her old stuff just has this incredible blues sound . . . and she's so funny! There's a really wry sense of humor in her music, and it's just so fantastic! Beyond this, she has an incredible blues voice, up there with Janis Joplin and Dusty Springfield. So amazing.



source: here

Film Review: the September Issue

This documentary has been out for quite awhile. I think Rebecca of the Clothes Horse and many others have talked about it. But, having now dabbled in publishing, it is SO interesting to watch. I think I'm watching it now for the third time. It really is an excellent representation of how putting together a magazine works. The discussions between Grace Coddington (my heeeeroo!) and Anna Wintour are things that, 4 months ago, I would have called terrible arguments. Now . . . it's just part of the job. You argue, you debate . . . and very frequently you lose to the editor's vision.  

source: I Mean . . . What?!

Granted, I don't work in fashion publishing. I'm not sure I ever could, because to me it is so objective. But I love watching Grace Coddington style her photoshoots. She just creates these amazing images . . . several of my favorite editorial spreads in Vogue are actually styled by Grace and I had no idea. She really understands the artistry and the drama that photographs can create. I love that you see Anna Wintour's thought process, you see the editing. And you see her as a person, to a certain extent. And I think what applies is, funnily enough, the quote that I really took away from Devil Wears Prada, which is [paraphrasing] "if she were a man, all they would say is that she's great at her job" and none of the other crap would matter. 

source: gawker via myturtleneck

I think both women are incredible, and that the film portrays them wonderfully (I hope they think so, too!). Frankly, it made me want to start subscribing to Vogue again . . . and I'm slightly frightened of a world where these two aren't heading the magazine.

Etsy love

Recently I made a purchase from etsy shop, Dandyrions, and I can't get over how fantastic the whole experience was. The seller/designer, Lisa, was just so amazing. She kept me updated on shipping, and even checked with me to make sure that I knew the shirts she uses run a bit bigger (they're unisex). The packaging was so cute, with a nice personalized note giving me the care instructions.

source: here

The products are so cute, they've got a really lovely sense of whimsy to them, and I'm so excited to wear it out. It's the first time I've really REALLY looked at an article of clothing and a styled outfit just instantly popped into my head.I want to wear it with these (the shoe hunt has been decided. For now.)

Crisp Weather and Apple Cider donuts-a fall(ish) playlist

source: here

This weekend the weather went below 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and in my rapturous delighting I've created a transition-to-fall-weather playlist.* The weather is going back to fairly hot next week, but I'll keep playing this with the promise of corduroy and plaid.

1. Leonard Cohen- So Long, Marianne
2. Sea Wolf- You're a Wolf
3. Carole King- Tapestry
4. Big Star- Thirteen
5. Whiskeytown- Dreams
6. Sufjan Stevens- Decatur, Or, Round of Applause for your Stepmother!
7. The Beatles- Lovely Rita
8. Tori Amos- Amber Waves
9. Mumford & Sons- Dust Bowl Dance
10. Laura Veirs- Carol Kaye
11. Iron & Wine- No Moon
12. Jenny and Johnny- My Pet Snakes
13. Fleet Foxes- Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
14. Neko Case- Margaret vs. Pauline
15. Simon & Garfunkel- The Only Living Boy in New York
16. Doves- Kingdom of Rust
17. David Bowie- Starman
18. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss- Stick with Me Baby






*this was supposed to be posted, like, two weeks ago, so you know I've thought about it really really hard.

Paste, I hardly knew you

source: Good News Pic

On September 1, 2010 Paste Magazine announced that it would be suspending its print publication. Indie music lovers should not be too disheartened, though--they will continue their website and twitter feed.

However, this is just yet another blow to the world of print and its saddening decrease in popularity. I turned to Paste magazine for its quality articles, having lost interest in the more popular Rolling Stone which (despite recent great pieces like the one on the oil spill and General McChrystal) has become the People magazine of music magazines, filled with gossip and Top 40 news that I personally don't really care about. 

Of course there is something to be said for the e-readers that are coming out (Kindle, iPad, etc.). They're travel-size, fit multiple books in one little gadget, etc etc. I understand the practicality, and I appreciate it. 

But there's nothing like the smell of a book. Of holding it in your hands, of literally turning its pages, hearing the paper crinkle gently. Nothing can replace re-discovery a much beloved book, seeing where you dog-earred the pages and the wear and tear of multiple reads. Even magazines . . . the ability to tear out pages for pictures and clippings of your favorite articles, actors, musicians to paper your adolescent room. Or your closet if, like me, your parents wouldn't let you tape things on your walls.

I'm not a Luddite. I'm not saying we have to avoid this new technology. If you travel frequently, have a long commute on public transportation, or are at school and don't want to carry a million heavy books (the plight of the English major) then go for it! But please, please, please don't stop buying books and magazines. It's an industry that should NOT be failing.

Notes on a Thursday

Way back in early August, my parents and I went to a Kings of Leon concert. Before I really get into the experience, I'd like to address one concert etiquette rule that I did not mention in the last post, because I did not feel in necessary. It's the "this is a concert, not a porn film" rule. A little PDA is fine-- you know, you're in love, you're grooving to the tunes . . . it's all gravy, baby. But make-outage to the point where I'm more intimately acquainted with your body than your doctor is just a bit rude.


But anyway, the Followill boys are great. Caleb was the only one that spoke, and he was pretty taciturn. They played two new songs from the record they just cut earlier in the summer, "Mary" and "Goin' Back down South." If these songs are any indication of what the new album is going to sound like, than I'm pretty excited. Caleb played acoustic guitar in both, and it seems like they're going back toward their earlier Youth and Young Manhood/A-ha Shake Heartbreak sound (a move I thoroughly approve of).

They rocked the house (pavilion), each standing in their places pretty solidly the whole time. Matthew Followill moved around the most--shaking his head, moving his guitar around, and in an overall pretty jolly mood, it seems.  Jared Followill, in contrast, seemed the most stoic. They played a decent mix of several different albums, like "Molly's Chambers," "Be Somebody" and so forth. But as amazing as the music was (it sounded just like the album) and the incredible stage set-up (they had tons of stage lights clustered behind them like a wall, that flashed and glowed like burning embers) I couldn't help thinking about the conundrum that the band so excellently illustrates.

all pictures: we heart it

Of course, you want a band you love to be successful. You think they're awesome, and you want other people to think they're awesome, too. . . . Until suddenly they are successful and you don't feel that way anymore. It's frankly kind of saddening when you realize that at least a third of the people in the audience know only two or three songs--maybe the latest album at best. I mean, "Sex on Fire" IS a great song, but it's not their only great song! In fact, there are many others that I like better!


So, when the girl in front of me, who'd been sitting in her chair playing with her phone all night looking like she was miserable, jumped up to dance around . . . I kinda wanted to punch her in the back of the head a little bit. And then I felt bad . . . kida. And I think the band almost feels that way, too. They sounded almost dutiful . . . like they were reciting it. The sex, quite frankly, was not on fire, only smoldering. 


This is not to say that I don't discover bands by hearing one amazing song, then downloading the album, or whatever. And frequently, I do like just one song rather than the artist's entire cannon. I'm not saying you have to learn every single song a band has ever done before you go to their concert . . . frankly, I'm not entirely sure what I'm saying. It's just something to think about.





source: youtube

I'm Listening to . . . .

Running to Stand Still, U2



source: mathnu2rkewl