Next in the bonanza is LCD Soundsystem. I'm still steaming over the fact I had to pass on a chance to see them this past Friday in New York, because they're awesome live and this new album is amazing. Mike, if he were still alive, would probably consider this blasphemy, but I like it more than Sound of Silver, even if it lacks a track as tight as All My Friends or Someone Great. Thankfully, Mike's dead, so I can get away with these sorts of claims.
Broken Social Scene also put out a new album, though it's a little older than the rest of this music. Like the National, this album is a bit of an evolution from their past albums, but not so much that their identity or sound is really different. Feist isn't on this album but I have to say I didn't really notice or miss her, which can also be said about Mike's recent passing.
Continuing the hit parade is the Black Keys' latest album. Danger Mouse, of Grey Album and Broken Bells fame (whose post I would link to but for the damn DMCA) returned to produce this album. Like LCD's, I think this is my favorite album in their catalog, excluding their collab effort as part of BlackRoc. The Black Keys - Next Girl The Black Keys - Howlin' For You
J. Cole and Drake also recently released new tracks. In Drake's case, it seems like every day brings a new track or leak from him. The first is a song that won't be on Thank Me Later when it drops in three weeks. He also added a verse to the Alicia Keys song that I posted earlier, which is here. The last of the bunch is the first single of J. Cole's album so here it is. I hate the hook but the rest of it is tight.
Finally, now that Mike is no longer with us, I can post this last track without fear of reprisal. Here is the title track from Arcade Fire's album that doesn't drop until August. Were he alive today, this would bring on some ridiculous diatribe about how they're the most overrated band of all time and how he can't even listen to their album anymore even as he admits the album is good but not great. With him out of the picture, this track can be enjoyed in peace for what it is. Amen and may he RIP. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
After what seems like months without more than a handful of decent releases, the last month has been a veritable music bonanza for listeners of all varieties. First up is the National. My love for them has been well established, but I have to say after my first listen through the album I was a little underwhelmed. Not anymore. "Sorrow" quite simply is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, and I've come around on the rest of the album.
Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek put out a classic, Train of Thought, 10 years ago under the name Reflection Eternal. They finally released its follow-up, Revolutions Per Minute. It's good, but Train of Thought it is not. I think part of my problem is that they at one point sample Jay-Z giving dap to Kweli's lyrical skills, just seems unnecessary and narcissistic. Also doesn't help that he gets shown up by his guests on the third track here. Overall, it's quality, just probably not worth buying. Here are a few of my favorite songs.
Whereas with the first two, I was counting down the days till their album released, I hadn't heard of Janelle Monae until I heard a track of hers on the interweb two weeks ago. Her album is unreal pretty much from start to finish. As Mike said regarding Phantogram, this is a true album, in that you really should listen to the whole thing as it was arranged rather than isolated tracks. It has this musical-like quality to it, I'm guessing in part due to the string compositions and up and down energy levels of the tracks. I truly can't stop listening to this one.
Mike put me on this today, though in his gyspy fashion he told me the only version was on Facebook, where I was forced to turn over all of my confidential information to Nike before being able to view. Of course, it's all over the interweb and Mike was just too lazy to look elsewhere. About the only thing wrong with this ad is Nike's shameless continued promotion of Ronaldinho, who isn't even on his squad's reserve team. Still, the commercial manages to top the Joga Bonito ads that preceded the last World Cup. I couldn't be more jacked for the World Cup. Enjoy.
It's been a long time (long time), shouldn'ta left you (left you), without a dope post to step to (step to, step to). Alright enough corny Timbaland references. Unlike Mike, after trips to Napa and home, I'm back like cooked crack. Anyone who knows me knows that I have irrationally strong fears of certain things, two of which are pre-teen beauty pageant participants and middle school cheerleaders. Running into a team from those cheerleading competitions will induce a cold sweat and cause me to freeze like a Vietnam vet having a flashback. The sight of those little militant girls with their clown make up on and shrill voices is enough to shake me for a few hours.
Well, the rest of my work day has just been shot (which is the reason I'm posting this now) because I just came across this, which combines both of those fears in a hair-raising and terror-inspiring two minutes.
After watching this, I'm left wondering who's more of a terrorist, these girls or Faisal Shazahad. Tough to say... I'm curious as to two things. First, where people think these girls will be at age 25( my guess: hitting their prime in the soft-core porn industry or living week to week as a professional cheerleader down on their knees, maybe literally, praying for a shot at bagging an athlete) Second, what should be done to the parents who allow, and I'm guessing encourage, participation in terrorist activities like this (my vote: forcing them to watch their child's eventual sex tape that is released in order to generate buzz for an upcoming reality show appearance in which they attempt to hoodwink some washed up celeb into "marrying" them by demonstrating their ability to eat an extra-beef kosher hot dog without chewing.)
Guru, one of the all time greats died after a year-long fight with cancer. God must've need an MC. Although he went on to do some solo work, he'll always be known as the MC for Gangstarr. He and Premier came up together and despite the weird falling out they had, they'll always be linked. They were one of the best in the golden era of boom-bap and it's sad he died while they were on such bad terms. Full Clip is one of those songs I'll always remember where I was when I first heard it. Hard to believe he was only 43. R.I.P.
RJD2 - Good Times Roll (part 2) Whereas part one concentrated on Philly, part two hits some spots I tried on recent trips. Last weekend I went up to NYC for all of 16 hours. What followed was a non-stop food and booze bonanza. Friday, we had a feast in house. My buddy introduced me to Moe the butcher and his amazing dry-aged steaks. I showed him a new way to do scallops that I got from Thomas Keller's awesomely accessible cookbook. What was new to both him and I wasn't the simple presentation or the searing, but the use of clarified butter and a brine. The result is awesome. No sauce needed, the scallops are crazy flavorful by themselves. If you're like me and grew up with somewhat of an aversion to scallops because of the texture, this will change your mind and make you realize your mom couldn't cook for shit. The recipe is excerpted here. One note of caution, product does matter here. Since there are basically no other ingredients involved, splurge on decent diver (dry-packed) scallops. LCD Soundsystem - All my Friends
After getting him hooked on Tito's Vodka and staying up till 5 drinking them on the rocks, I figured the only way to start the morning was with a trip to the Doughnut Plant in the Lower East Side. Neither of us had been before, but I had heard and read really amazing things. As we got in line, we saw a woman emerge with a monstrous coconut cream doughnut. After she took her first bite, her eyes rolled back in her head and her limbs went limp in what I'd certainly describe as the mythical female orgasm, if I knew what one of those looked like. Needless to say, I was convinced after that the place would live up to the hype. Jurassic Five - Great Expectations
With Mike, there's always the risk that he's going to turn the blog into imsofuckingintoyou.com. Of course, that would require that he wasn't currently eloping, or honeymooning (I'm not sure which part of trip he's currently on) in Australia. With me, there's always the risk that I turn the blog into imanobnoxiousfoodie.com So since Mike is gone, for this post, that's what the blog's going to be. I've been on a rampage lately with new places so here are a few that I can't stop raving about split into two posts with random music interspersed throughout.
The first is Taqueria La Veracruzana, a gem on 9th and Washington, in the Italian Market here in Philly. I discovered the place when looking for a Mexican grocery store way back in November, but forgot about it until I recently started running past it. Murs - Yesterday and Today Finally, I drug someone out there last week to try it for the first time. It definitely delivered. The chips and salsa were complimentary and bottomless so as not to violate the cardinal rule of Mexican restaurants. They came with a tomatillo salsa and a salsa picante that was top drawer. I got three tacos (a chorizo, a carnitas, and an al pastor) all for 6 bucks. They're served the way tacos should be, fresh masa tortillas, some onions, a little cilantro, and lime wedges on the side. My only complaint was no queso fresco, but I'm sure I could've asked for some. I definitely want to go back to try some of their tortas and the choriqueso dish. To top it all off, they actually serve both American, and Mexican coke on the menu. May god have mercy on the soul of the person who orders American Coke around me.
Laura Marling - Rambling Man The second isn't so much of a place as it is a new recurring event here in Philly. Last week was the second of collaborative dinners among five of Philly's most up and coming chefs. The event, named Chefs Gone Wild, puts together David Katz of Meme, Peter Woolsey of Bistrot La Minette, Mike Solomonov of Zahav, Pierre Camels of Bibou, and John Taus of Snackbar (correction, now formerly of Snackbar). The first event was this past summer and the chefs each designed a course involving a different part of a pig, yes even dessert.
Came across this over the weekend. I'm a sucker for piano remixes so this was a softball. In related news, Passion Pit is playing at the Mann Center June 27th here in Philly. Tickets should be still be available.
Everyone in the country will be spitting venom at Duke tomorrow night. So for all the Duke haters, especially Mike, all I have to say is .... Hi Hater.
Maybe it's because Friday is the anniversary of Mike and I killing Jesus, but this week has had it's share of foreboding news, so I'm going to steal Jeff Foxworthy's bit and list the reasons we know the apocalypse is upon us.
You know the apocalypse is upon us when .... Fox News not only has the highest rated show on cable news, it has the top f'ing 13. Not only does O'Reilly top the list, but the re-run of his show comes in at #8. Those looking for clues as to why the GOP has gone to hell and is taking the country with need look no further than the above list as to why.
You know the apocalypse is upon us when .... Glenn Beck is duping nearly 3 million Americans into his nonsense.
You know the apocalypse is upon us when .... the Wall Street Journal, one-time bastion of objective reporting and go-to source for information about the business sector.... has decided to launch a gossip column.
You know the apocalypse is upon us when .... pop icon and sex symbol Ricky Martin comes out of the closet. And like being robbed by a little old lady in a motorized cart, I didn't even see it coming.
You know the apocalypse is upon when .... Taco Bell starts serving shrimp tacos, and they're not terrible. Seriously, a company known for vermin infestations and use of Grade D meat (yes grade D does exist) is going to dabble in shellfish. This can't possibly go right, right? Wrong. Apparently, Taco Bell has succeeded in finding some of the world's perfect prawns.
You know the apocalypse is upon us when .... the second most watched cable network show is making claims that the health care bill is racist because .... it taxes indoor tanning salons and who uses fake tanning, well almost entirely white people.
You know the apocalypse is upon us when .... Newark just celebrated a murder-free month. Ever since I saw the documentary Street Fight, I've been fascinated by Cory Booker. To see this happen for the first time in 40 years just reaffirms that this guy is the real deal. Hell, the guy personally responded to a twitter post asking him to help shovel an elderly lady's driveway this past winter. Booker in '16.
Finally, you know the apocalypse is upon us when .... KFC has started a countdown for its newest calorie bomb, the Double Down... and sadly, I can't wait to try it. Two pieces of fried chicken sandwiching monterrey and pepper jack cheeses, and two slabs of bacon, dear god. Now I'm not sure what exactly they're doubling down on (saturated fat, a policy to single-handedly topple our health care system?), but I don't much care. I'd say there's about at 40% chance my heart might stop midway through eating this but if so, look out Hell, here I come.
