Lately I have been hearing a lot about the British show Skins. I have watched it a few times over the seasons, and have enjoyed the Britishness of it (grime music, rude boy slang, club drugs) as well as the fairly realistic portrayal of youth and adolescence. Read More
New York
aka The Big Apple, N.Y.C., Zoo York, Capital of the World, Gotham City
“Like 90210 with sex and E”
Callan | March 9th, 2010
UbuWeb: Protector of the avant-garde
Callan | March 8th, 2010
Sadeness part 3
Callan | March 1st, 2010
Sade has a new album out and its pretty good, but with or without this record we are experiencing a second Sade moment- mostly due to twittering tastemakers being quick on the “Sade is back” claim. Read More
chatroullette is a totally creepy and momentarily fascinating development in communication.
Callan | February 28th, 2010
The internet was created for military communication (see arpanet) by acid taking harvard and MIT grads who were as much cybernetic theorists as they were anarchists. Many of the advancements with the internet regarding software etc have been the result of lots of capital generated by pornography websites. The meeting point for this commerce and cybernetics theory, might I suggest, is a site like Chatroulette.com. Read More
Dungarees are a cute look!
Callan | February 27th, 2010
I was at 2 parties in Brooklyn recently: Read More
David Lynch once again influences indie-rock
Callan | February 15th, 2010
I have noticed the presence of David Lynch in indie music again lately. The sound includes spooky Americana balladry with elements of the 90’s indie culture that worshiped David Lynch, as well as the late eighties synth pads that were actually used in the soundtracks. Read More
The total challenge of finding good and somewhat affordable food in NY
Callan | February 10th, 2010
When I moved to NY I was worried that the food culture was bad. I mean it kinda is- sandwiches on bad rolls, pizza, hot dogs (are we 9?), terrible thai food, Polish food(?). Burgers, Ramen, and Pho are ok but everything else either costs 5 disgusting dollars or 100. Read More
Tumblr: Visual culture is alive and well and low-res
Callan | February 9th, 2010
I have noticed that a lot of artists are creating their visual manifestos via Tumblr. Tumblr is often thought of as blogspot lite. Read More
90’s horse girl chic
Callan | February 8th, 2010
One of the few looks I can really think of right now that constitutes a “trend” is what girls are wearing as a result of the twee-pop indie-revival. It involves dressing kinda like a young girl in the 1990’s, a “horse girl.” Read More
Punk-House, chilled out
Callan | January 26th, 2010
Punk-house is a funny genre because nobody really wants to call it house and maybe they shouldn’t, but from what I have noticed, the experimental warehouse party scene sounds much more “deep” than it used to- like with diva samples and long phasing chords. Read More
TAKE IVY
Callan | January 7th, 2010
The classic preppie look is not exactly a new trend or even an obscure one. Even the unobservant surely spotted it in Vampire Weekend press photos, or the overabundance of Sperry Topsiders amongst young men (even women). HOWEVER, among the “American-trad” clothing scene it seems to be prepared for a second, more authentic looking flourish. Read More
Interactive Yeasayer website is actually quite rad
Callan | January 6th, 2010
New-Age music: Now less relaxing!
Callan | December 30th, 2009
The DIY/underground music community seems to be finally ready to get excited about New-Age music. Read More
The Manhattan Inn and other examples of doing things right
Callan | December 21st, 2009
A restaurant/bar opened in Greenpoint near McCarren park entitled “The Manhattan Inn,” and though I haven’t been there it SEEMS to be an example of how to run a successful room. For one- it is kind of under wraps, and not attractive to people from New Jersey yet, and secondly, it seems to be the conglomeration of about 10 good ideas. Read More
“Aged to Perfection”
Callan | December 18th, 2009
Two films have come to mind recently as being ready for a revisit. The first is Steven Soderbergh’s Sex, Lies, and Videotape. This film is ridiculously stylish and pyschosexual in that James Spadery way. Every shot is a unique portrait of interesting clothing and interior design, particularly when Andy Macdowell is talking on the phone in front of the huge window with the giant plant outside (I tried to find an image to no avail). There is so much good stuff to look at here, including a good look involving thick suspenders, as well as a pastel-colored modern art themed bedroom. Seriously, this movie is amazing looking. Read More