Great Songs
Here’s a playlist of some of the best songs that I’ve been into this year. There’s a healthy dose of early nineties r&b as well as some lovely romantic classics.
1. Pony
2. Blue Bayou
3. Silly Ho
5. Dirty Girl
6. Too Close
Songs »Best of 2010 Song Round Up
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Books »Best of 2010 Book Round Up
Great Books
I didn’t read quite as many books this year as usual, but have still come up with a pretty great short list for your literary enjoyment. So here’s the best of the picks for the next time you want to curl up with a good read.
2. Clockers
3. No One Belongs Here More Than You
4. Lunar Park
5. Christian Lacroix on Fashion
6. somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond
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Posted on January 1, 2011
Movies »Best of 2010 Movie Round Up
Great Movies
Time to reflect and give a run down of the very best of the recommendations I’ve given over the year. So here’s my list of the top movies to see, a mix of old and new, funny and strange – the very best for the next time you want to stay in with popcorn and a whole bunch of movies (perfect actually for this after New Years weekend):
1. Hausu
2. Amadeus
5. Videodrome
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Posted on January 1, 2011
Books »We Have Always Lived in the Castle (Best Book)
Here's what I said back on December 28th:
Shirley Jackson is a vivid horror writer, not vivid as in blood and gore, but like her most famous short story, The Lottery, her depictions of the horrors of human cruelty are ones that stick in your imagination forever. Since reading that short story way back in junior high, I'd never tried anything else that Jackson had written and was happy to have finally rediscovered her work with the short novel We Have Always Lived In the Castle, a chilling, twisted, smart, haunting book about a family rocked by murder, insanity, suspicion and class warfare.
Merricat Blackwood (named by Book Magazine as one of The 100 Best Fictional Characters Since 1900) is your narrator, a strange child of eighteen and one of the only surviving members of a prominent family that was killed at breakfast when someone put arsenic in their sugar. Constance, her older sister was acquitted of the murders and poor Uncle Julian's body and mind were permanently warped by his non lethal dosage. Together the three of them, along with Jonas, the cat, live in an old mansion apart from the rest of the village. They are completely sheltered from the outside world except for the two days a week Merricat goes into the village for goods and must endure the stares and laughter of the villagers, and Sundays when members of other prominent families bravely take tea with the two mysterious girls.
Their beloved castle is under the protection of Merricat's sympathetic magic described by wikipedia as:
“a type of magic based on imitation or correspondence. Imitation involves using effigies or poppets to affect the environment of people, or occasionally people themselves. Correspondence is based on the idea that one can influence something based on its relationship to another thing.”
For example, she buries items like a box of silver coins and nails her father's books to the surrounding trees to keep out strangers; once that book falls, she knows danger is imminent.
That danger comes in the form of Cousin Charles, a thieving manipulator who can fool the frail Constance, but not so easily the equally manipulative Merricat who envisions different ways he could die (turning him into a fly and leaving him in a spiders web, or perhaps just stomping him to death in the garden…) during a rather unappreciated visit. His presence sparks a chain of events that breaks down their odd routines and concludes in an eruption of fire and violence which marks the beginning of a new and far weirder way of life for the two sisters.
It's part Grey Gardens, part Tim Burton (who would have a grand time adapting this), part old timey Gaslight thriller, and I loved it. It was interesting to find out that Jackson was an agoraphobic herself, which is probably why the extremely eccentric but happy sisters are sympathetic and oddly relatable while all the outsiders are depicted as cruel or petty.
While Jackson isn't as well known today as she deserves to be, this, her last novel did come out in a new edition in 2007 with a smart looking cover featuring an illustration by Thomas Ott (pictured) but the original cover is also pretty wonderful and both adorn an equally great read.
RUNNERS UP:
The Demon Princes
Random Family
Code of the Woosters
Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets
A Friend of the Earth
Please Don't Promise Me Forever
See more: Books 1960s Best of Fiction Mysteries
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Posted on November 2, 2009
Movies »Gold Diggers of 1933 (Best Movie)
Here's what I said way back on December 15th:
Gold Diggers of 1933 is a classic musical with a goofy, funny charm anchored by several lavish Busby Berkeley numbers and a lively story. The film opens on Gingers Rogers's beaming face as she sings “We're in the Money” while a trail of chorus girls in tiny coin costumes tap dance behind her. The irony (we quickly discover when the rehearsal gets shut down by the coppers) is that no one is really in the money at all – it's the Depression, darling, and Barney, the show's producer, hasn't paid his bills.
This leaves our four little actresses: innocent Polly (Ruby Keeler), sultry Fay (Rogers), sassy Carol (Joan Blondell), and the magnificently named Trixie Lorraine (Aline MacMahon) who's wise and funny (she remarks to a portly dance partner, “Why, you're as light as a heifer,”) out of work until Barney can come up with the money for a new show. Enter Dick Powell as Brad Roberts, the seemingly hard up neighbor and songwriter who comes to their rescue. But how? Did he rob a bank to impress his sweetheart, Polly? Or is there some other secret he's been hiding?
We find out soon enough (though I won't spoil it for you here), but the story roller-coasters through mistaken identity, star crossed love affairs, and more than one topsy turvy romance. Chorus girls and high society men mix even though the upper class considers our heroines to be “parasites”, “chiselers”, and “gold diggers”. While much of the story, despite its considerable age, is still relevant and surprisingly fresh, humorously enough the one bit of life that's changed the most is high society's aversion to fame and entertainment. Nowadays the rich can't wait to be splashed all over TV and date celebrities.
Also, even in a Depression, the clothing is spectacular here – even a “bad dress” sports amazing sleeve details and tailoring, while more fun frocks (particularly worn by the statuesque Blondell) are wild and stunning. In one scene two of the girls, in a ruse to fool a couple of Boston high society men, insist on new adorable hats and refuse to leave the apartment with out corsages – corsages, I might add that sit prettily atop fur stoles at lavish night clubs.
The cast is wonderful and I was particularly taken with Warren William's leading man snob (see this week's hunk), but the musical numbers are the real show stealers. The first, “Petting in the Park” features: kissing monkeys, dapper singing cops, roller-skating girls, a freaky man-baby on roller-skates, an on-stage blizzard and rainstorms, a strip tease in silhouette, innumerable garter belts, and bathing suits made of tin!
Another number “The Shadow Waltz” is kind of a boring song, but it's saved by discus skirts and neon violins! The final number, “Remember My Forgotten Man” is the best song and Joan Blondell's spoken lament reminds us of the actual pains the Depression brought so many.
This popular film spawned three sequels that I haven't seen yet.
RUNNERS UP:
Happy Go Lucky
The Room
Aguirre: The Wrath of God
Inglourious Basterds
Anvil: The Story of Anvil
The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant
See more: Movies 1930s Best of Musicals
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Posted on November 2, 2009
Songs »Sugarman (Best Song)
Here's what I wrote back on April 6th:
I can not, for the life of me, figure out why Sugarman, the amazing 1970 song by little-known Rodriguez, never became a smash hit here in the USA. It's like a long-lost dreamily upbeat Donovan track, minus the chilling goofiness of Mellow Yellow but imbued with the naughtiness of Codeine's derided subject matter; it seems, to me, to be an ode to the pleasures of drug-taking.
Now considered a “cult” classic rock song, Sugarman is a huge hit in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Propelled by its recent appearance as a sample in a song by someone called “Nas”, maybe this spectacularly catchy song will finally catch on and reach a wide American audience, inspiring them to swing their shoulders like hippies and let the sound carry them away.
Originally a Motown singer, Rodriguez came Icarianly close to stardom but lost it all with a bunk record company then went on to shed his musical roots, living quietly and eventually making a run for local office in Detroit.
While I'm sure he's a well rounded man who's enjoyed his life and recent re-discovery, I can't help but feel sad about all the music he could have made if he'd stuck with it through the years. Though, just ask the Rolling Stones what the last good song they recorded was (answer: none)… Maybe we should just count our blessings that we're left with this singular and underplayed gem.
RUNNERS UP:
What You Won't Do For Love
Somebody Loves You
Deamon Lover
Naughty Girl
Yes We Can Can
Once Bitten Twice Shy
See more: Songs 1970s Best of Psychedelic
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Posted on November 2, 2009
Albums »Eccentric Soul Vol 7: The Deep City Label (Best Album)
Here's what I had to say on the 21st of September:
At Numero Group, “The mission was simple: to dig deep into the recesses of our record collections with the goal of finding the dustiest gems begging to be released from their exile on geek street.”
For all their endeavors to bring forgotten soul to my ears, I am eternally grateful.
Eccentric Soul Vol 7: The Deep City Label compilation has brought me so much joy in the last few days. I found it after my old friend Billy said he was touring with the Eccentric Soul Review (which comes to New York in November). I downloaded this volume because it features one of my personal favorite obscure soul singers, Betty Wright, whose two songs Paralyzed and Good Lovin' are particular stand outs in the amazing collection.
Other exceptional tracks are “Am I A Good Man” by Them Two, Paul Kelly's “The Upset”, and “I am Controlled by Your Love” by Helene Smith. Also love the lyrics from “Stay Away from My Johnny”: “There's only two kind of girls that he loves and I'm both of them”.
Numero describes the label as “Possibly the most influential of all the 60s Miami soul label's, the Deep City sound not only changed the Metro-Dade area, but set the tone for disco powerhouse TK's impressive run in the 70s.”
That none of the singers featured ever gained substantial fame is a shame. That Numero has several more compilations to dig through is a blessing.
RUNNERS UP:
Blackout
Crime and Dissonance
Fleetwood Mac Live
Amadeus
L'Homme a Tete de Chou
The Way I See It
See more: Albums 1960s Best of Compilations R&B
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Posted on November 2, 2009
Hunks »Monty Python (Best Hunks)
Here's what I wrote on January 19th:
They are charming, sharp, handsome, hilarious, British, amiable, neatly dressed and likely a bit of a handful.?Altogether quite my cup of tea.?I think it unfair to put here preference for one over another, so I represent them collectively as they are my earliest, enduring crush.
RUNNERS UP:
Idris Elba
Sam Elliott
Danny McBride
Warren William
Mr Darcy
Joe Dallesandro
See more: Hunks Actors Best of British Comedians
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Posted on November 2, 2009
Style Icons: Male »Frank Frazetta (Best Male Style Icon)
Here's what I had to say on January 15th:
It's really crazy that I've neglected to honor Frank Frazetta here before. He, along with Vogue Magazine, Cyndi Lauper, The Talking Heads and Manhattan Transfer were the biggest influences on me as a really young kid. Frazetta's work particularly helped shape my aesthetics and love for the Dungeon and Dragons side of life.
I use to pore over books of Frazetta's amazing art with my dad in the basement, dreaming about sitting atop dangerous hilltops, surrounded by goblins, looking sexy and hardcore in a metal bikini (which also inspired the design of Princess Leia's famous costume). I would watch the movie Fire and Ice over and over again (one of the first movies I ever recommended here) and even to this day, I wear his artwork almost daily on my back.
He was largely successful as a commercial artist, doing work for movies like The Gauntlet, The Fearless Vampire Killers, and Mad Max, and album art for bands like Molly Hatchet (another prized possession is my tour t-shirt with his Flirtin' with Disaster art on it). Of course, now he's finally respected as an artist and his work sells for thousands (which is why I'll have to settle for tee shirts and patches until my ship comes in).
He grew up in Brooklyn, and according Wikipedia, “attributes much of the violence and brutality of his later paintings to his actual experiences as a young man defending himself from the street gangs of Brooklyn”. Another interesting and exciting fact is that he and his family run a small museum on their estate in Pennsylvania –? museum that I will of course be going to once it re-opens in May.
I really adore and admire Frazetta, possibly more than any other living artist. I thank my dad for introducing him to me and I hope that maybe I can introduce his work to the few people reading this blog that aren't already familiar with it – and I'm thankful that he's been so prolific over the years.
RUNNERS UP:
Queen
Irving Penn
The Cockettes
Jim Rumph
Garrett Brown
The Hanson Brothers
See more: Style Icons: Male Artists Best of Fantasy
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Posted on November 2, 2009
Style Icons: Female »Mimi Weddell (Best Female Style Icon)
Here's what I wrote on May 4th:
Every quote attributed to (“I take a teaspoon of brandy when I feel spacey. It makes me come alive.” and?”I'd sell myself for a hat,”) or about (“Facts are not my mother's strong point”) adds to the charm of the willowy actress and style icon, Mimi Weddell.
While her old lady stylish eccentricities might call to mind the antics of the Beales, she never seems to teeter into such decrepit derangement. Instead, with a motto of “Rise above it!” she's an inspirational wonder with hundreds of hats (she and her millinery obsession are the subject of a 2008 documentary Hats Off that I am excited to see and wish would come to Netflix – check out the Algonquin release party photos here).
Here are some excellent photos of her and her adorably disorganized apartment taken by Brix Picks fave Tim Walker.
RUNNERS UPS:
Laura and Kate Mulleavy
Eiko Ishioka
Catherine Ribeiro
The Great Kat
Charlotte Rampling
Michelle Obama