Top Artists this Week (see more)
17 Feb 2008 – 24 Feb 2008
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Rhymefest |
| 2 |
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Janet Jackson |
| 3 |
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Michael Jackson |
| 4 |
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Justice |
| 5 |
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Common |
| 6 |
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M.I.A. |
| 6 | wale | |
| 8 |
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MF DOOM |
| 9 |
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Jaylib |
| 9 |
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Maxïmo Park |
Last week's purchases/pickups: slow children playing and ...
The fourth volume in our Eccentric Soul series examines the oil stained underside of the Motor City sound. There are no gold records, million dollar buyouts, or quaint museums at the end of the story, just a handful of four figure 45s, a box of photographs, and a condemned building. If Detroit was once an ocean of soul, the Big Mack label was certainly an island.
Last.fm recommended: Five Deez and...
Y'all remember Estelle, right?
The home is remote, even by Tibetan standards. Charming carvings cannot disguise how primitive it is. Not only does it have no toilet, it doesn't have an outhouse. Or even a designated hole in the ground. It does, however, boast one very great prize -- a ringing cellphone.
Why?
- Our Cells, Ourselves by Joel Garreau, The Washington Post, 02.24.08
Now, whether or not I actually answer my phone is debatable but one thing is for sure - I always have my phone. When I don't, my stress level is higher. The article talks about sociability. Right, that. Whether by text, twitter, or email, it keeps me connected and informed even if I rarely if ever raise it all the way to my ear.
But 1 cell for every 2 people? Crazy.
- Rolling Brownout Hits LA by Oliver Wang, Soul Sides, 01.23.08I've recently been enjoying the sounds of Brownout, a Latin funk outfit out of Austin, Texas. They've been around for a minute in the form of Grupo Fantasma except here, they're strictly instrumental. What I like about these guys is not only that they have their chops down but rather than following a strict revivalist route, their sound has a clear Latin influence but isn't holden to simply trying to sound like it's East Harlem 1968 again.
That smoothed out Latin Funk has given way this morning to the Samba. Bah Samba to be exact. But this post isn't about the spontaneous dance party in my apartment early this Sunday. No, I've been thinking a lot about public spaces, particularly, the differences between those in LA and SF.
A week ago, I was in San Francisco for the long weekend. Every time I'm up there, I do so much more than I do here. We traveled the city by bus! by muni! by cab! by foot! by BART! We went in search of giant donuts and art spaces and street art and drinks and delectables! I went to a random hippie party! We spent long swaths of time in Dolores and Golden Gate parks and at the de Young and in each instance I was struck by the vibe of the city and the timbre of the people. There's a rhythm. I felt immediately connected and, as Felicia remarks often, delighted by it.
At the de Young, for example, after taking the bus the wrong way--and figuring that misstep out by the GPS in our phones because, hello, nerds--we found our way into the museum's fountain area where a local artists' bazaar was taking place. We found ourselves a bench and people watched for awhile. We remarked on everyone's unique styles (particularly the comfortable yet stylish shoes that adorned everyone) and the smiles on their faces and the diversity, not just of ethnicity, but of age and sexuality and economy. Then we finally went inside and checked out the Gilbert & George exhibit where my mind was blown.
As I remarked to Lauren yesterday as we walked through the new BCAM building at LACMA, I never took art history. I don't really know how to parse contemporary art but what the Gilbert & George exhibit showcased was their ability to shine a light on their current affairs through photography and paint and their own beings and all in these giant set pieces that take minutes to take in. San Francisco is like that for me. I need more than the fleeting moments I get with that town and it's people. It's why I visit monthly now. My mind and heart are tugged there in an attempt to soak it all up.
Cut to yesterday's afternoon. It started with a car ride. Obviously. And a haircut. And traffic. And dodging award ceremonies. And a wonderful 90 minutes at LACMA with a good friend. It also included parking woes. And a trip to The Grove. And a celebrity sighting--Rebecca De Mornay enjoying the Transform exhibit alone--and none of that rhythm or sense of interconnectedness that I felt just a week prior doing similar things. Nor any of that sense of wonder.
There's a great view from the top floor of BCAM. You can see much of Hollywood and Beverly Hills but what we noticed was the 99 Cent store. "I've never seen it from this high, " she said.
"Neither have I," I agreed. We
We had fun, sure. We laughed at the Giant Balloon dog, discussed Damien Hirst in depth, were awed by Cindy Sherman, became kids again with the oversized kitchen table, and got vertigo in the first floor maze. We also rapped Mama Said Knock You Out and spent too much money in the Apple Store. It was enjoyable but it was fun we shared only with each other. In LA, in our public spaces, our rhythm is our own. It's one of the reasons people love Los Angeles. It's often one of the reasons I love it.
Lately, though, I'm hungry for that shared movement.
Samba!
Be Our Guest is all about what we do "backstage" to make the Disney magic happen. Online, just as in the parks, you don't get to see what goes on behind the curtain. You're never aware of our process, our heated discussions around guest experience and quality of content and everything else that goes into our show. You just see the pixie dust.
I won't dig too deeply into this here. I know there is only so much Disney crap people can take before they want to smack me around but the most significant part of this book for me was the discussion around communication and specifically about how Cast Members at the park are taught to deal with what, on the surface, seems like one of the silliest questions ever to be asked: "What time does the 3 o'clock parade start?"
This is one of the most common questions asked in the parks. The answer, however, is about engagement and understanding that guests aren't really asking about the time. They are probably asking about where they should stand, what the route is, what time it will be at this specific location or a whole host of possibilities. Rather than give a glib response or even one that answers the question (but not the guest's need) like a bubbly "Why, 3 o'clock!" it is an opportunity to make someone's day with special attention and empathy.
I need to remember this at work. I need to remember this in life.
As the unfrozen head of Walt might say, "Never forget, the magic always begins with you." </pixie dust>
Recommended.
liberal students reported valuing intellectual freedom, creativity, and the chance to write original work and make a theoretical contribution to science. They outnumbered conservative students two to one in the humanities and social sciences — which are among the fields most likely to produce interest in doctoral study. Conservative students, however, put more value on personal achievement and orderliness, and on practical professions, like accounting and computer science, that could earn them lots of money.
- Conservatives Just Aren't Into Academe, Study Finds by Robin Wilson, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 02.22.08
The first thing you notice when you pick up a piece of work published by McSweeney's is how handsome it is. One of the hallmarks of the upstart publisher founded by wunderkind memoirist Dave Eggers is its loving attention to the look of print media, a touching gesture to a supposedly dying form. Cracking an issue of McSweeney's is like opening a Fabergé egg, each new installment (one came in a cigar box) more obsessively crafted than the last. The underlying message: Literature matters, and whatever these volumes contain must be special.
- A Golden Eggers by Jennifer Rose, Entertainment Weekly, 02.15.08
I've purchased several copies of The Believer -- nearly subscribing at it's ridiculous price after one particularly good music issue -- but never McSweeney's. I'm not sure why. Probably because while I first heard of Eggers the writer because of A Heartbreaking Work..., I first read McSweeney's online and so online it stays in my mind. The author of the article is right, I generally find the writing there very hit or miss with an awful lot of misses. People often too busy trying to be cutesy to remember to be at least a little bit substantive.
But, I do love the live events and activism and Eggers' books.
And, now, I'm thinking I should get McSweeney's just so I could get the awesome cigar box or something of equal stature.
Damn you, Eggers!
Top Artists this Week (see more)
10 Feb 2008 – 17 Feb 2008
| 1 |
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Rhymefest |
| 2 | wale | |
| 3 |
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Maxïmo Park |
| 4 |
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M.I.A. |
| 5 |
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Feist |
| 6 |
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Tilly and the Wall |
| 7 |
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Burial |
| 8 |
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Amerie |
| 8 |
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Justice |
| 8 |
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Iron & Wine |
Last week's purchases/pick-ups: Jazzanova & Dirk Rumpff ...Broadcasting and...
Rhymefest is able to do what major label marketing firms have failed at doing, and that's trim Jackson of the tabloid drama and bring the focus back to his music. Rhymefest sets out right away to humanize Jackson, and bring him down to earth, portraying him as a simple man from Gary, Ind., one who still has the power to unite a desperate community (see "Mike the Mentor"). He also inter-splices the album with brief, but always humorous, "conversations" with Jackson, in which Rhymefest's inserts himself into dialogue from Jackson interviews.
Last.fm recommended: nobody new
Song of the week (that wasn't from the rhymefest mixtape):
