Be Treated Like a Queen at Ohm Spa

Ohm Spa
260 5th Ave, 7th Floor
New York, NY, 10001
(Btwn 28th & 29th Streets)
Tel: (212) 481-7892

The folks at Ohm Spa are particularly friendly (they ask for your shoe size when you book your appointment and have a proper slipper awaiting, upon your highness’s arrival) and anticipate your need to nosh by providing delicious snacks prior to your treatment. The mani/pedi room is large enough to accommodate your friends and the pedicure chairs offer state of the art massage. Facials and massages are custom fit for your needs and include options like cranio-sacral and a four handed massage where two therapists work in tandem on your body...ahhhhh. Ohm Spa is high quality along with its therapists, so the treatments are priced accordingly. You can expect to pay at least $130 for a facial or massage and sure, you might have to wait a month to get an appointment, but isn’t it nice to have something to look forward to?

--Sheehan McGuirk

Abakan Red, 1969 Photo courtesy of Magdalena Abakanowicz

Location: Long Island City, Queens
Art: WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution
Show time: Thursday thru Monday: noon–6:00 PM through May 12
Venue: P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center
Food: Sripraphai
Drink: Saints and Sinners
Miscellaneous: Baruirs

A great place to see art that takes chances, P.S.1 is showing WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution, an exhibition examining the history of feminist art. Works shown emphasize the 1970s and the role NYC played, when feminism was at its peak. Being that you’re in Queens anyways, you HAVE to take the 7 train to Sripraphai, one of New York’s top Thai restaurants. What makes it better than most is the fact that the ingredients are fresh, and instead of choosing your entree with a choice of meat, they offer a novel sized menu with pics of every dish, with most under $10. Once a heavily Irish neighborhood, Saints and Sinners is one of the best looking Irish bars left. Grab a Guinness at the bar or traditional Irish food. If you can, head over to Baruir’s in Sunnyside for one of the best cups of coffee in Queens.

Anyone in the Mood for Cheese and Onions?

Friday March 28

Location: Gramercy, NYC
Band: The Rutles
Show time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Blender Theater at Gramercy
Food: Masala Bollywood
Drink: Rodeo Bar
Miscellaneous: Organique

If you’re a Beatles fan, then you’re well aware of The Rutles, created by Eric Idle and Neil Innes, their fictitious band parodies the fab four’s storied rise and fall. Tonight the band celebrates their 30th anniversary. If you love Bollywood films then you probably like Indian food, and Masala Bollywood have combined the two. With giant Indian film still on the walls, and colorful dishes like the Don Fish Tikka Masala which is grilled fish tikka masala garnished with garlic and creamy tomato onion sauce ($8), the menu is surprisingly $10 and under. Whether you break into dance, that’s your call. More white trash than urban cowboy, the Rodeo Bar offers live music, Tex-Mex food, and daily Happy Hour specials like margaritas for $5 and draft beers for $3. For the health conscious, Organique offers organic food including soups, coffee, omelets, burgers, and sandwiches.

Friday March 28

Location: East Village, NYC
Band: Ghostland Observatory
Show time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Webster Hall
Food: Oyama
Drink: Grassroots Tavern
Miscellaneous: Mudd Cafe

Part rock band, part electronic duo, and the rest stage performance, Ghostland Observatory’s electronic disco rock is sure to be an exciting show. Check out their new album Robotique Mystique, it’s good! With sushi that’s 50 percent off all the time, you might think, “Something’s wrong with that?” but the fish is good and the rolls are inventive, making this one of the best low-priced sushi joints in the city. Though St. Marks all of a sudden lost its charm, Grassroots Tavern hasn’t. This large dive bar has cheap drinks, darts in the back, and old men behind the bar, things a good dive bar should have. Excellent coffee served in a big mug and a healthy menu of food coupled with a year round enclosed outdoor backyard patio make this place a great little coffee shop in the area.

Saturday March 29

Location: Gramercy/Flatiron, NYC
Band: Lez Zeppelin + Me Talk Pretty
Show time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
Food: Shake Shack
Drink: The Hairy Monk
Miscellaneous: Broken Cup Cafe

You can call Lez Zeppelin a tribute band if you want, but this all girl incarnation are a sight to behold and amazing live, having recorded their first album with original Zep producer/engineer Eddie Kramer. Joining them is Me Talk Pretty. Now that the weather is finally getting nice, you can head over to Shake Shake in Gramercy Park, sit under the stars and sink your teeth into one of the best burgers in the city. Yes, it’s THAT good! Any bar called The Hairy Monk is all right by me. While the food is your standard Pub fare, they show sports games and have a decent selection of cheap booze. For a quick cup of coffee if you just want to relax, the Broken Coffee Cup is your place for a good cappuccino.

Saturday March 29

Location: Bushwick, Brooklyn
Film: Japanther + The Pharmacy + Pterodactyl + Bongladesh
Show time: 9:30 PM
Venue: Market Hotel
Food: Life Café Nine 83
Drink: Bushwick Country Club
Miscellaneous: Art Land

Drugs and animals seem to be the theme here as Japanther headlines this night, bringing their noise rock to the masses alongside psychedelic punk band The Pharmacy, Brooklyn’s own Pterodactyl, and Bongladesh. While Bushwick is still up-and-coming, so are the restaurants. One of the few so far, Life Café Nine 83 is a great spot for drinks and it has a mostly American menu dotted with Asian and Mexican influences. One of my favorite bars, Bushwick Country Club has some good local and micro-brews on tap, a photo booth, and a white-trash mini-golf course in the backyard patio. Right nearby, actually right across the street from the Country Club, Art Land is a chill bar where local artists show their work, shoot pool and drink like fishes. You gotta love Broolyn!

Sunday March 30

Location: Gramercy/Flatiron, NYC
Band: Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Winter Cabaret
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Zipper Factory
Food: Market Cafe
Drink: Holland Bar
Miscellaneous: Cupcake Cafe

The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Winter Cabaret is a group of daredevils, clowns, fire eaters, and sideshow freaks that blend all of the above with vaudeville and burlesque. Not for the faint of heart! For dinner, Market Café is not a bad spot. With an American menu, entrees like the Market Peasant Chicken, with fresh tomatoes, capers, and lemon ($15) is great, though skip the pizzas, they’re grilled. One of New York City’s great dive bars, the Holland Bar offers cheap booze and an oldies jukebox. The space is tight and the drunkards are a plenty here, but what’s a dive bar without a few of these things? Known for creating one of the best cupcakes in the city, Cupcake Café makes dense cakes topped with rich icing. The icing features artistry that Picaso would be jealous of.

Little Red Riding Hood, hand embroidered linen. By Annie Aube

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Art: Girls 2!! All-Female Art Show
Show time: Today thru Sunday March 30, 2:00 - 7:00 PM
Gallery: MF Gallery
Food: Paladar
Drink: Pianos
Miscellaneous: Motor City Bar

Not what you’d expect, Girls 2!! All-Female Art Show showcases the talented and disturbing art from some really kickass female artists like Martina Secondo Russo, Emma Porcupine Griffiths, Mary Doyle, and others. With a Pan-Latin menu, Paladar offers traditional Spanish dishes with a twist in a fun and funky atmosphere. Try the Salmon a la Plancha Pan, a seared salmon with spring vegetable picadillo & serrano-ramp vinaigrette ($17). If you still want to party afterwards, a good place for that is Pianos. A lounge in front, rock club in back, and a DJ dance party on the second floor, Pianos is a good place to party hard. Though loud, Motor City Bar is an homage to Detroit as license plates and other car parts adorn the walls, the DJs here play “THE ROCK” all night, and the vibe has everyone on the lookout for a good time.

Basia Bulat
Oh, My Darling
Rough Trade/Hardwood






The first time I listened to Basia Bulat’s album Oh, My Darling, it was kind of like hearing an especially warbly Joanie Mitchell. The arrangements and vocals were pretty, though Andean panpipes and cinematic string arrangements gave it an overproduced, Adult Contemporary feel. But then I listened to it a few more times.

It’s still not the Next Big Thing, NPR plugs not withstanding, but it is growing on me. “In the Night” is fun and catchy, with the track’s offbeat rhythms working well with Bulat’s ethereal voice. Several other tracks approach the inventiveness of “In the Night,” but overall this is an album of comfort music; Fiona Apple light.

PS. Take a pass on the “In the Night” music video, unless you’re a fan of lo-fi productions of animal-costumed Canadians trampling thru the woods in some kind of high school band/feel-good drum circle montage.

-- Gidalya



JayMay
Autumn Fallin’
EMI







The songs on JayMay’s Autumn Fallin’ are sweet, simple, and endearing tapestries that illustrate the singer’s wistful emotions. The album is heartbreak-centric, and New York City is referenced in several songs, evoking the desolation of being alone, while surrounded by millions of people.

In its catchy melody and JayMay’s charming voice, “Blue Skies” is a song set for commercial success, while “Gray or Blue” has elements reminiscent of a calmer, folksier version of Regina Spektor. Most of the songs are simply JayMay, an acoustic guitar, some light percussion in the form of drums or tambourine, and a sprinkling of keyboard or xylophone.

The CD in its entirety is a strong debut, ideal for listening to while taking an introspective stroll through NYC, relishing the heartbreak and beauty the city has to offer.

–-Patricia Scull

Breakin' Goes World-Wide!

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Film: Planet B-Boy
Show times: 12:00, 2:20, 4:40, 7:00, 9:30 PM
Venue: Landmark Sunshine Cinema
Food: Café Himalaya
Drink: Max Fish
Miscellaneous: Pink Pony

Break dancing has come a long way since Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo. Planet B-Boy is a documentary focusing on break dancing teams from around the world who meet at Battle of Year, a yearly tournament, where some amazing dancers pull off crazy moves. Ever have Nepalese or Tibetan food? Must try dishes at Café Himalaya include the momos, better known as pan-fried dumplings, and thukpa, a Tibetan noodle soup, both amazingly delicious and under $10 like most menu items. One of the last boho bars on the L.E.S., Max Fish is a mix of local dive and new art as upcoming artists show their work monthly, while being a local hang for artists from all genres. A great late night cafe for coffee or drinks, it has a literary atmosphere and a friendly and hip waitstaff where you can sit and talk the night away.

Yael Naim
Yael Naim
Atlantic Records






Yael Naim is the new kid in Apple town and she's hoping to follow in Feist's hot-selling footsteps. Like the Canadian singer before her, the Israeli-French singer also has a folksy pop tune "New Soul" that landed the job of selling Apple's latest toy - in this case, the MacBook Air. That kind of commercial airplay can be a double-edged sword. Sure, you'll get lots of exposure but when everyone starts to ask, "What else have you got?" you better deliver. Naim's answer to that query is the March 18th release of her self-titled debut. The disc showcases an artist who might not have as strong an album to back up her heat-seeking single as Feist did but what she lacks in cohesiveness she makes up for with sheer moxie. Singing in Hebrew (the lovely "Lachlom") and English, Naim's whimsical songs range from melancholy ballads ("Lonely") to eccentric cover choices ( Britney Spears' "Toxic"). It's not a perfect mix but it's definitely worth a listen.

--Amy Wagner

Shinjo Ito Works on One of his Most Famous Sculptures, The Great Parinirvana Image.

Location: Chelsea, NYC
Art: The Vision and Art of Shinjo Ito
Venue: Milk Gallery
Food: Better Burger
Drink: Turks & Frogs
Miscellaneous: City Bakery

The Vision and Art of Shinjo Ito celebrates this great Japanese artists sculpture, calligraphy, and photography work in this exhibition. A devout Buddhist too, he helped create Shinnyo-en Buddhism which also played a role in his art. The name says it all in it’s mission to serve a burger as Better Burger uses organic, antibiotic, hormone & nitrate free meat and poultry in its quest to offer up a healthier alternative to the classic patty. A great little wine bar in Chelsea, Turks & Frogs has a menu of wine and beer from all over the world, including Turkey, while having the ambiance of being in someone’s home. A must if you’re in Chelsea, City Bakery offers one of the best chocolate chip cookies and thickest and richest hot chocolates in the city. The food is a gourmand’s delight.

Great Jones Spa
Greenwich Village
29 Great Jones St
New York, NY 10012
Tel: (212) 505-3185

Save your Starbucks dollars for a month and book a day at Great Jones Spa. While the prices are high, you’ll get a lot of oohhs and aahhs for your buck with a three story rock wall waterfall, a water lounge, thermal hot tub and cold plunge pool, chakra-light steam room, juice bar, complimentary snacks, and even disposable bathing suits in case you forget your own. The most affordable package is about $350 (includes tax and tip) and gets you a 60 minute Lavender Aromatherapy Massage and a 60 minute Lavender Naturopathica Facial and Lavender Foot Scrub, or book a single treatment, like a massage or facial for about $130. The variety of massages available, detoxifying and cleansing treatments and the energy work offered make Great Jones Spa well worth a Starbucks detox.

--Sheehan McGuirk

See the Many Faces of Helvetica at MoMA. Photo courtesy of The Museum of Modern Art, New York.


Location: Midtown, NYC
Exhibit: 50 Years of Helvetica
Venue: The Museum of Modern Art
Food: Yoshinoya Beef Bowl
Drink: Rudy's Bar and Grill
Miscellaneous: Peking Duck House

Catch the tail end of MoMA’s salute to one of the best known fonts as the exhibit “50 Years of Helvetica” comes to a close on March 31. A design classic, it’s hard to believe that this font turned 50 in 2007. Making fast food healthy, Yoshinoya serves bowls of rice, vegetables, and your choice of beef, teriyaki chicken, veggie, or a combo of meats. Super cheap, it’s a favorite spot of mine in midtown. A great dive, Rudy’s Bar and Grill serves up cheap beer by the pint or by the pitcher, and as for the grilling, that includes free hot dogs and popcorn! Though slightly on the expensive side, if you’re in the mood for duck and are a couple or in a group of four or more, Peking Duck House makes some of the best duck you will ever likely have.

The Queen of Soul Plays Radio City This Weekend

Friday March 21

Location: Chelsea, NYC
Band: Alarm Will Sound: 1969
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: The Kitchen
Food: Il Bastardo
Drink: Brite Bar
Miscellaneous: Café Grumpy

Alarm Will Sound is a 20-member band that takes modern music and reconstructs it for an orchestra. Here, the band explores music from that year of musical experimentation, 1969, performing works by The Beatles, Luciano Berio, Leonard Bernstein, and Karlheinz Stockhausen, among others. Not just a great name for a restaurant, Il Bastardo offers excellent Italian food, seafood, and steak in a large and beautifully designed space. With an interesting menu of cosmos and cocktails like the Fother Mucker, made with Zygo, a locally distilled energy vodka, Brite Bar is a gorgeously designed bar that looks like a lounge but is way more fun. One of my favorite coffee houses due to the fact that they are doing a great job of reinventing the wheel when it comes to making coffee, is Café Grumpy. Here, every cup is freshly pressed and the latte’s are thick and rich tasting.

Friday March 21

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Event: Aretha Franklin
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Radio City Music Hall
Food: Zip Burger
Drink: Subway Inn
Miscellaneous: Kinokuniya Bookstore

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin belts out her hits, while her voice is still able to make you feel it in your bones, as she performs at Radio City. Declaring yourself a chef-driven burger joint is one way to separate yourself from the competition. At Zip Burger they prove their point, offering farm-raised, organic, grass-fed meat and poultry, letting you build your own burger with plenty of gourmet toppings. The first time I went to Subway Inn I thought it was completely strange that there was a dive bar off Lexington Ave., in this neck of the woods, but somehow it works. Born in the 30s, this bar has somehow remained, and thank god, as it’s easily the cheapest place in the area for a drink. For fans of Japanese pop-culture, Kinokuniya Bookstore has a large selection of Japanese themed books, videos, CDs, magazines, comics, and stationary.

Saturday March 22

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Bands: Holy Fuck + A Place to Bury Strangers + Beat the Devil
Show time: 10:00 PM
Venue: Music Hall of Williamsburg
Food: Dumont Burger
Drink: Radegast Hall & Biergarten
Miscellaneous: Verb Cafe

Two DJs, a live drummer, and bass player make up the awesome Holy Fuck who play experimental electro-pop. Joining them are wall-of-sound making A Place to Bury Strangers and the “must see to believe” Beat he Devil. With one of the best burgers in Williamsburg, Dumont Burger offers theirs with gourmet toppings, sandwiches, salads, and their amazing mac & cheese. So you consider yourself a beer connoisseur and like to party. You can do all that and eat at Radegast. The Austrian/German menu perfectly compliments the 12 beers on tap and more than 30 German and Austrian bottles at this large beer hall. One of the oldest and best hipster hangout coffee shops, The Verb offers up excellent coffee and baked goods, a boho vibe, and big windows to watch the days pass while collecting unemployment!

Saturday March 22

Location: Tribeca, NYC
Event: Anti-Pop Consortium
Show time: 8:00 & 11:00 PM
Venue: Knitting Factory Tap Bar
Food: Pakistan Tea House
Drink: Mocca Lounge
Miscellaneous: Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

Before hip hop artists were incorporating weird electronic sounds into their mostly drum and bass sound, Anti-Pop Consortium’s M. Sayyid, High Priest and Beans were already laying the groundwork. Now that they have reunited, catch their still-kickass live show. Nearby, Pakistan Tea House is a buffet style Indian restaurant where you can choose between chicken, meat, fish and vegetables. It’s affordable and very good. For drinks, check out Mocca Lounge. With a funky interior and a menu of Italian inspired fare, it’s also a bar with a large list of coffees with or without alcohol, beers, and frozen shots. Smack dab in the heart of Chinatown, the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory makes gourmet ice cream flavors like Black Sesame, Ginger, Durian, and more exotic flavors like Taro and Wasabi. Don’t worry, they have the go-to’s like Vanilla, fruits, and chocolate flavors too.

Sunday March 23

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Bands: Xiu Xiu + Thao with the Get Down Stay Down + Chris Garneau
Show time: 9:00 PM
Venue: Music Hall of Williamsburg
Food: SEA
Drink: The Gutter
Miscellaneous: Galapagos

Experimental rock band Xiu Xiu stops by Williamsburg via San Francisco to play. Joining them is Thao Nguyen with the Get Down Stay Down and Brooklyn folk-singer Chris Garneau. Excellent Thai food in a huge restaurant with a giant Buddha overlooking a small pond, SEA looks like a futuristic club yet has a large menu of Thai food that’s affordable. Not just a huge bar but also a bowling alley, The Gutter, owned by the people who brought you Barcade, have created a long awaited instant classic! Whether you’re looking to check out some performance art, burlesque, or just want a beer, Galapagos art space is one of the best things happening in Williamsburg, at least till they move to DUMBO this coming Spring or early Summer.

The Grand Central Oyster Bar and Restaurant
Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10017
Tel: (212) 490-6650

Similar to how a pearl is found, The Grand Central Oyster Bar is an old-school restaurant and saloon tucked inside busy Grand Central Station. The architecture is alive with brick-structured arches and the overall feel of the restaurant is straight-up special.

The Oyster Bar has been serving some of the city’s freshest and best seafood since 1913. Oysters from all over the world are shucked and happily eaten at the bar, counter, and tables of the establishment. The pace of service is fast, efficient and very “New York,” as the place buzzes with excitement. Most of the menu is pricey, but ten bucks gets you the best popcorn shrimp, a deliciously lumpy crabmeat sandwich or ¼ dozen oysters. The wine list is excellent and the New England clam chowder is a must. This is more than just lunch; it is a New York experience.

--Mindy Hyman

Guess the Celeb at What’s My Line? Live in NYC. Photo Credit: GiGi La Femme

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Event: What’s My Line? Live in NYC!
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Lucky Cheng's
Food: Himalayan Cafe
Drink: Club Midway
Miscellaneous: Babeland

Hosted by Neal O’ Fortune and Miss Clams Casino, they revive the old game show “What’s My Line?” See a panel of NYC nightlife celebs wear blindfolds and guess the identities of other celebs and regular folk. Though small, Himalayan Café offers amazing food from the areas of Nepal and Tibet. Think Indian mixed with Asian. The momo’s, AKA dumplings ($6.50), are served pan-fried or steamed, while the bocha, the traditional Tibetan tea ($1) is made with butter, salt, and milk. Though it’s not for everyone, it’s worth trying, at least once. Not only can you see local bands and secret shows downstairs, but at Club Midway, the drinks are cheap and the DJs are excellent. When many think of a sex shop, they picture dirty old men looking at porn, but Babeland is a women-friendly sex shop, where the people working there are knowledgeable, and the atmosphere is fun.

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Raising Sand
Rounder





Whodathunkit? Legendary Led Zeppelin cat-caller Robert Plant teaming up with bluegrass's favorite daughter, Alison Krauss, to put out a blues-and bluegrass-inflected collection?

But, that's just what the duo did, releasing Raising Sand, an album that proves something extraordinary can happen when vastly different musicians hook up and do what they do best: make sweet music.

For those familiar with Plant and Krauss, it may come as a wonderful surprise that their meeting produced a startlingly great result. In general, the songs that work best, like “Killing the Blues,” feature the duo's flawless harmonization and, true to Plant's repertoire, fantastical or romanticized lyrics.

However, the standout track is “Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us,” a bluegrass ballad so beautiful it’s hypnotic. Krauss' vocals feature prominently on the track, which has a distinctive, almost exotic melody, and on which the instrumentalists stand back a bit, allowing the vocalists to shine.

--Gregory Hyman



Yelle
Pop Up
EMI France






Yelle’s spunky new album Pop Up is a poppy mélange of keyboards, beats, and even a few whistles. Many tracks are so retro 80s, others are slow and sweet, while the rest have a real energy to them backed by lyrics that are cheered rather than sung.

Although the album is sung entirely in French, the language is so smooth and pleasing to the ear that it doesn’t really matter what she’s singing. When listening to the faster tracks on this album, I imagine sassy models walking fiercely down a catwalk, their eyes shooting right through you as they whip around. On the slower tracks, I’m shopping in a trendy clothing store, looking over the colorful array of clothes. On the slowest of the tracks, I’m in a café and just reading quietly to myself. Well-arranged, diverse, and stylish, Yelle’s new album is certain to please.

--Christine Thelen

Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan are The Gutter Twins. Photo Credit: Sam Holden

Location: East Village, NYC
Bands: The Gutter Twins + Great Northern
Show time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Webster Hall
Food: Minca
Drink: Common Ground
Miscellaneous: Beard Papa Sweets Cafe

Mark Lanegan has been working with everyone these days from the Foo Fighters to Queens of the Stone Age to Isobel Campbell, and now Greg Dulli, of Afghan Whigs fame as The Gutter Twins, playing gothic blues. Regardless of how odd that pairing may be, it will definitely sound amazing. Joining them are minimalist rockers Great Northern. If you’ve never been to Minca for dinner, go right now! This small noodle bar makes some amazing ramen noodles from scratch. Try the Minca Ramen, a mild broth with pork, chicken & dried seafood ($8.50). One of the newer bars in the East Village, Common Ground has a dark wood interior, a relaxed atmosphere, and excellent cocktails like the Blueberry Pie. If you like pastries filled with cream, check out Beard Papa Sweets Café. They offer cream fillings like earl grey, green tea, coffee, and the standard vanilla, chocolate, strawberry among others.

Somebody Scream!
Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power
Marcus Reeves
Faber and Faber, Inc.



Music journalist Marcus Reeves has written a stunning account of the history of rap music and the genre's rise to the top of the charts in the "aftershock" of the Black Power Movement. The tome titled Somebody Scream! is not just a dry recitation of dates and doings. His musings are personal, even affectionate at times. Reeves sets the scene by looking back on when he realized his place in society was as a child of the post-Black Power movement - a member of a generation that would find their voice, not in political parties, but in the rhymes and flow of rap. The book captures all the seminal moments - the beginnings of the hip-hop movement on Bronx street corners to the meteoric rise and deadly fall (Tupac Shakur) of some of its most cherished sons - while always retaining a steadfast critical eye. Reeves openly discusses the genre's failings and is unafraid to end on a note questioning whether or not rap has seen its glory days, sacrificing a relevant message in favor of the almighty dollar.

--Amy Wagner

The Mountain Goats

Location: Union Square, NYC
Bands: The Mountain Goats + The Moaners
Show time: 8:30 PM
Venue: Webster Hall
Food: Thai Me Up Sandwich Bar
Drink: McSorley’s Old Ale House
Miscellaneous: Mudd Cafe

Everyone’s favorite sarcastic songwriter John Darnielle returns with his band The Mountain Goats on the tail of their new release Heretic Pride, which is all over the place. Joining them are The Moaners, a North Carolina based blues rock female duo. For eats, check out Thai Me Up Sandwich Bar, a sandwich shop offering Thai sandwiches with 7 Steamed Fried Vegetables and a choice of chicken, veggie, tofu or beef on a baguette with 3 types of sauces for $7. One of the city’s oldest bars, you can feel the history when you enter as memorabilia, since its beginnings in 1854, are all over the walls. Aside from it being a frat hangout nowadays, it’s worth the trip. You’ve seen that orange Mudd coffee truck parked on Astor Place and on various other streets, but check out their café on East 9th for coffee and a healthy, vegan, and vegetarian menu.

Cure Beauty Bar
921 Fulton Street
(btwn Clinton and Waverly)
Brooklyn, NY 11238
Tel: (718) 622-7100

Sitting in a window seat inside Cure Beauty Bar on a soon to be spring day and watching all the people buzz around on Fulton Street makes me think how nice it is to be connected to humanity...while getting my nails did. Cure is welcoming and cool, with 70's R&B playing, soaps, and fun stuff made by locals and a display of jewelry that you would actually want to buy. Cure offers manicures, pedicures, facials (Evan Healy essential oil based skin care line) and massages at competitive prices (you can get a $20 manicure and an $85 facial) geared toward the au natural gal (or guy...they do a good amount of back waxing here). Located on street level, Cure welcomes walk-ins and spa parties (which are growing in popularity everywhere) and weekly discounts on manicures and pedicures.

--Sheehan McGuirk

Spend St. Patty's Day with The Pogues

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Bands: The Pogues + William Elliott Whitmore + Ollin
Show time: 7:30 pm
Venue: Roseland Ballroom
Food: Pig N’ Whistle
Drink: The Irish Rogue
Miscellaneous: Island Burgers & Shakes

Top O’ the mornin’ to ya! Yes, it’s St. Patty’s Day today, which means getting trashed off green beer, getting away with wearing a kilt, and maybe eating some mint ice-cream for the hell of it. As for music, what would St. Patty’s Day be without The Pogues? Catch their performance with William Elliott Whitmore and Ollin. For great Irish food, one of my faves is Pig N’ Whistle in midtown. Serving traditional Irish fare like Steak and Kidney Pie and American. A great Irish pub in Hells Kitchen, The Irish Rogue has live music and sports playing on TVs, so you know this bar will be a party all day. If Irish food ain’t you thing, then head over to Island Burgers & Shakes as the menu is stacked two pages deep of some of the most intense burgers and chicken breast sandwiches on the island of Manhattan.

Matt Costa Performs




American cutie-pie Johnathan Rice and his twangy Americana slurry opened for Matt Costa last Monday night. Something in Costa's awkward swagger managed to sell out Bowery Ballroom, where "Mr. Pitiful" (Costa's single from his latest full-length) himself kept tune with guitar in hand. Monday night being the first day one could walk outside without frostbite, the albums songs went over best with a crowd ready to sing familiar words about "Yellow Taxi Cabs." Fans like to pretend that Costa's this country’s next Dylan just because his compact statue uses a harmonica. But as entertaining as his flowery live show is, he is not a Dylan—he is a Costa. Watching him perform is like seeing history in the iridescent and upbeat making. And there is not a more pleasing way to spend a night than with him and Rice.

--Tania Katherine Dworjan

What Made Milwaukee Famous. Photo credit: Cambria Harkey

Friday March 14

Location: Union Square, NYC
Bands: Louis XIV + What Made Milwaukee Famous + Holiday and the Adventure Pop Collective
Venue: Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
Food: Chat ‘N’ Chew
Drink: Pete’s Tavern
Miscellaneous: Whole Foods

While Louis XIV are the hot rock band right now, What Made Milwaukee Famous are the ones who know how to put a good rock album together. Either way, this one shouldn’t disappoint. For food with southern flair in Union Square, Chat ‘N’ Chew makes some kickass fried chicken, pork-chops, and meatloaf. In the running for oldest bar in NYC, Pete’s Tavern has been around since 1864 and was made famous by author O. Henry who wrote “Gift of the Magi,” in one of its booths. One good thing about the Union Square location of Whole Foods is that it’s not only a reprieve from this tourist heavy area, but with it’s huge windows, you can sit, get healthy organic food and drink, and watch the insanity like it’s a movie.

Friday March 14

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Band: Masada String Trio
Venue: The Stone
Food: Supper
Drink: Barramundi
Miscellaneous: Kudos

One of John Zorn’s most accessible projects, Masada’s music is gorgeously arranged. The Masada String Trio, featuring violinist Mark Feldman, cellist Eric Friedlander, and bassist Greg Cohen, with John Zorn conducting, will undoubtedly take this music to another place. A favorite restaurant of mine, Supper has a dimly lit, all-wood interior giving it a rustic vibe. They even have what looks like a bar overlooking the chefs cooking for you to watch. The Italian menu offers some fantastic food too. Though it might sound like it has to do with Buddhism, Barramundi is actually an Australian owned bar that has infused vodkas, sangria, and a laundry list of mixed drinks like the Champagne Cocktail made with sugar and bitters with Courvoisier, topped with bubbly. If coffee and a snack is your thing, Kudos is an inexpensive place to get baked goods, a cup of coffee and chill before the show.

Saturday March 15

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Bands: African Underground with Chosan + Blitz + Baay Bia + Bamboo
Venue: Rose Live Music
Food: My Moon
Drink: The Abbey
Miscellaneous: Fabiene’s

Put together by Nomadic Wax, a label that documents the underground hip hop scene throughout Africa, tonight they bring together some of Africa’s best up and coming MCs like Chosan, Blitz, Baay Bia, and Bamboo as part of their African Underground series. With one of the best looking spaces in NYC, My Moon offers delicious Turkish food like the Tuna Tartar-Yellow fin tuna, tomato jelly, avocado, purple potato chips, chili oil and soy sauce ($12), which makes this place worth the trip. For a drink at a local hang, The Abbey is what you’re looking for. With a TV playing and a pool table in the back, settle in, get one of seven beers on tap and relax. One of my favorite coffee shops to sit by a window and stare out into the sea of Bedford Avenue, Fabiene’s offers exceptional desserts and sandwiches on top of beer and wine.

Saturday March 15

Location: Gramercy Park, NYC
Bands: Vinicius Cantuária
Venue: Jazz Standard
Food: New York Burger Co.
Drink: Metro Café & Wine Bar
Miscellaneous: City Bakery

What I like about Brazillian music is that it comes across as soft and sweet, while being intricate to play. Guitarist Vinicius Cantuaria brings his playful and well-versed take on bossa nova to the Jazz Standard in quintet form. Taking burgers to the next level, New York Burger Co. builds their burgers with high quality ingredients, delivering a better take on a classic. With a casual American and dim sum bar menu, the food is an excellent complement to the over 100 wines available by the glass from all the major wine-making countries in the world. With one of the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had along with the hot chocolate, City Bakery makes all sorts of high-end food that won’t send you to the poor house.

Sunday March 16

Location: Union Square, NYC
Bands: Bad Manners
Venue: Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
Food: Sobaya
Drink: The Thirsty Scholar
Miscellaneous: ChikaLicious Dessert Bar

Late 70s English ska band Bad Manners return to the stage at Irving Plaza, having gotten back together and playing the last several years. Regardless, it’ll be good to see lead singer and showman, Buster Bloodvessel running around on stage again. A Japanese noodle restaurant that makes its own noodles, Sobaya makes traditional soba and udon noodles, while creating inventive dishes like Tuna Yamakake Soba, which blends soba noodles with raw tuna. With a name like The Thirsty Scholar, one might expect drunken professors reciting Dylan Thomas or Bukowski poems, but it’s actually a chill bar with an excellent happy hour from 5-8pm. For some of the sweetest desserts in the city, ChikaLicious offers a 3-course dessert menu for $12. Be warned, get there early. Due to its small size, there’s usually a line out the door.

William S. Burroughs. Courtesy of Stellan Holm Gallery.

Stellan Holm Gallery
524 W. 24th St.
New York, NY 10011

The cult of personality that still clings to the early counter-culture provocateurs of the 1950s is in full swing at Stellan Holm Gallery, showing the late paintings, shotgun blasts, sketches and ephemera of junkie-beat-novelist hero William S. Burroughs.

There are some works of abstract beauty on display, especially in a few of the dark canvasses and textual paintings, and like everything else that Burroughs touched in the latter part of his life, it's all swaddled in a blanket of cool.

Of all the pieces, the shotgun paintings–effectively large blocks of wood shot with a 12-gauge–evoke most fully the sense of gallows humor that pervades much of Burroughs' written work, and they serve as a fitting homage to the mystique that helped to make him an anti-hero to generations.

Rub Out The Word by William S. Burroughs is showing at Stellan Holm Gallery until March 29th.

Jonathan Shieber

Location: East Village, NYC
Event: Dean Wareham Reading
Venue: Club Midway
Food: China 1
Drink: Hi Fi
Miscellaneous: Second on Second Karaoke Bar & Lounge

You may know Dean Wareham from his bands Galaxie 500, Luna, and Dean & Britta, but he’s also a writer. Check him out at Club Midway as he reads from his memoir, Black Postcards, A Rock & Roll Romance. Part restaurant and part club, China 1 serves up more upscale Chinese food than you’re used to. With décor that’s more dungeon lounge than China, this is a fun place to hang. With an MP3 jukebox that has 3000 albums to choose from, nicknamed “El DJ,” Hi Fi is a rock lover’s wet dream. With daily drink specials, this place is cheap, and that’s a rare thing in NYC these days. If you’re still in the mood to party after this early reading, hit up Second on Second for some karaoke, where you can sing till your throat is sore!

Hot Chip
Made in the Dark
DFA/EMI






The British quintet flouts nearly every convention in the book on their third record, Made in the Dark. They add ‘70s metal, dancehall, dubstep, and Hot 97-style R&B to their arsenal of sounds and beats. “One Pure Thought” opens the disc with a guitar-god solo before transitioning seamlessly into a dreamy space-disco ruckus. “Hold On” evokes a disco-fied LCD Soundsystem. “Don’t Dance,” with its beats that maniacally transition into trance and dancehall, renders its title impossible to ignore. The ballads on the album don’t disappoint either, including the song “We’re Looking for a Lot of Love,” an organ driven hold up your lighters anthem punctuated with Caribbean drums. Bizarre as the songs sound in Hot Chip’s hands, the music just clicks, much like the five musicians and DJs that make up the oddly formed quintet. Get the album, you won’t be disappointed.

--Corey Crossfield


Junkie XL
Booming Back At You
RCA








Booming Back At You, the 2008 release by Junkie XL does not false advertise: it booms, breaks, and jumps into your consciousness like a groove-bomb. His fans have come to expect quality work like this from the Dutch beatmaker. Booming Back At You is his fifth studio album.

This album is fit to be played loud at a club, dance party, or any other scene that necessitates moving bodies. It's awesome dance music; it inhabits characteristics of house, break beats, hip-hop, and girl-pop. Junkie describes his motivation for his multi-faceted approach on his website, "This time out, I wanted to capture the energy of my live shows. In the past, I always made conceptual records or tried to find a theme. But I'm such an energetic performer, very upbeat, and I wanted to capture that. 'Booming Right At You' and the album as a whole, throws that vibe right back at the fans."

--Marc Amigone

A Talented Singer/Songwriter, Mia Doi Todd. Photo By B+

Location: Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Bands: José González + Mia Doi Todd
Venue: Brooklyn Masonic Temple
Food: Sushi D
Drink: Moe’s
Miscellaneous: Café Lafayette

Since hearing Mia Doi Todd’s album “Manzanita,” I must say, her lush voice and delicate guitar strumming have had me hooked since. So pairing her with Jose Gonzalez is almost a no-brainer for deciding whether or not to go see this show. With all the new restaurants moving in on Dekalb Street of late, Sushi D stands tall offering a relaxed atmosphere, friendly waitstaff, and sushi rolls like the 'D' Roll with eel, tempura flakes, masago, and avocado. My favorite bar on Dekalb Street, Moe’s is an eclectic bar where you can chill out and watch the locals stroll around on their way to any of the great restaurants in this upcoming hood. Though small, Café Lafayette is a quaint looking café with French influenced cuisine that serves crepes, burgers, and entrees like Sauteed Rack of Lamb with tabbouleh and mint puree ($15.95).

For those in Austin, Texas at South By Southwest (SXSW) today, check out Michael Eisner’s (former CEO of Walt Disney) new venture, the premiere of his new internet show, “The All-For-Nots,” a comedy about an indie rock band on tour trying to gain fame. Mr. Eisner, who executive produced the show, will be at SXSW to help kick off the festival by giving a lecture on new media at Club de Ville (900 Red River Street), and will premiere the pilot episode of "The All-For-Nots" in front of an audience who know music.

If you live nowhere near Austin, Texas, the show, and future episodes, can be seen on the cable channel HD Net. For more info, click HERE

For more info on The All-For-Nots, click HERE

Lee "Scratch" Perry
Chicken Scratch (Deluxe Edition)
Heartbeat Records





Reggae master Lee "Scratch" Perry is as innovative as they come when it comes to mixing sounds and beats. Now for the first time, his early ska tunes, laid down at the legendary recording house Studio One during the 1960s, have been brought together in a collection of previously unreleased material called Chicken Scratch. The newly released album also includes bonus tracks and original singles mixes. One of Perry's greatest contributions to the ska genre was the overall jubilant nature of his recordings. Disc-opener "Feel Like Jumping" has a beating brass heartbeat that sets the tone for what feels like a never ending carnivale. The music-maker also gave a voice to the man on the street with his musings on everyday life. On "Mother In Law," he speaks for generation after generation when he pleads "Mother in law please give me a break." Whether he was bringing attention to social causes ("Help The Weak") or just kicking up his heels, the vibrant sounds of Lee "Scratch" Perry are a true treasure.
--Amy Wagner

Listen Up or Be Judged. Tim Gunn Dishes the Dirt at the 92nd Street Y.

Location: Upper East Side, NYC
Event: Tim Gunn
Venue: 92nd Street Y
Food: Brother Jimmy’s Bait Shack
Drink: BB&R
Miscellaneous: Dylan's Candy Bar

Project Runway’s favorite style guru Tim Gunn sits down with NY1 correspondent Bud Mishkin to talk about fashion, design, and lifestyle, and hopefully dish the dirt on what it was like working with past season contestants. If you’ve got a craving for barbeque, check out Brother Jimmy’s Bait Shack as the ribs, chicken, beef, and pork are all smothered in some amazing BBQ sauce. BB&R, which stands for Blonde, Brunette, and a Redhead is the brainchild of three best friends. What they’ve created is something between a neighborhood bar and a lounge with leather seats in the front and a pool table, photo booth, and video games in the back. Looking more like it came out of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Dylan’s Candy Bar is a colorful place to get lollipops, licorice, and all things sugary. Don’t go crazy though, or your sweet tooth might melt here!

Get Wild with The Black Lips!

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Band: The Black Lips + Quintron & Miss Pussycat
Venue: Bowery Ballroom
Food: Three of Cups
Drink: Whiskey Ward
Miscellaneous: Sugar Sweet Sunshine

With wild stage antics and hot licks, the Black Lips play garage flavored punk rock that is raw and fun to watch. Joining them is Quintron & Miss Pussycat who are musicians, inventors, and puppeteers. What I like about Three of Cups the most is that the food is classic Italian fare like Pizza made in a wood-fired oven, risotto, pasta, while also offering more exciting dishes like lamb stew in a barolo wine reduction, served with potato gnocchi. The atmosphere is relaxing, bordering on romantic. With a name like Whiskey Ward, it’s expected that they deliver the goods, which lucky for this bar, they do. Whether it’s Scotch, Bourbon, Whiskey, or Single Malts, they got em’ along with a pool table and a damn good jukebox. Who doesn’t like cupcakes? Sugar Sweet Sunshine has one of the best in the city. With 10 different kinds, it’s hard to beat.

MSTRKRFT Get Live at Studio B


Friday March 7

Location: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Band: MSTRKRFT + LA Riots + Lazaro Casanova + The Bloody Beetroots
Venue: Studio B
Food: Paloma
Drink: Black Rabbit
Miscellaneous: The Pencil Factory

For fans of Death From Above 1979, this is as close as it gets as former DFA member Jesse F. Keeler and Al-P bring their dance-rock to Studio B with support from LA Riots, Lazaro Casanova, and The Bloody Beetroots. As for dinner in Greenpoint, oddly enough, Top Chef Contestant Camille Becerra’s Restaurant Paloma is nearby, serving what she’s dubbed “urban American cuisine,” or seasonal American, which is surprisingly affordable. Probably one of the nicest editions of bars to Greenpoint, Black Rabbit is my fave. Who can resist dark wood interior, cozy booths, and an excellent selection of beers? With a fireplace in the back and a small menu of snack foods, it’s the place to unwind. Another good bar nearby is The Pencil Factory. With an all wood décor, big windows, and an excellent selection of beers on tap, you’ll find neighborhood artists and musicians making conversation here.

Friday March 7

Location: Union Square, NYC
Comedy: Eddie Izzard
Venue: Union Square Theatre
Food: Coffee Shop
Drink: Beauty Bar
Miscellaneous: Bottlerocket Wine and Spirit

Eddie Izzard infrequently does stand-up in the U.S. Whether or not it’s due to him being a hot commodity as an actor in the HBO show The Riches, his stand up routine is pretty damn funny. See him live. It’s better than catching him on some re-run! Right in the heart of Union Square, Coffee Shop offers Brazilian influenced fare like the Moqueca Stew, made of fish, shrimp, clams & scallops poached in Caruaru sauce with white rice ($14.95). Ladies, get a martini and a manicure for $10 and fellas, grab a drink and party like a rockstar. Yeah, this is the same place, which makes Beauty Bar awesome! What makes Bottlerocket Wine Shop a standout to any other is that they not only offer 365 wines, they are all organized according to theme, like what wine to eat with Chinese take-out. Seriously!

Saturday March 8

Location: Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn
Event: The Library After Dark with DJ Rich Medina
Venue: Brooklyn Public Library's Central Library at Grand Army Plaza
Food: Junior’s
Drink: Soda Bar
Miscellaneous: Tea Lounge

What goes on at the library after dark? Apparently a party, as Brooklyn Vanguard, the library’s new fundraising group of young 20 something’s, hosts DJ Rich Medina spinning on the 1s and 2s with an open bar as the library’s doors stay open till 1 a.m. File this one under party! For food, don’t fight the urge for cheesecake at Junior’s. The original and best of all the Junior’s locations popping up, the cheesecakes are to die for and the fried chicken and Mac & Cheese are the best in NYC. Probably one of the best bars in Brooklyn, Soda Bar has an eclectic crowd, an inexpensive selection of beers on tap, and a menu of great sandwiches. If you’re looking for a good place to relax before the party, Tea Lounge may be your temporary oasis, offering a large selection of premium teas, coffee and a huge space to relax.

Saturday March 8

Location: Union Square, NYC
Bands: Sia + Har Mar Superstar
Venue: Webster Hall
Food: Momofuku
Drink: Grassroots Tavern
Miscellaneous: Trash and Vaudeville

There’s no denying how distinct and beautiful Sia’s voice is, having honed her craft with Zero 7, but on her new album Some People Have Real Problems, she really comes into her own. Joining her is everyone’s favorite man in tighty-whities, Har Mar Superstar. One of my favorite restaurants and the only place I will eat pork, Momofuku is a small Asian noodle shop with addictive dishes like the Steamed Buns with Berkshire pork and the Momofuku Ramen, a hearty bowl of broth, pork, freshly made ramen noodles, poached egg, and fresh veggies. What I like about Grassroots Tavern is that it’s a huge dive, meaning cheap drinks and a friendly atmosphere, including darts. Along with the birth of punk came Trash and Vaudeville, punk rocks favorite clothing store. With a shoe store downstairs, you can look punk, add to your fetish wardrobe, or look like a rockstar onstage.

Sunday March 9

Location: Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
Event: Juggle This NYC 2008
Venue: Pratt Institute
Food: ICI
Drink: Moe’s
Miscellaneous: Tillie’s

Get your juggle on at the Juggle This NYC 2008 festival. Hosted by Jugglers Anonymous: the Pratt Chapter with support from the Carmine Street Irregulars, learn to juggle, watch masters juggle and perform. Best of all, it’s FREE. Creating a seasonal menu filled with fresh and locally grown ingredients along with wines from small interesting local wineries, ICI creates innovative dishes like Wild Striped Bass with shitake mushrooms, fennel butter, and fennel slaw ($25). An eclectic bar in Ft. Greene that has absolutely nothing to do with The Simpsons, Moe’s offers a decent beer selection, a neighborhood vibe, and big windows to people watch. For coffee and a place to just sit and relax, Tillie’s serves a great cup of joe, while consistently having performances, and serving excellent baked goods and vegan food.

Akoya, one of New York's premier Afrobeat ensembles, proved they are as good as anybody on the scene last Thursday night at S.O.B.'s with the release party for their new album, President Dey Pass. The night featured Akoya's own diverse mix of talented musicians from all over the world, along with superstar guest musicians including Cedric "Im" Brooks of the Skatalites, Amayo, Marcos Garcia, and Eric Biondo of Antibalas, Jared Tankel of Budos Band, Paula Henderson of Moisturizer, and Dj Rich Medina on the 1's and 2's. Akoya is a 13-piece Afrobeat band based in New York with members from Benin, Panama, Ghana, South Africa, the U.S. and Japan. The lead singer, Kaleta, toured and recorded with Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Egypt 80 for ten years. What sets Akoya apart is their versatility. A force to be reckoned with, they give Antibalas competition as the hottest Afrobeat band on the East Coast.
--Marc Amigone

Back From Hiatus, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Photo Credit: Steve Gullick

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Event: 2008 Plug Awards with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds + St. Vincent + Dizzee Rascal + José González
Venue: Terminal 5
Food: Eatery
Drink: Valhalla
Miscellaneous: Central Park

Terminal 5 hosts the 2008 Plug Awards for indie-music and though this is not the best venue to see shows, it’s hard to pass this up as comedian Patton Oswald hosts and performers include Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, St. Vincent, Dizzee Rascal, and Jose Gonzalez. Nearby and delicious, Eatery offers a new American menu that’s asian influenced. Try the Red Curry Chicken Breast over roti pancake, with baby carrots and red curry coconut sauce ($16.95). Valhalla’s minimalist space is chill, letting the 24 brands of beer from all over the world on tap be the main attraction at this bar. While its warm out, waste a little time walking through Central Park, relax, and get out of the hustle and bustle of the city. Just watch your step. The working horses tend to leave surprises behind them!

Michael Jackson
Thriller (25th Anniversary album)
Epic/Legacy





Michael Jackson is a man of extremes – sensationally bad press (child molestation charges, anyone?), undeniable weirdness (think Neverland Ranch), and his self-proclaimed title, the “King of Pop.” It’s obvious his talent has been eclipsed by his turmoiled personal life. Let’s try for just a minute to forget all the lawsuits, financial pandemonium and countless rumors that have enveloped Jacko’s career for the last two decades. Despite his personal downfall, hits like “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and title track “Thriller” are still considered classic. Epic/Legacy’s 25th Anniversary Thriller release consists of the classic album Thriller, with extras including remixes by will.i.am, Akon, and Fergie. Unless you’re really into crappy remixes, skip those tracks and pop in the DVD, which includes music videos for “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and of course, “Thriller.” Let’s not forget that a man with such a penchant for glitter, moon walking, and that rhinestone-studded glove can’t be all bad.
--Patricia Scull




The Whigs
Mission Control
ATO





Mission Control is like the sack of candy you carried each Halloween as a kid. Sure, it held treasures, chocolate bars, and sweet, colorful candies, but it also contained junk that tasted bad and stuck to your teeth. Of course, you ate every bit of it. You'll tolerate Mission Control's lows, because when the songs are good, they’re very good. The title track shows enormous self-restraint, and it features a melancholy and beautifully grotesque melody. The bridge reveals a bright, capable horn section, and the song ends simply as it began, on a lonely, beachy guitar riff. But some songs are very boring. “Already Young” is cacophonous, featuring uninteresting melodies and lackluster instrumentation. On “Need You Need You,” Parker Gispert growls over his loud, inelegant guitar, sounding almost Dave Grohl-ish, but lacking Grohl's heart and lungs. The sound fits Gispert like a hipster's thrift-store herringbone suit—not well at all.
--Gregory Hyman