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The Shortlist

The Daily Shortlist

Music Reviews

Music Reviews

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Theater
Film + DVD

The Interview: Esperanza Spalding

5:30 AM Reporter: Short and Sweet NYC 0 Responses



Portland-bred jazz bassist, composer, and vocalist Esperanza Spalding already holds many achievements under her belt. At 20, she became the youngest faculty member ever in her alma mater’s history, the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. She has worked with numerous jazz legends including Herbie Hancock, Joe Lovano, and Patti Austin. Now at 23, Spalding is promoting her sophomore effort Esperanza (Heads Up, 2008) and touring all over the globe. I had a moment to chat with Esperanza Spalding about her musical influences, what she’s listening to right now, and her role in today’s jazz scene.

Are you still teaching at Berklee College of Music? Will you continue to teach and perform?

I haven't been able to teach regularly for about a year. Right now, I am speaking with the school, trying to figure out a way to stay involved with them and my students, but manage my touring schedule as well. Teaching is very important to me, so I will do everything I can to continue it along with my performance career.

I caught your recent performance on The Late Show with David Letterman. I missed you on Jimmy Kimmel Live! during that same week. And now you’re on the cover of JazzTimes, which has you featured as one of the “new visionaries” of jazz. How are you handling all of your success and exposure? Who or what keeps you grounded?

Well, I never feel like I need anything to keep me grounded per se. I try not to pay too much attention to press because it is sort of a separate entity from the music. Also, almost every time I turn around I hear someone who deserves all of this hype much more than me! My main objective in the face of all this attention and expectation is to make sure I am upholding my end of the deal, i.e., delivering strong, exciting, and well-crafted music.

Why did you decide to sing as well as play the bass?

It developed kind of in its own way I guess. At a certain point in the beginning of my life as a bassist, I auditioned for a pop band to play bass. They asked me if I could sing background [vocals], and by the end of my stint with that band, I was singing lead. And from there, I realized that I could use it as a texture in the music, and as a way to connect with audiences.

What was the music scene like growing up in Portland, Oregon? How did you get inspired there?

Portland is an incredibly diverse place musically. So from a young age I was exposed to many different sources of music and art. As a young child I was involved in different music programs, primarily on violin but also for a little while on clarinet and oboe, and the older students and teachers were a constant source of inspiration. Once I started playing bass, it opened up a whole new world of local jam sessions, listening parties, concerts, and playing opportunities that kept me inspired.

I read that you weren't happy in high school until you picked up the double bass and started to improvise. What made you fall in love with the bass?

I wasn't happy with high school in general! And, actually, I discovered the bass there right before I left. School never particularly resonated well with me; I think the best thing I got from it by far was discovering the bass. In the beginning, the first few moments touching the instrument, it was purely the sound that caught my ear and attention. From then [on], I really grew to love the instrument conceptually, and my career as a bassist continued growing from those first few weeks jamming with teachers and friends.

Most women in jazz are either legendary pianists (Mary Lou Williams, Alice Coltrane) or great vocalists (Billie, Ella, Sarah). With giants like Ron Carter and Charles Mingus, jazz bassists have primarily been an "all-boys club." How does it feel to change that?

Ha! True. Most women in this music have been singers and pianists—let's not forget drummers too! And I don't want to celebrate too soon!! I still have a long ways to go until I am in the club of cats like Ron Carter and Charles Mingus. But, you know Mary Lou Williams was quoted as saying something really intelligent: “The more you immerse yourself in your work, the more you forget if you are a man or a woman.” And, it’s really true. It’s seldom that I really think about the fact I am a woman doing this. Usually, I just feel like me and let other people fuss about my gender.

What jazz greats (or non-jazz greats) have inspired you to play? Are you a hip-hop head?

I often look to hip-hop for inspiration on how to make acoustic instruments sound, in effect an acoustic or “jazz” band, have the same energy and magnetism of a produced track. And, honestly I draw inspiration from SO many places. But a few of my favorites are Wayne Shorter, Milton Nascimento, Earth, Wind & Fire, Black Star, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Andre 3000, Betty Carter, Joe Lovano, Gnarls Barkley, The Roots…I feel lame only mentioning these few, because there are quite a lot more!!

Assuming you own an iPod (or any MP3 player), what artists would I find on there right now? Do you collect jazz on vinyl? What would be the one album you would never sell and why?

Most of the time, I order discs online from Amazon, so my house is a mess, full of CDs. There are literally overflowing piles of CDs all over my house. I can't help it. I love having something in my hand I can read and look at while I listen. I still have my Discman and I carry around a few CDs on tour. Right now I am carrying Minnie Riperton, A Tribe Called Quest, The John Coltrane Quartet - Live at the Showboat Philadelphia (RLR Recordings, 1963), and a few more I have received from people on tour. I would never sell any of my stuff…I always give 'em away! I do have one vinyl copy of Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook (Verve Records, 1957) that I will never sell. I had a copy of it when I was younger, and it’s very dear to me.

A few nights ago, I was listening to NPR's Jazzset and I caught your band performing at Sculler's Jazz Club in Boston back in fall 2006. What I noticed almost immediately was the strong Brazilian influence in your vocals and the band's overall sound. Where did this influence come from?

From the beginning of my studying jazz, Brazilian music was there. I used to listen to many old Brazilian records from João Donato, Quarteto Novo, João Gilberto and especially Hermeto Pascoal. I think the rhythms and melodies infected my musical approach to directing my own music from the beginning. I also spent a little bit of time in Brazil and dated a Brazilian guy who had an amazing collection of records. He turned me on to a lot of incredible music, and I “borrowed” (really took :) many of his records.

I often have long discussions with my friends about the state of black music—whether there will ever be another Marvin Gaye or John Coltrane. And in this sea of reality shows and bling, black music's future looks very dim. How do you stay motivated to perform in this new era of black music?

Black music will be fine, because it exists outside of all of the media hype and garbage, which it sounds like you are alluding to when you mention bling, reality shows, etc. There may even be the Marvin Gaye’s and Coltrane’s now, but the major media outlet may not embrace them the way that Marvin and Trane were embraced in their era. True lovers of the MUSIC will always be able to discern who is doing something worthwhile, and who is simply a passing fad created by the media. When I go to a live show and see every kind of face, age, and race there to support great black artists, my hope is continually recharged.

Shannon J. Effinger

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The Daily Shortlist September 30

5:00 AM Reporter: Short and Sweet NYC 0 Responses
Garrison Keillor

Location: Upper West Side, NYC
Author: Garrison Keillor
Show time: 7:30 PM FREE
Venue: Barnes & Noble
Food: Swizz Restaurant & Wine Bar
Drink: Café des Artistes
Miscellaneous: Magnolia Bakery

Author, storyteller, satirist, and radio show personality are just a few things that Garrison Keillor is known for. Here he reads from his new book Liberty, which is part of his Lake Wobegon book series. While Swizz has an extensive wine menu and a downstairs cave, it’s the cheese that people come here for. Fondue lovers, Swizz is the place to go and the menu is just as extensive as its wine. It's romantic and cheesy. Get it! Café des Artistes is one of those old historic bars that’s as New York as it gets. This bar/restaurant was the meeting place of artists going all the way back to 1917. Today, it serves up new American dishes and cocktails to those in the know. To soothe your sweet tooth, check the uptown location of Magnolia Bakery and sink your teeth into one of the city’s best cupcakes.


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Garnier Fructis Instant Melting Conditioner

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Rumor has it that Garnier scientists pulled strains of DNA from famous haired heads like Farrah Fawcett, Nicole Kidman, and Suzanne Somers to create their new Instant Melting Conditioners.

Whether you need to reduce frizz or add shine, Garnier Instant Melting Conditioner provides salon quality results without breaking the bank. Infused with apricot and avocado oil to smooth or vitamins B3 and B6 to hydrate, you’ll immediately notice the difference. Before leaving the house, you may want to consider donning large, opaque sunglasses, a disinterested attitude and a surgically attached cellphone so that your agent can contact you concerning your alleged relationship with that Greek financier.

Sheehan McGuirk

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The Daily Shortlist September 29

5:00 AM Reporter: Short and Sweet NYC 0 Responses
Train Station Attendant (Date Unknown), Kang Jae-Won, Linoleum Print (Ed. Unknown), 18" x 29½"

Location: Midtown East, NYC
Art: North Korean Images at Utopia’s Edge
Show time: Monday through Friday, 10 AM-5 PM
Venue: Korea Society
Food: Peking Duck House
Drink: Blackstones Pub & Restaurant
Miscellaneous: New York Milkshake Company

Featuring 24 North Korean woodblock prints from the last 30 years, this exhibit focuses on the concepts of daily life and work, family and "Fatherland" in North Korea. This is the first time this art is shown in the United States. At one of my favorite places to get duck, The Peking Duck House, the meat is succulent and the skin crunches like a potato chip. Sometimes you just want to grab a pint without paying a cover charge or playing host to a group of people after work, which is why I like Blackstones Pub & Restaurant. It looks like an old-time saloon and has two pool tables in the back and plenty of other games, while also being big enough to grab traditional American food from the menu. If you’re still hungry, check out the New York Milkshake Company for one of the best $6 shakes of your life.


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I WAS THERE . . . The Takeover 9.27.08

3:22 PM Reporter: Short and Sweet NYC 0 Responses

St. Vincent and Sufjan Stevens feel it in the air tonight at The Takeover. All photos by Kevchino

The Takeover
Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)
September 27, 2008


Saturday night was probably one of the most interactive events I’ve been to in a while as the second annual Takeover took place at BAM, literally taking over the 4 floors of this performing arts space for this almost all-night party going from 9 PM to 4 AM. With bands chosen by Sufjan Stevens, music was presented by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus featuring Nico Muhly, St. Vincent, Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens, and The Budos Band. On the second floor King Britt and Vikter Duplaix were spinning and if being there for the music wasn’t your main intention they also had movies playing all night with themes like “Bring Back the Draught!” (obviously beer related) featuring Beerfest, Strange Brew, The Saddest Music in the World, and The Fatal Glass of Beer Another theme was “Up All Night in 1985” featuring The Last Dragon and Perfect, Fright Night. The final theme was “The Reel World: Brooklyn” featuring Saturday Night Fever, She's Gotta Have It, and The Warriors Finally there was Lars von Trier's The Kingdom: Part I. Plus there was a rec room where you could play Guitar Hero and Wii games and register to vote.

Music highlights included seeing Naomi Shelton get the crowd off their feet and clapping to her gospel songs with her amazing band. St. Vincent played several new songs and the one’s off her album Marry Me were hardly recognizable as she had a full live band playing highly orchestrated versions of those songs, which gave them new life. Highlight of the night was Sufjan Stevens coming out during her set to perform one of Phil Collins biggest hits “In the Air Tonight” as the crowd erupted after the big drum break. But it was The Budos Band that turned this seated venue into a dance party on fire as the audience were moved to shake their tail feathers. This was a very smart event that everyone watching had little time to get bored with, as there were so many options.

DaVe Lipp

More Pics

The Budos Band

Naomi Shelton and The Gospel Queens

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I WAS THERE . . . Midnight Juggernauts at Le Poisson Rouge 9.13.08

5:30 AM Reporter: Short and Sweet NYC 0 Responses
Get Celestial with The Midnight Juggernauts

Midnight Juggernauts
Le Poisson Rouge
September 13th, 2008

The Midnight Juggernauts are an intense and euphoric live act, full of energy, with the highly charismatic Vincent Vendetta at the helm. Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, they remind me of fellow Melbournite Nick Cave, with their highly intense and energetic music that manages to retain its originality while absorbing influences from other genres. Glam rock, disco, and electro pop fuse together to create a sound that’s smooth and mulitlayered, with fantasy lyrics that seduce the listener into an astral space away from reality as the band delivered a dynamic, forceful performance that captivated the audience at Le Poisson Rouge.

The space was packed with sweaty, excited fans, singing along to the Midnight Juggernauts original and fantastic lyrics, while dancing in the highly charged atmosphere they created. The band played all their hits from their EP Secrets of the Universe, as well as those off their most recent album Dystopia. If anyone there wasn’t already a fan, this performance was enough to convert them. Veteren disc spinner Grandmaster Flash, who has remixed their songs before, and who opened for them, spun a solid back-to-back medley of old school crowd pleasers, mixing disco, rock, and rap like a true legend, making it a great night with a great mix of music.

Natasha Philips

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The Weekend Shortlist September 26 to 28

5:00 AM Reporter: Short and Sweet NYC 0 Responses
The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players

Friday September 26

Location: East Village, NYC
Bands: Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip + B. Dolan
Show time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Mercury Lounge
Food: Oyama
Drink: Grassroots Tavern
Miscellaneous: Mudd Cafe

Besides their name bringing giggles to my face for no good reason everytime I say Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip, this electro-hip hop group is one of the most interesting artists to come out of England in a long while. Joining them is B. Dolan, a performance artist, activist and emcee. 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.

Friday September 26

Location: Tribeca, NYC
Bands: Black Moon + Smif N Wessun
Show time: 9 PM
Venue: Knitting Factory
Food: Pakistani Tea house
Drink: Walker’s
Miscellaneous: J&R

For old-school hip hop heads and lovers of lyrical verse, getting the chance to see legends like Black Moon and Smiff N Wessun on stage together performing their classic albums Enta da Stage and Da Shinin with a live band. For eats, the Pakistani Tea house is a great little discreet Indian restaurant serving five to six different types of Indian food that is way cheaper than this show. For a drink, try Walker’s. This local hang serves up inexpensive drinks and makes a great burger. Being in the financial district, there’s not a lot going on in Tribeca, but thank god for J&R. With music, electronics, and computer stores all in one area, you chances of getting bored are slim.

Saturday September 27

Location: Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Talk: The Survivors: A Discussion with Four Creators Who Have Transformed Crisis into Art
Show time: 2 - 5 PM FREE
Venue: Corridor Gallery
Food: Sushi D
Drink: Moe’s
Miscellaneous: Café Lafayette

The Full Spectrum panel discussion series, which features cutting-edge artists and Danny Simmons’ Corridor Gallery team up to present The Survivors: A Discussion with Four Creators Who Have Transformed Crisis into Art. Panelists will include Playwright/Poet/Zen Master Jesse C. Alick, Painter Paul Jansen, Filmmaker Nancy Schwartzman, Musician/Transformational Counselor K. Neycha Herford, and Writer Garnette Cadogan who will moderate the event as all discuss their personal experiences with HIV, cancer, homicide, sexual assault, and Hurricane Katrina. An audience Q & A will follow. 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).

Saturday September 27

Location: Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Bands: Takeover with St. Vincent + The Budos Band + Naomi Shelton + Brooklyn Youth Chorus
Show time: 9 PM
Venue: BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
Food: Junior’s
Drink: O’Connor’s
Miscellaneous: Thomas Beisl

Sufjan Stevens hosts this insanely awesome nearly all-night multimedia party (ending at 4 AM) at BAM that will feature diverse musical acts including indie-queen St. Vincent, Brooklyn funk acts The Budos Band and Naomi Shelton, and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Let’s not forget that there will also be DJs, movies and videogames. Known more for its cheesecake than anything else on its menu, Junior’s also offers fantastic diner and deli style eats from steak burgers to deli sandwiches. If you can make it through dinner, the cheesecake will be worth the wait! One of Brooklyn’s most interesting dive bars, O’Connor’s offers cheap drinks in a place where Park Slope hipsters meet old-time drinkers, making for one of the oddest pairings that works. An excellent place to get schnitzel and goulash and other Austrian delights, Thomas Beisl is right across the street from BAM.

Saturday September 27

Location: Tribeca, NYC
Bands: The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players + Pleaseeasaur + Anamanaguchi
Show time: 9 PM
Venue: Knitting Factory Tap Bar
Food: Ear Inn
Drink: Village Lantern
Miscellaneous: Jacques Torres

Writing funny satirical songs is an art and The Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players, are not just great at it, but use slides found at estate sales to tell the story. Pretty funny. Joining them are campy comedic musical group Pleaseeasaur and the Nintendo-beat loving group Anamanaguchi. One of my favorite places for food, Ear Inn is a 200-year-old bar with a small menu featuring burgers, sandwiches, and a chalkboard with specials including Jerk Chicken that’s under $10. With $3 pints Monday thru Friday 12pm to 7pm along with comedy and music performances, the Village Lantern is a great bar to chill at after work, especially now that it’s finally getting warm outside. Watch some of the best chocolate in the world made right in front of your eyes or browse through the store and sample for yourself the fruits of this master chocolatier’s labor.

Sunday September 28

Location: Chelsea, NYC
Band: Vieux Farka Toure
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Highline Ballroom
Food: Il Bastardo
Drink: Brite Bar
Miscellaneous: Café Grumpy

While Vieux Farka Toure’s name might sound familiar (his dad is legendary African musician Ali Farka Touré), he has a style all his own. Catch him at the Highline as he effortlessly blends African and blues music brilliantly. 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.


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Gadget Inspector: Coosh Headphones

5:30 AM Reporter: Short and Sweet NYC 0 Responses

The first things I look for when purchasing new headphones is comfortability, sound quality, and the privacy factor, so when I’m in a public place, I’m not bringing an unwanted party. Coosh has created a neat set of headphones that comfortably fit around your ears while keeping the music there. To show that their headsets are sturdy, they got the world-famous breakdance crew Massive Monkees to wear the headsets while doing some crazy dance moves.

With the tag line “Stays on. Feels Good” Coosh makes good on that promise as the ear piece is made of a soft rubber that is barely felt around the ear, making it remarkably comfortable, like it wasn’t even there, as the ear bud attached to it fits snugly in your ear. Standout features include removable ear buds from the rubber earpiece attachment, if that’s how you prefer to rock them, along with a clip to attach the loose wire to your clothing and a mute button. This is a pretty solid headset for those on the go and for those who like the details in their music, as this headset allows for a perfect distribution of sound. They are available for iPod and Mp3 players, come in a clear reusable case, and are available for iPhone and Blackberry devices. Plus its $19.99 retail price is a steal compared to any other headset in that price range.

To learn more about the headphones, check out the Coosh website here. You can purchase the headphones directly from their website right now or at any Radio Shack in NYC beginning October 20th.


Check this video out of the Massive Monkees Breakdancing with the Coosh headphones on


--DaVe Lipp

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The Daily Shortlist September 25

5:00 AM Reporter: Short and Sweet NYC 0 Responses
Built To Spill

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Band: Built to Spill
Show time: 6:30 PM
Venue: Terminal 5
Food: Island Burgers and Shakes
Drink: Smith’s Bar
Miscellaneous: Colony Music

Seems like every band is getting back together these days to play the entire album of songs that made them famous in the first place and Built to Spill are no exception. Catch them perform Perfect From Now on. For a kickass burger or chicken sandwich, Island Burgers and Shakes specializes in making great burgers like the Bourbon Street Burger that’s blackened, with bacon, Jack, bayou mayo, and onion on sourdough. One cheap bar in midtown, Smith’s is a dive bar with cheap booze, friendly locals, and live music daily in the next room. Though the place is way expensive, Colony Music is a fun music store that sells albums and sheet music. You can walk around and check out the entertainment memorabilia. Whether you’re looking for an autographed guitar signed by the Rolling Stones or an autographed 8x10 of Linda Carter, they’ve got it.


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MUSIC REVIEWS: Oceanlab and Caesars

5:30 AM Reporter: Short and Sweet NYC 0 Responses
Oceanlab
Sirens of the Sea
(Ultra Records)


Buy it at Amazon!
Buy it at Insound!



All too many trance albums are a dime a dozen - nothing more than remixed musical templates playing like background noise while I sit in some trendy lounge at 3 a.m. trying to shake off whichever drug I experimented with on that particular night. Like everybody else, I shake my head like I am one of the Roxbury brothers and smile a big creepy smile, but I certainly will not remember any of these crap songs when the sun rises. So imagine my surprise when I sat back and took in Oceanlab's debut album 'Sirens of the Sea' and actually heard some music that is beautiful, experimental and brave enough to attempt to transcend the all too creature comforts of most trance albums.

OceanLab is a vocal trance group made up of Jonathan Grant, Tony McGuinness, Paavo Siljamäki (Above & Beyond) and Justine Suissa, an English singer-songwriter whose lilting voice is melodic enough cast a haunting siren's spell on your ears. As the centerpiece of this debut, Suissa's gorgeously sad voice seems the perfect fit for the sublime sonic experimentation, which can be found on tracks like "Miracle" and "Ashes" among others.

During an interview in Riga, Latvia Tony and Paavo of OceanLab said, "We've been experimenting with a completely new sound - one of the tracks we're working on right now features a 56 piece mouse choir. We went diving in Formentera too to record some noises from the dolphins." And with that sort of strange and obsessive dedication to musical discovery, how could they possibly go wrong?

This is indeed an impressive debut, with moments of transcendence that seek to break out of the trance formula and reach for something more. I recommend it without reservation.

Adam J. Rodriguez



Caesars
Strawberry Weed
Astralwerks


Buy it at Amazon!
Buy it at Insound!



Do you like Swedish music? The question seems silly. Who's from Sweden? Abba? Well, yeah, but these days Sweden is no longer just a purveyor of doom-metal and disco novelty acts. Swedish artists are some of the heaviest hitters on the contemporary music scene. The Hives, Jens Lekman, and Peter, Bjorn and John are just three of the many Swedish groups taking the U.S. by storm.

Riding the cresting wave of swedophilia is the Caesar's whose Strawberry Weed is a fun, energetic dose of power-pop. Wisely cut in half from it's original twenty-four tracks for attention-deficited American audiences, The Caesars provide twelve tracks of sugar-y fun, providing a rush of a ride, that though enjoyable, becomes quickly repetitive and is ultimately forgettable. Tracks like "Strawberry weed" and "Boo Boo Goo Goo" are great, but ultimately they blend together into a blurry soundscape populated by same-y riffs and identical chord progressions.

Nate Campbell

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The Daily Shortlist September 24

5:00 AM Reporter: Short and Sweet NYC 0 Responses
Martha Rosler. Courtesy of Mitchell-Innes & Nash (Chelsea).

Location: Chelsea, NYC
Art: Martha Rosler: GREAT POWER
Show time: Monday - Friday 10 AM to 5 PM; Through October 11
Venue: Mitchell-Innes & Nash Chelsea
Food: Pop Burger
Drink: Gaslight Lounge
Miscellaneous: Amy’s Bread

Featuring photomontages and sculpture, artist Martha Rosler takes war and mixed media images and merges them together in this striking exhibition. Burger joint in the front, upscale lounge in the back, the menu at Pop Burger includes basics like 2 pop burgers for $5 for a quick fix or if your lounging, the likes of tuna tartar with soy truffle jus ($15). The Gaslight, a great hotspot bar in the meatpacking district, is dark and cozy while affordable for the area. If you don’t know Amy’s Bread, when you order a sandwich at a café or restaurant in the city, ask where they got the bread. There’s a good chance it’s from Amy’s because she’s one of the best bread makers in the city.


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THE INTERVIEW: Saving Abel’s Eric Taylor

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It didn’t take long for a southern rock band from Mississippi to seduce listeners with a song about oral sex. Saving Abel, named after the Biblical story, has been noted as having influences from Lynyrd Skynyrd to AC/DC and Johnny Cash. After working on their debut album with notable producer Skidd Mills, Saving Abel impressed executives at Virgin Records, leading to a record deal in 2007. As the band performs their hit single “Addicted” throughout the country, bassist Eric Taylor took time to quickly answer some questions for Short and Sweet NYC.

What was the process like recording your self-titled album?

It was a learning experience. We have a great producer that was easy to work with.

If you had to describe the album to someone who’s never heard it, how would you explain it?

It is an album that appeals to all. You can put the album in and listen to it from the first track to the last, non-stop.

The track "Addicted" has gotten so much buzz for its catchy hook and sexual innuendos. What was the inspiration behind this song, as well as the others found in your album?

Well, I think fellatio had something to do with it...Ha Ha...it’s about being in a relationship knowing that you need to get out, but you are addicted. The song "New Tattoo" is based on an actual true event. A rowdy road trip.

Where did you get the idea to create music that to some, may sound as if they’ve heard it before?

It didn't really come as an idea. It is just what we write. Each member in our band has a different formula to writing, but when we put it together, you get the sound that we have now.

What, in your opinion, is Southern Rock? Does Saving Abel fall under this musical genre?

Southern rock, in my opinion, is driving rock with a touch of blues and a touch of country. I think we do fall under southern rock. It’s imbedded in our blood.

Describe that fateful day in Jackson, Tennessee when A&R vet Kim Stephens saw you guys perform. What immediately came to your minds when you were signed?

Wow, I have blocked that memory from my mind. The first time Kim saw us, we played what is probably the worst show we have played to date. It was 100+ degrees and we were suffering from jetlag. Kim still had faith in us and signed us. We were excited when we heard that Virgin signed us.

Why does your debut album include new tracks and not specifically the ones originally found on your EP?

When we wrote "Addicted,” that was the sound we wanted to pursue. We wrote some more songs that matched this sound. The songs that made the album from the EP were songs that we all thought were great and we couldn't get rid of them.

If you had to pick one band/musician to perform with, who would it be and why?

It would be Ozzy Osbourne. The man is a legend and it would be an honor to perform with him.

With so many artists coming and going in today’s music industry, do you feel that your music is going to impact listeners?

I really think that it does. We write from the heart and listeners can relate to our songs. That will always be what we do.

Stephanie Nolasco

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The Daily Shortlist September 23

5:00 AM Reporter: Short and Sweet NYC 0 Responses

Marlon Brando as Don Corleone in The Godfather

Location: West Village, NYC
Film: The Godfather Part I and Part II
Show time: See venue site for show times
Venue: Film Forum
Food: Blue Ribbon Downing Street Bar
Drink: Village Tavern
Miscellaneous: Bleeker Bob’s

Looks like Francis Ford Coppola restored the original 35mm prints of his two classic films and is showing them at the Film Forum. Hopefully he didn’t pull a Speilberg and include extra unnecessary scenes to ruin these classic films! For an eclectic menu that mixes upscale and down-home food, this Blue Ribbon location, a wine bar and restaurant, offers lighter fare including foie gras, cheese plates, caviar, and steak tartare. The Village Tavern is a really comfortable neighborhood bar that’s great for catching sports games or just chilling for a drink, which is what I prefer to do when I’m in the vicinity. Also in the area is Bleeker Bob’s. It’s one of the oldest independent record stores in NYC and the selection is deep. The place looks a mess, but the staff is surprisingly friendly and extremely knowledgeable about what they have.


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Win FREE Product from VOGUE and Redken right here!

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Vogue and Redken have teamed up to create Behind the Lens: The Look of Fall 2008, a four-part series featuring one designer in each of the world’s fashion capitals - New York, London, Milan and Paris. The series offers an insider’s view into the creative fashion & hair collaborations behind preparing a runway show, highlighting the impact major designers will have on the season’s fashion and beauty trends.

From the inspiration behind the designers’ vision for their fall collection to the hair and makeup tests, backstage chaos and the fashion show itself, the series features commentary from key players in the creative process, including Peter Som, Luella Bartley, Roberto Cavalli, Jean Paul Gaultier and Redken Creative Consultant, Guido.

For a chance to win, check out this video from Redken’s Creative Consultant Guido, and then add a comment to this post and 10 lucky winners will randomly be chosen to win a bottle of Redken’s Full Frame 07 Protective Volumizing Mousse.

DaVe Lipp

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The Daily Shortlist September 22

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Installation view of Ateliers Jean Prouvé at The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 2008. Photo: Jason Mandella.

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Art: Ateliers Jean Prouvé
Show time: Sat—Mon and Wed & Thurs: 10:30 AM–5:30 PM, Fri: 10:30 AM–8 PM, Tues closed; Through March 30, 2009
Venue: Museum Of Modern Art (MOMA)
Food: Supermac
Drink: Stout
Miscellaneous: Jack’s 99 Cent Store

Celebrating French architect and designer Jean Prouvé, this exhibition takes a look at the furniture and buildings that he designed with Ateliers Jean Prouvé, his laboratories where his design ideas were continuously refined and developed. Though small, Supermac packs a hearty punch with it’s gourmet mac & cheese’s like the Mac Cheesesteak with shaved steak, caramelized onions, roasted peppers, cremini/shitake, provolone, and white American ($8.25 mini; $10.95 mega). A great place in NYC to get a full-bodied dark beer is at Stout. With a very detailed beer list with descriptions, I’ve never had a bad pint at this bar and restaurant, plus the food menu is American and quite good. Probably the biggest 99-cent store in NYC, Jack’s is three floors of some of the finest values you can find, especially in an overpriced area like Herald Square.


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The Weekend Shortlist September 19 to 21

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Still Badass, Lemmy and Motorhead do a show with The Misfits this weekend

Friday September 19

Location: Union Square, NYC
Band: Basia Bulat
Show time: 9 PM
Venue: Highline Ballroom
Food: Thai Me Up Sandwich Bar
Drink: McSorley’s Old Ale House
Miscellaneous: Mud Cafe

Canadian songstress Basia Bulat has a sweet folky voice and an eclectic arsenal of songs that will sweep you off your feet. 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.

Friday September 19

Location: East Village, NYC
Band: Santogold
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: The Fillmore at Irving Plaza
Food: China 1
Drink: Hi Fi
Miscellaneous: Second on Second Karaoke Bar & Lounge

Blending electro, jazz, and avant-garde awesomness, Santogold is one of the standout singers of the years who makes makes music you can chill out with or spazz dance to in your room. 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!

Saturday September 20

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Bands: Motorhead + The Misfits
Show time: 6:30 PM
Venue: Roseland Ballroom
Food: Island Burgers and Shakes
Drink: Smith’s Bar
Miscellaneous: Colony Music

Nothing says rock more than a show featuring legendary rock bands like Motorhead and The Misfits sharing a bill together. Seriously, bring your shoulder pads or stuff your pants with Charmin and get ready for a large mosh pit. For a kickass burger or chicken sandwich, Island Burgers and Shakes specializes in making great burgers like the Bourbon Street Burger that’s blackened, with bacon, Jack, bayou mayo, and onion on sourdough. One cheap bar in midtown, Smith’s is a dive bar with cheap booze, friendly locals, and live music daily in the next room. Though the place is way expensive, Colony Music is a fun music store that sells albums and sheet music. You can walk around and check out the entertainment memorabilia. Whether you’re looking for an autographed guitar signed by the Rolling Stones or an autographed 8x10 of Linda Carter, they’ve got it.

Saturday September 20

Location: East Village, NYC
Art: Christian Marclay
Show time: Mon – Fri: 10 AM - 5 PM
Venue: Paula Cooper Gallery
Food: Oyama
Drink: Grassroots Tavern
Miscellaneous: Mud Cafe

Musician and artist Christian Marclay’s exhibit Cyanotypes, the art of taking photographic prints created by placing objects on a photosensitive surface, features abstract tangles made by unspooled cassette tapes, which look like a brilliant mess. 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 Mud Cafe a great little coffee shop in the area.

Sunday September 21

Location: East Village, NYC
Theater: Fela!
Show time: See website for show times
Venue: 37 Arts Theatre
Food: Ear Inn
Drink: Village Lantern
Miscellaneous: Jacques Torres

See the only play that has ventured to tell the story of Africa’s most controversial and arguably the best musician, Fela Kuti. Choreographed by Bill T. Jones with music by Antibalas, Fela! blends Afrobeat music with Fela’s life story, which are no doubt explosive. One of my favorite places for food, Ear Inn is a 200-year-old bar with a small menu featuring burgers, sandwiches, and a chalkboard with specials including Jerk Chicken that’s under $10. With $3 pints Monday thru Friday 12pm to 7pm along with comedy and music performances, the Village Lantern is a great bar to chill at after work, especially now that it’s finally getting warm outside. Watch some of the best chocolate in the world made right in front of your eyes or browse through the store and sample for yourself the fruits of this master chocolatier’s labor.


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THE BOOK REPORT: After Dark by Haruki Murakami

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After Dark
By Haruki Murakami
(Vintage)


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After Dark reads like a dream, which comes as no surprise, as the novel takes place in its entirety between the hours of 11:56 pm and 6:52 am. Set in present-day Japan, specifically the confines of a 24-hour Denny’s, a “love hotel,” and an inconspicuous bedroom, the 191-pages of After Dark read simply, yet create an invariably complex web of characters strung together by not-so-vague connections.

In typical Murakami through-the-lens style (Murakami literally provides stage directions, portraying his characters through a literal camera lens), the reader becomes primarily engaged in the parallel plotlines of two sisters: one who cannot sleep, and one who can only sleep. Mari, the resident insomniac, sets out for a night of utter boredom, yet by the conclusion has endured enough unexpected encounters to have permitted the entry of friendship, love, and danger into her otherwise mundane life. Her sister Eri is transfixed in an endless sleep from which we are not quite sure she will ever emerge.

Murakami has once again gifted us with an almost-entirely unrealistic plot comprised of characters who are at once relatable and themes that are remarkably thought-provoking, as it brushes on issues as complex as existentialism and the constitution of basic human needs.

Jessica Stein

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The Daily Shortlist September 18

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Falling-Flowing-Floating, 2004 Acrylic on Canvas 90 X 150 (in 3 parts)

Location: Chelsea, NYC
Band: Betsy Kaufman
Show time: 4:25 PM
Venue: Leslie Tonkonow Artworks + Projects
Food: Supermac
Drink: Stout
Miscellaneous: Jack’s 99 Cent Store

In this exhibition, artist Betsy Kaufman takes minimalism and adds grids, stripes, lines, and hard edges making a body of work that is full of emotions and contradictions. Though small, Supermac packs a hearty punch with it’s gourmet mac & cheese’s like the Mac Cheesesteak with shaved steak, caramelized onions, roasted peppers, cremini/shitake, provolone, and white American ($8.25 mini; $10.95 mega). A great place in NYC to get a full-bodied dark beer is at Stout. With a very detailed beer list with descriptions, I’ve never had a bad pint at this bar and restaurant, plus the food menu is American and quite good. Probably the biggest 99-cent store in NYC, Jack’s is three floors of some of the finest values you can find, especially in an overpriced area like Herald Square.


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MUSIC REVIEWS: Jakob Dylan and Congotronics 3

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Jakob Dylan
Seeing Things
Columbia Records


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With Jakob Dylan releasing his first solo album sans the Wallflowers, it seems like he is trying to take after his father, even by just looking at the album cover. But if you’re blessed with the talent and coolness that comes with the Dylan name, run with it.

Seeing Things has a very clean, stripped down feel with nothing but soft vocals, an acoustic guitar and subtle hints of drum and bass throughout. However, there is no denying this album is about the songwriting. He channels the 60’s that brought the original Dylan into the spotlight, with songs like “War is Kind” and “Evil is Alive and Well” telling somber stories of struggle and the effect of the Iraq war.

Seeing Things showcases an extreme amount of talent and is an overall good listen, but it’s easy to find yourself switching to the next song hoping for something more upbeat.

Jennifer Hein




Congotronics 3: Kasai Allstars
In the 7th Moon, the Chief Turned Into a Swimming Fish and Ate the Head of his Enemy by Magic
Crammed Discs

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In the 7th Moon, the Chief Turned Into a Swimming Fish and Ate the Head of his Enemy by Magic," the debut full-length album from Kasai All-Stars, is an unabashedly raw, aggressive explosion of sound, soul and color. The third edition of the Congotronics series, its deep trances and winding rhythms tap into the primal essence of why music is a universal language.

The Kasai Allstars is a collective of twenty-five musicians from six bands and five tribes – the Luba, Sonye, Lulua, Tetela and Luntu – all of whom originally come from the Kasai region in the center of the Congo. Their music is drawn directly from ritual festive music played before the arrival of European colonizers and missionaries who found the highly erotic dances and pagan trance ceremonies satanic and unholy. The traditional musical practices were eventually banned pushing them to the brink of extinction. Even the actual traditional instruments all but disappeared.

Today the Kasai Allstars are reviving the practices, using acoustic instruments with electric guitars, distortion-laden thumb pianos (with DIY amplification) and soulful vocals; they have a sound unlike any other. Their ability to layer repetitive patterns and progressions builds a rich texture to create a powerfully rich composition. The album is almost underproduced, emphasizing the raw, uninhibited nature of the music. After appearing on Congotronics 2, the Kasai Allstars are making a very strong first impression on the international music scene with their first full-length release.

Marc Amigone

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