Location: Financial District, NYC
Event: Twisted Sister
Show time: 12:30 PM
Venue: J&R Music World
Food: Burritoville
Drink: Jeremy’s Ale House
Miscellaneous: Century 21

Marking the 25th Anniversary and the release of the double disc special edition of Twisted Sister’s classic album Stay Hungry, all the original members of the band: Dee Snider, Jay Jay French, Eddie Ojeda, Mark Mendoza and AJ Pero will all be at J&R to not only celebrate and sign copies, which includes their classic hit "We’re Not Gonna Take It," but also receive a RIAA certified gold plaque for the song that made them famous from Constantine Maroulis, star of the Broadway hit musical Rock of Ages. While most people buy hot dogs and grab a beer at expensive restaurants in the Seaport mall, you’ll be smart and head over to Burritoville for inexpensive and delicious California inspired burritos, all under $10. For drinks, Jeremy’s Ale House has a lively crowd and a beer list that will get you a pint for $5 and under. If you get down to the financial district early, check out Century 21. They won’t try to sell you some property, but they have some great designer clothing on the cheap, plus the place is huge to roam.

Summer time! Here are some ideas for fun and exciting things to do that are FREE or relatively inexpensive. I’ll be gone for most of July, so you’ll have to make sure to have enough fun for the both of us! (Plus, I would kill for a video of Built to Spill playing the Siren Fest…I’m just saying)

MUSIC FESTIVALS

Central Park Summer Stage hosts a HUGE line up of bands and performers all summer long. Some key shows, Cat Power and The Pretenders. For details, go HERE







Celebrate Brooklyn! Offers many bands, films and performances for free or for a suggested donation of $3.00, Blonde Redhead played TONIGHT! And Saturday, June27th is a FREE show from Dr.Dog. Animal Collective, and MGMT are not to be missed. For info: http://www.briconline.org/celebrate/schedule.asp

The Siren Music Festival at Coney Island…go for a swim, grab a Nathan’s Famous and watch a full day of bands for free. Built to Spill is the headliner. Saturday, July 18th
http://www.siren.villagevoice.com/siren/

Virgin Music Festival is FREE this year…but you have to get yourself to Baltimore. Merriweather Post Pavilion. FREE. http://www.virginmobilefestival.com/#/home/

All Points West will be incredible this year… The Beastie Boys, Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs!, and Vampire Weekend. http://www.apwfestival.com/

South Street Seaport Music Festival with such noted line-up highlights as The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. http://www.seaportmusicfestival.com.

McCarren Park Pool. I thought this was finished last year, but check it out at mccarrenpark.com for details.

River to River. This year the stand out artist is one of my personal favorites; Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes will play with his Mystic Valley Band along with Jenny Lewis and Arlo Guthrie. Check out http://www.rivertorivernyc.com for details.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK
All you have to do is wait on line early in the morning and you’ll get tickets to see a play in Central Park FOR FREE. There is also a virtual line at the Public Theater website…much easier than getting up at 6:00AM. This year’s performances begin with Anne Hathaway starring in Twelfth Night.

GOVERNOR’S ISLAND
Take the ferry to Governor’s Island, where there are free bikes rentals on Fridays, free art exhibitions, take a picnic lunch and watch some free shows, for info and the line-up, go to http://www.govisland.com/Visit_the_Island/default.asp One concert at the island I know of for sure: June 21, Sunday: Make Music New York presents Punk Island, 11 AM to 5 PM a "one-day experiment that transforms the stately island into a punk rockers’ paradise" (NY Times). With Reagan Youth, Blanks 77, and dozens more.

FILMS

Summer in New York City means that once again you can enjoy a variety of movies beneath the stars in New York City. Each of these film festivals offers visitors and New Yorkers a chance to watch a movie, as well as enjoy some of New York City's best outdoor scenery -- from skylines to parks.

Bryant Park Summer 2009 Free Film Series
Enjoy classic films under the stars from June through August at the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival. It's always a great scene -- lots of New Yorkers picnicking and enjoying summer in the city -- followed by classic films including highlights such as Close Encounters of the Third King, Harold and Maude and The Sting.

Central Park Film Festival
From August 18-22, 2009 enjoy five nights of films under the stars in Central Park. This is the 7th year for this film festival, which will feature films with the theme "Be Cool" - five films that feature actors or actresses who epitomize "cool".

River To River Festival’s "Movie Nights on the Elevated Acre". Featuring free outdoor screenings of classic NYC films from July 6 to 27. Film include West Side Story, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, The Seven Year Itch, and The Sweet Smell of Success. For more info: http://www.rivertorivernyc.com/

RiverFlicks 2009
Every Wednesday and Friday in July and August, enjoy free movies under the stars. Movies begin at dusk (approximately 8-8:30 p.m.) and there is even free popcorn available (beverages and other snacks are for sale).

Summer on the Hudson: Movies Under the Stars
Free movies are being shown in Riverside Park South on Wednesday evenings in July and August. Films in the 2009 series will be shown on Pier 1 in Riverside Park.

Movies with a View: Brooklyn Bridge Park Summer Film Series
This free series features films and music on Thursdays from July 8 - August 27, 2009. You can bring a low chair if you like, but there are also chairs for rent, as well as concessions. Pre-movie music begins at 6 and the movies begin at sunset.

Rooftop Films
This eclectic series runs from May through September and includes everything from independently produced animation to documentary films about New Yorkers. Screenings feature music at 8 p.m., followed by a series of short films beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are $9. The good news is that, even if it rains, the movies will be shown at an indoor space in the same location.

Celebrate Brooklyn Movies & Music Series
This series of movies feature soundtracks performed live by a variety of musical acts. Free performances take place at the Prospect Park Bandshell, but a $3 donation is suggested.

MUSEUMS

FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION EVERY DAY

• Forbes Magazine Galleries
Admission is always free to this interesting museum featuring collectibles such as toy soldiers, Monopoly games and more.
62 Fifth Avenue (at 12th Street)
(212) 206-5548

• Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology
Admission to the museum displaying articles from the permanent collection, as well as changing exhibits on fashion, is always free.
Seventh Avenue at 27 Street
Phone: (212) 217-5970

• National Museum of the American Indian
Admission to the the sixteenth museum in the Smithsonian Institution is always free.
1 Bowling Green, George Gustave Heye Center
Phone: (212) 668-6624

• Goethe Institut
Weekdays you can experience German language and culture exhibits for free at the Goethe Institut, which is conveniently located across from the Met.
1014 Fifth Ave
Phone: (212) 439-8700

• Sony Wonder Technology Lab
Admission is always free to this entertainment and technology museum located in Midtown.
Sony Plaza Public Arcade at 56th Street and Madison Avenue
Phone: (212) 833-5414
Museums With Suggested Admission
In order to make museums affordable for all, these museums have "suggested" admissions. That means you can pay the amount of admission that you can afford and still enjoy access to the museum.

• Metropolitan Museum of Art
Although they raised the "suggested" admission to $20, you can pay what you can afford to see one of the greatest art museums in New York City.
Address: 1000 Fifth Avenue
Phone: (212) 535-7710

• American Museum of Natural History
The "suggested" admission at the American Museum of Natural History is $15, you can make whatever contribution you see as appropriate to enter the museum (though you'll have to pay full price for planetarium shows, etc.).
Address: Central Park West at West 79th Street
Phone: (212) 769-5000

Tuesday Deals

• Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Free admission on Tuesdays (Admission is free every weekday from mid-November through February)
1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Phone: (718) 623-7200

• Staten Island Museum
Admission is free on Tuesdays from 12 to 2 p.m.
75 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, NY
Phone: (718) 483-7114

Wednesday Deals

• Bronx Zoo
Admission by donation all day on Wednesday
1040 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY
Phone: (718) 367-1010

• New York Botanical Garden
Free admission (covers grounds only) on Wednesdays
Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road, Bronx, NY
Phone: (718) 817-8700

Thursday Deals

• American Craft Museum
Pay What You Wish from 6 - 8 p.m. to see the decorative and functional pieces showcased here.
40 W 53rd St
Phone: (212) 956-3535

• Children's Museum of the Arts
Free fun for the kids--from 4 - 6 p.m. you can pay what you wish on Thursdays.
182 Lafayette Street
Phone: (212) 274-0986

• Museum of Arts and Design
Pay What You Wish from 6 - 9 p.m.
2 Columbus Circle
Phone: (212) 299-7777

Friday Deals

• American Folk Art Museum
Free Admission on Fridays from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
45 West 53rd Street
Phone: (212) 265-1040

• Asia Society and Museum
Free Admission on Fridays from 6-9 p.m.
725 Park Ave. at 70th St.
Phone: (212) 288-6400

• Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Free admission for Seniors on Fridays
1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Phone: (718) 623-7200

• Bronx Museum of the Arts
This contemporary art museum is open late on Fridays (from 11 - 8 p.m.), so visitors can explore the exhibits for a voluntary contribution of $5 for adults, and $3 for students and seniors.
1040 Grand Concourse at 165th Street, Bronx, NY
Phone: (718) 681-6000

• International Center for Photography
Admission to the frequently changing exhibitions is available with your voluntary contribution on Fridays from 5-8 p.m.
1133 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd St.
Phone: (212) 857-0000

• The Morgan Library
Admission is free on Fridays from 7-9 p.m.
225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street
Phone: (212) 685-0008

• Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Free Admission on Target Fridays from 4 - 8 p.m.
11 West 53 Street
Phone: (212) 708-9400

• Museum of the Moving Image
Free to gallery Fridays from 4 - 8 p.m. (does not include film screenings)
35 Avenue at 36 Street in Astoria, NY
Phone: (718) 784-0077

• New York Historical Society
Free admission Fridays, 6-8 p.m. courtesy of American Express Company.
170 Central Park West between 76th & 77th Street
Phone: (212) 873-3400

• Whitney Museum of American Art
Pay what you wish on Fridays from 6 - 9 p.m.
945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street
Phone: (212) 570-3676

Saturday Deals

• Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Free admission from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Saturdays
1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Phone: (718) 623-7200

• First Saturdays at the Brooklyn Museum of Art
Evening admission (5-11 p.m.) on the first Saturday of every month is free. Includes most exhibits, music and movie screenings.
200 Eastern Pkwy Brooklyn, NY 11238-6052
Phone: (718) 638-5000

• Guggenheim Museum
Pay what you wish on Saturdays from 5:15 - 7:45 p.m. (last ticket issued at 7:15)
1071 5th Avenue at 89th Street
Phone: (212) 423-3500

• The Jewish Museum
Free admission on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5:45.
1109 Fifth Avenue at 92nd Street (between Fifth and Madison)
Phone: (212) 423-3200

• New York Botanical Garden
Free admission to the grounds from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Saturdays
Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road, Bronx, NY
Phone: (718) 817-8700

Sunday Museum Admission Discounts
• The Frick Collection
On Sundays, pay what you wish from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
1 East 70th Street
Phone: (212) 288-0700

• Museum of the City of New York
Free admission on Sundays between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd St
Phone: (212) 534-1672

HIT THE BEACH!

Take the Staten Island Ferry FOR FREE and hop on a bus to SOUTH BEACH, there’s a boardwalk and restaurants and a nice groomed sandy beach.

Take the A Train to FAR ROCKAWAY BEACH, watch the surfers, go into town and eat at a great pizzeria or restaurant.

Take the B or the Q to BRIGHTON BEACH or to CONEY ISLAND, walk the boardwalk, go to the amusement park, have some street pirogis! Yum!

Go to FIRE ISLAND for the day. Take the LIRR and save with a getaway package!

EXPLORE BROOKLYN!

Take the IKEA Shuttle to the Red Hook Ball Fields and enjoy vendor foods from central and south America and Mexico, walk to Steve’s Key Lime and get a swingle…key lime ice cream frozen, dipped in chocolate, on a stick!

Get thee to Bushwick…Explore the galleries and art spaces, eat at Roberta’s, Potion, or any number of taquerias.

Fort Greene Rules! Go to the Fort Greene Park and see the Memorial to the Martyrs of Revolutionary War Prison Ships, go to Tilly's for a coffee, to the FIVE SPOT for some soul food and music, or go to the BAM for a movie or performance and eat at 67 Burger, Pequena, Havana Outpost, or the Smoke Joint..yum!

Green Point/Williamsburg! Go to the Nassau stop and eat some great homestyle Polish food at Pyza, walk to the Disco Pharmacy, eat at Lokal, or just take a bus or the L train to Lorimer to McCarren Park and play or watch dodge ball, soft ball, four square, or soccer.

Of Course, there's the SLOPE and the HEIGHTS and the FULTON FERRY LANDING... if you have additional suggestions, please post them!

Leo Deresa

I am easily drawn to anything regal, so it was only instinctive that I found the line Lipstick Queen. This divine, unassuming lipstick line was created by a customer for customers. The Australian creator with the catchy name – Poppy King – frequently states that she is not a makeup artist or chemist; she is just a girl fixated with lips with an industrial spirit. Poppy King started her line at the age of 18 on a quest to create perfect lips with a hint of 1940’s glamour. I introduced myself to the Saints color line first. The Saints is 10% pigment with a sheer finish. The application is utterly smooth, moist, and simply rich. There was no bleeding or movement throughout the day, even my coffee cup had only a hint of lip stain. Queen’s tagline proves true, “stick with me and my lipstick will stick with you.” All Lipstick Queen products are gluten free and no animal testing; think vegetarian lipstick. Next, I tried the Medieval lip treatment. The inspiration behind this product comes from the medieval era when it was immoral to wear lip color. It is a lip treatment infused with Vitamin E and some pigment. Medieval was just as winning as the Saints. Lipstick Queen products are, by far, the best lipsticks I have ever used for application and resilience. The color palate is limited to ten colors and the price point is on the higher end – starting at $18.

Ashkan

Joan Blondell in the Busby Berkeley number “We’re in the Money” from Gold Diggers of 1933.



Location: Murray Hill, NYC
Film: Gold Diggers of 1933
Show time: 5 PM
Venue: Bryant Park
Food: Seven’s Mediterranean Turkish Grill
Drink: Shalel Lounge
Miscellaneous: Boat Basin Cafe

Summer and FREE films outdoors in the city are becoming notorious together and the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival presents Gold Diggers of 1933. This musical was made back in the depression era and stars Ginger Rogers, Ruby Keeler and Joan Blondell as Broadway show girls, and Dick Powell. For good Mediterranean food on the UWS, Seven’s Mediterranean Turkish Grill is an excellent choice. Specializing in Pides (stuffed dough), they also serve most of the staple Turkish dishes. Hidden, though well worth the hunt, Shalel Lounge is a romantic spot with a cave-like atmosphere, and an excellent though pricey beer and wine list. Overlooking the water in Riverside Park, the Boat Basin Cafe is a really beautiful outdoor café with one of the best views of the Hudson River and NJ. You heard me, NJ! The menu is mostly burgers and sandwiches and plenty of BBQ. Best of all, it’s affordable and fun.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (SkyNet Edition) [Blu-ray]
(Lions Gate)





Aside from being one of the best sequels ever, T2 taught us all that sometimes the robots that try to kill us can eventually become our friends and a new Blu-ray SkyNet edition of the film was recently released to coincide with the release of the new Terminator Salvation in theaters. Terminator 2- Judgment Day is one of the high water marks for science fiction action films with acting and writing that matches the wonder of the amazing special effects and it has gone on to become an icon in the 20th Century film canon with its references and theme (which has remained popular in the theaters with films such as the Matrix, I,Robot, and Wall-E).

The DVD itself includes multiple versions of the film including the special director's extended edition which is an encoded Easter egg (type in number 82997) and the alternate versions actually have some real variations from the theatrical release. The film looks fantastic after being optimized for a Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player (it may have limited functionality in a 1.0 player) and James Cameron’s sleek visuals are decidedly crisp and tonally brilliant in this version. As an added bonus the DVD has as a number of added materials such as deleted scenes, commentaries, picture in picture trivia games, and on-line features.

More than anything else, it’s fun to watch a great film which stands the test of time and remember back when Guns-n-Roses still rocked and Arnold Schwarzenegger was just blowing stuff up in California rather than vetoing bills?

Tim Needles

From the moment lead vocalist/guitarist Jay Malinowski and bassist Eon Sinclair took the stage, the intimate yet sold-out Mercury Lounge erupted with accolade and applause that didn’t cease until Bedouin Soundclash left the building.

Alongside an awesome drummer and two lively horn-players/back-up singers, the guys opened up with “Until we Burn in the Sun” off of 2007’s Street Gospels, followed by “Living in Jungles” and the catchy “St. Andrews.”

They only performed two songs off of their new EP, Where Have the Songs Played Gone To, starting with “When You Were Young” and closing the set with the horn-filled soul-jam, “On My Block.”

The crowd definitely got excited for popular songs like “Walls Fall Down,” “When the Night Feels My Song,” and “12:59 Lullaby,” which seemed very close to the band’s heart as both members took a seat and seemed to share a brief moment of silence before performing it.

One of the highlights for me was when they busted into an energetic cover of “A Message to You Rudy,” undoubtedly one of the greatest reggae-ska songs around.

The band encored with “Shelter” and “Nothing to Say,” two songs off of 2004’s Sounding a Mosaic.


After seeing Bedouin Soundclash perform for the first time, I definitely got what the fuss was about. It’s rare to find a band that puts as much soul into their live performance as they do their studio sound, and Bedouin did so with stamina and a smile.


As far as their future, this reggae-soul-dub duo has nothing but bigger and better ahead of them. Check out Bedouin Soundclash on tour this summer with No Doubt.

Lucy Tonic

Wow, what a day yesterday. It’s hard to believe that we lost two great entertainment icons only within a few hours of each other. Michael Jackson died at 50 after going into cardiac arrest while Farrah Fawcett died after battling cancer at 62. In remembrance, here’s two videos that give insight into the immense talents of these two bigger than life icons.





DaVe Lipp

Friday June 26

Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Bands: Blonde Redhead
Show time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Prospect Park Bandshell
Food: Chiles & Chocolate Oaxacan Kitchen
Drink: The Gate
Miscellaneous: Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co.

Blonde Redhead play one of Brooklyn’s best summer festivals, Celebrate Brooklyn! This art pop trio has been consistently putting out great albums while adjusting their noise leanings to beautiful melodious songs that are rough around the edges. Best of all, this show is FREE! Ever have Oaxacan food? Chiles & Chocolate Oaxacan Kitchen serves up some fantastic, not exactly Mexican food. Try the smoky flavored Mole Negro, one of the best mole sauces I’ve had in NYC. Before leaving, you must try one of the hot chocolates like the Chiles Y Chocolate. A hint of chipotle without too much heat is a nice kick start for the night. The Gate is a great Park Slope bar with excellent beers on tap and a outdoor courtyard to chill. If time permits, you must, and I mean MUST go to the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co., a non-profit organization that helps kids with their writing, that’s fronted by a store selling super powers.

Friday June 26

Location: East Village, NYC
Talk: Werner Herzog
Show time: 7 PM
Venue: McNally Jackson Booksellers
Food Supper
Drink 2A
Miscellaneous Whole Foods on Bowery

Legendary director Werner Herzog discusses his new book Conquest of the Useless: Reflections from the Making of Fitzcarraldo (Ecco) which contains his journal from making this 1982 film in the Amazon Rainforest. He will also be signing copies of the book. Those looking for good and inexpensive Italian food should most definitely check out Supper. Do yourself a favor and try the “Priest Stranglers” pasta with Marinara and soft Ricotta di Pecora cheese. A good nearby bar is 2A. With two floors of windows, it’s great for watching the remaining hipsters who can still afford to live in the city pass by. If all your dinner/drink plans fail and you need an all-in-one, the Whole Foods on Bowery is your upscale go-to-grocery store for dinner and snacks.

Saturday June 27

Location: Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
Bands: Silent Disco
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: BKLYN Yard
Food: Jake’s Barbecue Restaurant
Drink: Brooklyn Social
Miscellaneous: The Coffee Den

What better way to start off the summer than at an outdoor disco? Resident DJ Zemi17 curates Silent Disco with a variety of eclectic DJs playing music live through FM radio transmissions straight into your headphones. For great Kansas City style BBQ, check out Jake’s Barbecue Restaurant where the use of dry rubs, sauce, and slow cooking make for some mouthwatering food. Try the Pulled Pork Platter ($14.50), the Half BBQ Chicken ($12.95) or any number of combinations. A former Italian Social Club, Brooklyn Social still has that old 1930s charm and a great drink menu with mixed drinks falling in the $8 range. As much of a fan I am of Dunkin Donuts coffee, I say skip it and try The Coffee Den. They have a nice selection of coffee’s from dark to light roasts and even have Gorilla Coffee, one of the best and darkest in the city.

Saturday June 27

Location: Midtown East, NYC
Bands: Istanbulive
Show time: 2 PM
Venue: Central Park SummerStage
Food: Peking Duck House
Drink: Blackstones Pub & Restaurant
Miscellaneous: New York Milkshake Company

Celebrate and/or learn about Turkish music at Istanbulive where you can see three sets of awesome music from Turkish folk-rock legends Mazhar Fuat Özkan (MFÖ), pop band Painted on Water (featuring Sertab Erener and Demir Demirkan), and Hüsnü Senlendirici & Vassilis Saleas with NY Gypsy All-Stars and Brooklyn Funk Essentials. 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.

Sunday June 28

Location: West Village, NYC
Event: Pride March
Show time: 5th Avenue & 52nd St. to Christopher & Greenwich St.; noon – end
Venue: Various areas
Food: Tortilla Flats
Drink: White Horse Tavern
Miscellaneous: Magnolia Bakery

Celebrate gay pride with the mother of all marches as Grand Marshalls Dustin Lance Black, Cleve Jones, Anne Kronenberg, and the Hon. New York State Governor David Paterson lead the festivities at the Pride March, one of the most fun parades in NYC. For dinner, check out Tortilla Flats. The food is Mexican and delicious, but it’s the insanity within (bingo and hula-hoop nights) that is the real calling for this place. For drinks afterwards, hit the White Horse Tavern, a great bar and the old haunting grounds for Dylan Thomas. If you somehow have time before all of this, stop by Magnolia Bakery for some of the best tasting cupcakes in the city.

The Beach Boys
Summer Love Songs
(Capitol Records)






Certain sounds seem to persist eternally in their associations and the Beach Boys have the market cornered on summer, surfing, and the beach but what about love? Their new compilation gathers together 20 songs under the theme of Summer Love and aside from Brian Wilson’s amazing production value, and the sheer palatability of the songs themselves, the context of love allows the listener to really hear how well the songs are written after so many years.

The songs, many which have been remixed in stereo for the first time for the album, range from romantic and personal such as the exquisite “God Only Knows” to more upbeat tracks like “California Girls” which might lean towards polyamorous but alas that’s the nature of love and its many definitions. The compilation includes a number of great new mixes of classic tunes like “Wouldn’t it Be Nice” and “Don’t Worry Baby” with lesser known tracks like “Your Summer Dream” and “Fallin’ In Love” which was previously unreleased in the U.S. There are also a few little bonuses which are fantastic for real fans like the full introduction to “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” which alludes to Phil Spector’s wall of sound and has not been heard before and a short 30 second vocal ghost track of “Don't Worry Baby” at the end of the album.

The classic tracks have never sounded so good and the album helps show that the Beach Boys were really fantastic songwriters and musicians rather than a bubblegum band singing “surf, surf, surf, I really wanna surf.”

Tim Needles


Frank Sinatra
Classic Sinatra II
(Capitol Records)






Capital Records have managed to live up to the expectations set with their first installment of Classic Sinatra. Sinatra fan or not, you’re sure to recognize some of the classics on this disc. Maybe the “Rubber Tree Plant” song you learned as a kid or “Love and Marriage” used to announce Al Bundy and his clan. This could be a great avenue to guide someone into being a true Frank fan. If you are a fan, there’s even more to love. Every song in this collection is truly a classic and sweetest of all, Capital has closed this installment of “Old Blue Eyes” with a previously unreleased track. Even though most of this collection is available elsewhere, Classic Sinatra II is worth it to own such a rare gem.

The collect is mixed well, with Frank’s voice out in front where it should be. Everything is crisp and clear, giving a hint of what it was like to watch the master crooner at work. It made me want to don my double breasted pin-stripe suit and go out for martini’s. Each selection flows smoothly from beginning to end, although it’s not difficult to achieve with Frank. A great collection for any cocktail party. This is a great addition to any Sinatra lover’s library, is a great companion to the first installment, and a good overview of Frank’s career up to 1970.

Jonathon L. Miller

Location: Soho, NYC
Art: 25 Under 35
Show time: Opening reception: 6 - 8 PM; Through July 18
Venue: The Painting Center
Food: Souen
Drink: Antarctica
Miscellaneous: Alidoro

25 Under 35 celebrates the work of 25 great up and coming artists under 35 years of age. Curated by Ryan Coburn, artists include Abraham Storer, Benjamin King, Brian Friedman, Cecelia Rembert, Chris Segedy, Christina Kee, Clintel Steed, Despina Konstantinides, Gabbe Grodin, Heather Garland, Ivan Stojakovic, Jaclyn Conley, Joseph Zvejnieks, Laurie Close, Liz Insogna, Malado Baldwin, Matthew Farina, Meghan Wilbar, Monique Ford, Osamu Kobayashi, Sangram Majumdar, Sarah Hunter, Timothy Cleary, Ülgen Semerci, and William Reed. For macrobiotic food, Souen is where you can get plenty of soy, seitan, tofu, and even fish that is insanely healthy and beautifully prepared, not to mention inexpensive. Though Antarctica is freakin’ cold, the bar is not. In fact, the interior will make you feel warm inside as it’s 276 years old, and with an all-wood interior and brick wall, this establishment serves up cheap beer with no attitude. Possibly one of the best sandwich shops in the city, Alidoro has 40 kinds of amazing Italian sandwiches, all named.

R.E.M.
Reckoning 25th Anniversary deluxe edition re-release
(A&M)







For those of us who spent 1984 playing Frogger, watching Punky Brewster, and humming “Axel F” while re-enacting Beverly Hills Cop at grandma’s house R.E.M. (and college rock in general) was something off the scope of our radar. It’s been 25 years and “the heat” is definitely no longer on, but R.E.M. is still a major presence on the music scene and now that grandma’s in a home and we’ve all had time to listen to and enjoy R. E.M., it’s important to go back and listen to how they began.

This year their second album, Reckoning, is being reissued along with a bonus live disk of a show from their "Little America Tour" from July 7, 1984 and the album served not just to prove that the band could follow up their amazing first album, Murmur, but also advance and learn to throw away the rule book. In sound, Reckoning is not all that different from Murmur, but it does have a looser feel, a darker more subdued mood at times, and two of the best songs from the R.E.M. catalogue: the eternal “So. Central Rain” and their first down-home country twist in “(Don't Go Back To) Rockville.”.

The album includes gems like “Harborcoat” as well as fan favorites like “Pretty Persuasion” and the live disk is a great bonus including highlights from Murmur and Reckoning along with songs like “Driver 8” and a great cover of the Velvet Underground’s “Femme Fatale.”

Tim Needles


Tortoise
Beacons of Ancestorship
(Thrill Jockey)







Tortoise is a band that is certified as one of the most influential experimental rock bands ever. Creating songs that match the varied timing, patience and allure of nature is their endowment. Rhythms are so smooth, heavy and awe-inspiring that they seem almost circadian to the natural inner-clock of most humans. Tortoise has a rare gift that easily captivates the mind and ear. Beacons of Ancestorship, is no different from the monumental wonder of their past mostly instrumental work. A bit more of a funkier, dub, punk rage, cowboy eeriness is felt, however. Drums pop in and out against super warm bass riffs that counteract with a wild host of dynamic instrumentation and keyboards. Having formed in 1990, this band out of Chicago, Illinois is known for its unique branding of sonic tidal waves. “Prepare Your Coffin” starts out with a heavy bluesy guitar riff reminiscent of a Curtis Mayfield solo. It easily lays into a shimmering comfy daytime pleasure ambience that rocks nicely against really rapidly moving percussive crashes. The meticulous and genius combination of many different musical influences and a high degree of well-gifted musicians who create as if they have a pulse on the soul of the living experience, Tortoise makes music reflective of the deeper tides of existence without even uttering a word.

Chanda Jones


David Moore
My Lover, My Stranger
(Doghouse Records)







Big drums, tough-guy vocal, jangle-jangle guitar, and lots of hard statements of love make up David Moore's 12-song album My Love, My Stranger.

There's big strings in the first tune "After Everything I've Done," that jangle-y space guitar-which figures into almost every song here-and those in your face big drums on the very solid, singable "Breaking You Down," and a stab at U2 with "Corners" (and some neat percussion). Moore gets almost country with "Home To Me,” another sing-able tune (the guy can write those great big infectious choruses) and just about when I thought I'd had it with the tunes sounding all the same here, thank God for "When You Fall," a pretty little ditty featuring piano and Moore's well-worn vocal.

Moore makes full use of his voice on "Jericho," probably the best produced song for me here, it's got nice backing vocals, that jangle guitar, some thick well-placed bass and the drums far back enough in the mix that I don't feel hit over the head with a snare-drum headache. "Day is Done" is a nice tune, again with that layered-like watery background under Moore's 'kinda-start-with-a-whisper-then-roll-into-plaintiveness' singing. For my money "Day is Done" and "Rise Up and Move On" the last tune of My Lover, My Stranger is the best of the twelve here. It lifts, separates, slices and dices, delivering that big deep statement over a rich tapestry sound I believe David Moore is going for more often then not with these twelve tunes.

Ralph Greco, Jr.


M. Nahadr
EclecticIsM
(LiveWired Music)






M. Nahadr’s voice bellows upwardly in a full ranged, heady strength that is powerful yet angelic, it overwhelms because of its beauty and it also soothes. Sultry, smoky, rich, and soulful, EclecticIsM shows off this dynamic songbird in all her glory. Easily M. Nahadr’s vocal company is that of Cassandra Wilson and Chaka Khan. Rhythmic pulsing, chill-worthy and sweet thoughtful musical gems add to the richness of the album. M.’s grace floats over spaced out guitar strumming, wicked grooves and soft ballads. Her very refined, very stylized harmonies expand over a nice mixture of pop, rhythm and blues, ambient, and jazz structures. This album is the perfect companion to any environment and any mood. M. Nahadr’s perfect octaves make nice, every time. Outside of her sound but along with it, M. is stunning. She is a performance artist who explores balance after chaos and self-acceptance in a world that is not willing to embrace its own in her off-Broadway show, “Madwoman: A Contemporary Opera.” M. speaks to her life as an African-American albino. Her funkier side is heard on the soft pop upbeat sway of “The Dance.” The more rock infused sounds of “Blue Morning Sunday,” start out with a slide of electric guitar. M.’s voice glides in and out of an early morning dainty butterfly riff seemingly about a lover who has disappeared, so like a true survivor M. Nahadr decides to serenade the sun.

Chanda Jones


On Ka’a Davis
Seeds of Djuke
(LiveWired Music)







Avant-garde jazz painted slivers of drums spattering, basses moving through like an underground subway, horns fluttering and dipping like birds with the occasional breathy “ah’s” and “yeah’s” of song or dialogue one would hear hurrying down the street in pieces of rush hour conversations make up most of Seeds of Djuke a very experimental expressionist piece that is so disjointed its connected. Settling into one particular bass solo or Spanish guitar run that later catches up with a horn mocking the riff could be too complex and too difficult to understand, so one must simply ride and feel. Seeds of Djuke operates like art. Each observer will take away their own very distinct impression, no one will hear this album the exact same. An experimental guitarist from Cleveland, Ohio, classically trained in Vienna, Austria who later took up residency in New York’s Lower East Side, On Ka’a Davis is easily a seductive musical genius. “There, In Theatre,” moves like a storm. It starts off very percussive, very rhythmic, with starts and stops, then royally gets carried on the shoulders of frenetic guitars like trade winds, soulful slices of vocals and a bass thump that holds the song into a convoluted dialogue of a wild guitar fighting against yet another, soon becomes a more honed, more structured jazzy dance groove. The artistry, the undulating beat of drum and high hat taps are brilliantly crafted. Part jazz, rock, Spanish, afrobeat, funk, and a whole lot of complex unstructured instrumentation make On Ka’a Davis a renowned eccentric.

Chanda Jones

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Talk: Iggy Pop Get Tickets Here
Show time: 9 PM
Venue: The Times Center
Food: Havana Central
Drink: The Campbell Apartment
Miscellaneous: Kinokuniya Bookstore

He’s the godfather of punk and generally runs around the stage singing half naked at the top of his lungs, but here Iggy Pop talks with NY Times jazz and pop music critic Ben Ratliff about his new jazz influenced album Préliminaires and why music sucks today. Should be a classic night! While Times Square is obviously an expensive mess of restaurants, Havana Central offers affordable Cuban food like Camarones con Coco - coconut dusted jumbo shrimp fried and breaded with pineapple ($12). The former office of 1920s mogul John W. Campbell, The Campbell Apartment is an utterly spectacular bar located in Grand Central Terminal. Who knew? For fans of Japanese pop-culture, Kinokuniya Bookstore has a large selection of Japanese themed books, videos, CDs, magazines, comics, and stationary.