THE BODY

The band is STILL on tour. Which is ridiculous, I know. I KNOW. But just when I was starting to forget what Alex's face looks like (there's some brownish bits...and a mouth, yeah I think there's a mouth...), the powers that be dropped this painfully adorable new video in my lap. Considering that they had all of one afternoon with the band to shoot this thing, I'm really impressed with how pro it came out. And also: the children. I'm generally not so jazzed when it comes to the small people, but man, if I could have beautiful children that only came out at magic hour and only moved in slow motion...The worst part? Little Alex was EVEN CUTER in real life. I'd show you a photo but you might just spew all over your monitor.

So anyways, I hope you guys are having a great weekend, and I hope you too get a chance to go out and run around and bash things with sticks. Why should all these professionally-good-looking kids have all the fun right? Just promise me you wont wear your glasses in the water--those things don't grow on trees mister!

THESE GUYS

I have no idea who they are (do you??), but I ♥ them very, very much. All photos by HB Nam for STREETFSN.

Edit: Aha! Mystery somewhat solved! According to a comment on this post by Nik of Onions and Garlic:

Regarding the duo... They're from London (I like to think they're my big brothers.) The shorter one is associated with saville row designer ozwald boateng his name is Sam Lambert. The taller is Shaka Maidoh and an IT guy, sometimes model and maybe biz partner with Sam Lambert.

See her post on the duo here, and another amazing photo of Sam here. (Thanks Andrea!)

Androgyne

Words can't begin to express how much I love this editorial from the October issue of Paris Vogue. It's so heavily inspired by David Bowie in his Thin White Duke/The Man Who Fell to Earth phase! I mean:











SO GOOD. I've always wanted to be David Bowie for Halloween, but a) I've never been able to find the right wig and b) I will never be able to afford these. Diamond-doggone it!!

See the rest of the editorial, shot by David Sims and styled by Emmanuelle Alt, here.

Slave to Love

Magazines! Two that I am looking forward to with bated breath, and one I've already had my way with at B&N (and wish wish wish I could have afforded to take home!)

I don't usually end up buying Fantastic Man, as much as would like to, but this time it's different. It's personal. It's BRYAN. Plus, I promised a land-locked pal that I'd send him a copy, and I definitely intend to have my way with it first.

The last issue of the Gentlewoman was quite special and exciting, especially for a debut effort, and the second one looks no less promising. Beyond all that, it's just such a pretty object to have around. To me the design, typography, and layout could not be more satisfying.

And have you had a peak at the current issue of LOVE?? I grabbed a copy while waiting out that freak tornado the other day at Barnes and Noble, and emerged a solid two hours later blinking at the night sky. Amazing interview after amazing interview, so many fascinating women. My favorite was with Lauren Hutton, and I absolutely am dying to read the autobiography she speaks about working on. What a life! What a lady.

just say...

Pet sitting/video editing/prepping for a job on Saturday is making my life crazy and non-conducive to creative blogging at the moment, but thankfully The Pains picked up some slack for me by releasing their insanely adorable new music video today. Even though it's hard for anyone to top crashing a Furry party, I think this might be my fave yet...

it always comes back to love

The Girls show at Webster Hall on Saturday night was beautiful. The stage was decked out in piles of fresh flowers, and the disco ball was employed not once but twice! The best part though was probably the amazing backdrop of twinkling stars that came on and off during several songs.

Also, thanks to Diane, I made a bee line for the merch table afterward and picked up one of these patches (to go on the back of a well-worn jean jacket, but of course):



Alex snagged a frisbee as well! So genius. Here's a little video of them performing Lust for Life:



I wish there was more sparkly star action...but I think you get the general idea.

(All photos via Brooklyn Vegan)

Teardrops on my Telephone

Alex recently did a little guest post over on the FADER blog about this mind-bogglingly huge Hunx & His Punx pin he bought at SXSW.

Fittingly enough, Alex Frank (aka the Other Alex, style assitant at FADER) was sporting a Yes Homo tee that day, which happens to be the name of my favorite fake glam band. Cuh-razy.

(photo by John Francis Peters)

a movie by Cass Bird

Summer. New York City. Coney Island. Cotton candy and hotdogs and Coca Cola Classic. I want it all, and I want it now!!

blown to pieces

I just re-watched a great movie I first saw back at UCSC: Smithereens, directed by Susan Seidelman (of Desperately Seeking Susan fame.) One of my professors at BC, who moved to New York in the late '70's, told me it made her nostalgic for the old, grimey New York of the '80's, so you know it's the real deal!

It's chock full of music by the Feelies, co-stars a golden Richard Hell, and there's even the blink-and-you'll-miss-it debut of a Mr. Chris Noth--as a male prostitute no less.

bye bye love

Sorry to get all sentimental on your collective asses, but the Pains left for a three week Spain-France-UK tour yesterday. Meaning, I wont be seeing this handsome face again for way, waaaaaay too long.

His absence happens to coincide with what, I hope, are to be the last few weeks of my school career for(knock on wood)ever. I anticipate a lot of time spent alternately feeling extremely sorry for myself, procrastinating like I've never procrastinated before and, theoretically, knuckling down and writing a masterful paper or two...or five. The last five papers I will ever write in my entire life. Knock on wood.

my nerd boyfriend loves Nerd Boyfriend too

If you haven't heard of Nerd Boyfriend, do yourself a favor and check it out. I just declared my love over on the FADER blog this afternoon. Prepare to be smitten!

freaky geeky big

I have no idea if this is true, but I kinda really want it to be.

Oh, and if you don't understand what the big deal about Jason Segel is (hey HEY, the years have not been kind to any of us...), you obviously haven't seen "Freaks and Geeks" (oh hell, just click that either way.) Your loss, Lindsey Weir!!

just some boys called GIRLS

Every time I think that my love for this band has reached its pinnacle, that Girls, we couldn't possibly get much higher--they go and play a live, five song set for FADER tv in some cozy little bar lit up by the dusty light of a waning summer afternoon (!) I DARE you not fall head over heels for this shit.



This song isn't actually on the album (it's the B side of the Hellhole Ratrace 10"), but it's crazy beautiful. It feels so totally timeless that when I heard them sound check with it in Vancouver, I thought they were playing a cover of some old velvety waltz number.



I, for one, love the way this song echoes the opening measures of "Hellhole Ratrace" (listen to them back to back and you'll see what I mean.) Whenever I'm feeling a little blue, wandering around the city, those opening verses always float through my mind. Also, did he just musically quote "Nothing Compares 2 U"?? Yes, yes he did.



As the last song on the album, I think this sums up the Girls experience perfectly. I remember listening to the head of True Panther Sounds describing to Alex the sort of earnestness with which Christopher wrote this song, and it's this kind of absolute, near-dubious level of genuine sincerity that makes this band so special to me.

You can head over HERE to watch them play "Morning Light" and "Summertime" as well. And let's not forget, their album fiiinnnaaalllyyy drops on the 22nd, a measly five days from now. I pre-ordered my vinyl weeks ago (ok, it comes on CD too)...let the countdown begin!!

FAQ&A

FAQ Magazine has published a really great interview with Christopher from Girls, illustrated with photos by Aaron Brown (the man behind the majority of their amazing music videos.) It's pretty long, but absolutely worth reading all the way to the end. Chris has a lead a truly strange, truly amazing life thus far. Also, I'm seriously considering whipping up a DIY rip off of that jean jacket...

AND ON THAT NOTE: Guess which song is currently starring in the video for the new Urban Outfitters Fall catalog??? You really gotta see it on the homepage while it's still up for full effect. So crazy!! Man, first the Pains, now Girls, next...world domination.

candy colored romance

I know it feels like they're sort of everywhere at the moment, but I don't think I'll ever really get tired of watching these soft, lo-fi Super8 music videos. Especially the ones filled with pretty girls in pretty clothes (...and pretty boys don't hurt neither.)

Barber's Son Makes Good!

Ok, so I've seen photos of Marissa Tomei modeling Boy by Band of Outsiders floating around the world wide web for some time now, and while that's all well and adorable--HELLO?!? The REAL deal is Mr. Schwartzman himself caught cavorting in pieces from the brand's men's Fall line, captured Polaroid style. Observe:



























You owe it to yourself to explore the full collection of these gems right here.

Speaking of the JMan, this show is making me wish, for the gazillionth time, that I had access to HBO. And it's got Galifinakis in it too! And oooh, the cameos.

(cropped photos found here)

so happy I could puke

(full screen! full screen!)

There is so so so much to love about this video I don't even know where to start. Best band. Best song. SUPER fucking 8!!! I just saw this for the first time about half an hour ago and I have since run the gamut of emotions from extreme elation to the brink of tears to a little bit of nausea and then back again. And now they're on the cover of FADER.

So stoked.

Can't think.

Must watch video again!!

Grey skies, smilin' on me

The first few days we were here, it was mostly cloudy and a bit cold, but we didn't let that stop us from having a picnic. Also, we found some cool things in the sea.