Meet the New Hot Chip: Passion Pit

So I've become a little bit obsessed with the band Passion Pit. While I have to say I really don't care for the band name (it sounds like a dirty Vegas strip joint), their music is so good, they could be called Live! Nude! Girls! for all I care. If I had to draw a comparison to another band, I'd say they sound like a less-robotic version of Hot Chip, although at times they channel a sound that rivals (and probably surpasses) The Postal Service ( listen to "Live to Tell the Tale" to see what I'm talking about). If you're too lazy to click on the "Live to Tell the Tale" link you HAVE to at least watch the "Sleepyhead" video. The song is amazing and the video is pretty freaking awesome.

Filled With Glee (Or Something Like It)

So after hearing all the buzz about Glee, I decided to see what all the fuss is about-- since I'm one of the few people in America who does not watch American Idol, I watched the pilot on Hulu. And I have to admit I was a little impressed. I was expecting a High School Musical ripoff, and what I got was a subtly funny, and somewhat touching show about a ragtag band of high school students and teachers in Ohio. And while I understand showing the pilot post-American Idol was a smart marketing move, I can't help but wonder whether the American public will be able to remember that they took a liking to this show when fall rolls around. Will they still be curious whether Rachel and Finn ever get together? Will they care whether or not Mr. Schuester finds out how much his co-worker Emma adores him? Will they remember how much they want Mr. Schuester to tell off his ridiculously irritating wife? And more importantly, since they've already rolled out the big guns (it doesn't get bigger than a song-and-dance number set to the music of Journey), can there possibly be anything else to look forward to? Only fall will tell.

Star Trek Movie Review or J.J. Abrams, What Were You Thinking?!

So last night I saw Star Trek, and I'm pretty much convinced that high fructose corn syrup has addled the brains of a majority of Americans, because this movie was pretty gosh darn awful. The dialogue was ridiculous, the storyline was uninspired, and even the set looked cheap. How did this manage to get a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes?!? When it came down to it, Star Trek was about the eye candy, and if I really wanted eye candy I would have saved my $12 and watched an episode of Gossip Girl.

All the Not-So-Singular Ladies

I've always wondered, what my stage name would be if I became a famous recording artist. My name is way too ordinary to look cool on an album cover. Like would Feist be as cool if she was Jones? Probably not. And that always got be wondering how people end up picking their stage names, because Lord knows I can barely decide on a screen name without going through some mental anguish. And after some careful thought, I've come to a conclusion as to what the ordinary-named do when they become famous (well, the female ones anyhow), they become "ladies."

Yes, that's right. You have your Lady Gaga (Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta), Ladyhawke (Philipa "Pip" Brown-- who probably didn't need a stage name, Pip Brown is kinda cool), Ladytron (this name applies to a whole group, but I'm letting slide for the sake of continuity), Lady Sovereign (Louise Amanda Harman-- definitely needed the stagename in her case), etc...

I don't know about you, but I think I've had it with the "ladies." What's next? Dames? Countesses? Duchesses?

The LA Times Needs a Kick in the Shins

Over the weekend, an interview with Shins lead singer James Mercer was printed in the LA Times, and if this is what newspapers are coming to, then perhaps the slow, painful demise of print journalism is a good thing.

'"Chutes Too Narrow" was the breakthrough album in 2003, and the Shins sound became only more refined and complex.'

Ok, so A) Chutes Too Narrow is not the Shins' greatest album (although I do have to say, I love "Pink Bullets"), and I would hardly call it a breakthrough. And B), If you have to refer to a so-called "breakthrough" Shins album, it is undoubtedly Oh, Inverted World. OIW is amazing from start to finish, and really cemented the Shins in the indie pop scene. Good God, even Zach Braff knows that!

The Fashion Show's James-Paul: Christian Siriano Lite?

I am a BIG Project Runway fan. And like many people out there, was a little dismayed when I heard the show got sold to Lifetime: Network for Women and Terrible made-for-TV movies starring people like Tori Spelling. So when I heard The Fashion Show was going to fill Bravo's reality fashion TV show void, I felt a little less betrayed. Until I watched the first episode that is. Not only were the clothes horrendous, but I just kept on feeling like it was a second-rate Project Runway.  Which brings me to my case in point, the James-Paul/Christian Siriano connection. Not only do both of these young fashion designers have a striking resemblance (dark glasses, petite build, long dark bangs, cute button-ish nose), but both worked at Vivienne Westwood in London. Coincidence? I think not. Time will only tell whether James-Paul will develop a catch phrase (tigerish? savage? feral?) that Bravo can turn into a T-shirt slogan. 

Why, hello there

At one point or another everybody has some kind of witty comment to make about something. Here are some mine-- witty comments, that is.