left brain

I Love New York

I wish I could include music to this entry.  It would be Madonna's "I Love New York," so if you have it press play now.  We found parking in Manhattan before we even started looking.  That in itself began the awesome weekend that I just had in the great and only city worthy of being talked about in this country, New York.  After hanging some art for my friend, we headed to Gramercy Park to catch V for Vendetta again (since he hasn't seen it) stopping on the way to get drinks at just some random place that had more people in it than most bars in Boston at 5o'clock but oh well... lol, soon!   After the movie we hopped in a cab, I glimpsed the colors of the Empire State Building and we headed to a JeanGeorges 1 Michelin star restaurant called Vong.  I still don't quite understand why the French chef wandered into the world of Thailand but whatever.  We did the tasting menu and nearly were dead by the end of it, lol.  Mm...coconut soup.  Afterwards, to lose the weight I just gained, we walked back to the UpperWestSide to sleep, lol.

Saturday morning I woke up, read and had a panic attack over an art article in the Times, downed a homemade cappuccino, and headed out to meet my friend Tate who I met on the Atlantis Cruise that I went on to Brasil.  After ditching my duffel bag at one of the fabulous Equinox gyms in the Time Warner building, we headed into Central Park for a stroll in the beautiful nearly 80 degree weather.  After we caught up and enjoyed as much sun as we could have, we attempted to hunt down a Starbucks on the UESide which turned out to be a lot more work than one could ever imagine so we ended up in the little country French (sorta chain that I can't remember the name of, with wooden tables, and a rustic look) place that makes awesome bread and hazelnut chocolate spread (it is like crack, basically).  Once we had a bite to eat, and I fully got the motivation to get a tattoo (don't we think I am a lion or a tiger or a star?), we hopped in a cab and headed to PS1 in Queens to check out the Wolfgang Tillmans show which turned out not to be that good once we got there.  HOWEVER I absolutely loved the building that it is in.  PS1 is in a renovated grammar school (Public School One) so each (very new and very contemporary) artist has what used to be a classroom to exhibit in.  It is a totally fantastic space, in fact it is one of the best I have seen to display contemp art but it is also incredibly eerie. 

PS1:  In the halls of P.S.1 one can sense the passage of time, the sound of children,     even the smell of school lunches. Its transformation from a public school     into a contemporary arts center maintains the building’s original function     as a place of gathering, learning, and enlightenment. And while certainly     other historic structures in New York City have grown old more gracefully,     P.S.1 wears its age proudly, an impressive pile of stone and brick with a     rich and somewhat scandalous history.

We finished off the museum with sitting in the sun (again) and downing an awesome iced coffee that was like a melted scoop of coffee ice cream.  So delicious.  After our little art jaunt, we headed to 14th and 9th which is basically Meatpacking district central.  If you have never been to this neighborhood, I am sorry.  It is absolutely the best in Manhattan on a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon.  Just to stroll the streets is too overwhelming.  It is the top of the top, the cream of the crop, the best of the most beautiful people in Manhattan, the hottest fashion on boys around, and just rambunctious and exciting glittering energy.  We strolled around enjoying the eye candy before heading to the Hudson and to the piers which (when Manhattan was at the cusp of the raunchy rough but hotter edge) was the spot to many a hottie being sucked off, orgies being enjoyed in the sand, and well.. everything else happened underneath the docks.  I also heard stories of late night parties (and orgies) happening in empty meat delivery trucks where people would pop open the back and go to town.  Sigh, I wish I was there.   haha, but anyways.  So Tate and I headed to the redeveloped and gentrified pier to sit on the grass with the rest of Chelsea and Village.  lol, it clearly was the place to be on this Saturday afternoon, and took on the feeling of Ipanema beach on some level when a twenty something year old boy (who nearly made me look fat) stripped down and pranced around in his briefs which he decided to suntan in.  I couldn't resist taking a pic with my cell, lol.  Two hours later we headed back to his house before going to a virgin moment for me.  There are a few left ;)

That night we had tickets to the NYC Opera (check out the video if you want at that link) and it's rendition of Don Giovanni by Mozart.  It was my first time at the Opera and I had been warned that DonG wasn't one of the most approachable Opera's out there because of it's length (nearly 4 hours).  It was a story that was incredibly familiar to me, lol.  I had listened to cd recordings of the opera before I actually sat in my little velvet seat and I have to say that it didn't help, lol.  An opera is about seeing the singers belt it out in person, not so much on cdI, however, LOVED it.  The music was fantastic but that is just Mozart (unreal basically), the costumes were great yet you really weren't paying attention to them or the set.  What blew me away was how the singers created such song with just their voices.  It is incredible.  Two of the serious solo's were simply amazing.  The ability and talent that these people have is just unreal.  DonG being dragged to hell for making woman fall in love with him just to be hurt is pretty fantastic as a theme   

Sunday I woke up and headed to meet my friend Jerry by myself (in a town car, haha) for brunch.  After brunch I sat on the Great Lawn (or the Sheep's Meadow) where I swooned over a Brasilian boy playing soccer with his friends, and the city.  Yes, the city.  The Lawn is fantastic especially on a beautiful day and especially now that the first "green" building in NYC known as the  architecturally amazing Hearst building (designed by Norman Foster) is nearly finished.  It changes the skyline in such a beautiful way.  Then I had to sadly get back into the car (I nearly wanted to throw a tantrum) to drive back to the depressed, miserable angry people living in history city, we call Boston.  However, on the way back I totally fell in love with the LA Symphony and it's minamalist Andriessen recordings which basically make me think of someone living in Northern Europe going insane, lol.  It is sublime.  I am totally intrigued by post 1945 classical music now. 

Pool Party in Rio

Every American DJ is in Rio for Carnivale.  I wrote about this already but it is just hysterical how popular this party is at this point.  Tonight, we are going to a Pool Party at Revolution which needless to say has me all hot and bothered.  Just look at some of these photos, not to mention that US DJ Tony Moran is spinning tonight.  It starts at 11am and goes till 11pm, haha.  12 HOURS !!  OMG.

Top of my Ipod

I felt that I should share what I can't live without on my iPod, since I am now away from being able to update it every morning.  I also haven't done this in awhile but it is fun to make a shout out to a few people and get them to report on their 5 can't live without songs, and why they love them. 

• As lame as this sounds but the first song I can't stop listening to, which pumps me up for the gym, going out dancing, or just to get motivated has to be Mariah Carey's Don't Forget About Us but the special club mix by Tony Moran.  I don't know what it is about this song but like a lot of other club music, it just makes me happy.
• Fall Out Boy's Sugar We are Going Down or Dance, Dance.  Both of the songs are very cali surfer punk rock emo pop but whatever.  It's good stuff, especially to get you psyched about walking through freezing cold air to work.
• Ferry Corsten is about to come to Boston so I dug up some of his stuff (mainly his Presenting: Passports cd which is now uploaded to my iTunes) from a few years ago and have been desperately wanting to go to a rave.  haha.  Force of Gravity is one to download.  It's spectacular yet it makes me melancholic and feeling needy.
• Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah is a great song used everywhere in film and tv.  I am not sure what most recently made me pull it out of hiding but it's a great song, with great meaning, and one that will certainly make you reflect on your life.

Fall Out Boy

I have recently become addicted to the new cd by Fall Out Boy.  The group makes me think of the rough and tough surfer alterna rock of California, even though they are more emo pop punk from Chicago.  I absolutely blast Dance, Dance and Sugar, We're Going Down. I think I listened to it like 5 times in a row on my flight to LA.  I highly recommend that you get downloading.  In fact, download the entire cd, its all good and I rarely download full cd's. 

MATISYAHU

So one of my friends at work raves about this Hasidic Jewish singer who raps and does some reggae thing that sorta sounds like Bob Marley or at least thats what I think.  His music is very connected to his beliefs but if you zone out from that idea (or pay lots of attention if you are a Hasidic Jew), it sounds really cool.  Needless to say, the more you listen to him, the more addicted you are.  And now that I have downloaded his live CD (his Boston concert sold out to tell you how popular he is), I am a total fan, I think.  He is so popular that well.. he appears with Deathcab for Cutie, who I also love.

          Head to his website, MATISYAHU - Bio.

A person who was once skeptical of authority and rules, Matisyahu began to explore and eventually fully take on the Lubavitch Hasidic lifestyle. He thrived on the discipline and structure of Judaism, making every attempt to abide by Jewish Law. The Chabad-Lubavitch philosophy proved to be a powerful guide for Matisyahu. It surrounded him with the spiritual dialogue and intellectual challenge he had been seeking for the past decade. The turmoil and frustration of his search subsided, and now, 2 years later, Matisyahu lives in Crown Heights, splitting his time between the stage and his yeshiva.

Combining the sounds of Bob Marley and Shlomo Carlebach, yet remaining wholly original, Matisyahu's performance is an uplifting, powerful experience for all in his presence. Even the most pessimistic in his audience is inspired by his ability to so honestly convey such a delicate, topic as faith/spirituality. It is his dedication to his belief and openness to others that compels one to respect his artistry and message. It's in that fleeting moment when our skepticism melts and our souls open up, that Matisyahu enters with his booming sound of faith.

european dance music

Lately I have become even more obsessed with great (not shitty poppy house) dance music like that of the top European DJ's.  Tiesto, vanBuren, vanDyke, Ferry Corsten, Roger Sanchez, Chus Ceballos, etc.  But I have totally found an even better addiction for getting to hear them for free and sometimes even live.  First, there is RadioOne which I talk about sorta all the time.  I listen to them every Wednesday while I paint.  Their Essential Mixes are usually awesome and Pete Tong counting down the hits is one of the best radio shows out there for dance music.  RadioOne also plays some live sets from some great parties that get thrown in England which are usually dreamy.  My favorite, that I wrote about before, was a party called Global Gathering.  There are definitely others though that you can search and find and stream.  They also have a program called the Residency that found 6 or so young DJ's, brought them into the spotlight and now sends them all over England and sometimes beyond to do some gigs.  My favorites in this group are Eddie Halliwell who is awesome and Jon O'Bir who is a Godskitchen resident.  Check them out too.

But I recently discovered a new website that also has the same streaming idea for free.  Element Radio is what it is called and it is a lil java intense but well worth the wait and the problems. They highlight every Sunday night 5 hours of dance music by 5 different DJ's, an hour each, that then gets collected online for months to come.  So say, you can hear what Roger Sanchez played in any weekend in June or July or August or whichever. 

Right now I in London where I think I am going to be taken to some seriously great DJ clubs, thanks to Yogen so if you turn on RadioOne, you might hear me screaming.

Confessions on a Dance Floor review

I have heard Madonna's new CD already.  I won't say how but needless to say I have some connections.
And it isn't this illegal leaking, either.  So, if you are taking my thoughts, link me.  ;)  Or wait to hear to post your own thoughts.  I maybe missed her at the Roxy but I didn't miss this chance.  It is truly a great CD overall.  There are some total hits and a few misses but its Madonna so I kinda am expecting that.  It is certainly a thrilling new chapter of Madonna's career.  There is no bubble gum shit.  The music (even though it is clearly still Madonna) is layered, textured, and emotional.  When listening to the CD it is like you are on a journey with her through her life and almost through yours.  The music begs to be blasted from your Ipod or car radio.  I can't wait to hear some of these songs in a club.

First up is Hung Up and then Together.  Hung Up I no longer need to talk about.  Everyone has heard it. Think what you wish.  Together on the other hand is track number two.

My favorite up until this point is Sorry, song number three on the CD.  It is an emotional ballad that certainly hit me.  "I don't want to hear...I don't want to know...Please don't say forgive me."  It certainly fits my weekend.  "I don't want to hear.." is repeated over and over, in many languages at certain points.  It is going to be the next single and it is deserving of that right.  Supposedly there is a Jackson Five snippit in the song but I also didn't hear it unless it was right at the very end.

Future Lovers is very snyth pop and very Ray of Light. "I am going to tell you about love.  Would you like to try?"  This song basically sums up how much I look to Madonna for relationship advice, as hysterically pathetic as that sounds.  It opens with a very international beginning.  At certain points it sounds like she is praying.   

Madonna Confessed in Manhattan

As we all thought it was going to be, it was true.  Madonna played the Roxy last night as she came on stage to play 3 songs at 2am.   Here is a first hand encounter thanks to a certain hip urban technocrat. Here is a video of the beginning too ;)  You need Quicktime though so hop to it if you don't have it. 

Chus - Ceballos meets Hung Up

From Tribe News, a website devoted to well.. Madonna.
I was surprised to see that Chus - Ceballos (who are coming to Boston's Rise this Friday night for a MEGA party, they were just at Black&Blue in Montreal) made a Madonna Hung Up mix.  I am hoping they are going to give a VERY good reason for doing so.  I also kinda like this promo for Madonna's single or cd or whatever.  It is like she passed out from all of the drugs pop music crap she has produced lately.  I am sorry but I have SERIOUSLY high hopes for this cd or she should just lie down after.

We have just heard news about the final tracklist of the Hung Up maxi single, which features mixes by Tracy Young, Bill Hamel, Chus and Ceballos and SDP.

Hung Up - Maxi Single

Radio Edit
SDP Extended Vocal Mix
Tracy Young Get Up And Dance Groove Mix Edit
Bill Hamel Mix
Chus and Ceballos Mix
SDP Extended Dub

Madonna @ NYC Roxy rumor

If Madonna isn't going to be performing at the Roxy anytime soon then why was she seen entering it yesterday afternoon, dressed to the nines?  Thanks MadeinBrazil.