Here’s a feeble attempt to do some Kottke style linkage.
– I’ve started hankering after electric guitars again, which is a dangerous, slippery slope. Large parts of my yoof were spent loitering in and near Hamilton’s music shops looking for mythical bargains – but in this age of TradeMe, the ol’ bargains just aren’t around anymore. Anyway, Telecasters are winning right now, so here’s Ten Terrific Telecaster Guitars.
– Big fuck off buildings are cool.
Grand Theft Auto : San Andreas is a pretty sweet game. I don’t have the commitment (or the time) to really charge through it, but at the moment I’m in an ‘interesting bit’, so I’m playing a little more. You get to run around (and create mayhem) in amazing replicas of Los Angeles (which I’ve FINALLY done), San Francisco (where I’m up to now), and Las Vegas (looking forward to it).
This article looks at the similarities between GTA SA and real life buildings. In a very cool move, there’s even a replica of John Lautner’s Chemosphere (left) – my dream house.
Actually, in the spirit of journalistic disclosure, I should point out the most fun to be had is finding large groups of people to wipe out, as messily as possible, and taking photos of the carnage with the camera that’s so thoughtfully provided. Should I be worried?
I love Aphex Twin – and here’s a taste of his new compilation kindly provided by MP3 blog music for robots. It’s a typical ‘Twin track, with all kinds of electronic squiggles and weird voices – then just when you think ‘what gives? This thing’s not going anywhere’ it all comes together nicely with strings and that. Then it does something completely different. Three or four times.
Here’s the MP3 link – get in quick.
I’m not sure of the ideal time to listen to Aphex Twin – it’s bloody impossible to dance to (I’ve never really tried), and your mum is going to hate it. I tend to go for listening to when working – the headphones are ideal for picking up all the hidden intricacies (and there are a LOT of hidden intricacies), and he inevitably takes you off somewhere else – just the thing for concentrating.
An ongoing series in which the blogger shares his budget orientated music and / or movie purchases, revealing something of both his refined taste and an unwillingness to shell out any decent cash for it.
What The Covers Record by Cat Power
Eh? Cat Power is Chan Marshall, who makes quiet records with mainly just her voice, a Guitar and Piano (although her new one, The Greatest employs Al Green’s band). She’s got a bad-ass-powerful mournful voice, and while female singer songwriters aren’t usually my cup of tea, I’m willing to make an exception in this case. This record is all cover versions, and is highly recommended. She’s one of those artists that makes you want to go out and buy all their records on the way home from work.
Best bit It’s a toss up – her slowed down, sinister version of the Stones ‘Satisfaction’ is sexy as all hell, but I’m going to go with ‘I found a reason’ by Velvet Underground.
Damage $17
link
Over on my sports site sportreviewnz there’s a new rugby cartoon, all about Richie McCaw, who’s got a lot of coaches bleating about his style of play.
I’m going to try and do one of these every week if I can.
link
The Guardian’s not too impressed with Breaks Co-Op:
“…their turntable-enhanced, take-it-easy folk-rock is for anyone who wishes Crosby, Stills & Nash had stuck around for trip-hop”.
Fair play, Zane has done really (really) well in the UK as a DJ and MTV host, but Breaks Co-Op are still shit. I was at the New Year’s Eve show at the Town Hall (An all ages, dry event), and found them pretty sucky, musically they’re sub Dad-rock at its lowest point, and you can see why it was the soundtrack at this summer’s blandest BBQs at the homes of those who don’t really care about music. Anyway, Zane walked on stage waving at the crowd like the long lost returning hero, forgetting that very few people there a) knew who he was or b) cared. He didn’t shut up either, which was predictable. He does play a mean bongo, though.
PS The writer has totally nailed Zane’s patronising “I know SO much more than you about shit” style on the radio, too:
“Zane Lowe, a man whose endearingly stern enthusiasm can make the release of a new Razorlight single sound like a matter of national import”.
Nice shot.
Auckland’s weather has been bloody crazy lately. What about this?
Friday – it’s OK, just an average cloudy day, then about 9.30, BAM – the rain drums so hard on the roof you have to turn the TV up to hear, and even then you’re struggling. It’s just RELENTLESS, and I had to go to the window to watch it come down. The Greenlane sky looks kind of alive and glowing, the road is flooding, and I’m wondering if driving to the shore is such a good idea. Don’t fancy being on the bridge in this.
This lasts about half an hour, then stops completely. I make it to the shore in one piece. “What about that rain?” “What rain?”
Saturday – it’s sunny and fine. And humid. So, so humid. I play Tennis for an hour and I’m dripping. It takes a good two hours and a very cold shower to stop being so, well, red. We sleep with the fan on.
Sunday – rains all day. Tennis is off. I get cabin fever cooped up in the lounge, and it’s still too hot. We go out for a walk on the beach to blow the cobwebs late on, and it gets dark very quickly. Go to bed that night, and it’s still humid, even late.
I love the weather here.
