FoeWeel !!! ???

Talking Bee, 2009

A guide on how to get ready in 5 minutes in the morning.

The original Sugarcubes.

Check out Anvil: The Story of Anvil. I’m not a fan of heavy metal, and the entire world that surrounds it, but using heavy metal as the central topic, this documentary has more humanity than anything you’re likely to be fed this year.

I keep running into these Doggie Heads all over town.

The top 4 Ice Creams in the (sorta) Bay Area:
Madrona Manor (Healdsburg): They make it for you right there at the table. Ice Cream Sundae, hand “churned” at your table using minus 320ºF nitrogen. Chocolate sauce, almonds, whipped cream, cherries on top. The outside seating area does feel as though you are on an episode of Fantasy Island, but it’s probably one of the best ice creams I’ve ever had.

Bi-Rite Creamery (San Francisco): They have unusual flavors (salted caramel, balsamic strawberry) that may seem contradictory, but just try it, and you’ll see why, even on colder days, this place has a 45 minute line that wraps around the corner.

Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream (San Francisco): Another parlor that serves up unusal flavors (secret breakfast, banana cinnamon hots), and makes homemade ice cream sandwiches with chocolate chip cookies.

It’s It (markets in the Bay Area): An 80yr-old staple in the Grey Area.  A scoop of ice cream, sandwiched between two old-fashioned oatmeal cookies, and dipped in dark chocolate. Fluck.

———————————————————

Now, back to our regularly scheduled cleaning…….

The Gutter Twins aka Greg Dulli & Mark Lanegan – Summer’s Kiss (Live Berlin) – One of my favorite’s from Greg Dulli’s former former band, The Afghan Whigs, and off of the classic beautifully twisted Black Love album.  Lanegan, who sings on the chorus offers a grounded counterbalance to Dulli’s cliff diving pleas.

The Sugarcubes – Birthday (Jim & William Reid Christmas Eve Mix) – More of what Bjork would sound like if she was the lead singer of The Jesus & Mary Chain then a remix.

Bjork – Desired Constellation (Live) – This is a track off of the live DVD from the Voltaic compilation. I haven’t been the biggest fan of her last few releases, but this track is a highlight and live, with Bjork’s deepened voice, as with most of Bjork’s great songs, there is plenty of room left in between the music and the listener.

JPLS & Ambivalent – Frontstab – Two standout producers on the Minus label, come together to create this haunting and driving track that’s sure to please your neighbors, if you turn it all the way up to 11, and leave it on repeat for 3 hours.

Slow Food 2008

The First Annual Slow Food Festival took place this past week, and we had tickets to the tasting event on Sunday evening. The tastings included wine, cheese, olive oil, ice cream, coffee, naan, dried meats, fish and everything else legally edible. It was like taking acid for your taste buds. Although most of my buds have been burnt off for various reasons, and thus scotch has become a favorite, I was still able to taste some incredible flavors. I’ve always loved food, but I got a greater appreciation for it when I was living in Philly. There were/are? so many incredible corner neighborhood restaurants from Cafe Nola with their Shrimp Diane, to The Latest Dish with their specially prepared Monkfish to Blue In Green for their pancakes and egg scrambles. Everything was always fresh and I assume that it was from regional farmers. The Slow Food festival was a great celebration of tastes for food lovers that brought back the “re-localizing” of food.

———————————-

You tell people in the present about your past. This is you’re present. That was your past. You describe a memory. Of how it felt. Of what was real. To hold on. You let go. Reality can only come from truth. I hope you are the next contestant on the Price is Right.

Stars – A Thread Cut With A Carving Knife – I’m not a huge fan of this band, although i do like the song, Your Ex-Lover is Dead. This one is from their new EP, Sad Robots and it has a good banter between the male voice and the female voice like the X-lova song. Maybe, they are growing on me.

The Gutter Twins – Belles (Vetiver Cover) – From their new EP, Adorata which also has an uptempo version of Jose Gonzalez’ Down The Line. I like this dreamy version of the Vetiver classic from Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan. It’s a slow descent into your own hell of knowing when to leave.

DJ Koze – Smornin – Better known for his techno stompers. It sounds like Michael Jackson, when he was black, being kicked in the balls singing one of his 70′s to early 80′s classic. Maybe it’s one of those 4am songs, when you don’t even have the energy to raise those hands in the air……..

The Velvet Teen – Red, Like Roses – From the excellent Out Of the Fierce Parade release. This band from the Bay Area, on this track do sound like Radiohead, and yes, it is a bit over the top. It is self serving (like this site), and maybe a little high school love letter-esque in a desperate love, or death kind of way, but when it does finally boil over at the 5minute mark, it shows the beautifully tragedy.