Kew Gardens - Statue

Kew Gardens - Statue, originally uploaded by Arnty M.

Love the Dali....

'Just A Little Bit Of Lovin'

Shelby Lynne's album of Dusty Springfield covers is both inspired and so very sexy. Well done, Ms. Moorer.

Retro-fabrication is a term you won't often hear outside of dentistry or the garment industry, but it's a concept becoming prevalent in music nowadays, as more and more artists seek inspiration in the past, a little too literally at times. It certainly looms large over most of this week's releases: for Shelby Lynne with Just a Little Lovin', it's a case of paying tribute to the greatest of all female pop singers, Dusty Springfield, by re-casting several of Dusty's signature songs in the style of Dusty In Memphis.

Phil Ramone's spare, reflective production drains away the melodramatic orchestrations of the originals to leave songs such as "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" and "Anyone Who Had a Heart" stripped bare of any emotional cover, leaving Lynne's subtle, measured vocals inhabiting a vast landscape of pain.

Some of the arrangements pull off audacious strategies – the natural exuberance of "I Only Want to be With You" is abandoned for a much torchier tone, more akin to Julie London than Dusty, while her version of the Southern soul classic "Breakfast In Bed" is surely definitive.

Random ten

1. Caravan- Van Morrison
2. Ready For The Floor- Hot Chip
3. B.U.R.M.A.- Dirty Pretty Things
4. Breakfast In Bed- Shelby Lynne
5. Olive Oil- Happy Mondays
6. Bitch- The Rolling Stones
7. Sex Type Thing- Stone Temple Pilots
8. Liza Avec Z- Liza Minelli
9. Every Sperm Is Sacred- Monty Python
10. Sleazy Hughes- Joe Lean And The Jing Jang Jong

Bonus-
11. Little Baby Nothing- Manic Street Preachers
12. Revolution- Robbie Williams

You know,

some people really need to shut the fuck up. Well, jeez, Lar, at least they didn't use birth control effectively. They'd be ultra-sluts then.....

...Rep. Larry Liston, R-Colorado Springs, called unmarried teen parents "sluts" at a Republican caucus.

...Liston used the derogatory term during a Republican caucus lunch on health care to express his view that unmarried teen parents are sexually promiscuous and to complain that society condones premarital sex.

"In my parents' day and age, (unmarried teen parents) were sent away, they were shunned, they were called what they are," Liston said at the lunch. "There was at least a sense of shame."There's no sense of shame today. Society condones it ... I think it's wrong. They're sluts."

via

This makes me happy.*

Oh so very happy.

PAUL WELLER’s new album is already shaping up to be a belter-featuring collaborations with Britpop heavyweights NOEL GALLAGHER and GRAHAM COXON.

The modfather has called in support from the OASIS legend and the BLUR star on his forthcoming double album. And word is filtering back that some of the material is a return to his best.

A source said: “Noel and Oasis’s GEM ARCHER have spent time at Weller’s studio. Most sessions end in serious alcohol fuelled tear-ups. But the music has been brilliant.

“Weller slapped his name on the writing credits first with Noel and Gem - even though he spent most of the session getting the beers in. That’s the bonus of being 50 - and the guv’nor.”

*if it's true- 'tis The Sun, after all

Marc by Marc Jacobs@ Fashion Week

I can't decide if this dress would look adorable on either Lily Allen or Kate Nash, or if I've already seen them wear something similar. Possibly both.

"Young, beautiful scum pissed off at the world."

In this week's NME, a huge interview about Richey Edwards with my beloved Nicky Wire. Absolutely heartbreaking.

My, they were so very pretty.

Interesting

Fascinating article on why Northern Soul is, er, Northern Soul, and why Country and Western is so popular in Scotland...

In more recent times, Sheffield has shown itself to be home to music with a strong storytelling sense, with acts such as Pulp, the Arctic Monkeys and Richard Hawley. "The narrative thing I find interesting," says Frith, "because I always associated Sheffield with electronic music. It was the home of Warp and the Human League - though their songs did have a sense of narrative." Russell notes the strong love of amateur operatics in the area in the late 19th and early 20th century, "which created a love of humorous lyrics". Then, of course, came the music hall tradition. "And in some way the music hall spawned the very literate songwriting with wit and humour." It is precisely this we can see in the lyrics of Jarvis Cocker and Alex Turner.

But why does Scotland favour country and western music? "I came to Scotland in 1987 and was struck by how significant country music is," says Frith, who notes that radio station playlists in Scotland are tangibly different to those across the border, playing a considerable amount of country music. But the Scottish love of American country and western is little more than a reclamation; country and western music was largely born of the music of the Appalachian Mountains, which itself was rooted in the music brought to American shores by immigrants from Europe, especially the British Isles. So country and western has much in common with traditional British folk music, Celtic music, and Scottish and Irish fiddle styles in particular.

Aragorn a no-no

What Jessica said.

We have SEEN YOU, Viggo. We know that you are HOT. And when you are THAT HOT, it is really a crime to show up places looking like you just walked off the set of Not Without My Confederacy: The Jefferson Davis Story, now filming for Lifetime.

Valentine's warm up

Next Thursday is Valentine's Day, arguably one of the biggest holidays at Iowa's Coolest Flower Shop. We start getting the fresh in tomorrow, and have already unpacked the vases. The cards are stamped, the help lined up- we're ready to go.

Something that (deeply) annoys me about my job- our local papers basically have us come up with the copy for our ads. Mom pays out the wazoo for the damn things, and I do the copy. Bastards.

Anyway, on Monday, we were trying to figure out wording for our big V-day ad campaign. My suggestions?

-"Let ______ help you buy a one-way ticket to nookie town."
-"At ___________, let us help you break off a piece of that."
-"______________. We'll make it possible for you to tap that ass."

For some reason, these were rejected. Mom's no fun.

Am currently preoccupied with making mixes for the week. Do you think 'Every Sperm Is Sacred' would be appropriate? How about 'Fuck Forever'? No?

Es Vedrà, Ibiza

Es Vedrà, Ibiza, originally uploaded by Yulete.

'Rockferry'- Duffy

Lovely, just lovely.

Well done, honey!

Adele has gone straight to the top of the UK albums charts tonight
(February 3) with ’19’.The singer’s debut album has gone in at Number One. Meanwhile in the singles countdown the London singer has remained second with 'Chasing Pavements', just behind Basshunter who holds on to the Number One spot again with ‘Now You're Gone’.

Random ten

Am away from home, so here's the ten from my sis's iPod. Viva la difference...

1. Let's Get It Started- Black Eyed Peas
2. Glamorous- Fergie
3. Hot In Herre- Nelly
4. Slow- Kylie Minogue
5. Stronger- Kanye West
6. Feel Good, Inc.- Gorillaz
7. Goodnight Goodnight- Maroon 5
8. Shake A Tailfeather- Nelly
9. Since You've Been Gone- Kelly Clarkson
10. The Sweet Escape- Gwen Stefani

Bonus-
11. Gin And Juice- Snoop Dogg
12. Closer- NIN

Back to my regularly scheduled indie next week....

window in Puebla

window in Puebla, originally uploaded by Zé Eduardo....

Hmmmm, royal blue.

Emerald

Emerald, originally uploaded by Lumase.

Gorgeous. Wish I was in the Seychelles instead of going to Minnesota for the weekend. Where, as you may know, it's colder than a witches other elbow this time of year.

Brrrr.

My day

It's been interesting..... today's events-

-Left for work this AM-50 degrees. It is now 6. With a windchill factor of -17.

-ran to town and got Jen's birthday presents. Did a rather great job, if I do say so myself. They're shiny. Her favorite color.

-since I was already in town, had to run to the mall and get the new copy of Spin. The one with Peter on the cover. And has pictures of The World's Best-Looking Rhythm Section within. Oh, and Mik. Bless his scary-eyed heart. As it is rather expensive, it would be bad to waste gas. And I'm virtuous. That way.

-delivered several arrangements to a town nearby that is, shall we say, a bit pink around the collar. Saw the craziest thing ever. Somebody has several hand-lettered signs in their front yard related to political issues. They say-

-"A Vote For A Democrat Is A Vote For The Islamofacists"
(awww, somebody watches Fox Noise)

-"Barak Obama Is The Anti Christ" (actual spelling)

- something about Ollie North. (I have no idea what it said- was about pissing myself laughing at that point)

Wouldn't you be PLEASED if this was your neighbor? There's your typical level of crazy. Like wheeling yourself around in a wagon like that dude in 'Evening Shade.'

Then there's the making-signs-for-your-front-yard-about-the-perceived-Anti-Christ- crazy. And that's not just crazy. That's Krazee.

Such is a typical day round he-yah.

Lago Grey, Patagonia

Lago Grey, Patagonia, originally uploaded by FlyNutAA.

One of the places on earth I would most like to visit. Patagonia. Why yes, I do watch a lot of 'Globetrekker,' why do you ask?

"Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh....

THE RIGHT STUFF!"

Ah, you never forget the first band you fangirl...... ( I don't want to hear about it- I was freaking 12)

New Kids On the Block are reportedly preparing to reunite after 14 years.The hugely successful American boy band, which broke up in 1994, are expected to make an official announcement in the coming weeks, reports People magazine.

NME Awards noms

The nominees for the February 28 ceremony were announced just a bit ago. And may I say, my bands are well-represented.

Though the sexiest male category..... Patrick Wolf? ARE YOU JOKING ME????? Flautists are not sexy. They are Jethro Tull. And hats off to the Boosh fandom- way to be organized, y'all! Getting both your boys in there- well done!

As usual, Pete is on both the best and worst dressed nominee list. I'm not sure he's either- maybe there should be a category for "Most Rosaries Worn," or "Most Kittens Adopted." Or as could be argued, "Frontman In A Band With The Hottest Rhythm Section." He'd win those for sure....

And Amy, sweetie darling, you are a nominee for Villain Of The Year along with Gordo, The Poodle, Bushie and JoBo. AND YOU COULD POTENTIALLY WIN. If this isn't enough to inspire you to stay and keep clean, well, I just don't know....

Best British Band
Arctic Monkeys
Babyshambles
The Cribs
Klaxons
Muse

Best New Band
The Enemy
Foals
Joe Lean And The Jing Jang Jong
The Pigeon Detectives
The Wombats

Best Live Band
Arctic Monkeys
The Cribs
Kaiser Chiefs
Muse
My Chemical Romance

Best Solo Artist
Kate Nash
Jamie T
Jack Penate
Amy Winehouse
Patrick Wolf

Best Album
'Favourite Worst Nightmare' - Arctic Monkeys
'Shotters Nation' - Babyshambles
'We'll Live And Die In These Towns' – The Enemy
'Myths Of The Near Future' - Klaxons
'In Rainbows' – Radiohead

Best Track
'Fluorescent Adolescent' – Arctic Monkeys
'Flux' – Bloc Party
'Men's Needs' – The Cribs
'Lord Don't Slow Me Down' - Oasis
'Let's Dance To Joy Division' – The Wombats

Best Video
'Teddy Picker' – Arctic Monkeys
'Flux' – Bloc Party
'D.A.N.C.E.' - Justice
'Golden Skans' - Klaxons
'Teenagers' – My Chemical Romance

Best Music DVD
'Up The Shambles' – Babyshambles
'The Song Remains The Same' – Led Zeppelin
'Unplugged In New York' - Nirvana
'Lord Don’t Slow Me Down' - Oasis
'I Told You I Was Trouble' – Amy Winehouse

Best Live Event
Carling Weekend: Reading And Leeds Festival
Glastonbury
Muse At Wembley Stadium
T In The Park
V Festival

Hero Of The Year
Matt Bellamy
Pete Doherty
Noel Fielding
Ryan Jarman
Thom Yorke

Villain Of The Year
Tony Blair
Johnny Borrell
Gordon Brown
George W Bush
Amy Winehouse

Best Dressed
Pete Doherty
Noel Fielding
Kate Nash
Alex Turner
Gerard Way

Worst Dressed
Johnny Borrell
Pete Doherty
Mika
Gerard Way
Amy Winehouse

Best Dancefloor Filler
'Flux' – Bloc Party
'Hummer' - Foals
'D.A.N.C.E.' - Justice
'Atlantis To Interzone' - Klaxons
'Let's Dance To Joy Division' – The Wombats

Best Album Artwork
'Favourite Worst Nightmare' – Arctic Monkeys
'The Good, The Bad And The Queen' – The Good, The Bad And The Queen
'Sawdust' – The Killers
'Because Of The Times' – Kings Of Leon
'Send Away The Tigers' – Manic Street Preachers

Best Radio Show
Russell Brand (Radio 2)
Zane Lowe (Radio 1)
Chris Moyles (Radio 1)
Colin Murray (Radio 1)
Jo Whiley (Radio 1)

Worst Album
'1973' - James Blunt
'The Trick To Life' – The Hoosiers
'Spirit' - Leona Lewis
'Life In Cartoon Motion' - Mika
'Blackout' - Britney Spears

Worst Band
30 Seconds To Mars
Fall Out Boy
The Hoosiers
My Chemical Romance
Panic At The Disco

Best TV Show
'Heroes'
'The Mighty Boosh'
'Never Mind The Buzzcocks'
'The IT Crowd'
'Skins'

Best Film 'Control'
'Hot Fuzz'
'Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End'
'The Simpsons Movie'
'Superbad'

Sexiest Man
Howlin' Pelle Almqvist
Julian Barrett
Noel Fielding
Nicky Wire
Patrick Wolf

Sexiest Woman
Jenny Lewis
Kylie Minogue
Rhianna
Hayley Williams
Rachael Yamagata