Good sized shrimp, cleaned and whatnot… chop up a bunch of fresh basil, zest a half a lemon, squeeze the juice in… a half spoon of chopped garlic… drizzle olive oil.. fresh ground pepper… cook in pan… put over pasta… swoon.
Design, Music, UX
This is usually the type of thing that goes on inside my brain everyday. I have a strange surreal thing happening to me these days.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fusKcZjj7dg&hl=en&fs=1]
Mercury Rev – Opus 40 by the remarkable Anton Corbijn
As requested, here’s my essential iPhone Apps:
In alphabetical order
Air Sharing
$4.99
Let’s your iPhone be mounted to your desktop like an external drive. Not sure why this isn’t normal behaviour, but this works fine.
Amazon Mobile
Free
Buy, compare, shop, wishlists… indispensable when you’re a cheap bastard like myself.
AOL Radio
Free
I’m not a radio fan at all, but find myself listening to this every so often. Stations around the world and a batch of very specific stations (Classic Punk and All Clash being two of my favorites).
Bloom
$3.99
One of two Eno-based apps on my list. This music generation app is fun and addictive, plus it keeps the kids busy when you need some quiet in the car.
Darkslide
Free
A dedicated Flickr client that also uploads to your account directly from your iPhone.
Evernote
Free
Can’t say enough great things about this app. Just get it.
Fring
Free
Multiple protocol Instant Messenger AND Skype client. Yes, use Skype on your iPhone and tell AT&T to go to hell.
NetNewsWire
Free
Very good RSS client. Syncs with the desktop version also.
Now Playing
Free
Essential if you love movies like I do. Look up movies, showtimes, etc.
Oblique Strategies
Free
Brian Eno’s mystical fortune cookies for creative thinking
Twitterific
Free
People will argue about which Twitter client is better, I think this one is pretty nifty.
Brilliant. I’m using it for book writing, note keeping, photo storage, file transfers, and public UX notes. If you haven’t seen it yet, go get : http://www.evernote.com
Will be using : Evernote, Illustrator CS4, ChronoSync,
Will stop using : Last.fm, Photoshop, VoodooPad
Wherefore Art Thou, Elvis?
by The Gaslight Anthem from the 7″ EP Señor And The Queen
My unofficial theme song for this year. Yes, they put out an EP as well as the best album of the year.
Download
Wishing Well
by The Airborne Toxic Event from the album The Airborne Toxic Event
Some pop songs grab you, some don’t. This one did, despite the horrid band name.
Download
I Feel Better
by Frightened Rabbit from the live album Liver! Lung! FR!
After listening to this live version, I wasn’t sure why he bothered with the studio
Download
Burn Bridges
by The Grates from the album Teeth Lost, Hearts Won
Great pop band fronted by crazy girl with crazy name #1 (Patience Hodgson)
Download
The Kelly Affair
by Be Your Own Pet from the album Get Awkward
Great pop band fronted by crazy girl with crazy name #2 (Jemina Pearl Abegg)
Download
Hair Pool
by Defiance, Ohio from the Pink Couch Sessions
Live track from the wonderful Pink Couch (Link). Can’t wait for a new album.
Download
Falling Down
by Scarlett Johansson from the album Anywhere I Lay My Head
Yes, yes… I know. Just close your eyes and pretend it’s a This Mortal Coil track from ‘83.
Download
Everything Is Not the Same
by Zita Swoon from the album Big Blueville
Great track from an album I picked up in Paris and haven’t put down.
Download
Blackboots Blackhearts
by Sweet Jane from the EP Blackboots & Blackhearts
Taking up the Velvets / JMC mantle the Ravonettes couldn’t keep up with.
Download
Out Of Time
by Jason Collett from the album Here’s To Being Here
Great track with a Lou Reed groove.
Download
Hey Momma’
by Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground from the album Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground
Crazy and funky and fun.
Download
Two Angry Kids
by Street Dogs from the album State of Grace
Yes, I remember.
Download
Storm Rising
by In Tua Nua from the album When Night Comes Down On Sunset
Lovely bit of Irish rock, recorded in 1987. Some stuff is too good to leave on a shelf.
Download
Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
by She & Him from the album Volume One
Super sweet song. I still love it even tho Zooey decided to marry that chode from Death Cab instead of me.
Download
Don’t Stop Believin’
by Marnie Stern
Only Marnie could make this song cool. I love the bit when the drums kick in.
Download
Threat Level Midnight
by The Riot Before from the album Fists Buried In Pockets
Just a great song. Fun to sing along with.
Download
House
by Vetiver from the album Thing Of The Past
One of those songs that knocks it all back into place.
Download
Last Day of Magic
by The Kills from the album Midnight Boom
Great song from an album that should have made my top 10 albums, but somehow got lost in the shuffle.
Download
The Captive Mind
by The Helio Sequence from the album Keep Your Eyes Ahead
Another great song from an album that should have made my top 10 albums, but somehow got lost in the shuffle.
Download
Back To Me
by The Dutchess and the Duke from the album She’s The Dutchess, He’s The Duke
Great bit of throwback rock and roll. I need an army jacket and a boogie hat.
Download
Bad Old World
by New Model Army from the live album Fuck Texas, Sing For Us
Always been one of my favorite NMA songs. Love the intro.
Download
Have a Nice Day
by Kinetic Stereokids from the EP Have a Nice Day
Freakshows.
Download
2008
by Hello Saferide from the album More Modern Short Stories From Hello Saferide
A fitting song for the end of the year
Download
The Gaslight Anthem – The ‘59 Sound
Undoubtably the Album of the Year. I can’t say enough good things about this album, just buy it and listen.
Buy CD or Vinyl from Side One Dummy
Listen to High Lonesome : DOWNLOAD
Cloud Cult – Feel Good Ghosts
Every person I share this album with is an instant fan. It only takes one to get you hooked. Amazing songwriting, astounding lyrics, moments of epiphany.
Listen to Journey of the Featherless : DOWNLOAD
Fucked Up – The Chemistry Of Common Life
Quite possibly the best punk-rock head-trip concept-album that is not a concept album of all time. Your brain may not be the same after this.
Listen to Crooked Head : DOWNLOAD
Poi Dog Pondering – 7
Another in a long string of amazing records. Some bands just keep getting better.
Listen to Butterflies : DOWNLOAD
HiFi Handgrenades – Carry On
Speck and Co. release yet another gem of punk/power pop songs, yet again criminally overlooked. Carry On is my song of the year, it’s that fucking good.
Buy from New Romance For Kids Records
Listen to Carry On : DOWNLOAD
Daniel Lanois – Here Is What Is
Elemental.
Listen to Bladesteel : DOWNLOAD
Marnie Stern – This Is It And I Am It And You Are It And So Is That And He Is It And She Is It And It Is It And That Is That
She’s hot. She plays guitar like no one else. She writes crazy songs you can’t stop listening to. Bonus points for best album name of the year.
Listen to Transformer : DOWNLOAD
Menahan Street Band – Make The Road By Walking
I can only wish my life was cool enough to have this as a soundtrack.
Listen to Tired of Fighting : DOWNLOAD
Paramount Styles – Failure American Style
The dude from Girls Against Boys. Downtempo, acoustic guitar, biting and searing lyrics. Cooler than you.
Listen to Drunx, Whores & MZK People : DOWNLOAD
Mercury Rev – Snowflake Midnight
They put down their guitars and picked up electronics. Stunning.
Listen to Senses on Fire : DOWNLOAD
Robots In Disguise – We’re In the Music Biz
Snarky, trashy and awesome.
Listen to The Sex Has Made Me Stupid : DOWNLOAD
Off With Their Heads – From The Bottom
Great, straight-ahead hardcore. Melodic and raw with great sing along vocals.
Listen to Wrong : DOWNLOAD
And, as always, Let the Children Lose It… Let the Children Use It… Let All The Children Boogie.
Remainder of Xmas Mixtape:
Silent Night by Bad Religion
Download
Donna & Blitzen by Badly Drawn Boy
Download
Do They Know It’s Christmas? by Band Aid
Download
Peace On Earth-Little Drummer Boy by Bing Crosby & David Bowie
Download
Christmas in the Stars by C-3PO with R2-D2
Download
Christmastime is Here by Combustable Edison
Download
Christmas Blues (Live) by Fiona Apple
Download
(It Must Have Been Ol’) Santa Claus by Harry Connick, Jr.
Download
The Ronettes – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Download
2000 Miles by The Pretenders
Download
Baby Please Come Home by U2
Download
Jingle Bell Rock by The Ventures
Download
Fairytale Of New York by The Pogues Feat. Kirsty MacColl
Download
Happy Xmas, War is Over by John Lennon
Download
Blue Christmas by Bright Eyes
Download
Here’s my top memorable moments of 2008, big love to everyone involved with this year!
Early Spring – Paris
Rounding the corner after getting out of the Trocadero train station and seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time.
Music that was playing : Drive in Saturday by David Bowie
Early Spring – Paris
Heading to Le Boule Rouge, circling the Arc de Triomphe in the passenger seat of the Rabbi’s Mercedes, Julien navigating 5 lanes of chaos while smoking, talking and not even looking while driving.
Music that was playing : Most likely Zappa, but my brain registers Alive in the City by Zita Swoon
Spring – Orlando
Riding the Tower of Terror with my wife and kids… Sunshine’s face a mixture of horror and excitement.
Music that was playing : Screams of children and laughing of parents
Spring – Cocoa Beach
Attempting to catch a few waves on Grayson’s boogie board
Music that was playing : Waves and futile paddling
Spring – NYC
Dropping a txt bomb on Kosta while killing several bottles of wine with Colleen and the Heuer sisters.
Music that was playing : I’ve Got a Feeling by The Beatles
Summer – Nashville
Seeing Poi Dog Pondering play live after living with their music for nearly 20 years. Ian and I had a table 5 feet from Frank as they played.
Music that was playing : Butterflies by Poi Dog Pondering
Summer – Chicago
Early morning, running around Chicago lakeside parks with the kids, taking photos of them and the Bean.
Music that was playing : Everybody Here is a Cloud by Cloud Cult
Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight) by Ramones
Download