Fuck it, where’s my shit, oh my god I’m mad at it

I love this new video for Warpaint's Stars - its explosion of magic faraway forest meets psychedelic faerie lights. So beautiful.

Sometimes when bands are too aesthetically pleasing it makes me nervous as so many girl bands these days seem to have formed just to sell Lover dresses and the music is usually very second rate. I don't think thats the case with Warpaint and if I had any doubts their video for Beetles convinced me - I haven't seen girls having that much fun on stage since Karen O.

And now the world is asleep

Nneka - Heartbeat
Uploaded by FourMusic. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.


I love this song Hearbeat by Nneka found on Flavorwire it reminds me of Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill emotive singing style and lyrics and the beat has sort've Eminem-lose-yourself-vibes? Kinda mixing in a lot of my favourite things here Nneka.

I want to go to there - street style can it be sam style?

images from fffound and Refinery 29

I love these man style pants - so Annie Hall! I haven't worn anything like that in ages - I'm thinking a heavy internet shopping session starting at Steven Alan is about to begin.

Also I love the 2nd girls red hair - its so bright and beautiful and little bit - dare I say - My So Called Life.

Swoon!

my life in beautiful photographs

(WAKE UP DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS BY) GUY ARCHARD

(BREAKFAST BY) RYAN MCGINLEY

(SUBWAY) UNDERGROUND BY NAN GOLDIN
(WORK IN A) TRANSPERANT CITY BY MICHAEL WOLF
(FACE IN THE CROWD BY) FREDERIC LEBAIN

CITY AT NIGHT

(HOME BY) JULIUS SHULMAN

you're my girl, i'm your girl

Speaking of all things women in rock, and as I am talking about 'My So Called Life' whenever I can, I thought I should mention a film that I saw in my teens that I became totally obsessed with - and in my mind is (or was) a precursor to 'My So Called Life' - called 'Girl'.



Girl (dir. Jonathan Kahn, 1998)

'Girl' starred late 90s ingenue Dominiqe Swain in the lead role and yes she does look a bit like Claire Danes with the fair skin and red hair, and yes one was called Andrea and the other Angela, AND both had a penchant for over-thinking, um, everything - but the main thing that 'MSCL' and 'Girl' have in common is the story line about a mid-teens middle class girl throwing in her safe middle-of-the-road high-achieving lifestyle for a more "dangerous" grunge crowd - hello the 90s - and also allowing them to pursue their fantasy man from the wrong side of the tracks who also happens to be in a band.

Both 'Girl' and 'MSCL' are incredibly well down, and authentically "of the time". Honestly I don't know why it seems so hard for people in film and TV to create complex characters and relative simple story's like these but its so rare that its done right.

Just an aside but the whole groupie storyline also makes it a great companion for double feature screenings with 'Almost Famous' another favourite from my adolescence.

'Girl' is based on the book by Blake Nelson (which yes, I own and yes he is such a DUDE e.g. Girl started as 3 part excerpts in Sassy Magazine) and had a ridiculously good late 90s cast including Selma Blair, Tara Reid (as the lesbian punk skater no less), Summer Phoenix, Portia de Rossi and a brief but pivotal cameo by Adam Scott which I've mentioned before here. Yet it still went straight to video? What is wrong with these distribs?

TRIVIA! Just for real nerds of either 'Girl or 'My So Called Life' though - everyone else please skip ahead:

• theres a scene in both where they accidentally walk into a room with their fantasy object of desire man and the door locks behind them.
• AND there is also a moment in both where they hanging out late at venue - past curfew - waiting for said fantasy man and they get put in a car just as said man arrives but they share a long gaze - which anybody who ever had a teenage crush will know is manna from heaven.
• I'm sure theres more but these are just a couple of 'similarities' that spring to mind.

Now I just have one more thing to get out of my system - The Colour Green! Todd Sparrow! Cow Print Dress! OK I'm done. See this movie.

I drive like Annie Hall but luckily not like her brother

I'm learning to drive and I'm now obsessed with watching cars when I'm walking around - or watching people drive in movies/tv. It comes up so much its so weird as a former pedestrian/trammer/trainer I've never really noticed before.



Also here - but luckily I've never had a conversation like this with my teacher.



And just because I can here's some more Gregory Corso.

“

Last night I drove a car


not knowing how to drive
not owning a car

I drove and knocked down

people I loved
…went 120 through one town.

I stopped at Hedgeville

and slept in the back seat


…excited about my new life.
”

I'm perfect! But nobody in this shithole gets me, because I don't put out!

In honour of my Runaways obsession I thought I should also mention two of my all time favourite girl-group movies as well. These are definite must-see's - some of the best quotes and fashions as well as of course amazing soundtracks.



Satisfaction (1988) - Joan Freeman

Satisfaction stars not only a very young Julia Roberts (check the Bo Derek hair) but also a smooth faced Liam Neeson. 'Mystery' the band in the movie (4 girls and yr token male keyboardist) mainly rocked covers but rocked them hard - seriously I get tired watching them play in this film. They don't take crap from any of the men in the film either - even the ones they love and they also had the most incredibly inspiring hair - particularly bad-ass drummer Mooch whose massive curly do (plus model perfect face) made her way too gorgeous to be portraying the awkward tomboy.

I love it when they try and make the most beautiful girls look ugly to fit a character stereotype and then suddenly put them in a dress and everyone's like 'Woah! Who knew that was under there?'. Pfft.



Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains (1982) - Lou Adler

This film is so hard to find so if you get an opportunity to see it - just go! Or if your desperate. I dare you to leave not wanting to be Corinne "Third Degree" Burns (played be a then young and incredibly precocious Diane Lane). Also stars the always amazing Laura Dern whose mother objected to the 13-year-old's presence on the set of the film, but a defiant Dern sued for emancipation - very rock n' roll.

One of the many great things about this film is the songs in this movie are also great - especially 'Waste of Time' and as the girls rise to the top their skunk stripe hair and lack of clothes (some might say these days Lady Gaga-esque) become a all the rage with young girls everywhere and their slogan "We Don't Put Out" becomes the anthem of girl power. They really don't make them like this any more.

pushing tin

I love Local Natives creepily beautiful haunted house stop motion style video clip for their sure to be indie hit song 'Airplanes', the best ode to your dead grandpa ever. The rest of the songs on this album are also amazing FYI - they even make the lyrical link between between skype and cubism - finally!

To me, there is no greater act of courage than being the one who kisses first

Can people stop saying they are coming to Australia and then not?!

Also I want to get this fringe and these dance moves back.

Hello World I'm Your Wild Girl

The Original



The Imitation



I have to say Dakota Fanning does pretty well playing Cherie Currie (though she looks much younger and much less tough). This does make me want to jump on stage and cover her up, but I guess thats the point?

Also how great is the red lycra imitation-Bowie outfit? So amazing!

Heres the trailer again in case you missed it last time.

Through the blinding lightning flash and the mighty thunder crash

I was inspired by this great blog post about films that you love but never want to see again to make my own list. I agree with most of the films on this list though some of them I haven't even seen based on the fact that I'm terrified of being traumatised.

Heres my list of films that I loved but never want to see again

1. Dumbo - Walt Disney



I find a lot of the early Disney cartoons quite upsetting including Pinocchio and Bambi etc (can we say Parent issues Uncie Walt?), but this scene with Dumbo and his mother takes the cake. I can't watch it without tearing up.

2. Dead Ringers - David Cronenberg



It'll make you look twice at twins, but you won't really want to.

3. Lilya -4 - Ever - Lukas Moodysson



Completely unrelenting - this film destroyed me.

4. The Piano Teacher - Michael Haneke



Its been called the truest representation of the Marquis de Sade, in film form - that should tell you enough. Stark and beautiful and completely shocking. There are scenes in this film no one needs to see twice.

5. Bully - Larry Clark



I love Kids but Bully was almost too dark even for Clark.

rattled by the rush

I saw Pavement last night at the Palace in Melbourne. I've always liked Pavement a lot but never been a 'ment-head' - and of course theres always fans and there are the real fans and I would definitely class myself in the former. BUT - hands down this is possibly one of THE BEST shows I've ever seen. It was literally like taking a time warp back into the 90s - helped by the fact that Malkamus still looks 22 years old (he and Thurston Moore must be trading eternal child secrets) - it sounded amazing, great song choices and the lighting was super cute - strings of white bulbs threaded atop the stage.

Gold Soundz and Summer Babe were definite highlights for me - but its hard to pick faves. Now I just want to run out and buy all the albums I don't have and listen to them over and over!

can you believe Hole are playing SXSW

And I'm not going? I'm still working on coming to grips with it. Also who knew that Hole had written a knew song called 'Samantha' - I guess if theres finally going to be a song with my name in the title it could be worse.

You tell me what to say and when to say it.

Entitled Until the Kingdom Comes, exhibition by Simen Johan.

Using traditional photography (the animals are, for the most part, real, and photographed at zoos or farms) and digital techniques, as well as sculpture, Johan has created a believable yet magical world devoid of humans. He has turned these animals into mystic creatures.

I'm obsessed with these - reminds me of Narnia books - scary, beautiful and magical all at once.

(via follow found)

"I should go to sleep now and say / fuck a job and money / because I spend it all on unlined paper / and can’t get past / “Dear baby, how are you?”

I'm obsessed with the new Gil Scott-Heron album it's so amazing - I can't believe how long its been since his last album but its totally worth it. Every single song is perfect honestly wouldn't change a thing. I love that he samples Kanye and smog too.



Listen to the whole new Gil Scott-Heron album 'I'm new here' here courtesy of the Fader:

How to Make it in America

Is everyone watching 'How to Make It In America'? It sure does seem like it since everyone is hating on it so viciously a la Gossip Girl in 2008. Everyone publicly hated on that show but watched it on the sly for a trashy fix and then came out in 2009 owning the obsession. 'How to Make It' is exactly like that plus the soundtrack's even better Aloe Blacc, Cam'ron et al.

Best Movies You've Never Seen #4

Walking and Talking (1996) - Nicole Holofcener

This is the only clip I could find of this film - I think it was uploaded by some dwarf bowling enthusiasts. Anyway this film is one of those awesome 90s more talking than walking (awful pun) films about life and relationships - covering off everything from 'the ugly guy' to 'the boyfriend-to friend-back to boyfriend' as well as the pitfalls to sharing a pet with your best friend among other things. Awesome cast and best film Holofcener ever did in my opinion. Its totally adorable and sweet (and mean and funny) and I just want to smoosh its cheeks and watch it again.

In other new news Holofcnener and her muse Keener have a new film out in 2010 called 'Please Give' doesn't look as good as Walking and Talking but when has a lacklustre preview stopped me before?

“I was born at the wrong time. It's fun. And there's so much history behind it.”

My favourite 90s babes.


1. Beck - Known to go crazy with the cheese wiz, he also has epic dance moves and cries into his pillow after he breaks your heart.

2. Paul Westerberg (formerly of The Replacements) - No one gets girls and guys, heartbreak and loneliness, love and like and everything in-between quite like him.

3. Stephen Malkamus - We never knew what you meant but we liked the way you said it. PS Nice haircut.

4. Brian Bell (of Weezer) - He likes animals and is down with both Fonzie and Fozzie. Plus he rocks sweaters like no one else.

5. Jarvis Cocker (formerly of Pulp) - There. Are. Too. Many. Reasons.

Stormy weather, since my man and I ain't together,

It rained in Melbourne and took me 2 hours to get home - hectic!

“The things in my songs are the edited highlights of my life. I don't go seeking out strange sexual experiences every day of the week.”

Gotta love a man that can dance! I really regret not going to Jarvis Cocker's show in Melbourne. Heavy tragedy. However I'm really loving his latest album "Further Complications"(too late as usual) and, uh, well done Steve Albini!

He's such a snappy dresser too - see below!



PS “I got a pair of red, synthetic satin women's pants through the post the other day with a phone number on. That was quite strange. I haven't tried the phone number. In times of stress I may.” - Jarvis

(via So Much To Tell You)

Bendin' the Morn and Lovin' More

Morning Benders - Excuses (Yours Truly Session)

Y'all have seen this right? I hope so as I listen to it at least 5 times a day. You should too fo' realz.

You should probably check this as well - you know I love (more) Sharon Van Etten. Theres a free mp3 and a lot of videos.

Believe it or not, I can actually draw.

Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child
Directed by Tamra Davis
2010

So anyone whose reading this blog must think I'm the biggest documentary/biopic nerd in the history of the world. Thats pretty true. I'm thinking about hiring out a cinema to do a Spring of Sam screening festival called Obsessions: All the people worth knowing everything about. Whadya reckon? Anyone wanna fund me?

(via Waxin and Milkin)

don cheadle bed of rice

Somehow I can keep watching this and it just gets funnier. um and if you want more

PS "In Cleveland I'm a model"

PPS (sob) "this is my house..."