Fridangle

I can't think of any more ways to say Friday. Well actually, yes I can, but they are all stupid like Fridangle. Go with it, strangers. Anyway, won't you listen to some music with me and be my neighbor? Okay? Thanks!

1) "Gloria" by U2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybYgP48X2DY) Remember when U2 was good? I feel like I've asked this question before but like, they used to be GOOD. I think this song really defines the band's sound in the early 80's. Plus, Bono is really silly and bouncy in this video. Nice vest, sir.

2) "This is the Day" by The The (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phWv7l8Lm_A) Anyone who's seen Empire Records knows the greatness of this song. It's wistful yet upbeat, cheesy yet quirky. It makes me want to do a weird toe-tap dance and that's never a bad thing.

3) "All You Ever Wanted" by The Black Keys (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zo2DyfTTV8) Sigh, my boys. I fear they've gone with way of the Kings of Leon and are now too big to be enjoyed (not in that pretentious, they're-too-famous-for-me-to-like way, but in the too-expensive-too-big-venues kind of way). I also like their old, bluesy sound better (I KNOW THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE BLUES IN THE NY TIMES, THEY FUCKING LIED). This song is like honey, slow and sweet and sticking to your guts in just the right way. Oh man, this band is the real deal you guys, DON'T FORGET.

The New Best Single

I don't usually like to compliment Best Coast because they kind of really annoy me, but their new single is actually ADORABLE. It's called The Only Place and it's about how awesome California is. It's Summery, light, and has a surprisingly complex and solid guitar base. I am into it. Give it a listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoPoRuNTo9U

I Had Proof

Hey Lil' Strangers. So I recently discovered this pretty groovy area adjcent to my apartment and that area is Atwater Village. Located on a little stretch between Los Feliz/Silverlake and Glendale, Atwater is like a slightly less gentrified/slightly more suburban Brooklyn (I can't help that I compare everything to NYC; it's my homeland, it's in my blood and in my volatile demeanor).

Anyway, there are lots of dope places in this hood, some of them too hipstery for me to even try (Strangers, I am just not ready to go to a place called GRAIN, ok? Not yet), but yesterday I tried Proof Bakery (http://proofbakeryla.com/) and was pretty damn impressed.


So to be honest, when I walked in I was overhwelmed by beautiful pastries and the beautiful bearded guy trying to be a writer in the corner (okay, I'm sorry, he IS a writer). The man who made my capuccino was Asian American with suspenders and earplugs and he did amazing things with foam in my cup while managing to carry on entire, flirtatious conversation about foraging or something with a STUNNING hippie-ish lady with a fro, maxi dress and a shit-ton of jewelry. I just stared at them and thought about how un-unique I was. The coffee is ridiculously good and I should've checked to see what beans they use instead of drooling over another couple's romance, but the strength is similar to Joe: The Art of Coffee in NYC...and that is HIGH PRAISE coming from me.

So Proof also makes sandwiches; there are about 3 on the menu any given day. I got one beet and pesto sandwich and one salami and camembert and they come in induvidual baby baguettes and they are just AWESOME. I can only imagine what those scones taste like. But you guys go try them!

WARNING: This place is very hip and doesn't have like, vanilla syrup. You can get a wonderful agave latte, though. Yeah, I know, pretentious. But delicious!

Fridrizzle

It's just a gray day here in Cali, strangers, so I'm in one of my dreamy moods. Join me, thanks.

1) "Skin" by Zola Jesus (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYzCXx7Ndok) So I first became aware of this lady when she hopped up on the stage during an M83 concert dressed like a cracked-out angel in white and brought the house down. But really she sounds more like the cooler baby of Sia and Florence of Florence and the Machine. This song is one of her more ballad-like tunes and it's haunting and pretty.

2) "The Face" by the Kings of Leon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzzbLK3XOY8) I try to deny that I like anything by the Kings after Aha Shake Heartbreak but when I do that, I am lying. True, the band completely mellowed out and lost their edge and all the songs on Come Around Sundown sound exactly the same, but it's a consistent, solid sameness and I enjoy it. This song builds to a pleasing whine and I will not let you shame me out of liking it!

3) "Amazing Eyes" by Good Old War (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlxdqvRsXJg) Okay so this song is almost pure cheese. I LOVE me a good pop-folk ditty and this slides perfectly into that category. Good Old War sounds like a watered-down Tramples by Turtles, if that's even possible. But something about this song super-compels me. I love the harmonies and I love the line "You have amazing eyes; the right one suspicious and the left one wants my love." Ditch that wonky-eyed bitch dude; both of my baby blues want your love.

Today I Like Alex Winston

This may be uncool, but I stumbled across Alex Winston's album King Con today and I am into it. She sort of has a voice that you will either find interesting or grating and I am pretty interested. She sings pop with kind of a weirdo-twist, which is sort of how I think of myself, so I feel a strange kinship towards her. "Medicine" is a jam I am feeling:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsC5eEBigQ8

Also, I just looked her up on Wikipedia and she's 24 and really pretty, so now I sort of hate her but whatever, give love a chance.

The Circus is STRANGE!

So Lil Strangers, Friday night Kyle, Anna, our visiting NY-friend Lily and I went to Cirque du Soleil at the Santa Monica Pier (http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/). It was a misty, wet night and I was really excited as we approached the tents because everything was glow-y and magical:

RIGHT?! So the show was called Ovo, which is funny because that is such a weird...vaginal name and the whole show is basically about a giant insect egg, but it's a Cirque that's geared towards tourists and kids because it's right on the pier. Interesting.

ANYWAY, I just forgot how bizarre the circus was, especially Cirque du Soleil with its weird, French-Canadian WHAT-HAVE-YOU. Like, there is a creepy live band singing watery 70's French pop (sounds cooler than it is), clowns sexually harassing audience members (NOT KIDS, DON'T WORRY), and contortionists sliding all over the stage. I really dug these girls who spun drums and each other with their FEET (fancy footwork) and at one point the entire stage becomes a trampoline and everyone does different awesome flippity-doo moves, but mostly I was just confused. I obviously should've taken drugs beforehand, but only had a $14 glass of champagne to tide me over. I loved being with my homies and I am sort of glad I had the EXPERIENCE, but the circus is an odd, odd beast. Also, Kyle had a Groupon, so it was fine.

Needless to say, we decided to drink heavily afterwards. It was all West side, so I won't get into where we went, but Irish Carbombs were involved and all I know is I had a lot of fun. Happy late St. Patty's!

Gchats from Emily

emily:  http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-body/news/rihanna-lose-weight-2012163
HATE HATE HATE

I can't stop laughing at this headline. CANNOT. STOP. Thanks Em. And poor, poor RIHANNA.

Wednesday Ditties

Strangers, is it DITTIES? Diddys? Whatever, I am listening to songs today:

1) "The Stranger" by Lord Huron (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG6jq7WaK0c) I did a camping trip in Malibu (what? It was FAR) about a year and a half ago and Lord Huron's Mighty EP was the perfect road companion (well Kyle was the perfect companion, LH was the perfect MUSIC). Driving along the PCH at sunset, this song is a little bit Beirut, a little bit something cheesy like Dave Matthews' Band (THERE WAS A TIME WHEN DAVE WAS COOL), a little bit something special. I don't know why I am so weird and wistful today, but there you go.

2) "Open Your Heart" by The Men (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52AlxrQHk4A) The Men's new album is badass. Like, fantastic and rocking all the way through with each song spilling into the next and all maintaining their own unique melody. THE DRUMMING IS SO GOOD TOO. You know how I'm a sucker for a good drummer, strangers. Anyway, this band has been around for a while, but I've just discovered them and super glad I did.

3) "Empty House" by Delta Spirit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0Z43408xV8) They're new album came out!!! Yay! This first track is one of their gentle jams, but like their great ballad "Salt in the Wound," "Empty House" has a big, epic sound. I don't know how I feel about the album overall, but this is a real band and there are some definite gems on this record.

San Francisco STRANGE

Hi Lil Strangers! I was in San Francisco this weekend for my lovely friend Abby's birthday and to see some of my other special people and let me tell you, it is GREAT there. The weather usually lies to me and is glorious and this time it was NOT so nice, but the city was still beautiful. I drove up with Anna Friday (there was a lot of this being played: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpOR_HuHRNs&ob=av2e) and we went to a delicious late dinner with Abby at Hog & Rocks (http://www.hogandrocks.com/) and it lived up to its name. I had an incredibly fresh oyster with a Japanese Miso sauce on it and BBQ meatballs on a bed of cheddar grits (sorry cleanse!) with cabbage slaw. Abby and Anna split lettuce cups filled with steak slices in a zesty aioli and fish and chips. SOLID.

Then Saturday after a delicious brunch at Savor (http://www.yelp.com/biz/savor-san-francisco) and way, WAY too much shopping at Ambiance aka the stripes store (http://ambiancesf.com/index.html), we were SUPPOSED to have a bonfire for Abby, but the rain said NO. Look at it on this trolley:

Okay, I just wanted to show you a trolley. So cute! Anyway, we moved the party to our friend Jon's house and just to give you an idea of how mother-effing beautiful it is, behold the living room:

And the Japanese-influenced garden (including a heated pool that we all jumped in at 2am):

And some of the INCREDIBLE art in the house:

So after a WILD night of dancing and swimming, the house looked like this;

And this:

And this:

But it was worth it! Thanks Jon and Abby (and my friend Erika for arranging and being a generally delightful woman)! Also, how pretty is the botanical garden?

Ooooh. Anyway, Anna and I drove back Sunday, took a half-hour detour off the highway to find an In n' Out Burger (hello, double double protein style), and listened to a lot of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snsTmi9N9Gs

I'd say it was a successful weekend.

I Love My Beach House!

Strangers, Beach House has a new song out! It's called "Myth," LISTEN:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuvWc3ToDHg

I like it! Same ethereal, yearny mood-music that I crave. It's no secret that Teen Dream changed my life, mostly in that I couldn't listen to anything else for months and months, so I am AMPED that they're coming out with a new album soon. Victoria Legrand's voice is one of my MOST FAVORITE THINGS EVER, second only to her HAIR:


Yeah, the dude is good too. Thank you to Noey (AGAIN) for making me aware.

Tired Stranger!

Lil Strangers, I am sleepy. I had an AMAZING weekend celebrating Lindsey Weening's birthday (in Santa Monica...ssshhhh, sin) and then Katie Rockman's IN BOSTON. Yes, I flew to Boston for less than 30 hours to celebrate one of my best friends and I am not ashamed! It was completely worth it. Look how happy Rock is!

Yeah, she also has an amazing apartment. Some of my other college besties were there too:

Awww, Lucy and Elisha! Anyway, we went to this place The Brahmin (http://thebrahmin.com/), which is this adorable small plates restaurant where they clear away all the tables away at 10PM and it becomes a WILD dance club. Seriously, it was a SCENE. We had meatballs (with an incredible sweet tomato sauce that our friend Laura went especially nuts over), mac n' cheese, beef tartare, flatbread pizzas, and the most insanely delicious fried pickles I've ever had that came with a red pepper aioli that I would take a bath in. Then we danced it off, both at the Brahmin and at Harvard Gardens (http://www.harvardgardens.com/). There was no dancefloor at Harvard Gardens but, um, we created one. We had so much fun at HG, we went back there for brunch the next day and sat next to a table of ravishingly sexy gentlemen. What? I love me an East coast boy. Then I cuddled my ladies and flew back to LA.

So, it was a whirlwind, and I loved it.