Monday, February 13, 2012

favorite songs of 2011

Grammys Schmammys! Here are some of my favorite tunes from 2011. What were yours? Did they win Grammys? Does it matter?!

April Smith and the Great Picture Show, "Colors"



I just can not get enough of this song! So peppy and quirky and romantic!



Black Keys, "Everlasting Light"



just plain bad ass.



Damnwells, "The Great Unknown"



And my love affair with this band continues.



Local Natives, "World News"



Confession: I don't know any other songs by them. I need to get on that. Great tune!



Morgan Nusbaum, "Lie to Me"



A local artist whom I've had the pleasure of hanging out with, Morgan has a crazy pretty voice. This song is gut-wrenching. Love it. I have more local bands on my actual best-of mix, but I couldn't find good videos for them.



Features, "Whatever Gets You By"



Saw this band at a small venue without knowing nothing about them except that my friend Eric loved them. I was hooked immediately. One of the most played CDs in my car's dash.



Givers, "Up Up Up"



Another band I got to see in an intimate venue, who could probably fill a bigger room. They are easy to get into... high-energy, cute, fun. This song will make you happy.



Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings," I learned the Hard Way"



Makes me want to put on sequined dress and go hang out at a dive bar and drink rum straight. I don't know if that describes the song adequately.... you should just listen.



A.A. Bondy, "Surfer King"



Guitar that sounds like it's underwater, mellow pace, pretty melody.



Justin Townes Earle, "Harlem River Blues"



Saw this guy live, too! Talented fella. I love this song because it's one of those upbeat-sounding songs with seriously depressing subject matter. You'll be tapping your toes to a song about suicide! You won't be able to help yourself!!


So that's some of my picks. Seriously, tell me yours! I know I missed putting some great stuff on this list.

Friday, February 10, 2012

bizarre stock images - more!

Remember the crazy stock photos & illustrations I posted a few months back? Well apparently there is no shortage of odd images on stock sites. For instance, check out this collection of Women Looking Remorseful After Sex. Ha!

Here are some more I've come across since my last post.

Those who live in grass houses shouldn't... throw weed-wackers?

feeding your baby...Yer doin' it wrong.



Warning sign that your kid might grow up to be John Wayne Gacy.

I just threw up.

Hamburger Grenade FUCK YEAH!

Quick! Check the box for doll heads!
Filthy.

*silence*

Brush your teeth, kids.

Consumer.

It's almost cute. but no.

New at Great Clips! the "Finger Weave"

Crunchy.

GO. AWAY.

"I'm Mr. BoxHead! I have a box on my head! Gimme some candy!"

Hand model casting... yer doin' it WRONG.

I will have nightmares.

What's with all the John Wayne Gacy references in this post, anyway?

tee hee. Tomato peen.

Obviously.

I hate you.

I can't stop trying to figure this one out. I think my brain is melting.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

stuff on trees

On a walk the other day, I noticed several trees with assorted stuff, natural and unnatural, attached to them. So I took pictures. You know I love me some themed photo posts (See the bottom of this post for all the past photo themes)!

Stuff On Trees.


Moss.


Pieces of other trees.


Numbers.


Vines.


Caution tape.


More numbers.


Birdy houses.


Decorations.


Identification tags.


More vines.


Bows.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Thrift Storror 2

More scary stuff I've come across at antique and thrift stores (see the first post here). I don't want to discourage shopping at these places... I love them and there are lots of treasures to be found out there. But the yin and yang of thrifting is that among the treasures there is... terrors. Dun Dun Dun.....

Cowboy and Indian.

Modeling the latest from Micheal Kors "Loony Bin" collection.

Nuthead.

Real Fur. Fake eyes.

Hell's Kitchen.

Beezlebub's Angels.

Scare-ah Faucet

Fake butter. why?

Go away!

A post card to show how much you hate.

Okay, this guy is actually really cute.


Garden of Evil and Evil.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

karaoke dreams

I love a good night of karaoke with friends. Neighborhood bars filled with characters and booze almost always make for lots of fun. I can't sing... but I sure love to anyway. I have some safe songs I stick to... mostly some simple rap songs and 90's hits that don't require a great voice. But I have a list of songs that I hope to do someday... songs that require some planning, study, confidence and skill. Here are some of my dream karaoke songs... in my mind these could be EPIC if I ever manage to pull them off the way I imagine.

1. 99 Luft Balloons, Nena


Yes, the GERMAN version. How fun would it be to just get up and do this 80's hit in flawless German?! It would be amazing. I would also dance like Zach Braff:



2. Informer, Snow



Speaking of other languages... okay, this was is in English (allegedly), but does anyone know what he's saying? It's fast and in a strange accent with lots of nonsense slang. And you can't not dance to it, so the audience would eat it up. Plus you get to say "A licky boom boom now."


3. Making Love Out of Nothing At All, Air Supply



I have practiced this one in the car DOZENS of times, but I have to have it down perfectly before I dare attempt it in public. The song is an epic rock ballad... it requires choreography, good timing, air guitar and passion. And perhaps pyrotechnics. I'm working on it. I wouldn't dare shame Air Supply, you guys. It's gotta be done right.

4. Wig In A Box, from Hedwig And The Angry Inch


From one of the best rock operas ever, Wig In A Box is a song packed with so much attitude and power... one really needs to be in character to do it justice. It's a theatrical song with a story. You gotta get into a fabulous frame of mind, and really WORK IT, gurl. I would really need to tap into my inner Diva. Someday...


Do you have karaoke dream songs? What are they?

Thursday, November 10, 2011

4 Reel - Memory Loss movies

No, I didn't forget about my 4 Reel feature, in which I pick 4 movies that fit a certain theme and describe them in 4 words. Here is another installment! These are all movies that revolve around memory loss.



Momento - what's real? mind fuck.







The Hangover - Hilarious, redonk, couch pizza







diminished capacity - family, sweet, fish poetry







Overboard - the 80's were terrible





Past 4 Reels
Drag Queens
Winter Weather
Afterlife
Horror
Zomedies
Samurai

Monday, October 31, 2011

forest park in early autumn


Over the weekend I took a beginner's photography class, thanks to my friend Kali (check out her blog!) who invited me along. Photography is one of those things you can never stop learning about, so I take every opportunity I can to improve my skills (See this post about the food photography class I recently took).

While this class did teach me a few valuable things about taking photos, the lesson that I was most struck by was what a treasure Forest Park is to St. Louis! It was a walking photography class, you see, through this historic park. I have been to the park hundreds of times... it is, of course, where our awesome zoo, art museum, history museum and other various attractions and events are.

So imagine my delight when I found myself walking through glorious gardens and paths and parts of the park I had never explored before! My awe was heightened by the gorgeous fall colors of the trees and foliage. Vivid reds and warm, bright yellows against still green grasses and bushes. Wow. I need to make walking through this large, historic, interesting park a habit. What a lift to my spirits!
















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