Enough with Bob Marley. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it for the rest of eternity: Bob Marley is fucked out. Playing Legends on repeat at your beach house is the laziest act of any rich yuppie. But white people love reggae. It makes them feel cool and as if they’re in the Caribbean sipping an umbrella drink. FINE. At least listen to some decent grooves by some more relevant bands.
Boston, MA outfit Westbound Train are a breath of fresh air on the ska/reggae scene. Very smooth, old school vibes. Love the vocalist’s tone and I’m a sucker for any track with an organ. “Check Your Time” is a laid-back head nodder with a more serious message if you choose to listen closely. Not all reggae has to be about weed, jamming and standing up for your rights to smoke weed and jam.
Public humiliation is not often sought out. Some people tremble at the mere thought of standing on stage in front of a room full of strangers while a trained assassin points out your flaws. I, on the other hand, was looking forward to it for weeks. You see, I’m a huge fan of comedian Jeffrey Ross and when I learned that he’d be performing at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival, I extended my trip to Canada just to see his show.
As detailed in his awesome book I Only Roast the Ones I Love, Ross explains that roasting is an art, and not something that is meant to be mean-spirited. The tradition of busting balls is more a ode to the subject than a personal put down. To me, to be roasted is an honor. And by the best in the business? How could I pass up the opportunity? So, after a few beers and a killer start to his set, Ross invited whoever wanted to be subjected to his wrath to the stage. I jumped to the front of the line and the cameras rolled: Keep reading →
I’m sweating. Instructed to let the foie gras cromesquis cool slightly before popping it in my mouth, I procrastinate with my third codfish fritter. Complex, crispy then chewy spheres with a touch of heat. A smear of mayo, why not? The cromesquis look like chocolate truffles you’d find inside a Russell Stover box. In one swift motion the amuse is off the plate and exploding in my mouth. An intense rush of rich, earthy flavors–liquid foie. You see, it’s not particularly hot out and the restaurant has a nice breeze flowing from the open front windows. This is a different kind of perspiration. A nervous energy. Excitement. My body is working here and the Cheval Blanc is only quenching my thirst. Keep reading →
“Power” is my favorite new song to come out this year. Kayne West is back. He’s gotten over his Heartbreak and has returned to his ultra swag ways. The chanting loop, the indie-fuzz bass line, the dirty beat–Kayne could have gone full auto-tune vocals and the track would still be ill. Now I will say that I could do without the outro featuring Dwele. Just seems like an afterthought after such strong verses. If anything, maybe shorten the section and use it as a bridge before bringing the chorus back one more time. Anyways, “Power” is greater than the sum of its parts. Kanye’s lyrics aren’t his most clever, but his ‘me verse the world’ attitude is clearly still present. Like his BET Awards performance, Mr. West is back at the top of the game.
Listen or download the song on iTunes or Nah Right.
Recently I took some time to write a short essay for a contest related to Anthony Bourdain’s latest book Medium Raw. The task was to answer the question, “Why Cook Well?” I used my experiences over the past year to frame the essay and make a well constructed argument. I know it’s well written and after reading many of the other popular entries, I know it’s better than most of the other essays. I shit you not. This is not me over hyping myself. Read some of the “popular” gems yourself. Keep reading →
I don’t dream often. I just sleep. I like it this way. I don’t think I could live in the world that Inception takes place in. A not-so futuristic world where dreams are as vivid as reality and people willingly share REM sleep cycles. Along with the Brave New World of dreaming comes the darker side: extraction, where thieves like Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his crew can steal your thoughts and just maybe, plant one. Right away we’re dropped into Cobb’s world and are expected to suspend disbelief and hang on for the ride. Through exposition, it will all make sense later.
Inception is a very heavy flick. Two and a half hours of intense focus. There are moments of great action, amazing set pieces and a convoluted story that will take all of your energy to follow. Keep reading →
Welcome to Summer Jamz, a new running featuring about the best songs to bump in your stock system during the hottest time of the year.
To kick off Summer Jamz, there is no more appropriate song than Set Your Goals’ “Summer Jam.” This is the song I wish I had the opportunity to write. It’s about being young, in a band, on the road, broke and having the time of your life. The hook has great gang vocals for a top-down sing-a-long and the energy of the recording session really shows on the track. It’s fun, poppy and a diesel track to add to any beach playlist.
