Los Angeles, Be Kind

Scott Hutchison lives in LA now. Did you know that? Why does this feel so important? Maybe because I actually think he's the wittiest person alive. Or because, like me, he feels in a kind of limbo between isolated, overcast coastlines and sunny hills. Somewhere between Hollywood and Hollyrood. 

His new project, Owl John-- which he says he hopes will appeal to people "who hate Frightened Rabbit"-- is my favorite album of the year. Of course, I don't hate FR. I would love any project of Scott's.

The last month or so has been testing the seams of the life I've sewn together here. They were always loose stitches and I wasn't sure the center would hold a few of those days. I have asked Los Angeles to be kind. And the world in general. I've felt sad about a lot, in a way I haven't done in a while. As you may have noticed, I haven't been writing much.

Luckily for me (and for you) Scott has been writing for me. 

Get Owl John. It's out now.

PS- Scott, now that you're here, let's be friends. For realz.

Such a villainous grace
Oh I don't know what you've done to your face
Some nights I can't figure out quite where your heart is

Oh Los Angeles, be kind
No more trouble or red lights
I can learn to love you in good time
Oh Los Angeles, be kind

On approaching another new year....

In Los Angeles
Sometimes I forget about poetry.

I forget that it exists even still, though I've ceased to believe in it that day--
that beauty of the mind made manifest.

But still, I reason, not carnal, 
not incarnated; not flesh.

Instead, I quest ahead to live in my flesh in Los Angeles
and bask in the tangible sunlight there.

Wholly in my body, my mind is finally free to flutter away 
at last.

So then, I wonder
how on Earth might I have misplaced poetry?

Tori Amos & The Light Princess at the National Theatre London

Of all the new musicals I've been eagerly awaiting this past year, London-premiering "The Light Princess" is the one I'm kicking myself I'll miss. With music by Tori Amos and based on Scottish Fairytale by George MacDonald, it basically has the potential to be perfect.

As produced by the National Theatre, I'm not sure it is though. 

There are already some interesting similarities between the storyline and The Little Mermaid-- and I don't just mean a red-headed heroine. But one thing I'm sure all theatre-goers can agree on is that no show should share production design with The Little Mermaid. Especially not this one. It, like TLM, seems to vacillate between up-scale ethereal, and plastic toy cartoon. For the record, I think the first is the way to go. See above. And the lowest photo below. 

It's interesting because Tori's aesthetic is pretty much perfect. But then again, knowing personally how little control most musical theatre writers have over design elements, I suppose it's not surprising she'd lose at least a few creative battles. 

 Anyone have a bootleg? I'd kill to hear some of this.

Music Monday - The Other Guys - St Andrean Skies

Favorites The Other Guys perform the original commission by Oscar Foxley for St Andrews 600th Anniversary, "St Andrean Skies." 

I was never a fresher, or an undergrad at St Andrews at all, but I remember those first few lit-on-fire days there. The wind whipped up every possibility I'd ever considered for myself. I remember my friends, knocking on my door, calling me out from within myself, to new places. I remember frolicking on steep hillside slopes with my hair blowing everywhere, my wellies sinking in the sand, beneath a huge Northern moon and ripped open, flood lit, St Andrean skies. Even at midnight. Even in Autumn. You could see everything. And nothing.

I often wonder if I'll ever have a year as happy as that. But the seeds of that time continue to crop up every day. Even here in Los Angeles. 

What I'd give to relive the days spent 'neath those St Andrean skies...

Music Monday - Frightened Rabbit - Late March Death March EP

One of my favorite anecdotes from the Frightened Rabbit concert back in March was Scott Hutchison's story of his 4 year old niece who, when asked what her favorite song of all time was, leaned in and whispered to her teacher [insert brogue] "Death... March."

It's also my favorite FRabbits song. Which is why I'm so glad they released an EP with an alternate version of the song. It almost sounds like this could be a CHVRCHES remix of the song (wink wink. That concert was fabulous btw.)

Unfortunately, said EP is not (yet) available for sale in the US, but you can listen to the alternate version below. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of the full EP to check out their collaboration with the full Manchester Orchestra. 

Hope you're having a great Monday!

CHVRCHES - GUN

New CHVRCHES? Yes, please and happy Tuesday. I cannot wait to see these guys again on Friday. I'm gonna get real Scottish on everyone. 

Music Monday - New Haviland - We Fly

So pretty. In every way. It might be my favorite yet! Hope you're having an awesome Monday! I am still decompressing from last night. More on that to come. 

In the meantime, We Fly with Haviland.
The story behind this song is so touching. In her own words:

A year ago today, my wonderful friend, artistic collaborator, and "spiritual advisor" as I called her, Janet Carroll, passed on. You all may know her from playing "every handsome movie star's mom," - including my fave, the crystal egg obsessed Mom of Tom Cruise in "Risky Business." My new song "We Fly" is very much inspired by her and how her light helped me to see myself. Honoring her today, and always.

Get it on tunes.

written by Haviland Stillwell, produced by Alex Tievy mixed by Mike Schlosser mastered by sonic house post photo by Sabrina Bringuier cover design by Heather Weiss 

Music Monday - The Twilight Sad

While Kade and I were at the Frightened Rabbit concert, we also got the chance to check out fellow Scottish rockers, The Twilight Sad. These boys are from Kilsyth, between Glasgow and Sterling and my previous knowledge of them consisted only of the fact that they participated in Scottish supergroup The Fruit Tree Foundation along with Idlewild, Frightened Rabbit, Alasdair Roberts and many others.

They definitely don't encompass the range of textures that FR does, but they certainly belong a Scottish mood that sometimes you just have to put yourself in if the world hasn't nudged you or slammed you there already. I mean pretty much every song they have is 5-7 minutes long. They're not afraid to wallow. 

I was digging this little Takeaway Concert from them on Vimeo. Other favorites are "Climbing Up the Walls," and "Here it Never Snowed. Afterwards it did." Hope you're having an awesome Monday. And if you're not, The Twilight Sad is probably the band for you. 

A Quote For Presidents' Day

Hi. I'm back. Happy Presidents' Day. I'll be more fully back later this week, but in the meantime, in the spirit of today, I wanted to post my favorite quote from Abraham Lincoln. It was always my favorite, but it took on a whole extra layer of emotion and meaning when it was uttered by Ben Whishaw, as Freddie Lyon, one of my all-time favorite television characters, in the Season 2 (and now what appears to be the series as a whole) finale of what might be my favorite television show of all time, The Hour. That episode stays with me still. If you haven't seen The Hour, please find a way to do so. 

And Lincoln, good on ya. Quite the premonition there, Uncle Abe.

“I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . . corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.”—U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 21, 1864 (letter to Col. William F. Elkins) 

This is the scene that immediately follows the Lincoln quote and ends the series. DON'T watch it until you've seen the whole thing. But please please watch this show. 

Today Sounds Like This - Solange - Losing You

So eighties. So awesome. Today was a lovely carefree day worthy of this. Get it, Solange. Also, live.
Also! Remember that one time when Solange was maybe gonna be in VOTE! ??? AHAHAHHA

Saturday Song - The Staves - Tongue Behind My Teeth

Enjoy today's Saturday song courtesy of London-based sister trio, The Staves. They remind me of The Wailin Jennys in more ways than one. (PS- I wish The Wailin Jennys still made albums. Their last new one was  at the end of 2011-- though its anybody's guess which members were involved. I can't keep up anymore.)  There's three of 'em. They're brunettes. They rock similar harmonies. 

I dig these Staveley-Taylor sisters. I like the simple, but inventive visual storytelling in their videos. Check out their album, Dead & Born & Grown. And have a listen to "Tongue Behind My Teeth."

But I Have Been Privy To Something True...

I remember with utter clarity the moment Sophie first performed "Something Old, Something New" for me. She had just finished it, Mama Louise was consulting on the newest additions, and we were at Bamff in the Morning Room. Everything was cast in a kind of golden/pink light. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. It came to symbolize something. Something old and something new-- and all the "splendid times that would probably ensue." (And they did!) I beamed, still stunned and still wondering how I had fallen into this surreal crevice of people who seemed to be just embracing me all the time. And I remember thinking that I needed to pay attention to this moment because Sophie's album was going to be something so special. So unlike anything in contemporary song writing. 

Looking at the landscape of music during my lifetime, I have a hard time naming many, if any, lyricists who leave their guts on the table the way Sophie does. F. Scott Fitzgerald said that price you pay for doing first rate professional work is that you've got to "sell your heart." Sophie does that and somehow manages to keep it too. She is unflinching from the grief she's experienced. And even though I missed that darkest chapter in her life, when Fred was quickly and unexpectedly taken from her, I can't help but know -- because she has succeeded in conveying to me through song and soul-- the strange dark place she journeyed through.

In "Something Old, Something New," the vivid New York she experienced in the aftermath of Fred's death is perfectly etched, and we see the city as a perfect conduit to move her into the alternate version of her life without Fred. And the friends who would help her. The upside down bridal imagery is arresting. It breaks and eventually raises my heart to think of her re-imagining her wedding and her future. 

"Song I Never Wrote For You," was the first original song off the album I heard. And also, the last song I heard Sophie play live on my last day in Scotland. She was just wrapping up recording the album. I heard some not-quite mixed tracks. And on Dublin street, as I went through clothes to give away, her simple, pure piano version echoed down the hall to me as she played. I thought about Fred and I thought about Sophie and how I would miss this part of my life so dreadfully. No part of my American life is as simple, or bare, or uncomplicated, or earnest as any moment I spent with Sophie. Except for when I listen to her album from my house in Hollywood. 

Sophie Ramsay is a blessing to this or any life. Add her to yours. 

Abandoned Nevada

When I was growing up and my grandmother would drive me all over the deep south in search of all Gone with the Wind related historical sites of interest, I was always deeply and adolescently moved by abandoned buildings. Perhaps it was just the feeling of connection to a physical manifestation of all my abandonment issues. (!) I'm still drawn by that mood. How many posts have I done on abandoned buildings like theatres? Or this in Scotland? But when I was an angst-y adolescent, it was too big to be contained. I wanted to do a book of photographs with that feeling. 

Too bad I didn't know at age 10 that Sally Mann was already doing it way better than I ever could have. But, listen, Nevada holds its own on the ghost town front. From derelict boom towns to discarded neon graveyards, Nevada knows how to love 'em and leave 'em better any pretty much anybody. 

Buzzfeed did this nice (if a little bright) photo aggregate and I just keep going back to this haunting pic (above) my friend and fellow Nevada writer turned New York writer Foster Kamer posted on a recent trip back home. I like to look and just get the sad out. 

Home in Hollywood for the Holidays

Many of you have very kindly asked me about my new apartment and its on-going decorating. Well, I'm finally able to show you some of the lovely professional photos taken by Airbnb photographer Alex Staniloff. I'm still not 'done,' but I love my little place! 

It can be exciting (of course) moving all the time. But it's also melancholy and a little lonely. Nesting is the best part. Sharing it is the best part. 

Revisiting Twin Peaks & Sherilyn Fenn

Christmas seemed like an appropriate time to revisit Twin Peaks. In fact, ever since I've moved to LA, I've been revisiting the works of David Lynch. No one understands the deep creepiness of something like Christmas in Hollywood as much as David Lynch.

Not to mention, the odd presence of Sherilyn Fenn has entered my life and I couldn't resist going back to check it out. I'll elaborate. One of the projects I'm editing at one time had her in a starring role. Without saying too much (I'll let her do it) she's no longer associated with the project. But at least we have her blog to keep company. 

Please do yourself a favor and read this. Then go watch Twin Peaks. (Rewatching it, I was struck by how much Sherilyn Fenn resembles serious-face Ginnifer Goodwin. Also, how much more she resembles Liz Taylor than Lindsay Lohan.) Or if you're bored, come over to my house and I'll make you some boozey cider and do a dramatic reading of the piece. 

Poliça - "Give You The Ghost"

As I'm looking back over this year and making my Best Of lists, I realize I never talked about one of my favorite albums of the year. It will surely be on my Best of 2012 Albums list, but I thought I'd devote some proper space to it here. 

As Poliça, for all their European mood & sound, is a band from Minneapolis. Fronted by Channy Leaneagh-- part gamine, part enigma; depending on the light-- Poliça came together after her last  band died and has only been in existence for about two years. 

In that  time, they've managed to record "Give You The Ghost" an album as moody and ethereal as the name would suggest.(Or alienating-- in a good way-- as one reviewer coined. I'd agree. There is lot of distancing, refracted distortion and unapologetic use of autotune, not that we're not used to that by now.)  But Poliça (the name means policy in Polish) also has some authority to it. And the non-stop lap beats don't hurt. It's my favorite night driving album of the year. I didn't even really appreciate it until I got here. 

From their initial appeal in their hometown, followed by a pretty legendary SXSW showing, they've basically been touring the US and Europe ever since. If I were still living in London, I'd go see them there in March. Or maybe I'd use it as an excuse for a trip to Paris. They're the perfect band to see on a winter Paris night. 

"Lay Your Cards Out" may or may not be my favorite song on the album. It's hard to decide. But perhaps you've heard it. It's been making the rounds. Enjoy. 

RIP, Dave Brubeck

What could I ever say about Dave Brubeck that "To Hope!" doesn't tell you? Or "Take Five?" Nothing I could say could duplicate, convey, or explain those feelings (and many many more) so let's just listen in honor the great man, Mr. Dave Brubeck. 

If I still lived in New York, I'd put on "Take Five" and wander through Rockfeller Center. Something about Dave always made me think of New York during the holidays. 

Heavyweight - Rachael Yamagata

Rachael Yamagata is an artist I'm a bit ashamed to say I forgot about. I was a huge fan of her 2004 album, Happenstance, but in my mind, other than a few duets with folks I like, and this baller album she did with KCRW in 2005, she wasn't really putting out any new music. Not so. Whoops. 

With the release of her newest album, and her busting back onto my radar in a major way, I did some looking into my old musical friend, and turns out I missed albums in 2008 (Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart) and 2011 (Crowd funded Chesapeake). Again, whoops. 

But Heavyweight. What a beautiful EP. Same earthy, sensual sound. Her voice, still like smoke slowly rolling out of a bottle. Same deliberate, if pregnantly pausing piano. I'm personally loving Falling In Love Again and It'll Do. 
She's in New York this week. 

Cloud Chaos & Sky Smearing with Matt Molloy

It's such a beautiful day outside today, it seemed like the perfect time to post these romantic and soulful  time lapse photos from Matt Molloy. 

I learned about him via My Modern Met and have been scrolling through his flickr ever since. The Ontario based artist uses hundreds of stacked photos to achieve the affect. I'd say it's working. SO dreamy. I want to hang that cloud and birds one in my house, man. Hope you're having a beautiful Saturday! 

If you're craving more, here's an interview with the artist. And you can buy his work here. 

Thanksgiving Leftover Links

Wow, have I been lazy today! After the 5 hours I spent in traffic yesterday, I have wanted to just stay still. So other than our doggie jogs last night and this morning, the last 24 hours have mostly been about me and Ghost the puppy (part Corgi, part Doberman) cuddling and watching the entire oeuvre of the Brat Pack. Next, we're onto Misery. 

In the mean time, I've been pretending like I'm able to shop. If so, here are some things that'd be on my list. 

- Richard Saja Frankentoile. I die. 
- Even though it's still warm, this fluffy Manhattan throw.
- Pretty.  
- My Ideal Bookshelf. For Obvious Reasons. 
- I'd totally shop this. 

Plus, bonus links:
- Pretty, small spaces
- I think I need to paint my living room. Farrow & Ball's Borrowed Light is the prime suspect.
- LACMA's Kubrick exhibition