song of the week: the ghost who walks

Karen Elson
"The Ghost Who Walks"
directed by Jack White

This is the perfect music to enjoy while sitting next to a fan and cooling off. Trust me, I'm doing it right now.

serge

"Mr. Iceberg"
Serge Gainsbourg
1979

I now have permission to not wear socks until the fall.

staying alive

I'm back. I promise. To make it up to you, here are five songs that I can't live without at the moment:

Hot Chip, "We Have Love"


Miami Horror, "Make You Mine" (Fred Falke Remix)


Hercules and Love Affair, "I Can't Wait"


Holy Ghost!, "Hold On"


Kid Cudi, "Enter Galatic (Love Connection Pt. 1)"

song of the week: one life stand

"One Life Stand"
Hot Chip
directed by Roel Wouters

The shoulder seesaw dance is the new Chicken Noodle Soup with the soda on the side.

song of the week: night by night

"Night by Night"
Chromeo
directed by Jeremie Rozan/Surface 2 Air

Midday dance party in an abandoned warehouse with multiple partners? YES, PLEASE!

song of the week: "heaven can wait"

"Heaven Can Wait"
Charlotte Gainsbourg feat. Beck
directed by Keith Schofield

More reason to love French women and Beck.

song of the week: "irm"

I've heard nothing but good things about Lars Von Trier's "Antichrist" from the brave who saw at the New York Film Festival. For whatever reason French actresses are especially astute at portraying quiet hysteria and beautiful madness (as evident by Isabelle Huppert's fantastic turn in Claire Denis's "White Material, a festival pick I saw and loved) and from what I hear, Charlotte Gainsbourg really goes for it and then some in Von Trier's brutal satire of liberal bourgeoisie and the horror of grief and loss. Gainsbourg has a new album due out early next year that already had my interest piqued with the news that it would be a largely collaborative effort between her and Beck, another fearless performer willing to explore new territories in his own continually spontaneous art. One of the first singles from the album is "IRM", French for MRI, is a curious source of inspiration. Gainsbourg was involved in a serious water skiing accident that caused her to endure six months of rehabilitation after a brain hemorrhage. The drone of MRI's is conveyed with the bouncy clash of mechanic sounding blips and kinks. It's groovy and yet part of a dark personal history. You can listen to the song here. I can't wait for her performance in "Antichrist" and the follow up to her phenomenal last album, "5:55."

last days pt. 1

I have not forgotten to express my undying jubilation about the recent Criterion Collection DVD release of Whit Stillman's genius take on youth and nightlife in "The Last Days of Disco." Although it happened over a month ago, my brain is still trying to compute that I met him and his muse, Chris Eigeman at the Lincoln Film Center screening timed with the release of the DVD. Once I'm able to fully put together my thoughts I'll of course share it with The Look-See. Until then, I've compiled my list of five songs that could have been on the already brilliant soundtrack. I can only imagine Charlotte and Alice awkwardly swaying off beat to these personal favorites:

"Dance Dance Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)
Chic


"Disco Nights"
GQ


"You Can't Turn Me Away"
Sylvia Striplin


"Wordy Rappinghood"
Tom Tom Club


"We Got the Funk"
Positive Force

song of the week: 90% of you

"90% of Me Is You"
Gwen McCrae
1974

Good stuff.

song of the week: "moments in love"

"Moments in Love"
Art of Noise
1984

soul man

Soul Train has its own YouTube channel. It's limited, but what's there is definitely worth a watch. This is how it's done.

"The Popcorn Dance"
1974


Stevie Wonder being a genius.
1973


Rick James geeked out of his mind.
1980


A mustached James Brown and a young Al Sharpton. How does it get better?
1974

the next big thing?

"Sea Within A Sea"
The Horrors
directed by Douglas Hart

I don't want to like this band, but it's so hard to resist. Damn them and their shoegazing and Joy Division appropriation. However, maybe my damnation should be aimed at Yves Saint Laurent for continuing the streak awesome music choices. I just hope they don't end up like The Libertines. Yeah, remember them?

"femme fatale"

Beck and the Record Club
"Femme Fatale" (Velvet Underground Cover)

Nico, who?

tribute: mj

That's how you wear a fucking tuxedo. Thanks Michael for doing you.

dancer in the dark

"At Home He's Tourist"
Gang of Four
1980
Does anyone know of any good summer concert series?

new romantic

"Ghosts"
Japan
Live on "The Old Grey Whistle Test"
1982

Yet another post-"Lost" treat. I think the best part of this is the fact that lead singer David Sylvian doesn't get up from his chair. If you were that cool, would you?

song of the week: ""love like a sunset"

I'm pretty susceptible to semi-indulgent instrumentals. Then again, the last time I saw Phoenix, I think indulgent was the order of the day.

age of consent

Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart
Adventureland
directed by Greg Mattola, 2009
I really, really, really wanted to like this movie, but don't you hate it when you watch a movie and its hip factor is poured on so thick it might as well cover some waffles rather than entertain and engage you? I will say Greg Mattola's "Adventureland" is slightly more nuanced than "Superbad", but with all of the Lou Reed obsessions, Husker Du concert tees on Kristen Stewart, and Yo La Tengo score, I couldn't help but wonder was this Mark Mothersbaugh-esque hipster catnip or simply a director with good taste? By the way, where can I find Mattola's first film, "Daytrippers" on DVD?

the band

Roxy Music
"Do the Strand"
1973

I was an hour late to a "Lost" viewing party because of the damned MTA, but I was treated to a DVD collection of live performances by Roxy Music to sooth my weary soul. Aside from the amazing performance and the incredible song, look at the clothes. It's as if everyone in the band decided to sartorially one up each other. Chest length double breasted lapels! Exposed chest hair! Sequins! Weird bulbous/spotted pants! Essentially, it all works and it's amazing. It's almost enough to make me forget how much the MTA sucks. Almost.

song of the week: heart rate rapid

"Heart Rate Rapid"
Metronomy
Directed by Dandilion Wind Opaine

Doesn't this look like the kind video Martin Margiela would make if he did music videos? It's a bit of a stretch, but you get it, right?