on constant rotation

http://magicpie.smugmug.com/

Shot Topics

Yeah it’s in Connecticut but a solo exhibit by this guy is well overdue. To be honest I can’t believe that this is KAWS first solo museum exhibit. I mean he always seems to be jetting around the world collaborating and creating. I just assumed that he was on constant rotation hanging on hooks from London to Shanghai and back again. I guess I’m not as big a fan as I claim to be, just kidding. I love this guy I’m just not sure how I’d get to Connecticut. He’ll be at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum… Connecticut. June 27 2010 – June 2nd 2011

indecipherable things that i dig

part 1

Gimme Shelter, The Rolling Stones

Simply the greatest rock n roll song of all time and I don’t have a clue what he’s singing about

Album of the Day

I wasn’t really into Nina Simone when I was a kid. my sister would play her albums and I found her voice to be too raw and engaging. It wasn’t warm and cozy like the Diana Ross’s or Anita Bakers that I grew up with. Sad to say it took a Hollywood movie to reignite my interest. ‘The Assassin’ (a very decent remake of the Luc Besson classic Nikita) stars Bridget Fonda as the main protagonist. Throughout the movie she displays a healthy obsession for Nina Simone reigniting my interest and prompting me to invest in her back catalogue. I know…Pathetic. I put a spell on you Is my favorite album of hers.

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indecipherable things that i dig

part 2

Commes Des Garcons

I love Rei Kawakubo. I just can’t quite fathom why

Film of the Day

Lola’s boyfriend has got himself in over his head with some heavy dudes. She has thirty minutes to get him some dough or he’ll be forced to rob the local supermarket and who knows what might happen if that situation occurs. Well, we know what might happen cause this flick gives us three different scenario’s. High adrenaline and original in concept this movie is a breathtaking foreign indie classic.

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indecipherable things that i dig

part 3

Bullitt

Steve McQueen at his iconic best. The classic car chase. The puzzling screenplay.

prime ear space

http://magicpie.smugmug.com/

Shot Topics

Ok. Lets take a break from the world cup for a hot second and focus on a worthy exhibit. After all this is a photography blog right?

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M A Y   2 1  –  S E P T E M B E R   1 2,   2 0 1 0
For All the World to See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights explores the historic role of visual culture in shaping, influencing, and transforming the fight for racial equality and justice in the United States from the late 1940s to the mid 1970s. This exhibition of 230 photographs, objects and clips from television and film looks at the extent to which the rise of the modern civil rights movement paralleled the birth of television and the popularity of picture magazines and other forms of visual mass media.

Guest curator Maurice Berger examines the role that visual culture played in the civil rights movement in changing prevailing ideas about race in America.

Propa!

Phyllis Hyman

Album of the Day

The year this album came out I remember heading to Paris, then on to London and having this CD in constant rotation. It felt crisp, modern and progressive. It was self involved and French, but good French.(They’ve always had a knack for riveting dance grooves). I felt like a participant in some kind of cool underground lounge movement. Kid A was released a few months after and raised the stakes  but Tempovision has fond memories for me and it still gets prime ear space to this day.

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Propa!

Marvin Gaye

Film of the Day

For some bizarre reason out of sight seemed to fly under the radar of movie goers when it was released but it contains some of the best performances by all involved. George Clooney has never put in a better performance than his portrayal of a petty bank thief. Don Cheadle is real gangster in his portrayal of a well… Gangster.  It’s J.Lo’s best performance by far. Ving Rhames steps it up a notch as a conflicted crook and Steve Van Zandt steals the show. Has Sodenbergh made a better movie since? Okay. Traffic. but with the exception of Traffic what has he done to top this? It’s worth a revisit.

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Propa!

Bonnie and Clyde

a very important record

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Shot Topics

I was surprised to learn that the two greatest players of all time have been feuding for years. At first I found this news upsetting but after some research i have to say. the back and forth between Maradona and Pele is actually kinda funny full of petty remarks and even homophobic baiting. Here’s a few quotes for ya.

Pele: “Socrates, Rivelino, Romario, Tostao (fellow legendary Brasilian players) If Maradona wants to talk to Pele, he has to speak to them first.”

Maradona: “They are judging me for the 12 years I played in Europe, something Pele did not do. Lets be serious. Don’t compare me to him anymore.”

Pele: “We’re not great friends but I admire him, if he thinks he’s the best player of the century that’s his problem.”

Maradona: “What do you want me to say. He lost his virginity to a man”

STAYING TRUE TO FEEDBACK SECTION

My nephew has been hounding me to do another podcast. I didn’t really feel like doing one cause my mic is playing up but I got mad love for my nephew therefore… Nathan.. Here’s the link to my new podcast.. http://c2live.podbean.com/

this segment is entitled. things I never witnessed that family members won’t let me forget

part 1

James Brown live

I have an uncle that always talks about seeing “James in his prime” it was a sight to behold etc. Enough!

Film of the Day
Coffy is one of my desert island discs. I could watch this movie again and again and stay entertained. Pam Grier is sick and tired of these turkeys jivin for ‘the man’ and when her sister gets killed she goes all out for retribution. Plotting her way through the underbelly of society. Pimps politicians and hoe’s all fall victim to her charms as she wields her sexuality, smarts and firepower to get justice. As if that’s not enough, Roy Ayers did the soundtrack. Come on!!

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things I never witnessed that family members won’t let me forget

part 2

Brasil 1970

I know it was the greatest team ever to play at the world cup but is it my fault that I’m too young to have witnessed it. My older brothers seem to think so.

Album of the Day

Once I was doing a weekly DJ set at a venue in midtown Manhattan. For some reason one of my turntables just stopped working halfway through my set. No warning, nothing just blam. That’s it. over. I still had 90 minutes of my set left and not wanting to forfeit a hard-earned check I simply slipped on this album played it from beginning to end while I worked on fixing my faulty technica. Nobody even noticed. Could it have been (A) they weren’t paying any attention to my set in the first place and couldn’t really tell the difference when I put this record on or (B) this record is chockfull of back to back classic tunes that they just assumed that I was bustin my ass behind the decks. I go for the latter. 100% dynamite shed’s light on a few tracks that expand on the notion of what reggae is. there’s also a 200%, 300% so on and so forth. This is a very important record…

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things I never witnessed that family members won’t let me forget

part 3

Bob Marley live at the Rainbow

I grew up just down the road from this venue but I was way too young to witness this legendary performance. quite a few of my relatives were in attendance that night. I know this because they never shut up about it!

then all of a sudden

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Shot Topics

Chile are my “dark horse” to go far in this tournament. looking good!

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greatest teams to never win the world cup pt 1

Holland 1978

Film of The Day

You probably noticed I have a fondness for seventies Yakuza flicks. I love them cause they’re totally unapologetic for what they are, what they represent. sex, violence, male bonding and of course snazzy outfits. Kinda like the life I had back in my London days. Yakuza Graveyard is directed by the great Kinji Fukasaku and has the greatest fight scene of all time when out anti hero Tetsuya Watari gets into it with an honorable yakuza at a gangster banquet. Well it’s definitely in my top five fight sequences. Definitely the fight scene between Roddy Piper and Keith David in ‘They Live’ ranks up there and I’ve always loved the fight scene with Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte in 48 hours too. Getting back on track. Yep. Yakuza papers is essential viewing.

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Greatest teams to never win the world cup pt 2

Brasil 1982

Album of the Day
Kala is one of those albums that you listen to and immediately like half the tracks and dismiss the rest as garbage. Then you end up playing the tracks you like to death, forcing you to listen to the tracks you hated. Then all of a sudden you get to love those tracks too. You sit back and think wow. This is a great album. My mates in London view M.I.A as a lightweight opportunist who jumped on the bhangra / grime movement coming out of the UK and really don’t get why she’s so popular here in the U.S. Me..I just dig the tunes dude….

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greatest teams to never win the world cup pt 3

Spain 2010?

it’s all good

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SHOT TOPICS

(AKA REALLY DESPICABLE BEHAVIOR)

England 1 USA 1

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Album of the Day

I cannot really single out an album recommendation for this guy. Those of you who got into Fela via the broadway spectacle all I can say is. it’s all good. you just need to go through his discography and find your personal faves. Those like me who were raised on Fela have already scrolled past this review. They know what the world is just beginning to realize.

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DESPICABLE BEHAVIOR

		Anna Wintour Protests New Jamaican Restaurant
	We never thought Anna Wintour loved eating, but it turns out she’s really opposed to Jamaican food. Such was evidenced by her relentless rallying against…

Film of the Day

His first film Bottle Rocket was an introduction to the specific brand of Wes Anderson. Regular guys over achieving. Male rivalry. Dead pan humor. It’s all there but its Rushmore that gave us the quirky aesthetic that he’s known and loved for. My real Wes Anderson afficianados defend this film as the best of his career. Personally I’m a bigger fan of The Royal Tenenbaums but what you gonna do. When the dust has settled the fact remains that Rushmore deserves its props as an indie classic.

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KINDA DESPICABLE BEHAVIOR

		PHOTOS: Lady Gaga Flips Off Cameras, Drinks Beer At Mets Game
	Lady Gaga was less than ladylike at the Mets vs. Padres game in New York on Thursday. She spent much of the time flipping off…

been there done that

http://magicpie.smugmug.com/

Shot Topics

Happy Birthday Breathless. you are officially 50 years old! I haven’t as yet written a review on you partly because I’m obsessive compulsive and I have to do my reviews in the exact order that I arranged them, but if I were really being truthful I would have to say that I have way too much to say about how terrific you are. Jump cuts, Jean Paul Belmondo, Jean Seberg, Parisian chic, cops n robbers, jazz soundtrack, guns and girls suits n boots,Jean Luc Godard more jump cuts and on and on and on and on..

PHOTO OF SERGE PART 1

Album Of The Day

Quite a few years ago I spotted a photo of Serge Gainsbourg in a book. I remember him having a cane, sitting on a stool and this tall statuesque model was standing beside him. For some reason i was mesmerized by this photo. The next day I went out and bought the first serge gainsbourg album I could get my hands on. It was an album of him doing French cabaret cover songs. Utter garbage! I gave it one listen and that was that. years later I was at my mates place in Bedstuy discussing music and what not. after a heavy discussion on Earth Wind & Fire he started talking about Serge. I was like. Nah. Been there done that. his stuff is wack. He gave me a sideways glance and handed me this album. ‘histoire de melody nelson‘  Hypnotic from start to finish. It was sexy, funky, everything I expected from my first Serge Gainsbourg excursion. He finally got to live up to that photo. Great album.

PHOTO OF SERGE PART 2

Film of the Day

Gangster number 1 is as slick a gangster flick as you’ll ever see. Decent story to boot. Paul Bettany lusts for power as he pays his dues as a henchman for David Thewlis who’s the head of the firm. Seeing a kink in his armor (a female) he makes his play by setting him up for a beating and then torturing and murdering the culprit behind this dastardly deed. This elevates his status and he becomes gangster numero uno. David Thewlis gets out the nick. Paul Bettany who by now has transformed into Malcolm Mcdowell thinks he wants revenge and doesn’t get why he doesn’t want to put two to the back of his head for what he’s done to him. That pretty much sums it up. Proper

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PHOTO OF SERGE PART3

that good stuff

http://magicpie.smugmug.com/

SHOT TOPICS

When I was a kid I was invited to a day out at Highbury football stadium, home of my beloved Arsenal football club. The stadium was empty but they allowed us to kick penalties, have a kick around with a few of the players and all of that good stuff. It was the closest that I ever came to actually playing professional football at a soccer stadium which was a childhood dream of mine. Zidane: A twentieth century portrait at B.A.M. cinema definitely placed me closer to the action than that unforgettable childhood experience, by placing numerous cameras on the master, and with an imaginative manipulation of sound, these film makers bring you the intensity, concentration and focus that many observers take for granted when watching a game of footie. Definitely one for the real enthusiast but worth the admission if like me you once followed this great player’s career.

I USED TO KINDA DIG YOUR WORK…. BUT NOW I’M GOING OFF YA

M.I.A

Film of the Day

This masterpiece from Bernardo Bertolucci is often hailed as the most beautiful film of all time. Thinking bold statement well that probably means you haven’t seen it. Our main protagonist is targeted by a fascist organization to lead a deadly mission in france. In doing so his past catches up with him and things go a bit pear-shaped (as we say in London) Vittorio Storaro’s cinematography has inspired a legion of film makers ever since. The Conformist. Essential my friend…

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I USED TO DIG YOUR WORK…. BUT NOW I’M GOING OFF YA

THE WHITE STRIPES

Album of the Day

I’m a huge fan of Nick Drake. Something about his smoky morbid vocals do it for me. His songs are real melodic and have a childlike quality but there’s always that element of sadness. For me folk music is like French music. I don’t listen to a lot of it but when it’s good it’s really good. Then again I’m not sure if I’d classify Nick’s work as folk, maybe soul is a more appropriate description, forget the labels just enjoy! This is my favorite album of his. He committed suicide five years after recording it.

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I USED TO REALLY DIG YOUR WORK…. BUT NOW I’M GOING OFF YA

MARTIN SCORSESE

held together by faith

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Shot Topics

“If you want to be famous you have to be worse at something than everyone else in the world”

I love that quote and i’ve always been drawn to his work. He’s the dirty old man of Kyov Czechslovakia. Miroslav Tichy. A man who stubled upon fame when his neighbor found his images and became his first collector. Using a handheld camera held together by faith he documented his obsession with the female form. His wonderfully distorted images create a ghostlike facade enhancing the voyeuristic nature of the material. His punk rock attitude leaves a lot to be admired and i’m a disciple.

MUSIC THAT MAKES ME SWEAT

Now that the heat is on. i just wanted to shed some light on three songs that for some reason always make me feel a few degrees hotter than normal. (Kinda like my photo up top)Maybe it’s the arrangements. Could be the vocals. Perhaps it’s the bassline. I can’t quite pinpoint it but there’s definitely some kind of chemical reaction that takes place when I wrap my ears around these gems. Listen with caution.

dollars and cents / radiohead

This song is so percussion heavy, melodic and just plain genius that it makes you wanna leave the scarf at home.

Film Of The Day

Seen this film a few times and still not quite sure what it’s about but if you want  a slice of whatever London was serving when it was the epicenter of sixties fashion you better feast your eyes on this iconic flick by the late great Antonioni.

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iggy iggy / augustus pablo

that harmonica is the sound of mid summer kingston jamaica. it’ll definitely make you perspire but it’s worth it.

Album of the Day

The Clipse second album found them in rare form. Under the watchful eye of the neptunes this Virginia duo threw their soul behind this sophomore effort after a four year hiatus. It turned out to be worth the wait. This is their finest hour. Freaky coke filled rhymes. Intertwined with dope ass beats. It was destined to be a classic and it is.

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mirage / santana

i feel like i’m in a moroccan bazaar whenever i hear this classic. pass me the water!