the next great thing

http://magicpie.smugmug.com/

Shot Topics

I’ve always had a fascination with Ron Galella. One of the original and certainly the most famous paparazzo. He had his jaw smashed by Brando was sued by Jackie Kennedy. Traveled the world in pursuit of Liz Taylor and had the grace to sign my copy of his book. Smash His Camera. A documentary. Release date. July 30th

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GOOD ALBUM CREEPY COVER

PART 1

Dennis Brown / Wolf & Leopards

a great album by the legendary crown prince of reggae but i must admit that as a child it gave me nightmares!

Film of the Day
60’s French Cinema wasn’t all about Godard and Truffaut. With all the hoopla surrounding these two titans of “new wave cinema” many a classy flick has fallen through the cracks One of these films is ‘classic tous risques’ a ripping study of a doomed criminal. Facing a death sentence he goes on the lam with his wife, kids and best mate. The wife and mate get popped by the police. He desperately reaches out to his old buddies in crime but quickly realises it’s every man for himself as they desperately make excuses as to why they can’t help him out. They decide to hire Jean Paul Belmondo (of Breathless fame) to help him escape and hence the real drama and vengeance ensues. Top draw movie.

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GOOD ALBUM CREEPY COVER

PART 2

The Billy Cobham George Duke Band / Live In Europe

george duke and billy cobham doing it live. cool. now what’s with the creepiest cover of all time guys?

Album of the Day

There was a time in the late nineties when it seemed like everyone was talking about that Esthero album. ‘Breath from Another’ and then the talk stopped… I guess peoples attention switched to the next great thing. Understandable. Well I want to inspire a revival cause I never really got over this album. It has continued to bang from my speakers over the years and it still get’s me humming and grooving as I go about my everyday business. It’s the ‘exile on main street’ of trip hop. No filler. Just classic jams for you to enjoy. What’s messing with that?!

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GOOD ALBUM CREEPY COVER

PART 2

My Morning Jacket / It Still Moves

I love this album but the cover creeps me out. I think it’s a me thing. I guess I have bear issues.

a healthy dose

http://magicpie.smugmug.com/

Shot Topics

Wow. Progress…

		First Black Politician Elected In Russia
	NOVOZAVIDOVO, Russia — People in this Russian town used to stare at Jean Gregoire Sagbo because they had never seen a black man. Now they…

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PROPA!

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Film of the Day

I’ve always had a soft spot for Harrison Ford. The ordinary guy faced with extraordinary circumstances. No one does it better than Ford (except maybe Denzel) I thought Blade Runner was ahead of its time when I saw it on bootleg oh so many years ago and It’s still head and shoulders above many of the sci-fi flicks that it’s influenced over the years. The special effects are riveting but it’s the concept that does it for me. Robots living amongst us, almost impossible to detect, a duplication so precise that at times even they can’t tell if they’re robot or human. I usually don’t have much time for sci-fi but I always try and make time for this eighties essential Blade Runner..

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PROPA!

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Album of the Day
I picked this compilation up for 3 pounds in London last year (actually it was Cambridge but close enough) and besides my old apartment that was in a prime Brooklyn location and rent stabilized it is arguably one of the best deals i’ve ever had. Mantronix was like the Timbaland of his day. His day being the mid eighties to early nineties with a brief comeback in the mid nineties. Mantronix. ‘that’s my beat’ is a compilation of some of his favorite tracks from his prime. If you like to kick it real old skool this is a healthy dose of the genesis of what we now call Hip- Hop. Yes indeed.

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PROPA!

shed some light

http://magicpie.smugmug.com/

Shot Topics

I was originally going to do something on the Matisse exhibition at the MOMA. Through my research I stumbled upon a Brazilian film festival showing at the MOMA. I gathered that everybody loves Matisse anyway so why not shed some light on one of my favorite topics. Brasil. (above photo) A collaboration between MOMA and the Rio de Janeiro international film festival this festival intends to shed light on up and coming film makers coming out of Brasil. All films shown will be New York Premiere’s and I’m proper excited. Come to think of it everybody loves Brasil so maybe I should have done the Matisse article instead. Too late now..

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Due to the fact that i’m a huge boxing fan and haven’t as yet made any reference to this on my blog I have decided to present a special collectors edition of PROPA!

(I must add that I decided to focus on heavyweights for this edition)

PROPA

Muhammad Ali

Simply The Greatest

Album of the Day

I was once at Narita Airport on my way back from Tokyo. Closer to the front of the line to board the plane I saw this group of young japanese girls giggling excitedly as they exchanged awkward broken English pleasantries with some guy wearing wraparound shades and a wife beater undershirt. I scoffed to myself. who’s this guy think he is, some kind of rock star?! As I approached the tunnel to board the plane I see the same guy yapping it up with the air stewardess. What! I smiled to myself. This guy really thinks he’s…As I edged closer my eyes widened and it dawned on me..That’s Anthony Kiedis. I shuffled by and yelled hey anthony. Californication. Classik album bro! He nodded politely and continued his conversation with the female air steward. I meant every word..

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PROPA

Joe Frazier

may well be my favorite boxer of all time. unfortunately fought in the same era as the dude above

Film Of The Day

This could be my favorite Pedro Almodovar movie. Certainly ‘Kika’ ranks up there. ‘Tie Me Up Tie Me Down’. ‘Talk To Her’ as well. ‘Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown’ was the first Almodovar film I ever saw. Part comedy part high drama. A television celebrity loses her man and hence loses her mind. That’s the basis but typical of Almodovar there’s a cavalry of characters and subplots twists and turns. Totally ambivalent to Hollywood with one of my favorite opening sequences ever. Hard to sell this film. You just gotta go see it I guess.

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PROPA

Jack Dempsey

sorry i couldn’t find a photo of him in a suit cause he was a legendary knock out artist in his day

celluloid puzzle

http://magicpie.smugmug.com/

Shot Topics

Wow! Duck Down records is fifteen years old and they just threw a show at BB Kings to celebrate. I feel officially old. I remember purchasing one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time ‘Enta Da Stage’ back when Duck Down was just Black Moon. How time Flies. Many Happy returns and i’m sure the best is still to come.

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Overrated Film Classics

pt1

ROMA

All you Fellini heads. Please. Stop trying to convince me!

Album of the Day
Back in the day me and my mates would attend the metalheadz drum and bass parties in Holborn London like it was a Saturday night religious service. ‘Metalheadz Platinum Breaks‘ is a collection of some of the best cuts from that era. Sure i’m feeling nostalgic but even if I wasnt me and I hadn’t experienced those legendary raves I would still be like. Yo! If you want to get to know drum n bass on a first name basis you need to get this album.

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Overrated Film Classics

pt 2

400 Blows

Come on. You and I both know he’s made way better movies.

Film of the Day

Seeing as I’m a big fan of the Rolling Stones. People kept suggesting this film to me cause “Jagger’s in it” A couple of years back I went and saw ‘performance‘ as part of this event celebrating the work of Nic Roeg. I found it too experimental. Couldn’t really get into it and dismissed it as a sixties art house experiment way too preoccupied with itself. Then somebody bought me the DVD (I really am a huge stones fan) One afternoon not much doing I gave it another try. It was still a sixties art house film preoccupied with itself except this time I knew what pieces of this celluloid puzzle went where and as the final credits rolled I thought to myself. This film is genius.

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Overrated Film Classics

pt3

Apocalypse Now

The only thing genius is Brando’s incoherent rambling.

get involved

http://magicpie.smugmug.com/

R.I.P SUGAR MINOTT

may 25th 1956 – july 10th 2010

I can truthfully say. I was raised on ‘sugar’

Shot Topics

I backed Brasil. Then I backed Germany, Then I backed Holland. Still, I feel Justice has been served. Spain were the better team on the day. Holland remain the greatest to never win it. The World Cup just ended and I miss it already. Brasil 2014 the countdown begins.

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STAYING TRUE TO FEEDBACK

My review of No Doubt’s ‘Tragic Kingdom’ album was met with more negative feedback than any prior review so in the spirit of staying true to feedback i thought I’d clear the air and list three more personal faves that many of my friends find repugnant.

ARTISTS I DIG THAT OTHERS DO NOT! PART 1

Rod Stewart

i know he had a dodgy haircut but he did write some great songs. and that voice!

Album of the Day
Illadelph Halflife is the album where the roots convinced a purist like myself that a band could rock the mic. I dug the first album but it was way laid back made me wanna spark the incense and meditate on life. This album hit me like a steel anvil (to quote a line) tracks like clones, concerto of a desperado, panic. Solidified their hip hop cred in my eyes. The album after this. ‘things fall apart’ is essential too but this is their apex for me. Jimmy Fallon is one lucky guy.

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ARTISTS I DIG THAT OTHERS DO NOT! PART 2

The Carpenters

great arrangements. great vocals. i’m a man of simple needs

Film of the Day
“You’re a big guy but you’re out of shape. With me it’s a full-time job. Now behave yourself”
Ask any Englishman about this movie and they’ll quote that line. An iconic line from an essential moment in this much loved British gangster flick of the seventies. Michael Caine’s brother gets murdered up north, so he leaves London and heads back to the streets of his childhood to find out what happened and who did it. The repercussions for those involved are enormous. When Michael Caine appeared on Charlie Rose he said ‘Get Carter’ was his best film. I agree.

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ARTISTS I DIG THAT OTHERS DO NOT! PART 3

Burt Bacharach

ignore the photo and get involved

definitely mixed emotions

http://magicpie.smugmug.com/

Shot Topics

Football may just be a game but the world cup is our four-year ritual and there will be a new name on the trophy come Sunday. Spain have been playing the more attractive football. The Dutch are the greatest nation to never win it. Definitely mixed emotions and just to add a little spice to the outcome. I have a player from my beloved Arsenal playing on either team. Fabregas for Spain and Van Persie for Holland. Oh yeah. I lost money on Germany…

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PROPA!

Minnie Riperton

Film of the Day
I wasn’t going to do a review of Taxi Driver. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a top flick but it’s not my favorite Marty Scorsese film nor is it my favorite Bobby De Niro flick either. My old mates back in london held it in such high esteem that it could never live up to the hype given. What happened is this. While I was channel surfing pondering whether I should do a review on Taxi Driver ‘Inside man’ suddenly appeared on my TV screen. Seeing Jodie Foster being so excellent in that movie made me view this mere coincidence as some kind of cosmic intervention prompting me to write this review. Great psycho drama with a brutally thrilling climax. Jodie Foster co – stars.

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PROPA!

Michael Caine

Album of the Day
It’s so much more than “that song” Tragic Kingdom is as good as it gets when it comes to sheer undiluted pop.. Introverted yet light-hearted It sold over 15 million records for a reason and like that other classic pop album Rumours (Fleetwood Mac) No Doubt created a gem of an album by shedding light on petty band squabbles and in fighting. I’m checking out the album cover right now and nope. Not one lame track.Even Abbey Road had one dud. the one with Ringo singing. Not that i’d ever compare No Doubt to the Beatles of course. Love the album though..

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PROPA!

Miles Davis

beauty in the mundane

Shot Topics

Come on! It’s worthy of a shot topic. He has a 100% record…

		Amazing Octopus Tries Another Successful World Cup Pick
	Paul, an octopus in Oberhausen, Germany, gained notice around the world last week by blowing away soccer fans with his wise World Cup picks. The…

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STAYING TRUE TO FOLLOWER FEEDBACK

In the days since my previous blog in which I decided to shed light on photographers that ‘ i just didn’t get’ I was inundated with feedback. Some agreeable others less so. I don’t want to come across as a hater therefore I have compiled a short list of photographers that totally do it for me. I stick to street / social photography for this segment because if I were to include my favorite music photographers, fashion photographers or war photographers etc we’d be here forever. I also wanted to add that I have in fact been to exhibits by those photographers that I dissed so i really did make an attempt to get to grips with their output unfortunately they still continued to suck after their respective exhibits.

PHOTOGRAPHERS THAT TURN ME ON PART 1

RENE BURRI

One of the greats. An incredible eye for composition and finding beauty in the mundane.

Film of the Day

Patrice Lumumba is trying to sort it. His country is shedding its colonial skin and headed to liberation. The kind of liberation where the big bad colonial puppet master. Keeps his anointed dictator on a short leash granting them freedom to pillage the citizens. Lumumba disrupts the status quo cause for some strange reason he actually wants freedom for the Congolese and despite the beatings and betrayal he strives toward creating an independent agenda for one of the richest countries in Africa. He’s eventually betrayed by those you’d expect as well those least expected. His life leading up to his inevitable demise makes this movie a worthwhile flick for a worthy cause

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PHOTOGRAPHERS THAT TURN ME ON PART 2

HELEN LEVITT

What can I say. Her influence is all over my work. There. I said it..

Album of the Day
Ask my mates about my taste in music. Some will say. “He ain’t a thug but he loves thug music” This will likely be a passing reference to my weakness for gangster rap. The more observant would likely know that this fact also applies to my other great thug love. ‘Punk Rock’ and if you ever want to get your mitts on an introductory audio manual to get you started you could do a lot worse than stealing a copy (sticking to my thug theme) of ‘whatever happened to’ We’ll get into Richard Hell, Xray Spex and The Buzzcocks another time. By the way. the image to your left is not the cover. In fact I couldn’t find the cover cause there seems to be no record of this album anywhere which I guess defeats the point of writing a review. Now if that aint punk rock I don’t know what is.

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PHOTOGRAPHERS THAT TURN ME ON PART 3

So British. So colorful. So witty. An eye like no other.

unsurpassed visuals

http://magicpie.smugmug.com/

Shot Topics

The New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) started June 25th. Definitely worth checking out if you want to expand your ‘film vocab’ here’s the trailer. It ends July 8th

A WELL KNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER I CAN’T GET EXCITED ABOUT!

Wolfgang Tilmans

Nah. Not my thing.

Film of the Day
When I said a couple of weeks back that ‘The Conformist’ was rated as one of the most beautiful films of all time. I wasn’t kidding. The arguably comes courtesy of this masterpiece from Mikhail Kalatozov. It was reissued in DVD format at the behest of Coppola and Scorsese. Four parallel stories marking the rise of the cuban revolution are the subject matter but the dazzling camera acrobatics almost steal the show from what is a heart wrenching, inspiring tale of a people rising up against corporate bureaucracy and giving their lives for what’s rightfully their’s. There is a famous scene that takes place during a funeral procession where the camera literally jumps off the building and flies through the sky defying gravity. This is way before CGI and computerized dolly movements etc. Incredible story. Unsurpassed visuals and you know what. It’s directed by the same guy who directed ‘The Cranes Are Flying’ which was one of my first reviews. Why do I get the feeling you haven’t got around to seeing that movie. You can make up for that misstep by checking out this cinematic spectacle.

ANOTHER  WELL KNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER I CANT GET EXCITED ABOUT!

Lee Friedlander

I know he’s a pioneer of documentary style photography and all that, but I just don’t get it.

Album of the Day

I have to pay homage to this album because it’s the album that made me sit up take notice of salsa music. Somebody gave me ‘Un Gran Dia En El Barrio by ‘The Spanish Harlem Orchestra’ back in 2002 and it inspired me to go out and do my research. I’ve since got into a few of the legends like Willie Colon and of course the late great Hector Lavoe. I’ve bulked up on my Fania collection but i’m no where near as knowledgeable or thorough as I want to be but i’m getting there. Anyway. These guys got me started and for that they get props on my blog all day. Really solid album. These guys are on top of their game.

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THE FINAL WELL KNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER THAT I CAN’T GET EXCITED ABOUT

Ryan Mcginley

I’ve tried.. Believe me