To commemorate the premiere of Project Runway’s fourth season — which I won’t be watching. I know, can you believe it? I adored this show so much, but I’m really sick of the overwhelming professional element pervading the series. If someone has a job for Ralph Lauren or whatever, do they really need this kind of show? I’m willing to wager PR’s shift towards professionalism (the never-forget child of the 90’s screams “SELL OUT!” inside of me) was the direct result of everything that ensued following Jay’s win and whatnot. So here’s a throwback to days when the winners weren’t seasoned industry insiders and, well, more closely resembling loose cannons — like every great designer should be:

Plus, how can you not love the early 90’s house keyboard? I’m thinking of making that my ringtone, just so that I can vogue all day long.

P.S. Jay McCarroll I freaking love you. Can’t wait for your QVC deal!

I support the Writer’s Strike.

In the process of cleaning up some of my record collection last week, I stumbled upon the self-titled Sea Saw album — Trevor Kampmann’s keyboard-rich, lo-fi-laden pop project from the 1990’s. My mind wandered, late-night Googling ensued; now here I am with HollAND’s new album, Love Fluxus (Teenbeat), blasting out of the stereo.

Several cousins removed from the explicit nature of 1997’s Your Orgasm (the 2 Live Crew of indiepop, if such a thing can be said), and working in a similar tangent as the political The Paris Hilton Mujihadeen (released earlier this year), Love Fluxus is an infecting mixture of love’s many-splendored refractive nature.

Love and war are problematic, but it’s the flaws which make both of them so damn arresting and worthy of revisitation. With “Anorexic Colt Herd” Kampmann collapses the two on top of each other, bouncing fragmented lyrics against equally barbed guitars. (Close listens revealed the slight creak of hands running over the strings, especially in the opening riffs; it’s the kind of small moment which makes me hit repeat. And repeat. And repeat.) At the choruses there’s a remarked airiness, juxtaposed with the song’s characters fleeing from bombs, leading back to that arresting, visceral sensation.

Buy: Teenbeat or iTunes
(Hey TB, you should release this on LP!)

Really, what else are you going to do? Attend some lame ass hipster DJ party? Go to a bar? Allow me to remind you who made who — or more specifically, who made Y-O-U: Pylon. This group of Athen folks put out some amazingly gutwrenching but thoroughly danceable rock post-punk back in the tail end of the 1970’s (and onward). A band so great, R.E.M. covered them. Every person that’s passed through the doors of a Making Time is totally indebted to this group, in some shape or form. DFA Records has kindly reissued Gyrate very recently. It’s definitely worth owning.

I caught Pylon at the Music Hall of Williamsburg yesterday, mainly because last night’s bill was pretty much unfuckingbeatable — Pylon, Oxford Collapse, and Hugo Burnham from Gang of 4 as the night’s DJ. (Not that Saturday’s gig in Philly is lame; this was just better.)

I’m quite hesitant to attend reunion shows for a variety of reasons, but the main one being that a lot of reunited bands can’t resurrect the ghost of former glory. Last night though, I have a strong feeling I was sucked back into 1978. The band was tiiiiiiight! Vanessa sounds amazing. That voice. Oh my god, that voice. It was so worth it that I didn’t even notice they had played such a long set. And to the crowd, bless you my dear children, for dancing along. It was one big happening of freaking the fuck out.

The only crappy part is that it’s going down at World Cafe Live, which is probably my second-to-last least favorite venue in this city. At least MHW/Old Northsix’s industrial space made a nice match for jagged nature of Pylon’s material. Anyway, guess we’ll have to suck it up and get Cosi with Pylon. MOTHERFUCKING PYLON. PYLON!!!Q!!!!! Can’t you see how psyched I am to see them again?

SAT 11/10, Pylon at World Cafe Live, with DJ Shawn Ryan (of Hurrah) »

P.S. Beth Ditto — Vanessa Briscoe-Hays called and she wants her style back. F’reals.

L.A. friends, I’m looking at you. These are only available in-store. Hook a lady up!

while you were chilling
and going to dance parties,
guess what has happened?

THERE IS A BREW PUB
YOGA STUDIO, AND A
COFFEE SHOP! HELLO!

brew pub’s been open
for weeks and nobody’s smashed
the damn windows yet

like when trader joes
got a garbage compactor
and no one broke it

and what’s up with the
snot-nosed hipster fucks coming,
like they think they’re cool?

organization -
it’s not like rocket science,
it’s really easy!

get political,
take charge of the neighborhood,
or move the fuck out.

I’m still bummed no one has taken this to the next level with other poetic formats. I tried a cinquain!

OMG John is so young and cute in this video. Thanks for putting this up guys.

Granted, the city blew its wad with primary coverage, but the lack of information & news about tomorrow’s election is disturbing. Subtext be damned, tomorrow matters. There are some crucial elections for judicial positions and more. If we want to make this city move forward, paying attention counts.

The Committe of Seventy has plenty of information and links to check out — it’s a good start. Check out the CP’s post on this as well.

I don’t believe in telling you who to vote for but I think you should vote, whoever your candidates may be. In the immortal words of Dave P, “LET’S DO THIS PHILADELPHIA!!!!!”

Kudos to Pilam for pulling off a creative and financially ambitious event last night; a good time was had by all, including myself. As a radio person, I am quite comfortable DJing for no one. (Funny twist: the thing I struggled with in my early days of radio was the nebulousness of the medium.) The small crowd that was there seemed appreciative, so thanks for sticking it out. Here’s an incomplete, very loose recap of my playlist, completely out of order except for the first two songs:

AC/DC, “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution”
Girlschool, “Hit and Run”
The Rondelles, “Like A Prayer”
Outhud, “It’s For You”
Delta 5, “Mind Your Own Business”
Love Is All, “Kiss Kiss Kiss”
Tyvek, “Honda”
Yardbirds, “Puzzles”
B-52’s, “52 Girls”
Spoon, “Someone Something”
The Long Blondes, “Separated By Motorways” (12″ version)
Hi Beams, “Hyperactive”
Feelies, “High Road”
Pavement, “AT&T”
Royal Trux, “Delta 70 of Hearts”
Scrawl, “Green Beer”
ESG, “Moody”
Railroad Jerk, “Bang the Drum”
Pylon, “Feast On My Heart” (OMG they’re playing Philly THIS FRIDAY)
Let’s Active, “Every Word Means No”
Prinzhorn Dance School, “You Are The Space Invader”
Chandra, “Opposite”
Au Pairs, “We’re So Cool”
Lyn Collins, “Rock Me Again and Again and Again”
Gloria Jones, “Tainted Love”

Anyway, Murder Mystery were quite great in the sloppy indie rock way that a person like me could love. So if you like that kind of stuff too, check them out. The rest of the evening’s lineup was fantastic, too. Holy Ghost did a awesome job of mixing it up — as in, not playing all blog house (love this term!) — and their new single is worth picking up. Once Broadzilla nails their transitions, they will own this city. (LOL @ the non-beatmatching DJ of the night to be oh so critical.) Nice selection of deep disco cuts; I throughly enjoyed it! And Dave P brought the cocainesexjams, though was unfortunately cut short due to the arrival of Ye Olde Police.