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Wango Tango, Baby!

Now normally I would not write so off topic, however, I felt compelled this afternoon. I have a handful of music sites that I check for news and updates. Today, while on Ultimate-Guitar.com I stumbled upon a true gem. Something that said, "ya know, Freedom isn't free!" It was the story of a young Brianna Curry who sadly is suffering from a brain tumor. However, through the Make-A-Wish foundation, she was able to meet one of the greatest Americans to ever grace this beautiful land. Who is this man? Well my friends, none other than the Motor City Madman himself, Mr. Ted Nugent. Apparently, Curry is going to spend four days with the Nuge, and she will get to be a part of his nature show down in Texas.

In all honesty, this is one of the best things I have read all year. I am, in fact, a self-admitted Ted Nugent fan. That man can play guitar and that's that. But I could not help but think about how this girl's family reacted when she said, "Yes, I would truly love to spend what could quite possibly be the last of my days with Ted Nugent." This is the same guy who once became a 17 year old Hawaiian girl's personal guardian in order to have sex with her. These colors obviously do not run.

TED NUGENT/MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION

Sometimes I summer in the Burg...

With one sibling living in, arguably, the hipster belly of the east coast, I only tend to make out there during the summer. I love going there to have my sister show new places to see shows, get tattoos, have a meal, or go thrifting. A dear friend of mine from high school started going to NYU two years ago. His first dorm was in Manhattan, then he moved to Chindatown, and finally he moved to the Burg over the summer. I began to notice with each month of him living in the Burg his clothes got a little tighter and his barely-beard status was more present with each week. I was annoyed and struck with admiration by his style, I can't lie. I saw it as obnoxious, yet encouraging to incorprate these trends into my own style. We were in bands together in high school, but we split up in college and each started separate projects. Nowadays, without a doubt, he looks like he is in a Burg band. Now the following clip does not share my own personal views on hipsterdom or the stereotypes that come with such a group, but I found it entertaining, so here ya go:

The !!! Dance

I feel it is past due that I take some time to highlight a certain man and his stage presence. Nic Offer is the lead singer for !!! or Chk Chk Chk. He was also the one of founding members of 1990's dance outfit, Out Hud. Offer's incredibly entertaining performances on stage round out the large ensemble that is !!!. Their shows are inevitable dance parties where even the stiffest hipster has to bust out some embarrassing dance moves. Myth Takes, their most recent release, is a polished synthesis of dance party, indie, and witty lyrical composition.

Check out these moves:








and if you have never heard their music:

Dark Was the Night

Going off of my recent Dirty Projectors obsession, I must shed some light on the newly released "Dark Was the Night" compilation. The Dessner brothers of the National joined forces with the Red Hot Organization who promotes HIV and AIDS awareness. Huge names are involved with the tracklisting of this album in cluding the following:

"THIS DISC"
"Knotty Pine" - Dirty Projectors and David Byrne – 2:23 (mp3)
"'Cello Song" (Nick Drake) - The Books featuring José González – 3:54
"Train Song" (Vashti Bunyan) - Feist and Ben Gibbard – 3:02
"Brackett, WI" - Bon Iver – 4:03
"Deep Blue Sea" - Grizzly Bear – 3:46
"So Far Around the Bend" - The National and Nico Muhly – 3:43
"Tightrope" - Yeasayer – 3:18
"Feeling Good" (Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse) - My Brightest Diamond – 3:54
"Dark Was the Night" (Blind Willie Johnson) - Kronos Quartet – 3:51
"I Was Young When I Left Home" (Bob Dylan) - Antony Hegarty with Bryce Dessner – 4:55
"Big Red Machine" - Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner – 4:39
"Sleepless" - The Decemberists – 7:54
"Stolen Houses (Die)" - Iron & Wine – 1:07
"Service Bell" - Grizzly Bear and Feist – 2:23
"You Are the Blood" (Castanets) - Sufjan Stevens – 10:14

"THAT DISC"
"Well-Alright" - Spoon – 2:46
"Lenin" - Arcade Fire – 4:06
"Mimizan" - Beirut – 2:43
"El Caporal" - My Morning Jacket – 3:33
"Inspiration Information" (Shuggie Otis) - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – 4:06
"With a Girl Like You" (The Troggs) - Dave Sitek – 3:27
"Blood Pt. 2" (Castanets) - Buck 65 Remix (featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti) – 3:36
"Hey, Snow White" (Destroyer) - The New Pornographers – 4:26
"Gentle Hour" (Snapper) - Yo La Tengo – 5:31
"Another Saturday" - Stuart Murdoch – 2:56
"Happiness" - Riceboy Sleeps – 8:37
"Amazing Grace" - Cat Power with Dirty Delta Blues – 3:34
"The Giant of Illinois" (The Handsome Family) - Andrew Bird – 4:45
"Lua" (Bright Eyes) - Conor Oberst with Gillian Welch – 5:54
"When the Road Runs Out" - Blonde Redhead with Devastations – 3:28
"Love Vs. Porn" - Kevin Drew – 3:57

This compilation is exceptional to say the least. The incessant acoustic guitar on the first track featuring David Byrne and Dirty Projectors is amazingly simple. While TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek does a tremendous job with his Trogg's cover. This album is truly a jem in the pile of releases from this year already. The album was recenlty performed in its entirety at Radio City Music Hall.

Arnold Palmer: Great American Hero

As quite possibly one of the best deals on the market today, Arizona Ice Tea 24 oz. beverages are convienent and satisfying. They're perfect for hangovers or just for casual companion during a meal. With such a wide array of flavors they have so much to offer and are consistent with their types of teas, lemonades, and juices. For me, the hands down winner is the Arnold Palmer series. With the mixture of half lemonade and half iced tea, they have truly come up with a winner. These drinks are available at most corner stores and thankfully for UML students, at the campus book store. The greatest thing about these drinks are their 99 cent price tags. How could you lose?

Top 3 favorite Flavors:

1. Arnold Palmer Half & Half Green Tea

2. Mucho Mango

3. Green Tea Red Apple

Get into it.

The Dirty Projectors

This is a band that initially I heard about and made an awful face because I thought their name was pretentious and that they probably were not that good. However, I was firmly mistaken. Dave Longstreth is one of the most ingenious arrangers and songwriters that I have heard in the last couple of years. Channeling some David Byrne is his quirky deliveries and vocal styling, Longstreth has made his band known with their compelling and versatile live performances.




The first time I realized how incredibly talented the Dirty Projectors are was when I saw the live video for the title track off of their album Rise Above. Their harmonies were frighteningly clear and their presence was subtle, yet intense. Longstreth along side Angel Deradoorian and Amber Coffman keep you listening with their offbeat rhythmic harmonies and delightfully contrasting vocal styles. Stillness is the Move EP has just recently come out as a prelude to their upcoming LP, Bitte Orca. The title track is something worth sitting down for. They are also touring with TV on the Radio this summer.