Category Archives: MUSIC

A Moment with Madge

Did you happen to catch the fleeting clip of Madonna’s new video Give Me All Your Luvin embedded into American Idol’s commercial break last night?  If not, the video is widely available online now.  It is rumored she’ll debut the track at the Super Bowl.  Thoughts?  The song was a bit of a throwback to her earlier work with a touch of Hollaback-girl era Stefani (a comparison Madge will loathe).Nicki left her attitude behind and brought her enthusiasm and tatas instead.  M.I.A. on the other hand looked a little ashamed to be there in a cheerleading uniform.  Some of us haven’t forgotten Toni Basil, okay.

Good wall walk sequence though. 

February 2012 Horoscopes

Aquarius

Happy Birthday Aquarius!  Neptune enters the scene this month for Aquarius, leaving you cloudy, burry, and seeing life through a Vaseline-coated lens.  This is not the month for communication, big decisions, or executing plans.  Seek a second opinion from a trusted expert if you must move ahead with major moments in February.  This phase of lapsed judgment will pass as the stars change, so don’t panic.  Stick to habits, routines, and grounding activities.  Your greatest moments of clarity will come from artistic expression, so put energy towards painting, sewing, dancing, or whatever your form of creativity.  The theme of your romantic life this month should be STFU.  Don’t whine and keep your feelings to yourself.  You will save yourself from a mountain full of unnecessary drama, and others will not only notice, but admire your silent suffering.

Pisces

Pisces turn inward this February and regroup with periods of peaceful isolation.  To move forward, Pisces must formulate a plan without distraction.  Money has never been of greater concern, and financial strategy becomes an essential part of charting the course ahead.  Get ultra organized, follow a schedule, and handle your bizness.  As you well know, time is passing quickly.  Do not let it pass you by.  As for love, inhibitions leave you uncommunicative, and you rightly sense a general lack of receptivity to your ideas.  If relations become too strained, take a break.

Aries

The theme for Aries in February is caretaking.  Take care of yourself, family, friends and animals.  Clean the house.  Bake a muffin.  Make others feel loved and important.  Push through daily goals.  Receive acknowledgments, praise, and recognition with tact.  In intimate relations, frustrated desires and obstacles trigger anger resulting in rash behavior and ultimately regret.  Control that fiery temper in the face of unavoidable conflict and confrontation.

Taurus

Taurus splits energy between two areas this February: spirituality and law.  First, the strictures and confines of traditional religion comfort Taurus, and now more than ever you may feel drawn to worship in the traditional sense.  Feel no shame in exploring this path further.  Legal matters take practical precedence.  Document drafting, financial planning, and future predictions mix together to make or break the venture.  Provide authentic and accurate information.

Gemini

Geminis always feel a bit put upon, like no one appreciates their gifts.  Give the constant quest for recognition a rest, and turn your energy towards your financial resources.  Are you allocating them wisely?  Tend to debts and everything you and your partner hold in common.  Speaking of partners, perplexing relationship issues seem clear to you now.  Geminis begin to understand their part and the part their honeys play in relationship breakdowns.  Patience, compassion, and kindness smooth rough patches.

Cancer

February continues a theme of balance and stability which extends throughout 2012.  To really feel heard, you need to share your troubles with those around you.  The wise advice of your confidants proves especially helpful and soothing.  Listen to your intuition and avoid involvements that feel uncomfortable.  This time you’ll get a second bite at the apple.  When on a pessimistic jag, Cancers can get a little me-against-the-world.  Don’t give into that self-pitying tendency.  Indulge it, and you’ll end up feeling overwhelmed and pressured.

Leo

Leos must balance practicality against romanticism and provide a generous allotment of time for both.  Professionally, get organized and maximize your contribution by remaining orderly and efficient.  Make deliberate and mindful decisions.  This is not the month to play therapist with troubled co-workers.  At most, help colleagues with new methods.  Play with puppies, ride horses, and walk the dog.  Now is the time for the joy of animals.  Leos fan the flames of romance this Valentine’s Day, and your effort is noticed and appreciated by the recipient of all your good woo.  Leos relax competitiveness, work to please and create harmony.  Someone will try and seduce you; only you can decide if you want to fuck.

Virgo

Spend energy showing others how much you care this February Virgo.  Repair any frayed relationship edges.  Put your own concerns aside and offer others sustenance and praise. You will receive great blessings for your generosity.  Unfortunately this February won’t be particularly romantic.  Discord plagues personal relationships.  Finding meaningful emotional connections proves challenging this month.  This fleeting phase will pass, so don’t overreact.  Closeness resumes between you and your partner as the stars change.  Allow this energy to pass without forcing any issues and all will return to normal soon.

Libra

Libras need to tie up loose ends in February.  Envision the end result and then consider how to methodically implement order and complete the unfinished.  Picturing goals accomplished conjures magic that will help Libras spin action into manifestation.  Remain patient.  Use talents for the benefit of others.  You will shine brightest when you share your resources.  Appreciation and positivity follows.  A beneficial opportunity may arise from an opportunity or contact.

Scorpio

Scorpios look to find their highest purpose and means of serving this year.  You must communicate values, ideals, and beliefs to shape your destiny.  Chat with neighbors, reach out to family, and keep the lines of communication open.  Honor responsibilities and commitments.  So few folks are reliable; take pride in your dependability.  Now more than ever, Scorpios crave love, affection, beauty and pleasure.  Impulse control might be a problem for Scorpios who haven’t learned to manage their baser instincts.  Lingering unhappiness in a close relationship surfaces now.  Discuss your concerns, make an effort and see what happens.  Short trips provide beneficial insights.

Sagittarius

Ambition surges through Sags in February.  This is a time to define and determine your values.  Give thoughtfully.  Surprise your loved ones with unexpected tokens of affection. These small gestures create indelible memories for the recipients.  Sags reap rewards when they let go of expectation.  Extra charming, your flirting boosts the confidence of those around you.  Those in your circle perceive you as loving, affectionate, and aware of their needs and feelings.  Because of your strong relationships, others are willing to help and cooperate with your trajectory.

Capricorn

Capricorns focus on health and creating a lifestyle which supports wellness.  With this new regimen of self-care, you will take on a new glow and even the Sun will shine a little brighter. Capricorns spin self-esteem out of accomplishment.  The New Moon brings old conflicts.  The easiest solution is to flee the scene.  Strange, cryptic, or unsettling moments are actually disguised compliments.  Unexpected friendly messages arrive from unlikely sources.  While you may not understand, listen.  Use honesty and share.  Avoid assumptions.

Coachella Crash Course Part Deux

CAT POWER personal favorite: You Are Free

GIRL TALKold standby: Feed the Animals

more recent: All Day

SANTIGOLDfresh for 2012: Master of My Make Believe

THE RAPTURE2003 classic: Echoes

2011 standout: In the Grace of Your Love

WILD FLAGdebut: Wild Flag

See You at Coachella Biatches!

Which of you persistent whores scored Coachella tickets?  If you succeeded, congratulations.  Both weekends sold out in 3 hours, with most of weekend one tickets snatched up during last year’s presale.  If you didn’t, no worries.  Demeter Clarc’s coverage will make you feel like you experienced the giant human stank that is Coachella first hand.With over 130 different musical acts scheduled to perform, only the most musically well-versed have familiarity with the entire roster.  For the rest of us who need a remedial, over the next few months we’ll explore the best of what the Coachella line-up has to offer.  Here’s the start of a cheat sheet to help you cram for your Coachella final in April.  Consider listening to the whole album out of respect for the effort as a complete work and (hopefully) a complete thought.

Artist: SBTRKT

Album: SBTRKT

Songs: Wildfire, Trials of the PastArtist:  Feist

Recent Album: Metals

Songs: Caught A Long Wind, How Come You Never Go ThereArtist: Beats Antique

Recent Albums: Blind Threshold, Elektrafone

Songs: Spiderbite, VardoArtist: EMA

Album: Past Life Martyred Saints

Songs: Breakfast, CaliforniaArtist: tUnE-yArDs

Album: w h o k i l l

Songs: Es-so, Powa

Sunday with Jenny Lewis

2 Portlandia

Thank heavens Portlandia returns tonight with new a brand new season.As many of you know, Fred and Carrie churn out one of the cleverest sketch shows on the scene.  For those who haven’t yet visited Portlandia, grab your bike, catch up and catch on. New and improved formula now includes chunks of Eddie Vedder.  Yum.

Oprah’s Awkward Next Chapter

Who watched the premiere of Oprah’s Next Chapter last night?  Oprah visited Steven Tyler at his Sunapee, New Hampshire home and more often than not it was awkward and uncomfortable.  First, Oprah showed up with two huge buckets full of hydrangeas “she cut herself from her garden,” as a totally random gift for the singer. Without their personal assistants to wrangle the flowers, Oprah and Steven dithered indecisively over where to set them down until eventually plopping them down next to a tree.In case you didn’t know, Steven Tyler randomly bursts into song without provocation.  Regular Oprah Winfrey Show watchers remember how embarrassing Oprah gets in the midst of live music.  The two of them together made for some weird moments over the first hour.  Tyler intermittently released guttural screeches, and in response Oprah froze in an uncomfortable smile, not sure of whether to do her usual pretend lip synch routine, laugh, or gaze on in admiration.   Even though it was laced with uneasiness, we learned a few things about Steven Tyler from the interview.  He believes the rest of Aerosmith envies him – a phenomenon his describes as LSD – Lead Singer Disorder.  Tyler literally thinks he’s magic and proclaims he always knew he would be a famous rockstar, informing his mother of the fact as a child.  In a nutshell, he totally buys into his own delusions of grandeur.  As Steven pontificated on his many gifts, a wash of recognition came over Oprah as she realized he sounded like a self-aggrandizing asshole.  Did the queen of self-reflection consider whether she came off equally as pompous when talking about herself?  This remains to be seen.  Later in the interview, during a ride in his antique car, Steven clasped Oprah’s hand and said, “I’m so lonely in life.  I have no friends like you.  I’m alone.  I’m alone.”  Oprah responded, “Now you’re not, cause now we will be friends.”  How can you be friends with a self-important, insufferable asshole who believes musical talent and a lot of good luck makes you a superior species?  And I say that with a total fondness for the delightful kooky genius that is Steven Tyler. During the last twenty minutes of the 2 hour program, Tyler’s new fiancé Erin Brady joined the interview.  In an unexpected turn, I kinda like her.Industry gossips say Oprah and the pockets behind the struggling network were hoping Next Chapter would improve the ratings and begin to turn things around at OWN.  While the interviews may perform decently in the ratings, this is not Oprah at her best.  And I don’t think I’m the first to wonder if much like Madonna, her best days are done. 

Sunday with the 12 Days of Christmas

12 Drummers Drumming

11 Pipers Piping10 Lords a-Leaping

9 Ladies Dancing

8 Maids a-Milking

7 Swans a-Swimming6 Geese a-laying

5 Golden Rings

4 Calling Birds3 French Hens2 Turtle Dovesand a partridge in a pear tree.

 

Sunday with Jimi Hendrix