Greenberg

Noah Baumbach's latest venture comes out today. Greenberg appears to be simply the story about a man named Greenberg (played by a jaded Ben Stiller). He's a New Yorker who has moved to Los Angeles and dysfunction ensues. Probably a great casting with Stiller as no one plays the "guy who nothing goes right for" like him. Furthermore, comedians in serious roles almost always turn heads. The movie is almost as intriguing for the fact as the movie has a soundtrack/score by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem. The preview below has "All My Friends" playing throughout - it is easily one of the best songs of the 00's.

I will most likely drag Whit to see this, and awkwardness will ensue. Have you watched Noah Baumbach movies? You worry about the guy's upbringing. His overly indie movies that usually feature 1 or 2 big names will usually have a couple of moments that will make you squirm in your seat (or make you unable to make eye contact with the person you are watching the movie with). Such I guess are the harsh realities of life? Too real for me sometimes. The Squid and the Whale, Margot at the Wedding, Kicking & Screaming.......awkward, awkward, awkward. I guess I can only stomach "watered down" Noah like The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (he wrote the screenplay). Check it out when it makes its way to your city, but don't say I didn't warn you....cringe.

Falling Stars

Well, the day started with horrible news, and it kept on coming. Alex Chilton, the lead singer of Big Star, died of an apparent heart attack right on the eve of SXSW. Who is Big Star? They're basically a British Invasion act from the '70's that was really from Memphis. They are part Who and part Kinks (the windmill/power chord of Townsend with the wink in the eye of Ray Davies). You say, "Big deal....never heard 'em?". Well, I bet you have and didn't know it. Go to some music streaming site (i.e. - Lala.com) and stream #1 Record or Radio City. Better yet, go buy the 1992 compilation of the two albums on Stax (oh, Memphis....). I guarantee you will recognize at least one of the songs and say, "Oh.....I have heard them...". They are great. Much like Moby Grape (one of my all time favorite bands), Big Star is a highly revered American rock band in musical circles that your parents probably missed....

Bet you know this one.....for all the wrong reasons :P

(Well, when it rains it pours - Jesse James cheated on Sandra Bullock..... Oh, and flippin' Vanderbilt lost in the 1st round of the Tourney to Murray St. - Please, Thursday just end already - FML)

Sorry About Your Boy

Well, as you know: He's friends with Merlin Olsen. The Hall of Fame lineman passed away today. Sorry, Ron.

I Wanna Dress You Up In My Love

I was just scouring the interweb looking at clothes. I frequently like to look at clothes and also mock-vaca's on Travelocity, but I never buy anything (b/c I'm broke as a joke)! Here are some of my favorite items from the past 6 months. And yes, I'm not a real man. J. Crew really stepped up their game in the past year. I made my pilgrimage in December to the J. Crew men's store in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan. It was a converted Liquor Store to men's shop (above). Speaking of NYC, I would kill to have something from Thom Browne's personal shop (below). On a more approachable level, Gant made shirts for our dads when we were little, but they still are making simple shirts that I love.

ANY Suit from Thom Browne

Gant Shirt from Barneys

Belstaff Roadmaster Jacket from Neiman Marcus and J. Crew
Thomas Mason Oxford Shirt from J. Crew
Classic Sperry TopSider Boat Shoe from ANYWHERE !!!
Asics Onitsuka Rooster/Tiger from ClassicSportsShoes
Prada Driving Loafer from Barneys
Ludlow Suit from J. Crew
Thom Browne Classic Tie from Barneys

I Just Threw Up In My Mouth

Well, this is what I woke up to this morning: the new video for She & Him's "In the Sun". My apologies in advance to my wife whose eyes are rolling into the back of her head as she reads this. You thought Zooey Deschanel's Cotton commercial ("the touch the feel of cotton........ the fabric of our lives....") was nauseating? Look out! This video ups the ante and goes all in. Zooey dances around a school like the indie version of "Hit me, Baby (One More Time)". People, there's even a hula-hoop scene..... You wanna know the sad part? It's almost adorable... and cute.... Then you vomit..... again. Guilty pleasure? She & Him? Yup. Queen Zooey and King M. Ward sit on the indie throne. What a cool duo? Volume 2 of She & Him is out this month on Merge (order here).

Best Album Cover of the Year?

new Black Keys in May - classic!

Local Natives, Too...

Well, I've had a week with the Local Natives album, Gorilla Manor. It' s my favorite so far this year (even more than Spoon and VW). If you remotely like Fleet Foxes, you must bend an ear.

That's all -