Thursday, December 10, 2015
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Long Live Jetta
This morning we made the annual pilgrimage to the Jiffy Lube in Hudson, NY to get the 1989 Jetta inspected by the State. Each time we go in trepidation thinking this will be the year that the car won't pass. It really is a Summer ritual. We drive convoy along Route 82. The A/C and cassette player are working great. In fact, the journey reminds me what great driving music Jeff Lynne and Queen made in the Eighties. It's about 40 miles round-trip. And that is often the annual mileage on the car, which registers 55,000 miles on the odometer! It's not all fun. The car stinks of moth balls which we use to keep out the mice and seems to work because there has been no sign of a rodent in the vehicle in 25 years. But you do have to drive with window open and roof panel back. "Are you gonna take me home tonight?"
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Sunday, January 05, 2014
Rock 'n' Roll Geography Lee Ranaldo
My Rock 'n' Roll New York
Lee Ranaldo from Sonic Youth talks to the NYPost about favorite locations in New York.
Lee Ranaldo from Sonic Youth talks to the NYPost about favorite locations in New York.
Sunday, August 05, 2012
Sorbet Therapy
I feel very fortunate to have been able to spend this weekend mentally regrouping in Ancram, SoCo (in a wonderfully air-conditioned home with a feed of the NBC and BBC Olympic coverage!).
I am writing this as fast as I can in a thunderstorm that threatens to knock out power any second.
I took the opportunity to make three different sorbets today using local flavors -- loosely adapted from Epicurious and other foodie/cooking sites that came up on Google.
1. Lime Fawlty Sorbet
Basil is growing like a weed right now. Well, it is at the local farm where we pick up veggies every Saturday morning. Here's the recipe.
2 cups simple syrup (1 cup water, I cup cane sugar)
20 large basil leaves
3/4 cup lime juice
1/3 cup Core Vodka (local vodka made from apples with distinct flavor. Any vodka will do)
After bringing the water and sugar to a boil, take the solution off the heat and add shredded basil leaves. Put the mixture in the freezer for a half-hour, or until cold, and then strain to remove leaves.
Add lime juice and vodka and blend in an ice-cream maker until firm. When making sorbets, I sometimes heat the vodka to reduce the alcohol which slows the setting of the sorbet. But at this concentration is isn't necessary. Good result. The flavor is sharp, almost ginger-like, and is fantastic on seasonal fruit salad.
2. Buckwheat's Watermelon Sorbet
The local watermelons are really good at the moment. They are very seedy, which is a pain, but the sweetness and color are exceptional. Here's the mix.
1 cup simple syrup (1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup cane sugar)
8 cups of seeded watermelon
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup of Campari
Make the simple syrup and chill the solution. Seed 8 cups of watermelon and put the pieces in a Cuisinart with simple syrup, lemon juice and Campari. Whizz it until you get a very smooth soup. At this point you need to move fast. It you don't immediately transfer the liquid to the ice-cream maker, it will start siphoning out through the space between the blade and the bowl. I find this happens making gazpacho in the Cuisinart, also. Let the ice-cream machine do it's thing until the sorbet looks like a very firm slurpy. If you let it go too long the water will freeze and separate making it granita-like. Either way, it's really refreshing, if a little bland. It works well if you are making more than one frozen dessert as a companion flavor.
3. Columbia County Cuke Sorbet
Two local elements in this one. Basil and cucumber.
2 cups simple syrup (1 cup water, 1 cup cane sugar)
20 basil leaves
2 large cucumbers
1 lime (for juice and zest)
Make the custom simple syrup. After bringing the water and sugar to a boil, take the solution off the heat and add shredded basil leaves. Put the mixture in the freezer for a half-hour, or until cold, and then strain to remove leaves. Add the zest and juice of a lime. Peel and remove the seeds from the cucumbers. Pinch of salt and then into the Cuisinart until you have a smooth soup. Place in an ice-cream maker and again, don't leave it in there too long. You do need that much sugar to make a sorbet texture. Result: The cucumber flavor really comes through and the lime and sugar balance each other well. Great palate cleanser. Would also be fun floating in a gazpacho.
Conclusion. Anything can be sorbeted (pronounced saw-bayed) and I would make these three flavors again.
I am writing this as fast as I can in a thunderstorm that threatens to knock out power any second.
I took the opportunity to make three different sorbets today using local flavors -- loosely adapted from Epicurious and other foodie/cooking sites that came up on Google.
1. Lime Fawlty Sorbet
Basil is growing like a weed right now. Well, it is at the local farm where we pick up veggies every Saturday morning. Here's the recipe.
2 cups simple syrup (1 cup water, I cup cane sugar)
20 large basil leaves
3/4 cup lime juice
1/3 cup Core Vodka (local vodka made from apples with distinct flavor. Any vodka will do)
After bringing the water and sugar to a boil, take the solution off the heat and add shredded basil leaves. Put the mixture in the freezer for a half-hour, or until cold, and then strain to remove leaves.
Add lime juice and vodka and blend in an ice-cream maker until firm. When making sorbets, I sometimes heat the vodka to reduce the alcohol which slows the setting of the sorbet. But at this concentration is isn't necessary. Good result. The flavor is sharp, almost ginger-like, and is fantastic on seasonal fruit salad.
2. Buckwheat's Watermelon Sorbet
The local watermelons are really good at the moment. They are very seedy, which is a pain, but the sweetness and color are exceptional. Here's the mix.
1 cup simple syrup (1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup cane sugar)
8 cups of seeded watermelon
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup of Campari
Make the simple syrup and chill the solution. Seed 8 cups of watermelon and put the pieces in a Cuisinart with simple syrup, lemon juice and Campari. Whizz it until you get a very smooth soup. At this point you need to move fast. It you don't immediately transfer the liquid to the ice-cream maker, it will start siphoning out through the space between the blade and the bowl. I find this happens making gazpacho in the Cuisinart, also. Let the ice-cream machine do it's thing until the sorbet looks like a very firm slurpy. If you let it go too long the water will freeze and separate making it granita-like. Either way, it's really refreshing, if a little bland. It works well if you are making more than one frozen dessert as a companion flavor.
3. Columbia County Cuke Sorbet
Two local elements in this one. Basil and cucumber.
2 cups simple syrup (1 cup water, 1 cup cane sugar)
20 basil leaves
2 large cucumbers
1 lime (for juice and zest)
Make the custom simple syrup. After bringing the water and sugar to a boil, take the solution off the heat and add shredded basil leaves. Put the mixture in the freezer for a half-hour, or until cold, and then strain to remove leaves. Add the zest and juice of a lime. Peel and remove the seeds from the cucumbers. Pinch of salt and then into the Cuisinart until you have a smooth soup. Place in an ice-cream maker and again, don't leave it in there too long. You do need that much sugar to make a sorbet texture. Result: The cucumber flavor really comes through and the lime and sugar balance each other well. Great palate cleanser. Would also be fun floating in a gazpacho.
Conclusion. Anything can be sorbeted (pronounced saw-bayed) and I would make these three flavors again.
Saturday, June 09, 2012
The Obscure Series
Thanks to Rob Tannenbaum for finding this link. Here's the copy:
Obscure Records was a U.K. record label which existed from 1975 to 1978. It was created and run by Brian Eno, who also produced the albums (credited as executive producer in one instance). Ten albums were issued in the series. Most have detailed liner notes on their back covers, analyzing the compositions and providing a biography of the composer, in a format typical of classical music albums, and much of the material can be regarded as 20th century classical music. The label provided a venue for experimental music, and its association with Eno gave increased public exposure to its composers and musicians.
Obscure Records
Obscure Records was a U.K. record label which existed from 1975 to 1978. It was created and run by Brian Eno, who also produced the albums (credited as executive producer in one instance). Ten albums were issued in the series. Most have detailed liner notes on their back covers, analyzing the compositions and providing a biography of the composer, in a format typical of classical music albums, and much of the material can be regarded as 20th century classical music. The label provided a venue for experimental music, and its association with Eno gave increased public exposure to its composers and musicians.
Obscure Records
Friday, February 17, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
ROXY MUSIC Everything from the studio officially released
CD1: Roxy Music
1. Re-make/Re-model
2. Ladytron
3. If There Is Something
4. 2HB
5. The Bob (Medley)
6. Chance Meeting
7. Would You Believe?
8. Sea Breezes
9. Bitters End
Bonus Tracks:
10. Virginia Plain
11. The Numberer
CD2: For Your Pleasure
1. Do The Strand
2. Beauty Queen
3. Strictly Confidential
4. Editions Of You
5. In Every Dream Home A Heartache
6. The Bogus Man
7. Grey Lagoons
8. For Your Pleasure
Bonus Tracks:
9. Pyjamarama (Island Mix)
10. Pyjamarama (Polydor Mix)
11. The Pride And The Pain
12. Do The Strand (USA 7” Mix 3:19) **never been available on CD before**
CD3: Stranded
1. Street Life
2. Just Like You
3. Amazona
4. Psalm
5. Serenade
6. A Song For Europe
7. Mother Of Pearl
8. Sunset
Bonus Track:
9. Hula Kula
CD4: Country Life
1. The Thrill Of It All
2. Three And Nine
3. All I Want Is You
4. Out Of The Blue
5. If It Takes All Night
6. Bitter Sweet
7. Triptych
8. Casanova
9. A Really Good Time
10. Prairie Rose
Bonus Tracks:
11. The Thrill Of It All – 1977 Greatest Hits Edit (4’20) ) **never been available on CD before**
12. Your Application’s Failed
13. The Thrill Of It All (USA 7” Mix 3:20) **never been available on CD before**
CD5: Siren
1. Love Is The Drug
2. End Of The Line
3. Sentimental Fool
4. Whirlwind
5. She Sells
6. Could It Happen To Me?
7. Both Ends Burning
8. Nightingale
9. Just Another High
Bonus Tracks:
10. Love Is The Drug (USA 7” Mix 3:00) **never been available on CD before**
11. Sultanesque
12. Both Ends Burning (7” Mix 3:58) **never been available on CD before**
13. For Your Pleasure – Live **never been available on CD before**
CD6: Manifesto
1. Manifesto
2. Trash
3. Angel Eyes (***rock version***)
4. Still Falls The Rain
5. Stronger Through The Years
6. Ain’t That So
7. My Little Girl
8. Dance Away (***ballad Version***)
9. Cry, Cry, Cry
10. Spin Me Round
Bonus Tracks:
11. Trash 2
12. Dance Away (Single Version)
13. Dance Away (Canadian Extended 12” Mix)
14. Angel Eyes (Single Version)
15. Angel Eyes (12” Single Version)
CD7: Flesh And Blood
1. The Midnight Hour
2. Oh Yeah
3. Same Old Scene
4. Flesh And Blood
5. My Only Love
6. Over You
7. Eight Miles High
8. Rain Rain Rain
9. No Strange Delight
10. Running Wild
Bonus Tracks:
11. Oh Yeah (7” Version) **never been available on CD before**
12. Manifesto (Remake)
13. South Downs
14. Lover
15. Jealous Guy
16. To Turn On You (1981 B-Side Version) **never been available on CD before**
CD8: Avalon
1. More Than This
2. The Space Between
3. Avalon
4. India
5. While My Heart Is Still Beating
6. The Main Thing
7. Take A Chance With Me
8. To Turn You On
9. True To Life
10. Tara
Bonus Tracks:
11. Avalon (7” Single Version) **never been available on CD before**
12. Always Unknowing
13. Take A Chance With Me (7” Single Version) **never been available on CD before**
14. Take A Chance With Me (USA 7” Mix) **never been available on CD before**
15. The Main Thing (12” Single Version)
16. The Main Thing – Remix **never been available on CD before**
1. Re-make/Re-model
2. Ladytron
3. If There Is Something
4. 2HB
5. The Bob (Medley)
6. Chance Meeting
7. Would You Believe?
8. Sea Breezes
9. Bitters End
Bonus Tracks:
10. Virginia Plain
11. The Numberer
CD2: For Your Pleasure
1. Do The Strand
2. Beauty Queen
3. Strictly Confidential
4. Editions Of You
5. In Every Dream Home A Heartache
6. The Bogus Man
7. Grey Lagoons
8. For Your Pleasure
Bonus Tracks:
9. Pyjamarama (Island Mix)
10. Pyjamarama (Polydor Mix)
11. The Pride And The Pain
12. Do The Strand (USA 7” Mix 3:19) **never been available on CD before**
CD3: Stranded
1. Street Life
2. Just Like You
3. Amazona
4. Psalm
5. Serenade
6. A Song For Europe
7. Mother Of Pearl
8. Sunset
Bonus Track:
9. Hula Kula
CD4: Country Life
1. The Thrill Of It All
2. Three And Nine
3. All I Want Is You
4. Out Of The Blue
5. If It Takes All Night
6. Bitter Sweet
7. Triptych
8. Casanova
9. A Really Good Time
10. Prairie Rose
Bonus Tracks:
11. The Thrill Of It All – 1977 Greatest Hits Edit (4’20) ) **never been available on CD before**
12. Your Application’s Failed
13. The Thrill Of It All (USA 7” Mix 3:20) **never been available on CD before**
CD5: Siren
1. Love Is The Drug
2. End Of The Line
3. Sentimental Fool
4. Whirlwind
5. She Sells
6. Could It Happen To Me?
7. Both Ends Burning
8. Nightingale
9. Just Another High
Bonus Tracks:
10. Love Is The Drug (USA 7” Mix 3:00) **never been available on CD before**
11. Sultanesque
12. Both Ends Burning (7” Mix 3:58) **never been available on CD before**
13. For Your Pleasure – Live **never been available on CD before**
CD6: Manifesto
1. Manifesto
2. Trash
3. Angel Eyes (***rock version***)
4. Still Falls The Rain
5. Stronger Through The Years
6. Ain’t That So
7. My Little Girl
8. Dance Away (***ballad Version***)
9. Cry, Cry, Cry
10. Spin Me Round
Bonus Tracks:
11. Trash 2
12. Dance Away (Single Version)
13. Dance Away (Canadian Extended 12” Mix)
14. Angel Eyes (Single Version)
15. Angel Eyes (12” Single Version)
CD7: Flesh And Blood
1. The Midnight Hour
2. Oh Yeah
3. Same Old Scene
4. Flesh And Blood
5. My Only Love
6. Over You
7. Eight Miles High
8. Rain Rain Rain
9. No Strange Delight
10. Running Wild
Bonus Tracks:
11. Oh Yeah (7” Version) **never been available on CD before**
12. Manifesto (Remake)
13. South Downs
14. Lover
15. Jealous Guy
16. To Turn On You (1981 B-Side Version) **never been available on CD before**
CD8: Avalon
1. More Than This
2. The Space Between
3. Avalon
4. India
5. While My Heart Is Still Beating
6. The Main Thing
7. Take A Chance With Me
8. To Turn You On
9. True To Life
10. Tara
Bonus Tracks:
11. Avalon (7” Single Version) **never been available on CD before**
12. Always Unknowing
13. Take A Chance With Me (7” Single Version) **never been available on CD before**
14. Take A Chance With Me (USA 7” Mix) **never been available on CD before**
15. The Main Thing (12” Single Version)
16. The Main Thing – Remix **never been available on CD before**
Friday, December 23, 2011
Monday, August 01, 2011
Happy Birthday MTV
I WANT MY MTV
I loved MTV. New York City didn’t get it right away. I got cable tv the moment it was picked up by Manhattan Cable. I would video tape 6 hr blocks of programming at SLP standard – not pretty, and zip through to watch the good videos. I would then dub favorites onto another tape. You can imagine the quality!
Through the hiss and snow of that corrupting video tape memories are distorted. So here are some recollections of not so good MTV.
The Bottom Ten of MTV
1. Mark Goodman and Nina Blackwood’s hair. Yikes. OK. It was the 1980s.
2. The very slow recognition of black performers. It’s all rock ‘n roll. Really stupid.
3. The lazy and choppy coverage of Live Aid. It made the First Five VJs into true media stars, but it was a little creepy watching cutaways of them poignantly swaying to the beat.
4. Courtesy of CD super-sellers Dire Straits some lyrics best left unwritten, but smart to get heavy rotation by having Sting sing “I Want My MTV” right at the top of the song:
The little ****** with the earring and the makeup
Yeah buddy, that's his own hair
That little ****** got his own jet airplane
That little ****** he's a millionaire
Ironically, last year GLAAD recognized MTV for including more content than any other tv channel reflecting the lives of gay, bisexual and transgendered people
5. In those pre-Tivo days. TOO MANY COMMERCIALS!
6-10 Al Yankovic
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
New Year Old Pictures
Scrapbook time. Duplicating what may be on Facebook. Here are some images from the archives (box in the closet) that need to be kept somewhere -- here.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
French Bulldog exploitation
Here is a link to the trailer imdb.com
Movie projected to gross $33.5 M this weekend -- second to "Megamind."
Monday, September 06, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Monday, August 09, 2010
Best Thing in Paris Right Now
The Yves Saint Laurent exhibition at Le Petit Palais. Almost 400 incredible costumes in a magnificent building. Buy tickets at FNAC ahead of time. Closes at the end of August (2010)!
Friday, July 16, 2010
More Crowded House press from US tour
Here's an "Intriguer" album review from the LA Times. "Ridiculously infectious," says Randy Lewis about Crowded House.
Gatehouse News Service (!) interviews "energized once again" Nick Seymour.
Courier-Journal from Kentucky gives a 3 1/2 star review to the new album.
NewsOk says "the lights are back on in the House."
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Crowded House play in Toronto, ON and finally release the Intriguer album in North America
Here is the review in the Toronto SUN. 3 1/2 Stars (out of 5).
Crap CD review from J.D. Considine picked up by the Toronto Globe and Mail. (Jerk).
Nice Shawn Amos gives nice review in Huffington Post. He's nice.
"Don't Dream It's Over" -- Intriguer is a dream come true says SAME SAME blog.
Ken Shane's excellent review of the album on Popdose.
David Hiltbrand gets it wrong in the Philadelphia Inquirer. A 2 1/2 star album review.
Usual intelligence from the great Jeff Giles on esdmusic.com about the album.
Pop Matters' John Bergstrom gives the very long 7 out of 10 treatment to the Intriguer album.
That's enough for now, I think.
Crap CD review from J.D. Considine picked up by the Toronto Globe and Mail. (Jerk).
Nice Shawn Amos gives nice review in Huffington Post. He's nice.
"Don't Dream It's Over" -- Intriguer is a dream come true says SAME SAME blog.
Ken Shane's excellent review of the album on Popdose.
David Hiltbrand gets it wrong in the Philadelphia Inquirer. A 2 1/2 star album review.
Usual intelligence from the great Jeff Giles on esdmusic.com about the album.
Pop Matters' John Bergstrom gives the very long 7 out of 10 treatment to the Intriguer album.
That's enough for now, I think.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Crowded House NA Media Blitz begins
Click here to find out about Neil Finn's controversial moustache and the answer to the question, "Have the Finns become the Partridge Family?" as told to the Toronto Sun.
“We've probably spent more time in Toronto than any other city" says Neil Finn. More Canada-love in this Toronto Star interview. Click here.
Click Here to see what Neil says to the Montreal Gazette about the second album by the second incarnation of Crowded House.
“We've probably spent more time in Toronto than any other city" says Neil Finn. More Canada-love in this Toronto Star interview. Click here.
Click Here to see what Neil says to the Montreal Gazette about the second album by the second incarnation of Crowded House.
"Neil Finn lives in New Zealand, bassist Nick Seymour in Dublin, multi-instrumentalist Mark Hart in Los Angeles and drummer Matt Sherrod in Nashville." Insight provided by Hour.Ca here.
Sunday, July 04, 2010
July 4, 2010
Well, it's been a very long time since the last posting. Blame Twitter, Facebook, iPad, and life. The diary aspect of a blog becomes more interesting with passing time. It's July 4th. Falling on a Sunday. It's is blissfully hot (not to be working and certainly shite for Broadway attendance) and popping out to do quick heartening and cathartic gardening errands with one eye on Wimbledon and some recessed thoughts that there might be FIFA football on somewhere too -- no Brazil/Argentina showdown, smart ass. How lucky to be in the middle of wooded Columbia County on this most beautiful day with the prospect of another day off work tomorrow. A little peace. And the bonus of wifi and a/c gratification...Last night we went to Tanglewood to see James Taylor and Carole King. We were fortunate enough to be sitting in the front row. Two more legends to tick off the list -- alot of history and so many great standards. Tanglewood is too far from us in Ancram, but the trip was worth it. They play again tonight -- there will be fireworks offstage as well.
Friday, February 05, 2010
French Bulldog moment
New York Post Feb 5, 2010
Hana's puttin' on the dog
In a French (bulldog) twist outside The Plaza yesterday, statuesque Czech model Hana Soukupova is pretty in pink with the latest Jimmy Choo creation. The photo shoot was part of the run-up to Mercedes-Benz Fall 2010 Fashion Week, which starts next Thursday at Bryant Park.
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