Jean Claude Van...

Into the wild '08 yonder

The new year has brought new things. Like a few nights ago when I was passed on the road by a fox. He walked calmly right past me, without so much as a glance in my direction. A surreal, funny and beautiful moment. They're everywhere in Southall, rooting through the rubbish and howling eerily in the night. I'm still not used to seeing almost as many foxes here as I did squirrels in Tennessee.

Saw some amazing fire on New Year's eve.

And looking back at 2007, I continued to be a music fiend. So here's my year-end record list. Not that anyone cares, but I had fun making these picks...

#1. The National - Boxer
A lazy, swirling, lovely mumble of a rock record that I've played on repeat, on repeat. It sunk in quickly, and is mostly about the voice for me. The desperate realizations that slide from Berninger's dry baritone are bleak, but they're too poignant and relatable to be flatly dark. Boxer's "uninnocent elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults" never lets up. "Tired and wired we ruin too easy, sleep in our clothes and wait for winter to leave." Winter can stay as long as it wants this year. What a white-horse surprise from this dark-horse band.

#2. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

This cover art is freakishly similar to the one before it, but the music is quite the opposite. Another snarky, sophisticated album from Spoon. No one does it like my Spoon. See? I called them mine. So much space for the snare to pop, and the studio hiss to hit your brain. Ga Ga Ga goodness.




#3. The Field - From Here We Go Sublime

Probably my favorite dance record ever. It's just gorgeous, in a way that doesn't make sense on paper. A heartbeat pulse of bass thumps in constance, and samples skip along like a scratched record. To some it may sound like water torture, but I'm stepping to the beat. The perfect soundtrack for a brisk walk in the London rain. Sublime? Check.



#4. Deerhoof - Friendship Opportunity

Full of grinning, spunky life. It's at once eccentric, catchy, diverse and stunningly adept. Everyone must hear "The Perfect Me". It's my favorite song of the year. Deerhoof is all about the music, and they have arrived.






#5. The Clientele - God Save The Clientele

The most underrated band on the planet. They've absolutely nailed their formula and embellished it in all the right places. It's possible that you and everyone else could like this record, even if all it does is put you to sleep. Save them indeed.






6. Burial - Untrue
7. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
8. Radiohead - In Rainbows
9. Blonde Redhead - 23
10. The Twilight Sad - Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters
11. James Blackshaw - The Cloud of Unknowing
12. Apparat - Walls
13. Okkervil River - The Stage Names
14. Feist - The Reminder
15. Stars Of The Lid - And Their Refinement Of The Decline
16. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
17. Arctic Monkeys - Favorite Worst Nightmare
18. M.I.A. - Kala
19. The Good, The Bad & The Queen - s/t
20. Dizzee Rascal - Maths + English

Festival of Lights '07

Diwali season has arrived, and it's huge. Diwali began on the Indian New Year's Eve, and Southall was electric. From sundown to sunup, there were fireworks for 360 degrees around Mount Ave. I've never seen anything like it. 4th of July? Child's Play.

This video doesn't do the experience justice, but it's a small peek. Starring Ramesh and Kashif with their sparklers!

step on a crack...

"Shibboleth" from above uploaded by bhorner.

Visited the TATE Modern yesterday. It was my first time since 2004, when I was at L'Abri. And I loved it even more.

In the turbine hall, where there is always a large installation/sculpture of some sort, was Shibboleth by Columbian artist Doris Salcedo. A long crack runs from end to end in the enormous hall. It slowly drew me into its presence, and I left feeling pretty impacted by it's many implications.

The word shibboleth's origination comes from the book of Judges. The Ephraimites, attempting to flee across the river Jordan, were stopped by their enemies, the Gileadites. Since their dialect didn't include a "sh" sound, those who couldn't say the word 'shibboleth' were captured and executed.

Read more about Salcedo's piece HERE.

Things one must laugh at

Ok, so right in the middle of India UK, there are signs of home. Like the chain of restaurants here in London called "Tennessee Fried Chicken". Of course, KFC is on every corner, but their chicken is waay different. In a greasy, dark, chewy kind of waay. And I haven't been to "TFC", but I'd place a sizable wager that even though there's no such thing as Tennessee fried chicken, whatever they serve is even further from the untruth.

endless numbered days

Visiting the grandparentals in Memphis for a couple days. Then headed back home for just one more week. Leaving has crept up on me, and I'm startled by the uprooting. I'll be in Philadelphia for a couple days, then leaving for London on Friday the 21st. Borris is receiving sympathy cards. A beaming thanks to Vincent + Kiko for giving into his batting of eyes. I think he loves you already.

For Chattanooga dwellers, there will be a farewell gathering at MEGRO's (megan roderick) house either this Saturday or Sunday. Give me or Donivan a ring to confirm. Come one, come all(ish)!

Carson wuz here

the MONKEY uploaded by bhorner.

stars, stripes + judah

uploaded by bhorner.

Celebrated indie day by visiting the Boyers, which means more Judah pics! We went for a stroll through the park, and to a cook-out with ATL folke. Later in the evening, some odd things were done with bottle rockets.

on becoming a hippy

I only post about trees and stuff now. But at least I'm not like the guy I just heard on NPR, who said something like... "I truly believe that God created the Bald Eagle for America, to inspire us and remind us of our democracy, spirit and freedom."

So a couple nights ago, there was this awesome lightning.


POW uploaded by bhorner.

A movement to those unspiritual arms aren't going to do.

The greatest spam subject line ever.