I know the calendar is out, but I still have more outtakes for you all. My lovely Ariel was left out of this years 2010 calendar, but she was one of the stars of 2009. Ariel is one of my favorite muses and we have been working together a lot recently on fun make-up projects like our A-Morir shoot.
I do however have a couple pictures of Ariel in my Art show currently hanging at 350 Broadway. The show runs until the end of Nov, so if you want to see more of Ariel naked and more of my models head over there while you still can! Check the NSFW version after the break.
Zobelle you sly sunavabitch. He’s now got the guns of the Irish and the Mayans locked down. His daughter is screwing the son of the Irish connection and getting the low down on their inside. With SAMCRO ready to implode, he’s seriously got Charming by the throat. His generous donation of a shit=load of guns to the Mayans makes it clear that white supremacy comes second to his desire to run the town.
I’m stoked that Prospect Half-Sack is back. He brought back some humor that helps the audience take a breather from all the stone-faced drama. “Gay-curious.”
Jax’s got a kid and now the complete devotion of Tara, a ride-or-die chick who won’t just walk away from the club at the whiff of violence. But when Jax and Opie walk into a Mayan bar and Alvarez asks him to take off his leather (at gunpoint), Jax shows how deeply his bond with SAMCRO runs. His impossible dream of his father’s old days seems farther and farther away, SAMCRO is at the boiling point. Clay and Jax are so blinded by their own arrogance, they get Luann killed. Until Gemma cooled everyone off at the dinner, I thought we were going to see the big throwdown. Even passive Bobby was ready to scrap. I let out a “Ho SHIT!” when Jax said “I’m not the one who kills women.” SAMCRO seems beyond repair now.
I’m with Gemma…Chib’s wife scares the shit out of me. I look forward to seeing what she’s all about.
We’re approaching the the holiday season and the time is right to give you guys a few previews. We’re offering three different styles of pants appropriate for the changing elements of winter (depending on what part of the globe you reside on). Gone are the days where a single pant would suit your cold weather needs. First up is our classic Alexei Denim followed by the Dmitri Wool Slacks and finally our Scout Work Pant.
Hopefully you’re all familiar with the Alexei’s by now and have a well worn pair hanging somewhere in your closet. If you’re new to them, well then here’s the deal… The Alexei is crafted of the finest Japanese Selvage Denim available. It is woven on the same vintage shuttle looms used until the 1960s for most U.S. produced denim. Our primary goal when creating these jeans was to replicate the durable unwashed denim of yesteryear, which had been unfortunately abandoned to make way for more economical lower grade denim. While more time consuming and less economical, using these vintage shuttle looms creates a tighter weave that results in a heavier, more durable and overall higher quality denim. The Alexei is available in Raw Indigo (12.5oz), Black (12.5oz), Grey (13oz) & Brown (13oz) and is a traditional straight-leg with a high rise.
Next up is probably my favorite cut of pants that we make… The Dmitris. We first introduced this cut way back in Fall of 2008 as a snow-washed selvage denim. Well they’re back and they’ll be a regular part of our collection from now on.
These Dmitri Wool Slacks are possibly our most diverse and multi-functional winter pant in this season’s line. They are crafted out of a 12 ounce wool blended material that produce a durable and heavy yet soft woven pant that is perfect for battling the winter elements but also fine enough to for any casual setting. The Dmitri’s are tailored slender – but not tight – for that refined urbanite look.
And lastly, Mishka produced the Scout Work Pant constructed out of a 13 ounce Chambray blend. The Scout is a throwback to the classic American work wear that combines utilitarian sensibilities with a refined, tailored feel for the modern daily grind.
With their thick and durable construction these are truly the perfect pair of pants for the coming winter months. Plus as an added bonus, the chambray weave offers the perfect mask for all that slushy back-splash your pants tend to accumulate from trudging around the city during and after winter hale and snowstorms.
It took six releases and seven years, but freak folk darling Devendra Banhart is all grown up on his newest, and seventh full-length album, What Will We Be. I’ve always been a fan of Banhart at his weirdest moments and it’s difficult to get used to the kinder, gentler shadow of his former self.
Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon is my personal favorite of Banhart’s releases. His catalog is largely hit or miss for me, but this album is the exception. I can say with confidence that its play count is staggering and I will never retire the warm spot it occupies in the center of my chest. In comparison, What Will We Be, Banhart’s first tryst with a major label, feels safe. His instrumentation is sincere and his vocals are introspective, but there are few, if any, moments of unabashed abandon. “16th & Valencia” might just land Banhart on mainstream radio and the latter half of the album drags from one boring dirge, “Meet Me At The Lookout” to the the next, “Wiliamdzi”. All of What Will We Be‘s 14 tracks are polished and expertly thought-out, but only “Baby” and the album’s closer, “Foolin’” relay that innocent, eccentric spark that I’ve come to expect and love from Banhart.
There’s nothing wrong with What Will We Be as a standalone album. Banhart sounds great and his compositions are sophisticated, but it lacks the spirit of it’s creator, a man who revels in nonsensical mindgames and takes the road less traveled. What Will We Be is an uncharacteristically restrained release from a musician who has never had a problem standing out and letting his freak flag fly.
So, there’s this rather sizable art project going down in Philly, and it involves Espo. He’s a true type god, and this looks like such a great undertaking. It reminds me of Miranda July a little bit, but with more esteem. I won’t say anymore, head over and take a look.
Fresh out of the UK DJ Plus One & Beni G also known as Jack Beats were chopping it up at 350 Broadway the other day. They made sure to grab as much goodies as they could before heading back to the UK for a string of head rocking, heavy bass electro shows. Beni G seen stylin’ as he grabbed up one of the few remaining Keep Watch Coaches Fleece. We still may have one or two left in store but you’ll have to come on down and see for yourself. Ha!
I’m ashamed to admit I’ve been sitting on this EP for a ridiculous amount of time. It mysteriously appeared in my inbox back in August and I didn’t bother giving it a chance until now.
Desktop is the new indie dance project from Keith Thompson of Electric Six and Zach Curd of The Pop Project, which probably explains my apathy. I’ve never understood the allure of Electric Six and am only vaguely familiar with The Pop Project. Neither of these points really matter though because Desktop is best listened to without baggage. At only three tracks, and barely over 12 minutes, this EP is almost too short to cast a fair opinion on. Face value is the key phrase here and despite it’s brevity, Desktop’s debut release is an upbeat and enjoyable addition to the dance rock genre that fans of 33Hz, Chromeo and LCD Soundsystem will immediately find pleasing.
The nerd in me is enamored with Thompson and Curd’s collaborative recording approach. The three tracks were developed and polished completely over the internet. The duo never recorded face to face, but instead worked solo, trading and revising each other’s material online. The backstory adds a layer of depth and as I listen to the EP, I find myself engaging in a guessing game, wondering who’s idea it was to add the dreamwave-y synths to “Fired Up” or the 8bit accents to the chorus of “Too Much”. Like a musical version of those Choose Your Own Adventure books, there’s an excitement to Desktop’s process.
All three of the tracks on this EP are danceable, varied and deserving of a listen. While I can’t throw out an A rating for a 12-minute release, Desktop have definitely piqued my interest and I regret leaving this EP to rot in the depths of my gmail blackhole.
TSN – that’s Canada’s ESPN, for the non-hosers – is running a poll of its readership right now to determine the best goalie mask in the league today. Before getting to the contenders, however, TSN tips its hat to the man recognized as the originator of the modern goalie mask, Mr. Jacques Plante. Pictured above, Jacques was no lame. But he wasn’t a fool, either – he knew that pucks could kick the shit out of his face. Eventually, one did – as evidenced by the blood in the picture, taken almost fifty years ago today – and so the prototype mask he had developed made its NHL debut. Here’s the story, from TSN:
On Nov. 1, 1959, the goaltending position in the National Hockey League was forever changed when Montreal’s Jacques Plante debuted the first goalie mask in a regular season game.
The story of Plante’s mask really began prior to the debut game. Plante developed and tested a plastic mask in practice and in preseason games, and wanted to use it in regular-season matches. Alas, Canadiens head coach Toe Blake prohibited him from wearing it for fear that it would limit his vision of the play. On Nov. 1, in a game against the New York Rangers, Plante was hit in the face by a shot from Andy Bathgate and required seven stitches to close cuts to his nose and lip. There was a 20-minute delay of game while the repairs took place and Plante refused to return to the ice unless he could wear his mask to protect the injuries.
Not having a back-up goalie, Blake was forced to either agree or forfeit the game – and allowed Plante to wear his white mask. Plante finished the game with 27 saves and the Canadiens beat the Rangers 3-1.
Plante continued to wear the mask for the rest of the season, and played very well while doing it. His success in goal combined with the enhanced safety he enjoyed soon inspired other goalies to adopt masks as well.
Plante’s invention has come a hell of a long way since in the past fifty years. As fucking awful (!!!) as the guitar on this video is, press mute and check out this slideshow:
But back to the current state of the art, and TSN’s poll. Lots of flash on every mask here, but check out Senators backup Brian Elliott’s mask – he’s got TMNT’s Casey Jones splashed all over his piece, just like on his last one.
Most are too busy for my taste. (Ayo Marty Brodeur, why’d you ditch the classic for this tired design?) But I can’t help kinda liking Nabokov’s skeleton ghoul for the Sharks, Scott Clemmensen’s big panther for Florida, and Mike Smith’s pirate ship mask complete with treasure chest for Tampa Bay. Remember, Smith’s one of the dudes who had an ad for “Saw V” on his mask last year, because Tampa Bay co-owner Oren Kroules’ company produced it. Whatever though. Nowadays, you can get damn near anything on a mask, even Sarah Palin. But my personal favorite out of all the custom jobs that I’ve seen so far has to be this Bloom County bootleg:
Not sure how Berkeley Breathed would feel about it, but I like it. Somebody touch it up in Sabres blue & gold and ship it to Ryan Miller for tonight’s game in Jersey.
Already I can tell that I’m gonna have to author a sequel to this post, since I’m already 500-some words in and I haven’t even really scratched the surface of the art of goalie masks. Before I close up this initial exploration, here’s a link to The Hockey News‘ Top 10 Scary Goalie Masks, since we’re close to Halloween. And in that vein, I’ll end with Gilles Gratton’s classic animal mask. Hit me with gems I’ve missed – there are many – in the comments.
Head over to Babeland for their 2009 Sexy Jack-O-Latern Contest. The competition starts Thursday, October 29th. and it’s free to enter. Winners will receive gift certificates for use on any adult novelty that you could possibly think of, or didn’t know existed.
So go get a pumpkin, pop in some porn…pause it… and get to the carvin’. Then just drop off your creation at any of Babeland’s NYC location (check their website for a complete list) and get in the running! The Jack-O-Laterns will be judged on creativity, craftsmanship and we hope depravity. Babeland will accept submissions until Halloween, oct 31st. Winners will be announced that day at 6pm at each location.
If you’re not in NYC, don’t fret because Babeland is also taking online submissions. Simply mail them a JPG of your carved pumpkin by Oct. 31st. Only catch is that you have to and make sure it depicts some sort sex toy that they currently sell on their site.
