Moreover, Mr. Chirico, 26, discovered what other young men in New York have begun to notice in recent months: In the city’s more style-conscious ZIP codes, there has been a renaissance of that much-loved old neighborhood standby, the barbershop.
Proving Fran Lebowitz’s oft-cited dictum that “you’re only as good as your last haircut,” authentic-looking barbershops have popped up all over lower Manhattan. Done up with, say, vintage lighting fixtures, antique barber chairs and, of course, a big glass jar of blue Barbicide on the counter, they are offering good, solid haircuts and shaves for less than half the price of a fancy salon cut. And in a kind of tonsorial version of chicken-or-the-egg, their arrival is perfectly timed, coinciding with the twin desires among urbane young men to tame their unruly locks and look neater and sharper from the neck up, and do it in all-American, gentlemanly, modestly priced fashion, far from the salon smells of peroxide and perfume.
- The Barbershop Renaissance in NYT
The Mystery Jets - Dreaming of Another World (mp3)
Kooky and catchy, very driven indie rock laced with lazy dreams and another you.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]
Sufjan Stevens - Futile Devices
This song could play right out of a movie by Sofia Coppola and it would be so so right. The lyrics tumble out affectingly about a best friend, in that words are rendered useless in expressing the platonic love because it seems trite. The song just seems way too short though, beauty could be extended and appreciated. That said, I'm still in awe of his talent and would really want to see him perform live.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]
jj - Let Go
Exquisite and serene, the initial electronic samples glossing over you like a constant warm breeze of air. It alternates with more pertinent drums and the entire time, you feel at peace, almost zen-like. Also, the harmonica sample starting and ending the song just seems... so right.
[myspace] [last.fm]
Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti - Round and Round
Ariel Pink's drone might put some off this song, but it seems very much in character with this freak folk song. He seems to have amalgamated distinct parts - monotonous drone, choir-like singing, muted beats, upbeat chorus - of the song into one cohesive package that somehow ticks.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]
Aska - There Are Many of Us
Such a beautiful song that tugs at your heart ever so gently.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]
Deerhunter - Earthquake
The creation of an ambience in this song is eerily effective. Fuzzy vocals like one out of a cranky tv, spooky lyrics that speak of waking up on a dirty couch in a grey fog, the short intermittent scratch. A slow and steady build up before it reaches a miasma of sounds like heckling of ghosts before settling down suddenly, and drifting to an end, leaving you in it's wake wondering what just happened.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]
Fear of Tigers - Cossus Snufsigalonica
Euphoric dance beat that would make your feet smile. One of the few tracks that was on heavy repeat during my long vacation in europe.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]
Puro Instinct - Luv Goon
These sisters used to be called Pearl Harbor, and with the name change, it seems more suited to their kind of music.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]
Hot Chip - Thieves In The Night
Fantastic synth dance number in full glory.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]
Toro Y Moi - Talamak
Comfort music, really.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]
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