August at August (Restaurant)

Got wind of this via Eater. What caught my eye was Marco Pierre White's name, and I guess this is the closest I can get to tasting his food without having to cross the pond.


August at August

Running the entire month of August

August Celebrates our Namesake Month by Honoring the Historical Evolution of European Cuisine with a Month of Special Menus and Beverage Selections.

Join us throughout the entire month of August when we celebrate our namesake month by paying tribute to the major contributors who have influenced the evolution of European cuisine from the 1500s to present day. Please see our NEWS page for more information.


8/2-8/8
The Influence of Catherine de Medici's Court
From Sustenance to Entertainment

Heirloom Tomatoes $13
Robiolo Bosina and basil
Traminer, Sant Elena, 2008, Delle Venezie, Italy $15

White Lasagna $22
Artichokes, ricotta, white anchovy, pane fritto
Vin de Pay d'Oc, Valensac, 2008, Pay d'Oc, France $9

Market Berries $8
Mosto Cotto Zabaglione
Passito del Veneto, Bure Alto, 2001, Veneto, Italy $18

8/9-8/15
The Legacy of Marie-Antoine Careme
The Godfather of Haute Cuisine

Rabbit a la Allemande $26
Braised leg, roasted rack, morel vol au vent, pistachios
Chinon Rose, Couly Dutheil, 2009 Loire, France $12

Cherry Gateau $10
Vanilla chiffon, chocolate mousse, market cherries
Port, Sandeman Founders Reserve, Jerez, Portugal $14

8/16-8/22
George Auguste Escoffier: Creator of the Modern Kitchen Brigade
"The Emperor of Chefs and the Chef of Emperors"

GARDE MANGER: Salade de Homard Clarence $MP
Chilled lobster, curry mayonnaise, apple, tarragon, watercress
Riesling, Weingut Barundlmayer, 2008, Kamptal, Austria $15

POISSONNIER: Filets of Fluke St. Germaine $24
Pommes parisienne, bearnaise
Quincy, Domaine Lecomte, 2008, Loire, France, $13

ROTISSIEUR: Cailles al a Dauphinoise $25
Roasted quail, peas, farm lettuces
Coteaux du Languedoc, Ferri Amoud, 2007, Languedoc, France $10

PATISSIER: Peaches Melba $10
Poached peaches, raspberries, creme fraiche semifreddo
Sauternes, Chateau Gravas, 2005, Bordeaux, France $14

8/23-8/29
Jean-Marie Arzak and Marco-Pierre White
Great Influences of Modern Cuisine.

WHITE: Ballontine of Pigs' Trotters $12
Crispy pigs' trotters terrine, sweetbreads, roasted mushrooms, onion jus
Gamay Granits, Domaine Perriere, 2007, Loire, France $12

ARZAK: Merluza en Salsa Verde con Almejas $25
Poached hake, parsley, clams
Albarino, Ponte Da Barca, 2009, Rias Baixas, Spain $9

WHITE: Classic Lemon Tart $8
Moscatel, Laudate Dominum, 2005, Navarra, Spain $10


--------------


Here's MPW cooking up trotters for Raymond Blanc many years ago (prep for trotters starts at the 6 min mark):






(might as well post the whole episode)

PSA: Sunday, August 1 - Water Taxi Beach (South Street Seaport) - Party Time!

Chef Michael White's newest restaurant to be named Ai Fiori

Seeems like there's a lot of development going on around my hood. The newest tidbit of information is that Michael White and Chris Cannon are set to open a new joint in the currently under construction Setai Fifth Avenue hotel.

Via NYTimes:

By FLORENCE FABRICANT

Michael White, the chef and partner in Convivio, Alto and Marea, who is also in the throes of trying to open Osteria Morini, his new place on Lafayette Street, has piled even more on his plate. Working with Chris Cannon and his other partners in the Alta Marea restaurant group, he will be executive chef at Ai Fiori, the second-floor restaurant in the Setai Fifth Avenue, 400 Fifth Avenue (37th Street), set to open in late fall. The restaurant will feature the food of the Italian Mediterranean coast, with some French Riviera influences, and have about 185 seats with another 40 at the bar. Though the hotel shares its name with the Setai Wall Street, which also has a second-floor restaurant (SHO Shaun Hergatt), each is owned by a different company.

Vinyl Revival

I previously wrote a little something about the resurgence of music being pressed and bought on vinyl here. I came across this neat article and thought I'd share:

Via digitaldreamdoor.com:

It's all over the news- from countless newspaper and magazine features (including write-ups in the Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone Magazine, USA Today and other major publications), numerous online articles, and even the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. It's the vinyl record revival and more importantly, the resurrection of analog sound. But is vinyl for real?

Yes, vinyl records, left for dead with the advent of the 'digital age' are selling again. In fact, in 2008, it's reported that 1.88 million vinyl albums were purchased, which is the highest number since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking LP sales in 1991. Additionally, vinyl sales rose 14% between 2006 and 2007, from 858,000 to 990,000. And the sales figures for 2009 will surpass the number for 2008 with ease. In comparison, CD sales have nosedived over the past three years, from 553.4 million in 2006 to 360.6 million in 2008. MP3 sales grew from 32.6 million to 65.8 million during the same time period, according to SoundScan.

More people purchased vinyl records in 2008 than they have in almost 20 years, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

Progression of LP/EP sales in millions

•$2005 $14.2

•$2006 $15.7

•$2007 $22.9

•$2008 $46.2

•$2009 $56.7

Numbers indicate dollar values using shipment statistics from the Recording Industry Association of America.

Is the dreaded download the future of music? Yes, the sales of digital music are on the upswing, but there is almost too much available. Bands no longer need a record label contract to release their music. The result? An over abundance of bad music that has no right being released to the public, anyone can offer a song for ninety-nine cents; the music landscape is polluted. Vinyl on the other hand can't be easily reproduced and appeals to the senses. Besides the sound quality being better, there is more room for artwork, you can see it and hold it. Digital files are not a tangible product; you can't see them or touch them. They are infinitely reproducible and instantly available. Where will the song that you downloaded last month be in two years?

This is not a fad or cycle; music lovers young and old are being drawn to this historic audio format. The downloading generation has discovered the tangible benefits of vinyl and vinyl record sales are soaring across the country. Moreover, it seems to be a worldwide event, preorders and sales of vinyl records are on the increase in many countries across the globe.

Vinyl is cool again. Teenagers, who once may have scoffed at their grandparents' and parents' record collections, now wait in line to get the latest releases. More and more mainstream artists are releasing new material via the format and Capitol Records (along with many other major record companies) are now reissuing classic albums on vinyl. And now, along with the baby boomers, a new generation is discovering the special allure that vinyl records have - the limited editions, colored vinyl, picture discs, audiophile records (180-220 gram), the album cover art, and the sound - all elements in this grand resurgence.

This resurgence is fueled by many other factors. Let's explore some interesting aspects of the vinyl record.

The Sound

Yes, the hiss, snap, and crackle of a record are soothing music lovers around the globe. Vinyl records use analog recording methods; it is a clear, well-defined sound. The music is not compressed and digitized into the ones and zeros that you get with the CD or MP3; or what I term as "binary sound." There is warmth, an ambience that vinyl brings to the music and since the human ear hears in analog-not digital-vinyl records naturally sound better. So this is the secret that the DJ's, record collectors and audiophiles knew all along!

The Collectible Factor and Availability of Vinyl

Most recording artists are also fans of other artists' music; they own vast and eclectic record collections. Sometimes finding rare and collectible vinyl created by artists who have influenced their own music and whom they admire can be just as satisfying as creating and recording their own music. They also delight in finding rare vinyl of their own music. In fact, John Lennon was an avid record collector and amassed quite a collection of Beatle's bootlegs.

Buying and selling records is big business. Besides the garage sales, flea markets and yard sales, online auction sites such as eBay sell millions of records. It is reported that eBay users buy and sell six vinyl records each minute (or an average of one every ten seconds) totaling more than three million records each year. Some records still maintain their value decades after their initial release and have sold for thousands of dollars. It's been reported that the album that is bought and sold the most in the vinyl format is the Beatles' "White Album." Other acts such as Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Madonna, Led Zeppelin, among many others, are highly sought after and still command top dollar for specific releases. Soul and jazz music, along with classic rock, are always in demand. Additionally, online giant Amazon is committed to expanding their 'vinyl section' offerings to include thousands of music artists. Major electronics chain Best Buy has also begun selling vinyl records, making this decision after conducting a test in 100 of their stores and discovering that vinyl records were more popular than they anticipated.

There is also a lot of vinyl support in such musical genres as hip-hop, punk, and heavy metal. "Indie" music is now being pressed into colored vinyl, limited edition releases, and picture discs. These are the future collectibles and sometimes sell for higher-than-average prices. The online community has responded as well with literally thousands of web sites dedicated to the vinyl format. Many music artists are making sure that they give their fans a choice of music formats, with vinyl appearing to be taking the lead.

Then there is the actual physical aspect of going out to your local record store and buying a record. Browsing through bins of used vinyl, anticipating the new releases and rushing to the store to get that new record from your favorite band is exciting and pleasurable. The downloading generation has discovered the tangible benefits of vinyl and records sales are soaring across the country. Yes independent record stores have been closing at an alarming rate, but the shops that do stay open are flourishing. Paul Russe, the manager of Off The Record, an independent record store in San Diego, is encouraged by the future of the independent record store.

"I think there will always be record stores," Russe stated. "Otherwise, it's like saying there won't be any bookstores because everything in print will be a digital download. Digital is just a convenience. And anyone who loves music will always gravitate toward record stores."

"I've always marveled at every new generation of 15-year-old boys who go to the Doors vinyl section and say, 'Wow, an original Doors LP!' "related Marc Weinstein, founder of Amoeba Music, the three-store chain whose Hollywood branch is among the largest independent retail record stores in the U.S. "Major labels should have capitalized on this years ago."

"By the end of 2008, over 50% of our business was in new vinyl, which amounts to millions of dollars a year," said Matt Wishnow, founder of the New York-based online music retailer Insound.com. And there seems to be no end in sight.

The Vinyl Experience

In our age of iPods and MP3 music, playing a record is almost a ritual experience. There is the physical interaction between the person playing the album, the music itself and the machine. Playing a record can be a communal event where the music is shared with friends and family. But it is not only the music that intrigues the masses. Add unique and compelling album cover art and deluxe packaging, and a whole new generation of vinyl record lovers can share in this phenomenon.

Going hand-in-hand with the increase in vinyl record sales is the increase and availability of turntables. Nationally, turntable sales shot to over 500,000 last year compared to 275,000 in 2006. Record players and the paraphernalia that goes with them - styli, cleaning tools, vinyl records and even the old-fashioned amplifiers - are making a comeback. Manufacturers of turntables have given the consumer a plethora of options to choose from, from the very affordable unit to some that cost thousands of dollars. Students in colleges around the U.S., as well as globally, are now beginning to consider a turntable in their dorm room one of their necessities.

The Perks

Many recording artists are not only releasing their new material via vinyl but in digital format for those who choose that medium. Many records may come with a certificate for a free Internet download, which can sometimes be a bonus cut that may not be included on the record. It also allows the music to be portable, and the consumer can choose between the alternate formats. As the demand for vinyl continues its upward climb, so to will the affordability of the records. Many mainstream releases via the vinyl format are competitively priced, allowing for more units to be sold. Add to this the already flourishing used vinyl record market, where a music lover can pick up an LP for under five dollars, and we have a new vinyl model that will flourish for decades to come.

Will vinyl records regain their dominant position in the music industry that they once held? One can only guess, but with CD sales continuing to plummet and more and more music lovers discovering the value of vinyl, this historic audio medium will not fade away anytime soon.

Article by: Robert Benson

Marshall Jefferson - House Music National Anthem

The living legend Marshall Jefferson takes the time to answer how "House Music National Anthem" (the first house track to feature pianos) came about:

Via DeepHousePage.com:

I heard it in my head on my job at the Post Office, but with female vocals, and different words. I got home and did the piano, bass and drums. I thought it was hot as hell, and booked a session at Lito Manlucu's studio. Called up my buddies from the Post Office (Curtis McClain, Rudy Forbes, Thomas Carr) wrote the verse and the backgrounds in the studio. Recording and mixing time was about 3 hours total. They thought it sucked. I thought it was the hottest shit the dancefloor would ever hear, but I have quite the ego.


The night, I took the song 1st to the Sheba Baby club, where Mike Dunn, Tyree Cooper, and Hugo Hutchinson were DJ'ing. This was before they all had records out, and I was known as Virgo. (loved that nickname!) They loved the song and I gave them a cassette copy, but they said it wasn't House music because of the piano. From there i drove to the Music Box to give Ron Hardy a copy. Outside in the car i played it on my car system for some friends (One was K-Alexi) and I don't think they were too impressed. I'd had about 15 unreleased songs playing in the Music Box at that time and they thought some of my other stuff was much hotter. They also said it wasn't House Music because of the piano.

After that, I went into the Music Box and gave DJ Ron Hardy a copy while he was playing. I didn't expect him to play it right away; usually i just gave him a copy and he'd listen to it later and maybe play it the next weekend. This time he put it in the cassette machine right away. I saw his head quickly go into a violent bobbing motion and I knew he liked the song. He immediately put it on and played it 6 times in a row, putting on a sound effects record while he rewound the tape.

From there it got to be the biggest song in the Music Box. Ron told me not to give it to anybody else, and I held off for awhile, but there were other DJ's in the city that wanted it and finally I gave in when Frankie Knuckles, Ron Hardy's biggest rival got a copy of it. Prior to that,I took it to Trax Records to press it up on my own label. At that time Larry Sherman, the owner, considered himself a House music expert because he'd previously put out Jesse Saunders stuff and also 4 of my records. He hated the song and said it wasn't House music because of the piano. I didn't care and paid him to press the record up.

13 months passed before he finally pressed it up, but there were some things that happened before that......................

After Frankie Knuckles got a copy of it, it seemed the flood gates opened. I had to give Lil Louis and Fast Eddie copies, because Eddie lived 2 doors down from me on my block and Lil Louis lived on the next block. Mike Dunn, Tyree Cooper, and Hugo Hutchinson already had copies. Pretty soon it seemed like every DJ in Chicago had copies................some really bad and some passable, but crowds freaked every time it came on.


International DJ's played it to and this is how I tracked down how they got copies, after talking to the DJ's and members of the press:

1. Frankie Knuckies got his copy from my friend Sleezy D.
2. Frankie Knuckles' best friend was Larry Levan from New York's Paradise Garage. At that time, DJ's from all over the world would fly to New York to hear what Larry played, because whatever was popular there became hits.
3. Somehow DJ Alfredo from Ibiza got a copy of it, and started playing it in Ibiza.
4. English DJ's Paul Oakenfold, Danny Rampling, and Jazzy M got copies. Pete Tong and Paul "Trouble" Anderson got copies too, but I'm not sure if they got it at the same time as the 1st 3 or not.
5. Once the English DJ's started playing, things got weird, because the press got involved. England was quick to jump on a new music trend and got on it right away. "Move Your Body" had the words "Gotta have House music, all night long", and with that "House" music, you can't go wrong!" so naturally, the next task was finding out what house music was and getting the full scoop.


I started hearing English accents asking me for interviews when I answered the phone. I thought it was my friends screwing with me, but damn, those accents sounded authentic. I did a few phone interviews and suddenly, a whole herd of British Press all flew to Chicago to interview any and everyone involved with House music. They sat in on sessions and took loads of pics. Of course, Larry Sherman considered himself the resident expert on House Music and offered to take all the press around to all the House music clubs in the city. At that time I'd tried everything to get Larry to press up Move Your Body, but he hated it and said it wasn't House Music. It was because he said it wasn't House music that I called it "The House Music Anthem".I even paid him with my own money to press it up. and he still hadn't done it.

Well, when Larry took the press around to all the House clubs, Move Your Body was the hottest song playing at every single club-on dirty cassettes. The day after he took the press around to all those clubs, Move Your Body was finally on vinyl.

Mr. Scruff live DJ mix from the Garden Festival, Croatia, Saturday July 10th 2010

The one and only Mr. Scruff:

Mr Scruff live DJ mix from the Garden Festival, Croatia, Saturday July 10th 2010 by Mr Scruff

A beautiful summer night in Croatia, playing outdoors on a Funktion one sound system with 1,000 lovely people. A very special evening!


1. Rick James ‘Getting It On (In The Sunshine)’
2. Ron Basejam ‘ Into My Life’
3. Kid Sublime ‘Lookin’ At Me’
4. Osunlade & Nadia Shakoor ‘Touched My Soul’
5. The Salsoul Orchestra ‘Take Some Time Out (For Love)’
6. Joe Coleman ‘Get It Off The Ground’
7. Donald Byrd ‘Love Has Come Around’
8. John Blair ‘JL’s Ego’
9. Sharon Jones ‘Damn Its Hot’
10. The Minority Band ‘Tasty Tune’
11. El Coco ‘Let’s Get It Together’
12. The McCrarys ‘Love On A Summer Night’
13. Jazzy Dee ‘Get On Up’
14. Connie Case ‘Get On Down’
15. A Made Up Sound ‘Sunday’
16. Fania All Stars ‘Coro Miyare’
17. George Kranz ‘Din Daa Daa’
18. Black Lodge ‘Broughton’
19. Session Victim ‘Move You So’
20. DJ Slym Fas ‘Luv Music’
21. Sylvester ‘I Need You’
22. The Gap Band‘Out The Blue (Can You Feel It)’
23. Blue Magic ‘Welcome To The Club’
24. The Soul Fantastics ‘El Mismo’
25. Jobell ‘Never Gonna Let You Go’
26. Dusty ‘An Exotic Breed’
27. Johnny Clarke ‘Play Fool Fi Get Wise’
28. Ernest Wilson ‘I Know Myself’
29. Sound Iration ‘Give Thanks And Praise’
30. Overproof Sound System ‘Watch What You Put Inna’
31. Revolutionaries ‘Kunta Kinte’
32. Luciano ‘Sweet Jamaica’
33. Benga ‘Rock Music’
34. Mark Pritchard ‘Boingy (Intro)’
35. Ramadanman ‘A Couple More Years’
36. Mark Pritchard ‘Boingy (Full Track)’
37. Kyle Hall ‘Kaychunk’
38. Dexter ‘D-Funked’
39. Build An Ark ‘Dawn (Re-Edit)’
40. Sergio Mendes ‘Pomba Gira’
41. Aretha Franklin ‘I Say A Little Prayer’
42. Kindred ‘Rhythm Of Life (King Britt Remix)’
43. Airto ‘Samba De Flora’
44. Sabu ‘The Oracle’
45. Kitty Winter ‘New Morning’
46. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble ‘Water’
47. Mr. Scruff Vs Kirsty Almeida ‘Pickled Spider’
48. Johnny Osbourne ‘Musical Murder’
49. Billy Hawks ‘O Baby (I Believe I’m Losing You)’
50. Grady Tate ‘Moondance’
51. James Brown ‘Blues & Pants’
52. Don Blackman ‘Hearts Desire’
53. Gene Harris ‘As’
54. George Benson ‘The World Is A Ghetto’
55. Mr. Scruff ‘Get A Move On’
56. Moondog ‘Bird’s Lament’

Random Influences # 6, mixed by Greg Wilson

This one's choice:

RANDOM INFLUENCES #6 by Random Influences

No. 7 Sub - Review

I enjoy a good sandwich as much as I enjoy a tasty burger. Yesterday, I was in the K-town area during lunch and had a chance to stop by No. 7 Sub for some sandwich action.



With no obvious signage, it wouldn't be unusual if you walked right by the place as one of my friends can attest to.

Note that each individual sandwich is handmade, and can take up to 7-8 minutes to assemble...so keep that in mind if you're going to stop by during your lunch hour.

For this particular lunch, I copped two sandwiches to split and share with my old man. We got the 'lamb meatloaf' that has strawberry Pico de Gallo, curried crema, cheddar cheese, and pappadam and an 'olive oil poached tuna' intermingled with haricots verts, fried shallots, and cilantro.



Here are some sexy shots of the 'lamb meatloaf':



And here's the tuna:




The lamb meatloaf was distinctly lamb flavored, but didn't strike a chord with me. It was unmemorable. However, the tuna was a platinum hit. Super tasty and filling, the haricots verts were a perfect complement to the tuna, as was the mayo-based sauce. For those adverse to cilantro, I didn't really taste any (but you could always ask to have your sandwich without it). In any case, if I had more hands, I would give it 4 thumbs up.

So if you're in the hood and looking for something that's not your usual fare, give No. 7 Sub a shot. And of course, if you're in the Fort Greene hood, stop by their restaurant No. 7.

No. 7 Sub
1188 Broadway
between 28/29 St
New York, NY 10001
tel 212.532.1680
info@no7sub.com

Breakfast: Mon - Fri 8:00 till 10:30 am
Lunch/Dinner: 11:30 am till 5 pm
Or till we run out of bread

Green Day - She

I've always liked this song:

Landmark Ten-Eyck Troughton Residence Bought for $28M

Thought I'd post this because I walk by the place everyday. It's a massive building that's been vacant for awhile, and I always wondered what was to become of it.

The Ten-Eyck Troughton Residence was a Salvation Army home for women from the middle 1950s until recently, when the organization sold the Murray Hill building to a developer. Previously embroiled in a heated dispute, it's now being developed to become a hotel with a rooftop bar.

Via The Real Deal:

BD Hotels buys Salvation Army Midtown tower for $28M
July 22, 2010 06:30PM By Adam Pincus

Hotel owners Richard Born and Ira Drukier, principals with BD Hotels, led a partnership that yesterday bought a former women's residence in Murray Hill for $28 million from the Salvation Army, Born told The Real Deal.

BD Hotels plans to rehabilitate the vacant, 17-story property at 145 East 39th Street, between Third and Lexington avenues, and open it as a hotel before the end of 2011, he said.

The 98,815-square-foot building was constructed in 1918 as a hotel called the Allerton House, and was designated a landmark by the city in 2008.

The building currently has 342 rooms, city Department of Buildings records show, resulting in a price of about $82,000 per key.

Born's hotel company has an ownership interest or operates 22 hotels in New York City including Chambers in Midtown at 15 West 56th Street, and Maritime in Chelsea at 363 West 16th Street.

BD Hotels and its partners were represented by Christen Portelli, a managing principal for brokerage Highcap Group. Salvation Army was represented by Colliers International brokers Robert Freedman, Jonathan Plotkin and James Murphy. The Colliers brokers and the Salvation Army did not respond to requests for comment.

The sale transaction has not yet been published on the city's property website, Acris.

Hospitality consultant Steven Kamali, who was not involved in the transaction, said the proximity of the building to students from New York University and Yeshiva University makes it a good location for a hotel.

"That building is well-situated in Murray Hill for potentially successful food and beverage outlets," within the hotel, he said.

Tron Legacy (2010) - Trailer 3

Excitement for Tron 2 is rising:

Steve Lawler Live @ Ketamina, Moscow

This is a brilliant after-after-afterhours mix that deviates from the usual peak-time, slam-a-lama-ding-dong affair that big-time dj's usually throw down:

Live@Ketama, Moscow Exclusive Rare Performance Recorded After The Afterhours At 9pm 20.Jan.2010 by Steve Lawler on Mixcloud

Jonathan Robbins doing stand-up @ the DC Improv

This is my buddy Jon Robbins. He's killing it here.

Kenneth James Gibson - Something In The Way (Extended Mix In 3 Passages)

What a sick track:

Something In The Way (Extended Mix In 3 Passages) by Kenneth James Gibson

Peter Bjorn and John - Young Folks (Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve Re-Animation)

PSA: Sunday, August 1 - Water Taxi Beach (South Street Seaport) - Party Time!

When it's time to party, we know how to get down!

The Isley Brothers - Between the Sheets (The Revenge Rework)

Louis Jordan - You Gotta Have A Beat

It's a Louis Jordan kind of Monday morning today:

Small World Disco - Depth Of My Soul

The Ananda Project - Falling For You (G-Pal New York Mix)

Been awhile since I last heard this one...puts me in such a great mood:

Francesco Tristano & Carl Craig - The Melody

Electronic meets acoustic in the post-digital world:

Greg Wilson Live from T In The Park Festival - 7 July 2010

T IN THE PARK MIDDAY SLAM SESSION 10.07.10 (greg wilson live mix) by gregwilson

Ninja Say What?!

Nathan Fake - You Are Here (Four Tet Remix)

This one's struck a chord with me:

'Beavis and Butt-Head' creator Mike Judge working on 30 new episodes

Via REVIEWniverse:

July 6, 2:33 PM · Robbie & Kenny - Entertainment Reviews Examiner

By Kenny Herzog

REVIEWniverse has exclusively learned from an anonymous source that Mike Judge is currently outlining 30 new episodes of his iconic animated comedy Beavis and Butt-Head for its native network.

The source conceded that plans for actual broadcast are not yet cemented, or even a given, but confirmed that the King of the Hill/Office Space/Idiocracy maestro is definitely in the midst of writing new B and B material with the hopes of a full-throttle return.

Even better news for fans is that, should this come to pass, Judge plans on retaining the show's original ghetto-tech aesthetic, right down to the faded color palatte. The source also reveals that the Extract director intends on keeping B and B's format identical to its original sketch-videos-sketch incarnation, but with more contemporary music clips for the cartoon slacker-duo to skewer.

And of course, this being the viral age, Judge could always just unveil the finished installments on his own website or through a high-profile online partner should MTV be crazy enough to hesitate making room in its primetime schedule.

In case you forgot how actually, truly funny Beavis and Butt-Head was amidst all that ancient, controversial history:




And for your viewing pleasure, the first episode:

Best Laptop DJ Ever

He's feeling it!

Kenny Hawkes & Louise Carver - Play The Game

There's a new remix of this track making the rounds. I don't think it's as good as the original.

The Ohio Players - Fire

Four Lions (Trailer)

Debut feature film by English comedian Chris Morris, he describes it as a jihad satire:



Here's a news feature about the film:

Junior Boys - In The Morning (Hot Chip Remix)

A few years old now, still hits the spot...

Eric B. & Rakim - My Melody

Repost w/ lyrics:



Turn up the bass, check out my melody, hand out a cigar
I'm lettin knowledge be born, and my name's the R
A-k-i-m, not like the rest of them, I'm not on a list
That's what I'm sayin, I drop science like a scientist
My melody's in a code, the very next episode
Has the mic often distortin', ready to explode
I keep the mic at Fahrenheit, freeze MC's to make 'em colder
The listener's system is kickin' like solar
As I memorize, advertise, like a poet
Keep you goin' when I'm flowin', smooth enough, you know with the rough
That's why the moral of my story I tell'll be
Nobody beats the R, check out my melody

So what, I'm a microphone fiend addicted soon as I seen
One of these four MC's so they don't have to scream
I couldn't wait to take the mic, flow into it to test it,
Let 'My Melody' play, then a record suggest it
I'm droppin bombs, but I stay peace and calm
Any MC that disagree with me wave your arm
And I'll break, when I'm through breakin' I'll leave you broke
Drop the mic when I'm finished and watch it smoke
So stand back, you wanna rap? All of that can wait
I won't push, I won't beat around the bush
I wanna break upon those who are not supposed to
You might try but you can't get close to
Because I'm number one, competition is none
I'm measured with the heat that's made by sun
whether playin ball or bobbin' in the hall
Or just writin my name in graffiti on the wall
You shouldn't have told me you said you controlled me
So now a contest is what you owe me
Pull out your money, pull out your cut
Pull up a chair, and I'm a tear shit up
My name is Rakim Allah, and R and A stands for Ra
Switch it around, it still comes out R
So easily will I e-m-c-e-e
My repetition of words is check out my melody
Some bass and treble is moist, scratch in and cut in a voice
And when it's mine that's when the rhyme is always choice
I wouldn't a came and said my name and run same weak shit
Puttin' blurbs and slurs and words that don't fit
In a rhyme, why waste time on the microphone
I take this more serious than just a poem
Rockin party to party, backyard to yard
I tear it up, y'all, and bless the mic for the gods

The rhyme is rugged, at the same time sharp
I can swing off anything even a string of a harp
Just turn it on and start rockin, mine, no introduction
'Til I finish droppin science, no interruption
When I approach I exercise like a coach
Usin' a melody and add new verse(?) and notes
So when the mic and the R-a-k-i-m
It's attached, like a match I will strike again
Rhymes are poetically kept and alphabetically stepped
Put in a order to pursue with the momentum except
I say one rhyme out of order, a longer rhyme shorter,
A pause, but don't stop the tape recorder

I'm not a regular competitor, first rhyme editor
Melody arranger, poet, etcetera
Extra event, the grand finale-like bonus
I am the man they call the microphonist
With wisdom, which means wise words bein' spoken
Too many at one time watch the mic start smokin'
I came to express the rap I manifest
Stand in my way and I'll veto, in other words, protest
MC's that wanna be vissed(?), they're gonna
Be dissed if they don't get from in fronta
All they can go get is me a glass of Moet
A hard time, sip your juice and watch a smooth poet
I take 7 MC's put 'em in a line
And add 7 more brothas who think they can rhyme
Well, it'll take 7 more before I go for mine
Now that's 21 MC's ate up at the same time
Easy does it, do it easy, that's what I'm doin'
No fessin', no messin' around, no chewin'
No robbin', no buyin', bitin', why bother
This slob'll stop tryin', fightin' to follow
My unusual style will confuse you a while
And if I was water, I'd flow in the Nile
So many rhymes you won't have time to go for yours
Just because of applause I have to pause
Right after tonight is when I prepare
To catch another sucka duck MC out there
'Cause my strategy has to be tragedy, catastrophe
And after this you'll call me your majesty
My melody

Yes, my melody
Eric B.

Marley Marl synthesized it, I memorize it
Eric B. made a cut and advertised it
My melody's created for MC's in the place
They try to listen cuz I'm dissin them so pick up your face
Shook off your neck cuz you try to detect my pace
Now you're buggin', almost doggin' off my rhyme-like bass
The melody that I'm stylin', smooth as a violin
Rough enough to break New York from Long Island
My wisdom is swift, no matter if
My momentum is slow, MC's still stand stiff
I'm genuine like leather - inclined to be clever
MC, you'll beat the R, I'll say "Oh never"
So Eric B., cut it easily and
check out my melody...

Tortoise - Galapagos (Spring Heel Jack Remix)

Bouchon Bakery planned for Rockefeller Center

Via NYTimes:

July 7, 2010, 11:23 am
Off the Menu: Bouchon Bakery
By FLORENCE FABRICANT

Thomas Keller plans to open a second Bouchon Bakery in New York next March. It will replace the Dean & DeLuca at 1 Rockefeller Plaza (48th Street). But it will not have a restaurant component like the Bouchon Bakery in Time Warner Center. “In good weather there will be about 45 tables outdoors, but there will be no waiter service,” he said. Sébastien Rouxel, the pastry chef for Bouchon uptown will take on this project, too, where all the baking will also be done in-house. Tiffany Jones will be the chef de cuisine for both Bouchons, in charge of savory items. Mr. Keller said that a few years ago he thought about a chain of Bouchon Bakeries in New York, but his plans have been scaled back. “We’ll take it one step at a time,” he said.

Joe Walsh - Life's Been Good

I have a mansion but forget the price
Ain't never been there, they tell me its nice
I live in hotels, tear out the walls
I have accountants pay for it all

They say I'm crazy but I have a good time
I'm just looking for clues at the scene of the crime
Life's been good to me so far

My Maseratti does one-eighty-five
I lost my license, now I don't drive
I have a limo, ride in the back
I lock the doors in case I'm attacked

I'm making records, my fans they can't wait
They write me letters, tell me I'm great
So I got me an office, gold records on the wall
Just leave a message, maybe I'll call

Lucky I'm sane after all I've been through
I can't complain but sometimes I still do
Life's been good to me so far

[Instrumental Interlude]

I go to parties sometimes until four
It's hard to leave when you can't find the door
It's tough to handle this fortune and fame
Everybody's so different, I haven't changed

They say I'm lazy but it takes all my time
I keep on goin' guess I'll never know why
Life's been good to me so far

Sasha - Rabbitweed

The Xpander EP was one of the first records I ever bought. Almost 11 years later, the first track on the second disc, Rabbitweed, has not ceased to amaze me.

Sasha - Mr. Tiddles

Track 2 off of his seminal album Airdrawndagger, Mr. Tiddles is timeless.

PSA: Junior Boys (DJ set) @ Mister Saturday Night Loft Party @ 12-Turn-13 - Saturday, July 10

Link to tickets here.