Saint Simon

Lately I find myself a little obsessed with the Shins 'Saint Simon'... what a quality song. The shins video for Saint Simon was shot in Mexico during Monarch butterfly mating season...worth a watch! Kissing the Lipless all together is a quality album. I doubt the shins can do anything wrong. They take metaphors and word play to a new level. Their use of lyrics is extremely impressive. Eccentric, melodic and pure rhythmic gold. So that's what I am listening to right now while I try and block out the incessant hiss of my steam heater. It both puts me to sleep and wakes me up. I'm not sure if I want to hug it or kick the shit out of it. I'll do both!

I've been going crazy over trying to figure out an album cover. It represents my first attempt at a studio album and it's going to reflect my artistic integrity so it better be good. I have ideas flowing to my head but need to track downa photographer or digital designer! here are some wicked noteworthy covers by some of the greats!

 

1. Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon
2. Pink Floyd- The Division Bell
3. Chemical Brothers- Push the Button

some other wicked ones are Wincing the night away by the Shins and Steely Dans 'Aja'! 

I found an archaic record store crowded with CD's from top to bottom. Mountains upon mountains. Truly an erratic assortment only the most unoccupied of people can have patience to sort through. I literally had to squeeze past one pile to the next and strategically move the top layers to get to the good stuff at the bottom. The owner, a short elder man clearly native to new york, stood behind his counter trying to impose on some of the browsers suggesting they invest in a used 2.00 flamenco CD. His voice slow and mellow with a touch of jersey in his speech. Even when I propelled my way through the compact disc blockade to his little nook he welcomed me with a "ya like flamenco young lady"! I was polite in turning his kind offer down. I had to peek through piles of CD's 5 feet tall just to see him. The place was literally teeming with albums. I purchased "Lady Coissant" one of Sia's older live albums. Arctic Monkeys, New Order and some other random CD I can't seem to get my laptop to recognize. It was 2.00 so I think i'll just take it as a minimal loss. It had great packaging!

I slept at Jessica's last night so I could be up early to watch the babies while she did some things around town. I changed 4 diapers, gagged 56 times and picked up 2 tons of chewed pasta off the kitchen floor. Eventful morning. They are twins and only 14 months old so it's hard work but they are irresistibly adorable in personality so I didn't mind. Jess and Larry are both really amazing people. They own a very reputable photo production company here in NY so they are at no shortage of interesting stories and information on art and fashion. Their apartment has some awesome art and tons of valuable books. They work along side the most famous photographers in the world. i'm talking rolling stones covers here...THEY DO EM'! I am lucky to have them as a reference when I am in need of creativity or even fashion advice ha ha.

As for the rest of my day... I took the west side train home... ended up lost so decided to just start walking rather than hopping on some random train... while juggling my bags I spilt more chai latte on my winter coat than I actually consumed...I hit up the grocery store... thought about Jason Shawrtzman then came back to my apartment...put on jogging pants and cooked myself dinner. I really need to get a job before I get used to this freedom. 

I am supposed to go to Williamsburg tomorrow to do some scratch vocals for a guy I have been talking to. He sent me all the material and details on whats to transpire but I will say I am a tad reluctant to go alone. It's a commercial studio and he said I can bring anyone I want along...plus he's got tons of info online about himself, but still... I have to remember what kind of world we live in. I am going to try and get someone to tag along. It's 20$ an hour so I can't really refuse that!   Plus I want to see Williamsburg...I hear its comparable to the EV. Am I getting boring? I think I like typing blogs like this because it's as though I am talking to the ultimate friend. I can talk forever uninterrupted.

I was at a club in lower east side/ soho saturday night and as I looked around and watched the room fill with people I couldn't help but say out loud "I f**king LOVE new york". I truly do.   The culture, the unconventional people, the taxi's that honk at everything at moves, the weird murals on the wall that no 1 artist can claim, the awkward foreign servers in small thai restaurants, the fire escapes that look

 more dangerous than an actual fire and the buskers in the subways who offer directions at the small price of a dollar. I consume it all into my mind as though I am walking through a movie. I see street names and recognize them in songs. Mostly anything written by Adam Duritz really.

One day at a time I hack away at my life trying to shape it into something I can live with. ;)