The Fader

The Fader knows what's up - Black Disco anyone?

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My Guilty Pleasure

Moonlight Dance is what I hope they will be playing when they open a Club Med on the moon - I of course will dressed up like a disco-ball on the dance-floor busting cheesy choreographed moves. This track is ridiculous - a perfectly-crafted dance-pop gem that sounds like it came back from the future of 201988, complete with slap-bass.

Behind the times

Not sure what I was doing in 2008 when Passion Pit were apparently blowing minds on the East Coast (no doubt listening to Techno), but I always say better late than never. Actually, it's kind of exciting being late to the party, because if you arrive at the same time as everyone else, you never really know whether you're just caught up in the moment - a moment that will pass - or feeling something deeper. Anyhow, their whole album is simply raucous: synth-laden poppier-than-thou songs for everyone, topped off with something much more intense than whipped cream and cherries - thoughtful lyrics delivered in a register that I dare not attempt in public by Michael Angelakos. The Reeling is a fantastic example of what's on offer here - go forth and listen.

Don't Know Till You Try...

The Postmarks - sublime. Think orchestral rock à la The Last Shadow Puppets, but with the sweetest of sweet lady vocals, courtesy of Tim Yehezkely (that's right, she's called Tim - but she definitely doesn't look like a dude). On the band's website it says, "When Tim Yehezkely sings, clocks stop, people listen, and ice cream refuses to melt" - whatever that means! Personally, I find myself melting quite rapidly as her voice emerges from the thick, textured sounds of "Memoirs At The End Of World". The song I picked out from the album is not necessarily demonstrative of the vibe of the album, but it's a belter - a driving, hypnotic piece that sends shivers up my spine. In this case, you really don't know until you try...

Bondage

Betsey Johnson just put out a black stretch dress with a zip up the front (below), but I'm sure I've seen this dress before....yes I have (kind of) - last year. Ever ahead of the curve, Amanda Benefiel designed and made this (right) for her own label: Another Happy Birthday. People need to start paying attention to these guys, or you just might miss something special happening right under your noses here in LA.

The road so far...

You've got to love the recaps that preface the season premieres of Supernatural (The CW) - slamming hard rock with action replays of all the Winchester brothers' gruesome dispatch of supernatural freaks. So trashy, so teen-appeal, so my cup of tea apparently. Ultimately, I suppose, my fondness for this show stems from an all-encompassing fascination with ghouls and freaks of supernatural origin. They seem to have consistently provided a good balance of bad jokes, brutal supernatural violence, and enough atmosphere to give me the occasional scare, that this show continues to hold my interest. But then with my genuine appreciation for teletrash, they really don't have to work hard to tickle my fancy...

Faux-Persian no maux!

Just as an aside - I dispensed with the alter-ego that speaks English as a second language with a strong Persian accent. Actually, "dispensed" might be too strong a word - let's just say I took some grammar lessons or something. Alper Kakir is alive and well.