Given the title of this blog, it seems time to mention that I have achieved the titular goal. On June 12th I got on a train bound for Penn Station and arrived that night in my new home in New York. It has now been two weeks since I first laid eyes on Queens, and in that time it has become home. There are two things immediately apparent about Queens, and our neighborhood, Astoria: wide cultural diversity and the incredible food that comes with it. After arriving on the 12th Cassie and I ventured one block over to a hole in the wall eatery owned by a very friendly Syrian man. I enjoyed my first falafel sandwich. If you have never partaken in this delicacy you are missing out. Falafel is deepfried chickpeas, and the sandwich was stuffed with fresh lettuce, tomato and a hot sauce to give it a kick. The ingredients combine to give the feeling of a fried chicken sandwich, but without the heavy feeling that fried chicken brings.
PITA HOT, 30th Avenue between Crescent and 29th Street
The second culinary discovery I have made, with Cassie's guidance, is the lentil. It is a delicious bean, available cooked and uncooked. We prefer the cooked variety for convenience. I have had more time to experiment with cooking, so I thought I would share something I have come up with. Listed below is a recipe for a lentil flatbread wrap. Serves 2. Cook Time Ten minutes Ingredients (2) Flatbread wraps (adjust depending on size and appetite) (1/2) package Trader Joe's steamed lentils Hummus of your choice Sriracha Hot Sauce
Directions 1. Thaw lentils. 2. Set your oven to 400°F. 3. Place flatbread on cooking sheet with three spoonfuls of lentils each. 4. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until flatbread edges begin curling. 5. Remove cooking sheet from oven. 6. Apply hummus and hot sauce to taste That is the working recipe. I'm sure it would be excellent with tomatoes, lettuce or different sauces. Stay tuned for more insights from New York City rookie in the next few days.
Am I about to review the new Fall Out Boy record? Yes. Yes I am.
Album: Save Rock and Roll
Band: Fall Out Boy
Label: Island Records
Producer: Butch Walker, Fall Out Boy
Release Date: 12 April 2013
I can't tell you how long I waited for some new Fall Out Boy material. That sounds pathetic, but ever since their major label debut From Under the Cork Tree, I have not been able to get enough. Save Rock and Roll has been a surprise on many fronts, most of all, in content. If you pick up this record expecting the punchy guitar and fast paced Fall Out Boy you will surely be disappointed. The band has embraced a wide range of musical styles into their music, with songs including string sections, keyboards and synthesizers, as well as a notable dubstep drop (the author of this blog does not condone listening to dubstep in any way). Hip Hop, R&B, and EDM influences are present throughout, adding to the band's already broad sounds.
Highlights:
1. The Phoenix
There is something about statement of purpose songs at the beginning of albums that I love. "The Phoenix" should have been the lead single for the record. It is a right hook to the chin of all of Fall Out Boy's critics over the past eight years. The chorus references critics who are wearing the band's "vintage misery," and that it is time to grow up and accept that changes that come with growing. The song features a string section, which sounds a little too similar to German artist Peter Fox's "Alles Neu" to be original FOB, but you can judge that for yourself.
Peter Fox, "Alles Neu"
Fall Out Boy, "The Phoenix"
4. Where Did the Party Go
It is a rare thing for a rock band (some might dispute this term in this case) to put out a song that is a genuinely "danceable" party song. This song breaks the mold. Leading with a catchy up-tempo bass hook, driving drum line, and electric chorus, "Where Did The Party Go" is a powerhouse. Lyrically thoughtful, as all of their songs are, this song makes you think, as long as you can stop tapping your feet long enough to do it.
8. Death Valley
Writing a song with a dubstep section is not what you would expect from a record called Save Rock and Roll, but as it should be clear by now, the name is tongue in cheek. Death Valley is the closest song on the record to vintage FOB. It is punchy and poppy until the dubstep section in the bridge.
9. Young Volcanoes
If you didn't know you were listening to a Fall Out Boy record you might mistake "Young Volcanoes" for a Train song. Acoustic guitar and hand claps have never been the band's MO, but they make it work with a catchy pre-chorus that leads into a chorus clearly prepared with stadium shows in mind. Lyrically the song has some chuckle moments, while remaining introspective.
10. Rat a Tat (feat. Courtney Love)
There is no reason for Courtney Love to be in what is otherwise an excellent song. If you can tune out her stupid ramblings, this is one of the better songs on the record. Lyrics look at the difficulties we face in dealing with change, somehow, in a hopeful manner.
11. Save Rock and Roll (feat. Elton John)
As interesting as it is having Elton John on your record, he doesn't really fit with Fall Out Boy's vibe, or the vibe of the record. However, it is a great anthem to end the record.
The record suffers from its reliance on guest performers. In addition to Elton John and Courtney Love, Big Sean features on "The Mighty Fall" and Foxes provides vocals on "Just One Yesterday." Neither Big Sean nor Foxes add anything to these two tracks. They serve as distractions, as if the band felt they needed to add more performers just because they could. Simpler is most often better. Grade: A-/B+ Save Rock and Roll is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Four years' hiatus have not detracted from the band's sardonic wit; the title itself is beautifully tongue in cheek. Guest performers detract from the record, and of course any ensuing live performances. The record is a rarity for Fall Out Boy, back loaded rather than front loaded, and it closes with a punch, leaving the listener pensive and thoughtful. Highly recommended for listeners of all styles of music.
My sincerest apologies for the lack of material over the past two months. The final weeks of my time in academia and graduation were both busy and exhausting. However, I have excellent news. I am officially moving to New York this upcoming weekend, on the job hunt, and rearing to go. Two things in the past few weeks have really piqued my interest. The first I will expound on now, and the second will have to wait for another post.
The first is the BBC series Sherlock a modern retelling of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories. For a longtime reader and Holmes enthusiast the recent resurgence in interest in Doyle's works is spectacular. The three most popular efforts have been Guy Ritchie's films starring Robert Downey Jr. in the titular role with Jude Law as Doctor Watson, a CBS series title Elementary with Jonny Lee Miller as Holmes and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson, and of course the BBC's effort, with Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes and Martin Freeman as Watson. some good, some bad, and some terrific. I have only seen one episode of Elementary, but I can say with some certainty that it is entertaining, but ventures too far from Doyle's original works. With different names it could be any other crime drama. I am sure some will disagree, but I believe that Sherlock Holmes lives on Baker Street in London, nowhere else. Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows must struggle the least of the three series to retain Doyle's Victorian setting, because of course it is set in Victorian Britain. They are two terrific films. Mystery films are always the best when each piece of evidence is shown on screen, even if the details escape the entranced viewer. Ritchie does not disappoint in this aspect, making the films more rewarding each time. The series I have set out to review, for lack of a better word, is Sherlock. The ninety minute run time of each episode may seem lengthy for a television series, but the amount of detail, flexibility, and suspense that it provides is superb. It also allows each episode to stand alone, although each episode benefits from having seen each prior episode. The most difficult piece of writing a modern Holmes series is incorporating technology and finding modern day equivalents for Holmes' habits. The struggle with cigarette addiction was the perfect replacement for opium addiction; in one scene Holmes rolls up his sleeve to reveal a multitude of nicotine patches. The character retains his habit of playing the violin, but his detachment from human contact and apparent psychopathy is played up much more than in previous Holmes adaptations. Technologically speaking, cell phones play a large part in the series (with a little product placement here and there, just for fun I'm sure), and Holmes is often seen in the lab, using the latest forensic technologies to solve crimes. Rather than Doctor Watson writing his account of Holmes on paper, it is converted to a blog, both popularizing Holmes' exploits and bringing in new cases. The way technology is brought in is unobtrusive, and does not distract from the story. Doctor Watson is an incredibly difficult role to play, for any actor, because of his purpose in Doyle's works. He exists solely for the purpose of transmitting to the reader what Holmes is thinking. In comparison with Jude Law's interpretation of a tough wingman for Holmes, Martin Freeman is shown as a much more caring and intellectual type, probably the smartest of the Watson's of years past, while maintaining the steely resolve of a military doctor (he is a veteran of Afghanistan, rather than India, fitting in with the modern interpretation). He is also a crack shot. Rather than having a story with two heroes, Watson is the hero and Holmes the antihero. Freeman excels in protraying this role, as he did in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, because he is so much like the average viewer: smart, caring, and compassionate. I know I have said little of Cumberbatch as Holmes, but there is really little to say. He is much more intense than other actors, who play Holmes as a much more laid back character, but he has excellent presence, and works well with Freeman. However his absence would not destroy the series. Sherlock is an excellent series, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves Doyle's works or the characters he developed.
I first saw this video on YouTube shortly after it came out last March. After I managed to stop laughing and my sides stopped hurting, I realized the genius of both the product and the advertisement.
This was confirmed when I visited their website and discovered that the service was already on back order for several months. I believe that's what you might call "effective advertising." So, without further ado:
Brilliant.
I'll get into the quality of the product a little later, but for now, let's break down the video.
We begin in a normal looking office with the founder explaining what the company is, only to be surprised by an expletive, a great example of shock value. From that point on, the commercial continues to escalate in ridiculousness. Scenes include a baby shaving a man's head, a dancing bear, cutting tape with a machete, and a dance party.
At the core of the commercial, and the company, is the notion that the shave-tech industry bombards us with increasingly unnecessary and elaborate gizmos. I tend to agree. The jab at Gillette's sponsorship of Roger Federer and the shout out to the founder's grandfather are thought provoking and humorous. Think about any picture you have seen from pre-1980. Can you see an apparent difference in a man's shave because he didn't have a razor with a vibrating handle, four thousand blades, a laser pointer, and an iPhone attachment. KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) as they say.
Analysis of the product: Superb. I was pensive when ordering, because it could have backfired. But for $5 a month (there are three options, https://www.dollarshaveclub.com/our-blades) it made sense to try. I could not be happier. It is superior to my old Gillette 4-blade in every way: durability, closeness, and comfort. I recommend the product to anyone out there, and after four months, there is no way I will be going back to store bought razors.
Great Product + Great Advertising = Happy Customers.
At this point it seems prudent to explain the title of this blog. It is a several fold explanation, the first of which is the excellent song from my favorite band, from Liverpool, The Wombats:
Second, my roommates have predicted that I will move to New York after graduation. Deep.
The third and final piece is a corollary of the second, I am trying to move to New York after graduation, how incredibly shocking. However, the most important part of this post is to rave about The Wombats, who I have had the fortune to see twice in the last two years. Best live act I have ever seen, and I have seen some good ones; Foo Fighters are hard to beat folks.
They mix witty, sappy, and depressing lyrics with incredibly upbeat and happy music to create a unique sound. When you watch the video above and crave more, check out their debut record, "The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss, and Desperation" and sophomore effort, "The Wombats Proudly Present...This Modern Glitch." Both are chock full of thought provoking lyrics and addicting music. After you become addicted to them you can blame me. You're welcome in advance.
During the North London Derby last week (that's Tottenham and Arsenal for you non-football fans) this advertisement came up during the post game show.
Probably one of the funniest TV ads that I have seen in a long time, it is an excellent example of how an advertisement can be effective without showing (or being relevant to) the product. I can't speak for many others, but as soon as the commercial was over, everyone in the room watching wanted to know what the company is (for those who are wondering, "3" is a mobile device retailer and broadband service provider). The choice of song is superb, Fleetwood Mac's "Everywhere," and the concept endearing. It also continues the trend of 'absurdist' (for lack of a better term) advertisements that we have seen in the last few years.
I have held off on the blog thing for a long time, but now I think it's time I start imposing my ideas on cyberspace. This is going to be a place where I discuss and post thoughts about the two things occupying most of my mental capacity: advertising and music. First post to come shortly...English advertisements are a nice refresher from ours here in the United States, one this past week was excellent.
