Beer and Ecstasy

This whole post-one-album-from-the-past-decade-that-you-adored-and-by-Dec.- 31-you-will-have-posted-40-of-them project isn’t going so well for me because I can’t seem to abide by a normal timetable. But I’m pluggin’ along! So, today: number 38. Goldfrapp’s Supernature, their sexy-slinky foray into jagged glam-disco, which reminds me way too much of hyped-up nights (ahem) at the original Mr. Black (MISS IT!) and her amazing fall 2006 concert at Roseland, which has to be one of my all-time top 10. They opened the show with the song ‘Utopia,’ from their debut album (see below), and Alison Goldfrapp hit each complicated note, and I fell in love all over again.

Honorable mentions: Felt Mountain (2000), Black Cherry (2003), Seventh Tree (2008)

Dear Martha Stewart,

I have never admired you more.

Love,

Nicholas

So yesterday I had this whole grand plan to post one album and one movie that I loved in the past decade each day until Dec. 31. I only posted an album because contrary to a declaration I made a couple of days ago, I did NOT fix my ‘puter and it was still acting up last night.

Anyhoo, I’ve decided that I don’t feel right posting my favorite movies, because somebody else whom all six of my Tumblr followers also follow is already doing it, and nobody likes a copycat. So we’re stickin’ with the albums. Today’s entry: the soundtrack to Laurel Canyon, which is fitting since the 2003 film was on my movies list. (Honestly, it would have made the list if it had just been the split-second shot of Allesandro Nivola’s ass and nothing else.) This is one of those soundtracks that better informs the movie, and vice versa. I mean, where else will you find T. Rex, Eartha Kitt, Steely Dan and Butthole Surfers all in one place? Here, that’s where!

With apologies to the brilliant Tyler Coates, I’ve decided that I’m also going to post one movie from the past decade that I loved each day until the new year. But I’m taking it a step further. I’m also going to post one album that I adored, too. (Rule: Only one album per artist. Honorable mentions for other good sets will be doled out as deemed necessary.) These aren’t in any particular order, and they’re not necessarily the movies/albums that I think are the so-called “best” from the 2000s. Rather, they’re ones that touched me, moved me, made me laugh, made me think, or were just plain fun to watch and/or listen to. I hope you enjoy this endeavor. My first album is Arcade Fire’s ‘Funeral,’ which I first heard during a weekend trip upstate to our friend Tod’s country home. We spent a lot of time smoking pot that weekend (SURPRISE!) and that is when I was introduced to the band’s singular sound. I’m not really sure how to describe it, other than to say that it’s freakin’ brilliant. My favorite track is ‘Haiti.’ Click on the photo to hear it.

When Jolie and I open our fern bar and force every patron who walks in the door to join us in our deluded belief that life should perpetually feel as if it’s taking place in the year 1977, I will insist that this song be on permanent rotation.

(Incidentally, the fact that it sounds like the ‘Too Close for Comfort’ theme song makes me love it that much more.)

Reason #57 Why I Love Liz Hurley...

…aside from the fact that she’s slowly but surely turning into Joan Collins—and when is that ever a bad thing?—is this story. (Yes, I know I’m a week late.)

Okay, bitches, I’m back. Things have been a little out-of-sorts on the ‘puter front lately because we’ve been dealing with a glitch in our system. Apparently the ask.com toolbar, which was installed on this machine when we bought it (really, Hewlett Packard and Windows, who the fuck uses ask.com?), was causing all sorts of mayhem. I think I may have actually fixed it myself. I know! Me! Fixing something! Amaaaaaazing.

Anyhow, it’s getting fucking hot here in Sydney. Last weekend, Ben and I participated in something called a Big Gay Flash Mob on Bondi Beach. I’ve uploaded the official video above. Per Jolie’s instructions, I am here to tell you that while I’m not really in it because I’m out of camera range, you can glimpse me at 1:35 and 4:28. You can also see Ben doing the ‘Single Ladies’ choreography at 1:49.

Hope this brightens your day, especially since the Northern Hemisphere’s days haven’t been so bright lately.

I know I’m going to hell for this, and I’ve made my peace with it, but I seriously fucking hate Steve Irwin’s surviving family members, and this picture does nothing to alleviate said quirk.

If only Rosalie Aprile were in this show, too

So Australia’s answer to The Sopranos, a critically acclaimed hit called Underbelly, is filming its third season in my neighborhood these days. Apparently they’re going to be working on the quaint little back street just a block from my apartment this evening, as everybody in the neighborhood received a little flyer in their mailbox yesterday. And by this evening, I mean from 7:45 p.m. to 6:15 a.m.

This is my favorite line from the entire notice: Please note that there will be some special effects gunfire and bullet hits during filming in Kellett Street—the shots will be blanks, however they are still noisy.

Thanks, guys! Thanks so, so much for the heads-up.

I just love when people are total walking cliches

I’m sitting here at the liberry (yep! still calling it that! nope! not embarrassed!) sitting across from a guy who looks exactly like Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons. I just looked over at him, and…oh! Look! He’s reading a COMIC BOOK.

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