School Supplies: Snagged, DKNY Wingtips

-I've been looking for some darker cap toe oxfords for awhile, but yesterday these DKNY antiqued calfskin wingtip oxfords were on Gilt for only $68 so I couldn't pass them up. I've always been a bit opposed to wingtips, I don't really know why except that maybe they just seem a bit too ornate for me. But I really liked the color and subtle worn look of these, so they should hold me over until I can afford some more legit cap toes. more

Women's Studies: 90210 x GQ

-Remember way back when I posted about how I was going to watch the new 90210, despite knowing that it would be terrible, because AnnaLynne McCord was so bomb? Then do you remember watching the show and finding that the other girl, the one who used to be on Degrassi, was actually hotter on camera that McCord? And then do you remember when today you saw this post about how McCord posed for these pictures for next months GQ and you spilled your milkshake? Good.

-Via Egotastic , click image for greater detail. 

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Visual Communication: Word(le) Up

-The other day Gawker had a blurb about this site, Wordle, which turns text you copy and paste into a box into something they call a 'word cloud', with words that appear most often in the text appearing more prominent in the cloud. Gawker used it to examine how repetitive their page was, but we found a better use for the site, measuring the cliche-ness of your favorite emo songs!

-See it's fun! This one (above) is Mayday Parade's "If you wanted a song written about you." More by us after the jump. Go to Wordle and do you your own and upload and put it in the comments section. (Note, you have to click 'save to gallery' before it will give you the code you can copy and paste into a comment. Do it! Now!



-This one's a classic, Dashboard Confessional "This Brilliant Dance." We made a music video for this song in video productions, fuck I wish I still had it. It was edited on linear! Before computer editing! Crazy.


-I wanted to a see a little bit of a darker song so this is A Skylit Drive's "My Disease."
-I really hope people do this, I want to see some fun shit.

-Kanye and T-Pain, the underrated "Good Life"
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Design Major: Paris Spring 09 Kris Van Assche

-I've already mentioned how KVA is one of my favorite designers, and how we pretty much predicted his miraculous ascent, but this show was a bit of a disappointment. Don't get me wrong, it is a solid and unmistakably KVA offering, I just expected a bit more in the way of progression. It's definitely interesting to note the contrasts between KVA's own line and his work for Dior Homme. The latter tending to be a much more Euro-centric, slim silhouetted, and dreary in it's aesthetics. Despite a bit of disappointment, I've selected a few things that kept me hopeful for future collections from KVA.
-As always, photos and analysis of our favorite looks after the jump.


-The sheen and the vest-trouser with no jacket combo is pretty stock KVA, but the rolled pants, belt, and the way the vest is buttoned are all nice accents. I also really like that KVA uses sneakers in his shows, it's a real sign of his youth among so many well-established designers.


-Again, a classic shirt/trouser combo amped up with a colored belt, rolled pant legs and sneakers.

-Unusual belting like I've mentioned in almost every review this year. I'm still undecided about it. I'd hate to see a repeat of the ties as belts trend.

-I really love the athletic pants cut as a trouser, these could be worked into so many interesting outfits, this one is a little lackluster but it lets us do the imagining.

Overall, I'm looking for more in the future and not losing faith in one of the best young designers around today, even though this and the Dior Homme show didn't excite me much.

All photos by Marcio Madeira via men.style.com















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Music Theory: Neil Diamond (No, seriously.)

-First, I'm pumped to announce that we've got someone doing weekly tune reviews for us, so keep checking back. With that I turn it over to C.Clowers:

-I was listening to the drone melodies of NPR the other day when I heard a familiar voice. The voice was as powerful as an ox and it was in dire need of an accompaniment by an acoustic guitar. This voice was the one an only….

NEIL DIAMOND

As I continued to listen I heard that he just released his 46th album. This is Neil Diamond’s first No. 1 debut on the pop charts and he has been in the music business for almost 5 decades. I was uncannily interested, so I purchased the album. (Click the More link for full post)

The first track ‘If I Don’t See You Again’ starts off with just Diamond’s mournful vocals while playing his guitar. It is a song that represents nostalgia and regret. Neil’s sorrowful singing and his powerful vibrato drive the emotions across to any listener. The album is much like Johnny Cash’s American series (also produced by Rick Rubin). His material is simple, yet powerful such as this line
“It’s time for saying goodbye
‘Cause if I stayed for too long
You’d get to know me too well
And find that something was wrong.”

As the song continues, the rest of the band comes in (all the essential instruments minus drums).

You can definitely hear Rick Rubin’s input come to play on many of these songs through the divine art of orchestration (choosing the right instruments for the right voicing). Rick Rubin likes to compliment the vocals/lyrics on many of his albums by having very warm instruments backing the vocalist. An example would be supporting Neil’s vibrato with a tremolo fixed organ that is smooth yet equal to the texture and mood of the song. Other well-blended instruments would be the choice of dull bass/double bass and an 11-piece orchestra comprised of soft instruments. In contrast to the smoother instruments, Rick reinforces the intensity of some of the melancholy songs by using the piano’s lower registers as the more INTENSE bass line. You can feel the frequency difference in your spine. This method truly delivers the message of the pieces without it having to repeat it’s self.

For a Neil Diamond fan, they will find the melodies in the song ‘Don’t Go There’ as a true Diamond staple. He has a thunderous melody line with bashing back up guitar chords that sound a bit Tom Petty-ish, as they should because his backing band is comprised of the guitarist (Mike Campbell) and the pianist/organ player (Benmont Tench) from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Diamond’s song entitled ‘No Words’ is an upbeat poppy love song. The lyrics are obvious, but heartfelt. The song is about how there are no words to describe his love to his significant other. It is a song that makes you warm and is a total convertible on a sunny day…song. This song is much like a good George Harrison/Beatlesque song with a richer sound.

To summarize the album would be injustice, but I’ll do it anyways. The album is a simple acoustic album filled with sorrow and sentimental feelings all at the same time. The album is carried through the hour and two minutes by the legacy that is…Neil Diamond’s powerful guitar playing and his brawny vocals. The backing on this album can only be described as warm, mellow, and fierce with emotion. Neil Diamond is a master of his craft and truly displays it in this album.

If you liked this album, or want to hear similar albums go buy….

Johnny Cash’s Unchained and/or American series
Tom Petty’s Wildflowers
Rod Stewart’s Every Picture Tells a Story
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