DJ Dabble is back!

 

For your listening pleasure, please enjoy DJ Dabble Mix 2, now available at the iTunes music store (or just ask and I'll burn you a copy for free...).

This eclectic offering includes some New Wave favorites, recent reinterpretations and songs derivative of that era, and, finally, some contemporary cheesiness to round things out.

Again, iTunes arbritrarily reorders the songs, so please note that The Dabbler's preferred sequence for a maximized audio experience is as follows:

1. Love Will Tear us Apart, Nouvelle Vague
2. Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson
3. Somewhere Only We Know, Keane
4. Let Go, Frou Frou
5. Shellshock, New Order
6. Breathe Me, Sia
7. Come On Closer, Jem
8. Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair, Nina Simone (Verve Remixed version ideal, but not available on iTunes)
9. Re-Offender, Travis
10. Spanish Lament, The Durutti Column
11. Prayer for the Dying, Seal
12. Transatlanticism, Death Cab for Cutie
13. How Soon is Now (live), Morrisey
14. Numb/Encore, Jay-Z & Linkin-Park

Wine of the Week -- Update

 

Tried the $20 Brunello. It was more like a 75 pointer, Tanzer was generous. You're far better off with the eight dollar Rioja recommended earlier in the week. Cheers!

Wine of the Week

 

Twenty Buck Carlo?

Wandering down the aisles of Trader Joe's isn't usually terribly exciting. Occasionally the store introduces a new product and promotes it heavily in their 'Fearless Flyer', such as the wondrous garlic fries that suddenly appeared in the freezer case last year. But mostly it tends to offer the same items over and over, from soup to nuts (to wine).

So imagine my surprise when I encountered a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino prominently displayed by the same purveyor who popularized Charles Shaw wines just a few years back. Ten times the price of 'Two Buck Chuck', twenty dollars is still more than reasonable for a Brunello (unless there is something horribly wrong with it), and even better for the 1999 vintage.

The winery is Casisano Colombaio. Stephen Tanzer gives this vintage and bottling only 87 points and a mixed review, calling it "a bit clenched and medicinal in the mid-palate despite possessing good concentration". But considering the pricepoint, I'm willing to taste it myself and see if it's worth $19.99. I'll let you know what I think soon.

FYI, if the Trader Joe's in your state doesn't carry alcohol, the wine retails for an inflated but still modest $26.99 elsewhere.

The Ivy Pinkerton Files: Jumpsuit update

 

Ivy Pinkerton has forwarded a photo sent to her by “a reader, a novelist who fancies wearing jumpsuits to dinner parties" -- and, undoubtedly, other events worthy of such festive attire. The velour adds that special air of luxury.*

Ivy, might this garment also be referred to as a 'Parisian Nightsuit'?

*Readers, please don't hesitate to participate in the comments section or send tips, photos, or anything you would like published. I think the bar has been set quite low (or really really high?) by this particular write-in...so don't be shy.

The Garage Project: Tile Edition (take 2)

 

The Dabbler has often heard that construction projects never end when they're supposed to. But she didn't think it would happen to her -- especially with Project Manager Olive on board.

Nevertheless, some things wound up out of their control, like the shoddy job resulting from the the harder-to-install-than-they-look, super-cool 'Hampton's Blend' mosaic tile. Though it may look decent in the photo to the left...up close? A disaster painful to even the untrained eye. Hence, the garage project continues long past its target finish of December 23rd, 2005.

Not wanting to make the same mistake twice, Olive interviewed about a half dozen tile contractors before settling on one. Some insisted they could use the existing tile as a base for new layer of tile they'd lay right on top of the old. Others suggested that the entire job needed to be demolished. Everyone pretty much agreed it would be more expensive to repair the myriad errors in the mosaics than to start all over again from scratch with new materials. And there was an even stronger concensus that labor costs to redo the job with the same mosaic tile would be three times as much as with a simpler, larger, ceramic product.

Hence, the Dabbler consulted with Olive, and after much consdiration and slightly broken hearts (Olive will be bathing here too, after all), they decided to use a very basic (read, boring) 3x6 white subway tile as a replacement.

Though not exactly the funky, hip environment she once envisioned, the Dabbler is happy with the craftsmanship of the job, and knows that Olive advised her to make the right decision. The look is now more classic than spa sanctuary (or spa acid-trip as some might have said). But it might just stand the test of time, style-wise, even better than the previous design; most importantly, it is bound to hold up better against dry-rot and mold.

Here, photos of the satisfied PM, in the process of putting together the pedestal sink; and a detail of the new tile, complete with inset shelf for shampoo and other sundries.

With the Garage Project heading toward the finish line, more updates will be posted soon.

The Ivy Pinkerton Files

 

From New York, Ivy reports:

As rare as a snow leopard sighting in the Himalayas, imagine my surprise when I turned the corner and spotted this (below) in the window of a Soho store. Perhaps its emergence was inevitable, along with other late 70’s referenced items like flipped hair and tube tops that are popping up.But unlike other regurgitated trends, this one has me as giddy as a snowboarder doing a fakie mctwist (below). For the jumpsuit is the ultimate in efficiency dressing. You have your pants and shirt on (or off!) with one easy zip.

I’ve often been envious of workers who don coveralls, both for simplicity and aesthetic appeal. I imagine if I owned a company, I’d outfit my workers in something like this (below) only better tailored and with multiple color options and gladly don one right along with them.

The one downside to the jumpsuit is that if you happen to be tall like me, there is the very real fear of camel toes (below). And that is enough to put these coverall dreams back to bed. --IP

Wine of the Week

 

2004 Bodegas Aldeanueva Cortijo III Tinto
Rioja, Spain, 100% Tempranillo

Robert Parker says: "Bodegas Aldeanueva’s 2004 Cortijo III Tinto (made from 100% Tempranillo) is a tank-fermented and aged Rioja that sells for a song. In fact, I cannot think of another Rioja at this price level that offers this much character and fruit. Its moderate ruby color is accompanied by a sweet nose of strawberries, cherries, spice box, dried herbs, and tobacco. With a lush texture, medium body, and no hard edges, it should provide plenty of pleasure over the next 1-2 years. This is an excellent bargain." 87 points.

The Dabbler says: run to the Wine House in West LA or to Larchmont Wine and Cheese and grab this $8 bottle while you can. It drinks incredibly well and would be perfect for dinner parties given the price. New Yorkers, you'll have to hunt this one down on your own. The Dabbler is too lazy to search the web right now for Tri-State area package stores carrying this gem. Yummy.

The Dabbler Visits Disney Concert Hall!

 

Though I consider myself a culturally literate person, there are certain areas that have not called out to me in the same way as the contemporary visual arts have -- like, say, for instance, live musical performances, especially of pre-20th century genres. Maybe it's because I have a hard time embracing things that I can't also collect on my own, items that don't have some component of accumulation. Music is abstract while art has physicality. I hate to think of myself as such a materialist, but in nine years of living in Los Angeles, not once had I attended a concert at the Music Center downtown, nor had I done anything other than admire the 2 year old exterior of Frank Gehry's Disney Conert Hall. That is, until Tuesday.

The Dabbler's husband usually sticks to the old standards for Valentine's Day. Some flowers, maybe dinner. He really hasn't ever strayed from this, except for our second V-Day together when he got me one rose instead of a dozen, claiming that its simplicity was more romantic than a garish bouquet could ever be. He was quickly disavowed of that notion. (Note to men: more is more much of the time.)

So imagine my surprise when the romantically challenged Mr. Dabbler presented me on Tuesday with tickets to the LA Philharmonic, and whisked me for an evening of baroque chamber music. I was pleased with the creativity. I was impressed with the choice of venue, as classical music lends itself to romance. Ultimatley, though, the experience of the 2 hour concert was somewhat frustrating, and thinking about why that was the case has helped me to understand the reasons I have avoided going to symphony all these years.

First, I don't like hearing music for the first time in a live venue. I want to be familiar with it. I want to know what to expect. I want to know the duration. It was not my dislike of orchestral music that had me squirming in my seat on Tuesday, but rather my anxiety at having no idea when each piece would end. It was like being in a spinning class where the instructor has chosen some techno-electronica with a pulsing beat. Without an endpoint in sight, I can't turn the resistance to ten and spin my ass off; but as long as I know when the next chorus of "oops, I did it again" is going to ring out, I'm a cycling machine.

So, with Rameau (right) and Gluck (left) on the program for Tuesday's event, I was put in the position of complete unfamiliarity. All I could do was look at my watch, cross and uncross my legs, and quiver with anxiety. The chairs at Disney Hall being excessively uncomfortable only exacerbated the squirming issue. (Note to Frank Gehry: more leg room is never a bad thing.)

Next, I don't love operatic vocals, though if I am familiar with the piece, this obstacle can sometimes be overcome. On this evening, the overly flowerly compositions were sung by a diva in an antiquated gown and ringlets in her hair worthy of the 18th Century. Performed in French, a language of which I have some knowledge, it bothered me intensely that even though I could read and translate the lyrics in the program, the words themselves were incomprehensible to the ear. Ironically, even though I much preferred the style of the non-vocal selections, the fact that lyrics were printed for me to follow along with during the songs somewhat allayed my nervousness at not knowing when things were going to end. They were the "Oops, I did it again" of the LA Phil.

Finally, I realize that though I have complained about the unoriginal flower/dinner Valentine's Day combo in the past, there is a reason why it's the old standby. As romantic as going to see the Phil was in concept, it didn't allow Mr. and Mrs. Dabbler to actually interact with one another. Yes, we were sharing an experience together. But we were experiencing it differently, personally, and ultimately separately. Valentine's Day is supposed to be about connecting. (And flowers...and chocolate...and presents.)

Don't think of me as a complete philistine, however. I will happily go back to Disney Concert Hall to see any number of programs, but beforehand I will have to know the music that is being performed. This is not to say that I will only go when the Four Seasons or Beethoven's Fifth are on the docket. I do like to be introduced to new things. So I will have to get ahold of the CDs ahead of time (do I see a collection beginning?), listen, learn, and then know what I'm in for. On any day of the year but February 14th...

Movie of the Week

 

R. Kelly's Hip-Hopera Masterpiece: "Trapped in the Closet"

For over a week now (this was meant to have been last week's Movie of the Week), Ihave been trying to find the right words to explain the myriad reasons that you must watch "Trapped in the Closet", but it's just too difficult. All I can really say is that it's a phenomenon that can't fully be explained. It's pure unintentional comedy genius.

Because the words escape me, I have cut and pasted some text from Wikipedia, as well as Chapter 1 lyrics, below. But just do yourself a big favor: get the DVD, and first listen to the audio only; then, watch the whole thing through with audio and video; finally, watch it with R. Kelly's visual/audio commentary running, in which he explains -- among other things -- the artistry of rhyming, with the example of "baretta" and "dresser" to show off his creativity. Just how many layers of literalness there are is fascinating.


You can further explore the details of each intricate chapter at Wikipedia's website, just one of many trackers of this cultural phenomenon which seems to have divided our nation. There are no Red States or Blue States. Our country is divided into those who know (and love "Trapped in the Closet", since to know it is to love it) and those who don't. Many people even intimately know the South Park episode (912) which contains numerous references to the R&B star's tome, or have seen SNL's parody, yet have no idea that it is a reference to an actual 45 minute ditty. It is the most oft-referenced, but seemingly least widely known piece of pop culture material I can think of, ever, in the history of all pop culture, in all times. This contradiction is part of what makes the 'hip-hopus' that much more hypnotic (or would it be hip-hopnotic).


If you would like a copy of the DVD on loan, my copy is currently in Ivy Pinkerton's hands. If you write me in the comments, I can have it delivered directly to you. You will not be disappointed.


------

Wikipedia sums up the basics of this triumphant but controversial masterpiece with the following description:

"Trapped In The Closet" is a single released by R&B singer R. Kelly. The song is an ongoing narrative which Kelly has sent to radio one part at a time. As of November 2005, twelve parts have been released, played on radio. The story is about a man named Sylvester, portrayed by Kelly. Sylvester is likely named after Kelly's middle name. The song is notable and unique for many reasons including its absence of a chorus, its detailed and linear narration of a story in a conversational and sometimes rambling manner, its dramatics, and its dangling cliffhangers that occur between parts. Detractors of the song argue the story is told with a choppy, semi-literate tone, while the music and vocalization are the same in every part of the song. Kelly maintains that he is a genius for pioneering what he calls, "hip-hopera."


Chapter 1 lyrics:

7 o'clock in the morning and the rays from the sun wake me
I'm stretching and yawning in a bed that don’t belong to me
Then a voice yells “good morning darling” from the bathroom
Then she comes out and kisses me and to my surprise she isn’t you
Now I've got this dumb look on my face like “what have I done”?
How could I be so stupid to have been laid in to the morning sun
Must have lost the track of time, oh what was on my mind?
From the club went to her home, didn’t plan to stay that long
Here I am quickly trying to put on my clothes
Searching for my car keys trying to get on up out the door
Then she stretched her hands in front of me
Said “you can’t go this way”
Looked at her like she was crazy
Said “woman move out my way”
I Said “I got a wife at home”
She said “please don’t go out there”
“Lady I’ve got to get home”
She said her husband was coming from the stairs
“?? quiet, hurry up and get in the closet”
She said “don’t you make a sound or some ____ is going down
I Said “why don’t I just go out the window”
“yes, except for one thing, we’re on the 5th floor”
Think, think… “quick put me in the closet”
And now I'm in this darkest closet trying to figure out
Just how I'm gonna get my crazy ass out this house
And he walks in and yells “I’m home”
She says “honey I'm in the room”
He walks in there with a smile on his face saying “honey I've been missing you”
She hops all over him and says “I've cooked and ran your bathwater”
I'm telling you now this girl is so good she deserves an Oscar
The girl’s in the bed he starts snatching her clothes off
I'm in the closet like man, what the f_ck is going on?
You’re not going to believe it but things get deeper as the story goes on
Next thing you know a call comes through on my cell phone
I tried my best to quickly put it on vibrate
But from the way he acted I could tell it was too late
He hopped up and said “there’s a mystery going on and I'm going to solve it”
And I'm like “God please don’t let this man open his closet”
He walks in the bathroom and looks behind the door
She says “baby come back to bed”
He says “say no more”
He pulls back the shower curtain while she’s biting her nails
Then he walks back to the room. Right now I'm sweating like hell
Checks under the bed (bed)
then under the dresser (dresser)
He looks at the closet (closet)
I pull out my berretta (berretta)
He walks up to the closet (closet)
He’s close up to the closet (closet)
Now he’s at the closet (closet)
Now he’s opening the closet (closet, closet, closet)