voguegasm

Happy Merry, Merry Christmas, Gary Crimble (as Lennon says), Happy Yule, Y Nadolig (as I say), and other assorted winter holiday wishes inserted here.

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Fashion

Despite being under fire recently for being pro-rape through fashion by way of edgy punk style (which found its way into my heart via E! News... surprise surprise), H & M has officially put out a 30 piece collection inspired by Larsson's heroine Lisbeth Salander. Which is exactly why why all feminists would be up in arms, like blogger Natalie Karneef in her Open Letter to H&M from Rape Survivor which she makes good points.

"And now, H&M, you have created a line of clothing based on her character: a woman who has suffered a lifetime of abuse, who is violently raped, and who is hunting down a man who violently rapes and kills other women. Lisbeth has been through hell, and her clothing is her armor. That's her choice, and it's an understandable choice. But you glamorize it, putting a glossy, trendy finish on the face of sexual violence and the rage and fear it leaves behind."

To which H&M says to the Wall Street Journal.

“The collection is based on and inspired by the film and character Lisbeth Salander and though we think Lisbeth is a strong woman who stands up for her ideal, we are not trying to represent her specifically. Our goal is to rather offer a collection that we see in today’s trend picture that will appeal to many customers.”

I love these clothes, it's hard and tough and should have no bearing on the character. If anything this clothing is represented from, it's the plot. That's what so many complainers (yes I will go under fire for this, but this is outside of the feminist/rape issue) mean, people focus too much on the character itself, modern day movie viewers want to identify with a character versus seeing analytical rights and wrongs of the plot and how pop culture adapts this. Karneef, you can be annoyed as much as you want, some of us look at this stuff as simply fashion and it's not a big deal.But then what do I know? I've never been raped.

What piece am I most in love with? It was love at first sight when I saw the collage American and Swedish flag shirt (also available in black and gray) representing some Scandinavian love. For a closer look of the individual pieces, Fabsugar has you covered there.

Mission Creek 2012 Lineup

March 27th to April 1st is a magical time in Iowa City, spring is at large (at the risk of snow at any given second, cue eyeroll), the students more annoying than ever on a Friday night, and Mission Creek is underway. What is Mission Creek Festival? It is a magical time of the year where all Indie acts the festival can get their hands on performs once or maybe twice (via Little Village or Java Blend) during the week depending on their schedules. It's not just one venue either, the whole town is on it and that is the beauty of this music festival.

The Lineup this year had the ability to make me cry like a little girl. The Magnetic Fields, William Fitzsimmons, The War on Drugs, David Cross of Arrested Development fame, Rhys Chatham, Dirty Beaches, Bowerbirds and wait for it... SHARON VAN FUCKIN' ETTEN! Yes, folks, the woman that turns my ears into butter will be ten feet from me from either Gabes or The Mill (I have a gut feeling it's one of the two) as I tremble like a total girl and attempting to come up with something witty and unsexual to say to her that doesn't sound creepy when she signs her new CD for me at the end of the concert. Oh be still my beating heart, even typing this caused tears. *flutter*

Dressy Bessy does Christmas Again

Tammy Ealom and crew must really love Christmas from their first original carol, All the Right Reasons, back in 1999 for the record label Kindercore's Christmas album. Twee perfection. Then last year it was the witty electro Hopped Up (on Xmas) [Which I commented on the first link on December 3rd "Oh my God, this is the best birthday present to me, which is tomorrow" and Tammy, on her personal account graciously wished me a happy birthday and called me by my nickname which only meant she remembered me when we met about 2 or 3 years prior. What a moment and seriously, it made my entire year.] What more can the DB gang do to completely rock Christmas this year? How about slowing it down a little Zooey Deschanel style and being totally adorable in Mister Kringle? Yes, Dressy Bessy continues to inch towards making a Christmas album in which Tammy is signing when they come back to town.They are also giving away Mister Kringle for free on their facebook.

Sleigh Bells New Single

Alexis Krauss got some rest in the past year of hipster hibernation and looks more sexier and beautiful than before both in their promo and new single exclusively on Spin.com "Born to Lose" but in the negative title, they are so completely winning in a non-Charlie Sheen kind of way. Still in the similar vein of "Treats" where it was all sound and blast your eardrums into deafness, it's still the same on Born to Lose but definitely more polished. Perfection.

HFPA's Golden Picks for the Golden Globes

Always saving the awards for last, for I get long winded -- The Hollywood Foreign Press Association finally picked the nominations for the Golden Globes last Thursday and apparently it's the most snubbery season, according to closed-minded critics who wished Melissa McCarthy got it for "Mike and Molly" or at least "Bridesmaids" or Kirsten Dunst for "Melancholia". But one snub I have to agree with is why the hell Elizabeth Olsen didn't get nominated for "Martha Marcy May Marlene" but she'll get hers in time. So for now, here's a watered down score card with my predictions.

Movies

Best Motion Picture - Hugo (obvious win, The Help)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Tie between Meryl Streep for "Iron Lady" and Tilda Swinton for "We Need to Talk About Kevin" (obvious win, Viola Davis for "The Help")

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Tie between Leonardo DiCaprio for "J. Edgar" and Michael Fassbender for "Shame" (although I lean more heavily on Leo) (obvious win, George Clooney for "The Descendants")

Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical - No competition, The Artist, The Artist, the Artist. Suck on that Bridesmaids.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Comedy or Musical - Maybe I'm biased but Charlize Theron for "Young Adult" (obvious win, Kristen Wiig for "Bridesmaids")

Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy or Musical - Tie between Jean Dujardin for "The Artist" and Ryan Gosling (you may die of shock) for "Crazy Stupid Love" (obvious win, Ryan Gosling

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture - Berenice Bejo for "The Arist" (obvious win, Jessica Chastain or Octavia Spencer for "The Help")

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture - Tie between Christopher Plummer for "Beginners" and Kenneth Branagh for "My Week with Marilyn" (but my money is more on Plummer) (obvious win, Christopher Plummer)

Best Director - Tie between Marty Scorsese for "Hugo" or Michel Hazanavicius for "The Artist" (but a little more for Hazanavicius)

Best Screen Play - Motion Picture - Michel Hazanavicius for "The Artist (obvious win, George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon for "The Ides of March")

Television

Best Television Series - Drama - American Horror Story (obvious win, Boardwalk Empire or Game of Thrones)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama - Julianna Marguiles for "The Good Wife" (obvious win, Julianna Marguiles)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama - Steve Buscemi for "Boardwalk Empire" (obvious win, Buscemi)

Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical - NEW GIRL NEW GIRL NEW GIRL! (obvious wins, Glee or Modern Family)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical - Tie between Zooey Deschanel for "New Girl" or Amy Poehler for "Parks and Recreation") (obvious win, Tina Fey for "30 Rock" or Amy Poehler)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical - Johnny Galecki for "The Big Bang Theory" (obvious win, Alec Baldwin for "30 Rock")

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television -

Tie between Jessica Lange for "American Horror Story" and Sofia Vegara for "Modern Family" (obvious wins, Vergara and Maggie Smith for "Downton Abbey")

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television -

Eric Stonestreet for "Modern Family" (obvious win, Stonestreet and Peter Dinklage for "Game of Thrones"

Courtesy of indierockcafe, probably the kickass thing a musicphile... and Christmas nerd... could ever love.

Twas the night before Christmas
"Christmas Eve" - The Sugarcubes

And all through the house
"Our House" - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

Not a creature was stirring
"Creature of the Night" - Arthur Dodge & The Horsefeathers

Not even a Mouse
"Quiet as a Mouse" - Margot & The Nuclear So Sos

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
"Hanging Up My Stockings" - Squirrel Nut Zippers

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
"Little Saint Nick" - The Beach Boys

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
"Children" - The Delta Spirit

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
"Put Some Sugar On It" - Half Japanese

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
"Feather in Your Cap" - Beck

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
"I Go To Sleep" - The Kinks

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
"Come On Let's Boogie to the Elf Dance" - Sufjan Stevens

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
"We Awoke" - Between The Pine

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
"At My Window" - Lessons in Time

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
"Shutter" - City & The Horse

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
"Fallen Snow" - Au Revoir Simone

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
"Shine A Light" - Wolf Parade

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
"Eyes" - Rouge Wave

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
"Reindeer Ride" - Roger Lavern & The Microns

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
"Drive On, Driver" - The Magnetic Fields

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
"Donde Esta Santa Claus" - Guster

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
"The Reindeer" - The Headcoats

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Look at the Reindeer Rock" - Jimmy Boyd

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
"The Happy Reindeer" - Dancer, Prancer and Nervous

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
"Donna and Blitzen" - Badly Drawn Boy

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
"Wonderwall" - Oasis

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
"Dash After Dash" - Matt and Kim

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
"Maple Leaves" - Jens Lekman

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
"Fly" - Nick Drake

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
"The Roof" - New Bomb Turks

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
"Santa Claus is Coming To Town" - Bruce Springsteen

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,
"On The Roof" - The Feelies

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
"The Hoofs" - Why?

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
"Cold Hands" - The Sun

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
"Father Christmas" - The Kinks

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
"Fur Soft As Fur" - The Boy Least Likely To

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
"Ashes to Ashes" - David Bowie

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
"All The Best Wooden Toys Come From Germany" - BSS

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
"Jump Into This Sack" - Daniel Paquette

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
"In the Twinkle of an Eye" - Eerie

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
"Rosy Cheeks" - Her Majesty's Orchestra

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
"Close Your Mouth It's Christmas" - The Free Design

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
"Santa Claus" - Belle and Sebastian

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
"The Pipe" - Vulture Whale

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
"Cinder and Smoke" - Iron and Wine

He had a broad face and a little round belly,
"Belly" - Swanton Bombs

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
"Jelly Belly" - The Smashing Pumpkins

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
"Jolly Jolly Ego" - Dirty Projectors

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
"If I Laugh" - Cat Stevens

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
"One Wink at a Time" - The Replacements

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
"Darlin Do Not Fear" - Brett Dennen

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
"Did You See The Words" - Animal Collective

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
"Santa Left a Booger in My Stocking" - Aqua Teen Hunger Force (w/Neko Case)

And laying his finger aside of his nose,
"Nose" - Mailbox

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
"Jingle Hell (Stuck in the Chimney" - Soundtrack of Our Lives

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
"Sleigh Ride" - Reliant K

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
"Milk Thistle" - Conor Oberst

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
Look at the Sky" - Ulrich Schnauss

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
"Happy Christmas (War is Over)" - John Lennon
"Good Night" - The Beatles

(Still waiting for Peace on Earth)

Meow Meow - Colin Clary

Willy Clause - The Dispoto Sisters

The Happy Reindeer - Dancer, Prancer and Nervous the Singing Reindeer

Mrs. Claus Ain't Got Nothing On Me - Little Jackie

Snoopy's Christmas - Royal Guardsmen

Jullåten 2007 - Soda Fountain Rag Free Download

Now, I love the Kardashians, they are hilarious and their Mom at times really is like watching family videos of my mother some of the time (beer pong, anyone?). Khloe is hysterical ("Lucky charms are fun! Tickle my lucky charms...." and "I hear the pitter patter of dinosaur feet.") and is able to laugh at her ignorance while being a step-mother to two kids at such a young age. I oddly identify with Kim, the too-nice, commitment-addict, neurotic and OCD clean-freak, middle sibling syndrome. Clearly we can see how she's as neurotic as she is she gets into situations; but everyone would rather dwell on the effects than the "how" being a child of divorce and parental death, no one can blame her for being the way she is. And Kourtney? Well, she gets humorous when around Khloe (remember the incident on waxing Khloe in Miami or playing with Khloe's pet giraffe Henry in New York) but otherwise, big bitch. Not a fan.

As much as I could talk about the Kardashian girls' characters, I really want to focus on their mission statement in fashion and beauty products which has no bearing on who they are as people. I also understand, and oddly weirded out, at the cheapness of their products. First, their nail polish. My nail muse, Musings from Manhattan, has reviewed three of the fifteen, and honestly, it sounds grim. The only color that attracts me on their palate, Khloe Had a Little Lam-Lam (*hangs head feeling sorry for the man*) was reviewed as "smell[ing] a little funny" but with a great formula. The other two that were reviewed, seemed moderate like nothing to get excited over. This is a problem, especially with having to use over five coats of It's All About the Glam. Can I also say I'm not the biggest fan of OPI polish to begin with: from being too expensive and not the best of formula. This screams cheap!

Second criteria moves on to their Kardashian Kollection at .. wait for it ... Sears. Why Sears? No girl my age would be caught dead in Sears as it is mostly misses-chic in a Croft and Barrow kind of way. But maybe that was the point in trying to get more girls back into this very-dead department store. I'm guessing that Forever 21 or Rue 21 would have been a better niche for the fashionable sisters, who I think should be better described as fashion consultants. The popular knowledge that they designed these clothes just aren't too, they, rather, inspired by their style. Australian designer Bruno Schiavi worked with them as a consultant so they cannot take full credit either! Where is Schiavi's name in any of this other than to go into interviews all complimentary? And what about the clothes themselves? Is it because being sold at Sears, at a lower price ($13.99 to $68.99) versus higher price clothing and deal with Forever 21 or Rue 21. The Kardashian Girls have become more of a commodity to raise interest in Sears and unfortunately it didn't happen like Sears had hoped.

The Sears website also does not tell us what kind of fabric is used in this case, but according to a fashion blogger on stylemeprissy says that the use of stretchy fabric has made it more important for body shape. That has to be good, right? One good thing the Kardashians can do for fashion, especially Khloe, is to push down on the barriers on plus size. (May I also include that Kim's ex-sister-in-law, Kaela Humphries is also a plus size runway model?) It's clear the Kardashian's are abusing their name for the worst in selling out to Sears. Yes, I do think their clothes should be branched out to the rest of America, but through the Dash brand. Whatever happened to Dash in Calabasas? What about the fact of Smooch, the children's clothing store both Kourtney and Kris own together? Or even what about Kris's mother's store? Clearly this is a dynasty of women with great fashion minds, they just need to use them in business and not let the system get them such is the case with Sears. They need to start thinking with their heads and not their wallets, that is, if Kris will stop thinking for them. I would like to see the girls really work for it as fashion consultations especially for the cause of plus or curvier fashion options.

Here's my final thoughts, Seacrest (producer of all the Kardashian shows): water the shows into simply Keeping Up the Kardashians, have a show that only documents all store and fashion business with them (it can go up against Scouted) and keep only Khloe & Lamar on 'cos let's face it, Khloe is the only one worth watching. They need to get back to what made them great in the first place, being fashion-minded store-owners.

'Tis the Season to window-shop and dream....

Flowers from the Attic Blazer: Mink Pink $39.99 pretypennies.com (from FOAM)

Eleven Objects Collars $225 elevenobjects.bigcortel.com (from FOAM)

mulberry clarandon coat $1,100 (from Nylon Magazine, in black)

sweater by maje $ 340 (from Nylon Magazine)

necklace by bar III, $30 (from Nylon Magazine, in gold)

The Christmas festivities just keep on coming.... and I keep finding more things to get geeked out on (Michael Buble duet with the Puppini Sisters anyone?)

Uggie the Dog from The Artist

French director and writer Michel Hazanavicius probably did not envision where his small little film (and silent of all things shocking and postmodern!) to be taken as far as being in talks for Oscar nominations for Leading Actor (Jean Dujardin) and even the off-chance of a petition to give Uggie the Jack Russell terrier a special nomination, much to the annoyance to Susan Orlean that in the case of Rin Tin Tin being the legendary almost-Oscar winner back in the first year of the now established Award show, "...members of the Academy, anxious to establish the awards were serious and important, decided that giving an Oscar to a dog did not serve that end.'" It's a dog! I think we are much smarter nowadays to believe anyone can act... if that monkey can speak, animals more than enough have a capability to be just as prominent as George Clooney or Ryan Gosling in a movie -- either way, women want to take Uggie home or at least Consider_Uggie on twitter and facebook for a nomination! This is a dumb piece of news anyway but I'm all for rallying to get The Artist nominated somehow; sound production would probably be the effective win because apparently a French actor of Dujardin's stature could never have a chance against Leo DiCaprio this year. Just saying.

They're Baaaack! Sound the Sleigh Bells!

Allison Krauss, Goddess of my heart and the Destructor to my eardrums, is back collaborating with Derek Miller for sophomore LP Reign of Terror, but they are coming back in style and down the rabbit hole a little bit in this 2 1/2 minute teaser.

Open Letter to Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman

Dear Mr. Gleiberman,

I more than respect your opinion in your column in last month's Entertainment Weekly "6 Fabulous Silent Film Classics," but I was saddened as an extreme historical cinephile that I have not even heard of all of them except for Pandora's box, which is rightfully there. What I also have a problem is the common theme. Your first statement is "Want more like 'The Artist?'" Well, silent film is not one huge encompassing genre, and you as a movie columnist should know that!

If you want to get more readers, you have to include some more historic pieces that precurse our more favorited genres, such as "M" featuring the marvelous Peter Lorre pre-Casablanca love (although you did pen Conrad Veidt's 'The Man Who Laughs' and he is a very honorable mention) and especially Metropolis, and I'm not just saying that because it's my favorite, but because science fictions and thrillers are what today's movie-goers are the most attracted to. The more films you include that have made cultural impacts will make the readers more interested. I have no hate against Sunrise and the others, but you should have made a conscious effort to include movies that don't push all the stereotypes we so easily watched during Singing in the Rain.

Rufus Wainwright: Good News, He's Back in the Land of the Living!

"Whatever happened to that guy who sang Cohen's Hallelujah in the movie Shrek and Across the Universe for I Am Sam?" you might ask, knowing those are the only huge claims to fame Rufus's, the brilliant bastard hybrid of the MacGarrigles and the Wainwrights, pop culture repertoire. Idiots... or maybe I'm just a hipster like that. But our favorite dramatic and theatrical man sits down with Stereogum for a Progress Report on Prima Donna, his opera which is premiering in February (WAAAAANNT!!) his daughter and boyfriend but most importantly his latest album "Out of the Game" but will it be as majestic as his last one where he put music to Shakespeare's Sonnets? Time will tell.

David Burtka does E! News

While the Mayor of Munchkin-Land otherwise known as Ryan Seacrest is in talks for taking Matt Lauer's place on "The Today Show," what about his E! gig on the channel's news program, aka. my horrible horrible addiction I cannot get rid of, the same program recruits Neil Patrick's husband and co-father to their twins David Burtka and last night was his first night.

Yes, he was a little shaky and slow in the voice as he announced Kris Humphries coming out of the divorce shadow to discuss his plans for the future, but there's always room for improvement, although his voice will be something to get used to as it is a closed off almost guttural sound. Until then, looks like this is going to be one busy family and it's always a perk to get another gay man on the staff next to "fashion insulter" Robby Lachlan.

Will try to hunt for a video clip of his work -- as well as Rainn Wilson's air-guitaring Christmas Eve by Trans-Siberian Orchestra last night on the Office.

Dani Stahl Keeps Getting Epic on my Face

Stahl is popping up everywhere, on E! on both Scouted AND another guilty pleasure Fashion Police last Friday, but now she's popping into the offices of my Zen: Essie Nail Polish where she mixes a color and even gets Essie to mix a special color that matches the Nylon's logo. WAAAAAANT!!!

Sophia Rossi gets FOAMy

As we all know, I get bored easily and need to change up my fixes -- as with magazines, my new found addictions to i-D Magazine and a growing fondness for West Coast's "Fashion, Ocean, Art and Music" FOAM magazine. FOAM seems to be like that girl in high school who managed to be a total jock-ette but still managed to have her hair look perfect and still manage to be incredibly girly in fashion and a total boy on a boogie board in the ocean. This, I like... this I heavily approve of.

So what could have really sparked my interest? Well, remember a little name of Sophia Rossi, hellogiggles co-owner and L.A. socialite in the least Paris Hilton sense of the word? Featured in their "The Gift Girls" segment she shows her enduring love for friend Charlotte Ronson's (which always gets a message on hellogiggles) lip gloss and other accessories. And I will answer Rossi's million dollar question: it used to be Mary Anne, now it's Stacey.

Raveonettes Get Freaky with Jack Skeleton Pillow

After ten years and enough in their catalog to make a B-sides and rarities album, well aptly named "B-Sides/Rarities," Sharin and Sune finally put out a video to their "The Christmas Song" ten years after its conception and it does not disappoint, in fact, I would love to have a Christmas party with them!

...And my Undying Love for Diablo Cody Continues...

Thank you BUST Magazine, for tweeting this interview between movies.com and Diablo Cody, for every so often I forget about her awesomeness. "I've learned that you absolutely cannot create anything without offending somebody." is apart of my quote canon, as Mrs. Maurio discusses new movie "Young Adult," what it means to just write about horrible horrible person yet manage to be funny about it at the same time, and her place in Hollywood. Have I mentioned I effing love her?

Pop culture is starting to pop a little lately. I think I shall blame Christmas. And while we're on the discussion of "that wonderful time of the year" -- remember to check out my Very Ultimate and Alternative Christmas Playlist so you have a Christmas soundtrack that doesn't make you want gouge your eyes out to the tune of Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole.

Sweet Valley High Movie Adaptation

While all older Gen Xers are all excited and/or dreading the latest green-lit project written by my Indie Goddess Brooke Busey-Maurio (aka. Diablo Cody), I'm more excited. Not 100 % knowing the Sweet Valley High way of life, from what I read from articles about the green-lit project, it sounds like Glee on wholesome bubblegum steroids, and not the fun kind either. In its pureness, I have total faith in Cody to make the movie somewhere between her schtick and the original integrity of Pascal's book series after reading the Huffington Post article on this possible train wreck or the best thing to ever happen to the most underrated and underused writer in Hollywood.

Erin and Her Cello is "Sober" (kind of)

Erin and her Cello is known to be somewhere between humorist and hardcore singer-songwriter, making an intimacy in her music that feels like an acoustic concert. Well, this acoustic concert within Sober is somewhere between darkly satirical and truth but all around hysterical!

Buy HelloGiggles for Christmas

What can possibly make me a really happy girl this Christmas? Besides a woman under my mistletoe threshold... Anything Zooey Deschanel-ish I can own! Well now, Zooey, Molls and Sophia have merch and guess what girl desperately wants The Gigglers t-shirt? This girl.

Dum Dum Girls get BUSTy

There is nothing hotter than gorgeous voluptuous women with long legs in leather, heels and looking incredibly bad ass... well, unless these gorgeous voluptuous women with long legs in leather heels are Sandy, Bambi, Dee Dee and Jules aka. The Dum Dum Girls as they are everywhere thanks to their latest album Only in Dreams and their amazing video for Bedroom Eyes which shows off those amazing legs even more in a retro kind of way. They are kicking ass by fashion and taking names in this season's BUST Magazine.

Download Sharon van Etten's "Serpents"

Clearly there are two albums I want to actually buy and I cannot distinguish one over the other... I'm buying them both! Between Emmy the Great and Tim Wheeler's Christmas album and Sharon van Etten's 2012 released "Tramp"! So what is a girl supposed to do until February 7th? Thank the power of stereogum for having free download of "Serpents!" Oh *drool*

Nylon's Dani Stahl "Scouts" for E!

When I heard that two of my favorite things (Nylon Magazine and a guilty pleasure off of E! Channel) collide together, it's bound to be epically... wonderful or absolutely painful. I expected the candy colored glossy's Editor-at-Large to be 100 % awesome, which she indeed was and photographs wonderfully, how she fell so sweetly in love with model hopeful Gillian from Texas. That would be the only reason I would watch this show where talent scouts attempt to not look creepy just walking around staring at girls until they find two girls to pit against each other and see which one gets signed. Sounds easy, right?

It all seemed sweet, a little inspirational and maybe a little forward in reality television (it felt definitely real versus America's Next Top Model it is also defined as a mini docu-series which is a perk) until the sick and sad truths about the fashion industry came falling out when One Management's Director of Scouting Julia Samersova intricately critiqued the tiny Gillian to lose her baby fat and size 6 Jennifer as being "too large" and "must tone up her legs, those are not model legs" which sent my pro-plus size mind into a tailspin. I screamed at my TV. Would One Management actively scout for a plus size girl? Unfortunately, I'm not going to hold my breath and continue to watch Scouted the way I read Nylon -- they may have high fashion and awesome clothes, but won't pay attention to the models' bodies anytime soon.

Grammy Award Nominations 2012

So who am I willing to put my bets on for the freshly released Grammy Nominations? Being the fact that Bon Iver has finally broke through their Midwestern indie bounds right onto the Grammy stage with FOUR nominations including Record of the Year, Best New Artist Best Alternative Album (despite being up against popular favorites My Morning Jacket, Foster the People and Radiohead), Record and Song of the Year with Holcene, although being up against the toughest competition including Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, The Band Perry and other more pop-radio friendly music.

Is this the Yeah Yeah Yeah's It's Blitz! all over again?

Is this like last year when Arcade Fire and Mumford and Sons did one big Indie sweep?

Is Bon Iver's Holcene just another piece of proof that music is still a track to track album that is more than just to be downloaded onto an I-Pod?

More Indie favorites are making a sweep across the Grammy's airing February 12th on CBS, Robyn's single "Call Your Girlfriend" is up for Best Dance Recording (*crossing fingers*) and her album Body Talk Pt. 3 for Best Dance/Electronica Album, she has been snubbed in the past but because of lesser known artists nominated beside her, there is no reason for her not to win!

And for pop radio friendly nominees such as Gaga, Foster the People, Katy Perry and Adele? I'm seriously all about Adele, she's one of the few radio-friendlies I can stand.

Place your bets.

'Tis a day of classic American excess...

(Loudon Wainwright III - Thanksgiving)

....Happy Effing Gobble Day

When life is shit, revert to music. (Copyrighted by me.) Or at least that's what I'm doing for the moment, holding a "party in my head" with sex boots crying over the majesty of Florence and the Machine's latest video. <3 <3

Can we also have a moment of silence because today my beloved soap opera of ten years, One Life to Live, has taken its final bow in daytime TV and will stop airing in January, a true trail-blazing daytime show for all civil rights before prime time ever touched these issues of GLBT issues, race, sexism, gang-violence, bullying, prostitution, AIDS among other hard-hitting topics. If it wasn't for OLTL, prime time would have never followed suit.

Lissy Trullie - Stop My Beating Heart - Is Back!

After two years of falling into what's otherwise obscurity that only an artist can do when their greatest hit is a cover (Hot Chips's "Ready for the Floor"), the ex-Moses de la Renta model is back making sweat tunes and to be truthful, it sounds her best vs. 2009's release of "Self Taught Learner" where she showed off her gifts of fashion-inspired candy colored rock. With 2012's John Hill (Santigold, M.I.A.) and Dave Stiek produced self entitled album, Lissy still keeps that candy color but uses shades of icy blue, or at least that's what I took from Nylon's free download of Trullie's "Madeline." Have I mentioned she's hot?

Prepare Ye the Way for... Godspell!!!!

It has been forty years since John-Michael Tebelak premiered his master's thesis as a Broadway show at Cafe la Mama, freshly polished by help of Stephen Schwartz with lyrics with a myriad of liberal arts students as their real names, acting out Jesus's parables. Who knew something so simple could even attract non-Christians? Forty years later, a movie, and a small handful of revivals, Godspell is back; headed by Hunter Parrish of Weeds fame playing the otherwise curly afroed Jesus. Other cast members include Wallace Smith and a well-grouped ensemble of devoted disciples. I am a little unsure about the director Daniel Goldstein's words about the accompaniment though. The show started November 7th at the Circle in the Square for an open run. Let's hope it's here to stay.

September in November

You know that point when you're sitting on the bus or walking around your downtown with your earphones on and thinking you're totally awesome and there's club dancing going on in your head. Yeah well that's my constant state in life. But that's beside the point, because the Swedish Songstress September feels our pain. Hailed as Sweden's best song of 2011, "Party in My Head" has been a fixture on the iTunes chart for about six months now! "Party in My Head" will may or may not be the first single off of September's album ("Me and My Microphone") coming out December 4th on UK iTunes. Sucks to be an American.

The Return of Reitman and Cody in "Young Adult"

The dynamic duo that made Juno legend -- or maybe it was just Brooke Busey-Maurio aka. Diablo Cody in my world 'cos she is my world -- is back to make another storyline legend full of quips and all-around horrible you shouldn't like but you do. Cody achieves this once more through Mavis Gary (Charlize Theron) as she comes back to her hometown in Minnesota with one goal in mind: to get her high school boyfriend (Patrick Wilson) back, although he's already married with two kids. There is always a triangle in this movie and Theron often acts with Cody's entourage actor Patton Oswalt (United States of Tara) as Matt Freehauf -- as predictable as this storyline sounds, I know how director Jason Reitman and Cody work and the result can be epic for some and downright stupid for others. I love a woman that is acquired taste.

Boooooooots

They don't have a brand or a name, but these thigh high boots have my everlasting adoration. Why? Because it's a shoe; with my genetic feet problem just finding something as simple as slippers deems difficult. And to find thigh highs that must only be worn with jeans (calf fat, let's not lie here) especially with my body type. This body type has to find boots with design on the sides that extend, like the zippers that are on these.

After careful deliberation with Molly, the lady at Ragstock where I bought these lovely sexy boots (FOUR DOLLARS BITCHES!) we agreed that these boots aren't meant for all outfits. Case in point worn with this super cute dress I bought at Ragstock two days ago, with jeans. And that outfit was just worn partying with a friend and her cat, aptly nicknamed Meeeeester Puuuuuuuss (I do not make these things up).

Madison: Singular Named Woman with a Singular Minded Vision

“I love something really raw and dirty, something that you can get after listening just once, and that doesn’t mean that it’s not intelligent…” DIY future pop-star Madison tells The Ground Mag late last month, in essence she was describing her own music. From "Hot Hot Love" being on both TV show bumpers (Rookie Blues, Ugly Betty) and commercials, Madison is showing the planet that pop is universal, you don't need a studio paying 20 dollars every hour to consider yourself a pop star. “That’s a model that’s shifting in the entire music industry…You’re not selling records, you don’t really want to give away your rights, the humungous record deals are few and far between, so you’ve got to do it yourself, you’ve got to be a business person and an artist.” Thus far, Madison has been rather successful, self-produced "The Remixes Some People Made" having been out for two months making head wave on music blogs everywhere. Woman is taking over the world -- now everyone just has to suffer along with me waiting for an album and a music video so we can get a face to the very vague name.

Florence Continues to Have my Adoration

Luckily no one saw me this morning watching the latest video from Florence + the Machine (which the couterpart band almost seems redundant at this point...) for in between tears of getting the symbolic video of the NYC chapel, the boy's choir and falling into grace... my face was sincerely blown. And now I pass the effect onto you.

More Impending Christmas Music Downloads

This *is* the season for alt-rock/pop Christmas music to start budding, considering these bands are too cool to put out their music directly two days before or after American Thanksgiving like Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra or Nat King Cole. Besides, in the age where the classics are still wonderful classics but we are still yearning for some creativity, She and Him is still bringing the hipster Christmas fire with already released "A Very She and Him Christmas" which stereogum has already leaked downloadable "A Christmas Waltz" and just this past week "Christmas Day" in all its twee glory.

Now here's the real happy that caused me extreme happy dances around my living room - remember when Emmy the Great dueted with Lightspeed Champion for the Christmas song "Christmas in Prison?" Well... maybe not, but for me upon learning through Emma Moss's twitter that she is collaborating with ex-band member of the Irish group, Vietnam and Ash, Tim Wheeler all things Christmas (complete with an article from The Guardian), my brain was shot, blown off, then put back into my head to only explode in fireworks of joy. Wheeler and Moss's "This is Christmas" will be released November 21st. This is an album worth buying and not downloading! But here is a peep into how the album will sound with their original "Home for the Holidays" This is everlasting joy in excelsis deo, dammit!

voguegasm

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