Cut Copy Zonoscope Class Actress Rapprocher Trophy Wife Bruxism EP (see below) Burial Street Halo EP (my blog on it) Friendly Fires Pala Tycho Dive (stream it) Washed Out Within and Without
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
to make this list easier to digest, I set up a YT playlist of choice tracks from these albums.
2011 was a year of fantastic debuts; nine of the above LPs are their artists' firsts. SBTRKT is #1 not for being sophisticated music but because it weathered both summer and fall (don't you find it hard to play most summer albums come November?). this is a catchy, poppy, crisp album that (in my ears) rescued "dubstep" from its unfortunate trend towards unlistenable distortion. something James Blake said comes to mind:
certain producers — who I can’t even be bothered naming — have definitely hit upon a sort of frat-boy market where there’s this macho-ism being reflected in the sounds and the way the music makes you feel. And to me, that is a million miles away from where dubstep started. It’s a million miles away from the ethos of it. It’s been influenced so much by electro and rave, into who can make the dirtiest, filthiest bass sound, almost like a pissing competition, and that’s not really necessary. And I just think that largely that is not going to appeal to women. I find that whole side of things to be pretty frustrating, because that is a direct misrepresentation of the sound as far as I’m concerned.
I tried to see SBTRKT spin at a bar in New York this summer, but the venue was so overcrowded that it drew the attention of the cops, who shut the place down before his set. (I later heard from a friend of the bar's owners that their liquor license was expired, and the night ended with NYPD pouring their entire stock of alcohol ($tens of thousands) down the drain!)
so I was extra excited to catch SBTRKT in Philly this fall (with araabMUZIK, whose MPC skills are worth checking out). the show was in my mind as I thought on 2011's best. play SBTRKT next time you entertain.
3. Q: I want to dress better/change my wardrobe. where to start?
A: stop wearing sneakers.
yah, I'm not saying that sneakers can't be stylish and awesome, just that imo it's really fucking hard to pull them off without an otherwise fantastic wardrobe. every time I put on a pair of sneaks I feel like I need to try too hard not to look like a big kid.
plus, nice shoes are a choice way to begin dressing better (or more "adult", or whatever) because
you can wear a nice pair of shoes every day, with anything, and in any weather
they're infinitely simpler to shop and fit than, say, a suit or shirt of equal quality
for a first pair of real shoes, I recommend brown leather (+ probably an oxford). brown matches better than black, and its advantages in informal wear trump black's advantages in formal wear (brown shoes with a suit = fine, black shoes with jeans during the daytime = highly questionable).* keep in mind: the darker the shade, the more formal.
here are some relatively inexpensive (low- and mid-range) shoes that I think would make a good start to anyone's wardrobe:
Allen Edmonds has been making basically the same shoes for almost a century. I have the Fifth Avenue in "Walnut Calf" (pictured above) and I love them. I wear them almost every day, usually withjeans (but not always). the Sanford, McAllister, Strand, MacNiel, Jefferson, and especially the Vernon are also sharp choices for a first serious pair of shoes. since AEs are so common, you really do not need to pay full price. instead, comb third party retailers/eBay for a deal. I bought my most recent pair for $160 new.
Shipton & Hineage sells shoes made by Alfred Sargent, Cheaney, and Crockett & Jones for a bit less. my favorites are this Blandford Oxford and the awesome wholecut pictured above. (actually I think if I could start over right now, a wholecut might be my first brown shoe purchase. simplicity is sexy / most brogueing is too flashy for me)
along with some chunky clown shoes that I'm not a big fan of, Grenson sells some pretty classic brogues: the Tom (above) and the Dylan. you might also find some (even) more casual shoes worth buying here.
Markowski is a French shoemaker that makes some damn inexpensive (keep in mind the VAT discount if you're a US buyer, and peep the 30% off items) kicks. not tip top quality but far from garbage. I'd look at all of these
Howard Yount's dub monks are the best option for double monks under $400 imo (more options at all $$$). disclaimer, though: I don't really think a shoe this flashy is a good first buy unless you feel like the rest of your wardrobe is already kinda together. don't buy a Ferrari if you can't drive stick, you know?
longwings aren't my style, but I'm including these from Florsheim because I've heard they are a good deal. be wary of Florsheim's other models. they make some hideous shit.
other brands to think about are Edward Green, Alden, John Lobb, Alfred Sargent, Crockett & Jones, Tricker's, Church's, and Meermin. I haven't included most of these in my list above because they're expensive enough that if you're considering a pair you should not rely solely on this guide. one tip, though: check for quality shoe brands for cheap on eBay using this comprehensive search [src]. don't be afraid to buy a good pair of shoes used; used/new shoes are priced kind of like used/new cars.
note that if you're looking at any expensive shoe, you should probably try going in to a local store that sells the brand so that you can get a sense of sizing/fit. getting your size can be a pain in the ass, because many of the best shoemakers are foreign and use tons of different lasts. be sure to ask about widths and lasts.
McNairy navy buck (McNairy is kind of the king of suede bucks, and these are the most versatile imo. a great summer shoe. I bought a pair from Walk-Over because they were cheaper, but am not sure I made the right decision. the third contender is Sanders.)
* I'm assuming your life is something like mine. if, e.g., you spend all your time in a suit or out at clubs, then you should probably go black (...and you've likely already moved on from sneakers).
Shame (dir Steve McQueen) blew me away. when the credits began rolling, I couldn't get up from my seat (you know?).
critics paint this movie as about "sex addiction" but I think it's more about being young and male, and especially in a city (Shame is set in NYC, and is very NYC). it's honest about so many things: terrible restaurant dates, riding public transportation, porn, your douchebag "let's go hit on chicks" friend, and day-to-day life as an anonymous, supposedly-independent yuppie.
in short: go see Shame. by yourself if you like (not recommended for first dates, or family movie night). maybe sneak a bottle of wine into the theater. and afterwards, think a bit on how different you and Brandon Sullivan really are.
my brother sent me Trophy Wife's debut single "Microlite" this summer. wow! super catchy song. a few months later the band followed it up with their debut EP, which has a couple more dance/headbob-inducing gems on it. my favorite is "Sleepwalks".
just some lighthearted pop to put a bounce in your step as you try to cope with several months of short days / cloudy skies (N Hemisphere bias sorry).
in the vein of: Foals, The Whitest Boy Alive, The New Division, Two Door Cinema Club
Gay Talese's profile of Joe DiMaggio may be the birth of modern sports journalism, and is widely considered one of the best articles ever written about celebrity. read up for some insight into Joe's dysfunctional relationship with Marilyn Monroe, the bizarre obligations of a retired athlete, and the man behind MLB's one "unbreakable" record.
1969: these logos 2011: macy's | macy's | macy's | macy's | macy's | macy's | macy's | macy's | macy's | macy's | macy's | macy's | macy's I remember when Macy's announced it would be renaming and rebranding every Marshall Field's in Chicago; people were pissed. throwing a beloved regional brand under the bus vs. developing a streamlined national chain. discuss ?
okay confession, I found this on Pictureplane's blog when I came home wasted one night, and watched it like 4 times. when I clicked this related video (whattttttt) I knew it was time to go to sleep.
here is the story of Mets slugger (and star player) Jose Reyes asking to be taken out of the last game of the season after a hit in the first inning, to preserve his MLB-leading .337 average. N-n-n-n-n-aniwa?
I read the part about the shoes and it has been very similar to my philosophy on the same for a while i.e. brown shoes works in both casual and formal occasions. However, the shoes you have listed as low-end are still on the high-end for quite a few folks. I used a pair of Timberlands (~$70-80 bucks) which look very similar to the first shoe image you linked and they served me well. And I recently replaced those with a pair of Rockport (near same on budget). They are a decent alternative if someone seeks a little more inexpensive.
EDIt** Going to read up the rest of this blog and your older blogs on similar matters later as they have piqued my interest.
Thanks for continuing this fantastic series JWD. I saw the name in the side bar and first thought of the band The XX (which I was first introduced to through your blog), but then I was very happy when I saw the author.
On January 24 2012 14:37 Eternalmisfit wrote: However, the shoes you have listed as low-end are still on the high-end for quite a few folks.
thanks for the comment.
yeah, I think the average guy sees a $150+ pricetag on a shoe and thinks that's exorbitant. and he might have a point! but the way I see it, a nice $300 pair like the ones I've recommended above is actually a great deal because it'll last you 4x as long as a $80 pair of sneakers (many more, with re-soles), and is infinitely more versatile.
there's no doubt, though, that this is somewhat a matter of taste and spending priorities. I just think shoes are important enough to be worth some up-front investment (vs, say, other things I could buy for $300, like some new PC components or a TV).
On January 24 2012 14:39 c.Deadly wrote: Thanks for continuing this fantastic series JWD. I saw the name in the side bar and first thought of the band The XX (which I was first introduced to through your blog), but then I was very happy when I saw the author.
np ^^
I thought of the band too; check the potpourri for a new demo of theirs!
This is one of the reasons I wish I had been part of this community during the BW years. I've read back through all the JWDs, but it's just not the same as getting one in real time
On January 24 2012 14:50 Probulous wrote: Hell it's about time
Love the bit about shoes. You mention second hand ones, have you ever bought any? I'm not sure about putting my feel where others have been
sup Probulous
I've bought shoes second hand on eBay, yeah. if you're looking at leather shoes like the ones I wrote about, you almost can't go wrong. leather doesn't retain stink like a fabric would (which is nice for going sockless in summer, btw), and if it's quality you can always make it look almost like new with a good cleaning and polish.
there is a very good market for nice old shoes on eBay, and since shoe sizes are quite uniform (vs., like, jacket sizes — what a nightmare) it's pretty easy to know what you're buying.
so I really recommend buying shoes used, especially if you are a student with no income (like I'll be for another few months...crawling into the finish here). as I alluded to above, you'll save the big premium that you'd need to pay just to "wear them off the lot". like, there's a ~30% markdown from retail for shoes that are just "without box, but unworn".
p.s. sup iNc, always get a kick out of your comments here
On January 24 2012 15:11 slam wrote: I liked the shoes section. I just bought my first pair of non-sneakers. Not quite dress shoes but I'm pretty excited about them. linky.
sick purchase mayne. Red Wings are v cool. if I needed a boot that serious I'd think Red Wing right away. I almost linked one of the 200 Series in OP.
This is a sick blog sir!!! I have read through most of it and am loving it so far. I haven't seen shame yet and i live right outside of nyc so i can't wait lol. Also I agree about the part about the shoes for sure : )
Very cool to bring back these blogs, I left the site after maybe 10 of these. Lots of great music and always appreciate the strange and the sublime you provide here. Cheers!
What album is it that you have listed at number 6? I feel like I've youtubed that artist before, because the album art looks VERY familiar... but I can't quite remember.
On January 24 2012 15:38 zulu_nation8 wrote: I personally thought your #10 album was better than your #1 by a mile
I was kind of disappointed with The Magic Place after getting really into her EP. the LP sounds more ambient / less melodic to me (vs. songs like "Bode", "Anjos"). but I know I'm a sucker for catchy hooks.
are there any 2011 albums you loved that I should go back and give another shot?
I don't feel like any of these things are cool or funny. I don't like the music. In fact, I'd say it sucks, though I only listened to 3 songs on the youtube playlist. I didn't watch the Please Say Something video because it is too long. I have lots of things to do with my life so if a video can't be short so I can stand to watch it, or be smart enough to capture my attention then it doesn't deserve to be watched. Unless they are specifically trying to keep people out then good job.
…here again I’m thinking of Apple, which is extremely price competitive and yet still makes beautiful products.
Have to disagree with you (or your brother? i think its you, I can tell) on this one. Apple is hardly 'price competitive' to non-apple products.
I made my desktop for $350 (runs sc2 on ultra on 1280x768 100+fps). Literally, a comparably-performing Apple desktop would be the MacPro at $2,799. That's almost 10 times the price. A similar Dell Desktop would be $899. A laptop, about $999.
People buy Apple because they are uninformed (im an econ major - information is relevant to buyer's to make the 'best' decisions). They think that Apple is easier to use - and sure, they go to great lengths to be 'easier' - but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to run Windows 7 (I'd argue that W7 is more intuitive, but regadless, anyone can turn a PC on, or pay some techie $1000 to put on MSE or Avast, peerblock, and turn on auto-update settings).
thx zulu. I know nothing about Julia Holter and haven't listened to the Jezebels. will check them out.
that Gang Gang Dance album, I flagged "Glass Jar" as "pretty fcking great" but never got into the rest. I liked Saint Dymphna ok so I'll give Eye Contact more listening.
…here again I’m thinking of Apple, which is extremely price competitive and yet still makes beautiful products.
Have to disagree with you (or your brother? i think its you, I can tell) on this one. Apple is hardly 'price competitive' to non-apple products.
I made my desktop for $350 (runs sc2 on ultra on 1280x768 100+fps). Literally, a comparably-performing Apple desktop would be the MacPro at $2,799. That's almost 10 times the price. A similar Dell Desktop would be $899. A laptop, about $999.
People buy Apple because they are uninformed (im an econ major - information is relevant to buyer's to make the 'best' decisions). They think that Apple is easier to use - and sure, they go to great lengths to be 'easier' - but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to run Windows 7 (I'd argue that W7 is more intuitive, but regadless, anyone can turn a PC on, or pay some techie $1000 to put on MSE or Avast, peerblock, and turn on auto-update settings).
well, I'm really wary of slipping into a tired old debate, but feel that I should mention that I was thinking about the iPhones and the Macbook Air specifically. I don't really think the Mac Pro is representative because it's old and it's a niche product. but yeah, it's really fucking expensive for the power.
On January 24 2012 15:56 Masq wrote: those shoes look super uncomfortable
yeah man, I had the same thought before I bought a pair. "can my feet tolerate a leather sole only?" "I like to run, I don't want to fuck up my shins for lack of cushion" "I walk everywhere". my experience has been that leather shoes like this take longer to break in than sneakers and leather soles do take a bit of getting used to, after walking around on rubber soles. but now I'm accustomed to leather soles (sneaks don't feel appreciably more comfy), and never have any foot/leg problems walking around in them (average about 2 miles every day, since I live ~25 minutes from school).
ofc, this may change as I get older. or maybe I'm just lucky not to have knee/ankle/whatever problems. YMMV
As usual, totally awesome blog. ^^ Great music choices too, though I would've definitely put War on Drugs' Slave Ambient in there. That album is just so... chill. Grouper's two albums (A I A : Alien Observer and A I A : Dream Loss) have also been on constant rotation. They're perfect for putting me to sleep (in a good way!). They're kind of like spacy, spooled-out lullabies. I've liked Yuck's self-titled a lot, and the album's last track is maaaaybe my favorite of the year. Total shoegazey bliss. You'd probably like the video. (nsfw: http://vimeo.com/16694797)
I also feel like I'm a crazy person for really really liking The King of Limbs. What's up with that?
On January 24 2012 15:44 Fighter wrote: What album is it that you have listed at number 6? I feel like I've youtubed that artist before, because the album art looks VERY familiar... but I can't quite remember.
You must also be a member of what. :D It was featured there for awhile.
Good taste. I disagree without some of the music choices, but that's all preferences, any it's very very very close to resembling what I'd put out myself. Leather shoes seems to be the norm these days, following the indie/hipster style (I myself go dressed like that).
Wow, first post of yours of this nature I've seen... glad it was spotlighted!
RE: Shame
I share your sentiments on the whole and was slightly disappointed by the palpable uncomfortability expressed by peers in the audience. (nervous laughter in moments of tension). Anyway, I would add to your themes with the following that I think is very important: The idea of relative importance regarding his personal shame in his vice vs the well being of his sister [i.e. love for family should trump the emotion of shame in whatever vice etc.], the subversion of appearance displayed in his sister and himself. More importantly, I think the film can not be mentioned without compliment of the bravery in pacing. It shifts very decisively between intense action and long contemplative shots that allow the viewer to really form keen judgements. On the whole the film is very spare in terms of plots unfolding and resolving which I think enhances the attempt at honest, relistic depiction.
back to the idea of it being much more than sex addiction: if you have the time to find it (sorry it's late T_T) the McQueen rebuffs the interviewers charge that the subject is taboo quite forcefully... Dir et al discussion
also, suede or leather moccasin's a la Tod's or Gucci's are imo the perfect blend of classy/casual/comfortable
and nice music write up, definitely going to take some o' that... sad you didn't have Kaputt up there... smooth jazz fusion all the way!
I agree with your take on the value of shoes. The older I get, the more I understand that it's worth paying double or triple the price to get something that lasts instead of getting cheap disposable crap. A good pair of shoes will last basially forever as long as you take care of them and get them resoled as needed.
5/5 once I saw Real Estate. That's all I needed to see. I'll make sure I give them a good cheer for you when I see them at the Coachella Music Festival this April for you. Cheers!!
well, I'm really wary of slipping into a tired old debate, but feel that I should mention that I was thinking about the iPhones and the Macbook Air specifically. I don't really think the Mac Pro is representative because it's old and it's a niche product. but yeah, it's really fucking expensive for the power.
Well, android is to iphones as build-your-own PC is to MacPro.
I don't really agree with the whole aesthetics of what you are saying. I shove my PC under the desk, and have a super nice, desk, that's made to look good. It doesn't matter how aesthetically minded Apple, or Dell, or whoever is - they just don't have the expertise that a good furniture maker is going to ever have, in regards to aesthetics. Besides, you are looking at the screen, and so performance is much more important with such products, than aesthetics, and in the electronics market, an extra $100 goes a long way for performance. Sure, maybe $100 would get a nice looking PC, but I'd much rather get a 100% increase in processing power by going from an athlon ii x3 to a phenom 1090 or high end i5.
And if you are building a PC - actually scratch that - you can just put any computer, into any case. Not hard. Take any dell, remove from dell case, and put it in a $300 cool case. You can make a case of legos for $50, et cetera.
I'm not trying to shit on Apple here or start a debate on electronics, but I'm just saying there's a good reason why aesthetics aren't important. It's because the market is so competitive, that I'd rather that extra $100 go to performance, and huge performance boost at that. I mean, $100 means an LG Ally to a Droid 2 (err, i already know these 2 phones are outdated now, but lg ally is not a smartphone just put it that way). And whatever the 'pluses' of Apple, aesthetics is definitely not one of them. Well, maybe to people who are too stupid to know better, but people who know better, buy Apple for a different reason (im not sure why actually). But aesthetics is never a good reason to get an Apple, there are plenty of good looking phones/tablets/etc out there as well, and with electronics you can just make your own case or get a custom for a better price than paying premium for something that looks good.
What the hell is that black guy in like the last link that's doing the weird sounds? I checked out every link and blog and vod though, nice stuff.
Although I kinda agree with your part on shoes, nearly every girl I've ever liked told me to drop the fancy shoes and start wearing sneakers "please". And that wasn't because they were 16 and immature or because I am utterly unable to pull it off (although I am not really the type), but it just personal preference I assume.
Anything's better than those woolly boots some guys over here are wearing. Yes, especially in Amsterdam
Saw Shame with Hot_bid when he came out here, what a fucking movie. I've actually thought about it quite a bit since then. Fassbender was fucking class.
edit: probably want to write more about this later. a little drunk now. so glad you mentioned it though. its just been sitting in my head for days.
I always like your blogs, but this time I got to disagree with your shoe paragraph the ones you linked look to "old" and not fresh at all. Even if they aren`t black they are very stiff and don`t work for any casual outfit. You don`t need to wear sportshoes or sneaker to have a fresh look, there are lots of different options.
-
- (I own a pair of these and they go well with everything)
In the end I just want this post to extend your great blog and not to bash a part of it.
Awesome blog as always. I don't share your love for Real Estate, but other than that I love all your top albums. The RapGenius link was brilliant. When asked why I like hip hop (which no-one in SA listens to), I always tell people that I love it because the lyrics are clever (not necessarily intelligent, but clever) and because of the clevernessl, there's a ton of replay value. Every time I listen to an album I pick up some new reference that I didn't hear the previous time.
Also, I'm happy to say that 2 weeks ago I purchased shoes that look exactly like the pair you posted:
I haven't had too many opportunities to wear them yet, but I'm planning to wear them as often as possible.
Only blog I read, again lots of awesome things to read and think about. Ross is one strong guy, that xray was sick.
Also agree about the shoes, I have a pair of the Double Monk you linked, and another one I can't remember the name of. Easy way to look good is indeed the shoes.
Thanks JWD, normally I was never super keen on these blogs, guess it's an acquired taste, I'm slowly getting used to. ^^
The shoe part was classy, I also usually only recognize a few of your 10 top albums at best which is disappointing. Listening to SBTRKT now, not so bad. Chill and catchystep, but I prefer the traditional wubwub.
@Node: I'm glad you raised Grouper's albums since I love Grouper but never gave them a real shot. it's just so hard for me to get into ambient music because when I comb my library for something to listen to, I'm usually in the mood to devote a large % of my attention to music-listening. if I need to fall asleep at night I listen to podcasts or old Loveline episodes. maybe tomorrow night I will switch to those Grouper albums. I'm a big fan of Dragging a Dead Deer...
@Boes: lol I feel your frustration in ranking albums. in 2011 I didn't run across any clear standouts, so I focused more on subjective meaning to me.
love your thrift shop story. finding gems at thrift shops is a hard thing to do, since all of the shops that tend to have them will also tend to be totally combed over.
thanks for posting the J.Crew link. I have some sweaters that I really like from J.Crew, and a few pairs of the dressier "urban slim fit" chinos got me through work this past summer (no $$$ for something nicer). my main beef with J.Crew is that its shirts don't fit me whatsoever — kind of a boxy cut, and the sleeves are super short. do you find this? my arms are extra long, so maybe J.Crew is actually sized reasonably. last time I tried on a shirt at a J.Crew, the guy working there advised me that I should buy it despite the sleeve problem, and just always cuff the sleeves to hide the clownlike fit. sure dawg.
@chambertin: as I mentioned in PM, the point in the interview that you mention is at about 6:20 in. it's a great bit from McQueen, especially "why is a naked person more shocking than someone's head being blown off?" McQueen has this spot on conviction that sex/nudity should be a more acceptable subject because it's something we're all so familiar with. like, how weird is it that Shame is the only movie I've ever seen that really broaches the subject of male sexuality?
I've also got to say that I would have been super super pissed if there were some idiots in the theater sniggering during the movie's tense moments. what were they laughing at? I'm guessing some of the masturbation scenes. ha ha ha, it's a dude doing something dudes do every day.
@sob3k: I totally agree re: Street Halo; the boringness and rehashing is kind of why I included it see, I only got into Burial this year (Untrue got so much play from me) so, to my ears, Street Halo was just a bit more of this great sound I'd only recently discovered. it's in my list sort of as a proxy for Untrue, which probably got most playtime on the year (but wasn't a 2011 album).
@Bobo_ ahhhh you're going to have a great time. Real Estate have a fantastic live sound and they seem like such nice guys.
@Belial88 thanks for the thoughts man. half the reason I post these blogs is because I like to get reactions like this. it's such a great reality check to have someone who can explain himself disagree. you raise a good point about how an ugly PC is easily disguised. I suppose (as I mentioned briefly in another comment) I had more in mind handheld electronics like phones and laptops. here my point is less strong though, cause there are some very attractive Android phones. (the Apple fan in me wants to say that these phones are just ripping off Apple's design aesthetic, but one way or another they're certainly decent-looking.)
your final point, about wanting every $ to go towards performance, is almost exactly one of the things I was trying to raise in that post. there just aren't that many people who care to spend on "good design" anymore, maybe. I couldn't even begin to tell you whether this is an "objectively" good thing, but it can be frustrating for someone who does want his $100 to go towards a better-looking product. while there are lots of options for performance, there seem not to be so many for nice-looking or distinctively designed products (at least in consumer electronics).
the guy making the weird sounds is doing pretty impressively accurate (to my layman's ear) impressions of typewriters. his name is Michael Winslow. you can read a bit more here
@loazis: this is really interesting. maybe there is a totally different "shoe culture" where you live. do these girls explain their thinking? no girl I've dated recently has made any recommendations for my wardrobe (kind of a bummer I guess, since I can always use one).
@Brood: Fassbender just crushed it, I agree. please do share your thoughts about the movie.
"word on the street"?? I'm intrigued. source? if that is the case, I wonder how Ross escaped police scrutiny so easily (or maybe there's a lot of lying there, too). the kid would have to be a world-class yarn-spinner! he sells it really fucking well.
@zul: thanks for posting man. it's cool to get some tips from other TLers in here, too. those shoes are not my style but I think they look sweet in your top photo there. I got into this a bit in OP, but I guess my blog is pretty targeted at people who face dressing requirements (i.e. what's appropriate given our locations of work/play) as me. so the main reason I wouldn't recommend a shoe like the ones you posted to a peer right now is just that there is no way I could get away with wearing something so casual to work (in NYC those shoes are also pushing it for a nice restaurant/bar/club). obviously not everyone faces the specter of a business formal type workplace, though ^^
edit: one thing I do need to object to is that you can't wear the shoes I posted with any casual outfit. like I wrote in OP, I wear my AEs with jeans almost every day. sometimes jeans and a t-shirt. the shoes go a long way to keep me from feeling like I'm dressed like a bum.
@Daigomi: have you listened to this track? can't stop playing it.
Some 2011 albums since you seem to like certain bass music and have a James Blake quote and mention Burial; but only go as far as the artists well-known in indie circles. Which sucks because their output is not as interesting anymore.
Others might suggest Rustie, Hudson Mohawke, Blue Daisy, Author, Pinch & Shakleton, Marytn, Irrelevant, Damu, Phaeleh who all also had LPs out and were all rated well, but those 6 were personally my preferred ones. Was a great year so many different directions being taken with influences from all over.
thx infinity2k9. the Kuedo album I couldn't really get into, but goddamn did I love Sepalcure. awesome stuff. ok, I'll check out these others! thank you!
to a bass music noob like me (I only this year discovered Untrue — show some pity), these tired artists' "uninteresting" output still sounds fresh
@JWD: ofc you can wear the shoes you posted with jeans and Tshirt, but it will always make you look kinda "formal" (which mustn`t be a bad thing, it`s just a fact ) I`ve worked in a bank for years and am used to wear business outfit. Your shoes totally fit those dressing requirements and I also wore them when we went for a dinner/drinks with colleagues. But today I`m working in an agency where the dresscode is more "loose" and I really like my new freedom of choice (when it comes to clothes)
funny you mentioned the NYC Club situation. I once was denied entrance because of my "too casual" shoes in New York, even though I looked fresh as hell ... fuckers^^
Hey, I've been following your blogs ever since I've created a TL account. Thanks for giving me a unique insight into areas which I'd never wonder into.
Quick question about shoes. What are your stance on Converse? They aren't trainers per se but I love them. I have a pair of shoes, but rarely wear them over my converse due to how great they look in jeans (which I also commonly wear.)
I'm due a new wardrobe due to weight loss, but would like to hear your opinion on Converse.
On January 24 2012 23:32 zul wrote: funny you mentioned the NYS Club situation. I once was denied entrance because of my "too casual" shoes in New York, even though I looked fresh as hell ... fuckers^^
haha this is a great story. yeah, NYC can be a real prick about what shoes you're wearing. especially as a young, good-for-almost-nothing, opposite-of-famous dude I feel like I shouldn't try to push it.
On January 24 2012 23:32 Vatti wrote: Hey, I've been following your blogs ever since I've created a TL account. Thanks for giving me a unique insight into areas which I'd never wonder into.
Quick question about shoes. What are your stance on Converse? They aren't trainers per se but I love them. I have a pair of shoes, but rarely wear them over my converse due to how great they look in jeans (which I also commonly wear.)
I'm due a new wardrobe due to weight loss, but would like to hear your opinion on Converse.
Keep it up. I always look forward to these.
yo! np.
I dig Converse. I wear em at the gym and yeah, they do look good with jeans! a classic shoe.
I just wouldn't recommend sticking with them for regular wear, largely because they are not appropriate for almost any work/going out situation I encounter (and brown leather + jeans is a fantastic combo too). also my Converse tend to retain stink really well. the pair I had last summer...cheese central. terrible. baby powder was of almost no use.
my only advice is to give your other pair of shoes a shot; maybe wear them for a week and then re-evaluate your sneaks. I found that once I got even a little used to wearing my nicer shoes around, I couldn't return to sneakers. now I go through Converse at a much slower pace.
agree, I'll try to write more about the film tomorrow or when I'm more clear-headed. re:ross, I guess maybe I shouldn't have even said anything as it's all hearsay. but my best friend's younger brother is a professional snowboarder who knows him, or friends of his. anyways I probably shouldn't have been spreading it as fact, but the side I was told was that he basically just straight up lied about the fact that the whole thing centered around a drug deal gone wrong. I suppose take it for what it's worth: the word of a random person you don't know.
On January 24 2012 23:32 zul wrote: funny you mentioned the NYS Club situation. I once was denied entrance because of my "too casual" shoes in New York, even though I looked fresh as hell ... fuckers^^
haha this is a great story. yeah, NYC can be a real prick about what shoes you're wearing. especially as a young, good-for-almost-nothing, opposite-of-famous dude I feel like I shouldn't try to push it.
It was no biggie. First I was like "u serious?", then I was like "lol whatever" and we went to another club, which turned out be great
Wow, this is eye-opening, especially for foreigners. The video about the guy who almost died made me cry. Kudos and please don't stop, I greatly enjoy it.
Don't know much about shoes, what do you think about Gordon Rush and Hugo Boss in terms of quality? They seem rather comfortable, but of all the brands you listed, I only recognize Church's.
cool read on Meermin, I'm going to check them out at Isetan soon (Thursday!)
YEEEEEAH SBTRKT! Man's a machine. Theres a 2 part live set from him on YT where he performs in a record store with 2 APCs. So good
something i put on every time ive got a girl over :F (cause who wouldn't like SBTRKT in conjunction with Little Dragon O_O) SBTRKT - Wildfire -+ Show Spoiler +
Other suggestions for starters, and for general listening with a similar scope - Lone (BFBM1, Pineapple Crush, Beach Bump, etc), Ambassadeurs ( M.O.P.E, absolutely brilliant track, + Show Spoiler +
has quite the opposite feel to it, regarding the title; Rössler, etc) I could go on with this for ages :D
Then again, I'm already at a point in my career where i can already successfully melt (the right) girls with my own music :F Its a treat watching them sit behind your screen, listening to your music on the best headphones theyve ever had on, in darkness at 5am :F ^__^ like this - + Show Spoiler +
On January 25 2012 00:06 fusefuse wrote: YEEEEEAH SBTRKT! Man's a machine. Theres a 2 part live set from him on YT where he performs in a record store with 2 APCs. So good
something i put on every time ive got a girl over :F (cause who wouldn't like SBTRKT in conjunction with Little Dragon O_O) SBTRKT - Wildfire -+ Show Spoiler +
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdUINbi4wSY
Other suggestions for starters, and for general listening with a similar scope - Lone (BFBM1, Pineapple Crush, Beach Bump, etc), Ambassadeurs ( M.O.P.E, absolutely brilliant track, + Show Spoiler +
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOvPpS8vpTs
has quite the opposite feel to it, regarding the title; Rössler, etc) I could go on with this for ages :D
Then again, I'm already at a point in my career where i can already successfully melt (the right) girls with my own music :F Its a treat watching them sit behind your screen, listening to your music on the best headphones theyve ever had on, in darkness at 5am :F ^__^ like this - + Show Spoiler +
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFqiI4a_Ul4
I know, im such a showoff :/
badass blog as always JWD \m/
Yeah Wildfire is instant classic when I'm listening to SBTRKT so far, that's the one song I really like. Sorry I missed the playlist already made by JWD... what a boss.
Haven't actually heard it, it's awesome. I love Freddie Gibbs, got his 2011 mixtape a few days back but haven't listened to it yet. It seems like Thuggin' is a track from a forthcoming album though? I'm so-so with Madlib, I prefer the "flashier" producers like Just Blaze and DJ Premier.I love this song, for example. Not that I wouldn't listen to something by Madlib, Doom's "Born Like This" was one of my favourite hip hop albums in 2009, and that has a very Madlib sound.
Also, I'm not sure if I agree with James Blake. I mean, I agree with his description of some of the new trends in dubstep, but I disagree that it's a bad thing or a fratboy thing. I came into electronic music from the glitchcore/breakcore side, and the cleaner sound dubstep bores me at times. I guess it just depends on the quality of music. Shitty dirty dubstep is pretty damn shitty, while shitty clean dubstep is boring.
I do agree with you that there weren't any real standout albums this year (like Kanye's "MBDTF" last year). For me, Fleet Foxes deserves to be top 10, but other than that there were just tons of "pretty good" albums like the new Bon Iver.
I was actually in the car yesterday wondering why we haven't seen any of these! Some nice timing and some great stuff (especially the shoes, I need to get myself a good pair).
Your blogs are basically just combined Tumblrs... and it's great. Three glaring flaws though -- Youth Lagoon wasn't #1, araabMUZIK wasn't even on your list, and neither was Clams Casino. The latter two are absolutely sensational and you need to give their albums a listen if you haven't already. Seeing as we pretty much have identical tastes when it comes to everything else, there's no way you won't like them.
Samples:
P.S. you don't remember, but you rec'd some Lil B shit to me a while ago. Clams does all of Lil B's [good] beats.
On January 24 2012 23:46 Cambium wrote: couldn't agree more on the shoes!
Don't know much about shoes, what do you think about Gordon Rush and Hugo Boss in terms of quality? They seem rather comfortable, but of all the brands you listed, I only recognize Church's.
cool read on Meermin, I'm going to check them out at Isetan soon (Thursday!)
I don't know enough about Gordon Rush or Hugo Boss to answer your question, sorry (if you probe, you will find that I am not nearly an expert on shoes haha). I'd guess that Boss has another shoemaker building its shoes (since it's not a shoe company, really), and so the quality of those shoes will depend on the underlying maker. This is just speculation, though.
let me know what you think of those Meermin shoes! I hadn't heard of the brand before reading the post that I linked you.
@Daigomi: "Thuggin'" is off an EP of the same name, but (knowing how much hip-hop releases tend to overlap) it could well be on a forthcoming LP too. you clearly know much more about this type of music than I do; can you please recommend me a great rap album from 2011? I like Watch the Throne alright. the only other album I now remember hearing a lot of buzz over was Drake's, and him I just can't get into (ugh, the whining in his lyrics). what about some less poppy, more beat-driven stuff?
@hmunkey: I liked both the araabMUZIK and Clams Casino albums, but didn't think they had enough substance to include in my list. I mean, I dug them each for a week and then moved on. I think araabMUZIK's real talents are in improvisation and insane handspeed/coordination, and neither of these come across in a recording. I just didn't find that much compelling about the tracks on Electronic Dream (especially the remix of "Sandstorm"...lol).
On January 25 2012 00:49 Finrod1 wrote: No way too put away my sneakers. I'm addictet. They just look so so much better. can any shoe compare to those?
What clubs are you going to? None of the shoes you posted would be appealing in any upscale, adult clubs I've ever been to. Granted, I haven't been to German clubs, but unless German women are drastically different from French, British, and Americans in terms of taste, I have no idea how wearing those could make you look good in any non-athletic situation.
On January 25 2012 00:49 Finrod1 wrote: No way too put away my sneakers. I'm addictet. They just look so so much better. can any shoe compare to those?
What clubs are you going to? None of the shoes you posted would be appealing in any upscale, adult clubs I've ever been to. Granted, I haven't been to German clubs, but unless German women are drastically different from French, British, and Americans in terms of taste, I have no idea how wearing those could make you look good in any non-athletic situation.
Very nice blog. Found some stuff interesting, some, not so much.
Since everyone seems to like the shoe topic... these are the perfect balance between wanting to wear sneakers and wanting to not look like a kid in athletic shoes. imo
Hmm, 2011 wasn't that good a year for hip hop. Some albums I did enjoy (in order):
The Roots - Undun (probably the best hip hop album of 2011) Jay-z and Kanye - Watch the Throne Saigon - Greatest Story Never Told Kendrick Lamar - Section.80 Royce da 5'9" - Success is Certain
That said, I'm almost always a year behind in music. I generally wait until the end of the year to scour "best of" lists for new music. Your question reminded me that I haven't looked at DJ Premier's yearly list of the top 25 albums, so I'll go do that now
On January 25 2012 01:07 Daigomi wrote: Hmm, 2011 wasn't that good a year for hip hop. Some albums I did enjoy (in order):
The Roots - Undun (probably the best hip hop album of 2011) Jay-z and Kanye - Watch the Throne Saigon - Greatest Story Never Told Kendrick Lamar - Section.80 Royce da 5'9" - Success is Certain
That said, I'm almost always a year behind in music. I generally wait until the end of the year to scour "best of" lists for new music. Your question reminded me that I haven't looked at DJ Premier's yearly list of the top 25 albums, so I'll go do that now
yeah the "watch the throne" LP was good, but when it comes to hip hop in 2011 I surely remember Tyler the creator`s "goblin" LP. His kinda bored-acting rapstyle was fun to hear.
Bon Iver is probably my album of 2011. I saw them when they came to London and they were awesome although their live sound is quite different to their studio stuff. They played with a much bigger band and a rockier set but interspersed with the intimate, acoustic songs which made them so well loved.
Gonna take some time to go through your other albums. I listened to some of them when you first put them up but none of them really stood out immediately.
On January 25 2012 01:07 SCJethro wrote: Interesting blog. Found some stuff interesting, some, not so much.
Since everyone seems to like the shoe topic... these are the perfect balance between wanting to wear sneakers and wanting to not look like a kid in athletic shoes. imo
I agree with James Blake but i don't find his music reflects the early dubstep ethos or feels like its connected to where it started either. It's hard to describe exactly what that is, but as Mala said his music reflects the feelings about living/growing up in London. I did myself and can definitely feel the atmosphere reflected in dubstep and some drum n' bass very well. James Blake grew up in London too but his music is not like say, Burial's first album, in how it feels at least.
On January 25 2012 01:20 infinity2k9 wrote: I agree with James Blake but i don't find his music reflects the early dubstep ethos or feels like its connected to where it started either. It's hard to describe exactly what that is, but as Mala said his music reflects the feelings about living/growing up in London. I did myself and can definitely feel the atmosphere reflected in dubstep and some drum n' bass very well. James Blake grew up in London too but his music is not like say, Burial's first album, in how it feels at least.
This might sound weird, but I feel like James Blake reflects Burial & co. but it sounds a lot more "hollow," whatever that means. It's hard to describe the differences without using oddly specific words.
P.S. High five for growing up in London. Unfortunately I don't live there anymore.
On January 25 2012 01:07 Daigomi wrote: Hmm, 2011 wasn't that good a year for hip hop. Some albums I did enjoy (in order):
The Roots - Undun (probably the best hip hop album of 2011) Jay-z and Kanye - Watch the Throne Saigon - Greatest Story Never Told Kendrick Lamar - Section.80 Royce da 5'9" - Success is Certain
That said, I'm almost always a year behind in music. I generally wait until the end of the year to scour "best of" lists for new music. Your question reminded me that I haven't looked at DJ Premier's yearly list of the top 25 albums, so I'll go do that now
Clams Casino, A$AP ROCKY, Danny Brown, Death Grips, Shabazz Palaces, and Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire were all pretty great.
JWD did you check out the leaked Grimes album, shit is great.
HOLY SHIT FINALLY. it's been far too long JWD. don't you dare make me wait again.
ps i havent read it yet but just seeing this pop up in the spotlighted thing gave me a chub and i had to comment
post read: top 10 list was pretty good, had a couple of my personals in there so i don't really disagree too much! since you mentioned james blake in the post, what did you think of his s/t?
your final point, about wanting every $ to go towards performance, is almost exactly one of the things I was trying to raise in that post. there just aren't that many people who care to spend on "good design" anymore, maybe. I couldn't even begin to tell you whether this is an "objectively" good thing, but it can be frustrating for someone who does want his $100 to go towards a better-looking product. while there are lots of options for performance, there seem not to be so many for nice-looking or distinctively designed products (at least in consumer electronics).
I guess, I should say, you can always spend $100 on a custom case/design that'll be much better than anything by apple or android or dell etc. I mean, you can always just buy a MacPro case for $100 and stick your PC into it. Same with android and iphone, et cetera. I was just saying there's a reason people don't care about looks when it comes to electronics, because I can just put the Mona lisa as my background. There's a lot of companies out there that specifically do customizations, and run by people more creative than the (albeit large) apple aesthetics department.
IMO, the picture you site as displaying an example of sneakers being done with style is a perfect example of why they should never be worn away from sporting endeavours... They look ridiculous. Definitely agree with your sentiment that people should be aiming for some real shoes!
Really nice blog. Even though i only went trough 10% of it, im really enjoying it Ross Capicchioni story is just wow... Impossible not to be touched :<
On January 25 2012 10:50 Ilverin wrote: Can we swear here?
**** Fashion. It's a societal construct that has no objective meaning. What you wear is no indication of what's underneath.
If it has no meaning, society wouldn't have constructed it. What you wear is absolutely an indication of who you are, as it is a representation of the image you wish to show others.
On January 25 2012 10:50 Ilverin wrote: Can we swear here?
**** Fashion. It's a societal construct that has no objective meaning. What you wear is no indication of what's underneath.
If it has no meaning, society wouldn't have constructed it. What you wear is absolutely an indication of who you are, as it is a representation of the image you wish to show others.
And even if you personally take fashion as purely pointless and meaningless, that doesn't mean everyone else does. Dressing well brings quite a bit of outside positive attention, even if you personally don't understand it.
From personal experience: Around three years ago, I started to switch my wardrobe from t-shirts and jeans to a more GQ-esque look -- that is, "adult, but youthful" clothes. It's pretty hard to relate just how big of an impact this had on me, but to put it in perspective more women have paid attention to me in the last couple years than ever before, my superiors have treated me with more respect, I've gained a considerable amount of confidence, etc. Honestly, the only downside is cost, but smart shopping can largely eliminate this (especially if you take quality into account -- a $150 pair of shoes from a good brand will last longer than three $50 pairs).
This was so good it made me come out of my 4-year lurker status.
This SBTRTK is really interesting stuff, especially paired with what he said about the state of dubstep. On my second listen, and sharing rabidly on spotify.
Watched the Acronym video like 6 times, fell in love with the bald female, then scoured the internets for the 4-ish other videos of the designer deftly donning/doffing jackets and bags. This is like clothes porn. I have some military background so the technical aspect has me all hot and bothered as well.
Finally, yeah I had to stop wearing sneakers with jeans. They get dirty and look like an altogether bag-of-ass after a couple months no matter what I do, and they just look so... I think the word I want to use is immature, if it is a little harsh. Right now I go for boots. Definitely using this shoe advice though, smarter than going to Macy's, getting frustrated, entering a rage-spiral, and buying whatever shoe gets me angry the least.
Hey JWD, If you haven't taken a look at Cole Haan for shoes you are definitely missing out. I find that they break in more comfy than AE's and I personally like the style a bit more (slightly less stiff looking). Also, if you are looking out for some shoes that are a bit more expensive, but are super awesome I would recommend Bruno Magli and Santoni. They are fantastic looking and pretty damn comfy (I feel like I'm walking on pillows in my leather soled Santonis). Anyway, I just thought u might want to take a look at the shoes because they would be great additions to the great shoes you already posted.
thank you sooooo much for doing these blogs! you're the only reason i come back to teamliquid, i don't even play starcraft anymore, i only browse for the 10 things i should know about!!!
Hey JWD, first time reading your blog and I really enjoyed it. I loved the quote you put in the music section about dubstep and I completely agree with it. I also really like your section on shoes haha. I've wanted to see Shame since I first saw the trailer about a month and a half ago but it isn't showing anywhere near me in Australia Great blog will definitely look out for the next one.
I prefer to stay one of those neanderthals who refuse to give a moments thought into what my shoes communicate or say about me. Okay, just this once I'll think about what I want my shoes to say:
I want them to say that I'm the type of person who doesn't want and is not really allowed to go places barefoot, and at the same time doesn't want to spend too much money or time picking out the socially popular covering for his feet. I also want them to say that if you really care about the style of shoes I'm wearing then you are probably too superficial for me to enjoy hanging out with you anyway, so don't bother. If you are an employer and you really care about how I cover my feet, I guess I can cater to your desires, but only because you are paying me in part to look a certain way at work.
Sorry, I know I'm a real Debbie Downer Nice blog JWD, 5/5
@Daigomi: thanks for the recommendations, man. lol at Saigon just now putting out his first real album. I downloaded these and will get back to you. I'm always surprised that — according to critics at least — a large portion of the “very best" recent hip hop albums are from really venerable artists like The Roots. have you noticed this? what do you think is up? is it just that we're clinging to that old school sound?
@SCJethro: can you please explain what you mean by a "classier look" that involves those Converse? to me "classy" means at least a jacket, and I just can't ever imagine Converse looking acceptable with a blazer.
@alepoff and -dash: what's wrong with Amsterdam? I've only been once. fill me in please.
@boes: what's your blog? nice thrift finds. those 511 cords look like a steal for $5. yeah, I agree that J.Crew has some really nice patterns. it's a pity that most OTR American clothing is cut for guys with potbellies. I'm 6'1'' 180 and have a hard enough time; at 6'4'' 160 I'd imagine almost everything would need tailoring. I guess the silver lining is that your clothes will end up fitting you better than a guy who is just barely the right size for OTR. (and, uh, being 6'4'' has many other advantages I'm sure ^^)
"next blog"? no pressure!
@Ilverin: how can you say that what a person wears is no indication of what's underneath? imagine three strangers: one in a t-shirt of your favorite band, one in ratty sweat pants and a dirty parka, and one in a finely tailored suit. would you have the same reaction if each of these people approached you on the street?
I'm just trying to dress well enough to use any hotel's bathroom and free wifi without the staff asking me whether I'm a guest.
I agree with Mani. and hmunkey's story sounds right. many people worth impressing (for whatever reason) will treat you better if you dress better.
@Genmo: welcome to TL! nice first post. I really agree with your last paragraph. in my experience sneakers never last more than a season, and are especially hard to get by with through winter. I just got tired of buying a new pair of shoes every several months. leaky soles drive me nuts.
@Jacobine: thanks for the tips mayne. I'm always glad to learn of new shoe options.
@Erik.TheRed: I dug John Maus's album quite a bit (especially "Keep Pushing On", epic track). such a throwback — to that raw synth sound off my dad's mixtapes from the 80s.
@FrankWalls: tbh I still haven't given James Blake's album a fair listen. I played it through once and nothing grabbed me; it's definitely lacking the poppy charm of, say, SBTRKT. I should go back and reconsider, because in the time since I first checked James Blake out I have come to like tons of similar artists that I didn't know of before. is there a particular song that you think will get me into the album?
When I saw the title, I wondered if it meant "installment 20", or if it was about the female gender. After reading the whole thing, I still haven't decided.
I think it's mainly because very few publications review hip hop, so the only albums that really get reviewed are those by the old school legends. That's one of the reasons I like looking at DJ Premier's top albums of the year, he always has some artists in there I've never heard of. For example, this song from his 2009 list was one of the most interesting songs I heard that year. With all that said, Undun is just a damn good album. Better than the average Roots albums.
Have you seen Kanye's 45 minute Runaway video? It's really worth a watch if you haven't seen it before.
I've been meaning to ask, are there any sites you regular for men's style/fashion? I always like looking for new ideas.
On January 26 2012 05:15 jtp118 wrote: i'm a little surprised that people are so impressed by this blog ... mainstream-indie pitchfork albums, extremely obvious fashion advice?
I think it's mostly a case of there being lots of interesting things to discuss. If you and your friends discuss the pitchfork top 50, what style of shoe to wear, and an in-depth analysis of hip hop lyrics regularly then there wouldn't be anything interesting here. For the rest of us, there's enough here that everybody will find at least one thing that they didn't know before.
On January 26 2012 05:15 jtp118 wrote: i'm a little surprised that people are so impressed by this blog ... mainstream-indie pitchfork albums, extremely obvious fashion advice?
your "mainstream" or "obvious" is someone else's "obscure" or "useful" or "interesting"
what a boring place the world would be if nobody ever discussed the things he considers obvious.
oh DUH! I probably should've made the connection lol. I scoped your blog and noticed that it's written by someone from TL, but missed the waywt link.
supdude
oh hey. which tumblr is yours? thereisnogrey?
yeah thereisnogrey is his tumblr. I'm not sure what the fraternité ou la mort one is though, it includes things from him not in his blog but others as well. I don't use tumblr so I'm not familiar with how it works.
oh DUH! I probably should've made the connection lol. I scoped your blog and noticed that it's written by someone from TL, but missed the waywt link.
supdude
oh hey. which tumblr is yours? thereisnogrey?
yeah thereisnogrey is his tumblr. I'm not sure what the fraternité ou la mort one is though, it includes things from him not in his blog but others as well. I don't use tumblr so I'm not familiar with how it works.
http://fraternite-ou-la-mort.tumblr.com/ includes posts by both me (account = "thereisnogrey") and my brother (acct = "okrainbow"). when one of us comments on the other's post, we use italics. it's not an ideal system, but convenient for us, because we both already had tumblogs.
On January 26 2012 08:28 Manimal_pro wrote: what are the traits of comfortable shoes? I have some suit shoes and they're all killing my feet. It's a relief to take them off
Generally, comfortable shoes have a really good insole, which supports your arches and ankle. Also, make sure that your shoe fits properly. If they are too lose or too tight that could be causing you problems. The stiffness of the leather does not matter, although with high end shoes the leather tends to be nice and supple. I would try getting a better set of insoles and see if that fixes your foot problems.
On January 26 2012 04:10 JWD wrote: @FrankWalls: tbh I still haven't given James Blake's album a fair listen. I played it through once and nothing grabbed me; it's definitely lacking the poppy charm of, say, SBTRKT. I should go back and reconsider, because in the time since I first checked James Blake out I have come to like tons of similar artists that I didn't know of before. is there a particular song that you think will get me into the album?
well i felt the best songs were Wilhelms Scream, I Never Learnt to Share, and Limit to Your Love. You're correct on the poppy charm point. Blake I think was going for more of an atmosphericish sound. That might not be the right word, but it was definitely meant to be down-tempo instead of poppy. If it doesn't really grab you on the first one or two listens it probably won't grab you. I enjoyed it, however. Was just curious what your thoughts were! You have good taste!
I'm all for classy shoes, but I walk at least 8-10 miles a day and there's snow and ice on the ground right now, so alas I shall be condemned to looking normal
I did a 1hr 19 track mix of dubstep/bass if you or anyone else would care to listen; it's supposed to cover a wide variety of the diverging styles over 2011, i think people would be surprised at how varied 'dubstep' actually is when they hear some of the tracks. Some random guy complimented without me even posting it anywhere so it must be alright i guess.
On January 27 2012 10:37 theSAiNT wrote: What is number 6 of your album list please? The hotlink points to Idle Labor which is number 1 and I don't recognise it from the album art.
Was just thinking about SBTRKT recently along the same lines as you're saying. I don't know where this "Skrillex is dubstep" thing came from. The music is so different from Kode9 or Vex'd, it's like, electro-house or something, I just know it ain't dubstep. One album besides SBTRKT's from last year everyone should listen to would be Toro y Moi's second album, Underneath the Pine. Came out last March I think, if I had to give it a genre I'd probably say funky Electropop, though it is much deeper than the rest of the garbage that comprises that genre.
On January 27 2012 05:38 infinity2k9 wrote: I did a 1hr 19 track mix of dubstep/bass if you or anyone else would care to listen; it's supposed to cover a wide variety of the diverging styles over 2011, i think people would be surprised at how varied 'dubstep' actually is when they hear some of the tracks. Some random guy complimented without me even posting it anywhere so it must be alright i guess.
this is really great, thanks for posting. I'm listening now. "Like We Used To" (Kahn) grabbed me; dig the vocal samples there. checking out his other stuff now.
On January 26 2012 08:28 Manimal_pro wrote: what are the traits of comfortable shoes? I have some suit shoes and they're all killing my feet. It's a relief to take them off
Ones you can run, jump and kick people in the face in.
I really like your blog. This entry has inspired me to look for a pair of Allen Edmonds--particularly the Clifton Sold at Nordstrom
You mentioned shopping at 3rd party sites. Could you provide some examples of good places to look? I am consistently checking ebay for a good deal, but haven't had much luck at places like Amazon or Zappos.
Bleh, I just bought a pair of Bally oxfords thanks to your blog
(and a pair of Cole Haan)
No more shoes.
Didn't get a chance to check out Meermin before I left Tokyo, but I will make that my priority when I go back. Damn shoes.
On February 01 2012 06:01 SecondSandwich wrote: Hey JWD
I really like your blog. This entry has inspired me to look for a pair of Allen Edmonds--particularly the Clifton Sold at Nordstrom
You mentioned shopping at 3rd party sites. Could you provide some examples of good places to look? I am consistently checking ebay for a good deal, but haven't had much luck at places like Amazon or Zappos.
Thanks!
Check out sites like 6pm and piperlime as well. It's probably easiest if you sign up for ShopItToMe and add Allen Edmonds as something you are interested in.
On February 01 2012 06:01 SecondSandwich wrote: Hey JWD
I really like your blog. This entry has inspired me to look for a pair of Allen Edmonds--particularly the Clifton Sold at Nordstrom
You mentioned shopping at 3rd party sites. Could you provide some examples of good places to look? I am consistently checking ebay for a good deal, but haven't had much luck at places like Amazon or Zappos.
Thanks!
sorry, but I didn't have any particular site in mind when I gave that advice. in the past I've just googled around for the best deal, and often encountered AEs marked down significantly. one place you might check is styleforum's buy/sell subforum.
I don't know how long AE made/has made the Clifton for; you may have a hard time finding it because afaik it is not among their most popular shoes.
unfortunately, the only advice I can give is to (1) keep looking; (2) suck it up and save the $300 (AEs are well worth full price imo); or (3) try widening your search to similar-looking, possibly more popular shoes.
I'm actaully a music digger, SBRKT is Subtrakt, great artist indeed. I liked Your chillwave entry, this topic is good as well - not many people are listenting to this kind of music, especially here.
check this out:
I have like thousands of these on my hard drive/music stack You can check as well my music blog - http://tinyurl.com/everytimechill , it's in polish, but there is loads of music videos down there. Keep up the good work my man!
On February 01 2012 06:01 SecondSandwich wrote: Hey JWD
I really like your blog. This entry has inspired me to look for a pair of Allen Edmonds--particularly the Clifton Sold at Nordstrom
You mentioned shopping at 3rd party sites. Could you provide some examples of good places to look? I am consistently checking ebay for a good deal, but haven't had much luck at places like Amazon or Zappos.
Thanks!
sorry, but I didn't have any particular site in mind when I gave that advice. in the past I've just googled around for the best deal, and often encountered AEs marked down significantly. one place you might check is styleforum's buy/sell subforum.
I don't know how long AE made/has made the Clifton for; you may have a hard time finding it because afaik it is not among their most popular shoes.
unfortunately, the only advice I can give is to (1) keep looking; (2) suck it up and save the $300 (AEs are well worth full price imo); or (3) try widening your search to similar-looking, possibly more popular shoes.
Hey just want to provide an update on pursuing AE shoes. You can call one of their outlet stores (use their online store locator to find a phone number--the Shoe Bank in Wisconsin has a great selection) and ask for their current availability of "factory seconds"* in your desired style and size. All of the outlets offer free shipping. I am currently getting a pair of walnut Cliftons ($300 at Nordstrom) for $169. Pretty nice deal, IMO.
*The term factory seconds means that there is some type of imperfection with the shoe. I have read many reviews of AE factory second shoes, and all of them have reported that the 'imperfections' are at worst barely detectable (things like a small stain on the underside of the sole).
Just wanted to pass this on to anyone looking for a good deal on a nice shoe :-)
I probably listened to Goblin as much as every other album released in 2011 combined, but I'd be lying if I said it was anywhere near the best. What a fascinating disaster.
Hey. So im atl right now, and ineed new shoes. Im at Macys at buckhead rigt now with the gf, and looking up some nice shoes. Now im never on suits, just like h&m clothes, a little nicer, but like fitted Jeans, colorful button up collared shirts that definetely dont go with a suit.
Now 200 is def out of bidget, and maybe I should stick with sneakers, but I feel I ehould be wearing something something nicer.
It's probably just me but I find those types of shoes to have a pretentious feel to them. Obviously if you're an older gentlemen then it'll suit you fine, but when I see college students around my school wearing those shoes, khakis, and that sort everyday it rubs me the wrong way- again I'm quite its just me and my odd way of looking at things.
I simply can't picture myself wearing brown shiny leather shoes. I don't wear crappy running shoes when I hang out but I still prefer the plain old sneaker. I do have a pair of old brown shiny leather shoes that I only wear on certain occasions. I mean I'm an adult but I still prefer a cool looking pair of Jeremy Scott shoes to go with my fitted jeans.
I like this release a lot. It has some abstract elements to it and sort of pokes fun at the steroetypes hip-hop often falls for. Recommended tracks: Free Press and Curl, Are You... Can You... Were You (felt), and Endeavors for Never.
EPT
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(I own a pair of these and they go well with everything)
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