It’s a simple yet sublime pleasure, and just thinking about it can make you feel a little calmer, a little more content. Imagine: You bring out one of the good rocks glasses (or your favorite mug or a special occasion tea cup) and pour a couple fingers of amber liquid (or something dark and strong or just some whole milk). You drop the needle on the jazz platter (or pull up a blues album on your mp3 player or dig out that mixtape from college). Ensconcing yourself in the coziest seat in the house, you crack the spine on a classic (or find your place in that sci-fi paperback or pull up a biography on your e-book reader). And then, you go away for a while. Ah, bliss.
In this series, some of NTSIB’s friends share beloved albums, books and drinks to recommend or inspire.
Everyone is Dirty is: Sivan Gur-Arieh (vocals/violin), Christopher Daddio (guitar), Tony Sales (drums), and Tyler English (bass). They are from Oakland, and they mix fuzzy aggression with pockets of sweetness to create some of the finest grunge out there. Here they are with the video for Mama, No!!!, their first single:
Everyone Is Dirty – Mama No!!! from Dalton J. Rooney on Vimeo.
A full-length record is expected in April, and they’re playing shows all over the Bay Area this spring. The next one is at Slim’s, in San Francisco, on March 7. If you’re in town head down and rock out with them.
Meanwhile, here is Sivan Gur-Arieh to tell us about one of her favorite books, records and drinks:
A Good Read:
The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym by Edgar Allan Poe
This is the story of what happens when your drunk-ass friend convinces you to jump into a random empty boat on the dock and go sailing in the middle of the night. I love Poe’s descriptions of storms and the stillness of the sea. Get tossed around in the ocean for a while and read the whole book here.
A Good Listen:
Histoire De Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg
Mesmerizing music even though I can’t really understand what he is saying. Sonically they’ve got some amazing players on this. I’m in love with Herbie Flower’s bass playing and all of those psychedelic orchestral string arrangements by Jean-Claude Vannier. Um, and are you watching Jane Birkin dance in the movie version? This is a sexy fucking album. I must confess I’ve put it on to try and impress a boy ;)
Minute 11:05 of the video is especially fine:
Histoire de Melody Nelson – Serge Gainsbourg from LeGouter on Vimeo.
[ed note: you can also watch it on YouTube!]
A Good Drink:
Morning Sunshine! There’s nothing like an Italian Irish Coffee to set the right mood on a recording day, or any day for that matter. It puts together 2 of my favorite things . . . espresso and whiskey.
Italian Espresso
Johnny Walker Red
Whole Milk
Sugar
Whipped Cream
. . . add a few drops of Sativa Tincture for a dreamy work day.