My Hood Versus Your Hood

Ay! It's been a hell of a good start for DJ mixes 'round the way. Although I'm not gonna lie, sooo many songs get repeated from mix to mix that it's not even funny. Well, actually it is funny in a "I'm so different but so similar" kind of way. You know, like goth and punk kids.

Anywaysville, I've been shamelessly promoting DJs from here to Haiti these days, and though my affiliation with them doesn't go much farther than an enthusiastic fan, who doesn't like free press?

We start our selection off with one of the dopest groups of DJs in the world right now: The Hood Internet. Missingtoof peeped these dudes first, back last year, and now, as they would say, you too can peep scene. Most DJs generally limit their mix selection to electropop, electropunk, or that zany, out of the way shit that makes me reach for my pacifier...just kidding. But it's a little hard to get into, mostly because the bass/high hat combo and constantly chopping and screwing of the songs gets really annoying fast. If I wanted to hear Simian Mobile Disco repeat the same four words over and over again, I would listen to those same four words over and over again. See? But noooo, the crew at The Hood Internet is past that. In fact, they were past that before they even got to it, that's how transcendental their shit is. On their mix, aptly titled The Mixtape Vol.1 , the crew mashes Fiest, CSS with Rick Ross, Crime Mob with the Shins, and Swizz Beats with Deerhoof, just to name a few. Mad props if you can name all the songs mashed together without looking at the tracklisting! Anyway, you can peep the mixtape here, or here, if you wish. And while you're at Missingtoof, don't forget to give these dudes their well deserved props.

Moving on, we have Drastik, 1/4 of the Canadian DJ set known as Stylusts. On his (I think) most recent mix, Hipsterific Happy Hour, he takes us through a story of music with transitions smoother than chilled Grey Goose. My favorite part is his nice incorporation of Treasure Fingers, who reps the A-T-L every chance he G-E-T-S. Also notable is his use of Simian Mobile Disco's "It's The Beat" to transition into Li'l Mama's "Control." But if hour long DJ mixes aren't your thing...well, I can help you out a bit. BTW, get Hipsterific Happy Hour he-errr!

Villians aren't usually a thing I like to promote, mostly 'cos they haven't exactly stood for morals and justice, which I heavily endorse. (Well, easy on the morals, heavy on the justice.) But these Villians have birthed a sweet little minimix just for you, whether you don't like long mixes, or your house party just ran a bit short. At about 22 minutes, you can listen to this on your lunch break and still have time for Pilates before you go to work. Sweet! You can get the Villians mix here. (Just scroll down the page) Fully absorb the club atmosphere in your speakers, playa.

And that's all for now. Konichiwa bitchesss!

Worth listening to: Millionaires. If the Coathangers went to a rave in 1988.

Your electric bird,
Erika

Things What Make Me Happy This Week: Spring! Celebrity Apprentice, and Sweet Justice

Ahhhh...it's been long time no blog for me, mostly 'cos I've been reading other people's. Did anyone else know about that one blog dedicated to the style of Claudia from the Babysitter's Club? Which makes me ask when Shelby Woo will ever get her due...She was witty, styling, and completely rad for being one of the few Asians on Nickelodeon. Dude, it was hard back then for a pimp in '96...psshhh...

But to the point...it's Spring! Whoot! Even though the first day was 'ella cold and mad windy, it was still soooo sunny! I love Spring, but Autumn is still my favorite season. And it's almost April dude, which puts us days closer to the first annual National Record Store Day...!

Moving on, unless you don't own a television, can't access the TV Guide Channel, or don't live in the proximity of a liquor store (so you gotta be in the 'burbs), you have no excuse not to watch Celebrity Apprentice on NBC. I mean sure, the show's not so sweet after the jump, and Omarosa's ass got kicked so far to the curb, the streetsweepers had to avoid brushing it up in those big broom thingies, but still, who doesn't like watching C-list celebs (who still think they're big name stars) kiss Donald Trump's rich pale ass? That is so something I can't say no to. Ahhh, sometimes it's just refreshing to have the pecking order reinforced from time to time.

And finally, some fully sweet justice was recieved today (by me, of course) - but before I ruin the story's ending, I should get with the set up: this dude named Eli and I don't get along. We just don't. And not on my part, 'cos I try to include him in convos and shit, but all he likes are baseball and computer games, which keep him from getting his articles in on time (I'm an editor for The Catalyst newspaper). And we especially butt heads when it comes to politics, since I'm right and he's wrong 90% of the time. Did I mention he was a Republican? Well, now you know. Okay, so this whole Elliot Spitzer thing just gave him the smuggest grin I ever saw. He came in and tried to tell me Democrats weren't so holy after all. But then I countered with a healthy jab at our current Commander-In-Chief, which I guess he just could not handle, 'cos then he went on to write an editorial about third party candidates and Dems and blah blah blah blah blah...the point is, someone actually wrote to us bashing the shet out of Eli, which just made me smile, because it was nothing but sweet, sweet justice!

New Be Your Own Pet album out now! Everyone can get awkward already!

Your electric bird,

Erika

Things What Make Me Happy This Week: Louise, Stuff White People Like, And Glass Candy

Oh, March is here! And that, in turn, means Spring is here. Granted, Spring won't officially be here for another few weeks, but it's seventy degrees over here and the sun's shining. And that's Spring to me!

So this week, after my doting love lush on Them Jeans, I have a few more of my favorite things. First up is Louise, the mysteriously gorgeouisie gal that's recently popped up once again on The Sartorialist. She's making a tidal wave sized splash on the Internet, showing up on a million fashion blogs. I guess this makes it a million and one. I'm inclined to make a Cory Kennedy

comparison, but I'll hold off, don't worry. Still, this girl has some mad crazy Parisian style, and though the haters are out in full force, I'm still thumbs-upping her. If you go to the Sartorialist's blog and check her out, surely her flaxen dishwater orange hair, sans lens Ray Bans, and high waisted miniskirt (daring out the wazoo, son) can definitely persuade you to j'adore her. Alright, my French isn't that great...but, then again, I speak Spanish.

Moving on, we have the best blog I have ever read (aside from my own, duh), which would be Stuff White People Like, an ongoing list (up to at least 76 by now) of shit white people stereotypically enjoy. I ran across it in an email, and I totally vote it the funniest shit ever. Those who are easily offended, well, should leave America, but those who like to laugh at lighthearted stereotypes and common "white people" jokes will for sure get a kick out of this.

It turns out white people like being the only whites in ethnic restaurants, bottled and filtered water, and standing at concerts. Ah, the Belle and Sebastian joke is sooo much funnier when you've actually seen it.

And finally, we move onto Glass Candy, which is completely not slang for the sharded up apples creepos give out on Halloween. Or the stuff those wannabe X-Treme kids jump through on their skateboards when making amateur home movies to send to Jackass. No, this Glass Candy is the lovechild 80's synth and modern disco. Ultimately, it's slamming, but in such a Studio 54, LSD at two am, tiny disco ball earrings and your panties down at your ankles kind of way. It's the kind of music you would listen to while wearing a slightly permed and teased hairdo, stilettos, and a beaver coat (in the middle of the summer).

BTW, Ida No (the sassy blond vocalist) is beyond precious and even though Glass Candy permanently resides in Funky Town, Earth (I'm assuming that's somewhere between New Zealand and the Tropic of Cancer), and they probably will never tour over here, you can ALWAYS catch 'em on their myspace, which has all the groolest music a pill popping, false lash mastering, drama queen super chick needs.

OMG, that's kinda like me!

Your electric bird,

Erika