Comments On: The L Magazine

Re: Afghanistan? Problem Solved.

quietharvest — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:01:19 -0500

one thing you forgot to mention was how many jobs would be created through the hiring and training of stewardspeople (flight attendants). back in the early days of commercial flight, flight attendants were typically unskilled high-school or even college graduates- young people looking for work who were also attracted by the notion of travel and adventure. so since the new wave of graduates is having an especially difficult time finding meaningfull employment, your 'airlift' idea might well kill two birds with one stone, as they say. we would probably have to drag out the operation (and this wouldn't seem at all unfamiliar) in order to allow the flight attendants to begin collecting some benefits and to be eligible for COBRA. i propose a more protracted evacuation- say six months of continuous globe-trotting for all evacuees. imagine stops in tokyo, sydney, maui, sao paulo, mexico city, toronto (by-passing the homeland, of course), london, amsterdam, marrakesh, cape town, cairo, moscow and then back to kabul by the time the clean up is done. and if you double the cost to 10 mill., then each traveler will have some spending money in each city, which would help boost the worldwide economy. where do i mail my check?
Posted by quietharvest

Re: Jim DeRogatis: "The Pixies Are a Cynical Corporation Cashing in on Blatant Nostalgia"

Raucous Dukakis — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:12:40 -0500

See this is the problem with DeRogatis in general, the pure joy he gets out of being a contrarian/hater. I think he gets caught in the critic's trap seeing a irreconcilable conflict between constant change/innovation and quality. While I often love artists who constantly push their boundaries, there's also a place in the world for bands that just stick to what they do best and then doing it really well. Especially when we're talking about a band like the Pixies, I think they've more than earned the right to trot around the world every half-decade or so, indie rock needs arena bands like the Pixies.

Furthermore, I would argue that they're not just cashing in the on nostalgia. DeRogatis compares them to feel-good boomer reunion bands, then complains that that most of the B-Sides they play aren't good, you can't have it both ways, sir. I think Jim may hate these classic album tours, for their vague sin of "nostalgia" but I A) think there is great joy in allowing some nostalgia in rock and B) that playing complete albums (especially with accompanying B-Sides) IS an innovative and enjoyable new concert experience. I love the album as a form and I think it's incredible to hear great albums bad to front, I'm sorry Jim but Doolittle, Daydream Nationa, Vs. and It Takes A Nation Of Millions were all unique, fantastic live experiences that you wouldn't get on a standard reunion tour. I won't get to into why having to listen to album tracks, etc enhances the experience, I will just say that I finally understood the greatness of Silver after seeing the Pixies last night.

Ultimately, what grinds my gears is the need of many to turn artists who they spent years repping into "sellouts" for simply touring and playing songs that didn't get their full due to first time around (I don't hear him railing against the periodic Superchunk or his beloved Feelies reunions, btw). There are some bands that really try to hurt their fans or become embarrassing later in life, but the Pixies aren't guilty of this. They sound great, they put a good show (lights, Dali films, etc) and they haven't made a cringe-inducing comeback record. Despite what you and Jim DeRogatis say, there can be a place in indie rock for bands like the Pixies to come back every few years and blow through an amazing and generous back catalog.
Posted by Raucous Dukakis

Re: Cake Shop

avrggrlfan92 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:18:02 -0500

AVERAGE GIRL ARE INCREDIBLE! THEY PLUG THEIR GUITARS STRAIGHT INTO THE PA! ALSO, ROCK AND ROLL!

Cake Shop
Rating: 5 Stars
Posted by avrggrlfan92

Re: How Indie Rock Killed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Jamespugli — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:55:17 -0500

Still no rush!? The hall's a joke.
Posted by Jamespugli

Re: El Diablo Taco Truck

Erica — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:38:35 -0500

I'm with you, Best tacos hands down. Amazing shrimp and lengua tacos I had there on tuesday

El Diablo Taco Truck
Rating: 5 Stars
Posted by Erica

Re: The L Magazine Nightlife Awards

whateves — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:35:59 -0500

If you jealous dumbasses hate The L Magazine so much, why the fuck are you even on this site reading this?! Grow up!
Posted by whateves

Re: Trouble

BostonAmy — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:39:25 -0500

Fantastic review. You are spot on about the treatment of forty-something women too. Kate Christensen is such a wonderful writer that she makes it seem so effortless and real. She tends to allocate equal time to the good and the bad in her characters and turns in riveting reads every time.
Posted by BostonAmy

Re: Breaking: American Woman Doesn't Want to Be on Television

kiki — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:38:12 -0500

she is. not she's is. woman gets me all worked up.
Posted by kiki

Re: Breaking: American Woman Doesn't Want to Be on Television

kiki — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:37:10 -0500

i just want to let you know that oprah is on the verge (march 2010) of having her own TV network. discovery health is becoming the oprah network. don't get too excited, folks. she's is not leaving.
Posted by kiki

Re: Jim DeRogatis: "The Pixies Are a Cynical Corporation Cashing in on Blatant Nostalgia"

jesse — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:30:31 -0500

Well, it is kind of a ridiculous comparison (to Journey, or Creedence Revisited, or Beach Boys Family and Friends or whatever) when all of the original members are still there. Saying it doesn't mean any more to him than those would be fair, but saying it's a "hipper version" seems like a pretty poor analogy. Your Kiss comparison is more apt.

Also, the "you don't have to buy it" argument is pretty legit. I have no use for KISS whateversoever but I wouldn't accuse them of dicking their fans out of money. Some Kiss fans love that shit. Some of them probably wish they'd called it quits years ago. I don't really get how it's on par with extortion, except maybe to the most compulsive of fans, and really, should we judge anyone by those people?

Also, none of the comments on DeRogatis's review (so far) are particularly ill-mannered or irrational.
Posted by jesse

Re: Happy Robert Ryan Centennial, Everyone

vilma — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:55:37 -0500

Robert Ryan has always knocked me out He was so talented Brutal handsome tender sexy .amazing! I am astounded at his range of film roles plus such a long fine career..Happy to know about his family and social conscience too. I am quite proud that he is a son of Chicago and not forgotten.
Posted by vilma

Re: Neue Galerie Reaches New Millenium: Free Nights Start Next Month

Benjamin Sutton — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:10:56 -0500

You're correct (although I still think the Neue Galerie is over-priced). I'm simply saying that for a museum whose branding has often courted an air of exclusivity, this seems a little out of character (in the best of ways). (Also, isn't the New Museum's free night now brought to us courtesy of someone other than Target? CIT, whatever that is, if my mental image of my last ticket stub is accurate.)

Posted by Benjamin Sutton

Re: Neue Galerie Reaches New Millenium: Free Nights Start Next Month

mhkt — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:45:38 -0500

It's not as if the Neue was being stingy or stodgy in not having a free night until they had a sponsorship or grant. NuMu's, Brooklyn Museum, MoMA free nights are underwritten and heavily branded by Target.
Posted by mhkt

Re: This Dude from the Fiery Furnaces Hasn't the Slightest Idea When to Shut the Fuck Up

Jeff K. — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:33:32 -0500

You know, I'm actually sort of rooting for Friedberger in this one, he keeps digging so hard, in the face of zero support, against more graceful sacred cows. It's almost endearing. It's like Andy Kaufman wrestling or something. He's gleefully being a clueless villain, and people are reporting on every single thing he says. I think it's sort of funny.
Posted by Jeff K.

Re: This Dude from the Fiery Furnaces Hasn't the Slightest Idea When to Shut the Fuck Up

JonB — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:20:12 -0500

worst band feud ever.
Posted by JonB

Re: MTA Has the Best New Fake Twitter

Mark Asch — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:41:46 -0500

Except that the L Train doesn't stop at Metropolitan, the G Train does.

If they meant Lorimer, that's only one stop. Jefferson would have been a better cut-off.

Warriors joke was pretty bitchin' however.
Posted by Mark Asch

Re: This Dude from the Fiery Furnaces Hasn't the Slightest Idea When to Shut the Fuck Up

Hannah — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:45:40 -0500

The well-captured photo says it all. On the Myspace, I presume.

Ugh.

Posted by Hannah

Re: Your Andy Rooney Moment: Bike Lanes On One-Way Streets ARE ALSO ONE WAY

hewins — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:26:41 -0500

I wholeheartedly agree with this. The thing about being on a bike is that it's very fast and easy to, say, go one block over from Bedford to Driggs to go the proper way on the street. This is one of those things that really gets me fired up. I ride my bike quite a lot and it's really not that hard to go the correct way on a one-way street.
Posted by hewins

Re: NYC's Best Bodega: An L Magazine Contest in Which You Can Win Lots of Free Beer

Lee McAlilly — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:05:24 -0500

awww hoooo!
Posted by Lee McAlilly

Re: 28 Hours of Innovative Art Begin in Approximately 27 Hours

gjk — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:34:25 -0500

Front loaded with heavy hitters, from Sex Mob to Aki Onda/MV Carbon. Do you know MV Carbon? She is amazing, check this vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JkOo0Uoeus
Posted by gjk

Re: Can Electric Literature Save the Short Story?

kateyschultz — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:47:16 -0500

Wow - This is a fantastic interview. Informative yet intimate, and really useful, too. I'm going to email this link to my entire grad school alum listserve. Then I'm going to submit to EL! Thanks, Katey Schultz
Posted by kateyschultz

Re: Pitchfork's Review of the Hall and Oates Box Set Is 762 Words, and Not One of Them Is "Rich" or "Girl"

gjk — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:58:39 -0500

Correction to the pitchfork writer: "Maneater" was the biggest hit of their career, not "I Can't Go For That".
Posted by gjk

Re: Fluffy Lumbers, Average Girl, Family Portrait, Liam the Younger

garbagegirl — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:24:16 -0500

no more fakegaze! average girl brings the noise and the lyrics to back it up, plus all three are super steamy. it's like townes van zandt, but with explosions!

Fluffy Lumbers, Average Girl, Family Portrait, Liam the Younger
Rating: 5 Stars
Posted by garbagegirl

Re: Oprah to Save the Music Industry, the Rest of the World

WebScribes — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:38:25 -0500

You are right. Oprah has good taste and is true to her viewers. Another high profile example: I'm sure Celine's Madison Square Garden concert would have sold-out after being features on Oprah when Celine via satelite invited Charice to sing with her. Except, I would assume it was already sold-out! Maybe not, as somehow a load of Filipino-Americans managed to get tickets.
Posted by WebScribes

Re: Twilight of the Gods

Daniel Boone — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:53:18 -0500

I love Alexander Sokurov's films, and it's as easy as breathing.
Posted by Daniel Boone