Brown Suga’s Neighborhood

And to cleanse your palette of the awful Christmas music posted and played this year, take one mimosa, mix in a couple of tunes from Hendrix and you'll be set.


I wish the album art had loaded, I love the cover of this record so I'm yoinking it from Amazon so this post is prettier.

I'm crazy about chic flicks and on a lazy or rainy afternoon, just lounging around and watching them gets me into a very chillout mood. Do you have some to share? I have compiled my favorites into one visually delightful post. Check it out HERE.

BRETT ANDERSON
brettanderson.co.uk ♥ myspace.com

Those who follows our W♥M Podcast, you'll know that between Sally, Kristen, and I, that we really, really love our Britpop music. When Suede burst on the scene, with all their hype*, I was a bit, what's the word? Resistant.

I eventually got over it when I heard Metal Mickey, a nice rock n roll glammy track with aggressive Butler guitars and Anderson's unique voice. The songwriting duo of Anderson/Butler did not last for long, and Butler's replacement, Richard Oakes, seems only a pale copy of the original. I think everyone knew that, and eventually, Bernard Butler and Brett Anderson got over their differences and re-united - but not as Suede... they were then The Tears. I think everyone was confused on how to interpret it at first (personally I think it's like tears/crying, not ripped/tear).

The Tears didn't live for very long, and by 2007, Brett Anderson releases his inevitable solo self-titled album. I never bought his solo stuff, because I don't think his music post-Suede's Head Music** were ever re-release or re-marketed to the US audience, so the few promo downloads that he's made available for free, I wasn't so impressed with. I remember thinking his debut solo album was trying to be orchestral (based on what I've heard).

Imagine my surprise when I got a chance to listen to a few tracks from his latest album, Slow Attack, officially via We7.com. It was all very operatic, almost minimalistic in its approach of piano and percussions. I did like that it brings out Anderson's voice loud and clear, but it generally made all of his music to be on the sadder end of the scale.

While I think one or two slow songs would be OK for a full length, all of the tracks I sampled were in that very similar tone. Kind of ballady and depressing.  I kind of miss the old Suede stuff. The only redeeming value is that at least, his voice isn't altered/over-produced as with Suede's Head Music and Coming Up.

I suppose, Anderson's much older now, wow you can see his cheek bones sticking out of his face... such a difference of imagery, from a time when mean-spirited fans were calling him "fatty" (we all kind of knew it was the getting off the drugs that was causing the weight thing... allegedly).

Anyway, if you were looking for the glory rock days, don't bother looking into Slow Attack. If you're a hardcore fan, chances are you probably own the limited edition anyway. The album will probably not be released in the US, as were all his previous releases. Import costs are generally cheaper these days, but expect to pay about $20 for an import album (Amazon is listing $19).

Brett Anderson is touring in 2010, so if you live in the UK, you can relive your youth days. If he were touring the US, I might leave my hibernation to see him. As you know, I've met the band before at a special "after-party", I'm sure he'll have no idea who I am.

* "Best Band in Britain" before releasing their album? Really, Melody Maker, really??)
** Suede's last album, A New Morning was never released in the US.

TRUE NATURE
truenatureband.com ♥ myspace.com

As you know, I also run a website on artist George Perez, and it's rare when my music and comic website mix. How does True Nature and George Perez cross paths, you ask? The cover artwork for True Nature's EP, Feels Like Centuries, stars actress/model Tonya Kay (with some artwork and directions from Glen Wexler).

Perez, through his associations with Fetish Con, have actually drawn Tonya Kay as a print, for Fetish Con's "Who's the Best Bondage Super Heroine?" contest. The original artwork was auctioned off for charity.

So, there's the connection. As for True Nature's EP, Feels Like Centuries, based on the cover artwork, it looks like they're also marketing themselves as somewhat of a spiritual rock band. I reckon if you like classic American progressive-type rock, you might enjoy this EP. Despite having only five tracks, the EP is "centuries" long (so long that it felt like a chore to get through). It's not that I dislike singer/songwriter, Lou Barlow's vocals, it's just really not the type of music I enjoy.

Their best track is the opening song, "Truth I Have To Steel (Simple Heart)", which started off strong and remain steadily so throughout the song. You can sample the entire track on their official website.

You can pick up Feels Like Centuries at CD Baby or Amazon. Although, not really my thing, I'm glad that there was at least a common connection for me.

I decided that this years Christmas desserts would be "mini" since everyone is always so full at the end of the meal! I had Spiced Rum Balls, Assorted Mini Biscotti, Mini Ginger Cardamom Cookies, Chocolate Raspberry Tassies and Mini Lemon Meringue Pies in crisp phyllo shells. I used some frozen lemon curd that I had made earlier from Meyer Lemons from the back yard. I came up with the idea to use red and green giant gumdrops as stands for the little flags that tell you what each treat is called. Oh but wait, I also had another table set up with some miscellaneous baking that I had finished for the arrival of my sister from San Diego.... If i don't bake up a bunch of stuff she gets a little testy! :-) Clockwise starting from the top: Crispy Meringue Cookies (I made these at the last minute with the left over meringue from the Mini Lemon Meringue Pies), next are Caramel Crunch Bars (I will post about these! Really good!), Peanut Butter Cookies with Mini Peanut Butter Cups mixed in. I came across the cutest little peanut butter cup candies at Trader Joes, thought they would be a good mix-in for peanut butter cookies and they are terrific! Next: Ginger Cardamom Cookies, Maple Pecan Oatmeal Cookies, and a bowl full of my Maple Brown Sugar Bourbon Nut Brittle.... Can you feel the sugar rush coming on?? and to top it all off, we had a box of Trader Joe's Jo-Jo's on the table because what is Christmas without Jo-Jo's (right Annette??), if you've never experienced Jo-Jo's they are Trader Joe's Christmas-Only version of really good Oreo's... the inside cream is peppermint! Perfect for the holidays! What did you make for Christmas dessert this year?