Author Archive
Erika Forster of Au Revoir Simone: No Sleep Till Brooklyn
February 9th, 2012 by Stephen Blackwell
If it were up to New Yorkers, we’d skip February all together. Maybe the first half of March, too. You’d figure with all the energy the city burns it wouldn’t be all tundra-y—but nay.
So what does one do during the 28 days of biting cold and wind? Wear a sweater, of course—preferably not one depicting a wolf howling at the moon.
Erika Forster of Au Revoir Simone sported the one above with style as we photographed her in the not totally clement halls of Brooklyn’s much-loved Public Assembly. It was, like, 28 degrees that day. We’re shocked she took it off for the rest of the shoot, but as you’ll see in the coming weeks, thank goodness she did.
Looking for more style inspiration? Check out Styld.by for additional looks.
Credits:
Photo by Nicky Digital
Makeup by Erin Green
What happens when a pro ball player takes on Tolkien?
February 9th, 2012 by Stephen Blackwell
I knew Curt Schilling was a Yankee killer—I learned that the hard way in 2001. But until very recently I had no idea he was a killer of anything else, especially dragons and trolls.
But he is, and he wants you to be, too. His game studio, 38 Studios, has just released the sprawling “Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning,” a massive, open-world, high-fantasy addition to the mega-popular genre. It will swallow many, many hours of your life if you let it. And believe me, I have.
When I found out “Amalur” was coming, and both R.A. Salvatore and Todd McFarlane were involved, I was pumped, for sure, but must admit there was a bit of the “ah shit, man” dragging down my excitement. Throughout November and the beginning of December, I played “Skyrim” for over fifty hours. Fifty! So much for that novel I’ve been working on.
I may very well have been RPG’d out. Anyway, I was sent “Amalur” last week for review and I’ve already played for 23 hours. Oops.
The testament to video game greatness is not unlike that of movies, books and crushes: You think about it while you’re doing something else. “Amalur” has this effect to dramatic degree, mainly because it sucks you into its own finely crafted world—the point of all art, no? And this art is exceptionally playable.
In “The Guide to Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction,” “Amalur” creator R.A. Salvatore recalls that in the blizzard of 1978 he started reading “Lord of the Rings” and “has never stopped.” You can say that again. Amalur, the world, is quite Middle Earth-ian. There are a couple of exceptions, namely that the elves aren’t immortal. The immortal creatures are called Fae and they are sometimes blue like the Na’vi in “Avatar.”
Amalur possesses fantastical art and landscape that are also whimsical. I really enjoyed this. “Skyrim” is painstakingly grim, whereas Amalur’s peaks and valleys and waterfalls and mountains exude a sense of enchantment, which is what Peter Jackson strove for, and accomplished, in the “LOTR” films.
Like all massive single-player, open-world games, you create a guy and level him up to be an assassin or knight or wizard. There’s a main quest (I haven’t completed Amalur’s yet, but so what?) and a slew of side quests. The enjoyment is in being by yourself in a world happily different than your own.
This cuts both ways, of course. Readers of “The Silmarillion” will know that experiencing the majesty of Middle Earth from a super (probably too super) descriptive viewpoint isn’t exactly the most enjoyable reading experience on the planet. The book feels academic.
We only really care about the Misty Mountains because we want Thorin Oakenshield to lead his men to victory and for Bilbo to get home. We care about Weathertop because we want Frodo to be saved from the Witch King stabbing him in the chest. No one wants Frodo to become a Ringwraith — am I right, ladies?
Middle Earth is just a place where an incredible story took place. That story’s unalloyed essence is brotherhood. You can’t have brotherhood in these character-created fantasy games, and everyone should know this. So I’m routinely bothered when reading game reviewers who complain about dialog being subpar or not remembering any of the character’s names. That’s not the point. And if this is indeed a conundrum, “Amalur” offers no prescriptions for a solution. I’m not expecting them to solve it — I just want to forget about life for a while and, sure, stab bad guys with my Faeblades.
If you’re in the same boat, plunk down the cash and pick up the game for hours of entertainment. Something tells me that with all the talent on board, and all the talk of a trans-media experience, the creators have more in mind for Amalur than “Reckoning” suggests. If it keeps Schilling out of Yankee Stadium, all the better.
No Life Till Leather with Erika Forster of Au Revoir Simone
February 8th, 2012 by Stephen Blackwell
Can you think of a cultural staple cooler than the leather jacket? Keep trying.
Picture Micheal Jackson’s red leather jacket from “Thriller.” The thing sold for $400,000, and a portion of the proceeds were donated to save his tiger’s life. (Irony!)
Now does that mean you should go out and purchase a bright red, shoulder-padded leather piece for the coming summer months? No way. When it comes to modern leather, minimalism is key.
Take Erika’s look above. She looks bad-ass, but cuddly, too. Not an easy feat to accomplish, but a well-worn leather piece will help set you on the right path.
Looking for more style inspiration? Check out Styld.by for additional looks.
Credits:
Photo by Nicky Digital
Makeup by Erin Green
One Free Month of Music for You
December 9th, 2011 by Stephen Blackwell
Get a free month of music courtesy of HTC and MOG.
Christmas is coming a little bit early for Death and Taxes readers. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year, no?
Click through to htc.mog.com, watch a brief video, and you’ll receive a month of free service from MOG. You’ll have access to over 12 million songs. Even the Charlie Brown Christmas album? Especially the Charlie Brown Christmas album.
New Music Tuesday
November 22nd, 2011 by Stephen Blackwell
HTC Rezound presents Death and Taxes’ new music picks.
Guys, it’s Tuesday. That means new stuff just got released.
Now, by new stuff do we mean, say, Nickelback’s Greatest Hits? You bet. But much like Netflix or Bud Light Lime, Nickelback should be avoided.
And with “Some Girls” remastered and some new tracks from Yelawolf, trust us, you won’t miss the NB. In fact, here’s our playlist of great new stuff you can listen to and keep you warm during the holiday. Just make sure to mix it up with copious amounts of the Charlie Brown Christmas album.
Vitaminwater Uncapped Live in New York Photo Gallery
November 21st, 2011 by Stephen Blackwell
Suckers, Javelin and Lemonade joined vitaminwater and Death and Taxes to usher in the holidays.
This past Thursday we threw a stellar party with our friends at vitaminwater and some of our favorites bands: Suckers, Javelin, and Lemonade. It severely rocked, and Nicky Digital took all the photos to prove it. Check them out above!
Holiday Gift Ideas for Thee
November 11th, 2011 by Stephen Blackwell
This post is powered by Best Buy. Shop Early Save Big at Best Buy.
The holidays are upon us. It’s time to wrap yourself in the warmth of the season while constantly checking your credit card balance—and, yes, there’s an app for that. Speaking of apps, here are some choice gifts you can pick up for your family and friends. The ones with good taste at least.
Beats Pro Headphones
Okay, I know these things are $400 but seriously they are amazing. I have a pair, so you can trust me. It’s the way music is supposed to sound. You know that part in “Boogie Nights” where Don Cheadle is swinging his hips around and saying, “You feel that bass?” You’ll do that.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy on Blu-Ray
Do you have 93 hours to kill? Kill them thusly.
Bose SoundLink
Doesn’t plugging your iPod or iPhone into something seem incredibly antediluvian? It’s just simply not how we listen to music anymore. We stream music from streaming services because it’s super easy and it sounds great. The Bose SoundLink is the the first product that solves the portable streaming of music while sounding incredible.
Veloster Revs Its Engines in NYC
October 20th, 2011 by Stephen Blackwell
The Hyundai Veloster made its debut in New York City last night at an industrial space in the Chelsea Market that was brimming with millennial tchotchkes and a few souped-up hatchbacks.
The Veloster seeks to surround itself with de riguer totems of the twentysomething urbanite and did so in style at the kick-off event, where Dunnies and digital DJ equipment were as commonplace as Hyundai logos.
Partygoers enjoyed the sounds of Hoodie Allen and DJ Neil Armstrong while waiting in not-so-unbearable lines to grab a drink of 42Below Vodka and gawk at a white custom Veloster that looked like it was designed by either Steve Jobs or Stanley Kubrick.
The Veloster continues its march throughout CMJ with a variety of events planned for eager music fans, gearheads, gamers and car buffs. Check out the line-up at Re:Mix Labs.
[Photo via the New York Times]
Join Veloster for Re:Mix Labs During CMJ
October 18th, 2011 by Stephen Blackwell
DJ Neil Armstrong will be performing at the Veloster VIP event on 10.19 in New York City
Hyundai Veloster have come to New York City this week to help kick off CMJ with a ton of not-to-be-missed events.
Veloster is curating a series called Re:Mix Labs that bands together the hippest parts of our digital lives. It’s a nationwide series that features a collective of musicians, writers, directors and DJs who perform in the hallowed halls of NYC, Los Angeles and beyond.
Re:mix Labs kicks off tomorrow in NYC and runs until the 23rd. For more info check the official site or back here at Death and Taxes, where we’ll be covering the events.
Steve Jobs’ 10 Favorite Records (And What They Say About Him)
October 5th, 2011 by Stephen Blackwell
For a brief moment during his keynote address on September 1st, Steve Jobs offered a glimpse at his favorite albums through his now-disabled Ping profile.
UPDATE: As a tribute to the late Steve Jobs, we’re re-publishing this piece from last year in which we noticed a peek into Jobs’ favorite records as captured in the short-lived iTunes function Ping in a screen grab from his presentation. Jobs’ impact on the world was as much as an artist as an engineer—and he was pure rock and roll. We hope you’ll join us in paying tribute to one of America’s greatest innovators. He’ll be missed.
Sure, the death of the album is hurting the creation of new bands and music, but is the death of the album hurting the creation of CEOs? Who’d have thunk it? Just look at Zuckerburg, who, like most 26 year olds, probably grew up downloading singles illegally, and compare him to the aura of mystery and brilliance that surrounds Steve Jobs, an album-oriented CEO.
How does Steve Jobs, the most popular CEO in the world and head of Wall Street‘s most valuable technology company, describe himself? Like so:
“I grew up in the apricot orchards that later became known as Silicon Valley, and was lucky enough to have my young spirit infused with the social and artistic revolution of the day called rock and roll. It has never left me.”
Ah, the carefree days spent frolicking through the old apricot orchards listening to the revolutionary sounds of Peter, Paul and Mary. Where does the time go?
Judging from his taste in music, and barring any statements made by former Apple employees, it’s safe to say that Jobs favors the mellow to the raucous. Steve Jobs likes to chill. Steve Jobs is a bro. His taste in music is pretty fantastic, and it says a lot of about him.
Here are the ten records (from top left to bottom right) Jobs listed in his now-defunct Ping profile:
Bob Dylan | “Highway 61 Revisited”
“Like a Rolling Stone,” “Desolation Row” — Jesus, those two songs right there are worth the entire output of the ’60s. Have you ever read or watched an interview with Dylan? A lot of the time they’re as awkward as interviews with, well, Steve Jobs. Jobs and Dylan are both capable of being voluble, but there are plenty of instances of few-word answers followed by steely silence. Jobs’ cool and occasional pretenses are the pillars of his success, and are totally Bob Dylan.
Cat Stevens | “Tea for the Tillerman”
Unlike Jobs, Stevens (now Yusuf Islam, a devout Muslim) was a Luddite. In fact, “Tea for the Tillerman,” a mystical, chamber-pop record, is all about one man’s quest to find spirituality in the modern world, meaning, by today’s standards, how do I escape my iPhone and my laptop? Here’s the thing about Mac products: they’re beautiful on the outside because they are beautiful on the inside. Jobs indoctrination into mystical thinking must have, in part, been born out of these rock records. He just had the insight to combine it with technology, while the guys at IBM were still listening to the Rat Pack.
The Grateful Dead | “American Beauty”
Jobs strikes me as a bad-ass mystical-thinking ninja, say nothing of an incredible capitalist. This move-to-the-hills hippie stuff doesn’t seem to have had much of an impact on him. My God, I hate the Grateful Dead.
Glenn Gould | Bach: The Goldberg Variations
I had no idea what this record was, but I’ll you who did: the biggest nerd in my office.
Jackson Browne | “Late for the Sky”
There is something overwhelmingly girlie about the music of Jackson Browne. It’s like a mix between the Goo Goo Dolls and “Glee.” I’ve always really liked it, though I have to admit I’ve only been a greatest hits/ solo acoustic fan. I am going to purchase “Late for the Sky.” Such is the power of Steve Jobs’ influence.
John Lennon | “Imagine”
At this point in his career, you could view John Lennon in two ways. One, he was a spiritual leader, a guru, a revolutionary and the singularly most talented songwriter to ever live. Two, he was drug-addled shut-in who sat around his apartment daydreaming, watching cartoons and writing the occasional song if he just so happened to leave his guitar next to his pile of hash. There is a term for this: the reality-distortion field. Jobs may have perfected it, but Lennon certainly innovated it, as was his wont.
Miles Davis | “Kind of Blue”
If you didn’t listen to this record drinking huge cups of coffee while digesting pages upon pages of liberal propaganda, then you didn’t really go to college. You weren’t really there, man. Of course, unlike the rest of us schmucks, Steve Jobs dropped out of college after one semester. Now he’s a billionaire. Life is cruel.
Peter, Paul and Mary | “Around the Campfire”
Imagine Jobs and Woz chewing the fat, discussing operating systems, microchips, marketing strategies, why they should value a computer at $666.66 (three sixes is the number of the devil, so one must assume five sixes is the number of the super-devil), and so on. Now imagine them sitting around a fire, listening to the pop folk of Peter, Paul and Mary, roasting s’mores and probably their lungs with pot. The event I just described probably happened.
The Rolling Stones | “Some Girls”
People have sex to this record.
The Who | “Who’s Next”
The click wheel, a new approach the way users interact with mobile devices, could have been inspired by Pete Townshend’s windmill, a new approach to playing the guitar. Think that’s a stretch? As Jobs always says, “good artists borrow, great artists steal.”
Want to change the world? Well, a great place to start your mission is by purchasing these records. On iTunes, of course.
Event: Party With Beach Fossils, Chairlift, Caveman and Vitaminwater
September 19th, 2011 by Stephen Blackwell
This party is gonna be awesome.
Party with Beach Fossils, Chairlift, Caveman and vitaminwater this Thursday in NYC at Santos Party House. With free beer from Pabst!
Doors are at 7pm. Wanna RSVP? Do it by clicking this delicious link: RSVP
Nudie Jeans Presents Oberhofer and Porcelain Raft
July 30th, 2011 by Stephen Blackwell
Oberhofer and Porcelain Raft rock.
On Wednesday, Oberhofer and Porcelain Raft brought the house down at Brooklyn Denim and Co., courtesy of Nudie Jeans.
Both bands wowed a capacity crowd who enjoyed Vitamin Water and Budweiser (a great combination!).
The show was hopefully the first in a successful series of evening showcases brought to you by Nudie. We’re thinking of a name for it right now. How about “No Life til Denim”?
