Thursday, June 12, 2008

Our New Bathroom

RMW & I are closing on our new apartment next Tuesday. Plans for transforming the bathroom are still in the works... happily, we got great ideas from the smart people on apartmenttherapy.com this week, though. Want to see what people have been saying and/or give us some of your own ideas?

Here's the link to the apartmenttherapy post incl. pics of our bathroom and details on our design dilemma...

Adele at Highline Ballroom June 11, 2008



She played for just under an hour, leaving everyone wanting more of that voice... wow, is this one talented. Every bit of power, alternating warmth and edginess in tone, and perfect pitch (and pitch bending) that you hear on her album sounds, if anything, even *more* flawless live. I know all her lyrics, but she actually shut me up last night. (and if you know me and my involuntary tendency to sing as much as possible, you'll understand what a feat that is). I just was commanded to focus all my energy on listening.

I can't wait for Adele to develop further as a songwriter and as an artist. At only just barely 20, she's got such a long career ahead of her!

p.s. she was pretty adorable in terms of stage presence - she kept saying (as on this clip) how nervous she was -- but then would just belt out these songs. I didn't hear any wobbliness in her voice whatsoever, so I can't imagine what her voice sounds like NOT nervous. She also was so cute in her responses to the crowds' cheers... she would be all serious into the song, and then, see someone cheering (or recognize someone), and this huge genuine grin would melt her face, and then she'd be back to intense focus -- all the while her voice never once betraying any distractions. I found it so charming - she just looked like she was thrilled to be performing for us.

p.p.s She said she was apartment shopping in Brooklyn! :)

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Awesome. Bilal. Robert Glasper.

GREAT show at the Blue Note last night. Bilal's falsetto live is ridiculous. Robert Glasper is sick on keys too.

It's easy to hear why Bilal's voice is all over hip hop's great albums - from Jay-Z to Clipse to Common... but when he's center stage live, he's even better.

Here's a clip from a show in Amsterdam: