Love & Memories

Why do some songs pull on your heartstrings? Why do some songs resonate in the deepest part of your gut? They ignite flashes of memories in your brain. You remember the first time you fell off your bike. Hit your head (you were wearing a helmet) and scratched up both knees (two giant strawberries). The first time you cried over those sharp pains in your heart (you really loved him, how could you live without him??). Hugs at the visitation (why am I consoling other people? you thought). Blink of the eye lucid images appear. Your mom’s laugh. Your friends at the beach. Your visceral reaction toward tragedy: 9/11, shootings, Katrina, tsunamis, tornadoes, warfare…bursts of color. Red hues. Black smoke. Blue skies.

Maybe you can relate, maybe you can’t.

For us, music has always been profoundly personal, private, shared and deeply loved. It began with a summer of Kurt Cobain fascination (an entire summer of music video watching: Soundgarden, Blind Melon, even Snoop and Dre). Inspired crushes with each verse, notably “She Loves You” by the Beatles per a grade school chorus concert solo. Our heart soared and lept. We might have even wept a little.

We clung to DMB in high school, just like our friends. We wore only clothes from Express. Just like our friends. We secretly adored Ani, unlike most of our friends. We secretly wanted to go to art school, unlike our friends. We wore mostly black for a while, our math teacher (Algebra III, don’t ask) pegging us the “Princess of Darkness.” Rebel phase. We progressed and developed devotional crushes on classic rock. Van Morrison. The Stones. John Hiatt. The Doors. Bonded with Rick Springfield, Joan Jett, Bob Marley, Zeppelin, and Cougar Mellencamp at all our local college bars. Bonded with them more than a few of our college crushes? Definitely. Seeing as this relationship lasted longer than the inevitable 2 am last call.

Now? We breeze through hip-hop, jazz, sultry soul, and mellow indie rockers. Music ignites us, always excites us. And we love, love this song by Oren Lavie. It’s a LOT Badly Drawn Boy. A little Postal Service. A little Nick Drake. A little Hellogoodbye. A little John Mayer-ish with deeper, more poetic lyrics. It’s a resonator and definite stimulator. Lovestring-tugger and heartfelt melodic dreamweaver.

Manic Monday

website love & lust

"they suggested the manic weariness in their promise, capturing the moment whent the sheen wears off and your newfound gift becomes something more closely resembling a burden."**
-david sedaris

**we are obsessed with this quote, and the forever enjoyable d. sedaris. what a gem.

*f

Laugh It Up Tuesday.

love it.

A Wednesday Whateva.

We don’t wanna play by the rules.
We want a pet bear that duals
As a keyboardist, guitarist,
And non-judgemental friend.
He will sit and drink with us,
Tell tall tales and pretend.
We might smoke a joint together,
Or perhaps do a fun drug.
We will listen to music together
Knit mittens, cut a rug.
We will be the best of friends,
Us and the bear.
He will give us a five with his paw,
And the best bear hug anywhere.

*f

Panties in a Bunch.

Get your panties bunched up over The Hard Lessons. They were recently written up, in an article entitled "Vampire Who?" Hehe. If you're mad happy sappy boring blank or fucked up this music will still sound like...fun dance goldness. Seeing them live was like seeing sight for the first time we viewed it. It was literally like hearing the taste of the scent of a sight for the very first time we felt it. We were definitely bunched. Detroit Rock City muthafucka!

*f

Love You No Shit

(fast-forward to 1:30 to get things going) This vid's for you, Frank.

Sometimes things don't work out. You don't get the job, the guy's not a fit, the CD you bought really only has two solid songs on it, which you could've bought for for $1.99 instead of $5 for each good song.

But that's okay, and you have to know it's okay. Alexander was right. Some days are no good and very bad and beyond. But Annie was oh so right and righteous and above and beyond. So keep waking up for a fresh start, a tabula rasa, a new world, and all that jazz. Eat cupcakes for breakfast and sip champagne here and there throughout your rough and tumble day. Because we don't just say that stuff, we abide by it.* When life gives you crap, get through it, remember to like yourself, and try to laugh when dogs poop. Because that is seriously hilarious.

*j

*Not that we're tipsy the whole time. Geez, get your minds outta the gutters, bellas.

Valentastic.

You're not that Valentine-enthused?
Your heart is broken?
Your cavity is killing you!
You feel shitty.
You stomach hurts.
The dog ate your shorts again.
You got into a fight with your bf or gf, fiancee, hubcap or wifaraner.
You just really really wanna buy a fucking puppy already but the timing is just not right.
Your mom is doing another weird mid-life thing.
You're secretly bored of all the talking heads. Republican. Democrat. Baloney mish mash diarrhea mouth bash blah blah green al gore likeability polls states primaries the election.
You're listless.
You're frustrated again, and guess what? It's sexual.
You can't figure out that last crossword puzzle clue and it's driving you totally bonk.
You're sick of staying IN and PLAYING BOGGLE all the goddam time.
The cold.
The snow.
The seeping ice in your boots and salt marks on your pants!!!!!!!

THEN
TURN
THIS
SONG
UP.

And get happy with Will.i.am's Jackson 5-ish "Fantastic." It'll make ya feel groovy, no time flat. Don't worry (be happy) winter is almost over. Get laid.

*f

Just 'Cause.

art love

ad astra per aspera: to the stars, with difficulty.

'Cause isn't that just beautiful?!
'Cause 3 million Kansans can't be wrong.
'Cause we are half Kansan by blood, high school team spirit, and collegiate investments.
'Cause in 1859, the reputable orator, scholar, lawyer, and Secretary of Senate John James Ingalls (known for his sarcasm and wit) believed that Kansas could "aspire to reach the unattainable, and that its dream is the realization of the impossible."
'Cause the motto refers not only to the pioneering spirit of the early settlers, but also the difficult times Kansas went through before becoming a state. The anti-slavery forces and slavery proponents waged battles in the electoral process as well as on the battlefield. Kansas earned the nickname “Bloody Kansas” because of the war regarding slavery, much of which was fought on Kansas' soil.
'Cause the idea represented by the motto itself is very old and occurs frequently in classical poetry, in German set phrases and quotations, and in feudal mottoes of the European nobility.
'Cause we fuckin' love Kansas and what it means to be a Kansan. Especially a Lawrence, Kansan

happy valentine's day kansas, we love you.

*f

Stealing Kisses From the Leperous Faces.

Beck's Odelay Deluxe edish drops tonight y'all.

*f

A Daydream in Hobbiton

photo love

Sometimes we want to be here, tucked away from the rest of middle-Earth and whosits whatsits everywhere. When we used to imagine ourself right smack into the world of The Shire (think the Portland area, if we're considering just the U.S., for geographic location and climate, though we don't recall much rain ever being mentioned), we saw it like this:

We were a swordsmith - the most talented swordsmith in all of middle-Earth and beyond. We lived in Bag End, next door to Bilbo, in our very own cozy nook of a hobbit-hole that smelled of the woods and wildflowers (and these days we would probably add a dash of whiskey to the scent, what with all the adventurers stopping by).

Seeing as how we were oh-so-talented and at home with our sword-making, all the best of the great adventurers would make a point of stopping by before they went out into the great wide world beyond the Farthings and Brandywine. We would shine up their weapons and mend what needed mending, all the while hearing of the adventures they were about to embark upon, and feeding them all the grilled cheeses and ding dongs (our favorite, and yes, we seamlessly meshed our world with middle-Earth's without a moment's confusion or thought of logic) that they needed to start their trip.

And then of course, one day we went with them.

And so our mind daydreamed and toiled and fought and won and discovered and led the way the whole, long, delicious time. And sometimes on some days we go back there, because it's so... much... fun.

*j

Sad, Silent, Too Soon.

we wanna take a moment of sad silence on

the f & j show for heath ledger. cause anyone

that knows us knows we really really liked

this dude. liked his films, his style, and well

he was kinda our celeb lobster, we thought.

so sad, too soon.

*f

Spaced: Our Life 2.0

There are some things that make you feel like you. They make you feel like home.

So just watch, cheries. Just watch. We know you might not be able to right this moment, or in the next 50 moments today. But at some moment on some day (hopefully oh so soon) you will. So watch. Because this little snippet illustrates why we love more than peas love pods the brief but spectacular series Spaced. It's funny, it's soulful, it's pure delightful. And it makes us feel at home, not like this is or was our life but that it almost sort of could be our life.

The clip we've chosen above is the first part of the first episode, so you're not missing one introduction to the lovely world that is Spaced. So watch. And don't watch in an ugh-I-feel-like-I-have-to sort of way, because we're not trying to beat this down onto you or force you to like what we like. But isn't life about new experiences? See now, it's hard to argue with that gem of a string bean.

Okay now dearies, really someone should have barked at us to Skip To the End. Annnd... skip to the end.

*j

Life & Loss.

What: Philosophy & life lessons from one cool kid.

Where: Minnie's for the best little hamburgers, little sandwiches; and little drinks.

Why: Their cousins's dog just died.

When: Yesterday, noonish.

Fran (ageless): We used to have a black poodle. A big one, named Mary Ellen, when I was your age. She was great...sweet...nice. Anyway, I was there when she died. I was about ten and we came home from a trip...and she died.

Jack (9): How did you know she was dead? Did she collapse?

Fran: Yeah...it was really sad. I just sat there...and pet her. And tried to make her comfortable.

Jack: Well, it's the circle of life. I mean, you just gotta respect that.

wise & wonderful truths are everywhere,

*f

We Sure Are Cute For Two Ugly People.

Well good morning lovelies, and a kiss on the brain to you. We saw Juno yesterday and we just hope hope hope and pray you do too. Just beautiful. Subtle humor is just The Best, no? Not to mention a killer soundtrack too.

Us
+
Michael Cera
__________
Friends Forever

*f & j

Peace. Love. Santa.

Keep it in your heart, have a merry merry christmas.

love and joy, love and joy, and remember that christmas

is a frame of mind (kris kringle, miracle on 34th).

merry christmas!

*f

spoonful of sugar & a little ginger nutty spice.

how to be an artist

stay loose. learn to watch snails. plant impossible gardens. invite someone dangerous to tea. make little signs that say yes! and post them all over your house. make friends with freedom & uncertainty. look forward to dreams. cry during movies. swing as high as you can on a swingset, by moonlight. cultivated moods. refuse to "be responsible." do it for love. take lots of naps. give money away. do it now. the money will follow. believe in magic. laugh a lot. celebrate every gorgeous moment. take moonbaths. have wild imaginings, transformative dreams, and perfect calm. draw on the wall. read everyday. imagine yourself magic. giggle with children. listen to old people. open up. dive in. be free. bless yourself. drive aways fear. play with everything. entertain your inner child. you are innocent. build a fort with blankets. get wet. hug trees. write love letters.
(sark)

If we created a metaphorical Strawberry and Vanilla Frosting Golden Delicious Cupcake Guide For Daily Living, Sark would most definitely be the main ingredient. In fact, the recipe we would keep inside our darling little heirloom Swedish wooden recipe box would look something like this:

9 cups Sark (for a vibrant livelihood and to make the dough rise each day with a glimmer)
1/4 cup Tina Fey (for geeky hilarious intellect and to keep it genuine and realzy)
1 heaping spooful Gwen (for rad girl Rastafarian attitude and penchant for beautiful aesthetic and fierceness)
2 tblsp Ayn Rand (for a unique individual radical attitude and unexpected bite)
A dash of Wes Anderson (for imagination and the courage to bring that to life)
5 teaspoons Ben Harper (for honey glow and mellow yellow hello fellow warm heart sweetness)
1 cup J.K. (for keeping a child's curiousity, a brilliance to shine, and capacity to dream big)
4 cups Spice Girls (for sexy neverending fun and ability to keep the good girls of your heart close)

What's in your Magic Cupcake Guide you sexy PYT?
*f

Toyota's New Robot.

Can play at your graduation.

Rad.

We want to be a robot and or own one.

*f

How's Your Sense of Direction?

art love

Well, ours blows. When we moved into the vast land of metal and cement that is a city for the very first time, our sistas thankfully gracefully immediately sent us compass keychains, compass watches, compass underwear. Well, okay, maybe not that last one, but just about everything else. Thank the hell goodness they watch out for me all the cherry-pickin time. Each time we climbed outta those subway tunnels we'd look around and start walking towards whatever smelled good, usually involving cupcakes. We'd walk a bit, maybe buy a latte and a cupcake if we could scrounge the change, and then realize two blocks later that we were walking in entirely the wrong direction.

This could easily be a metaphor for our life in general, to be modestly honest. But that's when compasses, 8-balls, and maps come in quite handy-dandy. So moral of the story is, pets, never leave home without one of the above, pumpkin pies.

And as for how to get from Point A to Point B, well, we'll take Option C, thank you very much.


*j

The Future of Reading.

Books aren't dead (they're just going digital).  Read it here.  We told ya it was a digital age, man.  Just spoutin' the truth, and keepin' it real.  Like we always do.  Still got mad love for ya though, LaVar Burton, you Rainbow Readin' Star-Trekkin' PBSin' Emmy winnin' Do-Gooder.  And we always will.

*f

Get It While It's HOT.

Due to an unforeseen clerical error on the part of our nut-brain of an office intern, the release of our dearies' new album/book/extravaganza was announced a wee bit early.

However, the moment has come, the gates have opened, the torch has been lit. So Go. Buy. Thissss.

2-disc set.
5 extra tracks.
50-page photo book.
and a partridge in a pear tree.


*j