Gilded Mongrels

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:45:00 +0000

i know you've always suspected.

i give Scott Curtis, my exclusive story.

New Caged Baby, At LAST!

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:06:00 +0000

Cagedbaby - Medicine from Southern Fried Records on Vimeo.

I'll try not to hate on the song too much because the video is so dope. Let's see what the album brings.

Monstar Makes Cute Clothes

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:27:00 +0000

Look how cute this stuff is!! I used to go to the place in Dallas called the 'Lakewood Lounge', total dive, just how I like it. Anyway in the men's room above the urinal there was some graffiti of a cupcake. In the icing of the cupcake was written '27-28 life ok'.

Irregardlessly these belts are on sale for $15. Buy one for yourself or for me. They also have cute stees.

New Basement Jaxx Kind of Sounds Like Old Basement Jaxx

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:31:00 +0000

I think this sounds just like a slower version of Romeo. I'm not saying I don't like it. Has it been long enough to have a renaissance of your own sound? Who can say. I'm pretty sure you'll never se this video on MTV.

Pigeon Dance, I Hate Pigeons So Hard

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:48:00 +0000

I wish I could fully explain to you the train of thought that prompts the posting of these videos. But I'm not really sure that it would do anything to aid your comprehension.

Ink-N-Iron Festival

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:43:00 +0000

Southern California's only international Tatoo event, Ink-N-Iron Festival returns June 5-6-7 to the Queen Mary with Eagles of Death Metal, The Bronx, Street Dogs, The Sonics and more bands throughout the weekend. Tattooing aboard the ship with artists from 25 countries and 15 states. Burlesque shows nightly and other sexually suggestive acts, and a Hot Rod and Kustoms show. Don't miss the Pin-Up Pageant on Sunday! Go to ink-n-iron.com for tickets and other information!

(from LA Weekly)

Do The Hustle/Bump/Electric Slide/Bus Stop...

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:10:00 +0000

so...the other day i woke up with 'the chicken dance' as my ring tone. i can only assume that something like the above occurred...

Fischerspooner and The Juan Maclean

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:53:00 +0000

So, I found out why nobody is talking about this Fischerspooner record ironically titled, Entertainment. Um, it's not any good. It's also on a different label like all of their records. Which makes me wonder are they just insufferable to work with or what. It sounds like Casey totally phoned this one in. And it seems like half the tracks were on last years Danse en France and Best Revenge singles. And frankly were far superior as club anthems. It's not a total wash, there are a couple of good tracks, To the Moon and Amuse Bouche.

You know what else sucks? The Future Will Come by The Juan MacLean. Do you remember the genius record by Kelley Polar, Love Songs of the Hanging Garden? This Juan MacLean record is like the cheapest knock-off. It's practically unlistenable. And I'm a Juan MacLean fan! Ugh, I'm gritting my teeth just thinking about it! I gotta go.

Stees Nust

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:14:00 +0000

It's dope, it's from Spain, it's far from cheap. But don't you want one really bad? Dobodob, is the maker. They only have 7 designs at the moment. Which, I think, is not a bad thing. I mean, what else do I need to say?

This T is unbelievable. I know I'm a sucker for a naked lady T, but this is like, high class, right? Grnappletree, has AMAZING stuff. You really owe it to yourself to take a look at these T's because they are so good. They've also got a small selection of button-ups, outerwear and, accessories. The Holiday 08 stuff is on sale and is also a force to reckoned with. The other clothes have a definite rockabilly feel to them but will transfer to hipster street very easily.

Dan Deacon is Like Sunshine for my Ears and Tiga Makes Me Want To Dance

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:57:00 +0000

I remember the first time I heard Loveless by My Bloody Valentine. It was a revelation. I didn't know music could sound this way. Now, I'm not saying the Bromst, sounds like Loveless, beyond the 5 million layers it takes to make this kind of aural burnout riot. Bromst is like Loveless for nerds. Except nerds are cool now. And Bromst, is for lack of a better word, happy. It's like the bastard child of Kevin Shields, Smurfs, an 808, and sunbeams. It makes me feel like I'm mining secret treasure, have a pocket full of pixie dust and might need to have pancakes for dinner.

This Tiga record, Ciao!, albeit not as revelatory as the aforementioned, has still got more peaks than valleys. More of a straight up 'club' record than Sexor, it's a lot of fun. He's such a cheeky punk you're not sure if you want to slap him or pinch his cheek. The answer, shake your booty. Highlights: What You Need, Overtime, Beep-Beep-Beep. Lowlights: Turn The Night On, Gentle Giant.

It does make me wish for a new Scissor Sisters record and light a little fire to track down the new Fischerspooner. Which seems to be oddly black listed within my group...I wonder if it has anything to do with...I'll save my gossip for another time.

DEPECHE MODE, Sounds of the So-so-verse

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:23:00 +0000

The funnest part of this review is that I had a Twitter conversation about the actual unit of measure of a 'butt load' while settling down to write. I say it's half of a 'shit load'. 2 shit loads = 1 fuck load. Or, 1 butt = 126 gallons (look it up yourself). This album sounds like a remix of Black Celebration and Songs of Faith & Devotion - without the structure of BC and the passion of SOFAD with a dash of Construction Time Again to hold it all together. It's not a terrible record. I can listen to most of it. They're really paying an homage to themselves, you can pick out riffs from past albums. Hole to Feed is the best track and oddly it sounds nothing like rest. Jezebel, Wrong, and Peace are not ever going to make it into rotation. But you know what I say? As long as people are buying it, you should keep selling it. There is definitely something undeniably sexy about Mr. Ghan's voice.

New Pixies Box-Set From Minotaur

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:04:00 +0000

At first I was totally shitting myself over this. I had decided that I was going to do whatever I needed to make sure that I had one of these in my collection. But here's the thing as I'm sure you learned from the video, the only hook is the new art work, and the exclusion of b-sides or a remaster just seem like madness and then you see the price tag for the vinyl edition, which quite frankly is fucking ludicrous. But, my buddy Lono is totally stoked on the new artwork. So, to each his own. Pre-order from Artist in Residence.

Esperanto and Why it Failed, Starring William Shatner

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:48:00 +0000

Midweek Marinations with Matt O

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 18:49:00 +0000

One of the good things that came of the KRCL shakeup, which you gotta admit was not the disaster that the prophets predicted, was the birth of UTAHFM.org. My good buddy Matt O has got himself a show on this network that's dope. We've traded music over the couple of years and you can expect a full gamut. Beach Boys to Beasties Boys, Chaka Khan to King Khan, and everything in between. Give it a listen. He's on Wednesday evenings from 6-9p.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:38:00 +0000

Remember when the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were a rock'n'roll band? I mean, I guess they still are. And they've really evolved. Rick Ruben and Timbaland are going to be producing them any second. This is just such a nice little record. You can really tell how happy everybody has gotten. Which is great! No more starving and struggling in Brooklyn (ew, gross! who does that). I'm trying really hard not to get snarky and devolve into my typical 'this is not what I wanted' blather. I think it's great, they've made it. I would definitely take the money and run and laugh all the way to the bank. What would make this all so genius is if they went on tour with Greenday. How fantastic would that be?

Walter Foods has Watery Drinks but Amazing Food

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:01:00 +0000

I love this place. I do. I dream of the short rib burger. The warm beet salad pretty much continues to be the best I've ever had. The Pig in a Blanket, genius. I've been here a handful of times. I've also brought friends with me and have gone at respectful hours. Ya know, I thought I was building up a rapport. HAHO!! I was wrong. Don't be fooled, these guys hold no allegiances to anyone. I totally got the shaft on seating when I went in the other day with my accomplice, who had also been with friends on several occasions. And it was a pretty obvious 'fuck you, don't expect favors from us you bitches' or at least that's how it felt. We were a 2 top. We asked for a booth, which was open. We were told 'no', because we all know the story. But there were other 2 tops at the booths and there were other booths open. I also have to add that it was like 6.30, not even prime time right? So we're trundled of to our shit table when ho, wot ho! another 2 top walks in and is put right into a booth. What am I supposed to make of that? I mean, I know I'm a fusspot but, what the fuck. So, I haven't been back since. I guess they also got a little fancy and a little cocky when BKN celebs started coming by like some peeps from Franz Ferdinand and TV on the Radio. It's still kind of a bad idea to make your bread and butters feel like the alligator doesn't want to eat them. Know what I mean.

The joint is helmed by one of the 5 million people that was involved with Milk and Honey somehow and is now opening their own fronts with all of this mystery cash when everyone else is shutting down...hmmmm, so you would think that they would have amazing cocktails. They're not the crazy bartender beats them within an inch of their lives. Believe me, I have tried several of the sames and differents on many occasions.

Regardless, I can't get that short rib burger out of my head!! One more chance Walter...

http://walterfoods.com/
253 Grand St. Brooklyn, New York (Williamsburg)

Junior Boys, Begone Dull Care and Royksopp, Junior Dryhump

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:38:00 +0000

I've really been struggling with what to write about these records because I want them to be things that they totally are not. The things that I want are not even things that are like the last albums. These albums are totally like the last albums. Hot roof party soundtracks. Sweaty tumblers, lots of skin and the anxious sheen of pre-summer. Too much sun on the cheeks and flirty eyes and the 'i'm shy but if we don't make out tonight you're gonna get such a pinch' smiles as you move your hips and try look sexy but with out getting too worked up and sweating through your shirt. Anyway. That's what these records are like.

I can't even really explain to you why but every time I would put either of these on I thought I was going to get the Ministry of Sound: Annual 2009. But once I finally 'got it' and accepted that that was not what i was going to get, I was able to relax and enjoy. I mean it's a party. It's just not a dance party. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I like these records and that I need to get MOS 2009 Annual and Clubbers Guides.

Lomo's Instant Back + for Diana

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:00:00 +0000

I don't have a Diana but I've been know to do some pretty clever tricks with a Holga and have a couple of the Multi shot bad boys. However, this is a whole new, new. With the recent sad death of the traditional Polaroid this is a just as expensive if not more so option for drunk parties. But it seems like you do have more options like double exposrue...

Also be prepared for plenty of confusion at the Lomo website. There a lot of options, editions, packages, discounts for bulk etc. It looks like the basic camera is around $95 and the Instant Back + is about another hondo. If you buy like 10 packs of film (10 pics each) then you can get them for about $10 a piece. But if you buy all the shit together in a kit then it's only like $XX.XX. I couldn't really figure it out but i still want one.

3D Wall Plates Are the Dope

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:51:00 +0000

These are amazing. They are $9. They come black or white for plug or switch. They come from the Curiosity Shoppe.

Album Round-up/Catch-up in Which I Refuse to Grow-Up

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:23:00 +0000

Just some quickies to get us/me up to date. **Tangent Alert** I've noticed that I've started to use a '/' a lot. For those of you that have complained that I'm an over !!exclaimer!!, a bad speller, a poor typist, and have no taste you must be over the moon about having one more thing that you can be bitter at me for/about!! **Tangent Over** I'm also not going to make any promises about how timely these are ever going to be...But people like count-downs, right? And this is kind of like a count-down.

Morrissey - YEARS OF REFUSAL, I don't have one good thing to say about this album. I think it's a giant wank. Maybe my disposition has gotten a little more cheery and don't relate like I used to, or maybe 20 years later I just don't care. Thumbs down! BOO, Morrisey, Boo!

Neko Case - MIDDLE CYCLONE, I'm not finding all the great things that everyone else seems to be finding about this record. And more often that not I disagree (Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth). There are exceptions (Prison Girls, This Tornado Loves You). I think this sounds like a crossover record. I'm not saying that's bad. But it's not what I'm looking for. As cool as I think my parents are I do not want my same records coming out the shuffle between Sade and Air Supply over meatloaf. I guess it scares me and makes my a snob. Who wants to turn into their parents in their 30's?

Lily Allen - IT'S NOT ME, IT'S YOU, This is my favorite guilty pleasure of late. Although I've been told that I shouldn't feel guilty about it, I do. It's weird. Like Voice of the Beehive, It's soooo cheesy but I love it up. My favorite is CHINESE. And I guess I just need to get over myself that Lily Allen comes up on the shuffle right after 45 Grave, stop explaining and just own it. Ok, I'm going own it.

Andrew Bird - NOBEL BEAST, I'm really bummed that I'm not a bigger fan of this album. I love 'The Mysterious Production of Eggs' and 'Armchair Apocrypha' so much. I played them all the time my friends played them all time. I don't play this record very much. This is a very grown-up record for very grown-up people. I am not one of these people. And as far as I can tell neither are my buddies. But the arrangements are great. He proves once again that he knows his stuff. File this one under 'Trompe Le Monde'*.

Franz Ferdinand - TONIGHT: FRANZ FERDINAND, I like this album. I mean it's fine. I don't not like it. I enjoy it when it's on. I sing along and dance a little bit. But none of it seems to stick. Know what I mean? I'm never like 'Aw shit! I gotta listen to that Franz Ferdinand song', I mean, it's totally fine.

AC Newman - GET GUILTY, This kid is clever. He writes a wry lyric. He's got a very interesting turn of a phrase. He collects lots of great peeps to play with him on his records. But what I don't get is why this isn't a New Pornographers album. I also felt that way about the last album. I also think they/he sound very much like The Shins. But if that's my beef...it could be a lot worse, right? It deserves more listening than I give it. I really like the first single, 'Submarines of Stockholm' and 'Like a Hitman Like a Dancer.'

*Trompe Le Monde was the last studio album from The Pixies. At it's release it was widely regarded by critics and fans to be a horrible disappointment. With something like 'if this had been anybody but the pixies it would have been a masterpiece' cited somewhere in the conversation or review. I use use the phrase 'it's a trompe le monde' more than i probably should. As we all know Trompe Le Monde is now regarded as one of if not the best Pixies albums by drunk hipsters in Williamsburg bars.

Look Where My Hand Was

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:10:00 +0000

Gary Wright is not Eddie Money or Chaka Kahn but he is the Dream Weaver.

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:22:00 +0000

so i thought this was Eddie Money for a long long time. i was always super bummed out that i could never find it. so i got a burr in my saddle today and decided to track it down. of course there was no Eddie Money attached to this track. then i had this tickle of a memory that Chaka Kahn had covered this song. this was also not the case. so i started googling key phrases of the chorus...and finally! here it is. not Eddie Money and never covered by Chaka Kahn(as far as i know, but it was covered by a woman whose name i forget now. but if you ever hear it you'll think she sounds like Chaka Kahn too).

Any way, TADA, Its Gary Wright. yeah! the dream weaver guy. but easily could have been Eddy Money, right? just another gorgeous day in the life...

***update, Chaka Kahn did cover this song. it is now included as well a track that is actually Eddie Money.

PS. i'm game to use a more discreet player if anyone can direct me to such a thing. ya know like legit peeps use...

love is alive

T's Round-Up!

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:24:00 +0000

It's been awhile. Sandro sent me this one from Hugsmuggler. A very reasonable price for an AA T ($19.99). Besides this design's dope because it's a blaster that's also a radio. Clever right? It's for ladies, gents, comes in colors and polos. Other designs include Tusken Raiders, chicks on boxes and kung-fu.

The kids at UZI NYC are making t-shits that you want to live in. They've got a secret method. They're all uniqe etc. They might not be the most original in concept (skulls, booze, etc.) but they make up for it in execution. I little pricy ($35) but not redic, also on AA

And I am sucker for a gimmicky horror themed shirt. This one from Mini Cassette gets my vote for this round-up. I'm sure you can see why. Of course you can find other gems with stars wars, lego and zombie themes. Not the best prices for Hanes T's ($22), it's up to you if you think it worth the gimmick.

And with that, adiou...

Tauntaun Sleeping Bag. Inappropriate for children?

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:22:00 +0000

The amazing geniuses at Think Geek have developed this little piece of creepy brilliance. Maybe it's just me but I was always kind of grossed out by being stuffed in the guts of a...well anything really. I'm also kind of made nervous by Pinocchio and Jonah. Something about being swallowed whole I guess.

Anyway, two of the coolest/creepiest things about this...thing...are the gut like lining and the glow in the dark lightsaber zipper pull so can actually pretend that you are slicing open the beast. Will it make little sociopaths? Too soon to tell.

Although not yet in production the SRP of $39.99 leaves little reason why every child of a nerd/geek shoudln't have one.

Getting It Together

noreply@blogger.com (TUFFY!) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:02:00 +0000

Hey. So, this will soon be the NEW Gilded Mongrels. It will now include posts that have previously gone to TUFFLUCK CITY or IPODFUCKER. I'll tag them respectively if you specifically want my snark on which dinner stores are awesome and which ones need to check themselves: TUFFLUCK CITY. Snark on which albums are the dope and which are the hype: IPODFUCKER. And you'll still get all of the design, video, and link bonanza that you've come to love from GILDED MONGRELS.

Things really aren't going to change, they're just getting consolidated for easier, more consistent and more timely consumption. They'll still have poor editing and all the attitude that you are accustomed to receiving.

Until next time, good listening, good eating, good chillaxing and don't take any wooden nickels.

PS. I've had a couple of questions about the logo; it's photo that I doctored of half sleeve tattoo (shoulder to elbow) of a foo-dog and flipped horizontal. EZPZ.