Anything But Foolish

Warpaint have been ceaselessly compared to Joy Division.  Seasoned listeners will notice that this similarity is slight at best on their first full-length The Fool.  Warpaint does not give a listener images in stark black and white, but instead in an influx of color.  Moody, capturing the dreaminess of longing, a common feeling amongst women, The Fool is anything but a doppelganger of the all-male Joy Division.  Warpaint's music is the sound of feeling removed, underwater, yet dreaming in waking.  It is the soundtrack for a girl who spends the afternoon listening to records and watching rainbows reflect off of a crystal in her windowsill.  The Fool grips the heart in a lull both sweet and  low.

Even Warpaint's rock-ish tracks from their earlier Exquisite Corpse EP still carry this feeling.  Led Zeppelin-esque long jams, backed my Stella Mozgawa's skilled, mature, and emotional percussion, still sound like Warpaint.  They are musicians whose skill accompanies emotion, rather than trumps its effect.

The Fool is a truly unique record, even in this age of experimental/ art-rock/ indie darling/ broken instrument bands.  And unlike a lot of experiments in modern music, The Fool actually works.  Warpaint will have a chapter in the history or music, as well as the history of women, years from now.  The Fool is anything but foolish.

 Check out the full record: http://www.warpaintwarpaint.com/.

-JM

Last three portraits by Marissa Kaiser

The Ways of the Ancients

Tear

from Dileisha

from Buy2Flaunt

I don't know what it is about me and tear shapes.  Maybe it has something to do with the tear shaped peace sign pendent my grandpa gave me.  I found an old picture of him wearing it during the 70's somewhere.  I was about ten years old when it was trusted into my care.  To this day, I get many complements on its unique shape. 

Some years ago, I saw a tear shaped moonstone ring in a little tibetan shop.  It was gorgeous and expensive.  I found myself instantly enamoured with the stone's bright moon-like appearance, but there was a record shop down the street.  "Music, or more jewelry than I really need?" I thought to myself.  I chose music :(  I chose good music, but I still see that ring in my daydreams.

These jewels are all from Etsy.  Translation, a bad, bad place for me.

Jewels

These hands belong to Disarming Darling.  She works for Unearthen.  Sick! (so jealous...)

Layer

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During this time of year, getting dressed in my neck of the woods becomes severely boring.  I've gotten over my winter wonder.  Snow is beautfil, it can shut your world down and give you a long weekend, but it gets old.  For me, getting dressed gets old.  I tend to be colder than most people, so my coat, my manish black leather jacket, and my fuzzy cat hat stay on all day.  Underneath, I usually have a tunic or tee dress with leggings.  Leggings are great, but for me they've turned into a lazy garment.  When it's cold, I don't want to get out of bed.  Waking up warm is much more pleasant.  Some days, I may be overwhelmed by my schedule (though it always works out) and I just don't want to move.  I let the minutes pass until I have about  30 left to get out the door.  Throw on leggings, a long tee with a tank underneath, whatever jewelry suits my fancy, and maybe denim shorts.  Then comes my jacket, hat, scarf of choice, leather satchel, and everyday boots.  To end this rant, the cold makes me lazy and bored.  So, here is some layering inspiration that is more exciting than my usual look. 

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sea of shoes

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