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Flavorpill CHI | NYC | SF | LA | LONDON June 12 - 18, 2007

 
 Josh Heilaman   
Cultural Stimuli in CHI
Issue 143: chitinous flavor

It was supposed to evoke the Book of Exodus: after 17 years of living on the subterraneous down-low, cicadas were to emerge and wreak havoc on Chicago. But unless you live outside the heart of the city, the insectacular hype has left most folks a bit underwhelmed — and relieved, as we weren't really looking forward to scraping freshly squished bugs off our sneakers at the upcoming Pitchfork Music Festival, or flicking the winged wonders off our eats at the Taste of Randolph Street Fair. Sure, it would be fun to shred some air guitar in the midst of a swarm, pretending we were filming the most hardcore metal video ever, but beyond that, how cicad-a-riffic would a Chicagoan care for summer to get? We want insect-free outdoor movies, and ditto for outdoor theatre. Maybe the next brood will bring the noise, so check back in another 17 years; meantime, go forth and spread it.

- Quanah Humphreys, Managing Editor

 

Flavorpill CHI is an email magazine covering a hand-picked selection of music, art, and cultural events — delivered each Tuesday afternoon.







 


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 Table of Contents TUE   WED   THUR   FRI   SAT   SUN   MON   ONG   FEAT
art Fern Valfer; John DiCosmo and the Faces of Dinner; Ballyhoo! A Peek Under the Big Top; Noelle Allen; Feeltank
comedy Mortified Chicago; Eugene Mirman; Best of Jim Zulevic
dance Poonie's Cabaret
discussion Hardcore Histories
dj DJ Food & DK; Off Chances
festival Pitchfork Music Festival
film Helvetica; Muhammad Ali: Through the Eyes of the World; Better Off Dead
multimedia Juan Angel Chávez
music Smoking Popes; The Veils; Fred Anderson and Hamid Drake; The Long Blondes; Matt and Kim; Big Business; Bobby Conn Birthday Weekend
spectacleThe US Air Guitar Championships
FEAT eating & drinking Milk & Honey Café; cd review Lil' Wayne, Da Drought 3; streams Warp Records Films




Comedian with Clout
"Indie comedian" may be the most painful term ever foisted on the absurdly funny Eugene Mirman, but with stints opening for Modest Mouse, the Shins, and Yo La Tengo, it's not entirely inappropriate, either.

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Tuesday TUE   WED   THUR   FRI   SAT   SUN   MON   ONG   FEAT


ART: Artist Talk
12x12 presents Noelle Allen

when: Tue 6.12 (6:30pm)
where: Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E Chicago Ave, 312.280.2660) map
price: $10
links: Event Info | Noelle Allen

Noelle Allen's evocations of fossilized organisms and cellular structures are abstractions of entire worlds at the sub-molecular level. Her graphite drawings and watercolors on Mylar are utterly decadent in the strictest sense of the word — elaborately detailed depictions of the process of decay. Pinned to the wall with t-pins like fragile specimens for dissection, her delicate works seem both macabre and exquisite, familiar and otherworldly. Tonight, Allen leads a tour of these shimmering "microscopic landscapes" that are embellished with velvety washes of subtle color. (AMM)

Note: This exhibition continues through Sun 7.1 (Tue: 10am-8pm / Wed-Sun: 10am-5pm).



MUSIC: Jazz
Fred Anderson and Hamid Drake w/ Harrison Bankhead, Jeff Parker, and Josh Abrams

when: Tue 6.12 (7pm)
where: Stop Smiling HQ (1371 N Milwaukee Ave, 773.342.1124) map
price: Free w/ RSVP
links: Event Info | Anderson and Drake | Stop Smiling Magazine

Sonny Rollins and Ornette Coleman are heralded as elder statesmen of jazz, and, while Chicago's own Fred Anderson is equally deserving of the title, he's probably too busy performing to lobby for wider recognition. From the River to the Ocean, his latest recording with powerhouse percussionist Hamid Drake and a stellar local supporting cast (Harrison Bankhead, Josh Abrams, and Jeff Parker), finds the nearly 80-year-old tenor sounding both spry and commanding. For this special album-release event, local critic and curator John Corbett — whose Unheard Music Series reissued some previously rare Anderson gems — will moderate and discuss music with the performers between songs. (PS)



ALSO ON TUE

DJ
Off Chances
Tue 6.12 (10pm-2am) Danny's Tavern (1951 W Dickens Ave, 773.489.6457) map

Event Info
 
Not every night can be a raucous dance party, so take an evening to chill with the queer-friendly Off Chances, a relaxed offshoot of the gonzo throwdown Chances Dances. Recoup with a few drink specials, and plan for the week ahead with DJs Nina Ramone and Dick Simmons. (QH)



Wednesday TUE   WED   THUR   FRI   SAT   SUN   MON   ONG   FEAT


MUSIC: Indie Rock
The Long Blondes w/ Nicole Atkins & the Sea and Mannequin Men

when: Wed 6.13 (9:30pm)
where: Subterranean (2011 W North Ave, 773.278.6600) map
price: $12
links: Event Info | The Long Blondes | Nicole Atkins & the Sea | Mannequin Men

The Long Blondes may have taken some musical cues (OK, and part of their moniker) from Blondie, but the Sheffield, UK, new wavers have their own wit and edge to spare. After an interminable wait, the quintet is finally releasing Someone to Drive You Home on Beggars Banquet stateside. While the band's lyrics boast a self-important, nearly flippant swagger (with admonishing tunes like "Once and Never Again"), they temper each tune with classic, saccharine girl-group vocal references, Pulpy storytelling skills, and darker post-punk guitars. (LT)

  Which film genre do the Long Blondes cite as a major influence? Two randomly drawn correct responses each receive a pair of tickets to this show. Entries close at 6pm on Tue 6.12.



ALSO ON WED

COMEDY
Theater on the Lake presents the Best of Jim Zulevic at the Second City
Wed 6.13 (7:30-10pm) Theater on the Lake (2401 N Lake Shore Dr, 312.742.7994) map $17.50

Event Info
 
Before his unexpected death in 2006, Second City's Jim Zulevic produced some brilliant scenes and characters here in the city. Tonight, his friends gather to showcase some hilarious highlights of Zulevic's career as an actor, director, teacher, and host of Second City radio. (CN)



Thursday TUE   WED   THUR   FRI   SAT   SUN   MON   ONG   FEAT


MUSIC: Indie Pop
Matt and Kim w/ Hyper Viper! and Dynamite Arrows

when: Thur 6.14 (10pm)
where: Subterranean (2011 W North Ave, 773.278.6600) map
price: $6
links: Event Info | Matt and Kim | Hyper Viper | Dynamite Arrows

Newbies to the extreme experience that is a Matt and Kim live show receive a rude awakening tonight as the two unleash their "onstage pizza party" in a high-energy set of sing-along indie anthems. Interspersing their songs with hilarious anecdotes, raucous vocal lines, and valiant attempts to do the Robot, the lovey-dovey couple plays guitar and drums with a beginner-level bravado that's refreshingly free of pretension. For tonight's special Subterranean pummeling, the band is joined by local pop punksters Hyper Viper! and rowdy Brooklynites Dynamite Arrows. (JH)

  What was Kim's favorite beverage last winter? Two randomly drawn correct responses each receive a pair of tickets to this show. Entries close at 6pm on Tue 6.12.



ALSO ON THUR

FILM
Movies in the Park presents Better Off Dead (1985)
Thur 6.14 (8pm) Holstein Park, Churchill Field Playlot (1825 N Damen Ave, 312.742.7529) map

Event Info
 
Pull out a blanket and relax under the stars as John Cusack takes you back in the cult classic Better Off Dead. The one-time heartthrob plays a recently dumped, suicidal teenager who is being pursued by a psychotic paperboy and drag-racing Howard Cosell impersonators. All this and claymation sequences. (AMM)



Friday TUE   WED   THUR   FRI   SAT   SUN   MON   ONG   FEAT


ART: Opening
Feeltank: Pathogeographies or, Other People's Baggage

when: Fri 6.15 (5-8pm)
where: Gallery 400, University of Illinois at Chicago (400 S Peoria St, 312.996.6114) map
price:
links: Event Info | Feeltank

"We are a feel tank, but this does not mean that we do not think," artist/activist group Feeltank writes in its manifesto, challenging the concept of a think tank or policy institute wherein intellectuals research and advocate on political and social issues. Taking note of the increasing influence of right-wing think tanks on governmental policy, Feeltank offers an alternative. This exhibition, organized by members Lauren Berlant, Debbie Gould, Mary Patten, and Rebecca Zorach, explores artists' feelings about politics and suggests typically negative feelings, such as apathy, anxiety, and ambivalence, as "forms of resistance" for those interested in social justice. (AMM)

Note: This exhibition continues through Sat 7.7 (Tue-Fri: 10am-5pm / Sat: 12-5pm).



ART
John DiCosmo and the Faces of Dinner

when: Fri 6.15 (6-9pm)
where: Old Gold (2022 N Humboldt Blvd, 773.653.9956) map
price:
links: Event Info

Focusing on work by New Jersey-based artist John DiCosmo, curator and writer J. Patrick Walsh III organizes this peculiar yet promising event at Chicago's newest upstart exhibition space, Old Gold. DiCosmo's unsettling, sketchy works on paper are "re-created with various spices, sweeteners, vegetables, and mock meats" in an evocation of Judy Chicago's landmark 1974-1979 work The Dinner Party as well as Francis Bacon's gruesome Figure with Meat. The feast is served to the audience while Walsh and DiCosmo (who are former bandmates) perform "psychic ballads" along with and guest artist Jory Replay. (AMM)

Note: This exhibition continues through the weekend on Sat 6.16 & Sun 6.17 (12-5pm) with a variety of events and neighborhood yard sales.



MUSIC: Sludge
Big Business w/ Panthers

when: Fri 6.15 (10pm)
where: The Empty Bottle (1035 N Western Ave, 773.276.3600) map
price: $10 / $8 advance
links: Event Info | Big Business | Panthers

LA band Big Business have done extensive demographic research, test-marketed their product, and are now ready to roll out their own brand of epic, feral riffs nationwide. Bassist Jared Warren and drummer Coady Willis have played in numerous bands, joining forces most recently with Buzz Osbourne and Dale Crover on the Melvins' last album. By themselves, the duo delivers a one-two low-end punch, with sludgy bass lines, thudding drums, and booming vocals filled with deadpan humor. Their last album on Hydra Head, produced by Phil Ek, shows just how immense and overwhelming two guys can sound. (PS)

  Which four species are classified under the genus Panthera? Two randomly drawn correct responses each receive a pair of tickets to this show. Entries close at 6pm on Tue 6.12.



DJ
DJ Food & DK w/ DJ Striz

when: Fri 6.15 (10pm)
where: SmartBar (3730 N Clark St, 773.549.0203) map
price: $15 / $12 before midnight
links: Event Info | DJ Food & DK

A small rotating collective, DJ Food have boasted the combined Ninja Tune talents of PC, Strictly Kev, Jonathan More, and Matt Black since the early '90s. On any given night, the group can be found interweaving hip-hop, electro, and breaks into a singular, sonic groove. This deft blend of divergent genres has been documented across their mix CDs, including Solid Steel, Raiding the 20th Century, and their Blech II compilation for Warp Records. Also spinning tonight, Chicago's Striz has played with luminaries like DJ Krush and up-and-coming downtempo funksters like Jugoe. (MJ)

  What's your favorite dessert recipe? Two creative cookies each receive a pair of tickets to this show. Entries close at 6pm on Tue 6.12.



ALSO ON FRI

SPECTACLE
The US Air Guitar Championships: Chicago Regional
Fri 6.15 (9pm) Metro (3730 N Clark St, 773.549.0203) map $15 / $13 advance

Event Info
 
Guitar gods and goddesses: Seize your chance to strum, shred, and do the windmill before a theater full of screaming fans — sans axe, of course. Entrants are judged on technical merit, stage presence, and "airness." (AMM)

  Which sport shares a similar scoring system with air guitar? Two randomly drawn correct responses each receive a pair of tickets to this show. Entries close at 6pm on Tue 6.12.



MUSIC: Glam
Bobby Conn Birthday Weekend feat. the Chandeliers w/ Quatre Tete
Fri 6.15 (10pm) The Hideout (1354 W Wabansia Ave, 773.227.4433) map $12

Event Info
 
With all the eyeliner, melodrama, and antiauthoritarian yelping, the legendary Bobby Conn may never outgrow his adolescence, but the man behind the makeup turns 40 this weekend and deserves a party as bombastic as his ego. (JW)



Saturday TUE   WED   THUR   FRI   SAT   SUN   MON   ONG   FEAT


FILM
Helvetica

when: Sat 6.16 (3, 6:30 & 8:15pm)
where: Gene Siskel Film Center (164 N State St, 312.846.2600) map
price: $9
links: Event Info

Before Steve Jobs ushered in the Macintosh computer and the mid-'80s desktop publishing boom, typography was a mystery to the layman. Today, however, most of us can tick off the names of at least a few typefaces, an indication of our evolution into a more visually astute culture. The surprise hit of this year's SXSW festival, the documentary Helvetica tracks our flowering visual sophistication by focusing on one typeface to explore the rise, fall, and resurrection of modernism, the triumph of graphic design, and the subtle role typography plays in communication. (QH)

Love film? So do we. Sign up for Flavorpill's new film mailer, fflicks, coming soon.



MULTIMEDIA
Juan Angel Chávez: Speaker Project

when: Sat 6.16 (3pm)
where: Hyde Park Art Center (5020 S Cornell Ave, 773.324.5520) map
price:
links: Event Info | Juan Angel Chávez

When art and music intersect, more often than not the end result is a series of concert screen prints or just unsatisfying visual weirdness (Drawing Restraint 9, anyone?). Artist Juan Angel Chávez's latest installation at the Hyde Park Art Center not only weds art and music, but inserts the music directly into the sculpture. As in Chavez's previous works, his Speaker Project uses found objects, but this time the material is elevated to a grand scale. Chávez has built a 25x10-foot speaker box large enough to house performing bands, which have been co-curated by the Empty Bottle. The resulting audio laboratory encourages visitors to experiment with sound and challenges not only the way music is heard, but how it's experienced. (QH)

Note: This exhibition continues through Sun 7.8 (Mon-Thur: 9am-8pm / Fri-Sat: 9am-5pm / Sun: 12-5pm).



MUSIC: Alt-Rock
Taste of Randolph Street presents Smoking Popes w/ the Walkmen and the Changes

when: Sat 6.16 (5:30pm)
where: Randolph Street Festival (Randolph St btwn Peoria & Racine Sts, 312.458.9401) map
price: $10 suggested donation
links: Event Info | The Changes | Smoking Popes | The Walkmen

Corporate-sponsored neighborhood festivals are hit-or-miss situations: either they're a living, breathing advertisement, replete with over-priced trinkets, $7 beers, and sugar-soaked elephant ears, or they save face by booking some awesome bands. This weekend's tenth-annual Taste of Randolph Street does both, with oodles of street vendors, yummies from neighborhood restaurants, cooking demonstrations, and an impressive lineup of indie faves. The fest kicks into high gear Saturday evening when local popsters the Changes, moody garage rockers the Walkmen, and Chicago alt-rock royalty Smoking Popes hit the stage and rock out with the proles. (SN)



Sunday TUE   WED   THUR   FRI   SAT   SUN   MON   ONG   FEAT


FILM
Muhammad Ali: Through the Eyes of the World (2001)

when: Sun 6.17 (5pm)
where: Gene Siskel Film Center (164 N State St, 312.846.2600) map
price: $9
links: Event Info | Muhammad Ali

Packing an emotional wallop, this engaging documentary traces Muhammad Ali's life from his hardscrabble beginnings in Kentucky to his eminent place in history as "The Greatest." Produced originally for England's TWI Television, Through the Eyes views Ali through several interviews, from the touching (Billy Crystal) to the bizarre (Billy Connolly). Never failing to capture Ali's charisma or his style as a "braggadocio," as George Foreman calls him, this is the film Michael Mann wishes he had made. At once moving and compelling, the film is an informative look at a man whose influence moved well beyond sports and into our cultural landscape. (JA)

Love film? So do we. Sign up for Flavorpill's new film mailer, fflicks, coming soon.



DISCUSSION
Hardcore Histories

when: Sun 6.17 (6:30-8pm)
where: Mess Hall (6932 N Glenwood Ave, 773.465.4033) map
price:
links: Event Info | Unlucky Atlas

Led by punk connoisseur Andre Foisy of Unlucky Atlas and held at the ever-progressive Mess Hall, Hardcore Histories is an ongoing series that examines the vast and varied contributions of the hardcore punk community to the cultural zeitgeist. Through interactive discussions and presentations, these open gatherings have traced the rich history of the culture's European strain, discussed the rise of Christianity and the DIY ethic in the music, and explored the meaning and method of "selling out." Tonight's theme considers crews (closely-knit and fiercely loyal group of hardcore fans), gangs, and the importance of brotherhood in hardcore culture. Participants will receive a free, limited-edition poster celebrating the event. (SN)



COMEDY
Eugene Mirman w/ Leo Allen and A.D. Miles

when: Sun 6.17 (8:30pm)
where: Lakeshore Theater (3175 N Broadway St, 773.472.3492) map
price: $15
links: Event Info | Eugene Mirman | Leo Allen | A.D. Miles

Depending on who you ask, Eugene Mirman is either a cutting-edge comedian, an eccentric spazz, or both. But either way you spin it, his standup is a riot — combining distorted social commentary with prophetic advice from the future. Fans of David Cross or Stella will recognize him as part of New York's avant-garde comedy scene. He has also made regular appearances on Superdeluxe.com, and headlined several of Patton Oswalt's Comedians of Comedy shows. Tonight, he brings his brand of absurdist humor to Lakeshore Theater, alongside fellow NYC alt-comedy darlings Leo Allen and A.D. Miles. (CN)



MUSIC: Indie Pop
The Veils w/ the Saturday Nights

when: Sun 6.17 (9:30pm)
where: The Empty Bottle (1035 N Western Ave, 773.276.3600) map
price: $12 / $10 advance
links: Event Info | The Veils | The Saturday Nights

The Veils' brooding frontman Finn Andrews has endured recent turbulence — including a two-year label dispute, the departure of all three original members of his band, and a move from London to New Zealand — by channeling his melancholy and bruised psyche into a Morrissey-like, bleakly beautiful pop sound. Taking cues from the grandiose pathos of Rufus Wainwright and the sweeping, unabashed sensuality of early-'90s Suede, the Veils' newly released second album, Nux Vomica, represents not only a huge step forward for Andrews, but also a welcomed return to the vivid emotional intensity and dark romanticism of '80s goth rock. Local Indiana émigrés the Saturday Nights open with swirling dream pop. (SN)

  Which famed new-wave band's keyboardist is father to the Veils' lead singer Finn Andrews? Two randomly drawn correct responses each receive a pair of tickets to this show. Entries close at 6pm on Tue 6.12.



Monday TUE   WED   THUR   FRI   SAT   SUN   MON   ONG   FEAT


DANCE
Poonie's Cabaret

when: Mon 6.18 (8pm)
where: Links Hall (956 Newport Ave, 773.281.0824) map
price: $5
links: Event Info

Curated and emceed with a loving hand by Jyl Fehrenkamp, this long-running showcase of adventurous improvisation and works-in-progress pays into a piggy bank for queer-leaning performance grants. Seven acts have been selected, including kids from Oak Park's Matrix Dance Improv — Fehrenkamp has introduced a regular youth element — and vets like Lucy Vurusic-Riner and Martha Mulligan. Eddie Edge (Sam Stalling) and Magic Madge (Amy Miller) pledge, turn, and prestige with a hysterical illusion act, and recently expatriated Montréalites Big Gold Hoops and Kosher Dill Spears round out the bill with their crazily costumed disco dance. (ZW)



Ongoing / Upcoming TUE   WED   THUR   FRI   SAT   SUN   MON   ONG   FEAT


ART
Fern Valfer: In/Out of Context

when: Now through Sat 6.30 (Tue-Fri: 11am-6pm / Sat: 11am-4pm)
where: Gosia Koscielak Studio & Gallery (1646 N Bosworth Ave, 773.252.9921) map
price:
links: Event Info

The newest installment in Gosia Koscielak's ongoing curatorial series on identity and cross-cultural perception presents abstract painting as a vehicle for exploring the self. Chicago-based artist Fern Valfer's new works are vibrant, painterly investigations into her own personal and family history. In paintings such as Back to Barcelona, the artist focuses on her familial ties to Spain without evoking any specifics. Valfer's expressive style, informed by the history of abstract painting, uses mark-making as metaphor. Her layered, dynamic compositions, bold brushwork, and jewel-box palette create an affecting, rhythmic force. (AMM)



ART
Ballyhoo! A Peek Under the Big Top

when: Now through Sun 7.10 (Mon, Fri & Sat: 8:15am-5:30pm / Tue, Wed & Thur: 8:15am-7:30pm)
where: The Newberry Library (60 W Walton St, 312.255.3691) map
price:
links: Event Info

The Newberry Library showcases its American Circus Collection, an array of archival circus- and theatre-related clippings, illustrations, programs, publicity, photographs, posters, and memorabilia from the '20s and '30s that were donated by Chicago architect Irving Kane Pond in 1939. A philanthropist and arts lover, Pond was also the vice president of the Circus Fans Association. The event comes at a perfect time: Circus legends P.T. Barnum and James A. Bailey both have July birthdays, which will be recognized and celebrated through this playful, vintage collection of wonders. (AE)



COMEDY: Upcoming
Mortified Chicago

when: Wed 6.27 (8pm)
where: Green Mill Jazz Club (4802 N Broadway Ave, 773.878.5552) map
price: $15 / $10 advance
links: Event Info

It's said that facing your inner demons is the best way to overcome your fears, but Mortified Chicago proves that watching someone do so openly can be downright hilarious. Feel free to chuckle as you watch grown-up crybabies divulging diaries, letters, and other vestiges of teenage anxiety — all shared by the original authors in front of a group of total strangers. Started in 2002, the series has unearthed hundreds of otherwise forgotten notebooks, photo albums, and envelopes for peace of mind through public embarrassment. From professional comics and singers to total amateurs, all participants take the stage in the name of self-degradation. (CN)



FESTIVAL: Upcoming
Pitchfork Music Festival

when: Fri 7.13 - Sun 7.15 (Fri: 5-10pm / Sat & Sun: 12-10pm)
where: Union Park (1501 W Randolph) map
price: $50 all-festival badge / $35 Sat & Sun / $25 Sat or Sun / $15 Fri
links: Event Info

As music websites go, Chicago's own Pitchfork Media has grown to be a top dog. This summer, the Pitchfork Music Festival returns to Union Park with three days of indie-rock, hip-hop, electronic music, and, well, just about every style out there... even the kind Yoko Ono plays. This year's festival offers an opening night of classic albums, performed front to back, including Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation and GZA's Liquid Swords. As for Saturday and Sunday, the spectrum only widens with such performers as Cat Power, Clipse, Of Montreal, and the Junior Boys. (CN)

Note: The festival has sold out quickly in past years, so grab your tickets soon.



Features TUE   WED   THUR   FRI   SAT   SUN   MON   ONG   FEAT


  EATING & DRINKING: Milk & Honey Café  

when: Mon-Fri: 7am-4pm / Sat: 8am-5pm / Sun: 8am-4pm
where: Milk & Honey Café (1920 W Division St, 773.395.9434)
price: $4-7 breakfast / $7-9 sandwiches

A stop by Wicker Park's Milk & Honey Café feels a bit like brunching in an art gallery, but if you love eating fancy food and spotting pretty people, this contemporary American breakfast/brunch/lunch café will satisfy both appetites. When the weather is nice (let's keep our fingers crossed that a wild snow storm won't ruin summer!), the restaurant's wide-open front doors lure in unsuspecting passersby with the smell of hot soup, cooked up from scratch. The interior's clean design (think IKEA, except not falling-apart cheap) has few adornments: large jars of honey line the back wall alongside a few well-placed plants. Take your time in choosing a tasty sandwich from the huge chalkboard by the counter — the classic insalata caprese (mozzarella, basil, and tomato) with balsamic reduction on a baguette comes highly recommended and complete with homemade chips. Grab a plate from the counter, let the wind sweep through your hair, and enjoy a light meal on a (hopefully) sunny day. (AE)


 


  CD REVIEW: Lil' Wayne, Da Drought 3  

Young Money Entertainment
Released May 2007
$13.99 (Ari's Mixtapes)

When Lil' Wayne claims to be the best rapper alive, he's not bragging — but he may not mean what you think he means. As on his earlier mixtape classics, Dedication 2 and Lil' Weezyana, he lets his mutable, guttural flow do the heavy lifting, cannibalizing dozens of Top 40 beats. His verbal abstractions effortlessly shift gears from marble-mouthed drawl and look-no-hands freestyles to monosyllabic barks and ecstatic gurgles. All these vocal tics serve to jump-start dense, absurd imagery; he's liable to switch subjects from Gremlins to the reconstruction of New Orleans in a few breathless bars. Yet wrapped in such dazzling sonics, even the most brainy rhymes strike at the gut level. After a two-disc barrage of this, you're more likely than ever to agree with Wayne's boasts. (TW)


 


  STREAMS: Warp Records Films  

While YouTube is perhaps best known for playful, user-generated content and copyright infringement, it also serves as a platform for traditional content-providers to disseminate video content. Groundbreaking electronic label Warp Records — home to esteemed acts such as Boards of Canada, Autechre, Aphex Twin, and, most recently, bands like Battles and Grizzly Bear — has recently embraced the technology, creating a custom YouTube site centered around a special video section. Tune in for live artist performances, videos from the likes of Clark and !!!, and a particularly engaging interview with Squarepusher. Also, be sure to pay close attention to Battles' drummer, John Stanier, as he beats skins live: the rest of the band is talented, but he's jaw-droppingly good. (CJN)



 


Flavorinfo TUE   WED   THUR   FRI   SAT   SUN   MON   ONG   FEAT


 
 
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Flavorpill CHI is a free weekly email magazine covering cultural happenings, across art, music, film, theatre, dance, literature, and DJ events. All content is produced by a local team of writers in Chicago. We don't include sold-out events, and all listings are pure editorial — no money is accepted from venues, artists, or promoters. Read more about us.
 
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