Kaiser and Marie

Basketball's World Cup

2010-08-20T14:56:00.006-05:00

International basketball has been one of my favorite sports to watch since the inception of NBA player participation in 1992. The Dream Team is probably the greatest team ever assembled in any sport. Their recent induction to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is timely considering the current U.S. team's upcoming participation in the FIBA World Championship in Turkey. We have a great team that fits the international game very well. FIBA basketball is wide open and more uptempo than its NBA counterpart. I'm a big fan of this brand of basketball. Team USA's versatility and athletisism should be fun to watch. Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Chauncey Billups, Rajon Rondo, and Lamar Odom are perhaps the most notable names for this very young American squad.

The game of basketball has blossomed before our eyes over the past 30 years. I can't begin to comment on the impact international players have had on the NBA. The effect of NBA players on the international game is more complicated than some want to admit. I'm always surprised to notice how little American fans care about our basketball team in international competition. Why is this not as big as American participation in the World Cup? I've got my own theories...

Be sure to catch Team USA in the FIBA World Championships beginning Saturday, August 28th in Turkey.

World Basketball Festival in NYC

Jordan in downtown Barcelona '92

Drake - Light Up Remix feat. Jay-Z and Lil' Wayne

Mondrian's Neoplasticist Vision of Form and Color

2010-08-12T08:00:00.006-05:00

I became a fan of Piet Mondrian quite subtly a couple of years ago. A few of his works are part of the permanent collection at the Menil. I initially noticed his pieces upon exiting the main room along the western-most portion of the exhibition hall. His work has a warm austerity uniquely expressive for such abstract interpretations of form and color.

All of the images below were taken at the MOMA. The last two paintings express Mondrian's love of NYC nightlife and jazz. The story goes that Mondrian formulated these depictions of Broadway from staring down at the street from a friend's high-rise apartment. As bebop blared in the background he reduced the hustle of movement to fragmented lines. He somehow conveys an overarching notion of order out of the disorder of the street. It takes real genius to express the vibrancy of NYC with mere lines and primary colors. The greats always give us their best while making it look easy.

Dizzy Gillespie - I'm Be Boppin' Too (Take 2)

BLACKIE - My Window (Live at Khon's)

2010-08-11T19:34:00.010-05:00

I'm not expecting this post to be a revelation of any sort. BLACKIE is the shit and anyone who has ever had a conversation with him or experienced his live show should know this. I was lucky enough to catch him at Khon's a few months ago and shot this video. This beat sounds like a lynching in technicolor, lyrically its reminiscent of an angry yet hopeful prayer. Thank God for Michael Lacour.

BLACKIE - Khon's from Kaiser&Marie on Vimeo.

I'm watching computer...

2010-01-15T23:45:00.006-06:00

Prince of Tennis

The Prince of Tennis really makes me laugh. This is the weirdest freakin' show, certainly the weirdest animated show I have ever seen. The hero in the story is a tennis prodigy names Ryoka Echizen. He is kind of like the Lebron James of his middle school tennis squad. Only difference is Echizen's Dad was some sort of tennis/samurai legend. Lebron's dad was not a samurai by the way. The dialouge is really over dramatic and noticeably psychoanalytic. Its really odd once you consider that kids in Japan actually watch this religiously. Do people in Japan actually talk like this?

I know what you're thinking..."Its a cartoon stupid!" No, umm actually its anime...Peep it on Hulu.

10 Best Songs of 2009

2010-01-02T15:51:00.022-06:00

#1
Animal Collective-My Girls
&
Dirty Projectors-Stillness is the Move

Let me start off by saying that I hate ties and I think that they are un-american. I'm still pissed about the 2002 MLB All-Star Game! This list is not a competition, its about the songs that I could not stop listening to all year. When it comes down to it, My Girls and Stillness...must both be #1. These records shatter genre molds with an ease that I find pretty mystifying. Animal Collective summon the godfather of house music for My Girls and DP's Stillness...bounces and sways like Aaliyah's hips in 4 Page Letter. Just goes to show you that everything really is everything afterall.

Animal Collective - My Girls

Dirty Projector's - Stillness is the Move

10 Best Songs of 2009

2009-12-30T10:00:00.008-06:00

Dam-Funk - I Know (Love is Here 2nite)

This track is pure L.A. funk: flawless electric vocal effects balanced against bright, warm and heavy synths. Dam-Funk (pronounced "Dame" as in Damon) does 100% original productions and has made quite a name for himself as one of the world's notable boogie-funk DJ's. These are the grooves that inspired the jheri-curl. Just thought I would throw that in for a nice point of reference. Fans of Roger Troutman will find Dam-Funk's new album Toeachizown, to be perhaps the best current example of West-Coast funk. Don't forget this record come summertime!

10 Best Songs of 2009

2009-12-29T17:58:00.003-06:00

the XX - Basic Space

The self titled debut album from the XX could be the best first release by a band since the Strokes' triumphant Is This It back in 2001. Is This It soared above contemporary releases by simultaneously paying homage to the past while defining our decade's musical and stylistic identity. The XX pull together influences from all over the pop spectrum and have possibly created the most focused pop record of the year. They are equal parts Joy Division/New Order/Massive Attack (with Tricky)/Aaliyah. I love it and you will too.

10 Best Songs of 2009

2009-12-28T10:00:00.006-06:00

Taken by Trees - Day by Day

The first release from Taken by Trees is entitled East of Eden and its pretty incredible. Day by Day is a great example of the rhythms and melodies that lace the entire album. Victoria Bergsman wraps her voice around the sounds of the Middle East and produces a record that is surprisingly rich and original. I'm a big fan of nice little indie bangers like this.

10 Best Songs of 2009

2009-12-27T10:00:00.006-06:00

Rich Kids (feat. Young Dro) - Patna Dem

Rich Kids hail from the Bankhead section of the ATL. They follow in the footsteps of Atlanta teen groups of the past like Another Bad Creation. Its fun music plan and simple. Who knows what the hell they are talking about exactly, but I am pretty sure it has something to do with their friends, their unparallelled swag and everything else that goes along with that. The beat is infectious if nothing else.

10 Best Songs of 2009

2009-12-26T10:00:00.009-06:00

Washed Out - Feel It All Around

So, I mentioned before that I really took a liking to chillin' out with friends at various pools around the Houston area last summer. It was my common practice to jump in and hold my breath while slowly sinking to the bottom. I found a feeling of refuge in the act of diving in. This song by South Carolina's Washed Out is what refuge sounds like underwater. You are going to get transported to another place upon first listen. Its up to you how long you want to stay there. In my case I either finally came up for air or pressed repeat.

Stocking Stuffer

2009-12-25T21:20:00.003-06:00

My Mom put these in my sisters stocking. I'm still jealous!

10 Best Songs of 2009

2009-12-25T10:00:00.005-06:00

Drake (feat. Lil' Wayne) - Ignant Shit

2009 was a pretty disappointing year for commercial rap music in my opinion. 2008 ended so nicely thanks to Jeezy. His declaration in "My President is Black" did more than merely state the obvious. It commemorated a cultural moment that was successful due in large part to the mobilization of hip-hop culture and young people in general. 2009 lacked such moments. It was still Drake's year hands down. His mixtape So Far Gone is arguably the best rap release of the year. He reached critical acclaim without even 1 major label release to speak of. Having Lil' Wayne as your mentor surely doesn't hurt. There are so many Drake tracks that I like, but Ignant Shit is probably my favorite. Drake's flow is serious and Weezy reminds us of how special he can be when he takes time to stop giggling. All they needed was a verse a piece to both fit in one year's worth of quotable lines.

10 Best Songs of 2009

2009-12-24T10:00:00.006-06:00

Nite Jewel - What Did He Say

Nite Jewel's sound is cool. Very, very cool. Reminiscent of the time before any one really cared about global warming, something like circa 1981. The post disco fog of the melody just has a way of staying with you.

10 Best Songs of 2009

2009-12-23T10:18:00.002-06:00

Rainbow Bridge - Big Wave Rider

I had a pretty cool summer in hindsight. I began the process of finishing something that I have needed to finish for a while. The "something" that I am eluding to required a steady dose of Hobbes, Descartes, and Machiavelli. Modern Philosophy class during the middle of the day was cramping my style in major way. It was phenomenally hot the entire time and it seemed like ages since I had read texts as dense as Leviathan. All I could do to rescue myself from the scorching hot haze of the state of nature was find the nearest pool and dive right in. Hence the creation of Pool Club. My friends and I made it our mission to find a pool everyday and soak up the summer and all its promises.

Big Wave Rider inspired our summer mission. Life with your friends can be so refreshing when all anyone cares about is having a good time.

10 Best Songs of 2009

2009-12-23T09:36:00.007-06:00

#10
Grouper - Heavy Water

I'm counting down my favorite tracks of the year for the next 10 days. The first song I've picked is from Grouper, a female solo artist from Portland, Oregon. I love songs that sound like a sunrise or sunset depending on the mood you are in. Such a soundtrack for the woods of Oregon.