I look really eager, don’t I? I told Maya I wore that top because it had a pattern that reminded me of her Kala artwork (it’s why I bought it too), a sort of blue handmade digital design.
interviews
M.I.A. interview part 1 | Pitchfork.tv
I look really eager, don’t I? I told Maya I wore that top because it had a pattern that reminded me of her Kala artwork (it’s why I bought it too), a sort of blue handmade digital design. M.I.A. interview part 1 | Pitchfork.tv.
Hallelujah The Hills, Deerhoof, time management
It seems like ever since I got my iPhone (installed the WordPress application), I haven’t had much to blog about. I am working, as usual (here’s a new Hallelujah The Hills EP review. I like this band but I’m still waiting for…something. I don’t know.
It seems like ever since I got my iPhone (installed the WordPress application), I haven’t had much to blog about. I am working, as usual (here’s a new Hallelujah The Hills EP review. I like this band but I’m still waiting for…something. I don’t know. Their moment’s forthcoming).
On Paper Thin Walls, editors Chris, Kory and I recorded our own version of Deerhoof’s sheet music project. Writer Tom Mallon produced it! My Ableton Live was set wrong (still on DJ mode, which means it warped the beat a little bit), so it meant my keyboard track was almost 10 seconds too fast. Tom kindly recut it. I had never recorded anything to a track before on Ableton. I kind of loved it. I might have to do more of that soon.
That’s also gotten me thinking about projects and dividing up my time. I use GTD, I do a lot of checklists and time tracking. But I’m still wondering how I could better spend my time. I’m spending the rest of the month asking people I know how they read / write / curate shows and exhibits / get to shows so much and still exercize / make dinner / have time to answer questions from me.
Diluting my person brand
I interviewed Michael Ian Black a few weeks ago for Paper Thin Walls. A few weeks later, my friend Phil sent me a link to Black’s blog. He had written a post about our conversation, during which I had taught him to post images on his website: To thank
I interviewed Michael Ian Black a few weeks ago for Paper Thin Walls. A few weeks later, my friend Phil sent me a link to Black’s blog. He had written a post about our conversation, during which I had taught him to post images on his website:
To thank her, I wanted to put her picture up, but when I Googled “Jessica Suarez,” I got over four thousand hits. I would not have thought so many people with the surname “Suarez” would have thought to name their daughter “Jessica.” I wouldn’t have thought that at all. With so many Jessica Suarez’s to choose from, I had to narrow my favorites down to three. It’s possible – nay, likely – that none of these are MY Jessica Suarez. If not, I apologize. But not really.
He’s exaggerating, I think. I’m the highest Google result for my name, and because I decided years ago that silly forum/website/commenter names were just that, most of my accounts are under my real name and appear high in my search results. But he’s also right in that I’ve kept photos of myself off my Flickr and Myspace. This is partially because of Pitchfork, where people who were mad at my reviews tended to Google me, find my personal sites, and then make fun of the way I look. Once, I made fun of We Are Scientists on this site, and a response called me a tree monkey (I’m Filipino). When I worked for Forkcast I remember comments on Gorilla Vs. Bear that said I had slept with Ryan to get my job. I’m still surprised that the audience I write for (or, that I think I write for), skews liberal and educated, yet are so free and easy with racist and sexist comments. “That’s the internet,” etc., etc.
I am bringing this up now because I just bought another digital camera to replace my stolen one, updated my WordPress account, and renewed Flickr.
Recently in IRL
Two short profiles of M. Ward and Emily Haines, in the last and current issues of Paste (along with a couple of reviews in the former). Paste is becoming my favorite place to write for (next to Pitchfork, because nothing beats hate mail), and I’m not just saying that
Two short profiles of M. Ward and Emily Haines, in the last and current issues of Paste (along with a couple of reviews in the former). Paste is becoming my favorite place to write for (next to Pitchfork, because nothing beats hate mail), and I’m not just saying that because my editor there reads and comments on my entries.
Also, some short reviews in Paper and something for Resonance. I don’t have much coming up, because I’ve been doing more at CMJ, and trying to catch up with stuff on the Pitchfork and Paper Thing Walls side.
I’m working on a singles review of the Women Take Back The Noise comp. Playing around with the packaging over the last two nights, Mark and I discovered that Tobey hates noise. He doesn’t seem to mind the playing, but the making. Proof. Check the glockenspiel moneyshot at the end. I found it in the trash a few month ago, and I can play the opening eight notes of “Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens and “Be Gentle With Me” by Boy Least Likely To.
Also, I’ve been reading a lot of this blog over the last two days. It belongs to Sean Nelson, whom I talked to for a story last week, and whom I possibly offended by calling the interview ‘funny and sad’. Anyway. His blog is ostensibly about music but is a lot more personal than most music writers’ blogs (and yes, it’s funny and sad too). I should know better than to keep favorite interviews locked away in (senti)mental files, but whatever. This one can sit next to the Unicorns, Man Man, Danielson, and Feist.
Finally: 
The Grates + Nylon
I did my first track review for Pitchfork this week. It’s on Thunderbirds Are Now!. I like them, really. I’m a featured contributor to Nylon magazine this month. I did an interview with the Grates, then was interviewed by someone for the blurb at the front. They asked
I did my first track review for Pitchfork this week. It’s on Thunderbirds Are Now!. I like them, really.
I’m a featured contributor to Nylon magazine this month. I did an interview with the Grates, then was interviewed by someone for the blurb at the front. They asked me what my favorite brand of jeans is (it was their denim issue) and I was so tempted to say Jincos or Sears Tuffskins.
I saw the Grates a couple weeks ago here at Mercury Lounge. I had interviewed Patience, their lead singer, over the phone while she was still in Australia. I was barely able to keep up with her, because she talks so quickly, changes subjects on a dime, and, well, has a really meaty Australian accent that didn’t sound so clear over my vonage phone. Plus, I was doing the interview at midnight EST, so it’d be easier for her. In person Patience is exactly the same— after the show there was a group of people talking to her, and they’d say three words to her before she’d get so distracted and excited about something else that she’d move on. It wasn’t rudeness, she’s just a little OCD. Nylon took their own photos of the band in Australia, and I thought it and my interview turned out well.
In my contributor’s bio, it says “Jessica Suarez always knew she wanted to be a music writer,” and it was so weird to read that on a glossy page that I turned my eyes away. Mark and I went to see Wayne Koestenbaum read (Brandon Stosuy told us about it), and during introductions he asked me what I do. I got flustered and said, “I’m just a music writer.” “What kind of music?” “Just indie rock.” Someday I’ll be comfortable with it.
Koestenbaum’s reading was awesome, by the way. I’m going to start telling people I’m him.
Also: Now that I’m all on new WordPress wheels, I’m going to update more. Seriously.
Recent little bits / Alden Penner
Calexico interview on Pitchfork. I wish I could still use the prefix ‘hometown heroes’ because I love that. Tucson represent. A lil’ Goldfrapp review and a lil’ profile of The Appleseed Cast for Spin’s band of the day. I was sick and missed all of No Fun Fest, which
Calexico interview on Pitchfork. I wish I could still use the prefix ‘hometown heroes’ because I love that. Tucson represent.
A lil’ Goldfrapp review and a lil’ profile of The Appleseed Cast for Spin’s band of the day.
I was sick and missed all of No Fun Fest, which was very disappointing. The weekend before I saw Islands, then, the next night and the night after that I saw Alden and Adam. It’s funny because Alden is the third of the Unicorns who did not move on to Islands.
The difference in the way Nick and J’aime, and Alden approach being in a band, or making music was so huge. Alden played in Bushwick with Adam, a violinst who used to play in Arcade Fire. Neither used their last names, nor advertised their former bands. Alden and Adam didn’t bring CDs, merch, any of that stuff except for a few CD-Rs of a show someone had recorded for them, which they gave away for free.
Both shows I saw (the one at Bushwick’s Goodbye Blue Monday, a great wonderful venue/curiosity shop/cafe and 123 No Rio, an activist workspace on the Lower East Side) were for donation only, and each show had about 20 people in the audience, at most. There were no vocals, just Alden on guitar and Adam’s violin, which he layered with the use of an effects pedal.
I talked to Alden for a bit, and though he was nice, he has changed a lot since I met him back in Tucson. It’s probably a combination of his exit from the Unicorns, plus my entry into the music writing world, which I know he loathes. It was still good to see him, and good to see him play especially.
Stuff on my desk that I’m excited about: The Knife, The Fuck-Off Machete (not related), Planning To Rock, Ghengis Tron, Beirut, Human Television, The Gossip.