LIQUID [HIP]

SUMMER 2010

CONTENTS

Our assortment of music reviews is the largest section. Every week we dig deep.

SUMMER 2010

Liquid [Hip] is an alternative online review site that covers cool, not popular.

It is partly inspired by a little building that once existed at 231 East 47th Street in midtown Manhattan. It was there that people once gathered to create new cool.

Visit us online at Liquid [Hip] or subscribe to our feed. Letʼs have some fun.

We divided our reviews into fiction and nonfiction, with The Book Thief featured.

Places presents our crazy mix of hotels, haunts, and anything else that strikes us.

An odd mix of fashion and lifestyle choices that range from simple to sexy.

We don’t review good deeds, but we do cover them about once a month.

We cover movies, shorts, and television series, especially timeless flicks.

From apps and gadgets to games and high tech. Sometimes we score.

3-4

5-7

8-9

9-11

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11-13

A7XWith Avenged Sevenfold's (A7X) Nightmare

stealing the number one spot from Eminem to

put metal back on the top album chart, it's

impossible not to be curious beyond the hit

single Nightmare, which was released in May.

Make no mistake. The album represents.

So does Mike Portnoy, the drummer enlisted to

fill in for James "The Rev" Sullivan, who died

three days after finishing the song Fiction. He

will stay on with the band through 2011 and

then is expected to return to Dream Theater.

But one never knows...

"Finished tracking drums with MP. They

sound fucking amazing. Jimmy will be

proud," wrote Zacky Vengeance on

Facebook. "Jimmy's also smiling knowing

that Mike Portnoy has a deathbat forever

tattooed on him. To show Mike that A7X is

deeper than just a band I got one to

match his."

The emotion attached to the loss of The Rev

runs deep, given the track Fiction includes his

vocals on a song originally titled Death. It was

renamed Fiction, which was one of The Rev's

many nicknames. It's impossible not to

become lost in it, knowing the story behind it.

[read the rest online]

Avenged Sevenfoldʼs Nightmare Is Darkly Brilliant.

Nightmare by Avenged Sevenfold was the highest ranking album during summer 2010, earning a 9.9 on the Liquid Hip Richter Scale. It was also the most read music review by Liquid Hip readers.

iTunesAmazon

THE BEST OF THE REST

The Pretty Reckless 9.8 Review | iTunes

Pete Yorn9.3 Review | iTunes

Kristin Hersh 9.2 Review | iTunes

Serj Tankian9.2 Review | iTunes

Arkells8.9 Review | iTunes

Corin Tucker Band8.8 Review | iTunes

Deer Tick8.7 Review | iTunes

AM Taxi8.7 Review | iTunes

Black Francis 8.3 Review | iTunes

The Vaselines7.7 Review | iTunes

Bad Religion 7.9 Review | iTunes

Black Mountain7.6 Review | iTunes

10 Years7.3 Review | iTunes

Red Jumpsuit (RJA)7.1 Review | iTunes

Disturbed6.9 Review | iTunes

Atmosphere6.8 Review | iTunes

Dax Riggs6.6 Review | iTunes

The Like 6.6 Review | iTunes

Jaill6.5 Review | iTunes

deepfield6.2 Review | iTunes

Love Drug6.2 Review | iTunes

Trampled By Turtles5.6 Review | iTunes

Jenny And Johnny 5.1 Review | iTunes

Wavves4.9 Review | iTunes

My Gold Mask4.5 Review | iTunes

Sharon Van Etten4.2 Review | iTunes

Fourth Of July3.8 Review | iTunes

Serena Lauren 2.9 Review | iTunes

Tired Pony2.5 Review | iTunes

Let The Book Thief Steal A Few Hours This Summer.

The Book Thief was the highest ranking book during summer 2010, earning a 9.8 on the Liquid Hip Richter Scale. It was also the third most read book review by Liquid Hip readers.

AmazonAudio

Ever since 20th Century Fox acquired the

film rights to The Book Thief by Markus

Zusak in 2006, fans have been patiently

waiting for any news. It remains stuck in

development, with a 2010 release date that

is increasingly unlikely to be met.

Next year seems plausible, but without any

casting announcements, news about the

movie is speculative. What isn't speculative

is the Australian author is working on a

long-awaited third book. “It’s about a boy.

His name is Clay. He’s building a bridge.”

The Book Thief continues to embed itself

into our collective subconscious. For

evidence, look no further than the news

stories about William Jacques, a real book

thief. Almost every paper bent the

headlines to capitalize on The Book Thief.

What Is It About The Book Thief That

Enchants?

Zusak tells the story about Nazi Germany

similar to those I was told by my

grandmother. And in hearing those stories,

one cannot help but to appreciate that the

story seldom told is the division between

the people and the state.

[read the rest online]

THE BEST OF THE REST

Child 449.5 Review | Amazon

City Of Thieves9.5 Review | Amazon

Heart-Shaped Box8.5 Review | Amazon

Lamb8.1 Review | Amazon

Beat The Reaper7.1 Review | Amazon

One Second After6.5 Review | Amazon

A thriller set in 1953 under the backdrop of Stalin's Soviet Union, Child 44 captures the struggle between citizen and state.

Lamb is the delightfully funny tale of Biff, a childhood friend of Joshua, who is better known as Christ in a sarcastic historical, set 2,000 years ago.

One Second After is a compelling what-if story that takes readers through the fall of civilization as we know it, with little more than the loss of power.

Set during the siege of Leningrad in World War II, the story follows Lev and Koyla on a quest to find eggs for a Russian colonel.

Heart-Shaped Box is the story of what happens when you buy a ghost on the Internet, especially if that ghost is hell-bent on revenge.

Beat The Reaper is an adrenaline-fueled fast read that tells two stories at the same time: a resident physician and former mob hitman.

My Name Is Will: A Novel of Sex, Drugs, And Shakespeare

6.2 | AmazonAudio

Littered with pervasive wit and sometimes coarsely sophomoric buffoonery, My Name Is Will: A Novel of Sex, Drugs, and Shakespeare quickly sucks you in to a story of two Wills, one from 1852 and one from 1986. The two of them embark on similar celebrations of sex, drugs, and a discovery of who Will is that will entertain many and likely offend a few.

My Name Is Will was the most popular book review pick among Liquid Hip readers, and has been shared more than any other review on the site.

[read the rest online]

THE BEST OF THE REST

Donʼt expect Curb Your Enthusiasm when you get this book. Itʼs thoughtful, inspired, and carries only a few laughs from one of the nicest guys in comedy.

My Footprint7.5 Review | Amazon

This updated story of Cherie Currie bares all in its retelling of the five 15- and 16-year-old girls who became the first all-girl rocker band.

Neon Angel8.5 Review | Amazon

There are decades of hurt and anger woven into Megadethʼs frontman and founder whose book begins with one of his many trips to rehab.

Mustaine7.6 Review | Amazon

The Book of the Dead explores the lives of an eclectic selection of people, famous and not so famous, such as Freud, da Vinci, and Belaney. Who?

Book Of The Dead6.5 Review | Amazon

Rat Girl9.6 | Amazon

Sometimes when you read a book, you curl up and embrace it. Rarely does it embrace you back. Rat Girl: A Memoir (aka Paradoxical Undressing in the U.K.), written by Kristin Hersh and set for release next Tuesday in the U.S., is one such book. A rarity.

The cover may be black, but you won't find a single stitch of black in the content. Don't ask me to assign it another. In the opening pages of her book, Hersh mentions that colors splashed across a canvas are all too quiet. The book, like her music, is vibrant. Chords have color. Her favorite color is green.

"Every time I think I'm done, I pick another song out of the chaos in the air. There songs are keeping me alive so they can be alive."

Rat Girl was the second most read review this summer.

[read the rest online]

What started as a small glue pot fire in 1889 quickly erupted into Seattle's Great Fire, growing to consume about 30 blocks (25-33, depending on sources). When the city redeveloped the burnt-out area, new buildings were built of brick, stone, and directly over the remnants of the old, creating the famed Seattle Underground.

While the fire stopped across the street from where the Globe Building was later built in 1901, adjacent areas often followed suit and built over existing storefronts. Some of them can be seen in the building's underground parking structure.

The Alexis Hotel Offers Location, Art, And A Historically Modern Seattle Vibe.

In 1982, the Globe Building was acquired, renovated and reopened as the historic Alexis Hotel. And 10 years later,

another restoration returned the hotel to its original architecture with a minimal use of new materials. It's a work of art — a luxury 121-room Seattle boutique hotel — housing exhibits of local artists that are rotated quarterly.

The rooms are spacious and tasteful, with 300-count Frette linens, and feather duvets to wrap yourself up in on a rainy morning. It's one of the few hotels offering 24-hour room service and providing in-room spa services. You can also find the Milagros SalonSpa, a renowned full-service salon and day spa destination on premises, but we were too busy taking in the city.

[read the rest online]

Alexis Hotel Website

Alexis Hotel, Seattle

THE BEST OF THE REST

Built in 1933, the Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica, Calif., remains a favorite among celebrities like Oliver Stone, Robert DeNiro and Arnold Schwarzenegger. But even before it changed its name, the hotel was legendary as one of the first speakeasies in Los Angeles and a favorite haunt among people like Bugsy Siegel, "Fatty" Arbuckle, Clark Gable, and Carole Lombard.

The Georgiana Hotel, Santa Monica8.8 Review | Hotel

The Chop House, Chicago6.8 Review | Restaurant

The story behind Chicago Chop House is as compelling as the menu. Located in an immaculately restored, century-old Victorian brownstone in the popular River North neighborhood, the Chicago Chop House was the brainchild of a successful tavern and former advertising agency owner named Henry Norton in 1986.

Although included as a book review, the author does own a vintage shop in Mass. Melody Fortier has been in the vintage business for more than 20 years and her book is one of the best places to start for anyone interested in vintage clothing and fabrics. Youʼll even learn the difference between antique and vintage.

Tangerine Boutique, Gardner, Mass. 8.2 Review | Amazon

Add Some Swank And Splash To Cocktails.

With the crispness of fall starting to settle in the air, entertainment will begin to migrate from the backyard to indoor living rooms. And as someone who originally grew up in Seattle, we always seemed get a jump on such libations with casual gatherings better known as cocktail parties (except we never called them that).

Bar none, the best glassware is from the Swank Martini Company. My favorite glasses feature their curvaceous swerve. It also happens to be their best-selling glass.

[read the rest online]

5.7 Martini Tips SwankAmazon

Triumph Timeless

When you hear the name Triumph in the United Kingdom, it inspires a certain vibe. Classic, iconic, unique, and cool.

The UK-based Triumph has been making motorcycles since the early 1900s, and today it’s the largest surviving British motorcycle manufacturer (second oldest in the world behind Royal Enfield). And in the United States, theirs are always the bikes people like to go head-to-head with Harley-Davidson.

Where Triumph has earned an edge recently is that it instills a sense of retro cool. Triumphs have been ridden by celebrities and stars, ranging from Steve McQueen to Brad Pitt. Performance and design are what make the bikes still feel special.

If You Can't Own The Bike, Wear The Accessories.

Since Triumph inspires loyalty and longevity, the company smartly began making a line of high quality clothing and

accessories, including punched leather coats and the Triumph McQueen Special Edition jacket, inspired by its namesake movie legend.

McQueen famously took part in 1964’s International Six Days Enduro (ISDT), which was held in East Germany, and in which he rode a Triumph. The clothes are very cool. But it’s Triumph’s line of watches that has really caught my attention.

The styles are classic yet retro, and they have a very masculine feel.

[read the rest online]

8.4 Retrograde TriumphAmazon

THE BEST OF THE REST

CitizenGulf StoryWebsite

Random Kindness StoryWebsite

Terry Fox StoryWebsite

On Aug. 25, the Citizen Effect slated a national day of action to raise funds for educational programs to help fishing families impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Citizen Effect, together with support partners and volunteers, organized online and local events.

Founded in 1995, The Random Acts Of Kindness Foundation is a privately funded nonprofit organization that doesn't do something most nonprofits do. It doesn't accept donations, grants, or membership dues. What it does is inspire people to practice kindness and “pass it on.”

What made Foxʼs 143-day, 3,339-mile run historic was that he did it with one leg. The other was amputated in 1977 after he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. Fox never finished his quest to run across Canada, but others made sure his vision remained.

7.9 Amber Earrings

ReviewAmazon

4.9 Skeletal Metal

ReviewAmazon

6.2 Vinyl USB

ReviewShaper Image

10 Polaroid Project

ReviewAmazon

6.7 Comics App

ReviewiTunes

Almost Famous By Cameron Crowe Turns 10.

Almost Famous was the highest ranking movie review during summer 2010, earning a 9.1 on the Liquid Hip Richter Scale. It was also the number one most read movie review by Liquid Hip readers.

AmazoniTunes

In 1973, Cameron Crowe was living an

American dream reserved for people twice

his age at the time. He was 16 years old

and asked to take a three-week

assignment covering the Allman Brothers

Band for Rolling Stone.

It was a rare chance to meet his heroes,

share in their experiences, and even fall in

love. His story was so captivating in the

telling that he always knew it would make

a great film some day. And that day came

in 2000 with Almost Famous.

Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction In

Almost Famous.

Crowe says Stillwater, the fictional band in

the film, is a culmination of his Rolling

Stone experiences with bands like Poco,

Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, and Lynyrd

Skynyrd. But some experiences are

amazingly similar. For instance, Crowe does

share that Greg Allman did confiscate all

his tapes in an unexpected fit of paranoia.

The loss could have cost him more than the cover story. As a first major assignment, it could have cost him a career.

[read the rest online]

THE BEST OF THE REST

The Infamous 8-Minute Spinal Tap Short.

With a short run just under eight minutes, you might as well be warned that the short will leave you wanting more, scoring 8.9 on the Liquid Hip Richter Scale. Released in August 2009, it doesn't seem likely anyone will see the band back. But fans can hope.

ReviewiTunes

8.7 Monsters

Review iTunes

9.7 Firefly

Review iTunes

8.2 Kick-Ass

Review iTunes

6.8 Rubicon

Review iTunes

7.2 Samurai

Review iTunes

3.2 Madden 11

Review EA Sports

End NotesLiquid [Hip] started as an experiment, but continues to evolve thanks to great people like you who take the time to explore and share our eclectic blend of hip and cool.

Thank you!