must old fav rehash: kristen bell. i loved veronica mars and loved kristen's cameos in party down but this is her best work yet.

tramp

must listen (you won't be sorry): sharon van etten's tramp.  npr is providing a first listen to sve's glorious tramp. this will deffo be on repeat for me, since seeing it live.  to say this is highly anticipated is an understatement.  favs so far "give out" and "all i can".

tree of codes

Tree of Codes by Jonathan Safran Foer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

okay, it is a bit like a novel slam, but the idea behind taking a book and dissecting the original text for a new original narrative is bold. i don't know if safran foer does this completely successfully but it's a book i will admire as an art piece more than for the writing. it took me less than an hour to finish it. there are only about an average of 10 words per page. it was surprisingly easy to read as long as i placed my hand to offset the holes in the pages.

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cass's drum

saw cass mccombs at bowery last night and could not get over how the drum skin looked like some chris johanson goodness, no?

happy new year

mom, dad and gramps!  the asian guilt video is brought to you by my coworker becky.  no guilt on my end. been phoning up the rents all weekend.  sadly, most of the calls were during the niner-giants game.  a loss to end of season for my beloved niners, but thanks for an amazing season.  who's got it better than us? nobody! and now, for a new year!

my american idol

best first concert at radio city: kelly clarkson.  the reason why shar hasn't had the pleasure of seeing a gig at the famed radio city is largely due the hefty price tags.  i did fork it over when matt nathanson was announced as her opener.  matt and i go back, way back to my younger years in sf.  he was a local troubadour and i, one of his street team members.  i even once unintentionally forced him to give me a hug at starbucks.  true story, ask jackie.  his set largely took from his latest this modern love with a sprinkling from some mad hope.  not much from his older albums and a little disappointed that kelly didn't come out to duet on "run", which originally was recorded with jennifer nettles of sugarland.  it could have been magic.

for the main attraction, kelly did not disappoint.  are you surprised?  this coming from a super fan, but my pal rachel was witnessing her first dose of kelly live and was thoroughly loving it.  she opened up with "dark side", then followed up with hits "behind these hazel eyes" and "since u been gone".  i was surprised she busted out quite a few covers:  florence and the machine's "heavy in your arms", "my man" (babs) and a timely cover of etta james' "i'd rather go blind".  the later was perfection and probably made etta proud. kelly did a medley of tunes for her five albums.  a great way to cover people's favs.  she pretty much got all of mine except she didn't play my favorite oldie "beautiful disaster".  ahhh, you can't have it all.  here's the set list in case you wanted the complete play by play.  i know i'm harping now but i would have liked matt to step in for jason aldean on "don't you wanna stay", instead we got a huge hologram of jason.  all i wanna say is radio city was bumpin' saturday night and kelly still and always will be my american idol. 

epic

got this last night at sve's gig at mercury lounge.  a belated purchase and well worth the wait.

the lion's roar

sisters söderberg (aka first aid kit) are streaming at npr.

the artist

much belated viewing: the artist.  shar's been highly anticipating this film but slacked on actually seeing it until today. it was a trip down old hollywood lane with deep influences from "singin' in the the rain".  a film with hardly any words spoken captures the attention where you can hear a pin drop among the audience.  out with the old and in with new.  as a gal who loves the past, i was rooting for george (the old).  there was a compromise of sorts in the ending.  charming, clever and might be worth best picture. i still am rooting for "bridesmaids" for that honor but the oscars have never given a comedy any due.

niners win!!!!

it was a nail biter and i'll probably wake up tomorrow a little hoarse, but who's got it better than us?  NOBODY! (made sure brooklyn knew that by waving my niners flag down atlantic avenue)

meow pow!

liking this new cat power tune, "king rides by" and proceeds of song downloads goes to the festival of children foundation and the ali fornay center, which both chan and manny champion.

return to downton

best season two opener: downton abbey.  a long awaited return, but well worth the wait.  (warning: some spoliers if you haven't been keeping up) it's two years since we've left the granthams and their dedicated staff. last time world war one just broke and mary had refused matthew.  it's two years later and many of the men are overseas.  the women are finding new roles to fill.  my favorite part was the first meeting and the look from mary to matthew.  ahh the anticipation.  lavinia seems sweet enough, but really?  i love how edith and sybil have come into their own. o'brien and thomas are as devilish and conniving as ever. shar can't wait for the how season two develops (nudge, nudge yoon).  

p.s. that's my actual character rankings above.

sve on late night

sharon rocking her new tune "serpents" from her forthcoming album, tramp (if you couldn't read the cue cards).

home vacay is...

mom's homemade won tons. mmmmmmmm!

re-reading old favs and new one

being a tourist in my hometown

celebrating new year's with my oldest friends (going on 30 years)

auntie tour winter 2012

so home has been a lot of visits with babies and munchkins.  i didn't get them all but i think i did a good job.  leila, jeru, anais, and violet i got you next visit.  i'm excited for an unnamed baby girl to join us in a few months too.  love, auntie shar

hello gabriel! it's nice to meet you

yo toph!  looks like you did well this xmas

emmit you will love dim sum, oh yes, you will

sophia you are an amazing cheesecake tart model and kyle i know you be chillin'

it was nice to meet you leighton.  next time i hope you will be more awake

larissa thanks for attempting to poke my eye out

niners win!

way to close out the regular season.  first round bye clinched. it's been great being home to watch the last regular season game.  i was scrounging the closets for any old school niner gear.  i wouldn't be able to fit my tee when i was 7, but maybe dad's and mom's.  none could be found, but i still gots one of my super bowl pennants.

also, my mom got me this beaute from a guy on 19th ave.  not old vintage goodness, but niner goodness nonetheless.