It’s the beginning of the end for 2008 and I can’t begin to understand the flow of the year. 2008′s first day began in the grimy Downtown bar scene of Los Angeles where I sat quietly, numbly and sickly in a corner booth of “The Golden Gopher.” I can’t remember if there was a DJ, but I do remember the jukebox never playing my $2 worth of songs I chose. I remember thinking I could never live in the City of Angels again.
Heading back to New York City later that first week of January, I was unsure whether I’d move into my girlfriend’s Little Italy apartment, or keep on living in a giant bedroom in Kensington, Brooklyn. Seems trivial considering I now live in Mexico City.
I logged onto Fader early this morning and Jay-Z’s “Brooklyn (Go Hard)” was the morning sample. The post mentioned a giant billboard in Brooklyn Heights featuring a Roca Wear ad with Jay-Z’s mug and it inspired a surge of memories. The photo above is a shot I took in March of 2007; it was the morning after I arrived in New York City for the first time. The night before, my buddy Noah had taken the time to meet me at LaGuardia airport. I arrived from Atlanta, Georgia, a layover stop from Dublin, Ireland, and I was unsure about my decision to leave Europe so early.
My New York City trip was the culmination of chaotic traveling that involved a stint in Berlin, Germany, a twelve-day excursion to Madrid and an IM exchange with a New York blog publisher convincing me to head back to the States. A long pirate cab ride later, Noah and I arrived at Revaz’s place and Jay-Z was there to greet me. I’d never been to the Big Apple before my 2007 visit and I remember mentioning to my friend Noah that I’d remember Jay-Z and his giant mascara staring back at me forever. Then we went out for Cuban in Alphabet City, wandered over to Union Square and waited for Revaz to finish his night-shift at Trader Joe’s.
Jason Bentley officially began his musical director adventure over at KCRW in Los Angeles this morning and so far his playlist is a wonderful contrast to what Nic Harcourt left behind. A man who isn’t afraid of melancholic tunes at 9amPST is OK in my book. In fact, so far I feel there’s a glint of “Metropolis” with his musical choices, but he added some bounce to the show with “Little Joy.” So why should I be afraid to play a little Sigur Ros before the noontime hour? From one commenter:
I will judge Mr. Bentley on one factor and one factor alone: his delivery of the phrase “Coming up in the eleven o’clock hour…”
Word.
KCRW [Official Site]
Interview: Jason Bentley’s First Day on the Job at KCRW [LAist]
Freeload: Jay-Z feat Santogold “Brooklyn (Go Hard)” [Fader]
[...] take my eyes off of it. Of course, it helps that I’ve been obsessed with this track since Monday morning when I stumbled upon it of Fader. There’s something about the Dan The Automator-ish track, [...]