I've always been a big fan of the Booty Babe statues and have several myself, but the more recent models seems to be a bit less ample where the curves are concerned. Just a little more restrained on the voluptuous tip. But not this new one: Santa Fe Señorita Booty Babe. This one harkens back to the original Booty Babe statues that made you go "DAMN!"

Tags: Booty Babe

I recently saw "Medicine for Melancholy" on DVD and was highly impressed. It tells the story of Micah and JoAnn, two twentysomething African Americans who are part of the indie scene in San Francisco. It starts with them leaving a house party the morning after a one-night-stand. For reasons that are never made entirely clear in the movie, JoAnn appears to regret her decision to have slept with Micah and wants nothing to do with him. The first 15 minutes of the movie - the most difficult part to get through - deal with Micah trying to win over the bitterly distanced JoAnn.

But once Micah and JoAnn connect, the movie is sublime, both visually and in terms of content. In many ways "Medicine" is groundbreaking in telling the story of African Americans in love. As the director notes, how many times do we see young black people onscreen who ride bikes around the city, or build aquariums, or listen to indie music? To some extent, the movie itself is an allegory of its characters: white leaning/mumblecore sensibilities on the surface (from the soundtrack to the way it's shot), but undeniably black at its core. The central conflict of the two characters revolves around an age-old question in the African American community, which is what does it mean to be black, and does/should ones blackness eclipse ones class. For JoAnn, class and lifestyle prevail over her blackness. She refuses to limit her world view and her experiences to being black. She lives with and dates a white curator who is away in London and pays a mortgage on a very expensive house in San Francisco. Micah, on the hand, builds custom aquariums and stays in a decidedly less upscale and more gritty side of town. Although the film hints that Micah got his heart broken in an interracial relationship with a white woman before he met JoAnn, in the present tense he clearly sees himself as a black man with a dating preference for staying in race. He is concerned about gentrification and the lower classes marginalization in San Francisco. Everything about Micah crackles with his awareness of being black. For JoAnn, it's a footnote.

I won't give it all away, but I will just say that this film doesn't offer any easy answers to these issues.

I've seen dozens of slice-off-life love stories similar to this film about white characters, and enjoyed them, but I really can't describe what I felt finally seeing black characters get to tell a story like this. Pic is highly evocative and writer/director Barry Jenkins' carefully studied approach to the material paid off in spades. As just one example, the scene with Micah and JoAnn dancing together to "Lightbulbs" as the night winds down was very moving to me. (By the way, the film has a great soundtrack.) "Medicine" reminded me of Ted Witcher's "Love Jones" in the sense that it is breaking free of many black stereotypes and deals with the black bohemian crowd, but I definitely enjoyed this movie a lot more.

Interestingly, finding this DVD in the allegedly liberal city of Los Angeles was far from easy. Neither Cinefile nor Laser Blazer - two stores renowned for carrying offbeat, independent movies like this - had purchased this IFC-distributed DVD so that their customers could rent or buy it. It says a lot about the way audiences are prepared to perceive black people. Somehow I think if this had been some cheapie hood flick about gang members and big booty girlies, both stores would have had it in stock.

Anyway, do yourself a favor and go out and rent this or buy it a Pay Per View. It is without a doubt a modern classic.

Tags: Medicine for Melancholy

I know you guys are like "Wait a second - didn't he make a post about this already!?" It's true. But this is a different angle.

Check eBay and you may notice that while there are plenty of the variant of Spider-Man issue #601, the very first in the Red Headed Stranger series about Mary Jane's return to Peter Parker's life, there are few of the original cover. You'll also notice your local comic book store won't have them. That's right kiddies, this one is on its way to becoming a collectible. I just picked mine up today at Comics Ink in Culver City (see below - last copy, don't bother going there, lol).

As a note, I really enjoyed this particular story line. The issue with Chameleon is the best in terms of art, story, etc.

Tags: Spider-man, Red Headed Stranger

I just picked up "Wilson" today and I think it's safe to say -- without even having finished it -- it's one of my favorite Dan Clowes books to date. Maybe he's better suited to the anecdotal than linear storytelling, but it sure is a delight. Page after page of good laughs. If you've never read Clowes, I can't think of a better introduction.

Tags: Wilson, Dan Clowes

I really enjoyed this story. Drayonis nicely captured some of the unique elements of the Black strip club experience. Check out the entire issue here.

Tags: The Dog Years

DC's animated features have been steadily improving since their debut, although even the early outings such as Wonder Woman and Green Lantern: First Flight were exceptionally well done. But this new one, Crisis on Two Earths, is just sublime. The musical score is great and voice characterizations, and especially James Woods as a stoically cool Owl Man, are top notch. Marvel needs to step their game up in respect to their animated features. Hulk v. Wolverine was pretty good, but it couldn't hold a candle to this.

Tags: Justice League

This album retains Massive Attack's fundamental unique sound and won't disappoint fans in that regard. It is uneven, but "Paradise Circus" alone is worth the price of admission. "Girl I Love You" would be next in line for me, and is classic Massive Attack. "Pray For Rain" is very unique and should wind up on the soundtrack of the next Transporter Sequel or some suitably dark but cool movie from the UK. All in all, well worth the purchase.

Tags: Massive Attack

Adrian Tomine is one of my favorite comic book writers. He just has a knack for capturing the nuances of human interaction, like that nice scene from Optic Nerve #6, "Hawaiian Getaway," where Hilary Chan is waiting in line at the coffee house and the perky blond barista is all nice to guy in front of her, but then when she gets to the counter she suddenly becomes shy. Or the way the cute grocer's kindness in "Supermarket" (Optic Nerve #3) turns into uneasiness at the excessive touchiness of the blind Mr. Lewis, who she senses might be grabbing onto her for more than direction. Honestly, who writes this type of subtle stuff anymore?! I'd recommend the entire Optic Nerve series, and if you can find them, the individual issues because the letters are great.

Tags: Adrian Tomine

This somewhat dark, goth song reminds me a lot of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill." What a dreamy landscape Bat for Lashes has created. My little nephews, at 11 and 7, even like this song! Check it out on iTunes.

Tags: Bat for Lashes

Man, I've been into Phoenix since I heard the song "If I Ever Feel Better" nearly five years ago at the Virgin Megastore here in Los Angeles. When I heard "Listomania" in the finale to "Entourage" I knew they were starting to blow up. Wolfgang Amadeus is probably my favorite album this year.

It's also nice to see Vibe Magazine covering groups like this in their comeback issue.

Tags: Vibe Magazine, Phoenix