Album Review: White Stripes Icky Thump

Icky Thump, the latest offering from the unique duo known as White Stripes, continues the excitement of a band in their prime. The title track, “Icky Thump,” is a pounding, raucous joyride about a nebulously shifty character (one of Jack White’s many) riding the rails until he is pushed off. Or is it? It barely matters, for while White’s lyrics are fun, if esoteric, with allusions to coolness in a post-industrial world, (have you visited the Rust Belt lately? Good God! ) the music is a rollercoaster of melody and noise. It manages to sound fresh while remaining true to roots rock, which anyone would say is what the W.S. are all about. The rest of this beast is just as listenable and just as special. It dominated my Shuffle for two weeks, so go put on your best black velvet suit and cowboy hat: Icky Thump is American rock at its best!

Unfortunately, the most boring drummer, (thud, thud, thud, high hat, high hat, high hat, thud, thud, thud,) paired with one of the finest and fearless blues rock guitarists that I’ve heard in years, equals The White Stripes. I’d compare Meg White to Moe Tucker for The Velvet Underground: adequate, but not exciting. Just as in the Velvets, in White Stripes, this works. (For a great rock drummer, go back and listen to Keith Moon playing the Who’s “Bargain” or Brian Viglione of Dresden Dolls playing any thing at all.)

Before you go commenting on “they suck”, or saying that I don’t know what I’m talking about musically, I’ve been playing guitar for a long time and, occasionally, the drums. I could probably play every W.S. song there is on the drums, but not so with the guitar. Being able to attack a fretboard and strings with a slide and come off sounding menacing, messy, and exciting instead of annoying and dumb, that’s just pure, unleashed talent. Taking a standard 12-bar blues and making them sound remotely interesting is no small task, either. Bravo!

Pros: Another amazing album from White Stripes.
Cons: Meg White has still not learned to play a drum kit.

And just what is an "Icky Thump" anyway, Jack??

~ nikkiY

Happy HaLLoWeEn!! What a PaRtY it WaS!!

If you were at Cap Rep on the 17th, you were sure to have a good time with all of the upcycled outfits on stage that night. Mary Panza was the MC of the night and it was great to be on stage in an actual theater, although to be honest, I miss the clubs from years past.

See you next year!
~ nikkiY

ThIS YeAr'S CoRsEt

Trawling for sofas in the dead of night, I happened to come upon a very nice specimen of vintage Seventies – gold, with large flowers. I grabbed both cushions from the street, washed and pressed, cut and stitched. It is lined with recycled lime green silk. This is my corset to be shown at Discard Avant Garb, October 21, 2007.

Stitching into the night...

~ nikkiY

2005's Corset

Be sure to catch my corset and bustle skirt from 2005 at First Friday, at the Lark St. BID on Friday, October 5, 2007. It was up-cycled from painter's drop cloth I found on the street.

~nikkiY

Vogue November Fab Seven

The new November Vogue lists seven essentials for this season:

1. A swank shirt from Italian designers Golden Goose
2.The hooded leather jacket from Mike & Chris
3. A bikini from Haverhill
4. Repetto Ballet Flats
5. Sport Sweats from FreeCity
6. A James Perse T
7. J Brand Jeans

They seem to have left out the clean lines of the Marc Jacobs condoms I grabbed while traveling.

Well, I'm out shopping!

~ nikkiY

Discard 2007

I am very excited to be involved with Discard Avant Garb Fashion Show this year. This is my third show and I will be making my third corset for this show. The first can be viewed here, with a little bit of scrolling. My second, Victorian Habit, will be on view at the Lark St. BID for First Friday.
I do love corsets. You'd look great in one, too!
~ nikki Y

Welcome to the Jungle

Hanging heavily in the dark August air, I welcome you to the forest. This steamy upstate grotto will be updated on a bi-weekly rotation on the first and third Wednesday of each month. I promise to be a little bit Victorian and a little bit StEaM PuNk and a little bit naughty. I can't promise where it will take us, but you'd best hurry to put on your seamed stockings and dye your hair. Get ready for a wild ride with Nikki Night.
~ nikki Y