New Chromcraft Desk Chairs

Picked these vintage 1960's? beauties up off of craigslist earlier today.

Zola Jesus, Sea Talk

Zola Jesus - Sea Talk

Zola Jesus strips away the noise and lets us hear what she's singing. Turns out that voice is even more powerful without all the noise.

Sonic Arboretum, A Collaboration by Andrew Bird and Ian Schneller

Mr. Andrew Bird has always been a hugely popular at the Grocerystowe, and our admiration of Ian Schneller's horn speakers has been previously documented here. As has the connection between Mr. Bird and Mr. Schneller. Their latest collaboration, however, makes me want to cut the legs off a pair of my jeans just so i can use the term 'cream in my jorts' to express the magnitude of my excitement. The two Chicago-based artists are teaming up to create an audio-visual landscape/performance piece for the Guggenheim's Dark Sounds Series (which also includes Beirut!).

I can't imagine a more fitting setting for the performance than Frank Lloyd Wright's nautilus-inspired building. It'll be a rumination on experimentation by master craftsmen inside a rumination on experimentation by a master craftsman, amplified by hundreds of artist-created horns inside a giant artist-created horn.


The photos above are from the photo journal on the Speciman website, and there's a ton more of them worth checking out.

Also, Mr. Bird just contributed to the Voice Project, a noble and artistic cause. I believe their logo includes artwork by the late mission school legend Margaret Kilgallen.

Artists discuss New Album "Grey Oceans" by CocoRosie

I've been a fan of these freaky/folky ladies since stumbling across their Beautiful Boyz EP while trying to find Beachwood Sparks' cover of Sade's "By Your Side". But that's neither here nor there. These sisters are artistic anchors of the so-called 'freak-folk' scene in New York and exhibit those qualities I most admire in music; experimentation, daring, vulnerability, and earnestness. Their music is certainly "difficult", but that's hardly an excuse for their ultra low profile in the music world.

Stereogum writer, Brandon Stosuy, and many of his musician friends clearly agree. Follow the link to read a great discussion on the merits of CocoRosie's music and artistic identity. Grocerystowe favorites Antony Hegarty, Doveman, Nico Muhly, Annie Clark (aka St. Vincent) and William Basinski are among those who weigh in. If you don't take the time to read the piece I strongly suggest you at least download the track "Lemonade", as it's one of the best tracks of 2010 so far.