style note: paul weller vs pete townshend


oooh! just remembered… such perfect timing. been waiting and holding off for the right time to post this muffin. a good quality rare shot of pete townshend and paul weller at the peak of their time. while pete is a swell guy, i was never into “the who”, i never understood it or saw what all the fuss over the guitar trashing was back then. especially when that became an act at the end of every show. to me they were a big pop band with a trick or two. on the other hand i was an avid “jam” fan in its early days. pauls social views and activist stand was inspirational and while he drifted later years he always carried those views along with his great taste… (if not always in his music). here you have the dashing paul weller with townshend in as good as a condition as you’ll ever find him. by dd

nagra 300-i: 20 watt integrated tube power amplifier


another beautiful audio object from swiss manufacturer nagra. price per value this unit is not as attractive as its pure aesthetic. for approximately $25,200 (17,750 euros), the approx cost of the 300i, much better sounding units can be excavated, and frankly i personally think anything over $10,000 is a bit of an ostentatious endeavor, but if money was not an issue this is indeed a beautiful piece, not only to listen to, but also stare at. type: integrated amplifier, power: 2x 20w, 15hz to 55khz -3db, total harmonic distortion: 0.8 %, valves: 300b push -pull. by xy

PAUL WELLER & Hannah Andrews IN HORIZONTAL STATE

official signature of mr. weller circa 1981


nice picture of paul weller as i had never seen before… “aging ex jam singer guitar player, leader, etc paul weller, found collapsed in a heap outside a bar after a mammoth drinking session in prague at the weekend. his girlfriend, 23-year-old hannah andrews, who was probably regaled by his tales of rock and roll debauchery remains by his side.” whatever, he’s still amazing and will probably remain that way. by dd

yeah yeah yeahs: heads will roll

i know by now some of you are sick of this song but given dd just posted the cover, i found it timely. this track was quite amazing had it not been over played at every wanna be hipster joint in NY in the last 2 years. by xy

motown: martha and the vandellas


while we are on that topic, here’s another great clip. more than the song, i love the way they move in the first 50 seconds, so damn breezy and cool. just standing, their feet never move. i’m practicing this starting tomorrow morning… coffee and cigarette in hand. by dd