"I Thought They Were Black?!"

This past year one of our favorite ReFlecktors put us on these natives of California. Since then "The Cataracs" have seen DJ's throughout the world show them "love in the club." Now Campa and Cyrano have teamed up with Greg Street to deliver a new mix tape filled with hyphy beats and feel good R&B jams.

Cataracs - "I Thought They Were Black?!"

Electro-Funk Soul Rock

We know you don't wake up bobbing your head and pumping your fists. Even if 'morning people' are the dominant bio-type, and set the attitudinal precedent for our daily culture, most still need a trip to Starbucks to get going. For those of you that prefer decaf, we have the Austin, TX duo 'Ghostland Observatory' as a healthy substitute. Yesterday, KTCL Radio announced the headliners for the Westword Music Showcase in Denver; CO. Alongside the impressive cast of The Dirty Projectors and Neon Indian, Ghostland Observatory will be leading the harmonious charge. Comparable to the space-rock melodies of Daft Punk, and the smooth oddity of Prince; these guys are definitely worth the storage space on your IPod.

Ghostland Observatory - Sad Sad City

Ghostland Observatory - Silver City

Ghostland Observatory - Dancin on my Grave

Ghostland Observatory - Midnight Voyage

Ghostland Observatory - Freeheart Lover

Bonus Track:

Notorious B.I.G. vs Ghostland Observatory - Nasty Boy (Dave Wrangler Mashup)

How To Make It In America: John Varvatos

Last week How To Make It In America debuted to suspect reviews and this week was no different. How to Make It in America Episode 2: “Crisp” followed Ben and Cam around the city in search of a damn denim manufacturer. Whatever the underlying motivation is... "How to Make It in America" is off to a slow start and barring a dramatic leap in quality we might be following in Rachel's footsteps and "moving on to bigger and better things."

In fashion terms the series is following a familiar pattern and none of the threads really add up to much. This weeks highlight was a guest appearance by Detroits' own "John Varvatos" just in time to help wrap up NY Fashion Week.

How To Make IT In America: John Varvatos

Designer: John Varvatos

Founded: 1999, New York

History: John Varvatos started out as a designer for Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein (where he pioneered the boxer brief), and launched his own line in 1999, combining Klein's sense of shape and Lauren's curatorial sensibilities into a rock 'n' roll-inspired collection of suiting, denim, and edgy knits. Varvatos won CFDA awards in 2000, 2001, and 2005, and also maintains a successful ongoing collaboration with Converse. In 2007, he was named GQ's Designer of the Year.

The Look: Sinatra meets Slash (Fall/Winter 2010-2011 Look Book)

Bonus:

Gorillaz - Stylo (Chiddy Bang Remix)

Alan Palomo: Neon Indian

'80s loving culture vulture does his best to make pop music music weird ... The mexico born Texas raised Alan Palomo delivers a laid back electro sound that will have you reminiscing about the summer. With hazy beats and dusty sounds Neon Indian is an upgrade to long time favorite of Soul Reflecksions MGMT.

Neon Indian - Deadbeat Summer

Neon Indian - Mind, Drips (Mirror People Remix)

Neon Indian - Terminally Chill

Neon Indian - Deadbeat Summer (Database Remix)

Neon Indian - Should've Taken Acid With You (Future Rock Remix)

Bonus:

Au Revoir Simone - Another Likely Story (Neon Indian Remix)

Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader (Neon Indian Remix)

YES!

Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition (YES Giantess Remix)

Bonus:

Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition

Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition (YG's Return of the King Remix)

Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition (Alan Wilkis Remix)

Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition (Curtis & Vodka Remix)

Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition (Dirty South Remix)

Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition (Cagedbaby Remix)

Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition (Evil Nine Remix)

Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition (Doorly Remix)

How to Make it in America

After months of hearsay, HBO’s ‘How to Make it in America’ premiered last night with a bang. Quickly being dubbed the east coast version of Entourage, this new sitcom has more than just executive producer Marky-Mark in common. The show follows the lives of two friends in New York trying to hustle their way to the top. (Think Vince and Eric pre-Hollywood, lacking a quirky fat friend and utterly worthless brother of course). A third cast member of note is A Kid named Cudi. He initially takes on a purposeless ensemble role that will presumably blossom. If nothing else, he should direct a noteworthy soundtrack. The show still lacks identity, but is without doubt deserving of your Sunday night viewership. And don’t forget to turn the surround up for this one.

Along with the premier, HBO teamed up with Kid Cudi, DJ Green Lantern & Broke Mogul (DECON) to create “How to Make it In America: The Mixtape”. Hosted by Cudi, he chimes in through out the mixtape discussing the show, cast and his acting aspirations.The mixtape features a variation of music including Dan Black with Cudi, Phoenix, Lupe Fiasco and more. Download (below)

How to Make it in American - The MixTape

David Guetta ft. Kid Cudi - Memories (David Guetta's Fuck me I'm famous remix)

2010 Winter Olympics: The 5-Ringed Circus

Excuse the cynicism and the seemingly bitter tone of this bout of antagonism, but the Olympics are nothing more than a modern day version of a Barnum and Baily 3-ring circus (on a much larger scale, of course). Let me start by pointing out the monies squandered on the Olympics. Earlier this month, the total expenditure on this worldly event was estimated at 6 billion dollars (600 million of that is coming from taxpayers, yeah, that's you and I). Thirty to 40 million of that total was poured into the opening ceremonies that finished up last night and can be described as an anti-climatic and overly exorbitant calamity that featured multiple lit-up bears, the cast of the Nutcracker, and an embarrassing cauldron malfunction. I'm not even going to comment on the much more deserving outlets that 6 billion dollars could have been redirected at with extensive benefit...

Professional's Toolkit (Part 1): Writing in Style

If you've recently jumped the one-in/one-out line and entered the potentially lucrative but oh so overrated world of Club 9-2-5 then I'd recommend doing so with style. Fashion statements at work come few and far between but one dimension that allows you to individualize yourself and express idiosyncratic flavor is through your writing utensil. A pen you may ask? Yes, however lame it may seem, equipping oneself with the right writing utensil is a statement of prestige and sophistication. It's time to drop the Bic that you found in the back of your desk and upgrade to a fine writing utensil that carries with it an air of "I'm about my bui'ness" mentality. A samurai has his sword, a general has his firearm, and the savvy businessman has his pen. So, we've provided below several different tiers of writing utensils that range from up-and-coming businessmen, to mid-level shot-callers, to the elite C-suite executive. Although it's not necessary to pick up MontBlanc's Limited Edition Mystery Masterpiece ($730,000), every businessman or entrepreneur should consider an upgrade immediately. So, what's your weapon of choice?


Up-and-Coming: MonteVerde, Cross, Parker, Shaeffer

On the Precipice: Versace, Waterman, Visconti, MonteGrappa, Delta

The Executive Suite: MontBlanc, S.T. Dupont, Cartier, Omas

What happened to beer pong?

With fair weather and free spirit around the corner, an abundance of music festivals have recently unveiled their prized lineups to the general public. We’ve seen Coachella and Bonnaroo garnish a majority of the attention, but what may be equally as impressive, is what lies in Nashville, Tennessee at Vanderbilt University. The Rights of Spring Music festival continues to play the part of David amongst multiple Goliaths. Following up a 2009 lineup that featured The Flaming Lips, Okkervil River, and N.E.R.D., Vanderbilt University students will ditch the frat parties, keg stands and late night runs to Taco Bell to hang with Ben Harper & Relentless7, Drake, Phoenix, Passion Pit, Cold War Kids, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, and Doug E. Fresh for the 2010 show. If you’re looking to take a campus visit, we’d recommend April 23-24.

Passion Pit - Sleepy Head (Spenncer Remix)

Cold War Kids - Audience

Super Bowl Victor: Doritos or Saints?

Those that flipped the traditional TV script and watched the Super Bowl as the "commercial break" while TiVo'ing the commercials as the main source of entertainment are probably in the majority. The viewership that this media frenzy amasses (nearly 100 million) is impetus for an incredible price tag due to public attention that spurs subsequent traffic and brand saliency ($3.1 million for a 30 second ad slot!). Thus, we ask those that were able to sit from the start to the finish (and somehow make it through The Who), who the real winner of the Super Bowl was?

The Nexxxt Generation of Fitness: The Shake Weight

I'm an advocate of working out and maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle, but whatever happened to doing it the old fashioned way (healthy diets and standard workouts)? America's obsession with quick fixes (try to find an infomercial without it saying "quick", "easy", fastest", etc.) and overreliance on paying for results has created a market for pseudo-scientific fitness products. Economics 101: Where there is market demand, opportunistic entrepreneurs and businesses are sure to surface with supply. Mix this with the sex sells mantra and some odd products are sure to hit the market. First came Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease, then came the Stripper Pole workout, then came Flirty Girl Fitness, and now this...

[Maturity test: Watch without laughing and we will send you an autographed bag of Swedish Fish.]

DL: Fish n' Stix Vol. 2.6 ("Beatin' Up The Beat")

Fish n' Stix Vol. 2.6(Beatin' Up The Beat)

SoulReflecksions on Site

Knowing you wouldn’t workout with Rosie O’Donnell, let Stevie Wonder walk you across the street, or take skin care advice from a greasy sixteen year old; we don’t expect you to look to us for music insight without knowing where we gather our Intel. Last night SoulReflecksions was on site in Tempe, AZ to see Indie rock standouts Phoenix. Having better things to do than listen to subpar openers we arrived just before Phoenix came on; the venue was marketed well with a Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix backdrop and band displays at every corner. The crowd was midsize, about 3000 deep, comprised mainly of rowdy college students, indie rockers and alt-rock enthusiasts.