Liquid [Hip] is an alternative online review site that covers cool, not popular. This is a hyperlinked e-magazine edition to the all the summer reviews.
2. SUMMER 2010
Our assortment of music reviews is the
3-4 largest section. Every week we dig deep.
We divided our reviews into fiction and
CONTENTS
5-7 nonfiction, with The Book Thief featured.
Places presents our crazy mix of hotels,
8-9 haunts, and anything else that strikes us.
9-11 An odd mix of fashion and lifestyle
choices that range from simple to sexy.
11 We don’t review good deeds, but we do
cover them about once a month.
12-13 We cover movies, shorts, and television
series, especially timeless flicks.
11-13 From apps and gadgets to games and
high tech. Sometimes we score.
Liquid [Hip] is an alternative online review site that covers cool, not popular.
It is partly inspired by a little building that once existed at 231 East 47th Street in
midtown Manhattan. It was there that people once gathered to create new cool.
Visit us online at Liquid [Hip] or subscribe to our feed. Letʼs have some fun.
3. A7X
With Avenged Sevenfold's (A7X) Nightmare
stealing the number one spot from Eminem to
put metal back on the top album chart, it's
impossible not to be curious beyond the hit
single Nightmare, which was released in May.
Make no mistake. The album represents.
So does Mike Portnoy, the drummer enlisted to
fill in for James "The Rev" Sullivan, who died
three days after finishing the song Fiction. He
will stay on with the band through 2011 and
then is expected to return to Dream Theater.
But one never knows...
"Finished tracking drums with MP. They
sound fucking amazing. Jimmy will be
proud," wrote Zacky Vengeance on
Facebook. "Jimmy's also smiling knowing
that Mike Portnoy has a deathbat forever
tattooed on him. To show Mike that A7X is
deeper than just a band I got one to
match his."
The emotion attached to the loss of The Rev Avenged Sevenfoldʼs Nightmare Is Darkly Brilliant.
runs deep, given the track Fiction includes his
Nightmare by Avenged Sevenfold was the highest ranking album
vocals on a song originally titled Death. It was during summer 2010, earning a 9.9 on the Liquid Hip Richter Scale.
renamed Fiction, which was one of The Rev's It was also the most read music review by Liquid Hip readers.
many nicknames. It's impossible not to iTunes
become lost in it, knowing the story behind it. Amazon
[read the rest online]
4. THE BEST OF THE REST
The Pretty Reckless Black Francis Dax Riggs
9.8 Review | iTunes 8.3 Review | iTunes 6.6 Review | iTunes
Pete Yorn Bad Religion The Like
9.3 Review | iTunes 7.9 Review | iTunes 6.6 Review | iTunes
Kristin Hersh The Vaselines Jaill
9.2 Review | iTunes 7.7 Review | iTunes 6.5 Review | iTunes
Serj Tankian Black Mountain deepfield My Gold Mask
9.2 Review | iTunes 7.6 Review | iTunes 6.2 Review | iTunes 4.5 Review | iTunes
Arkells 10 Years Love Drug Sharon Van Etten
8.9 Review | iTunes 7.3 Review | iTunes 6.2 Review | iTunes 4.2 Review | iTunes
Corin Tucker Band Red Jumpsuit (RJA) Trampled By Turtles Fourth Of July
8.8 Review | iTunes 7.1 Review | iTunes 5.6 Review | iTunes 3.8 Review | iTunes
Deer Tick Disturbed Jenny And Johnny Serena Lauren
8.7 Review | iTunes 6.9 Review | iTunes 5.1 Review | iTunes 2.9 Review | iTunes
AM Taxi Atmosphere Wavves Tired Pony
8.7 Review | iTunes 6.8 Review | iTunes 4.9 Review | iTunes 2.5 Review | iTunes
5. Ever since 20th Century Fox acquired the
film rights to The Book Thief by Markus
Zusak in 2006, fans have been patiently
waiting for any news. It remains stuck in
development, with a 2010 release date that
is increasingly unlikely to be met.
Next year seems plausible, but without any
casting announcements, news about the
movie is speculative. What isn't speculative
is the Australian author is working on a
long-awaited third book. “It’s about a boy.
His name is Clay. He’s building a bridge.”
The Book Thief continues to embed itself
into our collective subconscious. For
evidence, look no further than the news
stories about William Jacques, a real book
thief. Almost every paper bent the
headlines to capitalize on The Book Thief.
What Is It About The Book Thief That
Enchants?
Let The Book Thief Steal A Few Hours This Summer.
Zusak tells the story about Nazi Germany
The Book Thief was the highest ranking book during summer 2010,
similar to those I was told by my earning a 9.8 on the Liquid Hip Richter Scale. It was also the third
grandmother. And in hearing those stories, most read book review by Liquid Hip readers.
Amazon
one cannot help but to appreciate that the Audio
story seldom told is the division between
the people and the state.
[read the rest online]
6. THE BEST OF THE REST
A thriller set in 1953 Lamb is the delightfully
under the backdrop of funny tale of Biff, a
Stalin's Soviet Union, childhood friend of Littered with pervasive wit and
Child 44 captures the Joshua, who is better sometimes coarsely sophomoric
struggle between known as Christ in a buffoonery, My Name Is Will: A
citizen and state. sarcastic historical, set Novel of Sex, Drugs, and
2,000 years ago.
Shakespeare quickly sucks you
in to a story of two Wills, one
Child 44 Lamb from 1852 and one from 1986.
9.5 Review | Amazon 8.1 Review | Amazon The two of them embark on
similar celebrations of sex,
drugs, and a discovery of who
Set during the siege of Will is that will entertain many
Leningrad in World Beat The Reaper is an
and likely offend a few.
War II, the story adrenaline-fueled fast
follows Lev and Koyla read that tells two
on a quest to find eggs stories at the same My Name Is Will was the most
for a Russian colonel. time: a resident popular book review pick
physician and former among Liquid Hip readers, and
mob hitman.
has been shared more than any
other review on the site.
City Of Thieves Beat The Reaper
9.5 Review | Amazon 7.1 Review | Amazon [read the rest online]
One Second After is a My Name Is Will: A
Heart-Shaped Box is compelling what-if Novel of Sex,
the story of what story that takes Drugs, And
happens when you readers through the Shakespeare
buy a ghost on the fall of civilization as we
Internet, especially if know it, with little more 6.2 | Amazon
that ghost is hell-bent than the loss of power. Audio
on revenge.
Heart-Shaped Box One Second After
8.5 Review | Amazon 6.5 Review | Amazon
7. THE BEST OF THE REST
The Book of the Dead
This updated story of explores the lives of an
Cherie Currie bares all eclectic selection of
in its retelling of the people, famous and
five 15- and 16-year- not so famous, such
old girls who became as Freud, da Vinci, and
the first all-girl rocker Belaney. Who?
band.
Neon Angel Book Of The Dead
8.5 Review | Amazon 6.5 Review | Amazon
Sometimes when you read a book, you curl up and
Donʼt expect Curb
Your Enthusiasm when embrace it. Rarely does it embrace you back. Rat Girl:
you get this book. Itʼs A Memoir (aka Paradoxical Undressing in the U.K.),
thoughtful, inspired, written by Kristin Hersh and set for release next
and carries only a few Tuesday in the U.S., is one such book. A rarity.
laughs from one of the
nicest guys in comedy.
The cover may be black, but you won't find a single
stitch of black in the content. Don't ask me to assign
My Footprint
it another. In the opening pages of her book, Hersh
7.5 Review | Amazon
mentions that colors splashed across a canvas are all
too quiet. The book, like her music, is vibrant. Chords
have color. Her favorite color is green.
There are decades of
hurt and anger woven "Every time I think I'm done, I pick another Rat Girl
into Megadethʼs 9.6 | Amazon
song out of the chaos in the air. There songs are
frontman and founder
whose book begins keeping me alive so they can be alive."
with one of his many
trips to rehab. Rat Girl was the second most read review this
summer.
Mustaine [read the rest online]
7.6 Review | Amazon
8. Alexis Hotel, Seattle
What started as a small glue pot fire in 1889 quickly erupted another restoration returned the hotel to its original
into Seattle's Great Fire, growing to consume about 30 architecture with a minimal use of new materials. It's a work
blocks (25-33, depending on sources). When the city of art — a luxury 121-room Seattle boutique hotel — housing
redeveloped the burnt-out area, new buildings were built of exhibits of local artists that are rotated quarterly.
brick, stone, and directly over the remnants of the old,
creating the famed Seattle Underground. The rooms are spacious and tasteful, with 300-count Frette
linens, and feather duvets to wrap yourself up in on a rainy
While the fire stopped across the street from where the morning. It's one of the few hotels offering 24-hour room
Globe Building was later built in 1901, adjacent areas often service and providing in-room spa services. You can also find
followed suit and built over existing storefronts. Some of the Milagros SalonSpa, a renowned full-service salon and day
them can be seen in the building's underground parking spa destination on premises, but we were too busy taking in
structure. the city.
The Alexis Hotel Offers Location, Art, And A [read the rest online]
Historically Modern Seattle Vibe. Alexis Hotel Website
In 1982, the Globe Building was acquired, renovated and
reopened as the historic Alexis Hotel. And 10 years later,
9. THE BEST OF THE REST
Built in 1933, the Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica, Calif.,
remains a favorite among celebrities like Oliver Stone, Add Some Swank And Splash To Cocktails.
Robert DeNiro and Arnold Schwarzenegger. But even
before it changed its name, the hotel was legendary as
one of the first speakeasies in Los Angeles and a favorite
haunt among people like Bugsy Siegel, "Fatty" Arbuckle,
Clark Gable, and Carole Lombard. 5.7 Martini Tips
Swank
The Georgiana Hotel, Santa Monica
Amazon
8.8 Review | Hotel
Although included as a book review, the author does own
a vintage shop in Mass. Melody Fortier has been in the
vintage business for more than 20 years and her book is
one of the best places to start for anyone interested in
vintage clothing and fabrics. Youʼll even learn the
With the crispness of fall starting to settle in the air,
difference between antique and vintage.
entertainment will begin to migrate from the
Tangerine Boutique, Gardner, Mass. backyard to indoor living rooms. And as someone
8.2 Review | Amazon who originally grew up in Seattle, we always
seemed get a jump on such libations with casual
gatherings better known as cocktail parties (except
The story behind Chicago Chop House is as compelling we never called them that).
as the menu. Located in an immaculately restored,
century-old Victorian brownstone in the popular River Bar none, the best glassware is from the Swank
North neighborhood, the Chicago Chop House was the Martini Company. My favorite glasses feature their
brainchild of a successful tavern and former advertising curvaceous swerve. It also happens to be their
agency owner named Henry Norton in 1986. best-selling glass.
The Chop House, Chicago
[read the rest online]
6.8 Review | Restaurant
10. Triumph Timeless
When you hear the name Triumph in the United Kingdom, it accessories, including punched leather coats and the Triumph
inspires a certain vibe. Classic, iconic, unique, and cool. McQueen Special Edition jacket, inspired by its namesake
movie legend.
The UK-based Triumph has been making motorcycles since
the early 1900s, and today it’s the largest surviving British McQueen famously took part in 1964’s International Six Days
motorcycle manufacturer (second oldest in the world Enduro (ISDT), which was held in East Germany, and in which
behind Royal Enfield). And in the United States, theirs are he rode a Triumph. The clothes are very cool. But it’s Triumph’s
always the bikes people like to go head-to-head with line of watches that has really caught my attention.
Harley-Davidson.
The styles are classic yet retro, and they have a very masculine
Where Triumph has earned an edge recently is that it feel.
instills a sense of retro cool. Triumphs have been ridden by [read the rest online]
celebrities and stars, ranging from Steve McQueen to Brad
Pitt. Performance and design are what make the bikes still 8.4 Retrograde
feel special.
Triumph
If You Can't Own The Bike, Wear The Accessories. Amazon
Since Triumph inspires loyalty and longevity, the company
smartly began making a line of high quality clothing and
11. THE BEST OF THE REST
4.9 Skeletal Metal 7.9 Amber Earrings 6.2 Vinyl USB 10 Polaroid Project 6.7 Comics App
Review Review Review Review Review
Amazon Amazon Shaper Image Amazon iTunes
CitizenGulf Random Kindness
Terry Fox
Story Story
Story
Website Website
Website
On Aug. 25, the Citizen Effect slated a
Founded in 1995, The Random Acts Of What made Foxʼs 143-day, 3,339-mile
national day of action to raise funds for
Kindness Foundation is a privately funded run historic was that he did it with one
educational programs to help fishing
nonprofit organization that doesn't do leg. The other was amputated in 1977
families impacted by the Deepwater
something most nonprofits do. It doesn't after he was diagnosed with
Horizon oil spill. Citizen Effect, together
accept donations, grants, or membership osteosarcoma. Fox never finished his
with support partners and volunteers,
dues. What it does is inspire people to quest to run across Canada, but others
organized online and local events.
practice kindness and “pass it on.” made sure his vision remained.
12. In 1973, Cameron Crowe was living an
American dream reserved for people twice
his age at the time. He was 16 years old
and asked to take a three-week
assignment covering the Allman Brothers
Band for Rolling Stone.
It was a rare chance to meet his heroes,
share in their experiences, and even fall in
love. His story was so captivating in the
telling that he always knew it would make
a great film some day. And that day came
in 2000 with Almost Famous.
Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction In
Almost Famous.
Crowe says Stillwater, the fictional band in
the film, is a culmination of his Rolling
Stone experiences with bands like Poco,
Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, and Lynyrd
Skynyrd. But some experiences are
amazingly similar. For instance, Crowe does
share that Greg Allman did confiscate all Almost Famous By Cameron Crowe Turns 10.
his tapes in an unexpected fit of paranoia.
Almost Famous was the highest ranking movie review during
summer 2010, earning a 9.1 on the Liquid Hip Richter Scale. It was
The loss could have cost him more than the also the number one most read movie review by Liquid Hip readers.
cover story. As a first major assignment, it
Amazon
could have cost him a career. iTunes
[read the rest online]
13. THE BEST OF THE REST
8.7 Monsters 8.2 Kick-Ass 7.2 Samurai
Review Review Review
iTunes iTunes iTunes
9.7 Firefly
6.8 Rubicon 3.2 Madden 11
Review
iTunes Review Review
iTunes EA Sports
The Infamous 8-Minute Spinal Tap Short. End Notes
Liquid [Hip] started as an
With a short run just under eight minutes, you might experiment, but continues to
as well be warned that the short will leave you evolve thanks to great people
wanting more, scoring 8.9 on the Liquid Hip Richter like you who take the time to
Scale. Released in August 2009, it doesn't seem explore and share our eclectic
likely anyone will see the band back. But fans can blend of hip and cool.
hope.
Review Thank you!
iTunes