Mexico hates Emo

Blender and star reporting are like milk and bourbon. But Senior Editor Josh Eells did a great piece called The Eyeliner Wars. While trying to find the story online, I found a related one on NPR. 

Basically, Mexico is rapidly becoming more liberal. Goths and Emo kids are not as hip here because of how quickly it hit mainstream, but over there it is aspirational and somewhat underground still, and the Mayor and others in politics are not so happy. Looking for a political drum to beat, they label these non-conformist as anti-church, anti-family trouble makers and has put an all out ban on Emo. One kid's trash is another kids treasure. It makes you wonder how other US trends fair overseas. 

Artist of the month

This month's privilege goes to cellist Wendy Sutter. Sutter teaches at Colombia and has a number of albums under her belt, but she is best known for ravaging her strings to works Philip Glass wrote for her. They date and have been touring the country for the past year. Her performance at LACMA earlier this month gave me chills; she did things to that cello I have never seen done with any string, and she even had little skulls and angels on her beast (original Amati). 

Artist of the Month

Nouvelle Vague is only the second musician to get pinned up here on AOTM. They are a french collective founded in 2003 who cover 80s punk and new wave songs in a bossa nova style.

Does the world really need another album of covers? No, but the founders of this collective just seem to find the most sensual sirens to sing these songs. And they took creative leaps on this to make the songs sound so fresh and appetizing. Hear them at myspace or pick up their self-titled. Just one earfull and you wont be able to stop humming.

Artist of the Month

My friend recently introduced me to this Canadian duo that sings songs in an old-time style, but with very naughty lyrics. Very creative and driven, this band has been slowly taking over NYC in October. They've been around for a little longer, getting their break on The L-Word.

This is their website, where they have 2 videos samples, a view into their most recent CD, and the opportunity to own their DVD.

http://www.wetspotsmusic.com/buystuff.html

Take a look though their past. Lead singer Cass King has been pervy her whole life:

http://www.cassking.com/bio_frameset.htm

I just wonder how they can follow up their Hello Kinky album. It is really so perfect in so many ways.