Buzz Guide: V.V. Brown and The Price of Beauty
The internet is a vast and bewildering wonderland–since it’s my job to keep my eyeballs on it all the live long day, I make an effort to excavate a bit of the gold for you. Please enjoy this week’s discoveries! And if you already are aware of some items, gush (or rant) away!
MUSIC
It’s a Doo-Wop revival, my babies, and this week I’m head over chucks for V.V. Brown’s Travelling Into The Light–thereby reinforcing that a few British singer-songwriters and myself are having a mindmeld. See also: Kate Nash’s “Do Wah Doo.” I came upon V.V. while researching questions for an upcoming SXSW interview and it took me a mere 8 minutes into the investigation to hit the iTunes store. Yay, legal downloading! Quirk, cuteness and confidence also infuse V.V.’s personal style. Don’t believe me? Watch these videos for “Leave” and “Crying Blood“
TV
Jessica Simpson’s The Price of Beauty
The elder Simpson sister has taken her much-criticized curves and her besties (Ken and Cacee) on an world-wide trip with a purpose. Perhaps as an epiphany after the size FOUR mom jeans incident, this crew is stepping outside the Hollywood bubble to explore what beauty means elsewhere.
I’m completely burnt on reality TV, to be honest–all the rehabbing D-Listers, spider-eating zealots, and the singing, dancing wannabes of the world can go stick it where the sun don’t shine, as far as I’m concerned. But I’m willing to back a series that doesn’t necessarily have an end game, a cash prize, a major label contract, or the promise of some prestigious title. Jessica Simpson doesn’t need anyone’s charity–she’s a competent pop star who doesn’t rely on autotune and keeps up a distinguishable design line that doesn’t immediately end up on the clearance racks. I could be way off the mark, or falling for a precise marketing ploy, but this show seems like an exploration. And as a public figure who has expectations of beauty thrust upon her daily, I think Jess is the perfect person to take the lead on this.
Episodes air Monday nights on VH1. For more info, clips and full episodes, visit the official site.
INTERNET
Oh, the times have I bookmarked a site, only to delete it for being stale a week later–I’ve lost count. I’ve also cleared my queue of bad-mouthing celebrity gossip sites, no matter how hilarious. It’s like a diet for my mind–because, like the body, what you put into it affects what comes out (in your words, actions, and attitude). That said, Tonic.com feels like a healthy dose of media. Focused on “good” news, the site has featured columnists, anti-gossip, and articles that inspire discussion. Need a bit more bait? Read this study about how attitude affects aging.
BOOKS
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
I’m not sure what I’m getting myself into because every one who has recommended this book can boil it down to one word: mindfuck. I’m not one to dive into these types of things because I think I can Figure Shit Out–but I could go for a book that’s hard to put down. This novel is literally hard to pick up–meaning not purse compatible but it’s not so hefty you could anchor two of them to sink a dead body (a-hem, Stephen King). Physical attributes aside (I don’t want any comments about Kindles unless you’re willing to give me one, gratis), I’m about 40 pages in, and it’s already peculiar. Check out this Wikipedia entry on it–even THAT is lengthy. With all the references to books that don’t actually exist and the ghostliness of it, you kid of get the feeling that if you stumble on the right easter egg, you could unlock the key to the universe. Care to join me in this literary lunacy? Pick it up on Amazon.com.
BOYS
You already know this guy–he’s the man your man could smell like. He turns concert tickets into diamonds and he’s on a horse. If you’re still drawing a big ‘ol blank, please kindly join the rest of the pop culture aware world and watch this commercial:
What really sealed the deal for me was Isaiah’s appearance on Ellen:
Oh and if sports is your thing, he did something important with football before turning to acting.
Picspam time:
Until next time,
-Breesays
