Secretary of State, Superwoman…and Sometime Yogi

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton revealed to Barbara Walters her secret for staying sane while she works hard to untangle the dramatic foreign policy quagmires and help solve the problems of the world with diplomacy and grace–yoga! In the interview (which is part of “Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012,” which aired last night, 12.12.12, on ABC), Clinton told Walters that she takes care of herself by resting, drinking water and getting on her yoga mat whenever she can. Superman has nothing on this lady!

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“Italian Yoga”? Serve Me Up Some Cannoli and Cat Pose!

There’s a new yoga trend in town–and it’s about to blow your mind.  But don’t get out your yoga mat just yet–because you might spill some espresso on it! It’s called Italian Yoga, and it celebrates the “art of the moment,” via practices such as sitting at the cafe with friends, sharing stories–and just living in the present by embracing slowing down and enjoying a nice plate of pasta. So the next time you catch yourself running to work, home (or even to yoga class), take a second to slow down–or maybe sneak a few minutes of “Italian Yoga” in with a warm cup of caffe normale, a biscotti and some peace and tranquility.

The guys at Car Talk are launching an effort on Kickstarter to support their documentary about Italian Yoga.  So perhaps while you are in the cafe enjoying some cafe-asana or pasta-asana, you can send a few coins their way. Namaste. Ciao!

Top 5 Songs Paul McCartney Should Play with Nirvana Tonight at the 12.12.12 Sandy Benefit Show

This has been all over the internet today, with rumors that Sir Paul himself will play a set with a reunited Nirvana.  Basically, the way I see this, it is either going to be really awesome or really terrible.  Either way, it will be interesting.  Here are the Top 5 songs that we’d like to see played tonight by “Paulvana”:

1. Live and Let Die

2. About a Girl

3. Helter Skelter

4. The Man Who Sold the World (Bowie Cover)

5.  Get Back

Frank Ocean Covers Radiohead – “Fake Plastic Trees”

DDR’s Album of the Year recipient Frank Ocean is having one hell of a year.  After releasing his amazing Channel Orange, writing an open letter to take on the music community with is bi-sexuality, and a knock out performance on the season premiere of Saturday Night Live, Ocean took in the Annual Spotify Conference in New York this past week and performed a cover of the great Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Trees”.  Can this guy do any wrong?  Check it out below:

 

The Top 10 Albums of 2012

It is that time of year again.  Time for everyone’s Top 10 lists.  We here at DDR have listened to lots of albums this year and we have whittled the list down to the 10 best.  This year, we found that the best of the bunch have been Debut Albums, which is very rare.  In fact, 5 of the top 10 albums of the year are debuts.  This gives us great hope for the coming years.  Remember, there are lots of great albums out there, you just need to find them!  Below are 5 honorable mentions and then our Top 10 albums of the year:

Honorable Mentions:

Jack White – Blunderbuss

David Byrne & St. Vincent – Love This Giant

The xx – Coexist

Divine Fits – A Thing Called Divine Fits

Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball

And Now, The Top 10 Albums of the Year:

10. Kathleen Edwards – Voyageur

Ms. Edwards has created her best album, mostly because it is all on the table, and new beau Justin Vernon behind the controls has given her the confidence to go all the way.

Kathleen Edwards – Voyageur

9.  Jesse Ware – Devotion

The first of 5 debut albums in the Top 10 this year, London’s Jesse Ware, is a hard-edged Adele with a killer voice.  Will she ever get to Adele stature?  Time will tell.  But “Devotion” is a better album as a whole then Adele’s “21” and it deserves consideration.

8. Tame Impala – Lonerism

Another excellent debut from Tame Impala.  Exciting fast indie rock.  Ironically, this forward-thinking band’s best song is “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards.”

Tame Impala – Lonerism

7. Alt-J – An Awesome Wave

They have been dubbed “The New Radiohead.”  A bold statement, but I hear lots of comparisons here.  A great, catchy debut that if they continue this way, they could turn into the new Radiohead.

alt-J – An Awesome Wave

6. Dan Deacon – America

Most of the great EDM music is coming out in Europe now, but Baltimore’s Dan Deacon has made one of the best EDM albums of the year, with some catchy tunes as well (“True Thrush”).  And with his new App and kick-ass live shows, it’s been a great year for Deacon.

Dan Deacon – America

5. Here We Go Magic – A Different Ship

It’s amazing what Nigel Goodrich does to your band and music.  When Here We Go Magic was on a festival bill with Radiohead, Goodrich and Thom Yorke caught their set and loved it.  Goodrich agreed to produce “A Different Ship” and the rest is history.  This Brooklyn band has  their best album to date, thanks to Goodrich’s production.

Here We Go Magic – A Different Ship

4. Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel..

Sparse, beautiful and challenging.  All words to describe Fiona Apple’s best album since “Tidal.”

Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do 2

3. Django Djjango – Django Django

The best indie rock release of 2012, Django Django has set the bar high going forward for the genre.  With two absolute tracks in “Hail Bop” and “Default”, they plan on taking the U.S. by storm in 2013.  We can’t wait.

Django Django – Django Django

2. John Talabot – Fin

The best EDM album of the year.  Barcelona’s best DJ John Talabot has graced us with an incredible debut with some of the best programing we have heard in a long time. Using some guest vocalists as well adds to the tracks that have been on repeat here at DDR.  We can’t wait for what Talabot has for us next.

John Talabot – Fin

1. Frank Ocean – channel ORANGE

So much has been said about “channel ORANGE” this year.  There is a reason why it is on–and at the top of–most Top 10 lists of the year:  It is an emotional, fun, and rewarding record to listen to.  And, oh that voice.  Ocean has really put all of his life into this.  And when that happens (similar to last year’s best album by Tune Yards, “WHOKILL”) you usually end up with The Best Album of the Year.

Frank Ocean – channel ORANGE

Meow-asana? The Yoga Cats 2013 Calendar Is Here

Everyone loves cats. Or at least, pictures of them being unbelievably cute fur balls, adorngly mischievous or in the case of the 2013 Yoga Cats calendar, practicing their cat yoga poses. Now that’s some Meow-asana!

Portlandia and Yoga=Heaven (Finally!)

It was inevitable (we are just surprised it didn’t happen earlier), but Portlandia has finally accomplished the unthinkable: they may have topped the Brunch Village episode! The incredibly clever show (a playful parody of the vegan-dwelling, sweater-knitting, bike-riding, organic-loving hipster world of Portland, Oregon) returns for its third season on January 4th, 2013. And, to DDR’s delight, the episode is about YOGA! You can get a sneak peak at the episode, “Meditation Crush,”  on the IFC web site.  I am bursting with Goji berry happiness right now! I don’t think I can stand it anymore! I am going to have to leave work and make myself a green tea smoothie in one of my ironically antique glass Mason jars! I can’t decide if I am more excited about the fact that the episode focuses on yoga or that I may get to see Fred in a pair of Lycra yoga pants!