via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152123909829254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Another popular article of 2013: 10 DC Guys We've All Dated Have you been dating the "Really important guy"? You know, the guy who's always checking his blackberry. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/08/10-dc-guys-weve-all-dated/
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152122587779254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
As 2013 comes to a close, we would like to wish you a Happy New Year and thank you for your continued support of our site! If you don't have any plans tonight, check out our NYE event below. (No Cover) In the spirit of Caption Tuesday and NYE parties tonight, remember to drink plenty of water before you hit those open bars tonight! https://www.facebook.com/events/397764933660044/
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152122696409254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Shawn provides his ultimate foodie guide for where to eat tonight. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/12/the-ultimate-foodie-guide-for-new-years-eve-in-dc/ cc: Blue Duck Tavern Zaytinya The Oval Room Lauriol Plaza Inc Bistro Vivant Cactus Cantina
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152122573384254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Monday, December 30, 2013
Just 24 hours til our New Years Eve party at The 201 Bar and Union Pub. Casino Games, DJ, No Cover, photo booth and more! Also, get $10 free for a Taxi Magic ride (Use CCNYE promo code) https://www.facebook.com/events/397764933660044/
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152121256464254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
NFL Black Monday is living up to the hype with five coaches (and counting?) fired thus far today, including Redskins's Shanahan. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/12/nfl-black-monday-let-airing-grievances-firings-begin/
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152121039569254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Good public service announcement, #WMATA provides videos of people riding the metro too drunk. http://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/Dangers-of-Riding-Drunk-on-Metro-New-Video-Shows-Passengers-Falling-off-Escalators-onto-Tracks-237586251.html
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152120720409254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Sunday, December 29, 2013
With over 2.2 million page views and 843k unique visitors, we had our biggest year ever! Here is our top 10 posts of the 2013 year. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/12/best-of-2013/
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152118652039254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
We challenged our contributor, Nobody Likes Ringo, to come up with a list of the best music albums for 2013. He superseded our expectations with 57. http://www.clotureclub.com/lifestyle/music/ CC: Dr. Dog Haim The Moondoggies Jonathan Wilson Lucius White Denim Portugal. The Man Phosphorescent
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152118880349254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Have you made your NYE plans yet? Cause we're throwing a VEGAS party. NO COVER. RSVP --> https://www.facebook.com/events/397764933660044/ h/t Mark O'Brien
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152118725284254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
The 57 Best Albums for 2013 [Part 3]
35. King Khan and the Shrines – Idle No More
King Khan has been pumping out epic psychedelic rock for years. Known mostly for his stage antics (see: naked) and live performance, Idle No More proves that Khan and his Shrines are a band to be respected. Employing horns, strings, and any percussion instrument lying around the studio, Khan’s latest album is one that you can put on in the background of any party and be assured of a good time.
34. Minor Alps – Get There
Matthew Caws (of Nada Surf fame) and Juliana Hatfield (badass in her own right) joined forces to create Minor Alps. The upbeat electronic sounds melding together with acoustic guitars serve as a great platform for vocal harmonies. The voices are clearly what carry this album, adding credence to the idea that sometimes it’s a great idea to combine two talented musicians, throw them in a studio, and don’t let them out until they have an album done. 57 Best Albums for 2013!
33. Cave Singers – Naomi
The Cave Singers have taken repetitive, riff-driven songs to another level. Not happy with the amount of noise the trio was creating, the band added former Fleet Foxes bassist Morgan Henderson into the mix and it paid off big time with Naomi. The album follows the familiar Cave Singers pattern of layering guitar riffs on top of driving beats. However, with Naomi, the band lets the bass out for a walk, bringing a fuller sound to the album.
32. Little Green Cars - Absolute Zero
Nothing says folk quite like Ireland. Little Green Cars broke into the States this year, making quite the buzz down at SXSW and showing up on my radar after a rousing performance at DC9. The thing that surprised me the most about this album was that beyond the beautiful vocal harmonies, and the standard folk band piano riffs, is a band that actually rocks.
31. Mason Jennings – Always Been
Mason Jennings has always made high quality folk-pop music. The Hawaiian born Jennings does not disappoint with Always Been. Not quite a surf-rock album, Jennings incorporates southern elements to his sound that keep his this effort slightly more upbeat than previous offerings.
30. Preservation Hall Jazz Band – That’s It!
Jim James is a prophet sent onto earth to coax the best performances out of talented musicians. At the urging of the My Morning Jacket front man, Preservation Hall Jazz Band created their first original album ever. The album does not betray the New Orleans roots Preservation Hall have so deservedly come to represent. Ben Jaffe and crew should make more albums.
29. Queens of Stone Age – Like Clockwork
Your drummer leaves your band mid studio session. What do you do? If you’re Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, you address the tumultuous time by writing the best album of your bands career. Like Clockwork is the album that finally captured the raucous energy QOTSA bring to their live shows. In prior efforts, one or two songs stood out as conveying the raw power of Homme and his band. On Like Clockwork, you cannot escape the intensity and uncertainty facing the bandmates in this new era, and that is a great thing.
28. Cayucas – Bigfoot
It is impossible to listen to Bigfoot and not find yourself smiling. The Santa Monica band ooze laid back surf-rock vibes in their debut album (the band used to be called Oregon Bike Trails so let’s count this as a debut). Cayucas mix influences throughout their 7-song album but is very clear when tuning in that lead singer Zach Yudin really likes Beck (really really likes Beck).
27. Okkervil River – Silver Gymnasium
Okkervil River and lead singer Will Sheff have cracked the code. Silver Gymnasium is full from start to finish. To clarify, after years of touring and several critically acclaimed studio efforts, the band has figured out how to fill every ounce of their original compositions with warm sound. Sheff wrote this album about his childhood and the subject matter seems to have inspired some of the most introspective writing from the group thus far.
26. The Lonely Forest – Adding up the Wasted Hours
Call it a step forward. Call it seasoning from being out on the road. Call it a different sound. But don’t call the new album from Bellingham Washington’s The Lonely Forest emo. John Van Deusen does have a voice once best suited for late 90’s pop-punk. And yet, he has figured out a way throughout the years to write biting lyrics layered on top of strong drums. In spite of his own vocal category (honestly, when you hear his voice you immediately think of bands like New Found Glory), Van Deusen helms a band that can be both introspective and rocking at the same time.
25. Arctic Monkeys – AM
AM is one of the strongest rock albums to come out of the UK since Ozzy Osborne was able to remember his own name. Alex Turner delivers once again but this time without any shame in turning the knob well passed 11. I am regularly surprised at the Monkeys’ ability to grow their sound and still produce albums that sound distinctly like them. Also, any album that contains a southern rock ballad titled “No. 1 Party Anthem” has to be pretty fun.
24. The Head and the Heart – Let’s Be Still
I could not wait for THATH to finish this sophomore album. It pained me to hear the amazing single “shake” and not have any other tidbits from the newest studio efforts. I must admit that I simply love THATH. That said, this album is an improvement from the band but not one big enough to warrant placing them in the top 20. The band does a better job capturing their live sound and pumping energy into their piano driven folk-pop. However, they still can’t seem to write songs about happier subjects. If anything, THATH are experts at writing the cheeriest sounding songs about the most depressing subjects possible. Quite the skill indeed.
23. Sin Fang – Flowers
Sin Fang is from Iceland and led by musical genius Sindri. The album Flowers is a good mix of electronic/atmosphere based songs and guitar led jams. There is something about the album that I find hard to put my finger on exactly. Really, I think that as a whole Flowers is one of those albums that takes you to another place, takes you away from whatever is worrying you here at home.
22. Volcano Choir – Repave
Volcano Choir are a top notch side project for Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon. Full disclosure I really do not find Bon Iver that entertaining. That said, Volcano Choir’s second offering (and first since 2005) is a great leap forward for the band. The eight tracks on the album explore how far the ambient sound movement has progressed in the indie scene.
21. Born Ruffians – Birthmarks
I first stumbled onto the Born Ruffians at 38,000 feet above the ground. Spotify thought I would enjoy their album. Spotify could not have been more right. The first lyric of the song Needle starts “I belong to no one, like the watermelon rolling with momentum, spitting out its seeds. Buried under snow and waiting just to show us how it grows and knows how yummy it will be. I belong to no one, a song without an album, long forgotten maxim spoken to the sea.” I was hooked. I listened to this album on repeat over the 5-hour flight from Seattle to D.C. Each song circles on the theme of searching. For such a young band, Born Ruffians display a depth of lyrics and sound that I found almost unrivaled by peers in the indie scene.
20. Jim James – Regions of Light and Sound
As mentioned previously on this countdown, Jim James is a prophet sent down from another world to bring great music to the masses. On his first solo effort, James is just as weird as you expected. The song A.E.I.O.U. builds with such an ominous piano riff that by the time the chorus has hit its full sprint at the 5 minute mark, you cannot help but feel the excitement in James’ voice. A very different vibe than any of the My Morning Jacket albums, Regions of Light and Sound delights anyone looking to get just a little weird.
The post The 57 Best Albums for 2013 [Part 3] appeared first on ClotureClub.com.
The 57 Best Albums for 2013 – The Final Top 10 List
Nobody loves Ringo returns with this Best Albums for 2013. Here is the final top 10 list:
10. Dr. Dog – B-Room
“It’s coming down (the truth don’t stop) it’s really coming (the truth don’t stop) it’s falling hard (the truth don’t stop) another day (the truth don’t stop) thunder and lightning,” begins Dr. Dog’s B-Room. It’s a solemn introduction to an album that saw the band dig deeper than ever before. Dr. Dog decided to build their own studio, their own B-Room, and hash out their songs with no major deadlines or rush. The result is an introspective assortment of tracks focusing on the band’s years on the road, and what it means to be entering almost two decades playing music for a living. Over a soft acoustic guitar and with none of the usual (and always unique) Dr. Dog bells and whistles, lead-singer/bassist Toby Leaman sings, “I was a child when I left home I wandered blindly into unknown. While others have secrets I have none but I’m too weak, too weak, too weak to ramble.”
9. HAIM – Days Are Gone
HAIM have been hailed as the new saviors of rock and roll. Their album was almost universally hailed as an excellent product from the California sisters. It is true. HAIM put together a great album with Days Are Gone. I agreed most with NPR who called the collection of 80’s-esque synth rock songs the closest thing to a pure pop album we saw in 2013. The driving beats of the song “The Wire” along with the sisters’ solid vocal collaborations make this one of the most radio-ready albums on my list.
8. The Moondoggies – Adios I’m a Ghost
The Everett Washington Moondoogies have shown brief flashes of brilliance in their eight years as a band. Yet the quintet finally put it all together in releasing Adios I’m a Ghost. From start to finish the album tells the story of a band mired in apathy over the music industry. Times got so tough following the release of their last album that frontman Kevin Murphy considered shutting down the project altogether. The existential crises for the band led to the crafting of Adios. Using music I can only describe as blues-filled psyc rock to explain their history, The Moondoggies finally can add redemption to what we can hope will be a long lived career.
7. Jonathan Wilson – Fanfare
It’s pretty rare in music to find someone responsible for revitalizing an entire style of music. In the case of the Laurel Canyon sound, look no further than Jonathan Wilson. The psychedelic-folk singer began hosting a series of jam sessions in the hills of Los Angeles aimed at emulating the sound of artists such as Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Joni Mitchell, and the Doors. The sessions gained traction and sparked the onslaught of Los Angeles talents such as Dawes, Father John Misty, and Harriet. However, to all his credit for bringing musicians together, Wilson had yet to create an album that truly captured his vision of the modern Laurel Canyon. With Fanfare, Wilson delivers track after track of late 60’s goodness with guitar licks that would make Jackson Browne jealous.
6. Lucius – Wildewoman
The ladies of Lucius already appeared on this list with San Fermin at number 16. Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig stand out in a crowded field of amazing female voices that made 2013 such a wonderful year for music. With poignant lyrics and simple guitar pushing them along, Wolfe and Laessig demand answers. The album speaks to experiencing love from a woman’s perspective. They ask a friend on one song “did you find love?” while on another they push away a lover saying, “I don’t need you anyway, go home.” I find it appropriate that the raucous album is titled Wildewoman. The title track belts out the story of a leading female. “Her eyes are light and clear and fearless like Chicago winds in the winter time. And her hair is never quite in place. And the knees in her jeans have seen better days. And she’s no beauty queen but you love her anyways. She’s a wildewoman.” The track ends, introducing you to the rest of the album saying, “We will only be bound by the things we choose.” In 2013, it was hard to find anyone in music as unbound as Lucius.
5. White Denim – Corsicana Lemonade
When Rolling Stone, Paste, and Consequence of Sound can’t agree on what the hell your album sounds like, you are probably doing something right up my alley. White Denim is a quasi-progressive rock quasi-southern rock group out of Austin. Corsicana Lemonade finds the band delving further into exploration of the electric guitar. With two tracks produced by super weird/super-hero Jeff Tweedy, it is not hard to see how the result of this album was one lacking any stand out radio-ready track. James Petralli and company continued to blaze forward as a genre-less, single-less outfit dedicated to melting your face one progressive riff at a time. Throw this album on, turn off the lights, warm up your lava-lamp, and enjoy the ride.
4. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
I tried really hard to keep popular albums off this list if they didn’t deserve to be called one of the best of the year. You don’t see any Kanye or Arcade Fire and that’s largely because I didn’t enjoy those projects. You could say that they aren’t my cup of tea or type of music, or you could take my stance which is that both Kanye and Arcade Fire are hugely overrated musicians who generate a load of profits but not really anything worth writing home about this year. But there is no denying that Daft Punk made one of the most captivating albums of the year. Try and think back to this last summer. Daft Punks jams were as unavoidable as the D.C. heat and that’s largely because the group put together simple, well thought out jams that can be universally enjoyed (even by an indie-rocker like me).
3. Portugal. The Man – Evil Friends
Portugal. The Man + Danger Mouse = magic. Not that the band from Portland needed any help in writing fantastic songs, but the addition of a prolific producer seems to have taken the group to new heights. This album is captivating from the first track and doesn’t let you go until it has taken listeners on a ride through what seems like several genres. Throughout all the tempo and style changes is the constant of lead singer John Gourley’s high pitched voice. The band embraced a poppier sound on this album largely at the behest of Danger Mouse and it allowed them to explore further aspects of their prog-rock tendencies without getting too lost. For a band constantly trying out new sounds and pushing their own limits, Portugal. wrote what I believe to be their own band anthem on Evil Friends. The song “Modern Jesus” screams to the Portugal. faithful, “don’t pray for us, we don’t need no modern Jesus. To roll with us the only rule we need is never giving up. The only faith we have is faith in us.” For those who had faith in the band, this poppy chorus sounds like a battle cry, and for all those who give Evil Friends a few listens (you need to hear it a few times to digest what the hell is happening here), you most likely have been converted into followers of The Man.
2. Phosphorescent – Muchacho
Matthew Houck is Phosphorescent. It has been his moniker now for more than a decade. Houck has released 6 albums as Phosphorescent but none were anywhere close to as powerful as Muchacho. Houck grapples with the utter despair that comes with heartbreak throughout the album. Through well-crafted orchestral arrangements and reverb filled guitar riffs Houck sings out his lessons learned on the title track, “See I was slow to understand this river’s bigger than I am its running faster than I can. Though, Lord, I tried.” His acceptance of his own limitations pulses throughout the album with occasional punches of defiance. He sets out to conquer love through his lyrics and poignantly declares his opponent as “a burning thing, that (love) makes a fiery ring. Oh but I know love as a caging thing, just a killer come to call from some awful dream.” The album begins and ends with the same lyrics. Houck speaks to the sun saying, “dark as I been. Ease. Easy oh. Be easy oh.” Muchacho truly feels like a journey, a beautiful one, and one that I have taken time and again in 2013.
1. Jason Isbell – Southeastern
To call an album the greatest of the year is quite a difficult distinction for a music listener. Each album carries a unique place to the listener. Where did you first high pitched voice of Portugal. The Man? Who was the friend who dragged you to the Charles Bradley concert, expanding your taste into a new genre? We each carry our personal memories of music embedded within all of our favorite artists. Ranking how we each encounter those memories is tricky simply because “good music” is all in the eye of the beholder. And yet, at the same time, the universality of music can sometimes lead you to stand back in awe. Sometimes an album comes along that is from start to finish better written, both in musical fortitude and lyrical prowess, which truly impresses. That album for 2013 is Jason Isbell’s Southeastern. The former Drive by Trucker guitar player steps out from behind his former touring act to dig deep into his story-telling quiver. Out from it Isbell pulls stories of life, love, and death in such a seamless manner that you cannot help but feel, and I mean feel, his outpouring in every strum. Even hardened hip-hop lovers or hard rockers will find themselves feeling crippled by the beauty of the song “elephant”, a testament to a friend dying of cancer. That’s not to say the album is depressing. Isbell makes even the most mundane life activity, such as taking an airplane trip home seem like an inspiring feat that we can all achieve with gusto. In the track “flying over water” behind a cacophony of live drums Isbell sings, “take my hand baby we’re over land I know flying over water makes you cry. Where’s that liquor cart? Maybe we shouldn’t start, but I can’t for the life of me say why.” To digest Southeastern is akin to sitting before an engineering wonder, or staring at a skyscraper. Each of us interprets the work of the architects in our own way, each curve and reflection brings us to another realization. And yet it is clear that what is before is a true testament to the human spirit, that through the outpouring of the vision of someone else we all can experience something lasting.
The post The 57 Best Albums for 2013 – The Final Top 10 List appeared first on ClotureClub.com.
Who knew? John Kerry and Snoop Dogg (Lion?) are fist bump buddies now. http://instagram.com/p/iZstshv9Ha/
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152118588634254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Friday, December 27, 2013
The Abe Lincoln turned Bill Murray 5 dollar bill.
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152114979499254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
The 57 Best Albums for 2013 [Part 4]
19. Caitlin Rose – The Stand In
2013 was a huge year for the Nashville music scene. It seemed that every artist I fell in love with this year hailed from the Tennessee scene. Caitlin Rose was born to be a singer-songwriter. Her family claims a Mom who won a Grammy for songwriting and a Dad who sells and markets for the country music industry. With The Stand In, Rose emphatically takes her place atop the list of powerful voices spilling out of Nashville. Her album is a perfect marriage between country and rock music. She tells stories like an old cowboy crooner and yet her sound has a modern flair.
18. Ravenna Woods – The Jackals
The Jackals is the darkest album of 2013. I note that as a warning because the thing is, it may be one of the most beautiful albums of 2013 as well. Known for their acoustic-guitar rock, Ravenna Woods return with another gem. The album is both spooky and beautiful, like walking through an abandoned building at dawn. The lyrics from the Cunningham brothers are biting on tracks like “live alone” when they harmonize, “lock your doors because there’s something terrible happening. As long as it’s a well-fixed game, as long as they can see my face, then I won’t lose any sleep. Just live alone. And lock your doors.”
17. San Fermin – San Fermin
San Fermin is music adventure. Ellis Ludwig-Leone is a classically trained pianist who headed up the project. Obviously he is from Brooklyn and employed two of his favorite voices (the ladies of Lucius) to help add vocal strength to the album. There is no set lead singer and the voices intertwine alongside orchestral arrangements on every track. The result is an album that evokes all different kinds of emotions. Along the ride, you find yourself uplifted, depressed, angry, and finally hopeful that you may be able to find love.
16. Houndmouth – From the Hills Below the City
From the way it sounds, the musicians in Houndmouth have been getting into some serious trouble. The southern folk-rock inspired album, From the Hills Below the City, speaks about getting pinched for selling drugs, losing boatloads of money at a casino, and getting lost out on the road. Houndmouth openly admit to The Band being one of their biggest influences. It clearly shows on this strong debut.
15. Typhoon – White Lighter
Some artists craft albums like it is their profession, making creative tweaks along the way to create an inspiring final product. Typhoons’ Kyle Morton made this album with the mindset that his life depended on it. Morton, the enigmatic lead singer of the 12-person Typhoon admitted in multiple interviews that the theme of dying runs through White Lighter because he truly believed he would be dead shortly after its release. A survivor of severe kidney failure at a young age, Morton’s own experience with adolescence, and a body that rejected him, rings through on this sophomore album. Any artist facing mortality can be depressing for a listener, and yet in the case of Morton who sings “I was born in September and if I die today just know I don’t regret you some things I can explain (like) it’s a slow descent, it’s a lifeless place, every god damned day,” you are left pondering what your own life would be like if you had seen the light at the end of the tunnel and escaped it to keep living.
14. Charles Bradley – Victim of Love
The world had to wait 63 years for Charles Bradley’s debut album. Thankfully we only had to wait a little over a year and half for his follow up, Victim of Love. Having cleared his conscience of most of his built up pain and sorrow, Bradley sings a much more hopeful tune this go-around. He nails the 1970’s soul sound and builds upon it with a combination of blues and psychedelic influences. I am already anxious for his next one.
13. Lone Bellow – Lone Bellow
One of the breakthrough artists of 2013 has to definitively be Lone Bellow. The band is a delight live, combining simple folk riffs with three seriously powerful voices. On the strength of their debut album, the band finished the year on their first headlining tour to sell out venues across the nation. Their album is fresh and filled with strong emotional tales of love and commitment in the face of looming death. Now that the band has had a phenomenal year of success on the road, I can only expect great strides on the sophomore effort.
12. Pickwick – Can’t Talk Medicine
FINALLY the boys in Pickwick got together and gave the people what they wanted – a full length album! After releasing a few EP’s and scrapping a few albums altogether, Pickwick found what they were looking for in Can’t Talk Medicine. The high energy Seattle band combines soul-infused riffs with plenty of tambourines and the booming voice of lead singer Galen Diston. This album was very high in my rotation for the year, only falling out of the mix when I realized that Pickwick have so much more music they are already eager to release in 2014!
11. Deertick – Negativity
John McCauley got sober-ish in 2013 (crack is whack!) and the result was Negativity, the most complete offering from Deer Tick to date. McCauley’s raspy voice still captivates as it once did but now he sings out about his parent’s failures, his own failed engagement, and staying positive in light of challenges. It’s a marked change from the last album, recorded just after McCauley’s failed engagement which featured a song repeatedly singing “let’s all go to the bar.” The album also sees the band spreading songwriting duties around the stage. Guitarist Ian O’Neill wrote the track “Dreams in the Ditch,” ultimately chosen as the first single.
The post The 57 Best Albums for 2013 [Part 4] appeared first on ClotureClub.com.
Have you made your NYE plans yet? Here's our list of the the best DC New Years Eve Parties we found. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/12/the-best-list-of-2014-dc-new-years-eve-parties/
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152114923739254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
US Capitol Christmas tree, circa 1913. 100 years ago.
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152114868899254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Thursday, December 26, 2013
With the holiday's over, it's time to start thinking about your New Years Eve plans. We're throwing a Vegas style party with a DJ, casino tables and more! RSVP --> https://www.facebook.com/events/397764933660044/
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152113649744254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Spike Jonze Excels with the Intoxicating ‘Her’
Her begins with a long and insistent close-up of Joaquin Phoenix. The camera plainly captures the large glasses, pale face and the bland voice of its main character. Phoenix’s character Theodore is reading a love note he composed and recording it on his computer, blankly revealing his sensitivity to the addressee of his letter— a person he will likely never meet or come in personal contact with. But this type of digital emotionalism is where society is going— writer/director Spike Jonze seems to be saying— and his new drama seeks to show where that direction will ultimately lead us.
Photo Credit: NewYorker.com
Theodore works in an elaborate but sparsely-occupied office and lives in a home that feels as empty as the resident who dwells within its walls. He occupies his time playing video games (which look and feel like the Nintendo Wii) and engaging in sexually-explicit phone calls with lonely women looking for a good time. One call becomes a bit troubling and eventually Theodore purchases what is advertised as being the “first artificially-intelligent operating system.” Voiced by Scarlett Johansson, this new system—which quickly names itself Samantha— speaks and listens to Theodore as any friend would and knows everything about him that is accessible online (Samantha reads all of his e-mails, for instance.)
Jonze, who previously helmed Adaptation and Being John Malkovich is a masterful writer who knows how to build a concept and then examine it with the intricate know-how of a heart surgeon. He never lets an idea define a film. Instead, he only lets it begin a movie and then slowly but surely removes the layers of the concept. What starts here as a gimmicky concept—a man falls in life with his faceless operating system— becomes something more as it shows both the man and the system growing together.
Photo Credit: Slate.com
“What makes me me is my ability to grow through my experiences,” Samantha states early on as she reveals how she was created. Her program was built over a long period and so the system has taken on the traits of the people who helped build it and can grow and adapt because of that. As a system, she can learn and grow and the plot finds her learning and building a life as much as it shows Theodore building his.
Throughout the story, Jonze finds unique obstacles for Theodore and Samantha to overcome in their “newfound” relationship. Samantha struggles with the idea of never having a body. Theodore struggles with his ex-wife Catherine’s (Rooney Mara) insightful comments about his own relationship weaknesses. The duo struggle with the idea that they can never be truly intimate with each other. Each struggle is a realistic one that would likely appear if relationships such as these existed. Additionally, Amy Adams appears as Theodore’s ex-girlfriend Amy, a woman who struggles with her own relationship insecurities and who longs to be as warmly comforted as Theodore is with Samantha.
Photo Credit: TheHollywoodNews.com
Overall, Her is a wondrously creative and beautiful film that never feels like too much of a fantasy. With our reliance on technology and intuitive computer systems, this movie comes across as a parable about how lonely people can sometimes find comfort in technology when real relationships fail on us. Phoenix and Johansson are great performers together here and show that while this future relationship doesn’t seem too far off, it’s not something to hope for. In fact, the tragic realism of this situation is something to dread.
My review: A
Her Trailer
The post Spike Jonze Excels with the Intoxicating ‘Her’ appeared first on ClotureClub.com.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
A little Christmas humor...
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152108935574254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Jaleo is extending their Clementina Festival until December 30th. The clementine, also known as the “Christmas Orange” is one of my favorite citrus fruits and Spain’s peak harvest occurs in December. It is a cross between a sweet orange and a Chinese mandarin. Jaleo is serving special dishes that are only available during the festival. I tried a few of them this past weekend and was thoroughly impressed. Among my favorites were: Gazpacho de Clementinas con Vieras. This silky cold soup had a delicate citrus flavor and featured slivers of fresh scallop crudo and micro greens.
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152104805894254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Friday, December 20, 2013
Thinking about seeing a movie this weekend? Check out Lauren and John's review of Inside Llewyn Davis, American Hustle, Saving Mr. Banks and more! http://www.clotureclub.com/lifestyle/movie-reviews/
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152100642054254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Whether you have just one person or an entire list left to shop for, check out Alex's local spots suggestions for unique and creative holiday finds. Happy Shopping! http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/12/dc-area-spots-last-minute-holiday-gifts/
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152100333989254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Thursday, December 19, 2013
We really have a incredibly talented team. 2013 has been our biggest year, ever! With 2.2 million page views, here is our best articles of of 2013! http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/12/best-of-2013/
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152098656309254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Cloture Club’s Best of 2013
2013 has been our biggest year! With over 2.2 million page views (and 843k unique visitors) we thought we'd share our top 10 posts for this year. Our team is made up of incredibly talented people: Arnie Thomas, Andrew Heaton, Sarah Glenn, Shawn Keeley, Agatha Wein, Alex Benedetto, Missy Marsh, Jean Schindler, Lauren Bradshaw, Clay Battin, Zachary Graves, Rebecca Bernbach, Anonymous Hill Staffer, Emily Egan, Mark Bryan, Kenny Ames, Carrie Ann Alford, Mike Lewan, John Hanlon, Jacob Wood and Chris Baggett.
Here is our best of 2013 articles!
One of our most viral posts ever (beating our Muppets in Congress), the Tea Party Insult Generator became a internet sensation. Hours after the government shutdown was over two contributors noticed the tea party turn on Speaker Boehner and let him have it on his facebook wall. A small database was collected and our new star was born.
We challenged our new contributor Agatha to write about the dating scene of DC from a females perspective. And she did just that. Her article went viral netting 50,000 page views in 24 hours. Since then it has been replicated for LA, Miami and Chicago.
Chris Baggett loves his Auburn Tigers and often travels to see them play. Texas A&M recently joined the SEC which had Chris flew out to College Station, TX. He was astonished through the generosity and kindness Texas A&M fans showed him. Chris wanted to share his experience and his article did just that.
Since the 10 DC Guys article did so well, there was a high demand for female version and Agatha did just that.
As a response to Buzzfeed's Things New Yorkers Do, this article had everyone in DC agreeing but refuse to admit.
Phil Buster came outta no where. He wanted to put an article about the truth about the DC Gay scene. We still don't know what NOMA means.
When someone asked Woody if he wanted to goto Adams Morgan, his response was "no." Hence an article was born.
With the success of last year's ugly Christmas Sweater article, we had to update with this years.
In 2012, Woody once realized when he knew where to stand on the platform for the metro doors. He quickly realized he finally became a Washingtonian. How many can you admit to?
As one of the most successful movies this year, Fan Girl Lauren loved Catching Fire. She put together the best 25 scenes in GIF format for everyone to enjoy.
The post Cloture Club’s Best of 2013 appeared first on ClotureClub.com.
Throwback Thursday - Here's what our website looked like back in December 2010 (3 years ago)! #TBT http://web.archive.org/web/20101216081216/http://www.clotureclub.com/
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152098334349254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Quick, everyone double check! $1M Mega Millions ticket sold in Md. If you won, you would buy a ________ ? http://wtop.com/81/3527228/1M-Mega-Millions-ticket-sold-in-Md
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152097427049254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Jobs We Found This Week
RideScout is offering internship positions for Brand Ambassadors to cover festivals, sports and music events, Bikeshare and bus locations, and other venues across DC.
We're looking for motivated, responsible and outgoing folks to be part of our DC Brand Ambassador program. This team will be responsible for promoting RideScout App to people who live, work and visit DC! This is a great way to get valuable marketing and business experience by working for a young technology start-up.
Requirements:
Must be social, outgoing, high-energy individual who is enthusiastic! If you're interested in being a Brand Ambassador for this young tech start-up, RideScout, please contact us at prachi@ridescoutapp.com.
Benefits:
Part of the DC tech start-up world -- join us at 1776 for monthly meetings.
$12/hour with opportunities for more work.
Hours are flexible -- 10 to15 hours/week.
You may request for school credit for this program as well.
RideScout:
RideScout is a mobile transport app that offers public, private and social transport options in real-time. I would encourage you to visit our website, www.ridescoutapp.com, to see for yourself how RideScout works!Our office is located at 1776 - the DC based incubator.
RideScout c/o 1776 Campus, 1133 15th Street NW, 12th Floor, Washington DC
Congressman Aaron Schock (IL-18) seeks an experienced Communications Director to manage a fast-paced press operation. Strong speech writing skills are a must as duties include: working with the Congressman to help craft talking points, speeches and op-eds; writing press releases and e-newsletters; booking and pitching media outlets nationally and in district; and maintaining and updating the Member’s website. The ideal candidate has demonstrated creative writing and speech writing skills. In addition, the job requires one to be innovative and proactive in growing district and national media opportunities for the Congressman. Must have the ability to work with diverse media outlets, write well under a deadline, and have experience working in communications. Qualified applicants should send resume and writing sample to IL18resumes@gmail.com.
Freshman Democratic Member seeks an organized, energetic and savvy Legislative Assistant to handle the Member’s work on the House Financial Services Committee, with a focus on economic development, affordable housing and infrastructure needs of America’s legacy cities. The selected candidate will be joining a fast-paced, team-oriented Washington, DC office. Duties include preparing and staffing the Member for committee hearings and markups, monitoring legislative developments within Committees and on the House floor; developing and advancing legislation and other policy priorities of the Member, contributing to floor speeches and other external communications, researching and advising the Member on bills and other issues, representing the Member in meetings, and drafting constituent correspondence. This legislative portfolio will also include additional issues outside of the HFSC work. Applicants must have superior organizational skills, strong written and oral communication skills, and strong interpersonal skills, be able to multi-task and thrive in a fast paced environment, and have poise, patience and a sense of humor. Prior experience in economic development and community/urban planning strongly preferred. Michigan ties a plus. Please email a resume and cover letter to Michigan05jobs@gmail.com with “Legislative Assistant” in the subject line.
Ohio Republican House Member seeking press assistant to join staff. Applicants
should be self-starting, hard-working and creative. Must have strong writing and
verbal skills and be extremely detail oriented. Job responsibilities include:
managing all new media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and Instagram),
updating the web site, writing press releases and columns, creating videos and
graphics, taking photos and running telephone town halls. Experience with new
media, HTML, Final Cut Pro, Movie Maker and Photoshop helpful. Possibility of
eventual promotion to press secretary a possibility based on job performance over
time. Interested applicants should send cover letter, resume and writing sample to
oh.ushouse.job@gmail.com.
Press Secretary - Senior Republican seeking press secretary with superior writing
skills who is energetic, creative, strategic, and quick-thinking. The successful
candidate is a self-starter who is politically astute and can quickly master a range
of issues in time-sensitive situations. Responsibilities include, but limited to:
drafting/distributing press releases; writing weekly newsletters, Op-Eds;
maintaining and updating website content; preparation of talking points and
speeches; establishing and maintaining strong relations with district and DC
media and executing an aggressive earned local media campaign. New media
skills are a must, including knowledge of video, audio and/or photography and
editing in those mediums as well as social media. No phone calls. Email resumes
to PA.Resumes@mail.house.gov.
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR - California Democrat (Rep. Jerry McNerney) seeks experienced communications director to develop and execute aggressive long-term media and outreach plan. Responsibilities include serving as chief spokesperson, successfully pitching stories and press events to both national and local media entities, responding promptly to media inquiries, effectively messaging policy and other priorities, maintaining an aggressive new media profile, preparing the member for live interviews, writing press releases, and producing op-eds, speeches, talking points, and franked mail. Excellent written and oral communication skills, strong editing and proofreading abilities, and the desire to work collaboratively with a team in a fast-paced environment are required.Candidate must work closely with the Member and staff. Ideal candidate would be politically astute and have a good sense of humor. Desired qualities include political communications experience and the ability to respond to challenging situations quickly and strategically. This position requires non-traditional hours and travel to the District. California (District) ties and Capitol Hill experience are a plus. Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and two writing samples to: McNerney.Resumes@mail.house.gov No calls or drop bys, please.
Freshman Midwestern Democratic Member seeks an organized, detail oriented and energetic Scheduler/Office Administrator for a fast-paced, team-oriented Washington, DC office. Primary duties include structuring and managing the Member’s daily schedule; coordinating the Member’s travel and logistical details of meetings; handling the Member’s personal correspondence; fulfilling various administrative duties including prepare/process office payments, and ethics/disclosure compliance; and, working closely with other staff members in the district and in DC to facilitate meetings. Additionally, the Scheduler/Office Administrator will work to ensure smooth overall office operations. Applicants must have superior organizational skills, strong oral and written communication skills, and strong interpersonal skills, be able to multi-task and thrive in a fast paced environment, and have poise, patience and a good sense of humor. The successful candidate will be a discreet, politically savvy, self-motivated, and very organized with the ability to successfully interact with different personality types. Additionally, the successful candidate must be strategic thinker who can navigate competing demands to maximize the Member’s time and come to anticipate the Member’s needs. Please email a resume and cover letter to Michigan05Jobs@gmail.com with “Scheduler/Office Administrator” in the subject line.
Florida Leadership House Democrat seeks highly motivated and experienced Communications Director to handle press, speech-writing and communications and messaging strategy. Candidates must have excellent writing skills, on-the-record press experience, strong political instincts, and new media experience. Candidates must thrive in a fast-moving, aggressive communications environment; be team-oriented, nimble, creative and strategic; and have a positive, can-do attitude. The Communications Director also develops working relationships with print, electronic and social media press as well as communications teams in other congressional offices and the Executive Branch to coordinate and execute the Member’s overall communication efforts. This position provides an opportunity to work for a highly engaged, energetic Member of Congress who has a successful record of improving the lives of women, children, seniors and fighting for the middle-class. Equal opportunity employer. Salary commensurate with experience. Hill experience and Spanish literacy is a positive. Please send resume to DCResumes@mail.house.gov. No emails, phone calls or drop-bys please.
The post Jobs We Found This Week appeared first on ClotureClub.com.
Missy provides a few reasons not to get engaged this Holiday season. 8. Three out of four adults in DC are single. Good odds... http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/12/reasons-get-engaged-holidays/
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152096664619254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
What's up with the Washington Redskins? Dan Steinberg, blogger for the Washington Post, shows how deep in rumorville the already troubled DC team is. Take a look: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/wp/2013/12/17/anonymous-sources-on-the-redskins/?hpid=z5
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152094918479254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
#MUSIC - Our local guitar hero returns to give his Part 2 of the best albums of 2013. My favorite: Thunder Clatter. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/12/57-best-albums-for-2013-part-2/ CC HAERTS Black Joe Lewis Wild Cub Papa Vampire Weekend and more!
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152094903389254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Could you imagine DC with skyscrapers? http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/washingtons-horizontal-woes-101184.html
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152094560709254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
It's Caption Tuesday! It's a tad early for prom season... but not for Vice President Joe Biden and WH Correspondent Amie Parnes. Give this photo a caption!
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152094202844254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Monday, December 16, 2013
It's that awkward time of the year when you need to come up with a white elephant gift idea for your office holiday party. Here are the 17 gift ideas that we found online for you. How bout an inflatable unicorn horn? http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/12/17-perfect-gift-ideas-for-coworkers/
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152092578819254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Did anyone catch Hugh Jackman at the Zoo yesterday? http://instagram.com/p/h8wDilChF_/#
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152092364309254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Last week Washington D.C. has the third-lowest winning percentage of all major sports cities this year. http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/12/washington-dc-worst-place-for-sports/?sf20667430=1
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152090886064254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Saturday, December 14, 2013
During our investigation at the new DC Walmart we found wine for almost 3 bucks.
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152088360074254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
Friday, December 13, 2013
Apparently we're ugly. Travel and Leisure ranks DC (again) with the "least attractive" people. “the locals came off as both unfriendly and not so stylish.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/local/wp/2013/12/12/travel-and-leisure-doesnt-seem-too-fond-of-d-c/?hpid=z3
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152086234434254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
We're raffling off 30 tickets to the DC screening of Her, Joaquin Phoenix's latest movie. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/12/giveaway-screening/
via ClotureClub.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152085918514254&set=a.10150317682289254.386795.103137984253&type=1
GIVEAWAY: HER Screening
We're raffling off 30 tickets to HER, Joaquin Phoenix's latest movie.
Set in Los Angeles, in the near future, “Her” follows Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a complex, soulful man who makes his living writing touching, personal letters for other people. Heartbroken after the end of a long relationship, he becomes intrigued with a new, advanced operating system, which promises to be an intuitive and unique entity in its own right. Upon initiating it, he is delighted to meet “Samantha,” a bright, female voice (Scarlett Johansson) who is insightful, sensitive and surprisingly funny. As her needs and desires grow in tandem with his own, their friendship deepens into an eventual love for each other. From the singular perspective of Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Spike Jonze comes “Her,” an original love story that explores the evolving nature—and the risks—of intimacy in the modern world.
Washington, DC
Wednesday, December 18
7:00 PM
AMC Georgetown
Washington, DC
Enter Her Raffle
But wait, bonus points are given to those who also tweet out!
Her Trailer
The post GIVEAWAY: HER Screening appeared first on ClotureClub.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)