Saturday, November 28, 2009
Pizza Top 10
I LOVE pizza! Though I have not been everywhere, and I really need to get to New Haven, Connecticut, amongst other places; I have been to Chicago, and I did a studied, pizza-centric tour of Italy in 1999 (I found much to like, but none quite make this list). I should also mention that I always get plain cheese pizza with red sauce, especially the first time I try a pizzeria. If the pizza is good, I do like to go back and try the pepperoni as well. Keeping it simple, I believe, is the way to go – too many toppings masks the core flavors of the crust, sauce, and cheese. Anyhow, here’s my Top Ten, so far:
10. Me-n-Ed’s, Lemoore, CA. This place reminds me of going to Shakey’s as a kid, but with the pizza quality cranked way up. Crispy Cornmeal-y crust meets a supremely yummy, winey sauce – my eyes grow and my mouth is so happy.
9. Pagliacci, Seattle, WA. I’ve been eating this pizza for over 20 years. I’ve eaten more of this stuff than any other pizza, and it still delights me. I had one last night that was just deliciously satisfying. I order The Original (=cheese 'za) all the time and the nice crust, perfectly spiced sauce, and great whole milk mozzarella delight me every time. This place is also a prime example of my “keep it simple” credo – heavily topped Pags pies, even the fancy seasonal ones, taste much less special to me.
8. Apizza Scholls, Portland, OR. Get here early because this incredible pizza is super-loved by Portland. Brick oven fantasticness is served picnic-table style with grand flavors and lovely black char marks.
7. Flying Squirrel Pizza Company, Seattle, WA. The crust is perfect – crispy right to the middle, but chewy at the edge (under the little crunchy burn marks). The sauce is really nice too (though a bit more might be all right). And the cheese is so good. And they have $1.50 cans of Olympia beer. I love this place.
6. Ken’s Artisan Pizza, Portland, OR. Whoa. This place is amazing. Such a gourmet crust topped with such lovingly spiced sauce and tasty cheese – every bite is divine. Monday-night-only at the bakery in NW is what I know and love, though the newer every-night-of-the-week pizzeria in SE is reportedly nearly-as-good.
5. Pizza Gruppo, Avenue B, East Village, NYC. A tiny little place with just perfect pizza. Thin crust, just-right crisp, delightful medium-zing sauce, and great cheese keep the cult following coming back over and over again.
4. DiFara, Midwood, Brooklyn, NYC. Watching the legend that is Dom DeMarco (now in his 70s) remove the hot pies from the oven, top them with freshly-grated parmigiano-reggiano, snipped basil leaves, and extra-virgin olive oil is pure joy. Then you get to eat this magic pie. Mr. DeMarco puts his pizza love into every single slice that this place serves. Warning, DiFara is a zoo. It is always packed, and the service borders on nonexistent. Expect to spend at least a half hour to get a slice. It is very very worth it.
3. Patsy’s, 2nd Ave, Upper East Side, NYC. Yeah, I know, Patsy’s up in East Harlem is supposedly the "original Patsy's," and Patsy Grimaldi’s in Brooklyn is supposedly the "best Patsy's," and I’ve tried them both, but this is my favorite Patsy’s. I had a Perfect Pie here in 2001, and I can never forget that: amazing crust (so crunchy-but-chewy), winey sauce, perfect cheese, and best-in-my-life pepperoni (on half of it). Simply superb.
2. Totonno’s, Coney Island, Brooklyn, NYC. This place is a classic – just super yumful brick oven pizza with bright, lovingly spiced sauce and delicious crust. You must go to the Coney Island one, though. Uh-oh. The first time I went here I had a micro meltdown. After several days of tromping around NYC in the summer heat in August ‘02, my crew and I made it out to Coney Island to ride the Cyclone roller coaster and eat the famous Totonno’s pizza. I ordered a cheese pie and went for rest in the one available booth when I heard rumblings about getting a pepperoni upgrade for free because of some kitchen error, and once my tired brain clicked that my start-with-cheese plan might get fouled-up, I jumped to my feet and yelled “No Pepperoni!!” while waving my arms in the air frantically. I think I frightened the whole room full of New Yorkers including the big guy making the pizzas.
1. John’s, 44th & 8th, Midtown, NYC. I agree with Letterman. It’s a popular choice, and I can’t deny John's this victory. John’s in the Theater District has it all. Though the original Greenwich Village location is cramped and can produce chokingly dry crusts and bland sauce, this newer John's is coal brick oven ‘za sent straight from Heaven to one of the most amazing eating spaces on Earth. The brick ovens in the corners of this beautiful glass-ceiling-cathedral-turned-dining-room produce the most phenomenal crusts anywhere; and the sauce is just so right, and the cheese is perfection. Every time I eat here, my first bite is “Whoa!”, and I love the expressions on my friends’ faces when I take them here and they taste this other-worldly ‘za for the first time. Visiting here is one of my favorite things.
10. Me-n-Ed’s, Lemoore, CA. This place reminds me of going to Shakey’s as a kid, but with the pizza quality cranked way up. Crispy Cornmeal-y crust meets a supremely yummy, winey sauce – my eyes grow and my mouth is so happy.
9. Pagliacci, Seattle, WA. I’ve been eating this pizza for over 20 years. I’ve eaten more of this stuff than any other pizza, and it still delights me. I had one last night that was just deliciously satisfying. I order The Original (=cheese 'za) all the time and the nice crust, perfectly spiced sauce, and great whole milk mozzarella delight me every time. This place is also a prime example of my “keep it simple” credo – heavily topped Pags pies, even the fancy seasonal ones, taste much less special to me.
8. Apizza Scholls, Portland, OR. Get here early because this incredible pizza is super-loved by Portland. Brick oven fantasticness is served picnic-table style with grand flavors and lovely black char marks.
7. Flying Squirrel Pizza Company, Seattle, WA. The crust is perfect – crispy right to the middle, but chewy at the edge (under the little crunchy burn marks). The sauce is really nice too (though a bit more might be all right). And the cheese is so good. And they have $1.50 cans of Olympia beer. I love this place.
6. Ken’s Artisan Pizza, Portland, OR. Whoa. This place is amazing. Such a gourmet crust topped with such lovingly spiced sauce and tasty cheese – every bite is divine. Monday-night-only at the bakery in NW is what I know and love, though the newer every-night-of-the-week pizzeria in SE is reportedly nearly-as-good.
5. Pizza Gruppo, Avenue B, East Village, NYC. A tiny little place with just perfect pizza. Thin crust, just-right crisp, delightful medium-zing sauce, and great cheese keep the cult following coming back over and over again.
4. DiFara, Midwood, Brooklyn, NYC. Watching the legend that is Dom DeMarco (now in his 70s) remove the hot pies from the oven, top them with freshly-grated parmigiano-reggiano, snipped basil leaves, and extra-virgin olive oil is pure joy. Then you get to eat this magic pie. Mr. DeMarco puts his pizza love into every single slice that this place serves. Warning, DiFara is a zoo. It is always packed, and the service borders on nonexistent. Expect to spend at least a half hour to get a slice. It is very very worth it.
3. Patsy’s, 2nd Ave, Upper East Side, NYC. Yeah, I know, Patsy’s up in East Harlem is supposedly the "original Patsy's," and Patsy Grimaldi’s in Brooklyn is supposedly the "best Patsy's," and I’ve tried them both, but this is my favorite Patsy’s. I had a Perfect Pie here in 2001, and I can never forget that: amazing crust (so crunchy-but-chewy), winey sauce, perfect cheese, and best-in-my-life pepperoni (on half of it). Simply superb.
2. Totonno’s, Coney Island, Brooklyn, NYC. This place is a classic – just super yumful brick oven pizza with bright, lovingly spiced sauce and delicious crust. You must go to the Coney Island one, though. Uh-oh. The first time I went here I had a micro meltdown. After several days of tromping around NYC in the summer heat in August ‘02, my crew and I made it out to Coney Island to ride the Cyclone roller coaster and eat the famous Totonno’s pizza. I ordered a cheese pie and went for rest in the one available booth when I heard rumblings about getting a pepperoni upgrade for free because of some kitchen error, and once my tired brain clicked that my start-with-cheese plan might get fouled-up, I jumped to my feet and yelled “No Pepperoni!!” while waving my arms in the air frantically. I think I frightened the whole room full of New Yorkers including the big guy making the pizzas.
1. John’s, 44th & 8th, Midtown, NYC. I agree with Letterman. It’s a popular choice, and I can’t deny John's this victory. John’s in the Theater District has it all. Though the original Greenwich Village location is cramped and can produce chokingly dry crusts and bland sauce, this newer John's is coal brick oven ‘za sent straight from Heaven to one of the most amazing eating spaces on Earth. The brick ovens in the corners of this beautiful glass-ceiling-cathedral-turned-dining-room produce the most phenomenal crusts anywhere; and the sauce is just so right, and the cheese is perfection. Every time I eat here, my first bite is “Whoa!”, and I love the expressions on my friends’ faces when I take them here and they taste this other-worldly ‘za for the first time. Visiting here is one of my favorite things.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Pixies in Spokane, WA, April 24, 2004
With reformation confirmed, Pixies-mania in early ‘04 was pretty ridiculous, as you may recall. The very first tour skipped most major cities, including Seattle and Portland. I tried to buy tix to stop #8 or #9, the two shows at the Commodore in Vancouver, BC, the second they went on sale, but got no love, then “sold-out” at about minute #3; so I did the same thing the next week for stop #10 at the Big Easy in Spokane, WA – same deal - busy signal / no computer response, then when I did get through, “sold-out.“ So Meagan asked around and not only got us tix, but somehow scored free VIP tix! When we rolled into Spokane (a four hour drive from my Seattle home) that April '04 afternoon, there were already tons of fans lining up or milling about around the club for the night’s show. We fell into that hype and went early to see what was up - we could not go all the way in, but with our VIP tix we got access to this little lounge up some stairs with viewing holes along the side looking down on the showroom - out walk the Pixies who sound-check by playing “Velouria” start-to-finish to the empty room - unreal. Then we got to go into the club a couple minutes before the plebeians were let in, so Meag and I positioned ourselves at the very front slightly stage left (Meagan hates the icky-sweaty-crowdedness in the front of packed shows and would not do this for any other band). The club filled in to the gils, the openers were tolerable, and everyone had a mega-cow when the Pixies walked out, and we found ourselves halfway between Charles and Kim. For the first song they screwed-up “Subbaculcha,” stopped playing, and left the stage; returning about 5 seconds later (such charmers – I think maybe they staged the mess-up – either way, I loved it) to bang through that song perfectly and tons more songs with massive beauty and ferocity (+ perfect sound!), and massive appreciation from the seemingly over-sold-out crowd. They played most of Surfer Rosa, most of Doolittle, and many of their other great songs during a spectular set lasting just under two hours. We got to see every facial expression of Kim and hear off-mic banter from our position. Every time they’d start a song, we’d be like “I freaking LOVE this song!” And the crowd would roar super loudly like that song was some big mega-hit or something – every freaking song. I think everyone in the room felt like the luckiest person on Earth that night. Pixies looked dumbfounded that we loved them so much. Kim could not stop smiling. It was sublime. Greatest Band Ever, I think, maybe - Meagan thinks for sure.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Fernarly's Eight Great Ski Hills of North America
(too hard to decide an order, so they're alphabetical)
Alpental, Washington
Alpental is a small-but-steep hill just 52 miles from Seattle. It has easy-and-excellent backcountry access, but even without that it is just a very special place. The double chair to the summit is a classic Washington State experience. The snow seems to fall deeper here and the powder lines seem to last longer, even when it is crowded. I’ve had so many great powder days here, including March 28, 2009 – it was deep, it was not wet at all, and I blissed out on powder lines all freaking day. Seattle is one lucky city.
Brundage, Idaho
Brundage, near McCall, is often considered to have the best snow in Idaho. I just love making turns here. For experts, there are acres of untracked powder fields and the steeps out in Hidden Valley. The place never gets too crowded, so Brundage’s powder can last for days. Last time I was here I seemed to ride runs all day with nobody on ‘em except for my pal Mr. Mullet and me.
Lost Trail Powder Mountain, Montana
Lost Trail is only open Thursday through Sunday and has no village and no slopeside lodging. Lost Trail has some of the most amazing terrain, great snow, cheap lift tickets, and empty slopes of any hill I’ve experienced. It also has a lot of rocks to tear up your board and a long drive to civilization. I love it regardless.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort, British Columbia
The lifts serve up 5,620 vertical feet. What more do you need? It snows a lot: 40+ feet per season; and the 3,031 acres served by three lifts provide a fantastic big mountain experience. Powder lines all over the place provide me the big bliss, and they have a few great groomers too. Nelson Lodge at the base of the gondola is the most stylin' place I've ever stayed. There's yumful food all over the mountain and in the cool town of Revelstoke itself which is just 3.8 miles away. The whole week we were there in January 2010, the snow report concluded with, "Welcome to another Revy powder day!"
Snowbasin, Utah
Snowbasin has simply amazing snow and has provided me with one of the best lift-serviced powder days of my life. It was a Sunday, with 8” of fresh according to the 6 AM snow report, but then it kept snowing and the reality was 12” and more. Everywhere. All day. I was riding straight up to the lift and getting on, riding quads by myself. Dumbfounding. And blissful.
Sun Peaks, British Columbia
Sun Peaks is a big, rollicking, 3,678 acres of snow riding goodness. I went there for a week one February with great conditions (including a couple nice powder days) and I never waited in a lift line. Fast groomers, fluffy snow, fascinating topography (ride a 360 degree all-day loop around the village), and superb and varied terrain make for endless fun. The best on-mountain restaurant around provides delicious fuel for your day; and the ski-in/ski-out village has great lodging, eating, and drinking. Everything you need for the Snow Life.
Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana
Whitefish (formerly Big Mountain) often feels like lift serviced backcountry. There are so many great lines through the trees on this hill that it is ridiculous. It gets great snow and it never gets very crowded at all. By my experience over the last decade plus, it consistentently has better conditions than its Canadian cousin just slightly north, Fernie, BC, which can be an icy washout of bare spots, while Whitefish is still fully covered and totally shreddable. The town of Whitefish is just eight miles away and maintains a friendly-but-ragged northwest Montana vibe that just plain rules.
Whitewater, British Columbia
Whitewater is a little hill with two main double chairs, yet it gets tons of super high quality snow (480" average annually) and has super good terrain. Open spaces, rock drops, trees, steeps – you name it, Whitewater has it, and delicious mountain food too. 12 miles away, the great Kootenay town of Nelson provides good lodging options, great food, and a fun and charming vibe.
Alpental, Washington
Alpental is a small-but-steep hill just 52 miles from Seattle. It has easy-and-excellent backcountry access, but even without that it is just a very special place. The double chair to the summit is a classic Washington State experience. The snow seems to fall deeper here and the powder lines seem to last longer, even when it is crowded. I’ve had so many great powder days here, including March 28, 2009 – it was deep, it was not wet at all, and I blissed out on powder lines all freaking day. Seattle is one lucky city.
Brundage, Idaho
Brundage, near McCall, is often considered to have the best snow in Idaho. I just love making turns here. For experts, there are acres of untracked powder fields and the steeps out in Hidden Valley. The place never gets too crowded, so Brundage’s powder can last for days. Last time I was here I seemed to ride runs all day with nobody on ‘em except for my pal Mr. Mullet and me.
Lost Trail Powder Mountain, Montana
Lost Trail is only open Thursday through Sunday and has no village and no slopeside lodging. Lost Trail has some of the most amazing terrain, great snow, cheap lift tickets, and empty slopes of any hill I’ve experienced. It also has a lot of rocks to tear up your board and a long drive to civilization. I love it regardless.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort, British Columbia
The lifts serve up 5,620 vertical feet. What more do you need? It snows a lot: 40+ feet per season; and the 3,031 acres served by three lifts provide a fantastic big mountain experience. Powder lines all over the place provide me the big bliss, and they have a few great groomers too. Nelson Lodge at the base of the gondola is the most stylin' place I've ever stayed. There's yumful food all over the mountain and in the cool town of Revelstoke itself which is just 3.8 miles away. The whole week we were there in January 2010, the snow report concluded with, "Welcome to another Revy powder day!"
Snowbasin, Utah
Snowbasin has simply amazing snow and has provided me with one of the best lift-serviced powder days of my life. It was a Sunday, with 8” of fresh according to the 6 AM snow report, but then it kept snowing and the reality was 12” and more. Everywhere. All day. I was riding straight up to the lift and getting on, riding quads by myself. Dumbfounding. And blissful.
Sun Peaks, British Columbia
Sun Peaks is a big, rollicking, 3,678 acres of snow riding goodness. I went there for a week one February with great conditions (including a couple nice powder days) and I never waited in a lift line. Fast groomers, fluffy snow, fascinating topography (ride a 360 degree all-day loop around the village), and superb and varied terrain make for endless fun. The best on-mountain restaurant around provides delicious fuel for your day; and the ski-in/ski-out village has great lodging, eating, and drinking. Everything you need for the Snow Life.
Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana
Whitefish (formerly Big Mountain) often feels like lift serviced backcountry. There are so many great lines through the trees on this hill that it is ridiculous. It gets great snow and it never gets very crowded at all. By my experience over the last decade plus, it consistentently has better conditions than its Canadian cousin just slightly north, Fernie, BC, which can be an icy washout of bare spots, while Whitefish is still fully covered and totally shreddable. The town of Whitefish is just eight miles away and maintains a friendly-but-ragged northwest Montana vibe that just plain rules.
Whitewater, British Columbia
Whitewater is a little hill with two main double chairs, yet it gets tons of super high quality snow (480" average annually) and has super good terrain. Open spaces, rock drops, trees, steeps – you name it, Whitewater has it, and delicious mountain food too. 12 miles away, the great Kootenay town of Nelson provides good lodging options, great food, and a fun and charming vibe.
My Three Absolute Favorite Autos
May 2006
Recently, I took a drive in each of my three very most favorite automobiles. These are motor cars that really deliver the stuff that I love, all the time. Cars that are great to walk up to, sit in, spark up the engine, accelerate, turn, stop, and go – whether that’s going to work, or going out to jam through your favorite set of twisties – day-to-day usable performance cars that can be thoroughly appreciated every time you drive, without looking like too much of a jackhole. If you need more specific criteria: rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission are no-brainers; six or eight cylinders and sub-11 lbs. per horsepower do the trick; a reasonable level of refinement and some semblance of heritage contribute to the good stuff; and the coupe/GT body style works best for these full-time pleasure contraptions.
The Porsche 911 forges on as perhaps the most iconic sports car of all time. Though the last version, the 996 platform of 1998 to 2004, disappointed some Porschephiles with its Toyota-esque styling and anesthetized control feel; the 997 platform car that came to us for 2005 gives back much of what Porsche took away and presents it in an extremely good-looking package, while staying true to the rear-engined phenomenon. In Carrera S guise, this car is also seriously quick and is a nice return to the fantastic driver entertainment that made the 911 famous in the first place.
The BMW M3 became a legend during its first two iterations; though the third version that went on sale here in 2001 (E46 platform) has been a mild disappointment, particularly to steering/handling fetishists like me, due to its detached steering feel. The M3 CS (available as 2005 and 2006 M3 coupes) has more than alleviated that criticism, giving the M3 a quicker, more feelsome steering rack in combination with a fat Alcantara steering wheel. The CS also gets some serious-looking forged 19” wheels, a more slide-tolerant M-Track mode for the stability control program, larger cross-drilled floating compound brakes, and some special aluminum trim inside. The result is simply the best M3 ever.
It’s been a long while since an Aston Martin has been near the top of any true driving enthusiast’s wish list. Providing wealthy James Bond wanna-bes with gentlemanly-though-sometimes-gawky muscle cars has been Aston’s tiny niche of late. The new-for-2006 V8 Vantage has changed all that. This is a tight, compact Aston Martin (3 inches shorter and 2 inches lower than the 911) that harkens back to Aston’s legendary models of the 1960s and 70s, achieving a balanced and agile handling feel that few cars today can match. Combine this newfound dynamic excellence with rarity (1,000 per year for North America) and an achingly gorgeous body and swank interior, and you’ve got one of the most desirable cars on the planet.
So the stage is set. You might think these cars are a bit mismatched given the fairly wide price range, but these are three of the best coupe/GTs on the market, and they are simply my three favorite cars. Choosing a winner amongst these three superb cars is a very challenging task, but one that I tackle with massive enthusiasm.
3rd place
Porsche 911 Carrera S
How can the quickest car, and the icon, finish last? Well, these are my three favorite cars, so it was nearly a three way tie for first. But the competition is continually gunning for the huge selling 911, and in this group, with this driver; it just came up a teeny bit short. Don’t get me wrong, I love this car. The wailing 3.8 liter flat-6 delivers the biggest kick of the trio, always feeling and sounding awesome. Squeezing on the throttle brings on that spectacular Porsche burble and throaty roar that every car guy knows and loves. Midrange punch is intoxicating, and the noise-level-to-forward-thrust ratio is perfect. The 6-speed transmission is also danged near perfect, with ultra-slick precise shift action and short throws. The steering is very quick, tight and direct – a vast improvement over the last generation and a big contributor to the twisties-jamming joy that this car can provide. Likewise, the standard brakes are excellent and take off speed with the same aplomb with which the engine piles it on. This combination of virtues makes for a massively entertaining drive.
Yet at times the ride was choppy. Mid-corner corrections were necessitated by small pavement irregularities that the other two cars could just hammer right through un-phased. At one point during some late braking followed by hard cornering, the tires and ABS were gawking and the whole car just felt upset – the 911 stayed very close to the intended line, just not very happily. I suspect these criticisms stem from the car’s original design - nothing can quite overcome the inherent weaknesses of a short wheelbase and tail-heavy balance in this rear-engined sports car.
The new exterior styling, however, is spot-on. The beetle-back shape has never looked better according to many folks. The headlamps have returned to a more classic round-oval shape, and the Coke bottle shape of the body is very alluring with just the right amount of rear fender flare. Inside, the unique curve of the dashboard harkens back to early 911s, but looks thoroughly current. The trick Tire Pressure Monitoring System allows you to see, in an electronic diagram on the dash, any little changes that might impact the handling potential – very cool. Yet the two tones of metal-colored plastic used throughout the interior look downright cheap, the mandatory computer screen control center looks wrong in a performance car, and the vast number of tiny little plastic buttons all over the center console and front part of the roof liner is ridiculous. I also found the steering wheel rim to be a bit thin, the seats to be slightly under-bolstered, the wheels to be somewhat boring-looking, and the tailpipes to be slightly cheap-looking. These last four items can be upgraded via extra-cost optional equipment, but none were included on this lightly-optioned test car. The options list is extremely long and pricey, topping out with the desirable Porsche Carbon Ceramic Brakes.
But these criticisms don’t really amount to a hill of beans because the 911 Carrera S can pull it off – it is such a special and fantastically charismatic car. There is nothing else like it. And if objective performance is what you’re after – it wins. It out-accelerates the other two cars here and, driven well, it can beat them around road courses such as the Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany and Bedford Autodrome West Circuit in England. Adapting to and mastering this wonderfully unique and supremely capable sports car could provide decades of gigantic satisfaction. Nevertheless, two phantasmagorically good cars have bewitched me even more.
2nd place
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage seduces the eye from every angle. Wow, is it ever good lookin’. Other recent Aston Martins have been problematic. The Vanquish looks overwrought with its silly, giant creased fender flares; and the DB9 looks somewhat flaccid, like the massaged Jaguar that it is. And they’re both a bit heavy and a bit underperforming; and when enthusiasts scrutinize their dynamics, the criticisms flow freely. But this V8 Vantage hits the bulls-eye - a notch less flashy and ostentatious, yet even more magnetic for the eye of the car-loving guy (or girl). It looks tight, right, and purposeful while at the same time looking elegant, decadent, and sexy. How did they pull this off? Classic sports car proportions, for starters: long, sloping hood and two-placer cabin tapering back to a short hatch. Add perfect sized/shaped rear fender flares and exquisite Aston detailing like the classic grill, the sleek headlamps and tail lights, and the simplistically elegant 7-spoke 19” wheels – all in a smaller, more driver-focused-looking package. Anyhow, it just looks wicked good. Or perhaps you disagree? No, that could not possibly be.
Open the door via the slick push-in/pull-out tongue-depressor style handles, and you notice that the door angles up as it opens (reportedly so as not to hit curbs) and that it has no stop détentes. Instead, the high-grade hydraulics allow it to stop and stay anywhere along its travel. A beautifully thick aluminum door sill welcomes you to the decadence inside. Smooth leather and prominent stitching all over the place, instrumentation with dials that appear to be made of real metal, three simple machined alloy knobs for the HVAC controls, an elegantly uncluttered center stack, and tubular brushed aluminum braces behind the seats (that match three more braces under the hood) let you know that you’ve arrived. Strangely though, the background material for the center stack looks a little bit cheap, appearing to be metal-colored plastic (reportedly other finishes can be ordered); and the cross beams on the inside of the doors appear to have some sort of paint or coating on them that already had two chips out of it on the driver’s side of the test car. The seats could use a little more lateral support too. It appears to me that Aston cut some small corners, when just a few more bucks could have made it perfect. Disappointing.
But spark the ignition and you may forget all about any quibbles you might have. The engine ignites with sweet sounds and a little shudder that runs through the entire vehicle - lovely. The sonics are top-tier as you accelerate - the growling German-made V8 sounding oh-so-eager. The sound level in the cockpit grows with revs, and by 4,500 rpm, the thing is screaming at you. This gem is seriously loud. The accompanying thrust is very good, but not quite awesome enough to warrant the big noises. Given how loud it is, I’d expect the Vantage to be rocketing forward with 911 Turbo-like ferocity; but it’s more like a Carrera, and not the S. And for a V8 the low-end does not quite have the grunt I would expect - the flat-6-powered Carrera S actually bettering the Vantage in this arena. I’d really prefer a scoonch more oomph and a tiny bit less racket. Similarly, the Italian-made gearbox has short throws and easy-to-find gears, albeit with a slightly rubbery feel.
Nevertheless, mid-to-high rpm throttle response is extremely good, and steer the car into some bends and you’ll find a remarkably gifted chassis. Small throttle or steering inputs give glorious results, slightly rebalancing the car as you execute a delightful pivot-and-rail-style dance. The ever-so-slightly tail-heavy Vantage provides the ability to swing the tail out a hair with the throttle to tighten up your line before the rear tires actually break loose – a trait that I find nearly as seductive as the styling. But the car can easily be kept clean and tidy, and makes short work of turns of all radii. I love this car. The brakes feel strong and bring the speeds quickly back to reasonable levels should you get over-zealous on public roads, as you certainly oftentimes would.
So the V8 Vantage is very close to being every bit as gorgeous and capable as I hoped it would be. The gigantic charms and allure of this superb motor car make up for any minor criticisms. The overall wonderment of looking-at, being in, and driving the V8 Vantage is a rare and ultra-special treat – incredibly balanced, poised, and polished; yet ferocious. But for me, another company has pulled-off an even more mind-boggling trick with its automotive engineering magic.
1st place
BMW M3 CS
To guide the BMW M3 CS through fast corners is to achieve Nirvana. Steering feel and chassis dynamics sent straight from Heaven – that is what I have found here. Given my disappointment with the regular E46 platform M3, I find the CS to be transformational, making it an absolute revelation and a complete steal. I wouldn’t even think about pitting a regular M3 against the Carrera S or Vantage, but this CS variant catapults the M3 up into the realms of the Great Ones. The fat-without-getting-ridiculous-about-it Alcantara steering wheel feels like it was made for my hands and delivers information to my finger tips that even the lovely V8 Vantage can’t match. The suspension provides the smoothest ride of this bunch and soaks-up mid-corner pavement irregularities, allowing the driver to enjoy every corner – not what I expected from a more track-day-focused M3. The thing calmly and precisely devours turns at 8/10ths – the composure is miraculous. Push harder to find superb balance, with small throttle or steering inputs rewarding the driver with newfound alacrity and fascinating stories about the extreme talents of this chassis. The perfect 50/50 weight distribution certainly contributes to this greatness. Clean-and-tidy, hints of tail-sliding, or lurid oversteer (so I’ve heard) can all be executed with equal exuberance. The big new brakes feel strong and authoritatively keep the party in check. The CS magically paints a picture in my mind of what the four wheels are doing. It’s an other-worldly experience. I love this car.
The engine too, sounds superb and responds magnificently. From spark-up, you can hear the seriousness in the metallic rumble coming from under the hood. At lower engine speeds, the thing sounds great, but somewhat hushed in the vault-like cabin, allowing me to enjoy the decent-sounding Harmon-Kardon stereo. The whirring metallic sounds of the engine’s racing heritage become more prominent as revs rise, and above 4,500 rpm the car urgently scoots forward accompanied by a sweet song of exhaust roar and high-tech metallic fizz that never quite gets overwhelming like in the Aston – yum-o. High-rev shifts from first to second can produce a hint of unintentional rear-wheel spin, just to let you know that this beast means business. Torque delivery is the typically creamy-smooth BMW I-6 affair – bringing it on like a quick-but-smooth flowing river – perfect for using the right foot to dial-up just the right amount of oomph to the rear wheels to achieve just the right cornering attitude.
The M3 CS also provides an extremely nice place in which to partake of your passion for driving. Unlike the other two more expensive vehicles, I have no complaints about the interior design or materials. I still love the old tilted-toward-the-driver BMW cockpit design; and in this M3 it is executed flawlessly with simple control layouts, soft Nappa leather, real aluminum trim, high quality plastics and buttons, and a little Alcantara – a swell place for all occupants to hang out. This wicked little coupe even has a usable rear seat that folds down and a decent trunk with a ski/snowboard pass-through bag. The fronts seats’ power width-adjustable side bolsters are especially to my liking, allowing me to squeeze my torso in for aggressive stints or give my rib cage some breathing room for cruising. The exterior too provides that square-jawed classic BMW industrial design, sweetly pumped-up by the Motorsports Division. In the CS, the upgrade to beautifully serious-looking forged 19” wheels makes it even hotter. Some may feel that this design is looking dated; but if you like it (I love it), the M3 will be the last Bimmer to get restyled in the new “flame-surfacing” motif (I hate it), aka “Bangled”, after design chief Chris Bangle who I feel is destroying the brand’s styling identity and differentiation.
So it’s perfect then? Well, not for everyone. This car will nearly disappear in many environments because to many people’s eyes it’s just another 3-series. I love that, perhaps you hate it. The V8 Vantage is certainly the much better choice if getting noticed is your #1 criteria. And if you’ve just climbed out of the Carrera S, you may find yourself longing for a little more low-to-mid rpm poke from the gas pedal - the CS equals the Aston on this front (and betters the more like-priced Porsche Boxster S and Cayman S) and allows confident drivers a grand potential for controlled oversteer, but some drivers may want a bit more grunt. And the wonderfully precise and mechanical feeling gearshift does have slightly longer throws than the other two cars – no worries here, but maybe worries for you.
That’s it. The M3 CS receives the least amount of specific criticism of this trio; and it provides so much to savor, at every speed. BMW’s searing baby is just cataclysmically good. It’s even somewhat rare, as only about 2,000 total samples of the CS are expected to make it to North America across the 2005 and 2006 model years, then it’s all over. You could wait for the V8-powered, Bangle-styled, E90-platform M3 due within a couple of years, but there’s no guarantee that it will possess this car’s exquisitely zingy deftness. As a thing, the M3 CS is superbly solid and well-built as evidenced by its composure and ability to cruise with relative serenity. As a performance car, it responds enthusiastically to your every input, allowing you to enjoy every moment of every drive. For me, that’s what it’s all about. I love this car. Gigantically.
Recently, I took a drive in each of my three very most favorite automobiles. These are motor cars that really deliver the stuff that I love, all the time. Cars that are great to walk up to, sit in, spark up the engine, accelerate, turn, stop, and go – whether that’s going to work, or going out to jam through your favorite set of twisties – day-to-day usable performance cars that can be thoroughly appreciated every time you drive, without looking like too much of a jackhole. If you need more specific criteria: rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission are no-brainers; six or eight cylinders and sub-11 lbs. per horsepower do the trick; a reasonable level of refinement and some semblance of heritage contribute to the good stuff; and the coupe/GT body style works best for these full-time pleasure contraptions.
The Porsche 911 forges on as perhaps the most iconic sports car of all time. Though the last version, the 996 platform of 1998 to 2004, disappointed some Porschephiles with its Toyota-esque styling and anesthetized control feel; the 997 platform car that came to us for 2005 gives back much of what Porsche took away and presents it in an extremely good-looking package, while staying true to the rear-engined phenomenon. In Carrera S guise, this car is also seriously quick and is a nice return to the fantastic driver entertainment that made the 911 famous in the first place.
The BMW M3 became a legend during its first two iterations; though the third version that went on sale here in 2001 (E46 platform) has been a mild disappointment, particularly to steering/handling fetishists like me, due to its detached steering feel. The M3 CS (available as 2005 and 2006 M3 coupes) has more than alleviated that criticism, giving the M3 a quicker, more feelsome steering rack in combination with a fat Alcantara steering wheel. The CS also gets some serious-looking forged 19” wheels, a more slide-tolerant M-Track mode for the stability control program, larger cross-drilled floating compound brakes, and some special aluminum trim inside. The result is simply the best M3 ever.
It’s been a long while since an Aston Martin has been near the top of any true driving enthusiast’s wish list. Providing wealthy James Bond wanna-bes with gentlemanly-though-sometimes-gawky muscle cars has been Aston’s tiny niche of late. The new-for-2006 V8 Vantage has changed all that. This is a tight, compact Aston Martin (3 inches shorter and 2 inches lower than the 911) that harkens back to Aston’s legendary models of the 1960s and 70s, achieving a balanced and agile handling feel that few cars today can match. Combine this newfound dynamic excellence with rarity (1,000 per year for North America) and an achingly gorgeous body and swank interior, and you’ve got one of the most desirable cars on the planet.
So the stage is set. You might think these cars are a bit mismatched given the fairly wide price range, but these are three of the best coupe/GTs on the market, and they are simply my three favorite cars. Choosing a winner amongst these three superb cars is a very challenging task, but one that I tackle with massive enthusiasm.
3rd place
Porsche 911 Carrera S
How can the quickest car, and the icon, finish last? Well, these are my three favorite cars, so it was nearly a three way tie for first. But the competition is continually gunning for the huge selling 911, and in this group, with this driver; it just came up a teeny bit short. Don’t get me wrong, I love this car. The wailing 3.8 liter flat-6 delivers the biggest kick of the trio, always feeling and sounding awesome. Squeezing on the throttle brings on that spectacular Porsche burble and throaty roar that every car guy knows and loves. Midrange punch is intoxicating, and the noise-level-to-forward-thrust ratio is perfect. The 6-speed transmission is also danged near perfect, with ultra-slick precise shift action and short throws. The steering is very quick, tight and direct – a vast improvement over the last generation and a big contributor to the twisties-jamming joy that this car can provide. Likewise, the standard brakes are excellent and take off speed with the same aplomb with which the engine piles it on. This combination of virtues makes for a massively entertaining drive.
Yet at times the ride was choppy. Mid-corner corrections were necessitated by small pavement irregularities that the other two cars could just hammer right through un-phased. At one point during some late braking followed by hard cornering, the tires and ABS were gawking and the whole car just felt upset – the 911 stayed very close to the intended line, just not very happily. I suspect these criticisms stem from the car’s original design - nothing can quite overcome the inherent weaknesses of a short wheelbase and tail-heavy balance in this rear-engined sports car.
The new exterior styling, however, is spot-on. The beetle-back shape has never looked better according to many folks. The headlamps have returned to a more classic round-oval shape, and the Coke bottle shape of the body is very alluring with just the right amount of rear fender flare. Inside, the unique curve of the dashboard harkens back to early 911s, but looks thoroughly current. The trick Tire Pressure Monitoring System allows you to see, in an electronic diagram on the dash, any little changes that might impact the handling potential – very cool. Yet the two tones of metal-colored plastic used throughout the interior look downright cheap, the mandatory computer screen control center looks wrong in a performance car, and the vast number of tiny little plastic buttons all over the center console and front part of the roof liner is ridiculous. I also found the steering wheel rim to be a bit thin, the seats to be slightly under-bolstered, the wheels to be somewhat boring-looking, and the tailpipes to be slightly cheap-looking. These last four items can be upgraded via extra-cost optional equipment, but none were included on this lightly-optioned test car. The options list is extremely long and pricey, topping out with the desirable Porsche Carbon Ceramic Brakes.
But these criticisms don’t really amount to a hill of beans because the 911 Carrera S can pull it off – it is such a special and fantastically charismatic car. There is nothing else like it. And if objective performance is what you’re after – it wins. It out-accelerates the other two cars here and, driven well, it can beat them around road courses such as the Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany and Bedford Autodrome West Circuit in England. Adapting to and mastering this wonderfully unique and supremely capable sports car could provide decades of gigantic satisfaction. Nevertheless, two phantasmagorically good cars have bewitched me even more.
2nd place
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage seduces the eye from every angle. Wow, is it ever good lookin’. Other recent Aston Martins have been problematic. The Vanquish looks overwrought with its silly, giant creased fender flares; and the DB9 looks somewhat flaccid, like the massaged Jaguar that it is. And they’re both a bit heavy and a bit underperforming; and when enthusiasts scrutinize their dynamics, the criticisms flow freely. But this V8 Vantage hits the bulls-eye - a notch less flashy and ostentatious, yet even more magnetic for the eye of the car-loving guy (or girl). It looks tight, right, and purposeful while at the same time looking elegant, decadent, and sexy. How did they pull this off? Classic sports car proportions, for starters: long, sloping hood and two-placer cabin tapering back to a short hatch. Add perfect sized/shaped rear fender flares and exquisite Aston detailing like the classic grill, the sleek headlamps and tail lights, and the simplistically elegant 7-spoke 19” wheels – all in a smaller, more driver-focused-looking package. Anyhow, it just looks wicked good. Or perhaps you disagree? No, that could not possibly be.
Open the door via the slick push-in/pull-out tongue-depressor style handles, and you notice that the door angles up as it opens (reportedly so as not to hit curbs) and that it has no stop détentes. Instead, the high-grade hydraulics allow it to stop and stay anywhere along its travel. A beautifully thick aluminum door sill welcomes you to the decadence inside. Smooth leather and prominent stitching all over the place, instrumentation with dials that appear to be made of real metal, three simple machined alloy knobs for the HVAC controls, an elegantly uncluttered center stack, and tubular brushed aluminum braces behind the seats (that match three more braces under the hood) let you know that you’ve arrived. Strangely though, the background material for the center stack looks a little bit cheap, appearing to be metal-colored plastic (reportedly other finishes can be ordered); and the cross beams on the inside of the doors appear to have some sort of paint or coating on them that already had two chips out of it on the driver’s side of the test car. The seats could use a little more lateral support too. It appears to me that Aston cut some small corners, when just a few more bucks could have made it perfect. Disappointing.
But spark the ignition and you may forget all about any quibbles you might have. The engine ignites with sweet sounds and a little shudder that runs through the entire vehicle - lovely. The sonics are top-tier as you accelerate - the growling German-made V8 sounding oh-so-eager. The sound level in the cockpit grows with revs, and by 4,500 rpm, the thing is screaming at you. This gem is seriously loud. The accompanying thrust is very good, but not quite awesome enough to warrant the big noises. Given how loud it is, I’d expect the Vantage to be rocketing forward with 911 Turbo-like ferocity; but it’s more like a Carrera, and not the S. And for a V8 the low-end does not quite have the grunt I would expect - the flat-6-powered Carrera S actually bettering the Vantage in this arena. I’d really prefer a scoonch more oomph and a tiny bit less racket. Similarly, the Italian-made gearbox has short throws and easy-to-find gears, albeit with a slightly rubbery feel.
Nevertheless, mid-to-high rpm throttle response is extremely good, and steer the car into some bends and you’ll find a remarkably gifted chassis. Small throttle or steering inputs give glorious results, slightly rebalancing the car as you execute a delightful pivot-and-rail-style dance. The ever-so-slightly tail-heavy Vantage provides the ability to swing the tail out a hair with the throttle to tighten up your line before the rear tires actually break loose – a trait that I find nearly as seductive as the styling. But the car can easily be kept clean and tidy, and makes short work of turns of all radii. I love this car. The brakes feel strong and bring the speeds quickly back to reasonable levels should you get over-zealous on public roads, as you certainly oftentimes would.
So the V8 Vantage is very close to being every bit as gorgeous and capable as I hoped it would be. The gigantic charms and allure of this superb motor car make up for any minor criticisms. The overall wonderment of looking-at, being in, and driving the V8 Vantage is a rare and ultra-special treat – incredibly balanced, poised, and polished; yet ferocious. But for me, another company has pulled-off an even more mind-boggling trick with its automotive engineering magic.
1st place
BMW M3 CS
To guide the BMW M3 CS through fast corners is to achieve Nirvana. Steering feel and chassis dynamics sent straight from Heaven – that is what I have found here. Given my disappointment with the regular E46 platform M3, I find the CS to be transformational, making it an absolute revelation and a complete steal. I wouldn’t even think about pitting a regular M3 against the Carrera S or Vantage, but this CS variant catapults the M3 up into the realms of the Great Ones. The fat-without-getting-ridiculous-about-it Alcantara steering wheel feels like it was made for my hands and delivers information to my finger tips that even the lovely V8 Vantage can’t match. The suspension provides the smoothest ride of this bunch and soaks-up mid-corner pavement irregularities, allowing the driver to enjoy every corner – not what I expected from a more track-day-focused M3. The thing calmly and precisely devours turns at 8/10ths – the composure is miraculous. Push harder to find superb balance, with small throttle or steering inputs rewarding the driver with newfound alacrity and fascinating stories about the extreme talents of this chassis. The perfect 50/50 weight distribution certainly contributes to this greatness. Clean-and-tidy, hints of tail-sliding, or lurid oversteer (so I’ve heard) can all be executed with equal exuberance. The big new brakes feel strong and authoritatively keep the party in check. The CS magically paints a picture in my mind of what the four wheels are doing. It’s an other-worldly experience. I love this car.
The engine too, sounds superb and responds magnificently. From spark-up, you can hear the seriousness in the metallic rumble coming from under the hood. At lower engine speeds, the thing sounds great, but somewhat hushed in the vault-like cabin, allowing me to enjoy the decent-sounding Harmon-Kardon stereo. The whirring metallic sounds of the engine’s racing heritage become more prominent as revs rise, and above 4,500 rpm the car urgently scoots forward accompanied by a sweet song of exhaust roar and high-tech metallic fizz that never quite gets overwhelming like in the Aston – yum-o. High-rev shifts from first to second can produce a hint of unintentional rear-wheel spin, just to let you know that this beast means business. Torque delivery is the typically creamy-smooth BMW I-6 affair – bringing it on like a quick-but-smooth flowing river – perfect for using the right foot to dial-up just the right amount of oomph to the rear wheels to achieve just the right cornering attitude.
The M3 CS also provides an extremely nice place in which to partake of your passion for driving. Unlike the other two more expensive vehicles, I have no complaints about the interior design or materials. I still love the old tilted-toward-the-driver BMW cockpit design; and in this M3 it is executed flawlessly with simple control layouts, soft Nappa leather, real aluminum trim, high quality plastics and buttons, and a little Alcantara – a swell place for all occupants to hang out. This wicked little coupe even has a usable rear seat that folds down and a decent trunk with a ski/snowboard pass-through bag. The fronts seats’ power width-adjustable side bolsters are especially to my liking, allowing me to squeeze my torso in for aggressive stints or give my rib cage some breathing room for cruising. The exterior too provides that square-jawed classic BMW industrial design, sweetly pumped-up by the Motorsports Division. In the CS, the upgrade to beautifully serious-looking forged 19” wheels makes it even hotter. Some may feel that this design is looking dated; but if you like it (I love it), the M3 will be the last Bimmer to get restyled in the new “flame-surfacing” motif (I hate it), aka “Bangled”, after design chief Chris Bangle who I feel is destroying the brand’s styling identity and differentiation.
So it’s perfect then? Well, not for everyone. This car will nearly disappear in many environments because to many people’s eyes it’s just another 3-series. I love that, perhaps you hate it. The V8 Vantage is certainly the much better choice if getting noticed is your #1 criteria. And if you’ve just climbed out of the Carrera S, you may find yourself longing for a little more low-to-mid rpm poke from the gas pedal - the CS equals the Aston on this front (and betters the more like-priced Porsche Boxster S and Cayman S) and allows confident drivers a grand potential for controlled oversteer, but some drivers may want a bit more grunt. And the wonderfully precise and mechanical feeling gearshift does have slightly longer throws than the other two cars – no worries here, but maybe worries for you.
That’s it. The M3 CS receives the least amount of specific criticism of this trio; and it provides so much to savor, at every speed. BMW’s searing baby is just cataclysmically good. It’s even somewhat rare, as only about 2,000 total samples of the CS are expected to make it to North America across the 2005 and 2006 model years, then it’s all over. You could wait for the V8-powered, Bangle-styled, E90-platform M3 due within a couple of years, but there’s no guarantee that it will possess this car’s exquisitely zingy deftness. As a thing, the M3 CS is superbly solid and well-built as evidenced by its composure and ability to cruise with relative serenity. As a performance car, it responds enthusiastically to your every input, allowing you to enjoy every moment of every drive. For me, that’s what it’s all about. I love this car. Gigantically.
Fernarly's Five Fave Roller Coasters
(picture is Flash and me at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, home to two of my Top Five coasters)5. Kingda Ka – Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey. The tallest and fastest coaster on Earth, Kingda Ka fully delivers with a 0-128 mph flat-ground launch in 3.5 seconds followed by a climb straight up a 456 foot (139 m) tower, a 90 degree descent back to 128 mph, and a giant negative g camelback on the way back to the station. At the unload area, everyone is blissfully fried – even the security guards can’t help laughing, so much stoke is in the air.
4. Boulder Dash – Lake Compounce, Connecticut. This brilliant wooden coaster rollicks along a Connecticut hillside with a marvelous track design that provides thrilling drops, crazy high speed turns, and tons of negative-g airtime.
3. The Voyage – Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana. This is an absolutely crazy wooden coaster with a huge first drop that leads to an unrelenting series of humps and swirls that all feel perfectly designed, if your head stops spinning and you can think about it.
2. Ride of Steel – Darien Lake, New York. This thrilling steel coaster delivers massive drops, a super high-speed sweep across the surface of a lake, breakneck twirls, and the some of the most precisely executed negative-g moments of any coaster out there.
1. El Toro – Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey. This is it. The coaster that combines classic wooden coaster appearance and trains with steel coaster smoothness and power. The ridiculously steep first drop pulls you up into the lap bar like a wild bull gone freakozoidal! And it does not let up until you’re back at the station. This is the most incredible and continual negative-g, butt off-the-seat, coaster on Earth – something like 23 seconds of airtime (could this be?!). End it with a ridiculously mayhemic whirling banked turns section and you've got The Greatest Roller Coaster on Earth, in my book.
Three Great Little Cars
(in Three Different Drive Configurations)
Suzuki SX4 Crossover - All Wheel Drive. "Coolest Car under $18K" –Kelly Blue Book. Cute, cheap, AWD, standard factory NAV, and it outperforms the Mini Cooper for less money? Yes! and in the cruel Mini Cooper / Honda Fit town that is Seattle, an SX4 sighting still makes me smile widely. Let’s go snowboarding!
Ford Fiesta - Front Wheel Drive. Coming to North America in early 2010, this superb little front-driver is winning acclaim the World over. This will definitely be a small, inexpensive car (smaller and cheaper than the Focus) that gets good gas mileage, but also expect exceptional Euro road manners and styling. You could be one of the first.
BMW 128i - Rear Wheel Drive. Small BMWs are still the reference for driver satisfaction in a livable package. Modern traction and stability controls keep it composed in less-than-ideal weather. Resist options, and it’s less than $30K, four years scheduled maintenance included. This seems a very fair deal for a machine that can provide pure driving joy like few others.
Suzuki SX4 Crossover - All Wheel Drive. "Coolest Car under $18K" –Kelly Blue Book. Cute, cheap, AWD, standard factory NAV, and it outperforms the Mini Cooper for less money? Yes! and in the cruel Mini Cooper / Honda Fit town that is Seattle, an SX4 sighting still makes me smile widely. Let’s go snowboarding!
Ford Fiesta - Front Wheel Drive. Coming to North America in early 2010, this superb little front-driver is winning acclaim the World over. This will definitely be a small, inexpensive car (smaller and cheaper than the Focus) that gets good gas mileage, but also expect exceptional Euro road manners and styling. You could be one of the first.
BMW 128i - Rear Wheel Drive. Small BMWs are still the reference for driver satisfaction in a livable package. Modern traction and stability controls keep it composed in less-than-ideal weather. Resist options, and it’s less than $30K, four years scheduled maintenance included. This seems a very fair deal for a machine that can provide pure driving joy like few others.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Top 21 Albums of the '00s
21. Yo La Tengo - Summer Sun (2003) Lovely psychedlic lovliness from the New Jersey heros
20. Dean & Britta - Back Numbers (2007) A supremely cool New York romance
19. The xx - self-titled (2009) girl/boy sweet whispering British hypnosis
18. Sonic Youth - nyc ghosts & flowers (2000) Mellow art guitar project gone seriously right
17. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - self-titled (2009) Cuz I love gazing at shoes and twirling around in circles with my arms out
16. Joseph Arthur - Redemption Son (2003) Grand mellowness
15. Cat Power - You Are Free (2003) Groovy downness
14. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002) Lovely orchestral rock
13. The Raveonettes - Whip It On (2003) A film noir storybook blazing with attitude
12. Black Lips - 200 Million Thousand (2009) Glorious muck
11. Interpol – Turn On the Bright Lights (2002) Swirly goth-y grandioseness
10. The Night Marchers - See You in Magic (2008) Crunchy naughty Elvis-y awesomeness
9. Band of Horses - Everything All The Time (2006) Cool voice, good songs, interesting instrumentation, and the only band at the ’06 Capitol Hill Block Party to really move me. Occasionally an album of little mini-epics wins me over – this one is nearly perfect.
8. Luna - rendezvous (2004) Critics will likely consider Luna a ‘90s band and Penthouse as their finest. I disagree and feel that they continued to ascend right through to this, their final LP, which is just delightfully chill yet catchy and sentimental and draped in NYC love.
7. The Strokes - Is This It (2001) The hype for The Strokes in ’01 was gigantically ridiculous, but completely warranted. This album propels, start to finish, with tense rhythmic drive and cool New York swagger. Yes, this is it. Rock'n'roll.
6. Girls Against Boys - you can't fight what you can't see (2002) The swan song for the great '90s band, this is their finest album, in my opinion. Every song is a gem; a sad but hopeful gem of hard rock gone super cool and unique and awesome. A mad vogage of cruising around America with lots of love and lots of hate in your heart. An excellent quality recording too, you can really hear into the players' instruments and throats. This is fantastic New York rock'n'roll.
5. The Kills - Keep on Your Mean Side (2002) This scroungy, dirgy, delta-blues-y rock duo makes a perfectly nasty-but-classic racket. I adore all three of their albums, but this, their first, is my favorite - it just manages to totally kick arse as it teeters on the edge of falling apart. And live, Alison Mosshart is a psycho-swirling-stumbling-thrashing skinny rock'n'roll crazoid. The Kills so completely kill it that they make the White Stripes look like a couple of D-bag phonies, to me.
4. The Wrens - The Meadowlands (2003) This, to me, is Emo. These aging New Jersey guys sing (and play) their guts out about the struggles of having a band, working, girlfriends, ex-girlfriends, and life. And the instrumentation perfectly matches the moods of the songs. I adore the guitar tones, and they got three different dudes that can actually sing. Amazing live. I think it took them four years of recording in their living room, and it seems unlikely that they'll ever get around to releasing another album, but I'm so happy that they gave us this. It's a heart wrenching record that magically sucks me in to their emotionally wretched world every time.
3. Kings of Leon - Youth and Young Manhood (2003) Though they've broken my heart twice now (lp 3 is spotty, lp 4 is abysmal), I can't forget that KoL ruled the World for about four years. The UK loved these boys from the get-go and they were reportedly big rock stars over there, while in America we got to see 'em perform at places like Easy Street Records and Neumos. I was addicted to this album, their debut, for two years straight - I sang, I played air guitar, I danced around the apartment like an a-hole. Meagan hated it for months - thought it was Southern butt rock and was always telling me to turn it off - but eventually it completely won her over too. I love how it just oozes America. Rock'n'roll. They were like 18-19 years old, but the sounds, cover, and inside photos made me think they'd been playin' music for years. Ah Ha Shake Heartbreak, their 2nd lp which I also adore, went in a more Strokes-y alt-rock direction (fried Southern style), but this one is its own brilliantly unique ass-slaying beast. It charges, teeters, croons, blows off, blows up, and ultimately devastates me. cuz I like dancing around in my high heels, and I almost lost it in Montana. These Tennessee brothers nailed it. This is, by my measure, the greatest Southern Rock album ever.
2. New Wet Kojak - This is the glamorous (2002) Skronking NYC saxaphones bleed tight drum beats across oceans of beautiful floating riffs for supermodel citizens on top of deep bass grooves because the world of shampoo thirsts for a car. Nobody talks to me; I'm not a party person.
1. Hot Snakes - Automatic Midnight (2000) The sun has burned out and I’m being crushed by ultra-deadly riffage. This is the real deal. This is the blood of great rock music makers. Thank you, Rick and John - I love you guys. When I listen to this album loudly I feel as if I might be lost, hurt, or destroyed by what I’m hearing. Automatic Midnight is a constant reminder of why I love rock’n’roll, bashing me over the head relentlessly. It is passionate, aggressive music assembled and played by people who believe in every note, beat, and bead of sweat involved in its creation. That belief, that faith in the power of rock’n’roll, is important to me, and perhaps never has it been as audible as it is here.
20. Dean & Britta - Back Numbers (2007) A supremely cool New York romance
19. The xx - self-titled (2009) girl/boy sweet whispering British hypnosis
18. Sonic Youth - nyc ghosts & flowers (2000) Mellow art guitar project gone seriously right
17. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - self-titled (2009) Cuz I love gazing at shoes and twirling around in circles with my arms out
16. Joseph Arthur - Redemption Son (2003) Grand mellowness
15. Cat Power - You Are Free (2003) Groovy downness
14. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002) Lovely orchestral rock
13. The Raveonettes - Whip It On (2003) A film noir storybook blazing with attitude
12. Black Lips - 200 Million Thousand (2009) Glorious muck
11. Interpol – Turn On the Bright Lights (2002) Swirly goth-y grandioseness
10. The Night Marchers - See You in Magic (2008) Crunchy naughty Elvis-y awesomeness
9. Band of Horses - Everything All The Time (2006) Cool voice, good songs, interesting instrumentation, and the only band at the ’06 Capitol Hill Block Party to really move me. Occasionally an album of little mini-epics wins me over – this one is nearly perfect.
8. Luna - rendezvous (2004) Critics will likely consider Luna a ‘90s band and Penthouse as their finest. I disagree and feel that they continued to ascend right through to this, their final LP, which is just delightfully chill yet catchy and sentimental and draped in NYC love.
7. The Strokes - Is This It (2001) The hype for The Strokes in ’01 was gigantically ridiculous, but completely warranted. This album propels, start to finish, with tense rhythmic drive and cool New York swagger. Yes, this is it. Rock'n'roll.
6. Girls Against Boys - you can't fight what you can't see (2002) The swan song for the great '90s band, this is their finest album, in my opinion. Every song is a gem; a sad but hopeful gem of hard rock gone super cool and unique and awesome. A mad vogage of cruising around America with lots of love and lots of hate in your heart. An excellent quality recording too, you can really hear into the players' instruments and throats. This is fantastic New York rock'n'roll.
5. The Kills - Keep on Your Mean Side (2002) This scroungy, dirgy, delta-blues-y rock duo makes a perfectly nasty-but-classic racket. I adore all three of their albums, but this, their first, is my favorite - it just manages to totally kick arse as it teeters on the edge of falling apart. And live, Alison Mosshart is a psycho-swirling-stumbling-thrashing skinny rock'n'roll crazoid. The Kills so completely kill it that they make the White Stripes look like a couple of D-bag phonies, to me.
4. The Wrens - The Meadowlands (2003) This, to me, is Emo. These aging New Jersey guys sing (and play) their guts out about the struggles of having a band, working, girlfriends, ex-girlfriends, and life. And the instrumentation perfectly matches the moods of the songs. I adore the guitar tones, and they got three different dudes that can actually sing. Amazing live. I think it took them four years of recording in their living room, and it seems unlikely that they'll ever get around to releasing another album, but I'm so happy that they gave us this. It's a heart wrenching record that magically sucks me in to their emotionally wretched world every time.
3. Kings of Leon - Youth and Young Manhood (2003) Though they've broken my heart twice now (lp 3 is spotty, lp 4 is abysmal), I can't forget that KoL ruled the World for about four years. The UK loved these boys from the get-go and they were reportedly big rock stars over there, while in America we got to see 'em perform at places like Easy Street Records and Neumos. I was addicted to this album, their debut, for two years straight - I sang, I played air guitar, I danced around the apartment like an a-hole. Meagan hated it for months - thought it was Southern butt rock and was always telling me to turn it off - but eventually it completely won her over too. I love how it just oozes America. Rock'n'roll. They were like 18-19 years old, but the sounds, cover, and inside photos made me think they'd been playin' music for years. Ah Ha Shake Heartbreak, their 2nd lp which I also adore, went in a more Strokes-y alt-rock direction (fried Southern style), but this one is its own brilliantly unique ass-slaying beast. It charges, teeters, croons, blows off, blows up, and ultimately devastates me. cuz I like dancing around in my high heels, and I almost lost it in Montana. These Tennessee brothers nailed it. This is, by my measure, the greatest Southern Rock album ever.
2. New Wet Kojak - This is the glamorous (2002) Skronking NYC saxaphones bleed tight drum beats across oceans of beautiful floating riffs for supermodel citizens on top of deep bass grooves because the world of shampoo thirsts for a car. Nobody talks to me; I'm not a party person.
1. Hot Snakes - Automatic Midnight (2000) The sun has burned out and I’m being crushed by ultra-deadly riffage. This is the real deal. This is the blood of great rock music makers. Thank you, Rick and John - I love you guys. When I listen to this album loudly I feel as if I might be lost, hurt, or destroyed by what I’m hearing. Automatic Midnight is a constant reminder of why I love rock’n’roll, bashing me over the head relentlessly. It is passionate, aggressive music assembled and played by people who believe in every note, beat, and bead of sweat involved in its creation. That belief, that faith in the power of rock’n’roll, is important to me, and perhaps never has it been as audible as it is here.
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