Blur – This Is a Low

I had never seen Blur live. It’s not that I jumped on the Britpop bandwagon late — I’ve been a fan since the ’90s. It’s just that I don’t recall the seminal UK group touring Dallas, which was the last place I lived before I moved to a remote tropical island with zero Britpop bands passing through. So, it was an obvious move to time our three-day Hong Kong layover with the Blur concert. And boy do Hong Kongers love Blur! I don’t know whether to call it a reunion or an interruption of a loooong hiatus, but Damon Albarn et al were spared no amount of fanfare at the show. Announcing that the band would record a new album during their weeklong stay sent the crowd into sheer ecstasy.

After seeing Blur play Coachella (via the web), I was a little worried that the band would be drunk and sloppy, but they weren’t. They played lots of oldies, opening with “Girls & Boys” and inspiring a crowd singalong and encore of “Tender.” I was hoping to hear “Chemical World” and more stuff from 13 and Think Tank (“Ambulance” would have been nice) but didn’t. “This Is a Low” was the anthemic climax for me and I felt all of 16 again.

Sipping cocktails in the Marriott Lounge before the show. Why do I get pre-show jitters?

Jacket: Macy’s (similar).  Vest: H&M (try eBay).  Ring: Macy’s.

Grimes – Genesis

Our travels this month took us first to Hong Kong before jetting off to Indonesia. A big city is always a welcome experience for this island-dweller. Hong Kong has an easy, cheap, and efficient metro that allowed us to do a ton of exploring in just 3 days. And did I mention the Blur concert? More on that in the next post… See my list of 5 Things You Must Do in Hong Kong on The Guam Guide.

The best cabbage dumpling soup I’ve ever had came from a non-descript hole-in-the-wall. That’s Hong Kong.

Street Style photography could be a full-time occupation here. Even babies would make the cut. Hong Kongers dress colorfully, edgy, confidently. Very different from Tokyo!

Dress: Venus.  Scarf: H&M (similar).  Earrings: Forever 21 (similar).

The name of this market? Kam Fat Food Market.

Did you read the dog tag?

Dan Croll – Wanna Know

Dress: Venus.  Jacket: Calvin Klein via Macy’s (similar).  Shoes: Macy’s.  Belt: Ross (similar).  Bag: Ross (similar).  Earrings: Forever 21 (similar).  Ring: Macy’s (similar).  Sunglasses: Harajuku Street, Tokyo (similar).

Photography by the talented One Mish at Sheraton Laguna Guam

The Music

Eventually, I will have played you the entirety of Dan Croll’s debut EP, From Nowhere. It’s flawless. Every song is 2-3 minutes of pop perfection.

Dan Croll – From Nowhere (Baardsen Remix)

Blouse: Ann Taylor.  Skirt: Macy’s (similar).  Shoes: Nine West (similar).  Bag: Ross (similar).  Sunglasses: SM Store (similar).  Cuff: Forever 21 (similar).  Ring: Macy’s.

Photography by the talented One Mish at Hyatt Regency Guam

Myth – Beach House

Blouse: Ann Taylor (sold out, similar).  Skirt: J.Crew.  Shoes: SM Store (similar).  Earrings: Macy’s.  Ring: Macy’s (similar).  Necklace: S. Africa (similar).  Bag: Ross (similar).

Photography by the talented One Mish at Hyatt Regency Guam

The Music

If you’re a loyal Sound of Chic reader, you know I can’t help but wax hyperbolic about music I love. I find it impossible to use moderate adjectives when only superlatives apply. That disclaimer aside, I cannot say enough good things about the album Bloom by Beach House. It’s impossible not to compare them to Cocteau Twins, but that’s not a bad thing considering there are almost no shoegazers to carry the torch, save School of Seven Bells. (I lectured in Shoegaze 101 last year.) If you listened to Lush, My Bloody Valentine, or The Sundays in the ’90s, you are guaranteed to swoon at this Beach House album. It’s an easier listen than their previous, Teen Dream, which I played you back in July 2012. Both sweet and ethereal, Bloom is a guitar pop album, but has lots of atmosphere, if you know what I mean. It’s sad and beautiful, uplifting and languid, but with some pretty emotional crescendos. Victoria Legrand’s vocals suggest that happiness is just around the bend but still out of reach. “Wishes” encapsulates the whole sound — Cure-like guitars, propulsive, steady beat, and layered Siouxsie Sioux-esque vocals. Buy it now.

The Inspiration

Two of my favorite things: travel and shopping. I scored this handmade Zulu necklace in Durban, South Africa a couple years ago. My husband and I were there for a convention, where we met the lovely women pictured left. I learned that half the population of Durban is Indian and we spent a hurried 20 minutes in a cramped and colorful Indian bazaar. So, the necklace is Zulu, I bought it in an Indian shop, and yet I feel like an Egyptian when I wear it.

Tame Impala – Apocalypse Dreams

Shirt: Ann Taylor (similar).  Skirt: H&M (similar).  Belt: Etsy.  Shoes: Nine West (I like these!).  Bag: Guess (similar).  Sunglasses: SM Store (similar and similar).  Necklace: Forever 21 (similar).  Ring: Macy’s (similar).

Photography by the talented One Mish at Leo Palace Resort, Guam

The Inspiration

This obi sash is custom made from Etsy. I chose the print, color of leather on the reverse, and the size and voila! — a handmade belt to rival any designer.

Justin Timberlake – Pusher Love Girl

Shirt: Calvin Klein.  Skirt: Macy’s.  Shoes: Nine West (similar).  Belt: BCBG (similar).  Bag: similar.  Necklace: Macy’s.  Ring: Macy’s (similar).  Bracelets: SM Store (similar).  Sunglasses: Harajuku Street, Tokyo (similar).

Photography by the talented One Mish at Leo Palace Resort, Guam

The Music

With a early abhorrence for boy bands, I could never get excited over the bands my peers were crushing on. I’m not saying that at age 8 I had some kind of precocious cognition to distrust the mainstream record industry, I would just rather dress up like Cyndi Lauper and perform an entire solo dance set on top of my mom’s brokedown Pontiac in the backyard. Indulged much? Yeah, I guess.

In my youth — the late ’80s — New Kids on the Block informed the pubescent fantasies of most of my otherwise cool little girlfriends. (And even though they rebranded with the ultra sophisticated NKOTB, I couldn’t dislike them any less.) By the ’90s, I was too busy listening to Dark Side of the Moon backwards and trying to figure out why Paul was barefoot on Abbey Road to care about the Backstreet Boys. I was pretty much impervious to the teenage dream of meeting NSYNC by the time Justin Timberlake et al were inspiring emotional meltdowns the teen world over. Too late, One-Hit-Boy-Wonders, my heart already belonged to The Pixies, Suzanne Vega, The Smiths, New Order, The Sundays, James, Depeche Mode, Luna, Tripping Daisy, The Breeders, Dinosaur Jr., Bjork, and most of the bands on the Singles soundtrack.

That history being told, I was a slow and reluctant convert to the solo Justin Timberlake, but I admit to dancing to a few singles at parties. That all changed a few months ago. Justin Timberlake, the musician, finally emerged in adult form and not only was the music great (saw him live on Jimmy Fallon), but listening to JT no longer felt like a move against better judgment. Reincarnated as JT and the Tennessee Kids, Timberlake delivers a very satisfying old school R&B session on The 20/20 Experience. Though he may be aiming for a James Brown bandleader vibe, Timberlake sounds very much like soul crooner D’Angelo on “Pusher Love Girl”, a Motown-tinged affair married to happy Timbaland beats. Guitar licks that sound like they were lifted from any Prince album, barber shop backing vocals, and Timbaland’s trademark clickety-clack percussion make “That Girl” one of the best tracks on the album. A bone deep rhythm, infectious chorus, and Afro-Cuban drums make it an indisputable party anthem. “Suit & Tie” is ruined only by Jay-Z’s uninspired and pompous rapping. Why is this talentless cardboard cutout famous? ”Let the Groove Get In” recalls both “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Something’” by Michael Jackson, which is high praise. Has a successor to the Throne of Pop arrived?

Lianne La Havas – Au Cinéma

Kayaking through Palau’s Rock Islands by default feels like being a castaway in an undiscovered paradise. This was my second time to take this day trip and it was no less exhilarating than nearly two years ago. Read my full travel story on The Guam Guide.

At one point, the group decided to enter a water-filled lagoon only accessible by free diving under two massive rocks. Our guide assured us that the tide would eventually go out, making it possible to swim out head above water. After ducking in for a minute and nearly scraping my head on the razor-sharp clams overhead, I opted to keep an eye on the kayaks!

Paddling across this lagoon midday was no small feat. Notice how I am far behind the other kayakers!

Respites came in small measures, like ducking under a few feet of shade by hugging the rock.

We explored bat-filled, majestic caves along the way. I became something of a bat lover when I saw them up close in Cairns, Australia a few years ago (below). They can be quite cute and are perfectly harmless!

As the Pacific stage of WWII, Micronesia has dozens of historical wreck sites. Palau is no exception. We snorkeled through a Japanese ‘Zero’ plane wreck (sorry, no underwater camera) — different from the one I saw last time, below.

This old Japanese pill box was built into one of the islands. I climbed up barefoot, clutching the dry box holding my camera.

Tankini: J.Crew.  Sunglasses: Harajuku Street, Japan.

Below you see the results of a typhoon that hit Palau recently. Even the wreckage couldn’t diminish the natural beauty of the ocean.

Tame Impala – Led Zeppelin

Here you see the beaming face of a person just minutes away from zip lining over a waterfall in the remote Pacific island of Palau. Thrilling, gorgeous, awe-inspiring, yes. What you don’t see is this person falling flat on her butt just inches away from the waterfall! What a bruise, but fortunately the Canon was saved. So, yes, this was my first zip lining experience and there are no pictures of me doing said adventure only because I am a control freak of a photographer, so I wanted to shoot the view as I zipped! Those photos actually were not that interesting — just the tops of trees quite blurry. So, you see the hubs zip lining and looking like he’s hanging on for dear life, which he was (although I don’t know why).

The Music

I first heard Tame Impala’s “Elephant” in that trés cool BlackBerry commercial. I have a love/hate relationship with the mainstream media, so I was both thankful for the introduction and annoyed that I had to discover the band via a BlackBerry commercial (why couldn’t it have been Apple?). I think I just officially qualified for hipster status. Ugh. Or maybe I am still just a mid-level music snob. Either way, I like this band.

Most of the album, Lonerism, sounds like Rubber Soul B-sides and I mean that in the most complimentary way. It’s amazing how close to The Beatles production sound Tame Impala got — the fat bass, the saccharine Lennon-esque vocals, and the layered backing harmonies. “Elephant” is the true standout song, but I wanted you to hear the aptly titled “Led Zeppelin” because it’s a great homage to the title band.

After zipping across, we trekked down to the waterfall through the lush jungle.

The Love Tree

There was no way to get a style post outta this excursion. It was hot, humid, and muddy, but very beautiful and the air was divinely fresh. I’m wearing LOFT pants, if you must know.

Thanks to our guide, the waterfall is in full focus. Oy.

Kishi Bashi – I Am the Antichrist to You

Palau is really a magical place. Once the setting for a season of Survivor, this tiny Micronesian island chain is home to a gazillion kinds of coral, sea life, and breathtaking rock islands. This was my second visit and working vacation. Read my full travel story on The Guam Guide.

The first six photos show the view from our hotel balcony. We enjoyed misty mornings sipping coffee and electric dusks watching the bats circle this lush inlet. Most people visit Palau to dive and it has been described as some of the best diving in the world (20 foot manta rays, school of black tipped sharks!). Can you believe I’m not certified yet? It’s a crime not to be and there’s no reason other than procrastination that I haven’t scheduled the classes. Still, snorkeling in the Rock Islands was a visual treat and you’ll see those pictures, as well as my experience ziplining over a waterfall, in my next post (don’t want to overload you!).

So, this dress again? Yeah, it just travels so well and is perfect for humid climates. I can’t seem to find winter anywhere! I don’t even have a winter wardrobe anymore, save for a hot leather jacket that I’ve worn in New York twice.

Dress: Macy’s.  Sunglasses: Harajuku, Tokyo.  Earrings: Macy’s.  Necklace: Forever 21.  Bracelet: Forever 21.

The Music

The entire Kishi Bashi debut album, 151A, is a trippy, hippy, poppy delight. If the names Jonsi, Sufjan Stevens, and Olivia Tremor Control mean anything to you, you will love Kishi Bashi.

Lunch and afternoon swim at Palau Pacific Resort