(December 2008)
Music
AFROBEAT'S REVIVAL
Photograph by Ian Dickson/Retna Ltd. Thirty years after the late, great Fela Kuti and his sweaty blend of jazz, funk, and conga rhythms had their heyday, the Nigerian innovator's sound is reshaping the mainstream music scene. Indie bands from New York—like Yeasayer, Vampire Weekend, and Dirty Projectors—have adopted Kuti's drum-heavy mix. The reigning American Afrobeat band, Antibalas, has joined TV on the Radio on their second and third efforts, and the U.K. youngsters the Foals on their debut, Antidotes. Kuti's sons, Femi and Seun, are gaining popularity, and now the Afrobeat pioneer himself is getting a tribute: The musical
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Style News
G-STAR'S CORRECT LINE
Photographs courtesy of G-Star A guy can't live in five-pocket jeans and washed tees alone—at least, that's what the brains behind G-Star believe. This month, the Dutch brand introduces a new collection, Correct Line, that explores motifs beyond its trademark raw denim. The debut offering consists of tailored blazers, sharp asymmetrical jackets, and contrast-trim button-down shirts. "We wanted to make the ultimate mini-wardrobe," says G-Star design director Pauline Barendregt. The best part: You don't need to abandon your favorite pair of jeans. The line's items are designed to look as good with denim as with a pair of gray
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Health
The Pills You Should Be Popping
Photograph by Craig Cutler A one-a-day multivitamin habit is a good first step toward better health, but to get the real payoff you need more than a magic tablet—even if it is shaped like Fred Flintstone. Here, a guide to what supplements to take, depending on your goals. Katie Hintz GETTING AHEAD AT THE OFFICE Daily Doses: High-potency multivitamin/multi-mineral (4-6 capsules), coenzyme Q10 (50-100 mg), phosphatidylserine (1-3 100-mg doses), ginkgo biloba (120-240 mg) How They Work: To avoid sick days and the 4 P.M. slump, you need a high-potency multivitamin—the kind you take four or more times a day.
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Books
DREAMS OF A ROBOT DANCING BEE BY JAMES TATE
Dreams of a Robot Dancing Bee by James Tate [Wave Books, $14] When he turns to prose, this Pulitzer Prize-winning poet exhibits a surprisingly uncomplicated style. The reissue of his 2002 short story collection includes 44 oddly moving tales about vacationing spies, sour video-store managers, and creepy gynecologists. Timothy Hodler READ MORE: Don DeLillo explains how French philosophy has infected the White House Boutique publishers curate their lists with care and taste
Art
The Main Event: Reed Krakoff's UFC Book
Photograph by Jennifer Livingston DMX's hypnotic "Ain't No Sunshine" blasts through the jumbo speakers at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, as middleweight champion Anderson Silva makes his way to the Octagon at October's Ultimate Fighting Championship 90. Under the glare of a single spotlight his tall, lithe frame looks severe. His face, though, is relaxed, and his eyes fearless. He demolished his previous opponent in less than 45 seconds. The capacity crowd, primed by the nine fights on the undercard, including a bloody, fast-paced middleweight brawl that left the mat looking like a crime scene, wants this matchup
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60 SECONDS WITH CARSON DALY
Photograph courtesy of NBC Universal Got a minute? Television host Carson Daly talks about his gig hosting NBC's New Year's Eve, his TRL days, and being a massive tool. Q: Looking back on many years of hosting New Year's Eve festivities for NBC and MTV, does any particular memory stand out? A: Well, at MTV it was just a party—literally it was just a party on the air. But one of my favorite memories at MTV was when Green Day performed. Q: And at NBC? A: Last year Alex Rodriguez and his wife were just making out on the
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Movies + TV
THE ANIMATED DOCUMENTARY
Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics Poignant subjects, grainy archival footage, and professorial talking heads—directors of historical documentaries have long known what audiences expect of their work. Now, though, Ari Folman is flipping fusty documentarians the bird—a bright, cartoonish one at that. While Brett Morgen used animation snippets to spice up courtroom audio recordings in Chicago 10, Folman has produced the first completely animated feature-length doc, Waltz With Bashir. The former Israeli soldier's choice of medium is pragmatic, since no footage exists of the film's central event—the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre in Lebanon, in which 3,000 Palestinian civilians were
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Wheels
The Superpowers of Your Future Ride
Courtesy of Cadillac Though cars are not yet capable of ninjalike invisibility or flight, auto engineers are hard at work on a few far-fetched add-ons that will one day be as common as cruise control. Ian Daly LED HIGHLIGHTS The Laboratory: Cadillac The Lowdown: Most luxury rides use xenon lights. But LEDs approximate daylight far better, and they can be clustered to offer a more fine-tuned illumination. The Time Frame: Currently on the 2009 Escalade Platinum (pictured above) PRE-SCAN SUSPENSION (A.K.A. MAGIC CARPET RIDE) The Laboratory: Mercedes-Benz The Lowdown: Laser sensors scan the road ahead for bumps, and a
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Food + Drinks
OVERSIZE BOTTLES OF WINE
Photograph by Craig Cutler There's a trick to throwing a first-rate party, and it's called a big-ass bottle of wine. In the sweet spot between four-figure collectibles and jugs of Carlo Rossi, you'll find large-format wines—magnums and up—that are ready to drink. Think of it as functional indulgence—all the nectar you need dressed up to make you look like a host of uncommon generosity. Rob Willey THE ONES TO SERVE 2005 Sogno Due Falanghina (5 L): $421 This Rehoboam of Italian white comes courtesy of adult-film star Savanna Samson's collaboration with Roberto Cipresso. 2005 Stonestreet Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
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Style
BOND STREET
Photographs by Matthew Sandager Bond Street, which spans two blocks, from Broadway to the Bowery, in downtown Manhattan, was just another unremarkable strip north of bustling, tourist-dominated SoHo. But over the past two years, the tranquil cobblestone thoroughfare has emerged as a home for art galleries, rare-book stores, chic boîtes (like the Catalan restaurant Mercat), modernist residences (like Ian Schrager's Herzog & de Meuron-designed condo building), and upscale boutiques. Rumor has it that Dries Van Noten is scouting the street as a location for his first U.S. store, so you'd better get there soon, before the crowds do. Katie
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The Daily Details Continues
