This week: TV on the Radio explains why it’s raining milk… The Sun talks craziness about the moon… And we treat ourselves to the cake to end all cakes. Plus, a joke from actress Claire Sloma and a fierce new track from Stephen Malkmus.
Icebreaker: Claire Sloma
Claire Sloma, who stars in the coming-of-age film The Myth of The American Sleepover (available now on VOD), backs up her acting with a hair-brained joke.
Small Talk: Julie Gerstein
Julie Gerstein, writer for women’s pop culture website TheFrisky, laments that the Oxford English Dictionary is erasing cassette tapes… and promoting sexting.
A History Lesson with Booze: Unicorns on the Moon & “Under the Desk” This week back in 1835, the fledgling newspaper The Sun started publishing a sensational series of stories about the discovery of life… on the moon. Hear about how New Yorkers bought outright lies about lunar unicorns and man-bats, then reach for this liquid tribute to reckless journalism.
“Under the Desk,” as published by Sam Burr at Louis 649 in New York City.
To a shaker with ice, add these precise measurements:
- 1.25 oz. rye whiskey
- .25 oz. simple syrup
- .25 tsp. grenadine
- 1 oz. lime juice
Shake and pour through a strainer into a chilled martini glass. Then peel a 1-inch curl out of a lemon, squeeze a few drops into the drink out of the gash in the lemon (peel side down), and rub the curl around the edge of the glass. Sip it with scientific precision. Stop drinking if you start seeing unicorns anywhere, but especially on the moon.
Guest of Honor: TV on the Radio
Brooklyn band TV on the Radio has melded pop, soul and art-rock into one of the most prominent sounds of the last decade. Their 2008 release “Dear Science” was named Album of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine and a slew of others, and this year’s “Nine Types of Light” continues to draw critical adulation… while adding more love songs to the mix. As the band readies for this weekend’s tour launch (culminating in a headlining gig at the Hollywood Bowl), frontmen Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone tell Rico about their Cosby opera, playing Letterman, Bowie fatigue, and flamingo milk.
Main Course: The Cake to End All Cakes
It’s not easy to find a dessert that’s both rich and refined. Enter Kouign-Amann, a Breton cake whose combination of butter, sugar, and flour is so delicate that it takes a full day to bake. Roy Shvartzapel of the newly opened Bouchon Bakery in Beverly Hills (part of chef Thomas Keller’s restaurant empire) talks to Brendan about a decidedly grown-up dessert.
One For The Road: Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks – “Tigers”
Indierock godfather Stephen Malkmus (formerly of Pavement) pounds onward with this week’s release of Mirror Traffic. The album continues his collaboration with Portland pals the Jicks, adds production from Beck, and spins out a series of smart, inviting guitar grooves. The opener “Tigers” (download it) is a perfect for busting out of a catnap.
Music On This Week’s Show:
Sea & Cake – “The Argument”
Aphex Twin – “Girl/Boy Song”
Tipsy – “Liquordelic”
Bent – “Moonbeams”
Beck – “Earthquake Weather”
TV On The Radio – “Will Do”
TV On The Radio – “New Cannonball Blues”
Francoise Hardy – “L’anamour”
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks – “Tigers”
