NYLON - January 2009 - (Page 142) bookmark: HORROR CINEMA “Those who claim not to like horror are in denial…because they are afraid of their own humanity and how they feel,” declares Taschen editor Paul Duncan in the forward to Horror Cinema, the latest addition to the publisher’s tastefully curated photo book series. Celebrating the morbid onscreen proclivities of film’s most terrifying psychopaths, Taschen has compiled a compelling collection of iconic stills from the greatest scary movies of all time. The usual creepy suspects are here—the sun-splashed insanity of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Janet Leigh’s final moments in Hitchcock’s Psycho, the implausible reds of Argento’s Suspiria—and the book also chronicles the beauty in the repulsive, with resplendent blackand-white images, and hues of crimson creating a mélange of terror. Chapters are arranged in thematic, historical, and aesthetic terms, so whether you prefer the masterpiece of demonic possession, The Exorcist, the sci-fi panic of Alien, or disturbing villains (think the Norman Bateses and Hannibal Lecters), this is a classic depiction of horror at its freakish best. BECCA RODRIGUEZ EAGLES OF DEATH METAL HEART ON (DOWNTOWN RECORDINGS) The big boys from Coachella Valley are back with another blistering rock album, one that falls more on the “metal” than the “Eagles” side of the spectrum. And, whereas earlier albums, like Peace, Love, and Death Metal, were rife with punch-drunk riffs on the sun-baked California scene, Heart On dives straight into the neonlit guts of Los Angeles, with songs like “Cheap Thrills” illustrating the new, guitardriven menace. It can be surprising to hear the usually silly Eagles’ snarky commentaries about the City of Angels. But the ultimate twist? According to Josh Homme, Heart On was so named because it was recorded in the American heartland, but Jesse Hughes has another theory: He recently described the album as “a top-secret music missile.” Say its name five times fast, and take a guess. ALEX LITTLEFIELD HOLIDAY MIXTAPE: casey wilson “SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN” by Bruce Springsteen I am so in love with this man. I wish I could see our names in print on the same page. Would that ever happen?! I did not write the next part. BRUCE HEARTS CASEY. “WHITE CHRISTMAS” by Johnny Mathis Funny story! I grew up listening to him at Christmas and loving him, but I never knew he was black until a few years ago! The song title is not meant to be ironic or is it?! “TYPE SLOWLY” by Pavement I have never heard this song, but my boyfriend recommended it. And no, it’s not a Christmas song. But I wanted to have at least one ‘edgier’ song on this mix so I don’t lose my street cred or alienate the NYLON readers. If you find Saturday Night Live rookie Casey Wilson’s slapstick sketches (she plays Dusty the Stripper, paralyzed from the neck down in a freak Tilt-a-Whirl accident) and irreverent impersonations (Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Scarlett Johansson) funny, then her holiday mixtape—with songs about race, rape, and flatulence—will surely get you in the spirit. “SANTA BABY” by Eartha Kitt Sure, it’s sort of lame to love this one, but every girl gets a twinkle in her eye when it comes on. It’s like dressing up “sexy” for Halloween. It’s expected and allowed. And sad. “SILVER BELLS” by Bing Crosby My dad and I used to sing this when I was little. “BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE” by Dean Martin I certainly don’t love it for this reason, but it’s so obviously a jazzy melody about rape. Why does no one else see this?! “RIVER” by Joni Mitchell This list is like reading a “best of” at Starbucks, but alas, I am a gal’s gal and not immune to Joni’s pull. “I FARTED ON SANTA’S LAP (NOW CHRISTMAS IS GONNA STINK FOR ME)” by the Little Stinkers Honest to God, this song really exists. Find it on YouTube now. Then regret it two minutes later. “JINGLE BELLS” by Barbra Streisand You have to hear it to believe it. It sounds like—and no one loves her more than I do—she had a nervous breakdown in the middle of the recording, picked herself up, fully recommitted herself to the song, then got a little confused about where she was, then got angry, then got sad, then went out with a bang. It will leave you feeling all of those things, too. “CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME)” by Darlene Love I’m applying that old musical adage: “If it can open the movie Gremlins, it can surely be put on my holiday mixtape.” 142 mixtape illustration by evah fan
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