Chris Glass and the folks from Wire and Twine put together this impressive list of things you can do to help the planet. I would change 39 to “Bike Don’t Drive” since I bike to work everyday (although it’s only about 2 miles each way). The City has done an amazing job with adding tons of bike lines to make commuting safer. Plus it saves you $81 a month!

If you want to celebrate tonight, Earth Day New York and Green Drinks are sponsoring an event at The Park with music, art, and even an eco-fashion show.

It seems like everybody is trying to be green these days, and although those “green” Wal Mart ads can be annoying, I think it’s a good sign. I know Justin, Pat, and I can appreciate it, being environmental engineers and all. This is what I call job security!

It’s WAY too gorgeous today to be stuck inside an office building in front of a computer and it looks like more of the same tomorrow. After a long lunch strolling around West Philadelphia, all I want to do is get the fuck out of here as I glance at the clock every fifteen seconds. My productivity for the day has gone off the deep end, with my ambition focused now on getting to the nearest park to relax and bask in the afternoon sun (after applying the appropriate amount of sun block, of course). I feel like I’m coming down with something. Sniffle, sneeze, cough, cough.

[MP3]: Cocoa Tea  ”I Lost My Sonia”
The Sweet Sound of Cocoa Tea, VP Records; 2008

Within the last month, climate scientists estimated that an area of the Northern Hemisphere polar ice cap almost twice the size of Britain disappeared as a result of the unprecedented heat, allowing for the Northwest Passage has become fully navigable for the first time in history. “If present trends continue, scientists predict that the Arctic could become ice-free during the summer months within 23 years. To put that into context, it took the last 30 years for it to lose almost a third of its ice (Treehugger).”

The Northern Hemisphere sea ice area reached a historic minimum in September (4.28 million sq. km), representing a 23% drop in sea ice coverage from the previous record ice minimum (September 2005) and a 39% drop from the long-term average.

Find out more at NSIDC.

[MP3]: Blur  ”Look Inside America”
Blur; Virgin, 2007

Above pic via onlystardust

Being an engineer and having a love for art, I’ve always been inspired by the kinetic sculptor, Theo Jansen. Working on the beaches of the Netherlands, Jensen constructs large sculptures that resemble skeletons of animals which are able to walk using the power of the wind. My favorite piece, Animaris Rhinoceros, is at the end of the video. Simply amazing.

When we last checked in with The Teeth, they were busy touring the U.S. and still are today. The band won’t be back on the East Coast until early next month, where they’ll continue to play live dates.

While the band has been on the road, the acclaim has been building up for The Teeth’s proper debut You’re My Lover Now. Both LAS Magazine and Popmatters think that there’s something up with the water down here in Philly. Popmatters begins their review with; “Maybe there’s something in the water in Philadelphia. Where other cites put fluoride in their pipes, does Philly have some magic powder they add to nurture incredibly off-kilter, ramshackle, amazing pop music?”

There’s definitely something in the water alright – it sucks – I think they take it from the Schuylkill River. Have to Brita that shit before putting it anywhere near my mouth. New York City has thousands of acres of protected land surrounding their water supply and Philly takes their water from a filthy river. Imagine getting your water from the Hudson! Anyway, I totally agree with both reviewers that there’s something very special going on down here, but I’m pretty sure it’s not the water.

Ugh! The last time we did one of these mixes we were happy to see some of the first warm sun rays of Spring. Now all I feel like doing is crawling into a dark air conditioned hole and sleeping until the humidity drops below 80 percent. Seriously. I’m sure things are 100 times worse up there in New York City, looking out of the window here in Philly and all I can see is haze. Nasty. Walk a block and you’re drenched with sweat.

Hopefully, the mix below will remind you of the better days of summer as we all flee to our favorite cool spots to find some relief.

[MP3:] Billy Idol  ”Hot in the City” /// Christian
[MP3:] Shy Child  ”Summer” /// James
[MP3:] French Kicks  ”Wrong Side” /// Nghia
[MP3:] The Cure  ”Hot Hot Hot” /// Pablo
[MP3:] Wreckless Eric  ”Whole Wide World” /// Ray
[MP3:] Hot Hot Heat  ”Get in or Get Out” /// Pat
[MP3:] The White Stripes  ”Catch Hell Blues” /// Ric
[MP3:] Sly & The Family Stone  ”Hot Fun in the Summertime” /// Justin

Above pic via Bukutgirl

[MP3]: Brian Eno  ”Golden Hours”

Actually, not quite, but close. Manhattanhenge is a biannual phenomenon when the sun sets with the centerline of every Manhattan cross street creating a dramatic backdrop against the iron, glass, steel, and stone faced buildings that line the city streets. Since the entire island (and grid) is rotated 30-degrees from geographic north, the sun aligns with the grid on May 28th and July 12th (mark your calendars).

Last week as I crawled out from the dark underground and made my way up to the surface streets there were about 20 minutes of golden light left in the New York City sky. I quickly hailed a cab and started to make my way down 7th Avenue. I was digging around my bag and then a glimmer of light caught my eye so I popped my head up to see the sun slipping into the Hudson River. I was awestruck as block by block went by filled with the melting sun’s orange rays. It was one of the most surreal and tranquil feelings I’ve had in quite a while, in one of the busiest places on the planet.

Just before getting in the cab, I was listening to Brian Eno’s Another Green World and coincidentally, Eno’s “Golden Hours” would have been perfect listening for the landscape that was set before me. Like the scenery, the song is saturated with ambience from John Cale’s viola work. It also gives the same sort of tranquility and calming feeling – almost suspending you in time and place as the world whirls by at an ever increasing pace. Beautiful.

Above pic via michaeldillingham

[MP3]: Lilys  ”There’s No Such Thing As Black Orchids”

Or so Philadelphia native Kurt Heasley would lead you to believe on Lilys’ 1992 debut long-player, In The Presence Of Nothing. Contrary to the song’s title, there are actually black orchids, the DC comic book heroines (thanks Dot), the Chicago nightclub, as well as the flowering plant. Coelogyne pandurata, commonly referred to as the “Black Orchid” is a rare species of orchid from Borneo that is much sought after by hybridizers for its truly black lip (according to Wikipedia).

I have no idea what the song “There’s No Such Thing As Black Orchids” is actually about because the lyrics are buried so deeply beneath layers of noise and can’t be deciphered. In The Presence Of Nothing is likely my favorite Lilys record and it’s hard reading anything about the album with out seeing the three words My, Bloody, Valentine. In fact, some refer to the album as the follow up to Loveless that never happened…blah, blah, blah. Granted, Heasley did record a single in 1991 titled “February 14” as a tribute to MBV at the height of his devotion to the band.

Surely, Kevin Shields was a big influence for Heasley on Presence and the album is hardly groundbreaking, however, it’s a staple of American shoegaze. It has a good kick of Dinosaur Jr. thrown in there too and may be one of the best American shoegaze records from the genre’s heyday along with Swirlies Blonder Tongue Audio Baton, of course. For me, it’s right up there with Souvlaki, Isn’t Anything, and the aforementioned classic Loveless.

Anyway, if you’re a fan of any of the other aforementioned bands and albums, pick up Presence, you won’t be disappointed.

Finally! Spring is here! Like our last mix, only this time we’re celebrating the absolutely beautiful weather outside today. Download the songs below, take off the rest of the afternoon, hit up one of this city’s great parks and enjoy the sun!

The Verve  ”Bittersweet Symphony” /// Christian
Phoenix  ”Summer Days” /// Theo
Wham!  ”Heartbeat” /// Nghia
Blonde Redhead  ”Spring and Summer by Fall” /// Ric
Wilco  ”What Light” /// Ray
Bob Marley  ”Sun is Shining” /// Karim
Slowdive  ”When the Sun Hits” /// Justin

Above pic via -sel-

It’s utterly miserable outside today, so we decided to put together a little rainy day mix expressing our varied tastes in music. Below are seven songs, each hand picked by one of us crackers to either accompany your misery or brighten your day. Enjoy!

The Cure  ”Prayers for Rain” /// Theo
2Pac  ”Life Goes On” /// Nghia
Cyndi Lauper  ”Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” /// Pat
Massive Attack  ”Protection (Brian Eno Remix)” /// Christian
The Mountain Goats  ”Woke Up New” /// Ray
Sigur Ros  ”Hoppipolla” /// James
Deerhoof  ”Lose My Breath (My Bloody Valentine Cover)” /// Justin

Above pic via Arnold Pouteau