Dando Shop: February 2011

Just received styles from London based company Esska. They are known for using unique color combinations and comfortable design. Here's the Jump heel from Esska. So beautiful with blk/tan strap and wood heel. $215

Esska noga sandal

we love red this season! this sandal is so easy to wear and has a little wedge. $190.00

Esska date sandal

nude leather upper with a hint of metallic shimmer. $215.00

Esska grass sandal

love the color combination! $190.00

Esska sandals

both these styles have the softest footbed and are so flattering. $148.00

Rachel Comey Spring

RC greeson shoe.. image taken backstage at Rachel Spring11 show by Ryan Koopmans.

Rachel Comey Chadwick Greeson

delicate leather cut outs and tie front that's reminiscent of espadrilles. $330.00

The Findells - The Radiators Are Bleeding (1983)

When I purchased this almost three decade old record just last year, I never would have imagined that Staunton, Virginia's Findells were still active and performing live. Granted, band members have come and gone that kind of longevity is no small feat. As for myself, my only familiarity with the band is this cleverly titled LP that finds the quartet playing a warm strain of post-punk, merging the stylings of The Feelies and Mission of Burma. Though I don't regard The Radiators Are Bleeding as crucial as the canon of those fawned over demi-gods, it's still an interesting and often engaging listen.

At one point, the Findells offered a homemade cd reissue of Radiators, but copies of those appear to be even scarcer than this static-ridden vinyl copy that I feel so fortunate to be in possession of. Sorry in advance for any and all surface noise. In addition to the group's website linked above, there's a Findells blog page with a decent backgrounder.

01. Sweet Darlin' Comfort Me
02. Penumbra Nine
03. Alien Dream
04. Hiroshima/Hiroshima
05. Lightning
06. Breaking Into People's Cars
07. Bicycle Thief
08. Dandelions/Parking Meters
09. Part Time Love
10. No Fingerprints
11. Surfers Are Dumb
12. Man on a Ladder

http://rapidshare.com/files/451480050/findells_restored.rar

OSCARS... MY FAVS

THE NOVA DANDO AWARD FOR BEST DRESSED PERSON AT THE OSCARS GOES TO GWYNETH PALTROW IN CALVIN KLIEN

Emperors of Ice Cream - Imperialism ep (1992)

Perhaps due to a relatively conventional tact, Chapel Hill, NC's Emperors of Ice Cream apparently didn't make too many ripples when the Imperialism ep was dropped in '92, despite their home town's gonzo, indie rock gold rush. Still, the Emperors buoyantly conveyed guitar pop, which dabbled in everything from XTC (though quite vaguely) to '90s Meat Puppets, occasionally hit the spot, with "Tearing Up the Floor" finding the trio at their utmost catchiest. 'Stop 23" comes in at a close second. I should also mention that the Amazon.com customer who shared his review of this disk is way off base by referring to them as a shoegazer band in the mold of Ride (though the Smithereens comparison is more accurate).

01. Landslide
02. Tearing Up the Floor
03. Stop 23
04. Land of the Liel
05. Sister
06. Gone Fishin'

http://rapidshare.com/files/449879472/empicecream.rar

Singles Going Single #164 - Three Hits 7" (Hib-Tone, 1985)

Yes, believe it or not, Atlanta, GA's Hib-Tone Records was responsible for more than just a particular REM 45. Like so many unsung bands that populate this chunk of cyberspace, I didn't catch wind of Three Hits until a good two decades after the fact. Part and parcel of the North Carolina "Comboland" scene, circa the mid to late '80s, this female-fronted quartet delivers jangle-pop nirvana in the form of this singles stunning a-side, "Pressure Dome." The opposite side of the coin, "Numbers" ponders the wonderful, debt-inducing racket that some of us like to refer to as 'higher education.' Produced by Don Dixon and recorded at Mitch Easter's Drive-in Studio I might add.

With a revised lineup, Three Hits issued a 1989 ep titled Fire in the House, that I believe you'll also find to your liking. I'm pretty sure another single followed this one as well.

A. Pressure Dome
B. Numbers

http://rapidshare.com/files/449712610/threehits7.rar

Dissonant Blue - Three in the Throat tape (1991, XOXONE)

What I found so alluring in the rather oblique sleeve of this demo cassette is something I'm still trying to figure out, but at any rate, it compelled me to purchase it. Turns out my instincts regarding this long faded Minneapolis four-piece, fronted by one Melissa Ritter were fairly spot on. The sitar laced, Middle Eastern-endowed opening instrumental "Prasna" is deceptive of what's to follow on Three in the Throat, but that's just fine, as Ritter commandeers Dissonant Blue in four intoxicating slices of lightly ethereal Anglo-rock, channeling the likes of the Sundays and Siouxsie and the Banshees, often within the same song. Melding equal parts mystique and substance, Dissonant Blue had concocted a fine recipe, but given an absolute dearth of background info, at least Internet-wise, this tape may have been their one and only serving.

01. Prasna
02. The River
03. Practical Harmony
04. Carry Me
05. 3-2-3 Bridge

http://rapidshare.com/files/449709848/dissonantblue.rar

Guitars & Drums (feat. Michael Guthrie) - Believe it or Not ep (1983, EAR)

Prior to recording the excellent 1981 cult-classic power-pop platter Direct Hits, Michael Guthrie of the band that band bore his namesake was cranking out beat pop in Germany in the mid-60s with his brother Herb in this little known combo. According to the handy accompanying bio, Guitars and Drums didn't get serious about hitting the studio until the next decade, and by the time the '80s rolled around they were drumming to a different beat than the British Invasion. Believe It or Not isn't an overt stab at any genre in particular - punk, power-pop, new wave or otherwise, though the record would have still been a trifle left of center for the likes of Top-40 radio. "Nightclubland" boasts some faint ska maneuvers a la early Police, but Guthrie doesn't make as nearly an effective case as Sting and Co. Something similar permeates the song "Guitars and Drums," this time usurping a quotient of Gang of Four's jerky funk mechanizations, sans the choppy six-string bite needed to put this sucker over the top. Perhaps the most notable selection here is the closing title track, that despite weighing in at over eight minutes possesses the record's strongest hook.

01. Nightclubland
02. Walking in the Darkness
03. Truth From Lies
04. Guitars and Drums
05. Erotic TV
06. Believe it or Not

http://rapidshare.com/files/449372829/guitarsanddrums.rar

Well Well Well ...And Rise (1988, Big Store)

I'm having a difficult time acknowledging that this rather arcane quartet, who sound like they were born and bred in the American Midwest, were actually a German export. The biographical details I have pertaining to Well Well Well are largely confined to the back sleeve of this album, but the scorching opener, "Not Arrivin'," provides ample evidence that they absorbed their share of Minneapolis indie punk like a thirsty sponge. There's definitely a mid-80s, heartland aesthetic coursing through ...And Rise, with arrows pointing to Athens, GA as well on occasion. I can't say they pull it off as well as the Yanks they take such enthusiastic inspiration from, but the albums a good 'un and not to be passed over.

01. Not Arrivin'
02. Stella
03. Under the Spell of Mr. Moto
04. Breakfast Massacre
05. For the Love of
06. Dog Days
07. Colour Blind
08. Krüesh
09. Rise
10. Injustice + Boredom

http://rapidshare.com/files/449198929/wellwellwell_andrise.rar

LONDON FASHION WEEK... I RATE

NEED TO PERSONAL ORDER THIS SCARF AT HOUSE OF HOLLAND

SICK OUTFIT. I HOPE THIS WAS INSPIRED BY BARNETTS BLANKET

GREAT DRESS FROM HOUSE OF HOLLAND

LOVE THIS PPQ LOOK

THE PPQ SHOES A COLLABORATION WITH OFFICE & THEY'RE SICK

BALLOON HATS BY NASIR AT LOUISE GRAY- A M A Z I N G

Radar Mercury - Thank you, goodnight ep (2000, Doghouse) & demo (1999)

They may have been a blip on the radar (pun intended) but this New Jersey quintet bowled me the hell over with their lone official release, the all too fleeting Thank you, goodnight ep. Taking obvious cues from such Northeast corridor favorites as Texas is the Reason and the Juliana Theory, the Radar Mercury's synthesis of sturdy musicianship, penetrating hooks and riveting power was par excellence for their chosen genre, which for better or worse, was the trend du jour. "Million Dollar Messenger Boy" is the barreling fireball that gets things going, and the remainder of Thank you... is just as gripping and potent (then again, with only four tracks there's not much space for things to go off the rails). Too bad they didn't stick around long enough to grace us with a full length, because their potential here was absolutely staggering.

Of course, there was an obligatory demo tape that made the rounds, and I feel fortunate to have procured one when I saw the Radar Mercury open for Discount in 2000 (or was it '99)? Like the aforementioned ep, the cassette also featured four songs, with only one, "Nothing's Wrong, Nothing's New" overlapping. My main beef with it is the excruciatingly poor production (or perhaps a botched digital to analog transfer) and the inordinate tape hiss, which is impossible to ignore. Better than nothing I suppose, considering this entry includes what would appear to be the Mercury's entire oeuvre.

Thank you, goodnight ep
01. Million Dollar Messenger Boy
02. Tenth Grade
03. Nothing's Wrong, Nothing's New
04. Danny Gomez?

demo
01. Two Hour Town
02. The Simple Mind
03. Nothing's Wrong, Nothing's New
04. Fast Cars and Fast Women

Thank you, goodnight ep: http://rapidshare.com/files/448865802/radarmercury_ep.rar
demo: http://rapidshare.com/files/448862864/radarmercury_demo.rar

Shift - The Get Rich Quick Scheme ep (1998)

My love affair with the Big Apple's Shift stemmed from an excellent 1994 ep titled Pathos, that only seems to satisfy more with age. Treading not so lightly in the footsteps of Quicksand, Shift took a slightly milder tact, gently sanding down the more serrated edges of those local post-hardcore stalwarts without blunting the impact. The band's Spacesuit album followed a year later on Equal Vision Records, and was eventually re-released in identical form for their new homestead, Columbia. As is most often the case, punk/indie/alt bands that sign to a major label undergo something of an "overhaul," or in this instance, a "shift" (he he). Enter 1998's Get In, a slightly more commercial venture that didn't lure in the swarms they had hoped for (but I'm sure weren't counting on either), particularly given that Sony's promotion staff was seemingly out to lunch or too busy pushing Oasis albums. Taken at face value, Get In's emphasis track "I Want to Be Rich," cries out for the type of admiration most big label contenders are pining for, but given Shift's relatively cerebral bent I have to wonder if it's refrain: "I want to be rich beyond my wildest dreams, and I want everyone to love me," was actually spoken of in jest, or at the very least, half irony. In any case, this promo CD features the song in question, as well as four songs unavailable on Get In, some of which are pretty damn good. This ep was also issued as a 10" ep if I recall.

01. I Want to Be Rich
02. Passionfruit
03. Crying for You
04. The Distance Machine
05. Smile

http://rapidshare.com/files/448817837/shift_getrich.rar

Rachel Comey Hitch Boot

We just got the new Rachel Comey Hitch boot in! It's the update to Penpal and we LOVE it! It's a bit lower on the ankle which is so flattering and great for spring. Comes in black leather and Carmelo leather.

Coclico Omina

Coclico Omina heel with soft, grey suede heel with scalloped front detail. $345.00

new styles from dv

black higher wedge $92.00 and chocolate brown leather low wedge $82.00

Jeffrey Campbell Corsette

amazing new style from JC. $140.00

All Black snake skin

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so comfy and beautiful. $135.00

DV Tami

black suede upper with woven espadrille wedge...so flattering! $82.00

DV Jaquie

love the new clog sandal with oversized buckle detail. $105.00

DV Nyle

beaded sandal from DV. $64.00

new minnetonkas are in!

Singles Going Single #163 - Sideshow 7" (1993, Caulfield)

The Midwest proved to be a fertile breeding ground for post-hardcore/emo bands in the mid '90s, and Lincoln, NE's Sideshow were no small exception...except for the fact that they kept a relatively small profile. Nonetheless, they were one of the flagship bands for local Caulfield Records, who from what I learned at the always informative Built on a Weak Spot blog were actually run by members of Sideshow. For my money, Sideshow didn't peak until the release of their 1995 signature piece, Lip Read Confusion, but this 7" served as a reasonably enticing appetizer, featuring an early incarnation of "Rust." Legendary Dischord Records luminaries Rites of Spring and Hoover were a pervasive influence on Sideshow, as both cuts here are saturated with the same constructive catharsis that the aforementioned made their calling cards. I'm also hearing a little Garden Variety too, coincidental as the case may be.

A. Rust
B. Face Foot Ladder

http://rapidshare.com/files/448516039/sideshow7.rar

Singles Going Single #162 - Sidecar - Swingset 7" (1995, What Else)

It takes all kinds of music to make it onto the rarefied pages of Wilfully Obscure, including the scrappy pop-punk of Ohio's Sidecar. An intermittently active quartet from Mentor, Ohio, Sidecar dole out these four numbers at a dizzying hardcore pace, but do so without riding roughshod over some spirited harmonies. Yeah, there's an amateurish bent to this 45, but since this was apparently the first time they committed their songs to vinyl we can surely forgive them. Great fun though. Two albums followed the Swingset 7," namely Three Wheel Heroes in '96, and All Those Opposed just prior to the turn of the millennium. If you enjoyed the priceless Self album I shared last year, this is most certainly for you, not to mention '90s indie punk connoisseurs in general.

01. Sanity
02. Allright
03. Lame
04. Can't Stop

http://rapidshare.com/files/448511482/sidecar7.rar

I LOVE THAT FARIS DID THIS...

EPIC

J Church - Whorehouse: Songs and Stories (1996, Damaged Goods)

Upon playing just about any given J Church record or CD, it doesn't take long (say, 15 seconds) to remind myself of how remarkably substantive and engaging Lance Hahn and his invariably rotating cast of band-mates were in their prime. With a sonic aesthetic slightly surpassing lo-fi, heart-on-sleeve lyrical moxie, and plenty of tuneful persuasion, J Church prolifically slugged it out for the better part of two decades on a cornucopia of independent labels before Hahn passed away at the age of 40 in 2007. Showcasing some of J Church's most concise and visceral moments, Whorehouse... functions more like a compilation than a proper album (see the notes below for the full skinny), but even so, is conveyed with such staggering intelligence and wit that it puts the majority of their '90s punk/hardcore contemporaries to absolute shame. "New Year," "Simple Gesture," and "Accentuated Nothing" are not merely quintessential J Church songs, but the work of a singular, and in my opinion, indispensable talent. What follows are some notes culled from the discography portion of J Church's website regarding some of the songs contained within:

This was a 'clear out the studio' collection - old songs from all sorts of places gathered together on one album. Three tracks - Guitar Center, Nothing Worth Knowing and The Overwhelming Smell - had already appeared on various compilations. Simple Gesture was also released in the same year on the 'proper' album The Drama Of Alienation, with a slightly different title, but it sounds exactly the same recording so it's confusing as to why it's on both. Asshole is a Beck song, from his K album, and was released as a single a year or two before, while Lance was playing guitar for him on tour. However, the album version is possibly an alternate (new?) take.

Wade plays drums on Guitar Center (unless it's a re-recording) and Reed is on all the other songs. The album title was 'borrowed' and adapted from Hüsker Dü.

01. New Year
02. Simple Gesture
03. San Francisco Thespians Part 2
04. Over Compensation
05. Best Served Cold
06. Thirty Second Song
07. Guitar Center
08. Asshole
09. Nothing Worth Knowing
10. Accentuated Nothing
11. The Overwhelming Smell
12. My Lie

http://rapidshare.com/files/448162553/jchurch_whorehouse.rar

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK...

I DIDNT GO TO NYFW THIS SEASON. I WATCHED IT ONLINE FROM THE COMFORT OF MY OWN SOFA & SAW WAAAAY MORE THAN WHEN I WENT LAST SEASON! MISSED OUT ON ALL THE MATES : ( AND FUN TIMES THO. HERES MY F A V PIC OF THE SHOWS...

WANG...YOU ARE WOW.