The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/113992
New Music Notes|By Mark Boshnack Atlas Genius Album a Slinky, Steady Treat for the Ears Laygirl Fashion|By Emily Popek Clothing Calculus is Complicated Every night before I fall asleep, I mentally pick out my outfit for the next day. And I have to say, it's an exhausting business. Much as I might pretend that looking fabulous is my only sartorial priority, the truth is that I, like most people, take a whole host of factors into consideration when selecting an outfit. And around this time of year, the whole calculus of clothing choices starts to wear on me. The first things to consider are practical. During the week, I have to make sure my attire is work-appropriate. Since the ambient temperature in my office hovers somewhere between Siberia and Antarctica, this usually means dressing warmly. But if I bundle up in heavy sweaters or thick jackets, those same garments will become the equivalent of a portable sauna when I drop my daughter off at day care, where the climate is more San Diego than Siberia. Five minutes in there, and I'm taking layers of clothes off so fast that I half expect the workers to start throwing dollar bills at me. Come lunchtime, I have to go home to walk my dogs, which necessitates at minimum a change of shoes, but usually a whole lot more than that. I usually work up a sweat trying to wrestle the hellhounds into submission, and there's the whole mud/snow/dog hair/food thing to worry about. So I look for combinations that are easily convertible — where I can replace a skirt with jeans, for example, for the noontime walk. That way I don't wind up going back to the office covered in dog hair and mustard. (What is it about mustard? Seriously.) When the work day is over, it's time for a mad dash to day care, where my daughter and I have a quick nurse before hitting the road. This means, of course, that any and all work outfits have to also be breastfeeding-friendly — that is, unless I feel like taking my top off. (Which I don't. Even if there were the aforementioned dollar bills being thrown at me.) Think wrap dresses, button-down shirts and cardigans. I have a whole bag of clothes in my closet labeled "Later" that, sadly, includes some of my favorite dresses. Someday I'll get to wear them again. But not anytime soon. And somewhere amid all of the sweat, dog hair and baby-wrangling, I have to try to look, not only presentable, but actually good. It's no wonder my fashion maxim these days is "Never be boring." Certainly my day-to-day life is anything but. Emily F. Popek is pretty sure she will never be done doing laundry, ever. She is also assistant editor of The Daily Star. It's always exciting to come across a band that has what it takes to make the big time — except for the audience. This month's New Music Notes is ready to do its part, as well as alert readers to one of the major festivals of the year bound to bring numerous opportunities to find new favorites as well as find some old ones — including the subject of this month's column. With a sound that displays a number of influences, Atlas Genius, an indie rock band with slinky rhythm guitars, synthesizers and strong vocals, could be ready to break out on its new album, "When It Was Now." They start off on the right note with "Electric," a song that with all of its energy has an MGMT feel. Filled with polyrhythms, from guitars, drums and a synthesizer, it highlights the strength of this quartet that is opening for Imagine Dragon. With lyrics such as "Don't pretend like you're up in a tree/The future's not where it used to be," the album gets off to a promising start. In a recent interview, guitarist and lead singer Keith Jeffery, one of three brothers in the band, acknowledged the debt the band has to social media in helping the group's first single, "Trojans," go viral, before the band was signed to Warner Brothers. They released an EP in 2012, and the album was unveiled last month. It was recorded in the band's own studio so they could have control the sound, which is influenced by bands such Phoenix and Vampire Weekend. "Trojans" has a steady beat and catchy chorus that understandably helped the band. Jeffery said the band is working on a second album. It will be hard to match the hand-clapping rhythms and catchy lyrics that make the song stand out. I like the band best when the rhythms are snaking, as on "Centered on You" and "Don't Make a Scene." The album ends on a high note with "Symptoms," a brooding, multitextured tale of love. It is filled with the kind of lyrics such as "Now we see what we're gonna regret, how did the water get so cold." If you are lucky enough to go to the SXSW music that runs March 12-17 in Austin, Texas, Atlas Genius will be performing over several days, along with hundreds of other bands. Be on the lookout for a chance to hear some of the concerts or songs from bands performing at some of the venues spread around the city. I have found a list of 100 downloadable songs from the bands at NPR.ORG. The link is www.npr. org/2013/03/01/173275533/ the-mix-the-austin-100. Spin. Com has a list of 40 Must See Acts. I'm sure I will be spending some time at both sites in my search for New Music. Mark Boshnack is a reporter for The Daily Star, and a music fiend. He can be reached at mboshnack@thedailystar.com. March 7, 2013 O-Town Scene 5