The Rush Is Never-Ending

Kylie Minogue “Wow” – This is the little sister of “Love At First Sight.” She resembles her older sibling quite a bit — perky filter disco runs in the family — but she’s not quite as stunning and effortlessly charismatic, and as a result, she doesn’t find it as easy to assert herself and cut loose. She’s definitely not shy or lacking in enthusiasm, but in comparison to her big sis, she can’t help but seem a bit reserved and low key. She’s gorgeous and lovely and smart and cool, but it’s just so hard to shine when you’re stuck in someone’s long, dark shadow. All we can do is hope that one day she meets some nice person who falls in love with her for exactly who she is, and isn’t terribly impressed by her superstar sibling. (Click here to buy it from Amazon UK.)

Elsewhere: Given that we both grew up in the Hudson Valley and have spent most of our adult lives in New York City, it probably shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that I relate quite a bit to what Amanda Petrusich has to say in this essay about developing a fascination with California via books, music, and film, and being a bit let down by the reality. I still haven’t been there myself — I’ve barely been anywhere at all, I’ve never had the money to travel — but the Los Angeles that exists in my mind makes very little sense, it’s just this patchwork of images and ideas that don’t add up at all. Unlike Amanda, I don’t think I romanticize the place — in fact, it seem like such a weird mirror image of where I’m from that I there’s a good chance I might find it rather alienating. One way or another, I just feel like it’s someplace I need to go and try to understand, if only to solve this puzzle in my head.

Also: Related to Monday’s post — the most relentlessly twee video of 2007!