About 4 times a day people say to me, “Alex, all you listen to is blasphemous death metal, what’s up with you? Also, you look handsome today.”

Well I’m here to reply to that. First of all, yes, I am handsome, there is no denying that.

Secondly, no I listen to far more than just blasphemous, satanic death metal. Some of my favorite artists include Roky Erickson, Morrisey, American Werewolves, The Strokes, Kate Bush, Ween, Queens of The Stone Age, Beck, Cee-lo, The Police, Outkast, Etta James, Young Jeezy, Wu-Tang, and other groups and artists that have now been, and will potentially be raped by the popularization of skate video parts effortlessly tossed onto Youtube.

I do however, often like to sit back in my favorite chair, grab a Yoohoo, close my eyes, and travel across the world to various parts of Africa and the Balkans, (look! a toucan! a vodka distillery! Chernobyl!) here are some of my favorite worldly artists:
Just because I have no idea what the hell they’re talking about doesn’t mean the music isn’t both beautiful and powerful.

Idir, is an Algerian ex-pat living in France. Burbur is the language of choice in Algeria and again, despite not knowing what this guy is saying, I love this song and the entire record.

I heard about Boban Marković by reading up on Beirut’s Zach Condon, another artist I absolutely love/admire. When Condon was 17 he fell in love with Balkan Folk music, notably Marković. Brass attack from this dude, he rules. Good drinking music.

If anyone has any suggestions for any other great worldly artists, feel free to shoot them my way!

Looks like Dyrdek’s Street League is making the famous Maloof brothers a little nervous about losing their golden boy:

a million dollars??

Been hanging out with these dudes.

A few randoms from the past few weeks.

Contest this Saturday at the Y! I know some of you fools need money! BRING IT!

My good bud Timmy recently graduated with a Masters degree from Harvard University; supposedly, in Boston, that doesn’t really mean shit, but I think it’s pretty radical. In a place littered with Ivy Leaguers, boat shoes and high-property tax, Timmy made due with his ripping skills and befriended many of the Orchard Skateshop family. I heard great tales about owner Broderick Gumpright’s balls out skateboarding maneuvers (which made themselves VERY clear in what proved to be one of my favorite video parts ever in Orchard’s video Out of Body Experience), as well as the endeavors and moves of Kevin Coakley, Marty Murawski, Lee Berman and Fritz Mead (have you seen that wall at FDR that fool backsmith’d?) among others.

The point is, Timmy made some great friends in Boston and speaks very highly of them, and I’m sure he’s going to miss them and the city dearly as he teaches 9th graders English during the course of this upcoming school year.

He recently made a migration back, and I wanted to catch a glimpse of his experience, so here are a few photos Mr. Jarman shot on his venture: I’ll be editing a quick video of some clips Timmy shot as well:

Thanks for the Street Bees hat!

Rarely am I one to befriend/accept friend requests for people I don’t personally know, but c’mon, my first pro board? HIATUS? mid 90′s Planet Earth in general? I’m stoked.

Kyle ripping at Double Rock

Chris put together another fine clip.

check out Chris’ newly launched blog at http://whataboutol.com

Heroin from crawl on Vimeo.

look for a blog from Crawl soon.