Coolest Mug Ever...

Not too much into the accumulation of stuff...But, I do love some coffee, and more particularly, I love coffee mugs.

I have found a new one to add to my collection, and, I'd more than willing to bet some you folks would rock this bad boy too.

Pure awesome...I especially like the notch for cookies.

H/T Neenz

Mug available at Uncommon Goods for less than $20!

.d.s.

Tribute to the first Horror Film.

The German Expressionist film, 1902's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. 

If you're so inclined you can Google all of the wonderful (and occasionally supremely flaky) discussions of German Expressionism contained therein, and the impact that the film had on later noir film-makers.

Or, just follow this link (cuz I'm a sweetheart) --> http://tinyurl.com/455rdeu

Anyway, enjoy, and I'll see you kids later.

Sleep tight.

.d.s.

Congrats to Rogue and Jess of the Cruxshadows...

What a cute couple...

Jess Rogue and Rogue from the Cruxshadows are owed a great big Shadow Shout-Out. After living in sin for over a decade, the two got married last September. But, this weekend, even larger news to report...The couple had a munchkin. And goodness is she cute :)

Well, she wasn't cute then...

Seriously, congrats to the pair. They've made great music and a great relationship for a decade. What happens to the Cruxshadows is anyone's guess. I suppose there will be a real quick maturation process and some introspection. But, no matter what happens, even if the ride ends with us, their journey is just beginning....

36 hours? Fashionably late aren't you young lady?

.d.s.

Friday: Sanity renewed

The Shadow had a sucky week, even for a very sucky February. Been dealing with tons of real world issues, fighting a terrible sinus infection, and a busy week at the office.

But, sanity has been restored: Just in time for the weekend and an opportunity to detail my car, and go on a Dragon Age: Origins/Awakening marathon. In other words; relaxation :)


Got some hopefully interesting stuff on the horizon for you today, in the meanwhile, sit back, and enjoy the dulcet tones of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Mercy Seat.

Classic.

-d.s.

Happy Valentine's Day, my lovelies...

Love is like a red, red rose...and, if you ask Killing Joke, it's also sanguine (and a reminder of our mortality).

Classic band, classic song. If you fools don't have Killing Joke in your auditory arsenal, it's like having to explain who Bauhaus was. And, confession, in the whole classic 80's/90's goth/synthpop genre, these guys always got my vote over The Smiths.

Love Like Blood

 So damned good, you deserve the lyrics

We must play our lives like soldiers in the field
But life is short i'm running faster all the time
Strength and beauty destined to decay
So cut the rose in full bloom

'til the fearless come and the act is done
A love like blood, a love like blood

Everyday through all frustration and despair
Love and hate fight with burning hearts
'til legends live and man is god again
(and self-preservation rules the day no more)

We must dream of promised lands and fields
That never fade in season
As we move towards no end we learn to die
Red tears are shed on grey  

-d.s.

Wednesday's got a confession....

...not big into Hellecktro. Or Cybergoth. Or Aggrotech. Always been more of a fan of the subdued stuff. Blacks (sans neon), grays, lace, extravagance in layering. Classic, Victorian gothic...or, as I like to call them, pretty things.

The CG thing always struck me as an aesthetically unpleasant chic, and no where is it more unpleasant to me than in the musical scene it begat. I'm not bagging on it...just not my thing, and there are a couple of bands I do dig.

But, my confession is this: Suicide Commando does the shit well. Very Well.  And I groove on him.

This track, "See you in Hell", is the stuff of nightmares. Do not watch this while alone or on drugs.

Suicide Commando's "See You in Hell"

Soundtrack for the post-Apocalypse gloom-merchants.

h/t DJ Darkest Peru for turning me on to this so many years ago.

-d.s.

Monday, same as a Sunday...

Shadow didn't get a whole lot of quality hang-out time this weekend. Saturday was spent preparing for/dealing with people coming to view his condo. While Sunday....

Sheesh. Sunday.

Sunday began pretty nasty with a true night terror: Waking paralysis, horrendous visual content bleeding into reality, etc. I have them about 3-4 times a year...on top of my weekly nightmares and sleepwalking. This one, comparatively speaking, I'll give an 8.3 to - Not enough to truly derail me for days, but enough to ruin Sunday.

And, even after I recovered yesterday, I nevertheless spent a full work day getting caught up at the office. So, yea, Monday has gotta' be a lil' better.


Which brings me to today: German Goth-Industrial DeathStars, with "Razor End". This is absolutely 100% free of anything resembling commercial influence. Purity? Yea, you could say this. For a nice change of pace --from anything really-- check these guys out...

~~DeathStars~~ ~~Razor End~~ Vidéo My-Goth sélectionnée dans Musique

Yep, pretty much the soundtrack to my nightmares...

-d.s.

Friday gives you true gothic metal...

An oft-tossed out phrase, for a genre that is already ill-defined, but --much like Potter Stewart's pronouncements on pornography-- you know it when you see it...

And, boils and ghouls, Tristania frankly fits that bill. This little ditty is off of the latter "Ashes". However, their better albums, to these ears at least, have to be the earlier, "Widows Weeds", "World of Glass", and especially, "Beyond the Veil".

See you peeps soon, until then, enjoy. Won't you?

-d.s.

Lookie who won an award...

I totally misapprehended the concept of "boobie prize"...

Der Schatten is pleased to announce the vesting of a "Stylish Blogger Award" upon him by Siouxsie Law, (who in turn received it from Lady Euphoria Deathwatch --which is a fantastic little place, btw...both of 'em).

The ground rule for nomination are nearly as daunting as those secret Phi Beta Kappa machinations my professors confessed to whilst I was at Alabama (suffice it to say, my then-girlfriend got the nod, while I was left alone, in the cold...as usual. Although, that's probably a poor turn of phrase: Since A) it's hard to be cold in Tuscaloosa, and B) I don't really have to suffer through the whole 'alone' thing. But, you get the point).

Ground rules people:

1. Thank and link to the person who gave you the award.
2. Jot down 7 random facts about yourself.
3. Give the award to 15 other bloggers and let them know about it.

Taking these in turn: 

#1. Check. Thanks again Siouxsie...

#2. Seven Random Facts:

• In college there was a pack of us who specialized in moderate drug use, serious alcohol abuse, and sleeping with one another at various times, named immodestly "the Seven". For some reason, we all wound up waiting tables at the same restaurant. Five of us went on to become attorneys. One is a professor of English Lit in Germany. The other is a professor of Philosophy at Wash U in St. Louis. And, the saddest part is that we don't speak to one another any more.
• I play the guitar, the bass, drums, piano, sing, and was a professional musician in a past life (signed and toured and everything). 
• I have the distinction of being on good terms with nearly every lover and/or serious ex who've passed through my adult life (High School FWBs do not count, as we're still larval adults then). I think it comes from A) honesty about motives, B) honesty about why shit is/was breaking down, and C) humor. Try those some time, you might find they work.
• I love women of varying ethnicity and hues. If there were an 'ideal', it would be a cross between an Ukranian and a Latina. Yet, for some reason, I've dated Irish girls almost exclusively. 
• I really, honestly do not take myself seriously. I take what I do seriously, when the occasion requires it, but you're more than likely to find me making juvenile quips while running around in boxers, than you are to find me in "polite society" being self-serious. So, take what I say with a grain of salt...it's just my natural revulsion towards, and reactions against, Republicans I think.
• Siouxsie is afraid of Libertarians (with good reason). More than that, I'm terrified of "unschoolers" and the "unschooling movement".
• If brevity is the heart of wit, then I'm witless.

 #3. Linkie-Linkie Nominations (some of these will be familiar names).

•  Jack Balkin's "Balkinization" for serious con law nerds.
• Glenn Greenwald's Corner on Salon
• The various lovely ladies and their photo blogs at Dirty Angels
• Dark Circle Room
• Dark Lyrics
• Doug Gillette's "Hey, Jenny Slater", a/k/a/, the Chancellor of the Sexchequer.
• Orson Swindle/Spencer Hall's paradigm-shifting "Every Day Should Be Saturday".
• Nico, Todd, OTS at RBR
• Nico's music joint, "Hear the World".
• Kleph's recipes, Andean reminiscing on Peru, journalism and football
• Josh Marshall's investigative, center-left "Talking Points Memo/TPM Muckraker".
• My current fantasy (all of 'em), at the Pinup Post.
• Wahoo Corner...simply brilliant. Painfully, honestly brilliant.
• Most of you law students won't get firm jobs (and 1/2 of you won't have a job within 9 months of graduating). Don't read the ABA's pie in the sky shit, start practicing immediately with Carol Elefant's My Shingle 
• Violet Blue's delicious blog on all things alt-sex (sorry, perviness is inherent, I fear).

Anyway, thanks again, and remember, folks: It's a major award.

I hope it's not fra-geel-ay.

-d.s.

Thursday keeps its promises...

Speaking of promises, I promise three things to you

1. That I will post my kick-ass story out of Seattle that I've been promising for nearly two weeks
2. That I will either finish or get another installment of the "Alphabetical of Simple Pleasures" up
3. And, I promise that there is such a critter as "Christian Goth". Among them is today's selection,
   "Saviour Machine", with The Promise

Not that there's anything wrong with being both Goth and being a Christian, in that Lord Byron/Emily Dickinson/Victoria era sorta' way.

But, I do have reservations about this whole "bedecked in white" schtick. And, I particularly have a problem with the proselytizing going on here. And, it's a damn shame too: It's a good band with talented musicians, and I suppose that they are entitled to whatever creative license they wish, but it still strikes me as....queer (in all of its non-homosexual connotations). 

-d.s

Monday, why must you be here already?

Too much drama on Mondays. Speaking of which, please take this moment to enjoy the softer side of your author, as he enjoys the splendid Human Drama's, "Madame Hate's Mad Search for Love".

In fairness, we're all a little desperate...

-d.s.

TGIF Lost Souls!

Wh00T! Friday fell upon us quickly this week (awesome). I did not get to my cool story RE: Seattle but it's coming...you can't sit on something like that for very long.

Alas, it's a busy one for me today. I see the pre-posted Roma story has already hit, and there's another one due a bit later which is likely (even for me) probably the most controversial thing I've ever written. But, as you'll see, it's complicated.

Anyway, happy Friday, and TGIF indeed. Please enjoy Fields of the Nephilim, with ...And there will your heart will be also.

I love this song. I love this band

d.s

Tuesday just lost all productivity...

...replaced the Wii with an XBox360 last night (it was my self-selected xmas gift :) And, weird dreams seem to have passed me by for an evening. Good thing the year is winding down, and all of my projects are not time sensitive, it permits me to now obsess about other things.


Speaking of which, please enjoy Clan of Xymox's "Obsession"

Probably more of a synthpop offering than one of the Clan's darker fares, but still, you fully expect this song to be in a really cheesy 80s movie...maybe featuring Andrew McCarthy or on a disc with the Thompson Twins.

In either case, there's nothing wrong with that.

-d.s.

Friday's unbeloved...

Long weekend starts today; and not "long" as in "awesome". Long as in "I have to go to a firm retreat, and be locked up in a hotel all weekend to discuss firm financials, justify my existence, share case notes and strategy, and wheedle for a higher salary...all whilst dining awkwardly...with minimal chances of getting laid."

Sigh. I hate this kind of shit.

Anyway, Der Schatten hopes you have a great weekend (or, at least certainly better than mine). Bundle up mainland, and enjoy an absolute classic: VNV Nation's "Beloved".

Black screen for a reason. The lyrics are the point.

Absolutely one of the saddest, most touching songs ever written.

-d.s

David Cameron: Prime Minister...of Goth!

Absolutely brilliant episode of Prime Minister's questions, wherein PM David Cameron takes questions from the Members of Parliament...and confesses his love of The Smiths.

Too bad this guy is a Tory dipshit, but, hey, we can't all be perfect. And, at his age (44), I doubt very seriously I will be the leader of a puppet regime, a large, vibrant Western Democracy...although I am accepting applications for minion (concave.scream@yahoo.com)

Give it up for your Prime Minister of Goth.

Somehow, you gotta' think he'd approve of "the Queen is Dead"

tip' o the cap to Beth 

(who I totally adored in a past life!)

-d.s.

-d.s.

Friday woke up humming Künstliche_Welten

And for good reason. It's iconic. Not only is it probably the best known song by phenomenal German duo Wolfsheim, but it's also one of the most covered songs I've heard at clubs. I can personally think of at least two other bands that cover "Welten". Hell, there are probably half a dozen more that I can't name.

Sad really, that I can't name them, considering I used to get my DJ on at Alabama goth night clubs.

Enjoy your Friday, kids. The weekend is almost here.

-d.s.

Thursday can't be mocked by Siouxsie anymore...

Ok, well, she may still mock me in the comments for some of the morning tubes not being up to gothic snuff.

BUT, it will not be this day.*

This day, is Bauhaus, and one of my all-time favorite tracks by them, in fact.

She's in Parties...

Checkmate, Siouxsie Law. Checkmate.

-d.s.

* * *

*You gotta' admit, "Bela Legosi's Dead" would have just been overkill...just like this ASCII bat!

Friday loves it some Chris Pohl

Cheesy he may be sometimes (See e.g., Blutengel's Bloody Pleasures), but I still dig some Chris Pohl. Admittedly, I don't like Terminal Choice as much as Blutengel, but, for this Friday at least, it has its place.

-d.s.

Friday is glad to be Evil

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Voltaire; a true Renaissance man if ever there were one: Artist, composer, writer, cabaret, commentariat. 

Have a great weekend.

On tap for the Shadow is a screening of "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" to benefit Big Island YWCA's sexual assault survivors; some mundane shopping and cleaning; catching up at work; and, watching the SEC burn.

-d.s.

Wednesday dreamed about you...

And, by you, I mean Alien Sex Fiend. One of the legends. I never saw these guys live, and that is a shame. Anyway, enjoy this live rendition of "I walk the line", which, despite the title, is not a cover of Johnny Cash's song of the same. 

My suspicion is that the universe would fold in on itself like a microwaved souffle owing to the forces of awesome unleashed by a Johnny Cash/Alien Sex Fiend joint endeavor.